Steve Hansen joins Toyota Verblitz as coaching consultant

Toyota Verblitz have hired the services of former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen as a consultant of the Japanese Top League side.

Hansen recently ended his 16-year association with New Zealand side following the conclusion of the World Cup in Japan. He took charge of the All Blacks in 2011 from Graham Henry and finished as one of the most successful coach of New Zealand and was part of two successful World Cup campaigns.

“It’s an interesting role. It’s not one as head coach," he told New Zealand Rugby's official website.

“It requires me to be up there somewhere between 5-17 weeks a year.

“The key thing is to go in there and work with the people who are in the environment.”

Former New Zealand captain Kieran Read is also set to join the Japanese club after he had announced retirement from international rugby at the end of the World Cup. Hansen's role though will be an off-field one where he will act as a mentor and advisor to the club.

“Whilst it’s not a full-time coaching role, it is a role that allows me to stay in the game… and allows me to have the family time that I want to have. I’m really looking forward to it," he added.