New Zealand Rugby has approached Sir Steve Hansen and Ian Foster to gauge interest in applying for the vacant role of All Blacks head coach, the Herald understands.
However, it is unclear if either would be interested in returning to the role they vacated in 2019 and 2023 respectively.
Since the departure of Scott Robertson last month, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has narrowed its criteria to find the All Blacks’ next coach through to the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup cycle at the earliest.
To be considered, any applicants must be a New Zealander and have international coaching experience.
Commentary and speculation has narrowed that search to a two-horse race, between current Highlanders and ex-Japan coach Jamie Joseph and ex-Wallabies and Chiefs boss Dave Rennie.
The Herald understands that both Hansen and Foster are among those approached – either directly or through their representatives – to apply for the role, after NZR chair David Kirk said the organisation would cast the net wide.
NZR would not comment on specific individuals, but acknowledged that both Hansen and Foster met the criteria outlined for the next All Blacks coach.
Interim NZR chief executive Steve Lancaster outlined that the successful applicant must have international experience, in order to cope with a two-year run to a World Cup, as opposed to operating in a traditional four-year cycle. Both Hansen and Foster more than meet that criteria.
Hansen, 66, led the All Blacks in 107 tests, winning 93 and drawing four for a win percentage of 86.92, among the best of the modern era.
In 2011, he was part of Sir Graham Henry’s coaching group, alongside Sir Wayne Smith, that won the Rugby World Cup on home soil.
Four years later, Hansen become the first coach to defend the Webb Ellis Cup, when the All Blacks won the 2015 tournament in England, after he succeeded Henry as head coach.
Since 2019, Hansen has worked in Japan’s Rugby League One, as a director of rugby for Toyota Verblitz. Hansen was nominated for World Rugby’s coach of the year award eight times, winning four.
From 2012 to 2019, Foster was Hansen’s assistant, including during the 2015 World Cup win, before succeeding him. In 46 tests, Foster won 32 with two draws for a win percentage of just under 70.
Arguably, Foster’s greatest achievement came in leading the All Blacks to the final of the 2023 World Cup in France, where they were beaten by South Africa by a single point.
However, that came after the All Blacks endured a run of five defeats in six tests on Foster’s watch, when the now-60-year-old came perilously close to losing his job – before being saved by his players after a backs-to-the-wall win over the Springboks at Ellis Park.
From that point, Foster’s All Blacks lost just twice more, before he was effectively replaced by Robertson without playing a game in 2023.
Since leaving the All Blacks, Foster has also been in Japan with Toyota, under Hansen’s stewardship.
It has also been mooted that Foster could return as an assistant coach, in particular under Joseph, should he win the race for the All Blacks job, and take charge of the attack portfolio after Tony Brown revealed he was committed to South Africa.
Elsewhere, the pair of Joe Schmidt and Vern Cotter are out of the running. Schmidt reportedly does not want to take on another job during this World Cup cycle due to his commitment to Australia, while Cotter has signed to join the Reds from 2027.
Another former All Blacks coach, John Mitchell, met the criteria. However, he has since re-signed to remain in charge of England’s women’s side.
Ex-Australia coach Robbie Deans, former Wales coaches Warren Gatland and Wayne Pivac also meet the criteria set by NZR, as does former Italy boss Kieran Crowley.
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.