Steve Hansen latest: New Zealand coach expects to bow out before All Blacks chase World Cup treble

New Zealand coach says his ‘gut instinct’ is to go after Lions tour in 2017 – but claims he will never lead another national side

Steve Hansen and Richie McCaw with the Webb Ellis Cup (GETTY IMAGES)

The All Blacks will challenge for a third straight world title in Japan in 2019 under new leadership if Steve Hansen obeys his “gut instinct” and calls it a day when his contract expires in two years’ time. Hansen said on Sunday that he was unlikely to seek a fresh deal, adding that he would not be interested in coaching any other international team.

“You only get 10 years for murder back home,” the one-time police officer commented after a lengthy celebration of his side’s 34-17 victory over the Wallabies in the World Cup final at Twickenham. Then, speaking more seriously, he added: “I don’t know if staying on would be right for the team. If it’s not right, I wouldn’t want to do it. That’s a guiding principle. It’s team first, individual second.

“This is the best job in the world as far as I’m concerned, so I’d love to coach the All Blacks until the day I die. But is that right? I wouldn’t have thought so. We’ll look at it when we get to the end of 2017, but while I’m not saying ‘no’, I’m certainly not saying ‘yes’ either.”

Should Hansen walk away after the British & Irish Lions tour and the subsequent Rugby Championship, he could name his price anywhere in the union-playing world. If he chose to do so, it would not be as part of a Test set-up. “Now I’ve coached the All Blacks, I couldn’t coach against them,” he said. “Doing this job doesn’t automatically take everyone out of the market, but it’s an individual thing and I just couldn’t do it. This is the best team for me to coach because I’m a New Zealander.”