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Ospreys forwards coach Chris Gibbes will leave the Welsh region at the end of this season and head home to New Zealand.

He will be taking up a head coach post with Mitre 10 Cup side Wellington Lions having spent four years at the Liberty Stadium.

The 43-year-old, who has helped the Ospreys to the top of the Guinness Pro12, said the call of home and the opportunity with one of his country’s leading provincial sides was too good to pass up.

“I’ve been away from home for nearly four years now, so when this exciting opportunity came up it seemed like the right time for me,” said Gibbes.

“It was too good to turn down.

“Wellington are a province with a proud history and real ambition for the future, combined with excellent facilities and the squad depth needed to be successful, including some great young talent. That’s an exciting mix.

“Swansea has become very much my second home and I’ve loved every moment of my time with the Ospreys.

“I’m definitely a better coach and a better person thanks to my time in this environment, and I’ll always be grateful for the chance I’ve had to work with some quality people, but the pull of home was too strong.

“We’ve been through some tough times here over the last few years, but all with a long-term view to build something. We are starting to see the signs of that hard work coming through and I believe that this group can only continue heading in one way. I’m proud to have played a small part in that.”

Gibbes continued: “I want to finish on a high, helping to bring the success that the players, coaches, management and supporters at the Ospreys all crave.”

The former Waikato boss has played a key part in developing the Ospreys’ pack and helping to bring through players such as Nicky Smith, Sam Parry, Dmitri Arhip, Rory Thornton, Dan Baker, Olly Cracknell and Sam Underhill.

Popular at the region, he has impressed with his technical knowledge and his ability to work under circumstances that haven’t always been easy, with his early years coinciding with Welsh rugby’s civil war.

He will take up a three-year contract with the Lions.

(Image: Ospreys/Twitter)

Ospreys managing director Andrew Millward said: “We are disappointed that Chris will be leaving us in the summer but understand fully his desire to head home to New Zealand after four years with us.

“The nature of professional sport means that people come and go from your environment over time, but there’s no denying his influence here since 2013 and, importantly, how we have helped him develop at the same time.

“It’s a great opportunity for him, and we wish him all the best when he heads to Wellington, but first we’ve got five months of rugby ahead of us that will require his full attention.”