“Neil provides outstanding leadership and strategic support; Jase has proven himself as one of the best forwards coaches in the game; Tana brings immense mana and defensive insight; and Mike will bring his innovative approach and attention to detail to our attack. I know this group will challenge and support both me and our players to bring the best out of us all,” Rennie said.
“This has been a thorough appointment process that included conversations with each of the former All Blacks Assistant Coaches. I want to acknowledge those men, who have all contributed so positively and professionally to this process and to the legacy of the All Blacks. They are each excellent coaches in their own right, who I know will go on to achieve further success in their careers.”
New Zealand Rugby Interim CEO, Steve Lancaster, added: “We acknowledge that this has been an uncertain period for people and that there are some difficult farewells as part of the process. I want to pay tribute to the service that Scott Hansen, Tamati Ellison and Bryn Evans have given to the black jersey. They have each made important contributions to the team and I know they have all got a lot more to give as world-class coaches. The way they have conducted themselves throughout is testament to the outstanding professionals and good people they all are.
“I also congratulate our new group of coaches, who bring a formidable combination of experience and mana. We are confident they will complement Dave’s leadership and we cannot wait to see them go to work with the 2026 All Blacks group.”
Blair was schooled at Edinburgh Academy, and after cutting his teeth in senior rugby with Edinburgh Academicals and Boroughmuir, before moving into the professional game with Edinburgh Rugby in 2001, where he spent the next 11 years. He subsequently played club rugby for Brive, Newcastle Falcons and finally Glasgow Warriors before hanging up his boots in 2016.
He made his Scotland debut against Canada in June 2002 and went on to earn 85 caps, as well as touring South Africa with the British & Irish Lions in 2009.
He was an assistant coach with Glasgow Warriors for three tears between 2016 and 2019, initially under Gregor Townsend and then Rennie, and also worked with Scotland under Townsend between 2017 and 2021. He was then persuaded to take on the poisoned chalice of the Edinburgh Rugby head coach role, after the hasty departure of Richard Cockerill, leading then to seventh in the URC table during his first season at the helm – finishing higher than Glasgow Warriors for the first time in over a decade – but didn’t enjoy the administrative side of the head coach role and in February 2023 he announced his intention to step down at the end of that season.
In June 2023, it was announced that Blair would renew his working relationship with Rennie by moving to Japan to become one of the New Zealander’s coaching team at Kobe Steelers. Steelers finished fifth in Japan League One in 2023-24, scoring 89 tries, which was more than any team in the competition other than table-toppers Saitama Wild Knights (106 tries).