Twenty nations will head to France in September for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, battling to lift the William Webb Ellis trophy. Held every four years, South Africa are the reigning champion, having won the tournament in 2019.
As this yearโs renewal approaches, weโve looked closely at the top Rugby World Cup coaches aiming to lead their teams to victory in France.
Top 5 Rugby World Cup Coaches
With the 2023 Rugby World Cup looking like a wide-open tournament, we check out the current top five Rugby World Cup coaches.
๐ณ๐ฟ Ian Foster โ New Zealand
Ian Foster is the current head coach of New Zealand. He was appointed as an assistant coach for the All Blacks in 2012, a position he held until he was promoted to head coach in 2019, taking over from Steve Hansen. Foster is known for his tactical understanding and ability to develop young talent, which he has shown with the All Blacks. However, this yearโs Rugby World Cup will be Fosterโs last in charge, with Scott Robinson taking over the head coach role after the tournament.
๐ฆ๐บ Eddie Jones โ Australia
Eddie Jones is Australiaโs current head coach, and he has significantly impacted the sport at both the domestic and international levels. He has coached three nations at the Rugby World Cup, including Australia, Japan, and England, leading Australia and England to the final. He was also involved with South Africa when they won the 2007 tournament. Jones returned to the Wallabies following the departure of Dave Rennie in 2022.
๐ฎ๐ช Andy Farrell โ Ireland
Andy Farrell currently serves as Irelandโs head coach, appointed in 2019. As a player, Farrell enjoyed a successful career in both rugby codes, winning numerous accolades with Wigan, Great Britain and England in rugby league and then playing rugby union for Saracens and England. As Ireland coach, Farrell has overseen a transitional period for the team, including several retirements and the introduction of young talent. They are the current Six Nations champions, and many peoples fancy to win the Rugby World Cup.
๐ฟ๐ฆ Rassie Erasmus โ South Africa
Although not currently the Springboksโ head coach, Erasmus is their Director of Rugby and has a massive influence on the squad. He coached South Africa to victory at the 2019 Rugby World Cup and is set to retake control after this yearโs tournament. He has been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion, promoting the need for greater representation of black players in the South African squad. However, he has also courted controversy with social media posts about the standard of international refereeing.
๐ซ๐ท Fabien Galthie โ France
Fabien Galthie is the current head coach of the French national rugby team. He was a successful player, representing France in 64 matches and captaining the team from 1998 to 2001. Following coaching spells at Stade Francais, Montpellier, and Toulon, Galthie was appointed France coach in 2019, and he has since led the team to a resurgence in form. In addition, he has brought renewed hope to Les Bleus fans that 2023 can finally be the year they lift the Rugby World Cup.
Conclusion
Heading into the 2023 Rugby World Cup, many rugby fans would name Ireland coach Andy Farrell as topping the list of the best Rugby World Cup coaches. However, after six weeks of action in France this autumn, will he still be seen as the number one?ย
FAQs
Many people rank the Ireland coach Andy Farrell as the best rugby union coach in the world. He has developed an outstanding squad that are the reigning Six Nations champions and have a real chance of winning their first-ever Rugby World Cup this year.
The current coach of New Zealand is Ian Foster, who will lead the All Blacks at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. However, it has been announced that Scott Robinson will replace him following the tournament.