Scott Robertson is fired as All Blacks coach, 2 years into his 4-year term

By Canadian Press on January 14, 2026.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has been removed two years into a four-year contract, after a damning internal report into the New Zealand team’s 2025 season and reported threats from senior players to quit if he was not removed.

Robertson’s tenure as head coach was controversial even before it properly began and he presided over the team’s worst results in the professional era, including a loss to South Africa last year which was the heaviest in the All Blacks’ 120-year history.

World Cup-winning All Blacks captain David Kirk who chairs the board of New Zealand Rugby announced Robertson’s “departure” in a statement Thursday.

“The mid-point in the Rugby World Cup cycle is the right time to look at the All Blacks’ progress over the first two seasons,’’ Kirk said. “The team are set to play a significant 2026 schedule and the (World Cup) tournament in 2027 remains the key goal.

“We’ve taken an extensive look at the team’s progress on and off the field and have subsequently had discussions with Scott on the way forward. Both NZR and Scott agree it is in the best interests of the team that he depart his role as head coach.”

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Steve Mcmorran, The Associated Press