Tana Umaga has opened up about his appointment as one of the new All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie’s assistants and what he expects from his position.
Umaga has been appointed as the men in black’s new defence coach and is joined by former Scotland international Mike Blair and Neil Barnes as the new faces in the coaching group.
Barnes will serve as senior assistant coach, while Blair is in charge of the attack and Jason Ryan remains as forwards coach.
Held in high regard in New Zealand
Umaga is held in high regard in New Zealand as he made 74 Test appearances for the All Blacks and also skippered the side in 2004 and 2005.
After it was confirmed earlier this month that Rennie‘ would take charge of the All Blacks, Umaga was heavily linked with a position in the backroom staff, and now that his appointment has been confirmed, he admitted that he is looking forward to the challenge.
“It’s a huge honour and obviously a privilege to be part of this group,” he said. “I’m really thankful that Dave Rennie has given me this opportunity. I’m looking forward to it. I can’t wait to start really.”
Umaga knows Rennie well from playing under him at the Wellington Lions when they won their first NPC title in 14 years in 2000, and he admitted that it was difficult not to share the great news with people once his former coach approached him about a possible role with the All Blacks.
He revealed, however, that there was one person whom he informed once Rennie contacted him.
“My wife, obviously,” said Umaga. “She’s the person I share everything with really. She was pretty happy and then it took me a little bit.
“When I first talked to Dave (about) the opportunity possibly coming around, I’ve probably been in this game (and) until it’s really signed, I don’t really tell too many people because if it doesn’t happen then it doesn’t happen. So, just my wife and I knew at that stage.
“It took me a while even to tell my kids. I’ve probably been pretty busy so it was good that I didn’t have to think about it all the time.”
As a legendary New Zealand Test player, Umaga is aware that being part of the All Blacks coaching staff presents him with an opportunity to continue his legacy with the famous side.
All Blacks: Dave Rennie names assistant coaches as Tana Umaga headlines four-man group
“It’s very special, first and foremost,” he admitted. “Going back in there in a different role, it’s different. Times have changed. There’s been a lot of people and a lot of things going through since my time there the last time.
‘I’m never one to assume’
“I think it’s just me and I’m never one to assume. I don’t think this is how it should be because that’s what it was like way back in my day. I’m not that kind of person and I never wanted to be.
“It’s just accepting where we’re at now and seeing where I can add value. Also what Dave wants and really supporting that, that’s what we’re here for. I understand that and once we get in there we’ll know what it’s like and where I can add value to that.”
Before he settles into his new position with the All Blacks, Umaga will finish his stint as Moana’s Pasifika’s head coach at the completion of their Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Under his guidance, Moana were very competitive during the 2025 season and finished in seventh position in the standings.
However, they have struggled this season and are firmly rooted to the bottom of the table after winning just one out of six matches so far this year.
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
Despite his impending move to join the All Blacks backroom staff, Umaga is fully committed to his role with Moana and is determined to turn around their fortunes before he leaves the side.
“I’ve got to make sure that I do well with Moana Pasifika and respect the time that I’ve got here,” he said.
“I’ll apply the same things I learned when I was an All Black in terms of ‘am I going to leave Moana in a better place?’
“I’m here until the end of the season and we’ve still got things we want to achieve before then.”