Watch: All Blacks Coach Steve Hansen Confirms He Will Step Down After Next Year’s World Cup
Southland Sport
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has revealed he will step down after next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.
He said whoever replaced him would bring a new perspective.
“Some fresh eyes, some fresh thinking … whoever it is will be fresh. It will be for the enhancement of the legacy of the jersey,” he said.
Hansen comes off contract with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) after the tournament, which runs next September and October.
Hansen told media this morning his decision was also based on consideration of family.
He said the two big reasons for making the choice were what was right for the team, and what was right for his family.
He said he doesn’t know what was next for him after he stepped down as coach but for now the focus was on winning the Rugby World Cup.
“Thankfully, I’ve been able to surround myself with good people and good players who have allowed me to make this decision myself. It’s not the end because we’ve got another 12 months to go.”
He wasn’t reflecting just yet – now he had made the decision he was looking forward to the World Cup.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time. One of the things as a coach is to make sure you’re doing the right thing for the team.”
“I’d like to coach this team for the rest of my living days. But that’s not the right thing to do.”
Hansen said he wasn’t sick of the pressure – he’d enjoyed it during his time as coach.
Hansen has been with the All Blacks for 16 years and has guided the All Blacks through 95 tests, winning 84, drawing three and losing eight, for a success rate of almost 89 percent.
He hoped whoever replaced him would help take the All Blacks to another level.
NZR said it already had relationships with all the potential candidates to replace Hansen.
It also said it wouldn’t be engaging a formal process before the World Cup as it did not want any distractions.
Possible replacements for the head coach role include Wales coach Warren Gatland, Dave Rennie and Scott Robertson, who led the Crusaders to back to back Super Rugby titles in his first two years in charge.
Source: radionz.co.nz