Former All Blacks attack coach Jason Holland is rejoining the Hurricanes for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.
Holland spent eight seasons in Wellington during his first stint, helping the Canes win their only Super Rugby title before taking over as head coach from 2020 to 2023.
He left to join Scott Robertson’s All Blacks staff last year, but after confirming he wouldn’t seek a new national team contract ahead of the recent northern tour, the door opened for a return to the capital.
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This time, he slips back in as an assistant under Clark Laidlaw, who succeeded him as head coach and will continue in the top job.
“I’m hugely grateful and excited by the opportunity to be back at the Hurricanes,” Holland said. “It’s been awesome working alongside a great group of staff and players in the first few days since I’ve been back. They’ve created an exciting brand of Hurricanes rugby, so I’m expecting the upcoming season to be a lot of fun.”
Laidlaw welcomed him back with open arms.
“We’re hugely excited to have Alfie return to the club and assist us for the season ahead,” he said. “He obviously has a wealth of experience, not only at the Hurricanes as a head coach and attack coach, but also in the last couple of years with the All Blacks.”
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Laidlaw added that the expansion of the pre-season squad made Holland’s availability impossible to ignore.
“With the squad going up to 50 players, we were looking for a coach to come in and help. The timing and opportunity for Alfie to come in, and his excitement and enthusiasm for the role, was too good to miss.
“For me as the head coach, having someone who has been a head coach of a Super Rugby club, and understands the demands of that, gives us a real second pair of eyes around our environment week-to-week.”
Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
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