New Zealander Mike Cron joins Wallabies coaching staff

Former All Blacks assistant coach Mike Cron has joined the Wallabies backroom staff alongside fellow New Zealander Joe Schmidt, Rugby Australia said Tuesday.

Cron was an assistant with New Zealand between 2004 and 2019, helping lead the side to back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles in 2011 and 2015.

Having earned a reputation as a “scrum doctor”, Cron has more than 30 years’ experience as a rugby coach. He has also been a consultant for governing body World Rugby.

“Mike has added tremendous value in every programme he has been involved with and brings a wealth of knowledge to our coaching group,” new Wallabies coach Schmidt said in a statement.

Schmidt was appointed head coach of Australia in early 2024 after his predecessor Eddie Jones acrimoniously quit following a disastrous World Cup campaign.

Like Cron, Schmidt had previously worked with the All Blacks. He was assistant coach to New Zealand at the last World Cup, where they finished runners-up to South Africa.

The pair’s first game with the Wallabies will be against Wales in Sydney in July.

Australia will also host world champions South Africa twice in 2024.

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AFP

(NAMPA / AFP)