Hansen leaves Highlanders door open
Mon, 05 Jul 2010 10:43
All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen, despite remaining noncommittal about his future plans, at least left the door open to the possibility of coaching the Highlanders next year.
Hansen, speaking to the media on Monday, reports linking him with the coaching job at the Highlanders as "mere speculation" at present.
However, he didn't close the door on the prospect that he might eventually join the Super Rugby franchise.
Hansen has been mentioned in connection with a coaching role at the Highlanders next season ahead of the World Cup.
Fellow Test assistant Wayne Smith had been linked with a role with the Blues, but Smith last weekend said that he wouldn't be moving to the Auckland-based franchise.
Hansen said he had no plans in relation to coaching the Highlanders, because the process had not reached the stage where he had to consider where he stood.
"It's got really nothing to do with me until such time as I'm told that you could apply if you wanted to apply, and I was told maybe they would be interested," he told NZPA.
"Until then, it's just a no-brainer. It's not even on the agenda for me."
Asked if he ruled himself out of the job, he said: "I'm not going to rule myself out because the New Zealand Rugby Union haven't ruled anybody out."
He added: "I'm not saying I'm coaching the Highlanders, I'm not saying I'm not, because I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow.
"What I'm saying is that that will be a decision made by the franchises and the New Zealand Rugby Union in conjunction with the right people."
Hansen said he was "open to most things" and had always said he would like to do more coaching but that didn't mean he would be guiding the Highlanders.
"You keep your mind open to various things," he told NZPA.
"But again, it's just not even in my mind at the moment because it's not something that's reality."
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