All Black selectors to be named soon
January 17, 2002

The New Zealand Rugby Union is set to announce the new All Black selection panel early next month.

All Black team manager Andrew Martin said he and coach John Mitchell had interviewed several candidates.

"We are in the process of talking with a number of people at present," Martin told NZPA. "John's very clear on the selectors he wants, but until those discussions have been completed it's not appropriate to talk about personalities.

"We would be hopeful we will be able to say who the selectors are by early next month."

Former All Blacks Kieran Crowley, from Taranaki, and Mark Shaw, from Hawkes Bay, have been tipped, but Martin was loath to speculate.

From last season's panel, Peter Thorburn has been told he is not wanted, and Wayne Smith and Tony Gilbert have both taken coaching contracts in Britain.

All Black doctor John Mayhew and physiotherapist Paul Annear have been invited to reapply for their jobs as Martin and Mitchell review the team management structure.

"We would be hoping to see their names on the list of applicants," Martin said. The pair's contracts had expired, he said, and the Rugby Union was following a normal appointment process.

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