Vern Cotter said he was never in the mix to take the All Blacks’ coaching reins, having already been deep into discussions to help guide Australian rugby towards a brighter future.
The New Zealander, currently at the helm of Super Rugby powerhouse the Auckland Blues, will succeed Les Kiss at the Queensland Reds from 2027 once the latter takes over the Wallabies’ top job.
Cotter brings with him two premierships – with the Blues in 2024 and Clermont Auvergne in the French Top 14 – while he also enjoyed a strong international stint with Scotland.
Vern CotterCredit: Mike Hewitt
He was being discussed as a potential option for the vacant All Blacks job, but the 64-year-old said he had already been enticed to Queensland well before Kiwi coach Scott Robertson’s shock axing.
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“The All Black job was a surprise to everybody, nobody expected Razer to be stepped down from his position, and I was already well down the track with the Reds and the management had been discussing the possible coaching opportunity with them for three months,” Cotter said, while endorsing Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie for the New Zealand job.
“I’d basically verbally given my acceptance to the Reds before the All Black thing came up, so it was never really a viable option. Of course, as Kiwis, we would’ve loved to have coached the All Blacks, but that’s not it.
“I’m really excited about what the Reds are looking at doing and improving, I think that’s the challenge for me, and I’m not satisfied with where I’m at as a coach. I think change is growth, and this will be a great opportunity.”
Kiss will take charge of Australia once his Reds obligations end after the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific campaign, with Cotter expected to arrive at Ballymore around late-July or early-August.
