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Dave Rennie turns down Kiwi Super Rugby side leaving them scrambling
By Ben Smith
Former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has reportedly turned down a potential return to New Zealand as he mulls his next career decision after being abruptly let go by Rugby Australia late last year.
Newshub reports that the Blues approached Rennie with a lucrative deal to takeover in 2024 from Leon Macdonald, who is expected to join Scott Robertson's coaching staff with the All Blacks.
The two-time Super Rugby champion coach is weighing up a move to Japan instead to link with former Chiefs mentor Wayne Smith.
Smith, who was an assistant under Rennie at the Chiefs, is the Director of Rugby at Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan Rugby League One.
The Steelers have attracted big names out of New Zealand since Smith arrived, landing All Blacks Dan Carter, Ben Smith, Brodie Retallick, and Aaron Cruden in recent years.
Retallick is heading back to the club following the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, and Rennie could join as the club's head coach.
The Blues are resigned to losing Macdonald according to the report and are scrambling to find a quality replacement which led them to approach Rennie.
Robertson's new All Black coaching staff will potentially drain New Zealand's Super Rugby teams of coaches with Hurricanes head coach Jason Holland also believed to be in the mix along with Macdonald.
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Latest Comments
I so wish we could use BIG words here to say what an absolute %^$# this guy is, but we can't so I won't.
Go to commentsGet world rugby to buy a few Islands in the Mediterranean. Name them Rugby Island #1, #2, #3 etc. All teams are based there all season and as the knockouts progress, losers go home for a few months rest. Sell the TV rights to any and all.
Have an open ballot/lottery each week to fly fans out to fill the stadiums. They get to enter the draw if they pay their taxes and avoid crime which would encourage good social engagement from rugby supporters as responsible citizens. The school kids get in the draw if they are applying themselves at school and reaching their potential.
Or maybe there is some magic way to prioritise both domestic rugby and international rugby by having the same players playing for 12 months of the year...
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