The All Blacks have announced that Ian Foster will take on the role of head coach come 2020.
Foster, who was assistant to former head coach Steve Hansen for eight-years has signed a two-year deal with New Zealand and admitted he is over the moon to be given the opportunity to lead the team forward.
“I feel truly privileged and honoured to be given this opportunity and I can’t wait to lead the team into the next chapter of what is a remarkable legacy. I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved in the All Blacks over the last eight years and I’m excited and energised by a new coaching team who will join me. It’s incredibly humbling to be appointed to the job and I have a strong desire to serve the jersey well and represent New Zealand to the best of my ability,” he said.
Foster came out on top of what is thought to have been a strong list of candidates for the position, with Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson closest to being handed the job besides Foster.
New Zealand Rugby’s chairman Brent Impey was full of praise for his incoming head coach and noted how tough the interview process was for all candidates.
“The NZR Board has today ratified Ian Foster as the new head coach of the All Blacks from 2020. He brings world-class international experience to the role, an incredibly strong coaching team, and we think he’ll do an outstanding job. The interview process was extensive and really difficult, which reflects the very strong applications from both candidates,” he said.
He went on to confirm that Foster will have a strong set of back-room staff, but that they will announce them in due course, while he also congratulated the man who now takes the reins.
“While we can’t confirm the full make-up of the coaching team today, we’re delighted with the quality they bring, they have a wide range of coaching experiences and are a diverse group of thinkers. On behalf of New Zealand Rugby, I want to congratulate Ian on his appointment, and we wish him well for this next phase in the All Blacks’ story,” he added.
The likes of Warren Gatland and Jamie Joseph were among the candidates for the position, before withdrawing due to their own commitments to the Chiefs and Japan respectively.
However, Foster already has the players behind him with star player Beauden Barrett stating previously that he was the best man for the job. Although with a two-year contract, there will be debate as to whether the All Blacks have a plan to bring a new man in come 2022 to replace the 54-year-old, maybe Robertson could be coming in after all.
