New Zealand’s All Blacks name Dave Rennie as coach
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New Zealand's All Blacks named Dave Rennie to replace Scott Robertson, who was sacked midway through a four-year contract.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WELLINGTON – Dave Rennie was named as replacement for Scott Robertson as coach of the All Blacks on March 4 and charged with taking New Zealand to a fourth World Cup triumph in Australia in 2027.
The 62-year-old former Wallabies coach beat out Jamie Joseph for one of the biggest jobs in world rugby after an extensive recruitment process that started when Robertson made the surprise decision to step down halfway through his contract in mid-January.
Rennie, the first All Blacks coach with Pacific Islander heritage, was handed a contract through to the end of the 2027 World Cup but will honour his commitment to Japan’s Kobe Steelers before preparing New Zealand for the July Tests.
“I’m extremely proud to have been entrusted with this role and understand the expectations that come with it,” Rennie said in a New Zealand Rugby (NZR) statement.
Robertson stepped down in the wake of a critical review of his stewardship of the team last season, when the All Blacks won 10 of 13 Tests but were humbled at home by the Springboks and also lost to Argentina and England.
NZR chairman David Kirk made it clear that there were high expectations about the type of rugby the All Blacks would play.
“He is a world-class coach who has consistently shown he can build strong performance environments and win,” the former All Blacks skipper said.
“Dave understands what it means to coach the All Blacks and play a style of rugby that reflects who we are as New Zealanders.”
Rennie, who has Cook Islands heritage through his mother, made his name as the coach of the New Zealand Under-20 team which won three junior world titles between 2008 and 2010.
He enjoyed more success in Super Rugby as coach of the Waikato Chiefs side which clinched back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 before moving to Scotland with the Glasgow Warriors.
Rennie was appointed Australia coach in late 2019 and oversaw 34 Tests over three seasons, winning just 13.
He was sacked in early 2023 to make way for the ill-fated return of Eddie Jones.
The New Zealander’s winning record was the lowest of any Wallabies coach who had overseen at least 30 Tests but he did lead them to wins over the All Blacks, Springboks and France.
Former All Blacks flanker Liam Messam, who played under Rennie for the Chiefs, said it was an “awesome” appointment.
“It’s great news... to have a great leader like that lead the ship,” he told the New Zealand Herald.
“A lot of experience, obviously, but he is a great man to bring in the culture and the connection.”
Rennie said he was clear on the way he wanted the All Blacks to play.
He said: “We have a lot of talent here and we will be working extremely hard to make the country proud.”
Meanwhile, more than 750,000 tickets for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia were snapped up by fans from 135 countries in the pre-sale phase, with organisers claiming it as a record for the initial stage of allocation.
The 2027 World Cup will be the first with 24 teams and 2.5 million tickets for the 52 matches will go on sale before the tournament starts on Oct 1, 2027.
REUTERS
