New Zealand Rugby CEO Steve Lancaster has confirmed that Tony Brown is fully aligned on his future role, describing the attack coach as 'really clear' that he wants to come into the All Blacks set-up as an assistant rather than in any head coaching capacity.
Brown, who departs the Springboks after the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, has signed a two-year deal with NZ Rugby. Lancaster said the organisation moved proactively rather than reactively, dismissing suggestions that public pressure drove the decision.
"It was just a case of someone who's signalled for a long time that at the right time they want to be here coaching, us being really clear that we want that too," Lancaster told media. "We are really confident that any All Blacks head coach in 2028 will want Tony in their group. So the stars have aligned nicely."
NZ Rugby has repeatedly pursued Brown over the years — through his stints with the Highlanders, the Sunwolves, Japan and most recently the Springboks — only to be rebuffed each time. His contract with SA Rugby expires next year, giving NZ Rugby its opening.
When pressed on whether Brown could step up to head coach if Dave Rennie does not retain the role beyond the World Cup, Lancaster was direct: "We've contracted him as an assistant coach; he has been really clear that that's the role he wants to come into as well. If things change, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
Rennie, who was involved in the decision to recruit Brown, is himself only contracted through the 2027 World Cup, meaning NZ Rugby may be securing Brown for a head coaching successor rather than for Rennie himself.