Eight assistant coaches the All Blacks should consider in 2026

One of the leading candidates for the role is current Highlanders head coach Jamie Joseph.

Although his right-hand man, Springboks assistant Tony Brown, confirmed publicly that he won’t be involved, there is some opportunity for other Kiwi coaches around the world to put their names in the hat of possible candidates.

Despite Scott Robertson departing the role as head coach of the All Blacks, NZR Chair David Kirk confirmed in a press conference that at this stage, the rest of the coaching staff were still contracted with the All Blacks.

That means that Scott Hansen, Jason Ryan, Tamati Ellison, and Bryn Evans could all still have a role to play with the All Blacks in 2026, unless the newly appointed head coach decides to bring in his own assistants.

There is a chance that a head coach candidate could end up as an assistant, which wouldn’t be the first time New Zealand Rugby has appointed a head coach as a specialist coach or assistant in the All Blacks environment.

Let’s take a look at eight options, whether they are currently free agents, under contract at another team or nation, or only likely to be given the job if a certain head coach is appointed.

David Kidwell – Highlanders

A Joseph appointment as head coach could see the new Highlanders defence coach be drafted straight into the All Blacks camp, to be in charge of the team’s defence heading into the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Kidwell is no stranger to international sport, coaching the Kiwis in the 13-man code between 2016-18, before becoming the Los Pumas defence coach under Michael Cheika in 2022 and the Brave Blossoms in 2024-25.

Joseph clearly trusts him, and his international experience could also lift the standards of players within the All Blacks camp, at the halfway stage of a four-year World Cup cycle.

Jamie Mackintosh – Hurricanes

“Whoppa”, as teammates and players like to call him, has quickly worked his way up the coaching ranks after a playing career all across the world.

The two-Test former All Black is the forwards coach at the Hurricanes under Clark Laidlaw, and in 2025 was named assistant coach of the All Blacks XV alongside Joseph.

He has no international coaching experience, which proved to be part of Robertson’s All Black downfall, but a modern-day player turned coach who is clearly liked by the playing group, could prove to be a way forward for this team.

The 40-year-old’s relationship with Joseph may help, but sticking with Ryan for this World Cup cycle could also be an option that NZR is exploring, as the current forwards coach feels like one of the more likely assistants to stay in his role alongside the new head coach.

Andrew Goodman – Ireland & B&I Lions

The current Ireland and British and Irish Lions assistant is a New Zealander with international coaching experience and credentials worth talking about.

Goodman has been involved with Ireland for a number of years now, and his experience as attack coach with the British and Irish Lions in 2025 can’t go unnoticed.

The 43-year-old assistant has shown he can work in multiple different environments, including Tasman, the Crusaders, Leinster, Ireland, and the B&I Lions.

If any of Hansen, Ryan, or Ellison are kept on as All Blacks assistants, Goodman would already have a relationship with those assistants, which could be a selling point for the former Tasman stalwart.

Goodman is contracted with Ireland until the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, which automatically makes him an outside chance, but a chance to coach his country of birth could possibly be a deciding factor.

Tyler Bleyendaal – Leinster

Bleyendaal is one that many won’t expect to be in the conversation for a role in the All Black setup, but the former New Zealand U20 utility-back was a key coaching cog for the Hurricanes attack between 2020 and 2024, before making the move to Leinster to replace Goodman in Ireland.

The 35-year-old also has some international experience under his belt, at the 2023 Rugby World Cup with Tonga, where he was an assistant coach under Toutai Kefu.

It would be a step-up from coaching Leinster, but his modern-day outlook on attacking shapes and structures could differentiate him from other options, to freshen up an attack that often looked lost for ideas throughout Robertson’s two-year tenure.

Cory Jane – Hurricanes

Speaking on the DSPN Podcast last week, Jane discussed how important the high-ball skillset is in today’s game, outlining what goes into preparation for the bombardment of box-kicks and midfield bombs that teams receive.

Jane’s defensive work at the Hurricanes over the past couple of years, plus his All Blacks XV relationship with Joseph, means he’s in with a chance right off the back, before you even consider the high-ball expertise and playing experience of the 42-year-old.

Jane shouldn’t be ruled out for either a defence coach role or a skills specialist in the background.

Ronan O’Gara – La Rochelle

O’Gara, who was on the possible head coach list, isn’t eligible for the role after New Zealand Rugby announced that they will only invite “New Zealand coaches with international head coaching experience” to apply.

NZR interim CEO Steve Lancaster, who will be on the appointment panel, told reporters in Auckland on Monday that they aren’t ruling out the possibility of hiring an overseas assistant coach, therefore a role for O’Gara in some capacity isn’t completely off the table.

This would be the ideal time for the current La Rochelle head coach to make a move to an international side, as pressure ramps up on his French side as results don’t go their way in the French Top 14.

Shaun Edwards – France

The 59-year-old defence specialist is an extremely experienced campaigner whose work with France and Wales is nothing to just sweep under the table, and could add real grunt and experience to All Blacks camp.

When Edwards came to New Zealand in July 2025, he proved to be a key piece for a second-string France team led by Fabien Galthié in disrupting and making things uncomfortable for Robertson’s men.

Leaving Ellison in his current role could be an option for the incoming head coach, but someone of Edwards’ experience shouldn’t be overlooked as an option.

Ben Smith – Highlanders

The current Highlanders assistant coach has 84 Test caps to his name for the All Blacks, and would bring a different skillset to the coaching staff.

That skillset, one that the 39-year-old was excellent at throughout his career, is the high-ball, which continues to become more and more important as the years go by.

Smith’s best position could be as a skills coach, the same role he does at the Highlanders under Joseph, looking after the back three and the way they counterattack from the backfield.