Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw feels for sacked All Blacks coach Scott Robertson, rules out shot at top job
Wednesday, 28 January 2026
First things first with Clark Laidlaw, the Hurricanes coach, three days out from their first Super Rugby Pacific pre-season match.
Into his third year in the capital, the former All Blacks Sevens head coach and Samoa assistant surely appeals as someone worthy of entering the race for the vacant All Blacks job?
The man himself offers a tongue in cheek response.
“Do I count as a New Zealander now? I’ve got my citizenship, I’m not sure if that counts or not… I’ll need to give them a shout,” the Scotsman tells The Post with a laugh, a day after NZ Rugby released its criteria for Scott Robertson’s replacement.
It said: “NZR will invite New Zealand coaches with international head coaching experience to apply.”
Keen?
“Nah, it’s not on my radar,” Laidlaw said.
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One thing Laidlaw would say is that he felt for Robertson who suddenly parted ways with the All Blacks less than a fortnight ago, just two years into his contract.
“I never enjoy when coaches are under pressure or lose their jobs, because we’re all in it together aren’t we?
“My job is to produce a Super Rugby team to support the All Blacks and I find it quite tough to see that happen.
“I’ve reached out to Razor and I find it quite tough on him, to be honest.”
The turmoil in the All Blacks coaching ranks had one spinoff for the Hurricanes, when one of Robertson’s assistants Jason Holland walked away from the job last year and ended up back with the team he was previously head coach of.
Holland joined Bryn Evans - another All Blacks assistant last year - on Laidlaw’s staff along with Brad Cooper, the son of former Hurricanes head coach Colin Cooper, and former All Blacks Cory Jane and Jamie Mackintosh.
Laidlaw said of Holland: “He’s back and seems to be loving it. He’s got a real clarity of thought and some ideas and a whole heap of experience with us, and now in international rugby. Both the coaches and players are really enjoying his input and felt his impact straight away.”
As he did with the All Blacks, Holland will oversee the Hurricanes’ attack along with Cooper and Evans.
This week it went up another notch at their NZCIS base in Upper Hutt as the All Blacks from last year’s northern tour officially rejoined the squad: Ruben Love, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Cam Roigard, Peter Lakai, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Tevita Mafileo and Pasilio Tosi.
Also back training are Tyrel Lomax and Asafo Aumua who had injury-disrupted seasons in 2025.
None of the above would play against the Blues at Auckland’s Sacred Heart College on Friday (1.30pm kickoff), but most would get game time against the Chiefs at Porirua Park on Saturday, February 7.
Touch wood, Laidlaw says, they start their pre-season campaign with no major injury worries, with flying winger Kini Naholo ahead of schedule in his recovery from major knee surgery and a possible returnee in late March, against the Highlanders or Reds.
Japan captain and towering lock Warner Dearns suffered a thumb fracture at pre-season training but Laidlaw hoped he would still get game time in the next 10 days.
“He’s an athlete, he’s in good condition and slotted in seamlessly. He sounds like a Kiwi and looks like a Kiwi but he’s played most of his rugby in Japan. We’re not assuming anything and we need to take our time with him.
“We’ve had good chats about what he needs from us and what he responds best to… he’s a good athlete and his set piece is good, so we’re enjoying him being in the building. Hopefully he will make a big impact.”
Laidlaw said he would play familiar combinations in Auckland, with Manawatu duo Jordi Viljoen and Brett Cameron teaming up at 9-10 as would Ere Enari and Lucas Cashmore.
Callum Harkin would likely start at fullback then spend time at first-five, while Manawatu halfback Jai Tamati from the wider training group - who won the Hurricanes’ Bronco test with a 4:20 time - would also appear.
The Hurricanes have a first round bye before opening their 2026 campaign against Moana Pasifika in Wellington on February 20.