Former All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has confirmed his next move in coaching will be in Japan.
The 60-year-old has accepted a consulting and mentoring job with Top League team Toyota Verblitz.
Hansen led New Zealand to the 2015 World Cup, before a third-place finish at this year's tournament in the Asian country.
Former All Blacks captain Kieran Read is also set to join the Japanese outfit's squad for the upcoming season.
Announcing the news of his next move to All Blacks TV, Hansen said he was glad to get the news out in the open.
“I have a new job, which involves me mentoring and consulting and advising at Toyota Verblitz in Japan.
“The reason I couldn’t say before was because there wasn’t a contract signed, but since the World Cup we’ve signed one.
📽️ WATCH | Outgoing All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen has confirmed his next career move to Toyota Verblitz in Japan's Top League. pic.twitter.com/BPsOQfj72K
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) December 2, 2019
“It’s an interesting role. It’s not one as head coach, it’s more as an adviser, mentor and requires me to be up there somewhere between five to 17 weeks a year and the key thing is obviously to go in and work with the people who are in the environment.”
Hansen, himself a former Wales head coach, added that he was pleased to be staying in the game.
“Head coach is Simon Cron, who I know well and have a lot of time for, I think he’s going to be a very good coach and having the opportunity to help him grow is something that really excites me.
“Whilst we’re obviously wanting a winning Toyota Verblitz team, we also want an environment at the club that people can be proud of, that is very much like a family, all the things really that we’ve had in the All Blacks because I see that as what’s normal in any rugby team so if I can help in any way in trying to create that then that’ll be important too.
“So, whilst it’s not a full-time coaching role, it is a role that allows me to stay in the game, it’s also a role that allows me to have the family time that I want to have and I’m really looking forward to it and excited by it.”
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