New All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has opened up about managing dual roles with the national team and the Kobelco Kobe Steelers, and his plans for assembling his coaching staff. Recently announced as Scott Robertson’s successor, Rennie faces the challenge of steering the three-time world champions back to glory at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Rennie's tenure with the Kobe Steelers will conclude at the end of this season, after which he will focus entirely on the All Blacks. Until then, he’s committed to maximizing every moment, stating, "I’ve done it a lot of times before and every spare hour will be dedicated towards the All Blacks." His strategy includes commuting between Japan and New Zealand to integrate with the local rugby community and align with his assistant coaches.
"Ideally, I’d be here and be a lot more visible, but I’m committed to Kobe but this is the end of my three-year term and I can double up."
Regarding his coaching lineup, Rennie has expressed his intent to finalize his team swiftly. While he has made recommendations to the board, conversations with current assistant coaches Scott Hansen, Tamati Ellison, and Jason Ryan, who are still under contract with New Zealand Rugby, are pending. Rennie emphasized the urgency of these discussions: "They obviously want me to talk to the incumbents as well, so we want to do that quickly because we’re sorted, then we can start ripping into things."
Rennie plans to use Kobe’s bye weekends to travel to New Zealand. This schedule allows him to not only work closely with his coaching staff but also to engage with various franchises, fostering a stronger connection across the board. "The guys who are based here, we want to start driving connection and I want them to come up to Japan so we can get a lot of planning done, around our game model, all the details," he added.
The balance between Rennie's commitments in Japan and his preparations with the All Blacks is crucial as he aims to build a robust framework for New Zealand's rugby future. His proactive approach and dedication to both roles underscore his commitment to revitalizing the All Blacks as they gear up for the challenges ahead.
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New All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has opened up about managing dual roles with the national team and the Kobelco Kobe Steelers, and his plans for assembling his coaching staff. Recently announced as Scott Robertson’s successor, Rennie faces the challenge of steering the three-time world champions back to glory at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Rennie's tenure with the Kobe Steelers will conclude at the end of this season, after which he will focus entirely on the All Blacks. Until then, he’s committed to maximizing every moment, stating, "I’ve done it a lot of times before and every spare hour will be dedicated towards the All Blacks." His strategy includes commuting between Japan and New Zealand to integrate with the local rugby community and align with his assistant coaches.
"Ideally, I’d be here and be a lot more visible, but I’m committed to Kobe but this is the end of my three-year term and I can double up."
Regarding his coaching lineup, Rennie has expressed his intent to finalize his team swiftly. While he has made recommendations to the board, conversations with current assistant coaches Scott Hansen, Tamati Ellison, and Jason Ryan, who are still under contract with New Zealand Rugby, are pending. Rennie emphasized the urgency of these discussions: "They obviously want me to talk to the incumbents as well, so we want to do that quickly because we’re sorted, then we can start ripping into things."
Rennie plans to use Kobe’s bye weekends to travel to New Zealand. This schedule allows him to not only work closely with his coaching staff but also to engage with various franchises, fostering a stronger connection across the board. "The guys who are based here, we want to start driving connection and I want them to come up to Japan so we can get a lot of planning done, around our game model, all the details," he added.
The balance between Rennie's commitments in Japan and his preparations with the All Blacks is crucial as he aims to build a robust framework for New Zealand's rugby future. His proactive approach and dedication to both roles underscore his commitment to revitalizing the All Blacks as they gear up for the challenges ahead.