Overview
- The Crusaders confirmed on Wednesday that Scott Hansen will succeed Rob Penney as head coach from the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific season.
- Rob Penney announced he will step down at the end of the 2026 campaign and will remain in charge through the upcoming playoffs.
- Hansen is a Christchurch native who played for the Crusaders in 1996 and served as a Crusaders assistant from 2020 to 2023 before joining the All Blacks staff, leaving that role earlier in 2026 when Dave Rennie reshaped the national coaching group.
- The club said it selected Hansen for his local ties, proven standards and international experience after an internal process that considered other candidates including Brad Mooar and saw an approach to former assistant Andrew Goodman.
- The appointment restores a familiar coaching link between the Crusaders and the All Blacks and signals the franchise’s priority on culture and continuity with observers set to watch how Hansen builds his own staff and positions the team for future national coaching pathways.