Dave Rennie Appointed All Blacks Head Coach

New Zealand Rugby announced on Wednesday that Dave Rennie, the former Wallabies head coach, has been appointed as the new leader of the All Blacks, succeeding Scott Robertson who departed in mid-January. The 62-year-old Australian-born coach, who holds New Zealand citizenship, will guide the team through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, marking a return to his adopted homeland after nearly a decade abroad.

Rennie, currently in charge of the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan's Rugby League One, will complete his commitments there before assuming the role. He is scheduled to prepare the All Blacks for their July home series against France, Italy, and Ireland, followed by the inaugural Nations Championship and a high-stakes tour against South Africa in August and September, including three tests and a fourth in the United States.

The appointment came after a rigorous recruitment process lasting nearly 50 days, described by New Zealand Rugby chair David Kirk as the most thorough in the team's history. An appointment panel, including former All Blacks players Dane Coles and Keven Mealamu, evaluated candidates. Rennie emerged as the preferred choice over Jamie Joseph, the...