Ex-All Blacks coach confirmed as Rob Penney’s replacement as Crusaders’ new boss
Scott Hansen will replace Rob Penney (inset) as the Crusaders' head coach in 2027.
The Crusaders have confirmed that Rob Penney will step down from his role as head coach following the conclusion of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, with Scott Hansen appointed as his replacement from 2027.
Penney became the Crusaders’ head coach in August 2023, after Scott Robertson was appointed as All Blacks boss, leading the team into the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.
While it was his first time holding the Christchurch-based outfit’s top job at Super Rugby level, his connection to the Crusaders runs deep and he feels it’s time to hand over the coaching reins to someone else.
‘The time is right for me to step away’
“It’s been an honour of a lifetime to be the head coach of the Crusaders, but the time is right for me to step away from the role after three seasons,” said Penney.
Penney played more than 100 games for Canterbury from 1985, before later returning to coach both his former province and the Crusaders. He was part of the Crusaders backroom staff in 2005 as an assistant coach, helping the side to win their fifth Super Rugby title.
“I have aways been a deeply passionate Canterbury man with the famous Red and Black colours etched into my DNA. When the Crusaders were established, it was a very natural fit for me to have a close connection to them as the values of the Crusaders were born out of Canterbury,” he explained.
“I have been so very fortunate to be a small part of the Crusaders over the last three years and am very excited as we once again head into a finals campaign with a team very capable of going the whole way.
“There are too many people to thank, this special place will always be a part of me and my family.”
Under Penney’s guidance, the Crusaders initially struggled as they missed out on the Super Rugby Pacific play-offs in 2024, after finishing ninth in the standings but they bounced back in 2025 when they won the famous Southern Hemisphere tournament.
They currently occupy fourth position in the table with one round of matches left in the league phase of the 2026 competition.
Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge believes Penney’s impact at the club extends well beyond results.
“Rob is incredibly humble and he always puts others ahead of himself,” he said.
“He deserves every bit of credit that comes his way, but he makes it bloody hard for us to give it to him.
“He took on a team in transition, carried a huge amount of responsibility, and stayed focused on growth and development, even through injury disruption early on. The care he showed our players and staff was genuine and consistent.
“We talk a lot about care in sport, but Rob lives it. He talks about love, and he’s shown that every single day he’s been here. That matters, and it will always matter at this club.”
Penney’s resignation was his own decision, and the Crusaders have confirmed Hansen‘s appointment as their head coach for the 2027 season.
Close connection to the Crusaders
Hansen also has a close connection to the Crusaders as he first represented the club as a halfback during the inaugural Super 12 season in 1996. He later returned to Christchurch as an assistant coach from 2020 to 2023, leading the club’s attack and game planning during one of its most successful eras.
During that time, Hansen played a pivotal role in multiple championship campaigns, including masterminding the tactical plan for the Crusaders’ 2022 Super Rugby Pacific final victory over the Blues.
The 50-year-old has also built an extensive international coaching résumé, including roles with the Japanese national team, the Sunwolves, Leicester Tigers, Kobelco Steelers, New Zealand U20s and the All Blacks XV.
In 2024, he was appointed as an All Blacks assistant coach where he worked alongside Robertson.
Mansbridge is confident Hansen will be a natural fit for the next chapter of the Crusaders.
“Scott sets incredibly high standards and has a deep understanding of the game,” he said.
“He’s proven himself here, at Canterbury, and on the international stage. He brings clarity, discipline and a genuine love for helping people be better.
“We know he’ll thrive in this environment, and we’re proud to see another of our own step up. That continuity and connection to who we are is important.”
For Hansen, returning to the Crusaders carries deep meaning.
“My family and I are incredibly thankful for this opportunity, and we’re excited to be part of something special,” he said.
“I was born in Christchurch, raised in Lyttelton, and I’m Crusader number 25. This is my home and I’m very proud to be given the opportunity to serve the Crusaders and the people of this region again.
“The proud history and tradition of the Crusaders has always been built on our culture and the people both on and beside the field. We will balance being true to the past and honouring tradition while also having our eyes on the future.
“This club has experienced sustained success over a long period of time, and that doesn’t happen by accident. We can continue that legacy by turning up every day, learning together, and pushing to be the best we can be. I’m really looking forward to working with this group and moving forward together.”
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