New Zealand’s Wayne Smith has rejected an approach to join England’s backroom staff, citing “personal reasons”.
Smith was contacted personally by England coach Stuart Lancaster, who met with the former New Zealand assistant turned Waikato coach in Durban last month.
Lancaster had a vacancy after former dual-code international Andy Farrell decided to stick with Saracens after being seconded to England from the Premiership champions for a Six Nations where the Red Rose finished runners-up behind Grand Slam champions Wales.
That tournament represented Lancaster’s ‘audition’ for the England job after he was initially appointed on a caretaker basis for the Six Nations following Martin Johnson’s post World Cup resignation.
Former All Blacks fly-half Smith helped New Zealand win last year’s World Cup on home soil, forming an impressive coaching trio with boss Graham Henry and Steve Hansen, having been head coach in his own right from 2000 to 2001.
As Smith turned down England, who will stage the next World Cup in 2015, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) also announced Tuesday that ex-England back Mike Catt would join the coaching set up for next month’s five-match tour of his native South Africa.
Smith, explaining his decision to remain in New Zealand, said in an RFU statement: “I was very impressed with Stuart (Lancaster) when I met him.
“He is an outstanding individual and will be a great plus for England,” added Smith who was in charge of Premiership side Northampton for three years before his eight-year stint through to the World Cup alongside Henry and Hansen.
However, he added: “It was an incredibly difficult decision but ultimately I have decided to stay in New Zealand, mainly for personal reasons.
“I took the job with the Chiefs so I could move nearer to elderly parents. I have travelled the globe with rugby for the last 15 years and I want to fulfil my commitment to be closer to them.
“I do also feel some loyalty to the (Waikato) Chiefs and the job that I have with them and leaving after eight months when I have a year left on my contract did not feel right.”
Lancaster, who last week described Smith, as the “stand-out candidate” to replace Farrell, said: “Wayne rang me this (Tuesday) morning and I fully respect his decision which, as he says, was a difficult one.
“He is clearly a coach of quality, honesty and integrity,” he added.
Smith’s decision to reject England will come as a huge relief to New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew, who said last week: “We’re desperately keen to keep him in New Zealand, no doubt about that.”
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Wayne Smith quit as All Blacks coach after they lost the John Eales retirement match. He then decided to reapply for the job and lost out to Mitchell and Deans. He shouldn't have quit when he did but he was gutted like the rest of us for the second year running.
Riccardo
Guest
Sorry Jiggs, Was tongue in cheek...
Jiggles
Roar Guru
I always support the best candidate put forward Riccardo. At the end of the 2007 that candidate was Deans so I supported his appointment.
all7days
Roar Guru
He's a traitor alright. But only to the Wallabies... :) I think he should be their coach forever.
all7days
Roar Guru
Deans building off Smith's foundations again? Seemed to work the first time...
AWCMONREF
Guest
Phew just soooo glad he's staying...................
AWCMONREF
Guest
Brooke 48 the limitations Robbie has here is not having enough decent rugby players and the culture Robbie bought from the Crusaders and NZ may not suit the nancy pancy players in Aus that seem to dictate what coaches can and can't do. Too many players in Aus seem to have the pulling powers that far exceed their actual talent.
AWCMONREF
Guest
Robbies no traitor, will always respect him, that's mainly Aussie talk trying rile us up like allblack fan said pay no attention, he will eventually go home and focus on NZ rugby again, but at the moment the mans gotta do what the mans gotta do................
AWCMONREF
Guest
Aw shud up, you've got Quade leave it at that!!!!!
Lachie
Guest
I am proud of him- a very honorable guy all too rare in the professional era I agree SBW will resign for another year he knows Smithy will make him the best midfielder on the planet ( he's not there yet )
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Massive bonus for the Chiefs not only for his coaching ability but for the pulling power he has. SBW will sign another season at the Chiefs.
stillmatic1
Guest
hold on. for quite a while you were saying that wayne smith was not a good coach due to the supposed ineptitude of the ABs backline in the WC last year. i know you like to troll a bit, but i couldnt help remembering those comments when i read your post just now. do you actaully have a true position, KPM?
Jiggles
Roar Guru
There was definitely a bit of outrage and controversy when Henry got reappointed post 2007, obviously with the benefit of hindsight this proved to be unfounded. He was clearly the best man for the job. I never stated Deans is the best man now for the job, I don't think he is fit for international coaching at all as his record with the Wallabies proves. My avatar makes it pretty clear where I am from...
Jay
Guest
Jamen - while it may not have been a majority of Kiwis, there were a very very vocal minority who thought that Henry etc being retained was a disgrace.
Jarmen
Guest
I don't know too many kiwis who were put out. Where are you from Jiggles if your not a New Zealander. I also don't know many kiwis who think Deans is the best man for the job now.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
haha gosh no. I'm rather offended by that ;) I have a number of friends from Canterbury who were rather miffed after the decision to reappoint Henry, and they informed me of the situation in NZ around that time. Additionally I remember some sections of the NZ media kicking up a fuss. At the time was happy with the appointment of Deans, despite his questionable form internationally, I believed his success at the Crusaders was evidence he was learning from his 2003 mistakes. After the spring tour of 2009 my opinion changed as certain flaws regarding the Wallabies tactics, and his selections had not improved and had actually been exacerbated.
chuck
Guest
Wayne Smith is old school he wont coach any nation to play against allblacks like Lorrie Mains after all the three amegos had consecative selection to coach the Allblacks that Tipped Deans out to Australia N.Z.R.U had made the right call as we know could Deans been as successful as them with the Allblacks as a Allblack fan i hope he wouldve been . Wayne Smith made the right call to a rugby nation who gave the 3 amegos a second chances over come past mistakes. Kia Kaha Wayne.
Riccardo
Guest
Never say never but: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/6845165/Wayne-Smith-I-m-here-for-the-long-haul Guys like Jiggles and JohnnyBoy may not be so keen on another Kiwi Coach Still!
mania
Guest
u a kiwi jiggles?
Jiggles
Roar Guru
If anything you had a large portion of the NZ population, particularly from the South Island, feeling Deans was ripped off and the NZRU were trying to sabotage the All Blacks again. There is still a proportion of the population in NZ who still think Deans is the best man for the job, However much smaller now than after his obvious flaws at test level have been exposed...again.