Scott Robertson

Scott Robertson will be the next All Blacks coach

New Zealand Rugby said the 48-year-old was appointed following a robust interview process and will announce further key appointments to his coaching and management team in coming months before officially taking up his new role following the conclusion of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

RNZ reports Robertson has been appointed for four years from 2024 through to the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup and will succeed current All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster, who will lead the All Blacks through the conclusion of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

Fiji's big lure for surf-happy Scott Robertson

Fiji are looking for a replacement coach after fellow Kiwi Vern Cotter unexpectedly stepped down in a World Cup year.

Robertson, the power behind the champion Crusaders in recent years, is tipped to finally land the coveted All Blacks job, but his name has been linked to Fiji in an interim role for the World Cup in France in September and October.

Fiji Rugby Union acting chief executive Tevita Tuiloa said they would love to have Robertson as head coach or technical advisor for the Flying Fijians at the World Cup, but it would depend on Robertson’s availability.

Coachless Fiji offer top job to Scott Robertson

Vern Cotter dramatically split ways with the Flying Fijians at the start of the month, just eight months out from the Rugby World Cup in France.

Matters got worse for the union a week later with news that assistant coach Richie Gray was also leaving, saying that he considered he had to exit from ‘an integrity point of view’ after the departure of Cotter.

It’s left Fiji looking for a head coach and now the FRU acting chief executive Tevita Tuiloa has said he has offered the job to Robertson.

Razor wants World Cup titles but not just with the All Blacks

Beaten out for the All Blacks' top job by Ian Foster in 2019 - the six-time Super Rugby winning coach is contracted with the Crusaders to the end of next season.

Robertson told the Rugby Pod - a podcast hosted by ex-Scotland international Jim Hamilton - that international rugby is where his future lies and he wants to be coaching at the 2027 World Cup.

"I want to win a Rugby World Cup. But I want to win it with two different countries. I think that would transcend (the game).

Scott Robertson made to wait after Ian Foster has contract extended

While NZ Rugby was explaining its decision to extend All Blacks coach Ian Foster’s contract through to the 2023 World Cup in France, Robertson’s supporters had to, again, take a deep breath and accept defeat.

Robertson missed out to Foster when the pair interviewed for the top job in late 2019, following Sir Steve Hansen’s departure after the World Cup in Japan.

Foster was offered a two-year contract. Robertson returned to the Crusaders, and this year re-signed a fresh deal that runs through to 2024 with the option of a release a year earlier.

Scott Robertson insists injury-hit Crusaders remain on track

Nor does it need to be pointed out there’s a sense among punters that the chasing pack have closed the gap and the red and blacks are vulnerable.

That’s the result of a heavy loss to the Highlanders, and their narrow golden point win against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Sunday.

Five minutes of carnage in Wellington resulted in the addition of All Blacks Joe Moody and Jack Goodhue to a mounting casualty ward, also fuelling the narrative the 11-times champions aren’t the usual Crusaders.

Razor wants to join the Lions crusade

 Robertson guided the Crusaders to the Super Rugby Aotearoa title earlier this month to add to their three successive Super Rugby titles since he took over in 2017.

He missed out on the All Blacks coaching job last year and said he had approaced Lions and Chiefs coach Warren Gatland about a role on the Lions tour to help give him some international experience.

"I thought, look if I can't be involved with the All Blacks, what's the biggest thing - or actually bigger in its own self - the Lions tour - to get involved," Robertson told New Zealand radio station Gold AM.

Razor only wants to be All Blacks head coach

Robertson is one of the front-runners to be the next All Blacks coach and has confirmed he has his job interview with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) lined up for December.

The Super Rugby title-winning coach said he only had interest in the All Blacks top job and would not consider an assistant role with the national side.

NZR reached out to 26 prospective candidates to replace outgoing coach Steve Hansen.