NZ Rugby chair David Kirk on why All Blacks coach Scott Robertson was ditched

Thursday, 15 January 2026

NZ Rugby chair David Kirk says the board wasn’t “seeing the trajectory” and that is why Scott Robertson has been let go two years into a four-year contract as All Blacks coach.

Kirk also admitted some or all of Robertson’s coaching team may follow him out the door, with a new coach “highly likely” to want his own team in place.

Kirk addressed the media in Auckland on Thursday, two hours after New Zealand Rugby issued a statement saying they had parted ways with Robertson.

“I think trajectory is a good word to apply, we just we weren’t seeing the trajectory,” Kirk said.

“Fans will probably shared that … we were falling a bit short of the excellence that we’re looking for, it never really got addressed over the year.”

Kirk said the decision was based on concerns about the All Blacks’ direction and progress halfway through the World Cup cycle.

“The All Blacks are not on track the way they need to be on track for the 2027 World Cup,” Kirk said.

“The mid-point in the Rugby World Cup cycle is the right time to look at the All Blacks' progress over the first two seasons.”

Kirk said the board had reviewed an internal report - undertaken by Kirk, NZR board member and former All Black Keven Mealamu and former NZR high performance manager Don Tricker - examining the team’s performance both on and off the field and had held discussions with Robertson before reaching its conclusion.

“The direction was clear,” Kirk said. “There was a consistent theme, a consistent direction delivered to us which we then followed up on and investigated further.”

He would not elaborate on the specific issues or themes that led to Robertson’s exit.

“Both NZR and Scott agree it is in the best interests of the team that he depart his role,” said Kirk, who thanked and acknowledged Robertson’s service.

“He has continued to put the All Blacks first and we respect that he has done the hard but right thing in agreeing to depart.”

Kirk said a process to find Robertson’s replacement would begin immediately and that there were no preferred candidates.

“We are going to cast our net wide,” he said, noting it was “highly likely” the new coach will want to appoint their own assistants.

“It’s the greatest rugby coaching role in the world and we’re very hopeful we’ll see plenty of highly qualified candidates.”