All Blacks coach Graham Henry during their Rugby World Cup 2011 victory parade in Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Graham Henry has said he would be interested in a role with English rugby following the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup-winning campaign.
Henry has indicated to the Daily Telegraph that he would be available for interview should the Rugby Football Union sound him out.
"Yes, I would talk to the RFU, sure. I couldn't just not do anything. I would love to help other people," he told the newspaper.
"I'm particularly proud about the environment created in this All Blacks team. I would love to work in coach development, player development, environmental development, cultural development of a group of people. I'm passionate about that."
If he took on such a challenge it's likely to be in a development role as English rugby attempts to rebuild after a poor Rugby World Cup campaign.
Henry, who was named coach of the year at the IRB awards on Monday night, has previous experience coaching in the United Kingdom after taking the reins of Wales from 1998 to 2002 and the British and Irish Lions in their tour of Australia in 2001.
However when asked at a press conference following the Rugby World Cup final whether he would be interested in taking over the England team, he said: "I think that would be a divorce."
Earlier in the week the New Zealand Rugby Union said they were inviting applications for All Blacks coach.
Rugby union chief executive Steve Tew said invitations to apply for the job had been sent to prospective candidates.
Henry's contract has expired after Sunday's World Cup final victory over France and his current assistant, Steve Hansen, is seen as the leading candidate to take over.
But in the days before the World Cup final the 65-year-old Henry refused to discuss his future plans, raising doubts about whether he favours an immediate succession.
- NEWSTALK ZB/HERALD ONLINE/AP
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