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Cape Town - Former All Blacks assistant coach and now assistant at the Chiefs Wayne Smith says his immediate future is in New Zealand but hasn't ruled out a possible move abroad in future.
Smith is reluctant to share their recipe with another country, but he said he would be keen to return to England or Europe at some point.
He felt it was the right time to end his current involvement with the All Blacks when he announced his new role with the Chiefs.
“I was keen to stay in New Zealand and keep contributing to New Zealand rugby and this (the Chiefs role) gives me a fantastic chance to do that,” Smith told the All Blacks.com website.
Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie confirmed Smith’s role will be based “around defence and counter-attack”.
Smith is currently in England with former Italian coach Nick Mallet and told the Guardian newspaper heading North was an option - but not in the immediate future.
"I've got a two-year contract (with the Chiefs) but there's an out-clause,” he said.
“I didn't want to walk out of the All Blacks with the game plan under my arm and go to a competing nation immediately.”
“Given a bit of time to get it out of my system, I'd be really interested in coming back to the UK,” he said.
“You want to coach the best,” he added. “I'd struggle to coach a team that's losing because that's the way I am.”
Smith became All Blacks head coach in late 1999 after winning two Super Rugby championships with the Crusaders before stepping down with a 70.6% win rate in 2001.
He then coached the Northampton Saints until 2004 when he became part of the All Blacks' management team alongside Graham Henry and Steve Hansen.
Mallet himself changed his mind and decided to put his hand up for the England job again after initially indicating he wanted to spend time with his family.
Mallett feels the current structure where the England head coach reports to a director (Rob Andrew), is not the best recipe for international success.
"I don't actually believe in the performance director's role,” he told the Independent.
“Look at previous World Cups: I can't remember any team with a director of rugby being successful. Layers of management confuse things.”
Smith is reluctant to share their recipe with another country, but he said he would be keen to return to England or Europe at some point.
He felt it was the right time to end his current involvement with the All Blacks when he announced his new role with the Chiefs.
“I was keen to stay in New Zealand and keep contributing to New Zealand rugby and this (the Chiefs role) gives me a fantastic chance to do that,” Smith told the All Blacks.com website.
Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie confirmed Smith’s role will be based “around defence and counter-attack”.
Smith is currently in England with former Italian coach Nick Mallet and told the Guardian newspaper heading North was an option - but not in the immediate future.
"I've got a two-year contract (with the Chiefs) but there's an out-clause,” he said.
“I didn't want to walk out of the All Blacks with the game plan under my arm and go to a competing nation immediately.”
“Given a bit of time to get it out of my system, I'd be really interested in coming back to the UK,” he said.
“You want to coach the best,” he added. “I'd struggle to coach a team that's losing because that's the way I am.”
Smith became All Blacks head coach in late 1999 after winning two Super Rugby championships with the Crusaders before stepping down with a 70.6% win rate in 2001.
He then coached the Northampton Saints until 2004 when he became part of the All Blacks' management team alongside Graham Henry and Steve Hansen.
Mallet himself changed his mind and decided to put his hand up for the England job again after initially indicating he wanted to spend time with his family.
Mallett feels the current structure where the England head coach reports to a director (Rob Andrew), is not the best recipe for international success.
"I don't actually believe in the performance director's role,” he told the Independent.
“Look at previous World Cups: I can't remember any team with a director of rugby being successful. Layers of management confuse things.”
