Former All Blacks fullback Leon MacDonald has replaced Tana Umaga as Blues head coach.

Umaga, who coached the Blues for three years, has been demoted to an assistant role, while Tom Coventry (forwards) and Danial Halangahu (skills/backs) remain in the revamped coaching set-up.

Under Umaga, the Blues finished 11th on the combined Super Rugby log in 2016, ninth in 2017 and 14th this year.

While MacDonald was initially appointed to come in as Umaga’s assistant and attack specialist for the 2019 season, he has now been given a three-year contract as head coach.

MacDonald was a Crusaders assistant coach in 2017 before coaching Tasman in 2017 and 2018. He coached the New Zealand U20s with Umaga in 2015.