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Georgia has enhanced its coaching roster in anticipation of the forthcoming Rugby World Cup set for 2027, with the addition of the illustrious former All Blacks player Jerome Kaino.
The Lelos will compete in Pool B alongside South Africa, Italy, and Romania, a little less than a year from now.
This two-time Rugby World Cup champion is joining the Lelos’ coaching team for the November international break, where he will serve as an assistant under Pierre-Henri Broncan.
Kaino’s role will emphasize contact situations and offensive rucks as Georgia gears up for a series of matches against Canada, Tonga, and the USA.
This appointment brings Kaino and Broncan back together, as they have worked alongside each other previously at the prominent French club Toulouse.
While taking on this new role with the Georgian national team, the 43-year-old Kaino will maintain his current position at Toulouse.
Georgia announced this addition through an official statement, highlighting Kaino as a specialist complement to Broncan’s support team for the November schedule.
Kaino, who was born in American Samoa in 1983, moved to New Zealand with his family when he was just four years old and went on to become one of the top back-row players of his era.
After progressing through the Auckland rugby system, he played for both Auckland and the Blues from 2004 to 2018, becoming a key figure in New Zealand rugby during one of the country’s finest periods.
His ascent began notably in 2004 when he helped the Junior All Blacks secure victory in the World Rugby Under-21 Championship and was subsequently awarded the title of the world’s Under-21 Player of the Year.
That same year marked his debut for the senior All Blacks. He accumulated 81 Test appearances, secured two Rugby World Cup titles in 2011 and 2015, and achieved five Rugby Championship victories.
The towering 6’5″, 113kg Kaino earned the New Zealand Player of the Year award in 2011 after playing a crucial role in the All Blacks finally winning a World Cup on home turf after a 24-year hiatus.
After wrapping up his Super Rugby career, Kaino relocated to France, where he spent the last three seasons of his playing era with Toulouse. The formidable loose forward celebrated Top 14 titles in both 2019 and 2021 and also contributed to Toulouse’s success in clinching the Champions Cup during his final playing season.
Kaino transitioned into coaching immediately after his playing days and has dedicated the last five years to Toulouse, focusing on skill development and the club’s Under-21 program.
