Springboks news: Tony Brown to join All Blacks coaching staff after 2027 Rugby World Cup
Springboks attack coach Tony Brown will leave South Africa following the 2027 Rugby World Cup after agreeing to join the All Blacks coaching staff from 2028.
New Zealand Rugby confirmed Brown's appointment on Sunday, ending months of speculation surrounding the highly-rated assistant coach's long-term future.
The former All Blacks fly-half has signed a two-year deal and will join the New Zealand set-up once his current Springbok contract expires.
Brown has been part of the Springboks coaching team since 2024 and has played a significant role in the evolution of South Africa's attacking game under Rassie Erasmus.
His impact was particularly evident during a dominant 2025 season that saw the Springboks record several landmark victories, including a record win over the All Blacks in Wellington.
Announcement comes as little surprise
While the news may disappoint Springbok supporters, Brown's eventual return to New Zealand had long been viewed as a realistic possibility.
The 50-year-old has never hidden his ambition to coach the All Blacks one day, while Erasmus and SA Rugby have consistently maintained that Brown would honour his Springbok contract through to the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
According to reports in New Zealand, Brown's availability after the World Cup presented an opportunity the All Blacks were eager to secure as they continue reshaping their coaching structure beyond 2027.
Focus remains firmly on Springboks
Despite the announcement, Brown's immediate focus remains unchanged.
The New Zealander is expected to play a key role in South Africa's pursuit of a third consecutive Rugby World Cup title in Australia next year before making the move home.
Before then, Brown will also help prepare the Springboks for a demanding international schedule that includes the Nations Championship and Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand later this year.
A significant future vacancy
Although Brown's departure remains more than a year away, the announcement provides clarity for both SA Rugby and the Springbok coaching staff.
His influence on South Africa's attacking systems has been widely praised since joining the national setup, and replacing that expertise will become one of the key coaching decisions facing Erasmus after the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
For now, however, the focus remains on the present as Brown looks to help the Springboks add another World Cup title before beginning the next chapter of his coaching career with the All Blacks.
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