Executive Transactions

The New Zealand Rugby Union said that former All Blacks winger JOHN KIRWAN "was appointed as head coach" of the Blues Super Rugby team on a two-year deal. Kirwan will replace PAT LAM as coach of the Auckland-based franchise. The team finished at the bottom of the New Zealand Conference after "winning four of its 16 regular-season games" (BLOOMBERG, 7/16). ... UAE club Al Wasl has replaced former coach DIEGO MARADONA with BRUNO METSU. Metsu is "joining the team next week" under a two-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Previously, Mutsu was the national coach in Qatar (AP, 7/17). ... The Bolivian Football Federation (FBF) has appointed XABIER AZKARGOTA as the new national team coach. He replaces GUSTAVO QUINTEROS and has the objective of qualifying the country for the 2014 World Cup (A BOLA, 7/17).