All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has made the final additions to the management group ahead of the 2026 international season.<\/p>\n
Gilbert Enoka ONZM and Dr. James McGarvey will return to the Test<\/a> setup with Dr. Ceri Evans and Dr. Martin Swan departing, New Zealand Rugby confirmed on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Enoka is well-renowned for his previous success as the All Blacks<\/a>\u2018 Leadership and Mental Performance Coach, a role he reprises in Rennie\u2019s staff.<\/p>\n He performed the role for two decades and was described as \u2018the secret ingredient in a golden era\u2019 by former All Blacks head coach Sir Steve Hansen, with Enoka performing the role during New Zealand\u2019s back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories in 2011 and 2015.<\/p>\n Gilbert Enoka returns to All Blacks setup<\/p>\n Enoka left New Zealand Rugby after the 2023 Rugby World Cup<\/a>, 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.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI 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,\u201d Rennie said in a NZ Rugby statement.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are excited to welcome Gilbert Enoka back into the All Blacks. With two intense seasons ahead of us, including this year\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Stephen Donald: Dave Rennie\u2019s All Blacks will \u2018morph\u2019 after Scott Robertson\u2019s unpopular game plan as Chiefs and Hurricanes provide blueprint<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI know that James will transition seamlessly into the group because he already knows the role, the environment, and me as a Head Coach,\u201d Rennie said.<\/p>\n \u201cWork 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.\u201d<\/p>\n