Scott Hansen set to replace Rob Penney as Crusaders head coach in 2027

Scott Hansen, the former All Blacks assistant coach and long-time lieutenant to Crusaders legend Scott Robertson, is set to take over as head coach of the Crusaders in 2027, according to a report by Liam Napier of the New Zealand Herald.

Hansen will succeed Rob Penney, who signed a one-year contract extension after guiding the Crusaders to the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific title. Napier reports that the decision has been made internally for more than a week, with the handover scheduled for the conclusion of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.

The appointment ends a period of uncertainty for Hansen, who was relieved of his All Blacks assistant coaching role in March 2026 when New Zealand Rugby restructured its coaching group around new head coach Dave Rennie. NZR CEO Steve Lancaster acknowledged the difficulty of that transition at the time, saying Hansen had “made important contributions to the team” and had “a lot more to give as a world-class coach.”

Hansen was not the only candidate in contention. Brad Mooar, who returned to the Crusaders last season after serving as an assistant under All Blacks head coach Ian Foster, was also in the running. Mooar brings previous head coaching experience from stints with Scarlets in Wales and Southland, but the Crusaders ultimately opted for Hansen.

The franchise also explored the possibility of luring Andrew Goodman back to New Zealand. The 43-year-old former Crusaders assistant, currently serving as Ireland’s attack coach under Andy Farrell, chose to remain in his role with the Irish setup.

For Hansen, the appointment represents a return to familiar territory. He previously served as a Crusaders assistant coach and was part of the backroom staff that helped the Canterbury-based franchise accumulate multiple Super Rugby titles before joining Robertson’s All Blacks coaching group for two seasons.