The All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith will step down from his role at the Rugby Championship.
All Black assistant coach Wayne Smith. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Smith said he plans on taking a break from the game.
New Zealand Rugby will now advertise for a replacement for his position, with the aim of having the new coach join the All Blacks coaching team for this year's Rugby Championship, which kicks off in August.
Smith played 35 matches, including 17 Tests for the All Blacks between 1980 and 1985 before embarking on his coaching career.
His coaching involvement with the All Blacks stretches back to 1998 and is highlighted by back-to-back wins at the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2015.
In recent years, he's had a specialist defence role.
Smith, 60, said the time was right to step down from full-time coaching.
"It's unbelievable to think that I've been involved in playing and coaching with the All Blacks for 20 years, a third of my life. I've had an incredible time and shared in some fantastic experiences.
"But it's time to hang up my coach's whistle for a while, take a bit of a hiatus, freshen up and spend some more time with my wife Trish and our family."
Smith said there were a number of people he needed to acknowledge.
"First and foremost, I want to thank my family for allowing me the opportunity to do what I have done for so many years. I've never taken their support for granted and it's been huge for me.
"I want to thank Steve Tew, Steve Hansen and Gilbert Enoka who have been constants in my career since our Canterbury days. They've provided long-standing support and friendship for many years which I'm very thankful for. I'd also like to acknowledge Sir Graham Henry who gave me the opportunity to return to the All Blacks coaching set up in 2004. I really appreciated that, as well as the guidance he gave me.
"I also want to acknowledge all the All Blacks coaches, management and players I've worked with over the years. Working alongside these professionals has been massive for me and has kept me up to date with new ideas and stimulated my thinking."
Smith said his greatest mentor had been former Children's Commissioner and leading rugby coach, the late Laurie O'Reilly, who died in 1998.
All Black assistant coach Wayne Smith. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"He was a brilliant man and mentored me through my early days of playing and inspired me to get into coaching."
New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Tew said Wayne Smith has had a huge influence on the national game.
"On behalf of everyone involved in New Zealand Rugby, I want to publicly acknowledge the incredible contribution 'Smithy' has given to the game. He has guided numerous players in their careers, from club level through to the All Blacks, is undoubtedly one of the great thinkers in the game and has made as great a contribution to the legacy of the jersey and everything it stands for than anyone else in the modern game.
"Not only did he play for the All Blacks and go on to help coach the team to two Rugby World Cup victories, he also helped coach two Super Rugby clubs, the Crusaders and Chiefs, to Super Rugby championship titles as well.
"On a personal note, I've known Smithy for a very long time, way back when he was the CEO of Hawke's Bay Rugby Union in the 1990s and we then worked together in the formative years of the Crusaders. He's now a very close friend who I trust and respect deeply. I'd also like to thank Trish and their sons Josh and Nick for their support and wish them all well for the future."
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said Smith is a special man.
"I would personally like to thank him for all his wisdom, support and hard work over the many years we have worked together. I'd also like to thank him, on behalf of his All Blacks family, for all the help he has given to each and every person involved in the team, not only the current group of players and staff, but all past players and management he has worked with.
All Blacks coaches Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"I've been lucky to have spent a lot of time with Wayne Ross Smith over the years, firstly as a player being coached by him and, best of all, coaching alongside him with Canterbury, the Crusaders and the All Blacks. He's a man I have a huge amount of respect for and it's been an absolute pleasure working alongside him. However, it's an even greater honour to be able to call him a mate.
"He has an unrelenting passion for the game, he's always been innovative, prepared to speak his mind, and he's never allowed himself to stop learning. He's always been willing to share himself with others and be open to their ideas.
"Smithy has been a major contributor to not only New Zealand Rugby but also world rugby. Wayne has been such a wonderful ambassador for our game and our country as well.
"I knew it was time to let him finish when he asked my wife to convince me to stop pressuring him into re-signing. It's with sadness that we let him go, but it's also with the confidence of knowing that he has left an everlasting legacy which is all one can expect of an All Black man. Smithy is undoubtedly a true All Black legend.
"I also want to thank Wayne's wife Trish and his family for giving up a husband and a father for so many years and wish them all the best going forward. Families make a lot of sacrifices for those of us involved in the All Blacks and for that we're forever thankful. They'll always be part of the All Blacks family and will always be welcome whenever they drop in, which we hope will be often."
-RNZ
