New Zealand Rugby named Dave Rennie as the new coach of the All Blacks, as the iconic team looks to reset and regain form ahead of next year’s World Cup.
New Zealander Rennie, who currently coaches Japanese team the Kobelco Kobe Steelers and was the Australian national team’s head coach between 2020 and 2023, takes over from Scott Robertson, who left his role in January just two years into his four-year contract.
The All Blacks coach is intensely scrutinised in New Zealand, where rugby is the national game and world dominance isn’t merely hoped for but expected.
ADVERTISEMENT
CONTINUE READING BELOW
“Dave understands what it means to coach the All Blacks and play a style of rugby that reflects who we are as New Zealanders,” New Zealand Rugby Chair David Kirk said in a statement Wednesday. “He has a deep understanding of rugby in New Zealand and the role the All Blacks play in shaping our national identity and bringing communities together.”
Robertson’s departure came after local media earlier reported that his position was under pressure amid suggestions that senior players within the All Blacks team were unhappy with its direction. The team lost seven of 27 games under Robertson’s control, including a record defeat to arch rivals South Africa last year and a loss to England in November.
New Zealand Rugby said Rennie will honor his commitments with the Kobe Steelers until the conclusion of the Japan Rugby League One competition, before returning to New Zealand to prepare the All Blacks for the July home series against France, Italy and Ireland.
© 2026 Bloomberg
#Zealand #rugby #names #Dave #Rennie #Blacks #Coach