Smith back to All Blacks

Northampton coach Wayne Smith is thrilled to be getting a second chance with the New Zealand national team.

Smith has confirmed he is leaving the Saints at the end of the season to return to New Zealand as one of All Blacks coach Graham Henry's assistants.

Wales coach Steve Hansen completes the coaching triumvirate.

New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs confirmed on Sunday the pair had been contracted and that an official announcement would be made later this week.

Smith took over as All Blacks coach from John Hart in 1999 but told the NZRU to advertise the position after the team suffered losses to Australia in Wellington in 2000 and Sydney in 2001.

He applied for the post but lost out to John Mitchell.

'It's a dream to have another opportunity to coach the All Blacks,' Smith told the Dominion Post.

'I'm a loyal sort of person and it was a difficult decision to leave Northampton because they've been very good to me, but the All Blacks are very dear to me.

'I could never have coached another country and never wanted to.'

Smith is not expected in New Zealand until May as Northampton are still chasing the play-offs in the Zurich Premiership.

Hansen will remain with Wales until the end of the RBS 6 Nations Championship and their final match is against Italy in Cardiff on March 27.