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NZ Rugby confirm panel to appoint next All Blacks head coach, seeking international experience
Sport Nation •  January 26th, 2026 3:30 pm
Photo: Kerry Marshall/Photosport
New Zealand Rugby have confirmed the process that's been put in place to appoint the next All Blacks head coach.
A five-person panel will lead the hiring of Scott Robertson's successor following his departure two years into a four-year deal.
That panel includes NZR board chair David Kirk, who fronted the media in January, adamant that there was zero 'player revolt' that lead to the change.
David Kirk states there's no player revolt in All Blacks camp | Sport Nation
Board member Keven Mealamu and high performance expert Don Tricker, who were part of NZR's review into a disappointing 2025 All Blacks season, has also been named.
NZR interim CEO Steve Lancaster and a yet to be confirmed retired All Blacks player round out the five-person panel.
'Experience' is the key word in their communication, with an invite out to New Zealand coaches with 'international head coaching experience' being encouraged to apply. The panel will conduct the interviews after creating a short list, but the final decision on who will become the next All Blacks head coach will ultimately be made by the NZR Board.
“The All Blacks head coach is an incredibly important appointment. We’ve started the process and are giving it the care and urgency it deserves to set the team up for success," Lancaster said in a statement.
NZR explains the 'international experience/Kiwis only' edict for All Blacks head coach role | Millsy & Guy
The All Blacks are lined up for a massive 2026 schedule, including the inaugural Nations Championship and a major tour of South Africa, with the first Test match for the new coach taking place at Christchurch's Te Kaha Stadium on July 4.
With the next Rugby World Cup in 2027, Lancaster explained to Sport Nation's Millsy & Guy that the requirement of Test experience simply comes down to the next coach needing to hit the ground running, rather than a reflection of Robertson's 2024 appointment.
But when asked about how NZR might handle the transition if the new coach came from a NZ Super Rugby franchise, the interim CEO said they'd aim to make the disruption as minimal as possible.
"We would certainly want the successful candidate to start as soon as it's practicable. We've got a really strong working relationship and alignment with our Super clubs. In the event that was something we had to work through, I'm confident that we'd be able to work through that collaboratively."
Listen to the full interview below:
