Source: Radio New Zealand
The All Blacks during the national anthem. Copyright © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz
NZ Rugby (NZR) on Monday confirmed the process to hire a new All Black coach will commence this week, with the ultimately successful applicant needing to have test coaching experience.
Tellingly, that was the one aspect missing from the recently axed Scott Robertson’s CV when he took on the role in 2024.
This stipulation once again brings a few names into sharp focus, with frontrunners Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie having both coached Japan and Australia respectively.
Jamie Joseph Coach of the Highlanders © Photosport Ltd 2025 www.photosport.nz
This also means Blues coach Vern Cotter (Fiji, Scotland) can apply, but it somewhat ironically rules out coach Rob Penney, despite the Crusaders coach winning both the Super Rugby Pacific title and NZR Coach of the Year in 2025.
Today’s announcement also confirmed the makeup of a five-person appointment panel, and that it will solely be for the head coaching position. This is notable because both Robertson and Ian Foster’s hirings involved having to assemble a staff as part of the job application with them, only for both tenures marked by staff either leaving or being removed.
It’s understood that the current All Black assistant coaching staff of Scott Hansen, Jason Ryan and Tamati Ellison have been told it’s ‘business as usual’ for the time being, although the new coach will ultimately have the final say on his assistants.
The panel will include Board Chair David Kirk, Board Member Keven Mealamu, experienced high performance expert Don Tricker, interim CEO Steve Lancaster and a recently retired All Blacks player. Mealamu, who played 132 tests between 2002-15, was also involved in the All Black end of season review that played a critical role in Robertson’s sensational removal earlier this month.
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It’s understood the recently retired player who will join the panel has not been confirmed yet.
The final decision on the All Blacks’ head coach will be made by the NZR Board.
NZR interim CEO Steve Lancaster said that the role is “an incredibly important appointment.”
“We’ve started the process and are giving it the care and urgency it deserves to set the team up for success. We’ll provide further updates as soon as we can.”
The hiring process is expected to take at least a month, which leaves precious little time for the All Blacks to reset before a very challenging season commences in July. They face France, Italy and Ireland in the new Nations Cup competition, before an eight-match tour of South Africa that includes four tests against the world champion Springboks.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
