Sport

New All Blacks coach set to be announced

13:09 pm on 11 December 2019

The new All Blacks coach is set to be announced by New Zealand Rugby at 3pm, RNZ understands.

Scott Robertson (L) and Ian Foster (R). Photo: Photosport

Current assistant coach Ian Foster is likely to be appointed as Steve Hansen's replacement after Hansen stepped down from the job at the end of the Rugby World Cup.

Foster and Crusaders coach Scott Robertson were the two leading candidates for the job, but Roberton's lack of international coaching experience is likely to have counted against him.

Foster's lack of success with the Chiefs in Super Rugby has raised questions of whether he's the right person for the job, but New Zealand Rugby is believed to have offered him a two-year initial contract rather than signing him on through until the next World Cup in France.

The duo were interviewed for the job by New Zealand Rugby on Monday.

A number of leading contenders pulled out of the race to be the next All Blacks coach to take up other opportunities - they include Jamie Joseph, who re-signed with the Japan Rugby Union, Dave Rennie, who has taken up the position of Wallabies head coach, Warren Gatland, who will coach the Chiefs in Super Rugby and British and Irish Lions, as well as former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt.

-More to come