The Crusaders assistant coach Mark Hammett won't be leaving to take up a position with the new Melbourne Rebels' Super 14 rugby team.
The Rebels had been chasing Hammett to be their forwards coach in their inaugural season in 2011, but the New Zealand Rugby Union will not release him from his contract.
The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that NZRU boss Steve Tew had rung his Australian counterpart John O'Neill to express his concern and to state that Hammett was not available.