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HSBC SVNS 3 2026
Dubai

Thursday

12:00

International

Tony Brown reveals Springboks contract situation and All Black rumours

By Henry Lee

2 hours ago

South Africa attack coach Tony Brown before the second test between South Africa and Ireland at Kings Park in Durban, South Africa. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Current Springboks assistant coach Tony Brown has revealed his contract situation after rumours of a possible shift back to New Zealand, to coach the All Blacks with one of the possible candidates, Jamie Joseph.

Joseph has been widely reported as one of the leading candidates for the vacant All Blacks coaching role, after New Zealand Rugby Chair David Kirk addressed media in Auckland on Thursday after Scott Robertson’s departure.

Brown, who has been Joseph’s right-hand man in the past, is contracted with the Springboks until the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, with negotiations for a new contract reportedly underway between Brown and South Africa.

Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus recently inked a new deal with the Springboks up until the 2031 Rugby World Cup, and had spoken publicly about locking down the rest of his assistants.

Brown, speaking to Paul Cully from The Post, confirms that not only is he unable to join the All Blacks as an assistant coach because of his contract, but he also hasn’t been contacted yet by New Zealand Rugby.

“I’m obviously contracted,” Brown told The Post on Monday.

VIDEO

“I don’t have an out of my contract, so I’m back in South Africa [until the Rugby World Cup].

Asked about whether he would be keen on a role with the All Blacks, Brown explains that all of the rumours are just speculation and nothing has really changed.

“Everything’s just speculation. I’m not even sure what New Zealand Rugby’s plans are. No one’s really heard anything,” Brown said.

Like many coaches who have spoken out since Scott Robertson’s departure, Brown said he’s surprised that the organisation has made the move at this current point of the Rugby World Cup cycle.

“I’m very surprised,” the current Springboks assistant said on a report by The Post. “I didn’t think they would do that, especially with no one waiting to take over.

“[It’s] definitely not [going to be easy] for them [to find a replacement], especially without a CEO and high-performance manager, so there’s lots of things for them to get sorted pretty quickly.

“All the [Springboks] coaches have been chatting on chat groups and things like that, so everyone’s pretty surprised and amazed at what’s what’s been happening.”

Comments

8 Comments

BleedRed&Black 1 hr ago

Again, it’ll be interesting to see if the most deluded of those who supported Robertsons sacking start to have doubts.

Jamie Joseph has confirmed NZR has not talked to him.

There are four other coaches still employed by the NZR, so how exactly NZR are going to clear up their status while conducting interviews for the head coach job is a mystery. Will it be the “winner” of this contest picks who he wants?

As Brown points out, NZR does not have a CEO or a high performance manager. Kirk will be doing everything himself. Someone who has never been involved at a high level in rugby administration will now decide who the next All Blacks coach will be, the single most important operational issue confronting NZR.

At least there will be no mistaking who is accountable.

TokoRFC 32 mins ago

Mate you’re being pretty dramatic.

Theres an acting CEO so Kirk isn’t a dictator, there is also the rest of the board and they can always bring people in to consult. Has the high performance manager even left yet? he’ll be involved until he does.

Also Razor agreed it was best he left, there must be a good reason why. Until he writes his biography we’ll never know and people are forning strong opinions purely on speculation.

I do however agree that he was the man for the job at the time and there is plenty to like about what he did. The sad bunch that are kicking him while down need to come off it.

DP 1 hr ago

It’s a done deal, it remains to be seen who that person is.

DP 1 hr ago

You cannot possibly expect me to think that nobody has already been sounded out and accepted the gig in principal. There is no way NZR would be that daft. Browns not going to save NZ, they don’t have a forward pack to generate quick ball which his style revolves around. No scrum - no lineout and no gain line means no Tonyball. Tony is working in an environment where players respect their coaches so why on earth would he jump ship to work with entitled spoilt prima donnas? You can’t coach heart and desire and that is what NZ is misssing - “gees”

GRB13 1 hr ago

Accepting a gig in principal counts for jack until you have signed something. “There is no way NZR would be that be that daft” that is highly debatable.

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