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AB coach confirms Ospreys offer

Friday 14th November 2008

Undecided: Wayne Smith

New Zealand backs coach Wayne Smith has confirmed he has received an offer to take over at the Ospreys.

But the 51-year-old insists he won't be giving the Welsh club an answer until the end of the All Blacks' current tour of Britain and Ireland.

New Zealand play Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday followed by a midweek game against Munster and further Tests against Wales and England.

"Coaches are like players, you are always getting contacted by clubs to go and work for them, but at the moment I'm on tour and I'm giving my heart and soul here," Smith told Stuff.co.nz.

"There have been lots of offers and I haven't taken any of them seriously yet. I'll have a look at what I'm doing after this."

Smith is contracted to the New Zealand Rugby Union until the end of next year but raised the possibility that his last match with the All Blacks could be the Test at Twickenham on November 29.

"I've got a review clause in my contract for the end of the year and I'll make some decisions then," the 51-year-old added.

"There's always a chance (of leaving the All Blacks).

"This is my 78th Test match as an All Black coach and there's always a possibility (of quitting), but who knows."

Smith has had a long association with the All Blacks. He was technical adviser in 1998 and 1999 then had two years as Head Coach before he was replaced by John Mitchell.

He then had a three-year stint with English Premiership club Northampton before returning to New Zealand to work alongside Graham Henry and Steve Hansen. All three were reappointed for two years despite last year's World Cup failure.

New Zealander Andrew Hore is the elite performance director of the team, with Sean Holley the Head Coach, following the departure of Lyn Jones in May.

The Ospreys squad includes New Zealanders Marty Holah and Jamie Nutbrown as well as numerous Welsh internationals including Gavin Henson, Shane Williams and James Hook.