Rugby: Coach to be named in next few weeks

Steve Tew. Photo / NZPA

The Rugby Union still plans to unveil the next All Black coach before Christmas.

Applications closed last week and the interview panel has begun quizzing a shortlist of contenders to succeed Graham Henry.

"We are still heading towards an announcement before we break up at Christmas," said NZRU chief executive Steve Tew after yesterday's board meeting.

Tew is part of a group involving board members Mike Eagle, Graham Mourie and Graham Cooney, All Black manager Darren Shand and NZRU high performance manager Don Tricker who will grill the aspirants.

They want to stick with their plans to sort out the All Black coach first. Tew was coy about whether all those being interviewed would be seen in person or whether some would be quizzed remotely.

"We will appoint a head coach in that first instance and once we know who that person is and we can sit and talk to him then we will decide one way or another what we do around assistants," he said.

"But I think it is likely there will be another step in the process but you never know.

"Last time Graham [Henry] was very persuasive in 2003 and convinced the board that his group were worthy of appointment but we will keep our powder dry until we know who the coach is and who his running mates will be."

Tew would not offer any names on the coaching contenders list because he did not want to encourage speculation.

He was comfortable with the NZRU process and that the eligibility rules had thrown up enough suitable candidates. If the NZRU did not find the right person to be coach then they had the right to alter their strategies.

But they believed their policy helped coaches plan their employment moves.

Tricker had addressed the board about the entire All Black season although he had concentrated more on the World Cup campaign.