Meet the new All Blacks management group

New Zealand Rugby have confirmed the 2024 All Blacks management group under new coach Scott Robertson.

The group includes seven members who carry over from the previous All Blacks management team. Eight members have prior experience with senior international teams, and 11 also have come from Super Rugby Pacific management roles in 2023.

“We are extremely excited by the mix of top international coaching and management experience, and high quality new personnel, in the team supporting Scott,” said NZR General Manager Professional Rugby Chris Lendrum.

“We strongly believe that these are the best people to carry the All Blacks’ legacy forward and enhance it further in the coming years.

“We have worked closely with Scott and his team in creating some new roles and are excited to see what this group can achieve.”

Current Crusaders assistant coach Tamati Ellison has been appointed as Contact Skills coach, with the four-test All Black focusing on the tackle and breakdown area. Ellison’s All Blacks position with be alongside his Crusaders role.

He is joined by fellow assistants Jason Holland (backs), Jason Ryan (forwards), Leon Macdonald (attack) and Scott Hansen (defence). Sir Wayne Smith will support the group as a performance coach.

“I’d like to welcome everyone to what is a special team of highly skilled individuals,” Scott Roberston said. “It is a real privilege to represent our country and I’m proud of the group that we have assembled. They are all at the top of their craft and bring some incredible expertise with them.

“I know how hard each person has been working, and will continue to work, as we build towards our first season together. A massive focus for us is to do the jersey proud and build on an amazing legacy.”

The All Blacks Team Manager is Paul McLaughlan, a former police sergeant who has previously managed the Highlanders and Wallabies. Widely known as “Moose,” he also spent five years with the New Zealand under-20 team and had several seasons with the Otago NPC and age group teams.

McLaughlan will be joined in a senior management role by Megan Compain, who takes on a newly created role as the team’s Commercial Manager. The former Tall Ferns basketball star became the first Kiwi to play in the WNBA and represented New Zealand at two Olympic Games. She then moved into marketing with Adidas and previously worked with NZR between 2010-2020 in senior sponsorship and commercial roles.

Ceri Evans, a consultant psychiatrist, takes the role of Head of Leadership and Mental Performance. The former All White brings plenty of high performance experience to the table, having been involved with the All Blacks since 2010 as well as Formula One and NBA teams.

2024 All Blacks Management
Scott Robertson (Head Coach)
23-test All Black and the most successful Super Rugby coach of all time, winning a record seven consecutive titles as coach of the Crusaders.

Jason Ryan (Assistant Coach - Forwards)
Took over as forwards coach following the Irish series in 2022. Widely credited as being instrumental in the All Blacks run to the World Cup final.

Leon MacDonald (Assistant Coach - Attack)
Former Blues head coach and 56 tests for the All Blacks, took the Blues to a Super Rugby final.

Scott Hansen (Assistant Coach - Defence)
A former halfback, Scott Hansen represented the Crusaders during the inaugural Super Rugby season in 1996.

Jason Holland (Assistant Coach - Backs)
Played for Munster from 1999 until 2008, won the 2000 Heineken Cup and kicked a drop-goal in the final.

Tamati Ellison (Contact Skills Coach)
Former Hurricanes and All Blacks utility, current assistant coach at the Crusaders.

Sir Wayne Smith (Performance Coach)
Has won three Rugby World Cups with the Black Ferns and All Blacks as a coach and is said to have one of the best rugby brains on the planet.

Jamie Hamilton (Head Performance Analyst)
Played for Leicester Tigers from 1990 to 2003 and has been with the All Blacks since 2015.

Al Beeton (Assistant Performance Analyst)
Analyst at the Chiefs and worked with Samoa at Rugby World Cup 2023.

Jon Gardner (Assistant Performance Analyst)
Analyst at Welsh Rugby Union and Canterbury since 2009.

Ceri Evans (Head of Leadership + Mental Performance)
Former New Zealand footballer, with 50 appearances and has been involved with the All Blacks since 2010.

Nic Gill (Head of Performance)
A professional strength and conditioning coach and consultant with huge expertise in rugby and other sports.

Adam Hay (Performance Scientist)
Has been Head of Performance Insights at the Chiefs.

Martin Swan (Doctor)
New Zealand Defence Force Medical Officer and Canterbury Rugby Team doctor.

Karl McDonald (Lead Physiotherapist)
Former professional rugby player and Kiwis physiotherapist.

Teresa Te Tamaki (Assistant Physiotherapist)
10-test Black Fern and Sevens representative, head of performance therapies for the Chiefs.

Kat Darry (Dietician)
All Blacks and Crusaders nutritionist of 15 years and expert on Weet-Bix.

Paul McLaughlan (Team Manager)
Team manager of the Highlanders.

Megan Compain (Commercial Manager)
Former Tall Fern and Olympian turned who has transitioned to the world of sport business and administration.

James Iversen (Logistics Manager)
Operations manager at NZ Rugby Resources, former coach and player development manager at North Harbour.

Matt Manukia (Communications Manager)
Former Sports Reporter at 1News and All Blacks communications manager since 2022.

Bianca Thiel (Operations Manager)
Operations manager with the All Blacks since 2021.

Paula Powlesland (Business Manager)
Business manager at New Zealand Rugby for 18 years.

This article was first published on nzherald.co.nz and is republished here with permission