Current Springboks assistant coach will join the All Blacks setup following the 2027 Rugby World Cup
New Zealand Rugby has confirmed that Springboks assistant coach Tony Brown will return home to join the All Blacks coaching staff from 2028 on a two-year contract.
Brown, who currently serves under Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus, remains committed to South Africa through the conclusion of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. His appointment with New Zealand Rugby will take effect once his current responsibilities with the reigning world champions come to an end.
The former All Blacks fly-half has played an important role within the Springboks coaching structure and is expected to transition into the New Zealand setup shortly after the global tournament in Australia.
New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Steve Lancaster welcomed the appointment, describing Brown as one of the most respected coaches in the international game.
“Tony is a world-class coach who is highly regarded and consistently sought after by head coaches and teams around the world.”
Lancaster said Brown’s availability after the 2027 Rugby World Cup presented an opportunity for New Zealand Rugby to bring top coaching talent back into the national system.
“This decision is simple, it’s about ensuring the best coaches return to New Zealand.”
The organisation also emphasised that the structure and responsibilities of the coaching group will ultimately remain under the direction of the All Blacks head coach.
Brown’s appointment was overseen by incoming High Performance Director Don Tricker, who is expected to assume his role full-time later this year. Current All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie was reportedly consulted throughout the process and supports the decision.
New Zealand Rugby has indicated that discussions regarding the future of the All Blacks coaching structure beyond 2027 will take place after the Rugby Championship that year. For now, the focus remains firmly on upcoming international commitments.
The announcement adds another layer of intrigue to the growing rivalry between New Zealand and South Africa, with Brown set to continue working with the Springboks before eventually crossing to one of their fiercest competitors on the global stage.
Source: RugbyPass