Former Waratahs five-eighth Daniel Halangahu's coaching career has been taken a leap into Super Rugby, as an assistant at the Blues.
Halangahu completes the struggling Kiwi team's coaching lineup for 2019.
Head coach Tana Umaga will be assisted by three newcomers in Leon MacDonald, Tom Coventry and 34-year-old Halangahu.
The two-year deal is a significant promotion for former Australia A representative Halangahu, who played at five-eighth and fullback for the Waratahs for 75 matches over seven seasons.
Having failed to crack Test rugby, he left for stints in Italy and France in 2012 before playing a season with Kiwi province North Harbour.
He will complete a third season as North Harbour assistant coach in this year's provincial competition before joining the Blues, where he will oversee specialist skills and backline play.
Umaga said Halangahu will focus particularly on the team's kicking skills and work closely with young five-eighths Stephen Perofeta and Otere Black.
Umaga is the only survivor in the Blues coaching staff after they finished second-last in the overall standings this year, winning just four of 16 games.
