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Wellington - All Blacks' assistant coaches Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith could help out with Super 15 franchises next season, head coach Graham Henry has said.
Local media had earlier reported the move was being considered because the expanded Super 15 restricted the involvement of Hansen and Smith with New Zealand's leading players before next year's rugby World Cup began on Sept. 9.
The All Blacks' traditional tests against northern hemisphere opponents in June would not take place next year, while the Tri-Nations that also involves Australia and South Africa had also been shortened to four games each.
"There has been some speculation, and there is some foundation to the speculation but it hasn't been decided," Henry told reporters in Auckland when asked about whether his assistants would take roles in next year's Super 15.
"There's eight months where we don't have any contact with players in a coaching sense and that's a hell of a long time leading into a World Cup.
"If that's the best decision to do what we have to do, and it's the best utilisation of the three All Black coaches I've got no problem with it.
"We've got to have the ability to talk to the players, keep them up to date with trends and keep our relationship going... so we're sharing ideas, helping them develop their game as individuals and hopefully that helps the franchises."
