Moana Pasifika boss Tana Umaga has confirmed that he has held talks with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) about him joining new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie\u2019s coaching staff.<\/p>\n
After the appointment of Rennie as New Zealand\u2019s new head coach recently, Umaga\u2019s name emerged as a possible addition to the All Blacks\u2019 coaching staff as an assistant.<\/p>\n
And the former All Blacks<\/a> captain addressed the issue after Moana\u2019s 43-7 Super Rugby Pacific defeat to the Blues at Eden Park on Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll figure those out after today,\u201d Umaga<\/a> said in the post-match press conference.<\/p>\n He expanded on those comments during an interview on Sky Sport NZ\u2019s The Breakdown show and revealed that he has had discussions with Rennie<\/a> about a coaching position for him with the All Blacks.<\/p>\n Spoke to Dave Rennie<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had a couple of chats to Dave Rennie in the last couple of days. We\u2019re just going through that process at the moment, and we\u2019ll see where that goes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got a job to do here at the moment. That\u2019s great to have that opportunity. Whether it comes to anything, that\u2019s work that\u2019s got to be done.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got a few issues of my own to get sorted for a team that I love so much. I want to make sure I\u2019m doing right by this club and where we\u2019re going.\u201d<\/p>\n Last week, Umaga was modest about speculation linking him with an All Blacks coaching position but hinted that he might be interested in being part of Rennie\u2019s backroom staff.<\/p>\n Tana Umaga breaks silence on All Blacks \u2018speculation\u2019 and issues \u2018stand out\u2019 verdict on Dave Rennie<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThere was a bit of interest in terms of having a chat with him [Rennie] from my agent to see if anything comes up, and said \u2018you wouldn\u2019t turn that down, would you?\u2019 So we\u2019re just waiting for those things to happen, if it happens, it happens,\u201d he said at the time.<\/p>\n \u201cYou always want to set goals for yourself, you want to be part of the best and involved with the best. In my mind, the All Blacks have always been the best.<\/p>\n \u2018Great to be in that conversation\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cUntil it\u2019s a done deal and everything\u2019s down on paper. It\u2019s speculation. It\u2019s great to be in that conversation, but it is a bit of a nuisance right now at this stage.\u201d<\/p>\n