New Zealand Rugby have revealed the mystery former All Black who is on the board to appoint Scott Robertson\u2019s successor.<\/p>\n
Following the announcement of Robertson\u2019s exit, ex-All Blacks hooker and NZR board member Keven Mealamu, former NZR head of high performance Don Tricker, acting NZR chief executive Steve Lancaster, and another former All Black would form the panel that chooses the next coach.<\/p>\n
Dane Coles joins panel to select the next All Blacks coach<\/p>\n
When fronting the media, Lancaster was tight-lipped as to who the other former All Black<\/a> was, simply stating that it was a recently retired player.<\/p>\n However, NZ Rugby have now disclosed that it is ex-hooker Dane Coles.<\/p>\n The 39-year-old played 90 times for New Zealand between 2012 and 2023 and represented the Hurricanes in over 140 matches during his illustrious career, before hanging up his boots at the last Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n He will now be part of the interviewing process of the candidates to succeed Robertson<\/a> with the panel then making a recommendation to the board before a final call is made.<\/p>\n Additionally, NZ Rugby confirmed that the application window has closed and that the next stage of the process is underway for the appointment panel.<\/p>\n Ian Foster\u2019s verdict on All Blacks vacancy and issues \u2018sure of it\u2019 prediction after Scott Robertson\u2019s sacking<\/a><\/p>\n Potential candidates<\/p>\n Former Wallabies boss Dave Rennie and ex-Japan head coach Jamie Joseph are believed to be the frontrunners for the position but neither has publicly stated their interest in the current vacancy.<\/p>\n Rennie is currently preparing the Highlanders for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, while Rennie is coaching the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also reported that former All Blacks head coaches Sir Steve Hansen and Ian Foster have been \u2018approached\u2019 by NZ Rugby to apply for the position. Foster initially told DSPN\u2019s Martin Devlin that he didn\u2019t expect to be contacted, but the New Zealand Herald<\/a> reported that NZ Rugby did approach him and Hansen.<\/p>\n The Herald added that it\u2019s \u2018unclear if either would be interested in returning to the role\u2019, but the duo were contacted directly or through their representatives.<\/p>\n NZ Rugby narrowed the search for the next head coach by insisting that any applicants must be a New Zealander and have international head coaching experience in order to apply for the role.<\/p>\n Israel Dagg\u2019s impassioned plea to the next All Blacks coach as Springboks requirement set for new boss<\/a><\/p>\n John Mitchell met that criteria but has been ruled out of the race after signing an extension to remain as England women\u2019s head coach, while the same is true for Blues boss Vern Cotter, who will be succeeding Les Kiss at the Queensland Reds next season.<\/p>\n Joe Schmidt has reportedly ruled himself out of the running too, because of his work with the Wallabies during this Rugby World Cup cycle, leaving the likes of Rennie and Joseph as the leading candidates.<\/p>\n Last year, former Wallabies head coach Robbie Deans said that he had no plans to return to the international arena, with the other coaches that meet the criteria including Warren Gatland, Kieran Crowley and Wayne Pivac.<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n