Former All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen has received a knighthood in New Zealand’s New Year Honours list.
While Hansen was head coach of the All Blacks, they never relinquished the Bledisloe Cup, they won the Rugby Championship on six of eight occasions and they were named the World Rugby Team of the Year six times. Hansen was named World Rugby Coach of the Year in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016.
“I’ll be forever grateful for the talent we’ve been able to coach, and grateful for the awesome management and back up staff that we’ve had,” Hansen said.
“You can’t do this by yourself so this honour is very much theirs as well.”
Hansen guided the All Blacks to the 2015 World Cup, but oversaw a disappointing semi-final exit to England as they failed to defend their title in Japan earlier this year.
The 60-year-old, who stood down from his role following the World Cup, becomes Sir Steve Hansen after being named a Knight Commander of the New Zealand Order of Merit.