May 5, 2026 • 7 mins
New Zealand Rugby have announced another appointment heading into the World Cup next year.
Don Tricker will be returning to the organisation after eight years to become the new High Performance Director overseeing both the All Blacks and the Black Ferns.
He will begin the role in a full time capacity in November as he sees out his contract with the San Diego Padres in Major League Baseball.
Steve Lancaster is the current interim CEO of New Zealand Rugby, he joined D'Arcy to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
He's in a rugby I've announced another very exciting appointment
the leadership team heading into the World Cup next year,
Don Tricker coming back to the organization after eight years away.
He's going to become the new high Performance Director, overseeing
both the All Blacks and the Black Fern. Steve Lancaster
is the interim CEO of NZR and he joins us
now to discuss that appointment. Good evening, Steve, Hey, Darcy,
(00:36):
how are you very well? I am not quite as happy,
I think as n Z are. You're really putting these
pieces together, not the last piece, but another piece in
the puzzle. You've got a high performance Director, Don Tricker
first up? Tell me why?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Don? Yeah? I think Darcy.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
We're very excited to be confirming down into the high
Performance director role. It's a really important appointment for New
Zealand Rugby as we reset our structures to take the
business forward.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
So Dawn is well known to us.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
You know, he's previously been involved in New Zealand Rugby,
leading our high performance system and supporting our teams in black.
Prior to departing to the US to join the San
Diego Padres, and he's continued to develop and be a
leader in his field, and we are very excited to
have someone of his caliber rejoining the organization.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
So history suggests it's a very good move. So what
else did he bring to the table from his time
with the Padre Steve.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Dawn has certainly been exposed to some different systems and
models working in the US, and it's fair to say
he's got some better work stories, I.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Think, after his time there.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
But you know, the American model is different to our model,
and so again it wouldn't be a pass of just
transposing things from the US back to here, but it
certainly fleshed out Don's perspective in terms of how they
approach high performance sports, silence, coaching, contracting, competition models.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
You know, the baseball model.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
One of the things we talked about is the feeder
system and the model that baseball has a developing talent
and bringing it through to the major league. And as
I think you'll be aware, you know that there are
a lot of players in the wider baseball system and
all of them are trying to get into major leagues.
So that's certainly something unique that Don's had first hand experience.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Then he's had some separation, but ends are but he
has been involved recently and way back in the day.
Is that helpful? Do you think? Is that good for
Don to be out of that area for a while
before he re enters the fray.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
It's helpful on both both counts, right, So it's helpful
that he's been involved in New Zealand rugby previously because
he understands our context, He understands the nuance of our
game and our model, so he can get up to
speed really quickly coming into this role. There isn't going
to be a really long or steep learning curve for him,
but he has been gone for nine years and so
(02:57):
there will be things that are different when he was
last year last year, and he's going to spend the
time between now and when he commences in a full
time capacity to understand the here and now of rugby
and New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Hard to get him away from the padres.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Yeah, Well, I can't speak for him, but I do
know that it hasn't been an easy decision him to
step away, and he certainly the opportunities to remain there
but you know, when home comes calling, that can be
pretty compelling as well, be.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Very compelling duties. How much has it changed? What are
his parameters to work within? Where do you expect to
see improvements? Basically what have you're laid on them?
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Well, so the brief is really clear for Don in
this role, right, and that is to enable our teams
in back Black and specifically when we look at the
All Blacks and the Black Ferns and the fifteen A
side format of the game to be successful and to
be winning on the world stage. But the role isn't
just about supporting those teams. It's about the system that
(03:57):
underpins those teams performance, not just today but into the future.
So Don's remit is very much a system remit, and
he will have absolute scope to look at everything in
our system that contributes or doesn't contribute to the performance
of our teams and Black.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
It will be essentially the boss straight above Dave Rennie
and Whitney Hanson, what are their thoughts around this appointment?
Have they been talked to you about this?
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (04:25):
They have only both very positive about Don's appointment.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
So that's pleasing. That's good. It's always good when people.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Are excited about and about an appointment, and particularly a
care appointment like Don's. And you're right actually to call
that out that you're one of the significant changes here
is that we are moving reporting lines from the CEO
to those head coaches to Don now reporting to the
CEO and the coaches reporting through to down.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
When you look at what he's done of recent time
said nine years since it's been away, but he was
involved in their review of the All Blacks which eventually
resulted in Scott Robertson leaving his post, so that again
must have been handed to understand where you guys are
at right now. Won't say it was a tipping point,
(05:11):
but good that he's had recent.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Connection absolutely, And as I said before, you know, it
just means that the learning curve won't be as long
or as steep as it would otherwise have been. So
he's got some real recency in terms of his understanding
of the All Blacks environment. He is going to be
spending some time and then around the All Blacks again
prior to his full time commencement, so he'll be up
(05:33):
to speak really quickly in that context.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
And certainly his involvement in the review earlier in the year.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
It's help that and he'll be getting underway what late
this year.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
So he's going to see out his contractual commitments with
the Padres, which will take him through until the end
of October. So he'll commence full time with NZ from November.
But we have mapped out a transitional plan for Don
a lot similar to what we've done with Dave Reenie actually,
as he honors his commitments to Colby and so Don
will be back and forth from New Zealand and in
(06:04):
and out of team environments over the between now and
November as well.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
And what happens with the high performance role right here?
Right now, there's still an interim body and charge of
that or in charge of that.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
So Hannah pored Our, heead of Women's High Performance, has
been filling the general high Performance lead role in an
acting capacity and she will continue to be so until
Donna arrives.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
And how long is the appointment for Steve.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Well, Don's been employed as a permanent employee, so you know,
it's as long as long as both happy with how
it's going.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
I guess that I suppose you're expecting big things. This
is all targeting what a year and a half from now,
everything's falling into place after it's been a very long
and difficult time. Where's your CEO.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Yeah, well that's not something I can coming from, but
there's certainly a question for the board. But look, we
do feel we do feel pleased with how our key
appointments are falling into place, both around our teams but
also within the business. We've had some you know, some
recent key appointments within NZR as well. And you're right,
we haven't got long to the World Cup next year,
so you know, dond is going to have to apply
(07:15):
a pretty immediate focus to the All Blacks, but it
will also say, have a much broader remit and at
the time he will be looking beyond the All Blacks
as well.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
And finally, Steve, under your watchful eye, how's the energy
at n z R right now? Uplifted? I expect eyes up.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
You're really positive actually, So we shared the news of
Don's appointment with the relevant stuff here yesterday and there
was a round of applause actually, which you don't often
when you announce someone being appointed.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
So that was that was pleasing and a big week
for us.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
We've got our we've got our ag in Thursday, so
you know there's always a good energy around the place
when we look forward to bringing our stay callers together.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Awesome.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Hey, thanks very much for that, Steve, good on you.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Thanks Darcy.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
He's in a rugby I've announced another very exciting appointment
the leadership team heading into the World Cup next year,
Don Tricker coming back to the organization after eight years away.
He's going to become the new high Performance Director, overseeing
both the All Blacks and the Black Fern. Steve Lancaster
is the interim CEO of NZR and he joins us
now to discuss that appointment. Good evening, Steve, Hey, Darcy,
(00:36):
how are you very well? I am not quite as happy,
I think as n Z are. You're really putting these
pieces together, not the last piece, but another piece in
the puzzle. You've got a high performance Director, Don Tricker
first up? Tell me why?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Don? Yeah? I think Darcy.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
We're very excited to be confirming down into the high
Performance director role. It's a really important appointment for New
Zealand Rugby as we reset our structures to take the
business forward.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
So Dawn is well known to us.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
You know, he's previously been involved in New Zealand Rugby,
leading our high performance system and supporting our teams in black.
Prior to departing to the US to join the San
Diego Padres, and he's continued to develop and be a
leader in his field, and we are very excited to
have someone of his caliber rejoining the organization.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
So history suggests it's a very good move. So what
else did he bring to the table from his time
with the Padre Steve.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
Dawn has certainly been exposed to some different systems and
models working in the US, and it's fair to say
he's got some better work stories, I.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Think, after his time there.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
But you know, the American model is different to our model,
and so again it wouldn't be a pass of just
transposing things from the US back to here, but it
certainly fleshed out Don's perspective in terms of how they
approach high performance sports, silence, coaching, contracting, competition models.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
You know, the baseball model.
Speaker 4 (02:02):
One of the things we talked about is the feeder
system and the model that baseball has a developing talent
and bringing it through to the major league. And as
I think you'll be aware, you know that there are
a lot of players in the wider baseball system and
all of them are trying to get into major leagues.
So that's certainly something unique that Don's had first hand experience.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Then he's had some separation, but ends are but he
has been involved recently and way back in the day.
Is that helpful? Do you think? Is that good for
Don to be out of that area for a while
before he re enters the fray.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
It's helpful on both both counts, right, So it's helpful
that he's been involved in New Zealand rugby previously because
he understands our context, He understands the nuance of our
game and our model, so he can get up to
speed really quickly coming into this role. There isn't going
to be a really long or steep learning curve for him,
but he has been gone for nine years and so
(02:57):
there will be things that are different when he was
last year last year, and he's going to spend the
time between now and when he commences in a full
time capacity to understand the here and now of rugby
and New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Hard to get him away from the padres.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Yeah, Well, I can't speak for him, but I do
know that it hasn't been an easy decision him to
step away, and he certainly the opportunities to remain there
but you know, when home comes calling, that can be
pretty compelling as well, be.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Very compelling duties. How much has it changed? What are
his parameters to work within? Where do you expect to
see improvements? Basically what have you're laid on them?
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Well, so the brief is really clear for Don in
this role, right, and that is to enable our teams
in back Black and specifically when we look at the
All Blacks and the Black Ferns and the fifteen A
side format of the game to be successful and to
be winning on the world stage. But the role isn't
just about supporting those teams. It's about the system that
(03:57):
underpins those teams performance, not just today but into the future.
So Don's remit is very much a system remit, and
he will have absolute scope to look at everything in
our system that contributes or doesn't contribute to the performance
of our teams and Black.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
It will be essentially the boss straight above Dave Rennie
and Whitney Hanson, what are their thoughts around this appointment?
Have they been talked to you about this?
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (04:25):
They have only both very positive about Don's appointment.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
So that's pleasing. That's good. It's always good when people.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Are excited about and about an appointment, and particularly a
care appointment like Don's. And you're right actually to call
that out that you're one of the significant changes here
is that we are moving reporting lines from the CEO
to those head coaches to Don now reporting to the
CEO and the coaches reporting through to down.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
When you look at what he's done of recent time
said nine years since it's been away, but he was
involved in their review of the All Blacks which eventually
resulted in Scott Robertson leaving his post, so that again
must have been handed to understand where you guys are
at right now. Won't say it was a tipping point,
(05:11):
but good that he's had recent.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Connection absolutely, And as I said before, you know, it
just means that the learning curve won't be as long
or as steep as it would otherwise have been. So
he's got some real recency in terms of his understanding
of the All Blacks environment. He is going to be
spending some time and then around the All Blacks again
prior to his full time commencement, so he'll be up
(05:33):
to speak really quickly in that context.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
And certainly his involvement in the review earlier in the year.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
It's help that and he'll be getting underway what late
this year.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 4 (05:43):
So he's going to see out his contractual commitments with
the Padres, which will take him through until the end
of October. So he'll commence full time with NZ from November.
But we have mapped out a transitional plan for Don
a lot similar to what we've done with Dave Reenie actually,
as he honors his commitments to Colby and so Don
will be back and forth from New Zealand and in
(06:04):
and out of team environments over the between now and
November as well.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
And what happens with the high performance role right here?
Right now, there's still an interim body and charge of
that or in charge of that.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
So Hannah pored Our, heead of Women's High Performance, has
been filling the general high Performance lead role in an
acting capacity and she will continue to be so until
Donna arrives.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
And how long is the appointment for Steve.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Well, Don's been employed as a permanent employee, so you know,
it's as long as long as both happy with how
it's going.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
I guess that I suppose you're expecting big things. This
is all targeting what a year and a half from now,
everything's falling into place after it's been a very long
and difficult time. Where's your CEO.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
Yeah, well that's not something I can coming from, but
there's certainly a question for the board. But look, we
do feel we do feel pleased with how our key
appointments are falling into place, both around our teams but
also within the business. We've had some you know, some
recent key appointments within NZR as well. And you're right,
we haven't got long to the World Cup next year,
so you know, dond is going to have to apply
(07:15):
a pretty immediate focus to the All Blacks, but it
will also say, have a much broader remit and at
the time he will be looking beyond the All Blacks
as well.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
And finally, Steve, under your watchful eye, how's the energy
at n z R right now? Uplifted? I expect eyes up.
Speaker 4 (07:31):
You're really positive actually, So we shared the news of
Don's appointment with the relevant stuff here yesterday and there
was a round of applause actually, which you don't often
when you announce someone being appointed.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
So that was that was pleasing and a big week
for us.
Speaker 4 (07:44):
We've got our we've got our ag in Thursday, so
you know there's always a good energy around the place
when we look forward to bringing our stay callers together.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Awesome.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Hey, thanks very much for that, Steve, good on you.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Thanks Darcy.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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