Current Crusaders Assistant Coach Scott Hansen has been confirmed as All Blacks Assistant Coach from 2024.
Hansen was named at a press conference in Wellington on Wednesday alongside existing All Blacks and former Crusaders Assistant Coach Jason Ryan, Leon McDonald and Jason Holland.
The coaching group will join Scott Robertson, who leaves the Crusaders at the end of the ’23 season to take the top job at the All Blacks from 2024, as confirmed by New Zealand Rugby in March.
McDonald is currently Head Coach at the Blues, and Holland is Head Coach at the Hurricanes – both teams currently competing with the Crusaders for the Super Rugby Pacific ’23 title.
Colin Mansbridge, Crusaders CEO, said the franchise was “stoked” to see yet another member of the Crusaders whanau attain one of the top coaching roles in the world.
“Scotty Hansen has hugely high standards, he’s a disciple of the game and a one-of-a-kind rugby strategist,” Mansbridge said.
“He’s proven himself time and time again here at the Crusaders, at Canterbury, and through his various international coaching roles.
“We know he will be awesome in the environment. We’re so proud of our guys for stepping up and privileged to be able to help them grow.”
Hansen said he was “proud and privileged to be part of the All Blacks organisation and coaching team for next year”.
“I look forward to supporting Scott Robertson in adding to the legacy of the All Blacks, while also forging strong relationships with our coaches, management, players and NZR staff,” Hansen said.
“To coach and serve any player that aspires to be their best is one of my most rewarding experiences, to now be able to do this within the All Blacks environment for me is an honour.
“My immediate focus and energy now continues to be with the Crusaders for this season.”
Mansbridge said the announcement of Robertson’s All Blacks coaching group brought clarity to the rest of the year.
“This announcement brings clarity to the rest of our year, and we thank New Zealand Rugby for expediting this process so we can have more meaningful conversations with potential candidates for the Head Coach and Assistant Coach positions,” he said.
“These conversations will continue through the season and we’ll be able to provide more detail in due course.”
Hansen joined the Crusaders ahead of the ’20 Super Rugby season with a focus on the team’s attack strategies and game planning. In the position, he linked back up with Robertson who he coached Canterbury with in 2013 and 2014. He went on to join the Leicester Tigers in 2015, together with current Moana Pasifika coach Aaron Mauger.
In 2017 Hansen joined Japanese Top League side Kobelco Steelers working with Wayne Smith as Assistant Coach, before making the Super Rugby move in 2018 as Assistant Coach with the Sunwolves where he joined acclaimed New Zealand coaches Tony Brown and Jamie Joseph.
He worked with the Japanese national side from 2019 to 2022, including at the ’19 Rugby World Cup – their most successful tournament ever with historic wins over Ireland and Scotland. More recently, in 2022 Hansen coached both the New Zealand U20s and the All Blacks XV.
