Cron ditches Steve Hansen for Western Force gig

NEWS: Japan-based Simon Cron will return to Australia to become coach of Western Force at the end of the current season, the Super Rugby franchise announced Monday.

Cron is currently coach at Toyota Verblitz after being recruited and mentored by former All Blacks World Cup-winning coach Steve Hansen, the club's director of rugby.

He will replace Tim Sampson whose contract with the Perth team expires at the end of the season.

"Simon is one of world rugby's most talented young coaches whose philosophy is to make better rugby players, both on and off the field," said Western Force owner Andrew Forrest, a billionaire mining magnate.

"It is his dedication to values, player wellbeing and growth, as well as his respected coaching ability, that we are really looking forward to at the Force."

Cron, who was previously head coach of Australia's Under-20 team and assistant coach at the Waratahs, explained why he was attracted to the Perth team.

"Andrew Forrest took time out of his extremely busy schedule to talk with me around his family's love of the Western Force and how it is a key part of the Western Australian sporting community," Cron said.

"I see the Western Force as a club which has fought through adversity and come out the other side because of a genuine love of rugby within the organisation and its amazing supporters, the Sea of Blue."

The Force have had mixed results so far this season, winning twice but losing four, including a narrow 38-39 home defeat to the table-topping Brumbies at the weekend.