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Cruden enjoying new coaching challenge with Waikato
Duncan Perkinson • September 29th, 2026 11:54 am
Waikato's Aaron Cruden has transitioned seamlessly from player in last year's NPC to a coaching role with Waikato, alongside his work in the media | Photo: Bruce Lim/Photosport
Former All Blacks first five-eighth Aaron Cruden is embracing life beyond playing, balancing media work with a new coaching role at Waikato.
Cruden said he has been enjoying his television role, though broadcasting opened up his eyes to how much goes on behind the scenes.
“You do have to be very adaptable,” he told Sport Nation’s Scotty and Izzy live from Farmlands Hamilton, praising the crew who help make it all happen.
“When you're talking about something you enjoy, I mean, it's pretty easy.”
Aaron Cruden on Dave Rennie's impact on his career | Scotty & Izzy
His coaching role is currently part-time, but the transition has felt natural after playing in the NPC in recent seasons.
“I just stepped into a little bit of the coaching world, just a couple of days a week, but it's been awesome,” Cruden said.
Knowing many of the Waikato players has helped him settle in, and Cruden is enjoying the competition, describing this year’s NPC as “wicked” and “entertaining.”
With the quarter-finals on the horizon and Waikato currently sixth on the ladder, their match against 8th-placed Tasman this Saturday at FMG Stadium looms large: “It’s all on. It’s full noise,” he said.
Attention will also be on Cruden’s former All Black teammate Beauden Barrett this round, who is expected to turn out for Taranaki against Wellington on Sunday.
The 50-Test All Black said Barrett would be excited to return to provincial rugby, while remaining focused on preparations for the upcoming Bledisloe Cup series with Dave Rennie's side to be named Tuesday afternoon.
“He’s training the house down,” Cruden said, adding that Barrett knows the expectations and “still wants to be there.”
Cruden also reflected warmly on his time under Rennie - he credited the coach’s guidance and support with shaping his career, describing him as “the connector of people.”
Rennie, Cruden said, “really balances out professional and personal very well” - a quality that helps bring a team together and moving in the same direction.
Listen to the full interview:
