New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup winning coach Graham Henry has indicated that he would be interested in working with the RFU in England in the future.

Sixty-five-year-old Henry is shortly expected to formally announce that he is stepping down as All Blacks Rugby coach and has said that he wants to stay involved in the game of rugby.

“Yes, I would talk to the RFU, sure. I couldn’t just not do anything. I would love to help other people,” Henry told the Daily Telegraph.

“I’m particularly proud about the environment we created in this All Blacks team.”

“I would love to work in coach development, player development, environmental development, cultural development of a group of people. I’m passionate about that.”

Henry coached Wales from 1999 to 2002 and in between led the British and Irish Lions to Australia in 2001 so he has experience with coaching in the Northern Hemisphere.

Henry led New Zealand’s to their worst ever finish at a Rugby World Cup in 2007 but was reappointed with his assistants and went on to win the Rugby World Cup last weekend.

Having been in a similar situation Henry says that England team Manager Martin Johnson should be allowed to carry on after the RFU have completed their review of the tournament.

“Too many people with real ability get shot because of a result,” he said.

“Replacing a coach because of a result or because of public pressure or media pressure is not the right thing to do. ”

“Replacing a coach because he’s not good enough is the right thing to do. Look at all the successful coaches around the world. They’ve got longevity.”

Henry has agreed to coach the Barbarians when they play Australia at Twickenham on 26 November and may hold talks with the RFU next month while he is in London.

12 Responses to Henry would consider working with England

  • 1

    I did’nt think Graham Henry would be that desperate… and I thought he had enough brains to leave England well enough alone…

  • 2

    He would be nothing but a prostitute if he took that Pom job.

  • 3

    They obviously pay well

  • 4

    He’s a professional coach. He works for who pays him. That’s the way our system functions these days. Part of the reason that we are in a great economic mess is that we put a monetary value on everything. Success is judged by how many more bucks you can squeeze your way.

  • 5

    4 @ The_Young_Turk:
    Personally I do not see a problem with the attitude of squeezing a buck to come my way….. die tille MOET mos rol!

  • 6

    @ grootblousmile:
    Like everything in life it is bad when taken to extremes. You end up ruining the things that made the system great in the first place. For example, being passionate and proud of your country means you can build a strong system but as people become more mercenary and just sell out to the highest bidder, the system will begin to crumble.
    I know you probably meant it tongue in cheek. I am just waxing philosophical today.

  • 7

    4@ The_Young_Turk:
    I think that I should have posted that on the spite thread.

  • 8

    @ grootblousmile:
    Perhaps he would see it as a well paid challenge!! 😉

  • 9

    8 @ Blue Bird:
    Well, after Longlip Johnson has had the team under him for 4 years, it will be a massive challange.

    What peeves me is that Henry si quite willing to experience England coaching but obviously is not interested in the Springbok coaching job.

  • 10

    @ grootblousmile:
    Perhaps his family are too wary about living in S.A !!

  • 11

    10 @ Blue Bird:
    Argh, we do it and it is’nt bad… we’re not superhuman or ultra resilient.

    We’ve got a bit of crime… but one avoids most of it by means of a few very easy habits.

    I think he is just rather weary of SARU… and greedy for the favourable Pound….

  • 12

    @ grootblousmile:
    Well, greedy is a bit unfair, you make a buck where you can…..!!

    We are all human! 😉

    Nice to catch up. Have a nice evening.

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