All Black great joins Springboks' World Cup pool rivals
NEWS: Georgia have bolstered their coaching ranks ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup in 2027 with the appointment of former All Blacks great Jerome Kaino.
Georgia will face a significant challenge at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, having been drawn alongside South Africa, Italy and Romania in the pool stage.
Currently ranked 13th in the world, the Lelos will be targeting a place in the round of 16, with Kaino potentially playing an important role in their preparations.
The two-time Rugby World Cup winner has joined the Lelos coaching staff for the November international window, where he will work as an assistant coach under Pierre-Henri Broncan.
Kaino’s brief will focus on contact areas and attacking rucks as Georgia continue their preparations for a month that includes Tests against Canada, Tonga and the USA.
The appointment reunites Kaino with new head coach Pierre-Henry Broncan, with the pair having previously worked together at French heavyweights Toulouse.
Despite linking up with the Georgian national side, the 43-year-old will retain his existing role at Toulouse.
Georgia confirmed the appointment in a statement, describing Kaino as a specialist addition to Broncan’s backroom team for the November programme.
Born in American Samoa in 1983, Kaino moved to New Zealand with his family at the age of four and would go on to establish himself as one of the outstanding back-row forwards of his generation.
He made his Auckland debut in 2004 before earning his first All Blacks cap later that year, scoring a try against the Barbarians.
By 2008, Kaino had become New Zealand’s first-choice blindside flanker.
He played a major role in their 2011 Rugby World Cup triumph, scoring four tries during the tournament, before helping them retain the Webb Ellis Cup in 2015.
Kaino was named New Zealand Player of the Year in 2011 after playing a pivotal role in the All Blacks ending their 24-year wait for a World Cup on home soil.
Following the conclusion of his Super Rugby career, Kaino moved to France where he spent the final three seasons of his playing career with Toulouse.
The powerhouse loose forward lifted the Top 14 title in both 2019 and 2021, while also helping Toulouse capture the Champions Cup in what proved to be the final season of his playing career.
Kaino immediately transitioned into coaching and has spent the past five years with Toulouse working in skills development and with the club’s Under-21 programme.
1 YEAR TO GO
The countdown is on until the biggest Men’s Rugby World Cup ever kicks off in Australia. Go All Out and secure your seats with tickets now available!
