Steve Hansen. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Steve Hansen will not be coaching the Crusaders next season.
The New Zealand Rugby Union rejected an appeal from the All Blacks assistant coach to allow him to apply for the job while keeping his role with the national side.
Hansen sought a dispensation to hold both duties
but the board rejected that request because they felt he needed to concentrate on one rather than multiple teams. The NZRU policy stipulates that a coach cannot hold dual NZRU and Super 14 roles unless he gets special dispensation.
The board discussed Hansen's request for that exemption so he could broaden his practical coaching career but decided to deny him that privilege.
"The decision also reflected the board's regard for Steve not only as an All Blacks assistant coach but also as a team selector, an asset that would have been lost to the All Blacks in the dual coaching proposal," an NZRU statement said yesterday.
After hearing that decision, Hansen said he would withdraw his application to coach the Crusaders. NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said his board had considered the matter thoroughly and discussed the issues directly with the All Blacks assistant coach.
The decision reflected the board's wish for Hansen to stay as All Black assistant and a selector, roles which would be compromised under the dual coaching concept.
Hansen said he was disappointed but would withdraw his application to coach the Crusaders. That decision disappointed Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach although he said there were a number of high-quality coaches still shooting for the position left vacant by the exit of Robbie Deans.
Some of those contenders are understood to be the franchise's assistant Mark Hammett, former skipper Todd Blackadder and former midfielder Daryl Gibson with interviews to be conducted shortly.
