Ian Foster: Newly appointed Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit - Holiday Breakfast

Surprised, and humbled. That’s the reaction of former All Blacks coach Ian Foster after being made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Having spent decades working in rugby, including 12 years with the All Blacks, Foster’s contribution to the game has earned him inclusion in the New Year’s Honours list.

But Foster’s contribution to the sport extends far beyond what he did at the highest level.

The 148 matches Foster played for Waikato are still a record for the province and the tally is unlikely to be bettered. Among active players, only Liam Messam, aged 40, gets close at 104 games.

As a coach, Foster’s spells with both Waikato and the Chiefs paved the way for him to step into the All Blacks, where he lifted the World Cup as an assistant to Sir Steve Hansen in 2012.

Read more