Scott Robertson offered four-year deal for shock return to coaching

Monday, 10 August 2026 at 06:57

bySteven Smith

Former All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has reportedly been offered a four-year deal to make a sensational switch to rugby league.

The 51-year-old has been without a permanent coaching role since leaving the New Zealand set-up in January 2026, but could now make his return to the dugout in the NRL.

According to the New Zealand Herald, the Southern Orcas have formally offered Robertson the chance to become their inaugural head coach should their bid to become the NRL's 20th franchise prove successful.

The proposed expansion side would be based in Christchurch, with club president Sir Graham Lowe confirming that the ball is now firmly in Robertson's court.

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Four-year offer on the table

Despite Robertson having never coached rugby league professionally, Lowe believes his leadership qualities and knowledge of the 13-man game make him the ideal candidate.

“We’re well aware that he’s not coached rugby league before, but he’s certainly got a good handle on rugby league and has been looking at it closely and studying it closely for a long time,” Lowe told the Herald.

Lowe confirmed Robertson would be surrounded by experienced rugby league assistants should he accept the offer.

He added: “He just oozes leadership; he oozes inspiration, and that’s what you need at this level.

“One of the key ingredients is being able to get the best out of people, inspire others around you, and Scott can certainly do that.”

Shock code switch

Robertson built his reputation during a hugely successful spell with the Crusaders before succeeding Ian Foster as All Blacks head coach.

Since leaving the New Zealand job, his most notable coaching involvement has been a short stint with the Barbarians alongside Argentina boss Felipe Contepomi.

A move to the Orcas would therefore represent a dramatic change of direction.

Lowe also believes New Zealand's rugby union talent pool could provide the proposed franchise with potential recruits.

“There’s a heck of a lot of young talent currently involved in rugby union that would easily make the transition to rugby league,” he said.

For now, however, the Orcas are waiting on Robertson.

“The ball’s in Razor’s court at the moment,” Lowe said.

“We’re just super confident and hopeful that this offer will be accepted by Scott.”

All Blacks Handed NIGHTMARE Route to 2027 Rugby World Cup Final

The All Blacks have been handed a potentially brutal route to the 2027 Rugby World Cup final after being drawn alongside hosts Australia in one of the tournament’s toughest pools.

With the competition expanding to 24 teams and introducing a Round of 16 for the first time, New Zealand can already map out their possible path to the Webb Ellis Cup — and it is packed with danger.

Pool A: A Trans-Tasman Showdown

New Zealand have been drawn in Pool A with Australia, creating one of the marquee clashes of the group stage. The All Blacks and Wallabies are expected to battle for top spot, with the pool winner earning a potentially more favourable route through the knockout stages.

Under the tournament format, the top two teams from each pool automatically qualify for the Round of 16, while the four best third-placed teams across all pools also advance.

For New Zealand, the objective will be simple: finish first in Pool A.

Round of 16: A Third-Placed Opponent Awaits

If the All Blacks top Pool A, they will face one of the tournament's best third-placed teams in the Round of 16.

Based on the draw, that opponent would come from Pools C, E or F. Possible challengers could include:

Samoa, USA or Japan (Pool E)
Wales or Tonga (Pool F)
One of the emerging contenders from Pool C

On paper, this should represent a manageable first knockout assignment for New Zealand.

Quarter-Final: Potential Clash with South Africa

The bracket reveals the first major obstacle on New Zealand's path.

Should the All Blacks win Pool A and progress through the Round of 16, they are likely to face the winner of Pool B in the quarter-finals. Defending champions South Africa are overwhelming favourites to top that group, which also contains Italy, Georgia and Romania.

That means the Rugby Championship rivals could be set for another World Cup knockout classic, with the Springboks standing between New Zealand and the final four.

Given South Africa's recent dominance and World Cup pedigree, many observers view this as one of the most anticipated potential quarter-finals of the tournament.

Semi-Final: France Looms Large

If New Zealand overcome South Africa, the likely semi-final opponent would emerge from the opposite side of the bracket containing Pool E.

France are strong favourites to win Pool E, which also includes Japan, Samoa and the United States.

Les Bleus are expected to navigate their side of the draw and could set up a blockbuster semi-final against the All Blacks. A meeting between two of world rugby's most talented squads would undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the tournament.

Potential Final Opponents

Should New Zealand reach the final, several heavyweight nations could await.

The opposite half of the draw is expected to be led by:

Ireland
Scotland
Argentina
England

England's route appears favourable if they top Pool F, while Ireland and Scotland will again meet in the pool stage before potentially making deep runs into the knockout rounds.

Argentina, meanwhile, remain one of the dark horses after their impressive performances in recent World Cups.

Predicted Route to the Final

Assuming the major nations win their pools, the All Blacks' most likely pathway would be:

Pool Stage

Australia
Other Pool A opponents

Round of 16

Best third-placed qualifier (from Pools C, E or F)

Quarter-Final

South Africa (Pool B winner)

Semi-Final

France (Pool E winner)

Final

Ireland, England, Scotland or Argentina

Quiz: Name these 10 retro rugby players

From jaw-dropping tries to unforgettable moments (and yes, some questionable haircuts), these players defined a golden era of the game. If their names don’t instantly come to mind, we suggest a quick trip to YouTube to jog your memory. Trust us, it’s worth it.

Ready to test your knowledge? Let’s see if you’ve still got it. Good luck!