Rugby: Hansen's eyes turn to home

Wales coach Steve Hansen may not qualify for the top All Black job, but he's available to take over the reins at Auckland next season.

Auckland NPC coach Graham Henry is a strong favourite to grab John Mitchell's national position when it becomes vacant next month.

Mitchell has been told he would have to reapply for the coach's position when his two-year contract expires next month following New Zealand's third place in World Cup.

"Yes, I'll be looking for a job at home when I get back," Hansen said in Cardiff yesterday.

However, he would not qualify for the top All Black job under New Zealand Rugby Union rules because he has not been coaching in New Zealand.

If Henry becomes the next All Black coach, he will have to give up the Auckland NPC coach's position to which he was appointed recently.

Hansen was Henry's assistant in Wales before taking over early last year. He has also worked successfully alongside All Black assistant coach Robbie Deans with Canterbury and the Crusaders.

Hansen said he would honour his two-year Wales contract signed in 2002 and see out the next Six Nations before returning home, as planned, at the end of April.

"The circumstances for me wanting to go home haven't changed.

"From the outset I made the comment I'd be coming for 2 1/2 years and the whole objective would be to try to improve the team and other things within Welsh rugby that I've got some control over."

Welsh media had speculated he might be persuaded to stay on after guiding the side to the quarter-finals of the World Cup before losing a tense match to England 28-17.

Asked about the All Blacks' coaching position, Hansen said: "I'm not applying for that. I've a job to do here. It's a job I want to do and want to finish.

"I would love to coach my own country, but I will finish my contract."

Hansen said the Welsh players' success in Australia would push them to keep improving.

"But the key thing now is that we keep our feet on the floor - we don't talk about winning the Six Nations, we talk about working hard."

He said England's victory was tremendous for world rugby.

"Having them in the backyard is great. All of a sudden the Southern Hemisphere has to recognise and respect the Northern Hemisphere again. In the past they have been disrespectful to what the teams up here do."

Asked whether he thought his successor should be a Welshman, he said: "If there is one good enough."

Hansen was appointed coach in February 2002, a month after joining Wales as assistant to Henry.

He has won only nine of his 26 matches in charge, but encouraging games against the All Blacks and England at the cup persuaded many that Welsh rugby was emerging from two decades in the doldrums.

WRU general manager Steve Lewis said Hansen had done an "excellent job" and the World Cup had given Welsh rugby a platform on which to build.

- NZPA