Rugby Union puts manager back at top of All Black tree

It's back to the future for the All Blacks next year with the Rugby Union confirming that a manager will head the national team's 2004 campaign.

That person will be an employee of the NZRFU and the position will be advertised this week, chairman Jock Hobbs said last night.

The last time the All Blacks had a fulltime manager it was Andrew Martin, whose role ended in the middle of last year.

His responsibilities included planning for other national sides.

The All Blacks have been managed by Tony Thorpe since their end-of-year tour to France, England and Wales late last year.

Hobbs denied the move was a reaction to the way coach John Mitchell wielded power during last month's World Cup.

"This has absolutely nothing to do with John Mitchell or any other individual. We want the best structure and the people - out of that we'll get the best results.

"If we get the structure right and get the right people - you make sure there is accountability in the mix - we'll get the right results."

Hobbs said that under the new structure, the All Blacks coach and selectors would still be chosen by the NZRFU board but would report to the board and its chief executive through the manager.

"The manager will have overall responsibility for leadership, strategy and planning of the All Blacks team and he will report to the CEO.

"The All Blacks coach will be responsible for the selection of the team, the training of the team and the coaching of the team.

"We're looking for someone [the manager] with a good range of skills across a whole host of competencies, as is required of the leader of the All Blacks.

"We want the All Blacks to operate as a division of the NZRFU and be an integral part of the NZRFU's community rugby, commercial, media and other activities.

"With the competitions review's decision [released last week] that the All Blacks play more tests in future, the need for such integration is even more compelling."

Of the new management arrangement, Mitchell said: " ... I'm quite prepared to be involved in such a structure."

Hobbs said the board had been discussing the issue for some time.

"We very much want to see the All Blacks being part of inside the organisation rather than outside the organisation."

Hobbs said the makeup of the All Blacks' support team was yet to be decided but the review of the team's campaign this year would influence the makeup of that.

Applications for the already advertised All Blacks coach's job will close on Monday. One scenario which won't happen is Mitchell working with his chief rival Graham Henry.

Mitchell last night ruled that out and said he will work only with Robbie Deans if he is to coach the All Blacks again in tandem with another rugby coach.

Asked if could work with former Blues, Wales and Lions coach Henry, Mitchell said: "No, I would prefer to work with Rob. That's been declared, that is very, very clear."

- NZPA