The former New Zealand rugby league international David Kidwell has been named assistant coach of the Kiwis.
David Kidwell as an assistant coach of the Melbourne in 2012 Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Kidwell will assist his former international team-mate and Stephen Kearney at this year's Four Nations tournament and through to the end of 2015.
Born in Christchurch, the tough second rower played 241 NRL first-grade games and 20 tests for New Zealand, culminating in success at the 2008 World Cup.
Kidwell coached the South Sydney Rabbitohs to the 2010 NRL Toyota Cup final, losing to the NZ Warriors, and has since served as first-grade assistant coach at the Melbourne Storm and Wests Tigers.
A former Junior Kiwis coach, the 37 year old Kidwell will fill the Kiwis assistant role through the remainder of this year and to the end of 2015, coinciding with Kearney's current term.
Kearney had sole control of the national team for this year's Anzac Test, after assistant Andrew McFadden was promoted to the Warriors top job and withdrew his services.
The Kiwis kick off their Four Nations campaign against Australia in Brisbane on October 25, followed by Toa Samoa in Whangarei on November 1 and England in Dunedin on November 8.
The final is scheduled for Wellington on November 15.
