Super Rugby Pacific: Former All Blacks assistant coaches to join forces amid Blues shake-up
Two former All Blacks assistant coaches will join forces at the Blues next year, as Jason Holland makes moves to assemble his rescoped coaching team.
While the Blues, despite losing their last three regular-season matches, remain in contention for this year’s Super Rugby Pacific title, behind-the-scenes succession planning is well underway for a major reset in 2027.
As he prepares to take charge at the Blues next year, Holland has coaxed fellow former All Blacks assistant Tamati Ellison to join him in Auckland.
This week, incumbent Blues head coach Vern Cotter will attempt to spark a seemingly unlikely revival when his side trek to Christchurch for their Saturday afternoon quarter-final against the Crusaders.
When the Blues’ campaign ends, Cotter will exit the Auckland franchise to finish his three-season stint and switch allegiance to lead the Queensland Reds next year.
The Herald understands Blues defence coach Craig McGrath will follow Cotter to the Reds, leaving another opening in next year’s coaching team. This move would open space for Ellison to again work alongside Holland.
Holland is immersed in helping Clark Laidlaw’s league-leading Hurricanes chase their first Super Rugby title in a decade.
Holland and Ellison worked closely together during Scott Robertson’s two-year All Blacks tenure. And with McGrath leaving the defence portfolio open at the Blues, Holland has scored an early win by recruiting the highly regarded Ellison to join him as the Blues defence coach next season.
Since hanging up the boots, Ellison, a talented midfielder who played four tests for the All Blacks, progressed his coaching career, particularly in the collisions and defence departments, with Wellington and the Crusaders before joining Robertson’s All Blacks coaching team after Leon MacDonald’s abrupt departure in mid-2024.
Ellison’s appointment at the Blues is yet to be rubber-stamped but an official announcement is expected once this season is concluded.
After departing the All Blacks coaching team following Dave Rennie’s promotion, Ellison accepted the task of leading the Māori All Blacks.
New Zealand Rugby is not, however, expected to block him juggling the Blues and Māori All Blacks jobs.
Ross Filipo previously held the Waikato and Māori All Blacks head coaching roles.
At this stage, Holland is expected to retain most of Cotter’s Blues coaching team, which includes Paul Tito, Jason O’Halloran and Daniel Halangahu.
Former All Blacks scrum coach Greg Feek’s future remains uncertain, though, with a move offshore possible.
Holland’s arrival in Auckland next year will mark the start of a new era, though, with a host of experienced figures including Dalton Papali’i, Hoskins Sotutu, Stephen Perofeta, A.J. Lam and others in their final season for the Blues.
Ellison linking with Holland at the Blues in 2027 comes hot on the heels of Scott Hansen’s appointment to succeed Rob Penney at the Crusaders next year.
With Jason Ryan the sole survivor to retain his post in Rennie’s overhauled All Blacks management – and Leon MacDonald shifting from a consultancy position at the Western Force to lead the Yokohama Canon Eagles in Japan – head coach Robertson is the last member of his All Blacks coaching team yet to move on to his next permanent role.
Robertson will be one of four coaches to lead the Barbarians in their one-off match against the World Cup champions, the Springboks, later this month.
As part of the terms of his severance package from the All Blacks, Robertson is barred from coaching another tier-one test nation this year.
It’s only a matter of time, though, before Robertson emerges to return to the full-time coaching fold.
Liam Napier is a Senior Sports Journalist and Rugby Correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast.