The Crusaders are understood to have approached the highly regarded Andrew Goodman about the prospect of returning home from Ireland, where he holds responsibility for the national side’s backs and attack, but he is content with his role working under Andy Farrell.
Goodman also joined Farrell’s British & Irish Lions coaching staff in their successful Australian tour last year.
That left a head-to-head battle to succeed Penney and assume charge of the Crusaders between fellow former All Blacks assistants Hansen and Brad Mooar.
Hansen and Mooar are indoctrinated in the Crusaders systems and both had their time with the All Blacks cut short.
Mooar was let go midway through Ian Foster’s reign, with the influential Joe Schmidt helicoptered in as his replacement.
Hansen exited the All Blacks earlier this year after Scott Robertson’s ousting, with Dave Rennie preferring Scotsman Mike Blair as his national attack coach.
Mooar returned to the Crusaders as Penney’s assistant coach last season. He is believed to be well liked among the Crusaders camp and has previous head coaching experience with Southland and Welsh club Scarlets.
In 2022, at the start of Foster’s All Blacks tenure, New Zealand Rugby stumped up a hefty compensation fee to prise Mooar from his Scarlets contract.
Other than stepping in for Tony Brown at the now defunct Sunwolves in 2019, Hansen has largely worked as an assistant coach.
He did, however, play an integral role in shaping the All Blacks in 2024 and 2025 as Robertson’s right-hand man.
Hansen worked alongside Robertson for three years (2020-2022) at the Crusaders, too, before his promotion to the All Blacks.
Two months after his exit from the All Blacks coaching team was confirmed, Hansen hasn’t had to wait long to land another high profile position within New Zealand rugby.
While Hansen’s appointment as Crusaders head coach from next season is yet to be officially announced, he is thought to have been internally rubber-stamped more than a week ago.
It is unclear at this stage whether Mooar, who will be disappointed to be overlooked for the top job, will stay on as assistant coach at the Crusaders next year.
Liam Napier is a Senior Sports Journalist and Rugby Correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. He is a co-host of the Rugby Direct podcast.
