“My heart is always with culture – the All Black culture, representing the country I was born in. And the culture of my parents, the heritage and the blood that runs through me” – Fa’alogo Tana Umaga
Moana Pasifka head coach and former All Blacks captain Fa’alogo Tana Umaga has been appointed an All Black assistant coach.
Amid weeks of speculation about his possible role with the team, New Zealand rugby confirmed today that Fa’a’logo was one of three new All Blacks assistants for head coach Dave Rennie.
The three new assistants are:
Faʻalogo Tana Umaga – Defence Coach
Mike Blair – Attack Coach
Neil Barnes – Senior Assistant Coach
Only Jason Ryan, an assistant under previous coach Scott Robertson has been retained by Rennie and he will remain as the forwards coach.
In a statement from Rugby New Zealand, coach Rennie says he has recruited a group who each have vast proven experience and are world-class in their specialist fields.
“This is a very experienced and highly skilled coaching team. Each of these men has a track record of getting the best out of the players and teams they coach, and they are each hugely motivated to get stuck in and deliver the same success with the All Blacks.”
Current Taranaki Head Coach, Neil Barnes, will take on the Senior Assistant Coach role and also bring his lineout expertise, while Jason Ryan retains his role as Forwards Coach, with a particular focus on scrum and maul.
All Black #961, Tana Umaga (Sagone, Afega and Leulumoega Tuai (Samoa)), will take on the defence portfolio at the conclusion of Moana Pasifika’s season.
The attack will be led by former Scotland halfback Mike Blair who is currently Attack Coach under Dave Rennie at the Kobelco Kobe Steelers. Blair will complete the current Japan Rugby League One season before moving to New Zealand, subject to the granting of a work visa by the New Zealand Government.
“Neil provides outstanding leadership and strategic support; Jase has proven himself as one of the best forwards coaches in the game; Tana brings immense mana and defensive insight; and Mike will bring his innovative approach and attention to detail to our attack. I know this group will challenge and support both me and our players to bring the best out of us all,” Rennie said.
“This has been a thorough appointment process that included conversations with each of the former All Blacks Assistant Coaches. I want to acknowledge those men, who have all contributed so positively and professionally to this process and to the legacy of the All Blacks. They are each excellent coaches in their own right, who I know will go on to achieve further success in their careers.”
Faʻalogo returns to coach the team he once captained and earned 74 Test caps for. The legendary All Black is renowned for his leadership and defensive expertise.
His coaching career began in France with Toulon, initially as player‑coach and head coach before transitioning to an assistant coach role. He returned to New Zealand to join Counties Manukau as Assistant Coach and then Head Coach, where he won the Championship Division and the Union’s first Ranfurly Shield.
He has held Head Coach roles with both the Blues and Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby, as well as the defensive role with the Blues.
His international experience includes Defence Coach for Manu Samoa since 2021 and Assistant Coach for the First Nations & Pasifika Invitational XV against the British & Irish Lions in 2025.
“Just to be in the conversation – to have a role with the All Blacks again is pretty big. It’s no small undertaking but it’s a privilege and an honour,” Fa’alogo says.
“My heart is always with culture – the All Black culture, representing the country I was born in. And the culture of my parents, the heritage and the blood that runs through me. I have deep connections to both of those so it would have to be something that I am really connected to for me to move on [from Moana Pasifika]. In terms of these two teams – they mean a lot to me, both of them. They are part of me.
“I’ve got to make sure that I do well with Moana Pasifika and respect the time that I’ve got here. I’ll apply the same things I learned when I was an All Black in terms of ‘am I going to leave Moana in a better place?’ I’m here until the end of the season and we’ve still got things we want to achieve before then.”
