Rennie out of ABs picture by extending contract

Former Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie has effectively ruled himself out of the running for the top All Blacks job by signing a contract extension with the Glasgow Warriors.

The 55-year-old Kiwi has agreed to stay at the Scottish club until at least 2020, the BBC reported.

Rennie, whose current deal is set to expire at the end of the season, is in his second year at the club.

“I’m going to be here for at least another year-and-a-half — possibly longer,” Rennie said. “It’s been really good. We’re happy, and my wife is happy, that’s the key.

“If I’m not here, who is going to be running the show and contracting? It gives players clarity over who is going to be here.”

Rennie coached the Chiefs to backto-back Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013 but left the team in 2017.

Since taking over at the Warriors, replacing Gregor Townsend after the former first-five left to coach the Scottish national team, Rennie has led the club to the Pro14 semifinals in his first season.

Rennie’s name had been mentioned as a possible successor to Steve Hansen, who announced in December he would be stepping down as All Blacks mentor after this year’s World Cup in Japan.

Hansen has been involved with the All Blacks since 2004 as an assistant coach, after previously coaching Wales, and since 2012 as head coach.

Hansen said in making his intentions clear almost 10 months out from the World Cup, he hoped to give New Zealand Rugby the longest possible time to find his successor.

“This is a critical process which shouldn’t be rushed and shouldn’t be made in the turbulent period that tends to follow a World Cup campaign,” Hansen said.

Another early favourite, Ireland’s Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt, said in November he would “finish coaching” after the tournament in Japan.

That leaves Ian Foster, Hansen’s assistant, New Zealand-born Wales coach Warren Gatland, who led the British and Irish Lions to a drawn series against the All Blacks in 2017, Montpellier’s Vern Cotter and Crusaders coach Scott Robertson as leading candidates.

All Blacks midfielder Ryan Crotty, meanwhile, could have a decision to make about his playing future, with English club Northampton reportedly keen on his signature.

The Saints, coached by former Hurricanes mentor Chris Boyd, are in the market for a replacement for Wallaby Rob Horne, who was forced into sudden retirement in April when he paralysed his right arm.

The Daily Mail reported Crotty, 30, was one of a few big-name players the club was interested in bringing over, along with England’s Johnathan Joseph and South African Jesse Kriel.

Crotty wasn’t the only All Black in Northampton’s sights, though, with one-cap All Black Matt Proctor, 26, also thought to be a chance to link up with his former coach in the Northern Hemisphere.

I’m going to be here for at least another year-and-ahalf — possibly longer. It’s been really good. We’re happy, and my wife is happy, that’s the key. Glasgow coach Dave Rennie