The beat goes on as All Blacks coach relives police past

Beppu - All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has relived his former life as a policeman in the Japanese resort town of Beppu, where he was made the honorary police chief.

As the All Blacks enjoyed a rest day on Thursday, the 60-year-old took to the streets advising residents and tourists to abide by traffic rules.

With the All Blacks staying in Beppu ahead of their World Cup match against Canada next week, Hansen was invited to join the police for a day.

Dressed in a scarf inscribed with "one-day chief police officer" and an official police cap, Hansen was accompanied by the real police chief Yufumi Sato when he stepped out in public.

"Very humbling to be recognised as the chief of police of Beppu for the day," Hansen said.

"I don't have a clue how I'm going to run the city. I won't be able to do it as well as my colleague, the real chief."

Hansen spent six years as a policeman in New Zealand before becoming a top rugby coach and said the similarity between the two jobs was working under pressure.