All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has made the final additions to the management group ahead of the 2026 international season.
Gilbert Enoka ONZM and Dr. James McGarvey will return to the Test setup with Dr. Ceri Evans and Dr. Martin Swan departing, New Zealand Rugby confirmed on Tuesday.
Enoka is well-renowned for his previous success as the All Blacks‘ Leadership and Mental Performance Coach, a role he reprises in Rennie’s staff.
He performed the role for two decades and was described as ‘the secret ingredient in a golden era’ by former All Blacks head coach Sir Steve Hansen, with Enoka performing the role during New Zealand’s back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories in 2011 and 2015.
Gilbert Enoka returns to All Blacks setup
Enoka left New Zealand Rugby after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, after 23 years with the union, and has been in demand since working with the England cricket team and the New South Wales State of Origin side. He also took up a short-term consultancy with English Premier League club Chelsea in 2023.
“I want to firstly acknowledge the important contribution that Dr. Ceri Evans has made to the team over the last two decades. His breadth of experience and expertise in the field of high-pressure performance is world-class and the legacy he leaves is significant,” Rennie said in a NZ Rugby statement.
“We are excited to welcome Gilbert Enoka back into the All Blacks. With two intense seasons ahead of us, including this year’s extended tour of South Africa and the 2027 Rugby World Cup, we believe the experience, deep understanding of the environment, and connection that Gilbert brings will be of huge value.”
Meanwhile, McGarvey also returns to the All Blacks Team Doctor role that he held between 2020 and 2023 and resumes a working relationship with Rennie that began with the New Zealand Under 20s in 2010 and continued at the Chiefs from 2012.
“I know that James will transition seamlessly into the group because he already knows the role, the environment, and me as a Head Coach,” Rennie said.
“Work is already well underway for the season ahead, but having existing relationships such as this certainly help to ensure a smooth process when we are coming together as a new group.”
Steve Lancaster thanks departees
New Zealand Rugby Interim CEO, Steve Lancaster, added: “On behalf of NZ Rugby, I would like to thank Ceri for all the wisdom and insight he has shared since he began consulting to the All Blacks in 2010. His combination of experience as an elite athlete and forensic psychiatrist has made him a world-renowned expert in the area of mental performance and we’ve been fortunate to tap into that knowledge to help the All Blacks perform under pressure, including his well-known Red Blue mind model.
“We also thank Dr. Martin Swan for the care he has given to the All Blacks as Team Doctor over the last two seasons. Martin’s strong focus on wholistic wellbeing and the Te Whare Tapa Whā health model has been important within the team. We wish him the very best for the future, including his ongoing work with the New Zealand Defence Force and New Zealand Cricket.
“It is fantastic to be welcoming two very experienced All Blacks alumni back and we know what a valuable contribution both Gilbert and James will make.”
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