New Zealand Rugby have confirmed that Springboks attack coach Tony Brown will join the All Blacks' backroom staff from 2028 on a two-year deal, ending his tenure with the world champions after the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Brown is off contract at the conclusion of the Boks' 2027 World Cup campaign, and NZR moved swiftly to secure his services for what is the third time of asking — Brown twice rejected overtures from NZR during the tenures of Ian Foster and Scott Robertson.
The appointment was driven by incoming NZR high performance director Don Tricker, who takes up his role full-time in November. NZR chief executive Steve Lancaster confirmed that incoming All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie was consulted throughout the process and is supportive of the decision.
"Tony is a world-class coach who is highly regarded and consistently sought after by head coaches and teams around the world," Lancaster said. "We know Tony is available after the 2027 Rugby World Cup and he's made it clear he would love to be part of the All Blacks."
Lancaster added that the portfolio and structure of Brown's role within the All Blacks setup will ultimately be determined by Rennie. NZR also confirmed that the process for formally appointing Rennie as All Blacks head coach will be discussed no later than the conclusion of the 2027 Rugby Championship.
Brown, 51, has been a key figure in the Springboks' backroom since the 2023 World Cup triumph in France and his departure will represent a significant loss for Rassie Erasmus's setup heading into the post-2027 cycle.