Wayne Smith to step down from All Blacks role

New Zealand Rugby is paying tribute to All Blacks Assistant Coach Wayne Smith, who has today announced he is stepping down from his All Blacks role.

Smith is widely regarded as having one of the greatest rugby brains in world rugby and will leave the All Blacks at the end of the Rugby Championship and take a break from the game.

He played 35 matches, including 17 Tests for the All Blacks between 1980 and 1985 before embarking on his outstanding coaching career.  His coaching involvement with the All Blacks stretches back to 1998 and is highlighted by back-to-back wins at the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2015.

Smith recently celebrated his 60th birthday and said the time was right to step down from full-time coaching.

"It's unbelievable to think that I've been involved in playing and coaching with the All Blacks for 20 years, a third of my life.  I've had an incredible time and shared in some fantastic experiences.  But it's time to hang up my coach's whistle for a while, take a bit of a hiatus, freshen up and spend some more time with my wife Trish and our family."

All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said Smith is "a very special man."

"I would personally like to thank him for all his wisdom, support and hard work over the many years we have worked together. I'd also like to thank him, on behalf of his All Blacks family, for all the help he has given to each and every person involved in the team, not only the current group of players and staff but all past players and management he has worked with.