NZ invite 26 to apply for coaching job
WELLINGTON: New Zealand Rugby bosses have ruled out a foreign coach for the All Blacks, revealing on Wednesday they have asked 26 New Zealanders to apply including Jamie Joseph, who recently guided Japan to a historic first World Cup quarter-final.
Chairman Brent Impey said it was “a luxury” to have such coaching depth to call on after Steve Hansen stepped down at the end of the Rugby World Cup last weekend.
The new coaching team will be named before Christmas, but Joseph is yet to say whether he will seek the All Blacks post or remain with Japan.
“If you look at what we’ve seen with the World Cup, many of those best coaches come from [New Zealand],” Impey said.
“We believe we have covered the field in terms of those coaches who would have the skillset to do the job. This is a specialist job.”
The announcement came as Japan’s assistant coach Tony Brown revealed he would stay loyal to Joseph and had rejected approaches to join the coaching teams of two leading contenders, Ian Foster and Scott Robertson.
“I made a decision I’m going to stay with Jamie. If he applies for the All Blacks, I’m in. If he stays with Japan, I’m in,” Brown said.
Brown, a former All Blacks fly-half, has formed a close bond with Joseph since the pair rebuilt an ailing Otago Highlanders into Super Rugby champions in 2015.
The pair elevated World Cup hosts Japan into a top-10 nation with victories over Ireland and Scotland in the justconcluded showpiece.
Impey said the selection panel, which includes former World Cupwinning All Blacks coach Graham Henry, expected applicants to have their coaching support team ready when interviewed.
Former Waikato Chiefs coach Dave Rennie, now with the Glasgow Warriors, said last week he had been asked to apply for the post.
Another prominent name believed to be in the mix is Warren Gatland, although the outgoing Wales coach has been told he could not be the All Blacks coach and also keep his contract as the 2021 British and Irish Lions coach.