Legendary All Blacks coach named as Dave Rennie’s successor in Japan
Dave Rennie and an inset of Sir Wayne Smith.
Sir Wayne Smith has been unveiled as All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie’s successor at the Kobe Kobelco Steelers, the Japanese club has confirmed.
The former All Blacks coach has a long history with the Steelers, working as a consultant with the team for several years, and now takes on the top job after vacating his position at New Zealand Rugby as the union’s performance coach.
Wayne Smith replaces Dave Rennie
The 69-year-old is one of the most highly-regarded coaches in the game after helping the All Blacks win back-to-back Rugby World Cups, working as an assistant to Sir Graham Henry and Sir Steve Hansen.
In 2022, Smith was appointed as the Black Ferns head coach and led the team to Rugby World Cup glory, defeating England in New Zealand in the final. This will be his first full-time head coaching position since doing so.
He has been entrusted to lead Kobe’s title defence after Rennie signed off as the team’s head coach by winning the 2025/26 Japan Rugby League One before returning to New Zealand to replace Scott Robertson as the All Blacks boss.
“I had 3 wonderful seasons with Kobelco Steelers from 2018-2020. Dave Dillon was head coach whilst I filled the Director of Coaching role,” Smith said in a Kobe statement.
He added: “I’ve always tried to stay true to this style of play and I am hugely excited to be working with Kobe again. It is a great honour to join the Kobelco Kobe Steelers, a club with a proud history and rich tradition. I am committed to contributing to the continued success of the team and will give everything I have to help us achieve our goal of becoming champion of Japan.”
Smith is set to oversee a changing of the guard at Kobe in his new position, as he will need to hire new assistant coaches, with Rennie taking Mike Blair with him to the All Blacks, while Dan McFarland will take over as the new boss at Newcastle Red Bulls.
New All Blacks coach has worked for three years to ‘get rid’ of Wayne Smith’s ‘mantra’
Double signings
The Japanese club has also confirmed the signing of Springboks scrum-half Grant Williams and former All Blacks winger George Bridge ahead of the 2027/27 season.
“I’ve heard so many great things about both the club and the city of Kobe, and I can’t wait to meet all of the Steelers teammates and represent Kobe,” Williams said.
“This is going to be an exciting new challenge for me.”
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Bridge said: “Through my previous visits to Japan, I became deeply drawn to the culture and the people, and I had always hoped that one day I would return to play here again. I am sincerely looking forward to meeting my teammates, the staff, and all of the fans.”
Williams is set to become the seventh Springbok to represent Kobe following the likes of Peter Grant, Jaque Fourie, Andries Bekker, Lukhanyo Am, and Marcell Coetzee. Meanwhile, Bridge will be the 14th All Black to play for the Steelers, with notable players being Ben Smith, Brodie Retallick, Ardie Savea, Dan Carter and Ngani Laumape.
