Wayne Smith takes up new role with Black Ferns and All Blacks
Legendary coach Wayne Smith will add to his decorated legacy within New Zealand Rugby in a new role with both the Black Ferns and All Blacks.
New Zealand Rugby announced on Friday that rugby guru Smith will be “support the respective head coaches and enhancing the quality of coaching delivery” as a performance coach.
Smith, who won two Rugby World Cups with the All Blacks and another with the New Zealand women’s team, has already begun working Black Ferns Director of Rugby Allan Bunting.
The rugby guru will return to the All Blacks in his new role after this year’s Rugby World Cup in France when incoming head coach Scott Robertson takes up his position.
“I have a deep connection and love for any team that wears the black jersey and particularly the Black Ferns and the All Blacks,” Smith said in a statement.
“I also have strong relationships with the respective head coaches and many of the players, so it feels like this role across the two teams is a natural fit, and one where I can hopefully add and contribute to both environments.
“It’s important to consider different perspectives and solutions as coaches.
“As we head into a new era of the game, I am a great believer in the importance of diversity, of relationships and of people. As a coach I’ve been very fortunate to have been exposed to that through my career.”
After taking up the position of All Blacks head coach in 2000, Smith ended up leaving New Zealand a year later to coach the Northampton Saints in England.
But after a few years in the northern hemisphere, Smith returned to Aotearoa as the All Blacks assistant coach in 2004 – and stayed in that role through to the drought-breaking 2011 World Cup.
Smith returned to the All Blacks in 2015 after a few years away, and was again part of World Cup winning team as an assistant coach.
But Smith notched up arguably his greatest achievement as a coach last year when he famously led the Black Ferns to a momentous World Cup triumph on home soil.
After winning the World Cup in front of a sold-out Eden Park crowd, Smith was later named World Rugby’s Coach of the Year.
“Smithy’s input and insights on the shape of the game and trends in the game internationally will be of enormous benefit to coaches and players, but more tan his integrity, honesty, passion for the jersey and care for the legacy of the black jersey are invaluable,” NZR CEO Mark Robinson said.
“We are very fortunate to have someone of his calibre in our game and involved with our two top national teams the Black Ferns and the All Blacks.
“I know he is excited and energised by the challenge ahead and I’m confident our players, fans and stakeholders will feel the same way.”
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And they came from behind to win two big games before the final. No one can say what would have happened. Had the boks gone behind the game plan changes and the result may changes. Ifs and ands are irrelevant. The boks won. Neutral critics enjoyed the games they played. Its not a popularity contest. Get over it and move on.
Go to commentsI'm happy for the people of SA to get a second WC. And I mean that. I was very disappointed with this man's “stand on the hand” incident with Josh Van Der Flyer (Ireland). Ireland's downfall in the last WC was they did not rotate their first 15 as the head coach probably should have. That said, I'm happy for SA and genuinely hope it lifts the mood in their country. Ireland did beat them in the first match of the tournament. And before the trolls start trolling ….. please don't bother. Etzbeth said recently that the Irish players said after the match “see you in the final”…..this was actually wishing the SA team the best of luck in the rest, the Irish team were not dismissing the AB’s. This is what Etzbeth was implying. But he was wrong. I no longer live in Ireland. But I hope to see them lift that cup before I pass. Anyway, congratulations SA. 👍
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