Henry stays on for 2011 World Cup
Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:04
Wise men: All Blacks coaches Steve Hansen, Graham Henry and Wayne Smith
All Black Coach Graham Henry and his two assistants, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen, have been re-appointed to guide New Zealand through until 2011, the New Zealand Rugby Union confirmed on Thursday.
The appointment, which means he will become the first coach to take the All Blacks to successive World Cup tournaments, will extend their involvement with the All Blacks to eight years.
Henry took up the role of All Blacks coach in 2004.
NZRU Chairman Jock Hobbs said the current All Blacks coaching panel was a "very strong and experienced" team.
"Graham, Wayne and Steve are outstanding coaches," Hobbs said.
"They have a formidable record and we hold them in very high regard. They are totally committed to New Zealand rugby and have become an important part of the wider organisation."
In their time as coaches, the All Blacks have won 57 out of 66 Test matches, a winning record of 86 percent.
Since taking up their roles, the All Blacks have also defended the Bledisloe Cup in five successive seasons, won the Tri-Nations four times, achieved a clean-sweep of the British and Irish Lions in 2005, and won two Grand Slams in 2005 and 2008.
They have lost only once in Europe in their tenure, in the World Cup 2007 quarterfinal to France, and just twice in New Zealand, in 2008 to South Africa and last month to France in Dunedin.
Hobbs said the decision to re-appoint the coaches before the end of the 2009 season was taken by the NZRU Board in April.
"We agreed the time was right to consider the next two years, and the re-appointment reflects our confidence in them."
Henry said: "It's an honour and a privilege to coach the All Blacks and the other coaches and I are delighted to be re-appointed. The coaching staff, management team and players are incredibly proud of their record and we look forward to taking the team through to 2011."
Wayne Smith said he had committed to New Zealand during last year's All Black Grand Slam tour.
"As I said at the time, I love the black jersey and love coaching this team," Smith said, adding: "The entire All Blacks coaching and management team are committed to doing the very best for the All Blacks."
Steve Hansen said: "It's an exciting challenge and one I am humbled to be given. As a group it's going to be important that we work smart and hard and enjoy our rugby, and we look forward to the continued support of All Blacks fans."
* Can they finally win another World Cup? Is Henry the man?
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