ALL BLACKS COACH Steve Hansen has signed a new contract through to the next Rugby World Cup, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) announced on Monday.
Hansen’s deal was due to expire in 2017 but the 57-year-old will now stay on until 2019, when Japan hosts the World Cup.
After succeeding Graham Henry in 2012, Hansen guided the All Blacks to back-to-back World Cup victories last year, while tallying a record of 52 wins, two draws and just three defeats.
“It was never going to be an easy decision nor a foregone conclusion that I would extend my contract. As I’ve said many times before, it had to be right for my family, for myself and for the team,” Hansen said.
“In speaking to my family, they’ve all given me their wholehearted support and I’m very thankful for that, because you just couldn’t do this job without that.
“In asking the important questions of myself, I had to be confident, firstly, in my own mind that I still had the passion, drive and commitment to keep pushing this team to improve and be better. The recent Steinlager Series against the Welsh confirmed to me that I still had that internal motivation.
“The second question I had asked myself was: could I improve as a coach? And I believe I can, and must, as I will be asking others to do the same.
“With regards to the team, I spoke to a number of players and management to get their thoughts on what would be right for the team going forward and I received unanimous feedback from them that it was right for me to continue.
“Once I had confirmed all three of those considerations, it really was a ‘no brainer’ to continue, because, as a coach, there is no better job in rugby than coaching your own national team, particularly one that is as successful as this All Blacks team has been.”
