New Zealand
Daryl Gibson keen on All Blacks role
ESPN Staff
December 15, 2014
Daryl Gibson (R) would love to join the All Blacks coaching set-up in the future © Getty Images
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Waratahs assistant Daryl Gibson is the hot tip to succeed Michael Cheika as NSW head coach but his ultimate goal involves a return to New Zealand and a role with the All Blacks.

And the former All Blacks and Crusaders back has revealed Cheika approached him to join his Wallabies coaching set-up for last month's tour of Europe, an offer he politely declined. But he looks a certainty to take the reins from Cheika at the Waratahs after next year's Super Rugby season, a role he feels more than ready for following assistant coaching stints in Christchurch and Sydney.

"I'm certainly putting my name forward," Gibson told stuff.co.nz "My next step would be to a head coaching role. I've really enjoyed being an assistant, but I just feel for my own development I need to take the next step. "I need to get off the sidelines, take some responsibility and lead a program. It would be great if it's here [at the Waratahs] but if not I'll keep my head down, work hard and hopefully something comes up."

Cheika pried Gibson away from the Crusaders soon after he took charge of the Waratahs at the start of 2013 and the New Zealander is widely regarded as having had a key role in the Sydneysiders' road to glory 18 months later.

Gibson could potentially take charge of the Waratahs for 2016 and 2017, leaving him free to head home to New Zealand at the time when a new coaching set-up is tipped to happen at the All Blacks. But Gibson is in no doubt as to the likely number of potential candidates with New Zealand coaches making their mark all over the world.

"There are a lot of New Zealand coaches around the world and we're all proud New Zealanders and want to help our country," he said. "At the moment, I'm more focused on becoming a head coach and developing those skills and, if opportunities come down the road internationally, that would be great."

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