WELLINGTON — Ian Foster was appointed the new head coach of the All Blacks on Wednesday, promoted from his role as assistant under Steve Hansen to take up the reins at the most successful national rugby team of the modern era. Foster served eight years as Hansen's assistant and his appointment maintains New Zealand Rugby's policy of promoting from within the organisation. Hansen, who succeeded his former boss Graham Henry in 2012 after eight years as his assistant, left the post after this year's Rugby World Cup, where New Zealand's hopes of a third straight triumph were ended by England in the semi-finals. Foster was awarded a two-year deal and takes over a team that the rugby-mad nation expects to win every game.

Source: International New York Times December 11, 2019 01:30 UTC