Graham Henry retires from All Blacks - Rugby News Update
Graham Henry, who led the All Blacks to lift the second World Cup crown in their history last month, has resigned from his position. Henry announced his retirement as the head coach of All Blacks on October 31, and told reporters that it was enough for him
after winning the Rugby World Cup 2011.
All Blacks have performed exceptionally well under his dynamic leadership over the years since he took charge of the side back in 2003. New Zealand Rugby Union has paid a rich tribute to the coach for his remarkable services to the country.
It was quite a surprise decision for the All Blacks as they were expecting the legend to carry on with his work for some more time. Henry started off his professional career of coaching way back in 1973 from a local Grammar School in Auckland. Slowly but
steadily, he kept on improving his skills and had become a well reputed coach at the provincial level in the late 90s.
He coached Auckland and Blues in the ITM Cup competitions from 1992-1998 and then he was approached by Welsh Rugby Union to train their national side for a tenure of four years. He worked with the Welsh side as a head coach from 1998-2002 and remained quite
successful in bringing notable changes to his side.
His journey with the All Blacks started in 2003 after New Zealand was knocked out in the semi-final of RWC by arch-rivals Australia. He took the challenge of boosting the disappointed side but again the All Blacks were ruled out from the quarter final-stages
in the global show of 2007.
Despite a stunning defeat at the hands of France in RWC 2007, Henry was retained as the head coach of the side and he justified the confidence of the management while winning the Webb Ellis Trophy after 24 years on October 23, 2011, in Auckland.
Declaring his retirement from the position of All Blacks head coach, Henry said that, “I've had enough. It's been an enormous privilege to coach the All Blacks and I am exceptionally proud of how the team has added to the All Blacks legacy over the last
eight years, involving 103 Test matches.”
New Zealand Rugby Union has not appointed a new coach so far.
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