New Kobe head coach Andy Ellis: The goal is to go back-to-back

League One champions Kobe Steelers unveiled World Cup-winning All Black Andy Ellis as Dave Rennie’s successor at their training base in Hyogo on Monday.

Kobe initially announced the anticipated appointment on 7 August following RugbyJP.com’s story in June and introduced their new coach to the media on the first day of their gruelling six-month pre-season.

The 2011 World Cup winner enjoyed six years playing for the powerhouse Japanese side from 2014 to 2020 and was part of their Top League championship success in 2018 under Dave Dillon.

Kobe’s former co-captain, 42, who was handpicked for the job by his former head coach and mentor Wayne Smith, is hoping to build on the success of All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie who signed off in Japan by guiding the club to their first League One title in June.

© Kobe Steelers

The 28-cap All Black told RugbyJP: “It's a great challenge to try and go back-to-back and to leave a legacy at the club.

“I was here for six years, my son was born here, it all helps to make this place feel like home.

“I’m proud of the club, I love the city and the people here. It’s an honour to coach Kobe and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Ellis will be assisted by coaching legend Smith who has been appointed as the club’s Head of Coaching.

His former Kobe teammates Fraser Anderson and Tom Franklin have also returned and will be part of Ellis’ new coaching ticket.

“I got the offer at the end of last year and I couldn't believe it at first, I was coaching u11s at the time (laughs),” admitted the former Crusaders scrum-half who joined then-Major League Rugby side Rugby New York as a player-coach from Kobe in 2020.

“We want to reshape the game in a lot of ways, we've got the greatest generational coach in the last 30 years with us in Wayne Smith.

“He's led the way and the rest of the world has followed. We are aligned in our thinking and how we see the game.

“We want to play fast, exciting, rugby. We'll be smart, we won’t be reckless. We want the fans, the company and the players to all be united and we want them all to love being here.”

Smith revealed that he was approached by the club to pick a potential candidate to take over the reigns of the champions.

"I was asked by the club if I was involved, who I would want as the coach,” said the 69-year-old great.

“I instantly thought of Andy, Fraser and Tom who were with me here in 2018, 2019 and 2020 when we were unbeaten in 29 games.

“I was asked who loves the club and who has the brains to lead it.”

Smith, who led the Black Ferns to the Women’s Rugby World Cup title in 2022, explained his new role at the club.

"I have signed a 20-week contract, although it could end up being 40 weeks. I'll be here as long as I'm needed.

“As a coaching director you need to leave the building sometimes and let the guys run things themselves. I’ll be going home sometimes at periods for three or four  weeks, leaving the guys here to coach everything.

“Andy is already the boss and he tells me what to do,” joked the Putāruru native who started his coaching career in 1986 with Italian side ASD Rugby Casale.

Ellis hailed the influence of his previous coaches who have helped to shape his approach to the game and his coaching style.

“Smithy is an amazing mentor, he’s allowing me to run the management and the team. When I need him he’s there for me.

“I’ve worked under some of the best coaches ever such as Wayne Smith, Graham Henry, Todd Blackadder, Robbie Deans, Steve Hansen and Scott Robertson.

“I’ll learn things, I’ll make a few mistakes but that’s part of the plan. I'm really grateful to be here. I have the support of the company, the mentorship of Smithy and a great group of men around me."

Ellis, whose first match in charge will be a pre-season game against division three side Chugoku Red Regulions on 26 September, is still adjusting to his new role and settings having led training for the first time on Friday.

“In my first training session I put my boots on and went out there as if I was still playing (laughs).”