NZ want to keep Henry's secrets secret
World Cup-winning All Black coach Graham Henry’s vast reservoir of knowledge should be retained for the exclusive use of New Zealand teams.
This is the feeling of influential officials in the Land of the Long White Cloud, after the 65-year-old stepped down from his position as national team coach on Tuesday.
Henry, who stood down after eight years in charge, indicated a strong desire to assist all provincial and Super Rugby coaches on a consultancy basis.
However, there are fears he could complement that role by working in Europe or with another national team.
That is something the Kiwis will frown upon.
“We might have a view as to which teams we would like to see him help,” New Zealand Rugby Union Chief Executive Steve Tew said, when asked about Henry’s overseas options.
“We have that concern with virtually everyone who works in our organisation.
“Intellectual property is a hard thing to protect. Who owns it? They come with their own then share, develop and leave. It’s bloody difficult to protect.
“That’s something we need to sit down and talk to him about.
“He wants to stay stimulated. In most professions you need to get outside your environment to stay on edge, learn things and be challenged.”
Henry admits a job overseas would be “stimulating and challenging”, but downplayed reports linking him to a role with the Rugby Football Union in England.
“I would like to spend a little bit of time, not a long time, because I have important family over here [in New Zealand], but a little bit of time assisting if there is a demand from a club or from a union in Europe over the next few years,” he told Radio 5 Live.
Asked whether the sporting challenge or the salary would be the determining factor, he said: “It’s a bit of both to be frank, blatantly frank.
“If you are going to get involved in a club in Europe you can only do one club, that’s important, and I haven’t got a lot of time due to things I have to do in New Zealand.
“It would be stimulating and challenging, but we will see what happens.”
If he were to work with an overseas club, things would not be so bad.
However, if he was to share his knowledge with an international team, it could cause angst in New Zealand, especially if it prevents the All Blacks from defending their RWC crown in 2015.
