NZ Rugby have ‘no one in mind’ to replace Scott Robertson and get the All Blacks on the ‘right trajectory’

New Zealand Rugby are keeping an “open mind” as to who will replace Scott Robertson as the All Blacks head coach, according to the union’s chairman David Kirk.

NZ Rugby dropped the bombshell news on Thursday, bringing Robertson’s tenure in charge of the team to an end following an extensive review of the 2025 international season.

This came after he won 20 of his 27 matches in charge of the All Blacks but failed to win the Rugby Championship in back-to-back years and after an underwhelming Grand Slam tour of the northern hemisphere.

Robertson was tasked with the job following the 2023 Rugby World Cup and garnered much support to take on the role after winning eight titles with the Crusaders. However, he was unable to translate that success to the Test arena and has subsequently parted ways with the All Blacks, with Kirk pointing to the team not being “on the right trajectory” for the 2027 Rugby World Cup as the primary reason.

Crucial period for the All Blacks

The 1987 Rugby World Cup-winning captain confirmed that only Robertson has departed New Zealand Rugby coaching structures, with the search beginning for a new head coach who will be able to make use of the existing coaching team or hire his own assistants.

Highlanders boss Jamie Joseph will be one of the names put forward by fans and pundits, and has expressed interest in the job previously, having applied after Steve Hansen and Ian Foster’s departures.

Who should replace Scott Robertson? Have your say on who the next All Blacks boss should be

The likes of Vern Cotter, Dave Rennie, Joe Schmidt and even Foster have already been put forward as options by New Zealand media, while Planet Rugby’s James While has suggested Bristol Bears boss Pat Lam.

Kirk detailed the process leading to Robertson’s dismissal when he fronted the media shortly after the news was confirmed and added that the union will keep an open mind with the candidates, casting a wide net.

“Everyone will be aware that we’re at that crucial mid-period in the four-year World Cup cycle; two years in and two years to go,” he said in his opening remarks.

“So, I’m sure unsurprisingly for everyone, the New Zealand Rugby board and management, the high-performance team have taken a very comprehensive review of the All Blacks’ progress at this point in the cycle and in particular, the 2025 year and where the team has got to.

“That review was undertaken in the last couple of weeks of last year and in the first couple of weeks of the new year, and all of that material was gathered together and worked through by the high-performance team, and then presented to the board, and discussions have followed.

“The view of the high-performance team and of us generally was that the All Blacks are not on track in the way that we need them to be on track for the 2027 World Cup, and indeed for what will be a very demanding year in 2026 with the four matches against South Africa and Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.

“So, having reached that conclusion, we entered into discussions with the head coach, and following those discussions, we weren’t convinced that the team was going to be back on track without changes.

“We had further discussions with the head coach, and we’ve mutually agreed that he would step down from his post.”

Scott Robertson FIRED as All Blacks head coach after NZ Rugby review

It’s completely open

Asked about the potential successor, Kirk did not name-check any potential candidates and stated that NZ Rugby would be speaking to as many coaches as possible.

“No one in mind,” he said. “It’s completely open. We’re going to cast the net wide.

“We’re going to get as many people as we can. We think that coaching the All Blacks is the greatest rugby coaching role in the world. We are very hopeful we’ll see plenty of highly qualified candidates.”

He also paid tribute to the outgoing head coach and his service to New Zealand Rugby with the All Blacks, Crusaders and U20s team.

“I really have a great deal of respect for Scott Robertson. He has stepped down on the basis of what he believes, and we believe is in the best interests of New Zealand rugby and of the team,” Kirk added.

“And that’s very typical of Scott that he would do what he thought was right and best for the team. So we thank him very much for that.

“We also pay tribute to the broader contribution he’s made to New Zealand rugby over an extended period of time. He’s an All Black, he’s played for the All Blacks and contributed and obviously contributed a tremendous amount through his coaching success, particularly at the Crusaders, but with New Zealand U20s as well, and a range of other ways contributed to New Zealand rugby. So I want to thank him publicly for that and wish him all the best.”

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