New Zealand rugby gives Steve Hansen the opportunity to remain as All Blacks head coach for two more years

Steve Hansen has proposed to New Zealand Rugby Club to remain at the helm of the All Blacks head coach after the Rugby World Cup next year.

Hansen's contract expires after the tournament in Japan, but the Herald understands that NZR told Hansen that if he wanted to, he had a two-year extension to stay at the helm of the national team.

This extension will lead him to 2021 as head coach of the All Blacks, presumably with the intention of giving up control two years before the 2023 World Cup.

However, Hansen has not yet indicated he will remain in charge after the World Cup. A decision should be made in the next three weeks.

Hansen has always said that any decision would be made in the interest of the team and in consultation with their family, given the requirements of being away from home for such long periods.

He said at Herald Last year, he was "almost certain" that he would not be the head coach of the All Blacks after the 2019 World Cup, having previously insisted on the fact that he was "90% sure" that he would leave after the Lions tour in 2017.

Hansen has been criticized as a result of the defeat of the All Blacks against Ireland in Dublin, some even claiming that his head falls before the World Cup.

It was also announced earlier this week that Hansen could assume the role of "rugby director" of the NZR.

Speaking on the On The Ball broadcast AM, Alan Quinlan, a former Irish test team player, claimed to have details about NZR's succession plan if Hansen decided to withdraw.

Quinlan revealed that he had spoken to former All Blacks, Justin Marshall and Jeff Wilson, who claimed to have inside information about Hansen's future.

"We talk about Steve Hansen as rugby director and then there will be a possibility of a [vacant head coach] position."

If Hansen retired, assistant coach Ian Foster would be the favorite, and the other main candidate, Ireland's head coach Joe Schmidt, announced that he would "finish coaching" after the Cup. of the world.