All Blacks to bring ‘world-class’ coach Tony Brown back from South Africa in 2028
Monday, 8 June 2026
New Zealand Rugby is bringing highly-regarded coach Tony Brown home from South Africa.
It announced on Monday he has signed a two-year contract to be an All Blacks assistant coach from 2028.
The current All Blacks head coach, Dave Rennie, is only contracted through the end of next year’s Rugby World Cup in South Africa.
The appointment of Brown, who has fostered a strong reputation as an attack coach, comes with former Scottish international Mike Blair set to take on that role under Rennie.
NZ Rugby chief executive Steve Lancaster says organisation spoke to a number of head coaches before making the bold move to appoint Tony Brown as an All Blacks assistant in 2028 and 2029 – even though there is currently no head coach contracted beyond next year’s Rugby World Cup.
Lancaster, speaking to media in Auckland on Monday morning, said the organisation had completed its homework before signing Brown, who is currently contracted as a Springboks assistant coach through to the global tournament in Australia in late 2027.
'What we do know, though, from dialogue with other coaches, with previous head coaches and potential head coaches, is that everybody would have Tony Brown in their team,’’ Lancaster said.
'So we are really confident making this move now.''
In a statement, released earlier in the day, Lancaster described Brown as “a world-class coach who is highly regarded and consistently sought after by head coaches and teams around the world’’.
“We know Tony is available after the 2027 Rugby World Cup and he’s made it clear he would love to be part of the All Blacks.
“This decision is simple, it’s about ensuring the best coaches return to New Zealand.
“It’s for the All Blacks head coach to shape the structure and portfolios of their coaching team and we have every confidence that Tony is a high-quality addition when he joins in 2028.”
Brown has fostered a reputation as one of the leading attack coaches in world rugby, a role former Scottish international Mike Blair is set to assume with the All Blacks this year under new head coach Dave Rennie.
Rennie was appointed through the World Cup earlier this year once NZ Rugby decided to move on from former head coach Scott Robertson, two years into his four-year contract.
In a statement, NZ Rugby said the unusual decision to appoint Brown as an assistant for a period where there is no head coach as yet was led by incoming high performance director Don Tricker, who only starts his role on a permanent basis in November.
It said Rennie “was engaged throughout the process and is supportive of the appointment”.
Said Lancaster: “One of Don’s roles is to lead the appointments of our national team coaches.
“As part of that we have agreed with Dave we will discuss the process for the All Blacks head coach role no later than the conclusion of the 2027 Rugby Championship.
“For now, Dave and his coaching team are absolutely focused on what’s in front of them and we look forward to challenging ourselves against Tony and the Springboks in the coming months.”
In 2023 then-All Blacks coach Ian Foster wasn’t happy when NZ Rugby called for applications to coach the team beyond that season. Foster refused to apply, and Scott Robertson was preferred ahead of Jamie Joseph.
The decision to appoint Robertson before Foster had completed his term proved messy, with the latter’s supporters saying he got a raw deal from NZ Rugby.
Lancaster said appointing Brown was a different situation. He also said Brown’s “portfolio’’ - which is expected to be the attack - with the All Blacks would be determined by the head coach.
'I wasn't a part of previous appointments. I really don't want to comment on those,’’ Lancaster said in reference to the Robertson appointment in mid-2023.
“But what I would say is securing Tony beyond 2027 is very different to the wholesale change of a coaching group.
'This is about securing a world-class coach to coach in New Zealand and we have been really pleased we have been able to secure him.''
NZ Rugby was proactive in signing Brown because it didn’t want another national union beating them to the punch,
'This is very much a reflection of the evolving nature of professional sport and particularly in professional rugby coaching,’’ Lancaster added.
“There are a small number of coaches that are highly sought after around the world, and you have to move when the time is right.
'Otherwise they might not be available to you when you do want them. We have just seen Andy Farrell commit to Ireland through to 2031 and Rassie Erasmus is also committed through to [South Africa Rugby] '31.
'So if you sit on your hands, you ultimately might have less options.''
South Africa Rugby said Brown would return to New Zealand with their blessing after he has completed his obligations with the Springboks.
Brown said in a statement released by SA Rugby that he was grateful to Springboks coach Erasmus and the national body for the opportunities he has received since being contracted to them from 2024.
“My contract with New Zealand Rugby only begins in 2028, so there is still a long road ahead before that comes into play,” Brown said.
“Right now, I am fully committed to the Springboks. What we are building and trying to achieve as a team over the next two years is my only focus.”
The All Blacks are set to play three tests against the Springboks in South Africa and one in Baltimore in the United States as part of the first Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour later this year.
They have lost five of their last six tests against the Springboks, including the final of the 2023 World Cup. The lone win in that stretch came at Eden Park last September and was quickly forgotten when the Springboks won 43-10 in Wellington a week later.
“Tony has made a remarkable difference, both on and off the field, and he has always been upfront with us about wanting to be closer to his family and about the All Blacks holding a special place in his heart, and we are genuinely delighted for him,’’ Erasmus said.
“We’ve made the mistake in the past of negotiating contracts in a RWC year, and this clarity will allow us all to go full steam ahead with our preparations for this and next season.”
Rennie is set to name his first All Blacks squad at the end of the Super Rugby Pacific season, for the home Nations Championship tests against France, Italy and Ireland in July.