Steve Hansen

All Blacks head coach from 2012 to 2019, 2015 Rugby World Cup winner, and former Wales head coach.

Sir Stephen William Hansen and High Chief of Vaiala (born 7 May 1959) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. He is also the father of Black Ferns coach, Whitney Hansen. He was the head coach of the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks, from 2012 to 2019, and won the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He stepped down at the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Hansen is also part owner of 2021 Everest winning horse Nature Strip.

Quick Facts

Birth name: Stephen William Hansen
Born: 7 May 1959
Birthplace: Mosgiel, New Zealand
School: Taieri High School; Christchurch Boys' High School

Lore & Background

Hansen was born in Mosgiel, to Desmond and Lauriss Hansen, who were dairy farmers on the Taieri Plain. He was educated at Outram Primary School, The Taieri High School, and Christchurch Boys' High School. Hansen also spent six years in the New Zealand Police, working at the Hornby Police Station where he met his first wife. A rugby union centre, he represented Canterbury at first-class level on 21 occasions.

He began his coaching career with the Canterbury provincial rugby union team from 1996 to 2001, winning the National Provincial Championship in 1997 and 2001. In 1999, 2000 and 2001, he was assistant coach to Wayne Smith and then Robbie Deans for the Canterbury Crusaders. In 2002, Hansen was hired as the forwards coach for the Wales national team; however, following the resignation of head coach Graham Henry after a 54–10 loss to Ireland in the Six Nations in February 2002, Hansen was promoted to head coach for the remainder of the tournament.

In his first game in charge, Wales performed well but lost 37–33 to France. A year later, Wales lost every match in the 2003 Six Nations Championship to win the Wooden Spoon for the first time since 1995, and went on to record a streak of 10 consecutive Test match defeats, broken by a win against Romania on 27 August 2003, though Hansen relinquished coaching duties for this game to Wales A coach Mike Ruddock. Hansen resumed charge for another victory over Scotland ahead of the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

After the World Cup, Hansen announced he would step down as Wales coach at the end of the 2004 Six Nations Championship. In 2004, Hansen was appointed to the All Blacks as an assistant coach under Graham Henry. He assisted Graham Henry in coaching New Zealand to a win in the 2011 World Cup final against France. Hansen took over as head coach of the All Blacks when Graham Henry's contract expired at the end of 2011, formally appointed on 15 December 2011.

In his first games as head coach, Hansen guided the All Blacks to a 3–0 series victory over Ireland during their 2012 tour. On 25 August 2012, the All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup for a tenth consecutive year. His only defeat in 2012 came against England, a 38–21 loss on 1 December 2012. He was named IRB Coach of the Year for 2012.

In the 2012 Queen's Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours, Hansen was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Reader's Guide

Hansen's coaching career is marked by his tenure as head coach of Wales from February 2002 to the end of the 2004 Six Nations, and as head coach of the All Blacks from 2012 to 2019. Key achievements include winning the 2015 Rugby World Cup, being named IRB Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2013, and World Rugby coach of the year in 2014. He is also part owner of 2021 Everest winning horse Nature Strip.