Vern Cotter addresses All Blacks aspirations with Reds contract signed

Vern Cotter has revealed that it was simply the timing of Scott Robertson’s All Blacks exit that ruled him out of the race to be the next All Blacks head coach.

Cotter’s name has been one of the most frequently mentioned as a potential replacement for Robertson, with international experience coaching Scotland and Fiji accompanying a recent Super Rugby Pacific title on a compelling CV for the 63-year-old.

But speaking to the media in Auckland on Tuesday, Cotter revealed that he was approached by the Queensland Reds three months ago, and his move across the Tasman was all but locked in when New Zealand Rugby announced a premature end to Robertson’s contract.

“That was a surprise, and we were well down the track with conversations with the Reds. We were a bit blindsided by the Razor thing. Nobody thought that was coming,” Cotter reflected.

“There was a review, and two years out from a World Cup, that’s what happens.

“But we were so far down the track with the Reds it would have been hard to say, ‘I’m going to make myself available for the All Blacks’.

“Everyone would love to coach the All Blacks, but the timing just didn’t work out.”

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When asked to expand on his desires to coach the national team, Cotter reflected on a previous application for the top job and again emphasised that his word is his bond.

“Would I love to coach the All Blacks? Yes. I applied in 2011; that’s a long time ago. But once again, I’d given my word, and I don’t like to go back on that; I don’t like to let people down.

“There are some really good coaches that’ll be available for the All Blacks; we’ve got them here. Paul Tito has experience in international rugby, Greg Feek has, and Dan Halangahu has with Tonga. There are some really good coaches in this country.

“They (New Zealand Rugby) know what they want, and they’ll run through a process that I’m sure will get them the right person.”

Looking ahead, Cotter has signed a two-year deal with the Reds and is determined to get the team over something of a quarter-final curse that has plagued them since the 2021 Super Rugby AU season.

Beyond the two-year deal, though, Cotter says he’ll always keep the All Blacks door open.

“We’ll never want to rule that out. It would be silly to. At the moment, there’s two years that’ll take you to the World Cup, and then we’ll see what happens. Hopefully, the All Blacks will be successful, and they won’t need another coach for a few more years.”

The Blues have two preseason games lined up, hosting the Hurricanes on Friday afternoon before hosting the Crusaders on February 6. The Aucklanders open their 2026 season against the Chiefs on February 14.