In the realm of rugby, few opportunities come as revered and challenging as a coaching position with the All Blacks. For Mike Blair, the former Scotland scrum-half, this role is not just a job; it's a chance to amend past regrets from his playing days with the British and Irish Lions. At 44, Blair reflects on a pivotal moment in his career that combines a mix of both disappointment and anticipation.
Blair's rugby journey took a notable turn in 2009 when he was called up to the Lions squad after Tomas O’Leary's injury. Despite playing in matches against the Royal XV, Sharks, and Southern Kings, Blair never made it into the Lions' Test lineup, as Ian McGeechan favored other players. This part of his career, he admits, left him with a lingering sense of unfinished business. "I had big regrets when I got chosen for the British and Irish Lions, and I was pleased I’d been selected for it, but I didn’t make the most of my opportunity," Blair recounted.
"I regret my time with the British and Irish Lions. So, I see this as an opportunity to fix that."
Transitioning from player to coach, Blair now sees a silver lining in his new role as the attack coach under Dave Rennie for the All Blacks. The initial conversation about joining Rennie's team was casual yet pivotal. Blair shared on the Aotearoa Rugby Podcast, "So he said, ‘Do you want to uh do you want to catch up?’ And you usually with Rens, there’s a reason why you catch up. So my mind was kind of worrying as to what this could be." After the meeting, the offer was laid out, and despite playing it cool initially, the decision to join was swift, influenced by family considerations and a strong endorsement from his wife.
The reaction from his wife was particularly enthusiastic. "Well, when I told my wife before I could finish saying what I’d been asked to do, she was like, ‘You’ve got to do it, you’ve got to do it, you’re doing it, we’ll make it work,'" he explained. This personal anecdote not only highlights the familial support behind Blair's career moves but also underscores the personal stakes involved in his professional decisions.
With Blair's appointment set to run through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, the stakes are high, and the expectations are even higher. New Zealand Rugby’s decision on whether to extend the current coaching staff's contracts beyond the tournament will ultimately measure the success of Blair’s strategies and the team's performance. Furthermore, should he stay on, Blair might find himself coaching against the Lions when they tour New Zealand in 2029, offering him a full-circle moment from player to coach against a team that marked a significant chapter in his rugby career.
Blair’s journey from a Lion’s reserve to an All Blacks coach is a testament to the unpredictable arcs in rugby careers, where past regrets can transform into future opportunities. For Blair, it's not just about coaching a team; it's about rewriting a personal narrative in the rugby annals.
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In the realm of rugby, few opportunities come as revered and challenging as a coaching position with the All Blacks. For Mike Blair, the former Scotland scrum-half, this role is not just a job; it's a chance to amend past regrets from his playing days with the British and Irish Lions. At 44, Blair reflects on a pivotal moment in his career that combines a mix of both disappointment and anticipation.
Blair's rugby journey took a notable turn in 2009 when he was called up to the Lions squad after Tomas O’Leary's injury. Despite playing in matches against the Royal XV, Sharks, and Southern Kings, Blair never made it into the Lions' Test lineup, as Ian McGeechan favored other players. This part of his career, he admits, left him with a lingering sense of unfinished business. "I had big regrets when I got chosen for the British and Irish Lions, and I was pleased I’d been selected for it, but I didn’t make the most of my opportunity," Blair recounted.
"I regret my time with the British and Irish Lions. So, I see this as an opportunity to fix that."
Transitioning from player to coach, Blair now sees a silver lining in his new role as the attack coach under Dave Rennie for the All Blacks. The initial conversation about joining Rennie's team was casual yet pivotal. Blair shared on the Aotearoa Rugby Podcast, "So he said, ‘Do you want to uh do you want to catch up?’ And you usually with Rens, there’s a reason why you catch up. So my mind was kind of worrying as to what this could be." After the meeting, the offer was laid out, and despite playing it cool initially, the decision to join was swift, influenced by family considerations and a strong endorsement from his wife.
The reaction from his wife was particularly enthusiastic. "Well, when I told my wife before I could finish saying what I’d been asked to do, she was like, ‘You’ve got to do it, you’ve got to do it, you’re doing it, we’ll make it work,'" he explained. This personal anecdote not only highlights the familial support behind Blair's career moves but also underscores the personal stakes involved in his professional decisions.
With Blair's appointment set to run through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, the stakes are high, and the expectations are even higher. New Zealand Rugby’s decision on whether to extend the current coaching staff's contracts beyond the tournament will ultimately measure the success of Blair’s strategies and the team's performance. Furthermore, should he stay on, Blair might find himself coaching against the Lions when they tour New Zealand in 2029, offering him a full-circle moment from player to coach against a team that marked a significant chapter in his rugby career.
Blair’s journey from a Lion’s reserve to an All Blacks coach is a testament to the unpredictable arcs in rugby careers, where past regrets can transform into future opportunities. For Blair, it's not just about coaching a team; it's about rewriting a personal narrative in the rugby annals.