Tana Umaga has opened up about his appointment as one of the new All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie\u2019s assistants and what he expects from his position.<\/p>\n
Umaga has been appointed as the men in black\u2019s new defence coach and is joined by former Scotland international Mike Blair and Neil Barnes as the new faces in the coaching group.<\/p>\n
Barnes will serve as senior assistant coach, while Blair is in charge of the attack and Jason Ryan remains as forwards coach.<\/p>\n
Held in high regard in New Zealand<\/p>\n
Umaga<\/a> is held in high regard in New Zealand as he made 74 Test appearances for the All Blacks<\/a> and also skippered the side in 2004 and 2005.<\/p>\n After it was confirmed earlier this month that Rennie<\/a>\u2018 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a huge honour and obviously a privilege to be part of this group,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m really thankful that Dave Rennie has given me this opportunity. I\u2019m looking forward to it. I can\u2019t wait to start really.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n He revealed, however, that there was one person whom he informed once Rennie contacted him.<\/p>\n \u201cMy wife, obviously,\u201d said Umaga. \u201cShe\u2019s the person I share everything with really. She was pretty happy and then it took me a little bit.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I first talked to Dave (about) the opportunity possibly coming around, I\u2019ve probably been in this game (and) until it\u2019s really signed, I don\u2019t really tell too many people because if it doesn\u2019t happen then it doesn\u2019t happen. So, just my wife and I knew at that stage.<\/p>\n \u201cIt took me a while even to tell my kids. I\u2019ve probably been pretty busy so it was good that I didn\u2019t have to think about it all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n All Blacks: Dave Rennie names assistant coaches as Tana Umaga headlines four-man group<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very special, first and foremost,\u201d he admitted. \u201cGoing back in there in a different role, it\u2019s different. Times have changed. There\u2019s been a lot of people and a lot of things going through since my time there the last time.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m never one to assume\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s just me and I\u2019m never one to assume. I don\u2019t think this is how it should be because that\u2019s what it was like way back in my day. I\u2019m not that kind of person and I never wanted to be.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just accepting where we\u2019re at now and seeing where I can add value. Also what Dave wants and really supporting that, that\u2019s what we\u2019re here for. I understand that and once we get in there we\u2019ll know what it\u2019s like and where I can add value to that.\u201d<\/p>\n Before he settles into his new position with the All Blacks, Umaga will finish his stint as Moana\u2019s Pasifika\u2019s head coach at the completion of their Super Rugby Pacific campaign.<\/p>\n Under his guidance, Moana were very competitive during the 2025 season and finished in seventh position in the standings.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n