Hansen exit confirmed by All Blacks

STEVE Hansen will stand down as All Blacks coach after next year’s World Cup.

The 59-year-old’s future has been the subject of speculation for weeks, but he has now revealed he will not stay on following the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

That will bring to an end a 16-year association with the All Blacks, with his spell as head coach since 2012 being regarded as one of the most successful in the history of rugby.

Under Hansen, the All Blacks became the first team to go through a calendar year undefeated and retained the World Cup in 2015.

“I’m finishing,” said Hansen. “I just think that after 16 years it is the right time to move on after the World Cup. It is the right thing for the team. We can have a fresh pair of eyes come into the team.

“The other major reason is that I want to spend more time with my family. They have given me unreserved support and now it is time for me to make them the sole focus and spend more time with them.

“One of the things about this role - and I am not bagging it - is that you become everyone’s property and everyone has an opinion. Which I am fine with but it is hard on the other family members.”

“I haven’t thought about what I will do after the World Cup. It is such a great privilege to coach the All Blacks and I am focused on nothing more than the next 21 months as we have an incredible opportunity to do something that no other team has ever done before,” he said.

“I have no regrets about making the decision and feel good about it. By doing it now it gives the Rugby Union plenty of time to find a replacement and run their process and it means I won’t be getting asked about it every five minutes.”

Attention now turns to who will replace Hansen in the hotseat, with outgoing Wales coach Warren Gatland mentioned as something of a longshot in the Kiwi media.