Rugby: Hansen to rejoin All Blacks

Steve Hansen. Photo / Brett Phibbs

LYON - Assistant coach Steve Hansen will rejoin the All Blacks in time to see tomorrow's rugby World Cup match against Portugal here.

Hansen flew home straight after the opening test against Italy in Marseille last Saturday and has spent nearly a week in Christchurch to be with his unwell mother, Lauriss.

She has made progress and he flew out for Lyon on Friday (NZ time).

Coach Graham Henry said Hansen was due to land at 8pm Saturday (NZ time), three hours before kickoff at Stade de Gerland.

"He's spent time with the family and he's comfortable that that's been done properly," Henry said.

"His parents want him to return and I think the reports have been reasonably positive at that end, without going into any detail.

"They were more positive than they originally thought they would be."

Hansen's mother reportedly suffered a heart attack around the time the New Zealand team departed for the World Cup.

- NZPA