Coaches Steve Hansen and Ian Foster look on.
World Cup-winning coaching duo with the All Blacks, Steve Hansen and Ian Foster, have reunited in Japan Rugby League One with Toyota Verblitz.
Hansen has been in charge of the side for several seasons and he welcomes his old partner in crime as a co-coach for a team that boasts immense quality including recently crowned World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit.
Foster has been out of work since leaving the All Blacks head coaching role last year. That was a position he took over from the success of Hansen which Foster was involved with as his assistant coach.
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Hansen revealed that he is delighted to be back with his partner and was full of praise for Foster’s ability.
“It’s been wonderful to be able to start our relationship back over again,” said Hansen.
“We enjoy coaching together. He’s someone I trust immensely, and he understands the game as well as anybody in world rugby.”
Meanwhile, Foster is pleased to be back involved with the game again and is impressed with Verblitz’s ambition.
“It’s been well led by Steve and the people are really passionate,” said Foster.
“I’ve walked into an organisation that is really determined to grow.”
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When asked about the intricacies of the co-coaching set-up Hansen was not worried as he backs his partnership with Foster.
“Within the team itself, he’s the yin and I’m the yang, and sometimes I’m the yin and he’s the yang,” said Hansen.
“That’s how we’ve always operated.”
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