Alistair Rogers
All Blacks Performance Analyst Alistair Rogers will become the new assistant coach for the Blues.
Rogers, who has been with the All Blacks for the last 7 years, was named to join new head coach Tana Umaga for the next 2 years at the Blues.
He has had a special focus on opposition analysis and defence with the All Blacks and will take the responsibility for defence at the Blues, joining incumbent forwards coach Glenn Moore.
The former professional player is keen to return to a full-time coaching role, after guiding the Ballina Rugby Club in Ireland for 12 months, a stint as defence coach at Honda in Japan and a spell as Hurricanes assistant defence coach last year.
He has been an integral part of the All Blacks coaching team for 7 years with responsibility and input across a wide variety of areas with primary responsibility for opposition analysis preparation, presentations and reviews in the defence area.
Rogers has also been responsible for implementation of the analysis structures for all high performance teams in New Zealand Rugby.
Blues Head Coach Tana Umaga said that attracting Rogers from the All Blacks to the Blues is significant for the future development of the organisation.
“Alistair is at the forefront of development in a critically important part of the game at the highest level,” Umaga said.
“He is highly thought of by the All Blacks coaches and players alike and I’m absolutely thrilled he is coming to a fulltime coaching position with us.”
Rogers said the time was right for a move to a full-time coaching role.
“Over the last few years I have been growing my experience. I have had the fortune of working with some of the world’s best coaches, helping me gain a great wealth of knowledge, not only about the game but about how a top performing team operates and in turn the high standards to which I hold myself,” Rogers said.
The Blues believe the announcement reflects the organisation’s strong desire to bring change of the highest calibre to the team, and Rogers comes with the blessing of New Zealand Rugby.
With Rogers taking responsibility for defence and Moore of the forwards, the Blues has recently gone out to the market for an assistant coach with responsibility for backs and skills.
Rogers will take up his position following this year’s Rugby World Cup.