Publications
Partners
Wellington - Former All Blacks mentor Graham Henry has been handed the role of developing New Zealand's next generation of elite coaches, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) said on Thursday.
NZRU chairman Steve Tew said Henry, who received a knighthood after guiding the All Blacks to Rugby World Cup success last year, would work with coaches at New Zealand's Super 15 clubs and in the domestic ITM Cup competition.
"He obviously brings a huge wealth of experience and unparalleled success after eight years as coach of the All Blacks," Tew said. "His insights will be invaluable for our high performance coaches."
Henry, 65, stepped down from the All Blacks coaching role after New Zealand's World Cup triumph and was replaced by his assistant Steve Hansen.
He said the part-time mentoring role, which will run until the end of 2013, would allow him to keep contributing to rugby union in New Zealand.
"Even going back to my time as a teacher and headmaster, I have been keen to help people grow and develop their skills," he said.
"To now move into a position of mentoring our leading coaches is something I’m really looking forward to."
Henry said New Zealand had an outstanding crop of up-and-coming international coaches "and if I can play a small part in helping them develop then I will".
