Highlanders co-captain Ash Dixon said he's reached out to Aaron Mauger with a text message after the southern club announced they weren't renewing the now-former coach's contract.
Mauger's departure was confirmed yesterday while much of New Zealand's rugby community was focused on the upcoming North-South match tomorrow.
Dixon, who will play in the match for the North, was asked by media today how he felt when he heard the news in camp.
"It's pretty sad news, to be fair," Dixon said.
"I flicked [Mauger] a message last night just expressing my thanks for what he's done for me and the club.
"I guess it's a pretty fickle business, isn't it?"
Under Mauger, the Highlanders have exited Super Rugby at the quarter-finals stage twice [2018 and 2019] and finished fourth in this year's Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.
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