Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson has dropped the bombshell that he is “open” to offers to coach an opposing nation at the Rugby World Cup.
The six-time Super Rugby title winner has been tipped by many to take the All Blacks job from Ian Foster when his contract ends in 2023, but has revealed an interest in rival nations should New Zealand Rugby choose a different path.
Despite achieving consistent success at the Super level, Robertson has expressed his desire to transcend quickly into Test rugby, with an interest in coaching not one but two nations at future Rugby World Cups.
“What I learned from last time, especially around the All Blacks stuff, is you have to keep your options open,” Robertson told The Big Jim Show podcast.
“It’s one job (All Blacks coach) and when someone doesn’t give it to you, you have to think differently: What opportunities are out there?
“I’ll be coming into my seventh year as the Crusaders coach next year, I have loved it all, it has been incredible but no one lasts in a job forever. So I am open (to alternative pathways).”
Robertson says his preference would be to coach the All Blacks, but should he receive an offer from a rival country, he will be open to the opportunity.
“If New Zealand Rugby want me, great,“ Robertson continued.
“If there is another club, country … probably country, I wouldn’t go to a club now. I really want to go to the Rugby World Cup. I genuinely want to go to a couple.
“I’m 47, I’ll be 52 by the time the next Rugby World Cup comes around (Australia in 2027).
“I want to get to two or three and test myself, push myself. I am open (to offers), yeah.”
With a knack for getting the best out of his players, Robertson believes he has the stamina to appear at multiple World Cups and dreams of winning with two different countries.
“I want to win the World Cup, but I want to win it with two different countries. I haven’t said it publicly before, but it would transcend,” he said.
“It would be great to win a World Cup with your own country, which I want to do.
“That is the foremost thing. But I would love to do it with another country.
“I’m not sure what order it is, I’m not sure how that plays out … those decisions are not mine but I would love to win two and have a different expectation, different culture.”
The head coach is currently contracted through to 2024 with the Crusaders, with an option of an early release the year prior.
However, with just over a year until the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France begins, it seems likely that Robertson won’t hold a head coach’s role until the 2027 World Cup in Australia.