FUTURE ALL BLACKS head coach Scott Robertson has announced his backroom staff including former Munster fan favourite Jason Holland and his fellow current Super Rugby boss Leon MacDonald.
After leading the Canterbury Crusaders to six straight Super Rugby titles, Robertson was last month named as New Zealand head coach from the start of next year.
He will replace Ian Foster, who steps down following the Rugby World Cup in France, which kicks off in September.
Robertson will bring in Wellington Hurricanes head coach Holland and Auckland Blues boss MacDonald, together with Scott Hansen, currently his assistant with the Crusaders.
MacDonald will organise the All Blacks’ attack with assistance from Holland, who spent 13 years at Munster as both player and coach, while Hansen will be in charge of defence.
They will take up their roles in 2024.
Incumbent forwards coach Jason Ryan will stay on.
So too will Nic Gill, who has been with the All Blacks since 2008, and will remain head of performance.
“I’ve known Jason, Leon, Scott, Alfie (Holland) and Gilly for a long time and worked with them all at times during my playing and coaching career,” Robertson said in a statement.
“They are a highly talented and motivated group who will bring different strengths to the table and who share a similar philosophy on the game.”
MacDonald, 45, played 56 Tests for the All Blacks from 2000 until 2008.
He makes the step up to Robertson’s backroom staff after impressing with the Blues, who he took charge of in 2019 and will leave at the end of the season.
“The All Blacks were the ultimate for me as a player and nothing has changed as a coach,” MacDonald said in a statement.
Holland, who lined out for Munster between 1999 and 2008, took charge of the Hurricanes from 2020 after a stint as their assistant coach.
“It’s pretty humbling to be asked to contribute to the All Blacks legacy and it’s something every New Zealand coach aspires to,” Holland said.
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson said they were pleased to settle Robertson’s staff, but stressed the governing body will give “full backing” to Foster and his coaching team as they prepare for the World Cup.
