NZ Rugby World

On his way to Auckland for the Crusaders Super Rugby match against the Blues, Scott Robertson was stopped at the airport by a well wishing woman. “You have my vote,” she told him. “Unfortunately it’s not an election,” was Robertson’s honest reply. It wasn’t, but he was the popular choice to replace Ian Foster as All Blacks head coach from next year and, for once, New Zealand Rugby are in tune with their fans. A New Zealand Herald poll, put up online the day news broke that either Robertson or Jamie Joseph would be named coach later that day, had Robertson roughly three times more popular than Joseph. There has long been a clamour for the man dubbed Razor (because he used to chop people in scything tackles) to coach the All Blacks. I wrote about…

Throughout this year, you will hear many people refer to the opportunity in front of women’s rugby. The high of the Rugby World Cup tournament itself, amplified by the Black Ferns triumph, has seen unprecedented interest and support in the women’s game, and every person involved in rugby in any way knows that we must capitalise on this increased engagement. The appointment of Allan Bunting into the Director of Coaching role was New Zealand Rugby’s first big move following the World Cup, and one I endorse and am excited about. His experience in the women’s game, understanding the specific needs of coaching women and his cultural understanding is what sets him apart. Having come from the Sevens environment, “Bunts” has professional standards and knows what it takes to succeed as he…

Andy Ellis reckons Scott Robertson is never content. And that trait is what convinces the former World Cup winning All Blacks halfback that his old team is in safe hands when Robertson takes over from Ian Foster after this year’s World Cup in France. “He will be fantastic in the role,” Ellis says. “He is incredible at bringing people together, and I don’t just mean that in this case in a strictly rugby sense. I think he will unite the country too. “You know this is about more than just rugby for him.” Having played with Robertson and been coached by him at Canterbury, and been a part of the Crusaders dynasty, Ellis says it is Robertson’s relentless drive for perfection that mirrors a similar attitude in the All Blacks. “He is never content with…

JASON RYAN Robertson’s former Crusaders forwards coach who had an immediate impact on the All Blacks last year. Ryan is highly rated and is especially good at coaching lineout drives and defence. LEON MACDONALD They coached together at the Crusaders and MacDonald has done a good job with the Blues. He might take over at Scotland though. JASON HOLLAND He was an assistant to Roberston at Canterbury. Was Munster assistant coach and has been head coach at the Hurricanes since 2020. SCOTT HANSEN Highly regarded within the Crusaders set up he assisted Robertson at Canterbury and has helped coach Canada, Leicester and in Japan.…

The first real front-of-house job Dame Patsy Reddy had to perform as New Zealand Rugby chair was one she didn’t really want to do at all. She said as much herself. “Until now, New Zealand Rugby has been reluctant to talk publicly about an appointment process for the All Blacks coach to protect the integrity of the process, and to minimise the scrutiny on the individuals involved,” she told media at a hastily convened stand-up to announce a timeline to appoint the next All Blacks coach. “Recent events, however, necessitate some clarity.” That’s a nice word - clarity. Historically, it is one not associated with NZR unless it is preceded by the words “lack of”. The national body has for the past World Cup cycle seemingly lurched from one crisis to another. Not all…

MARK ROBINSON The former All Black has struggled to convince many outside NZR that he is the right leader as CEO of the national body and there are even questions whether he should remain in the job given the tumultuous handling of the All Blacks coaching saga this year and last, and the scheduling clash between the All Blacks and Black Ferns last year. But while he remains as CEO, Robinson is a central figure. IAN NAREV and SIMON PATERSON These are names few in rugby will know but they are part of NZ Rugby Commercial, the body set up in the wake of the Silver Lake deal. Narev is the chair. He lives in Sydney and runs the employment website SEEK. Paterson is Silver Lake managing director. CHRIS LENDRUM The GM or Professional Rugby…