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Sport Nation
EXCLUSIVE: New Blackcaps coach confirmed
Alex Chapman • June 6th, 2025 6:00 am
Rob Walter | Photo: Photosport
Just days after confirmation that Gary Stead will leave as Blackcaps coach, New Zealand Cricket has announced his replacement.
As first reported by Sport Nation, Rob Walter has been named as Gary Stead's replacement at a press conference in Auckland on Friday.
Walter is understood to have beaten out former Blackcap Shane Bond for the job, who previously served as bowling coach for the national side.
Last week, Sport Nation revealed that the role was down to the two candidates, with players suggesting their preference would be for Walter to get the job, given his understanding of the domestic game, and experience here and around the world as a head coach.
Walter’s coaching experience is vast, leading sides both in NZ and abroad. In 2016, he moved to New Zealand to take charge of the Otago men’s team, before shifting to the Central Stags in 2021.
Prior to heading to New Zealand, Walter oversaw the Titans in South Africa’s domestic competition, which was his first time in the role after being South Africa’s strength and conditioning and fielding coach between 2009 and 2013. He’s also spent time in the IPL with the Delhi Daredevils and the now-defunct Pune Warriors.
Walter was most recently coach of the white-ball teams of his native South Africa. But the travel to and from New Zealand is believed to have taken a serious toll, resulting in him stepping down two years into a four-year term.
Earlier this month, one source described Walter as “the standout guy however you look at it.” in regards to the Blackcaps job, with another saying he’s a "perfect head coach” and "the most comparable to Mike Hesson and Gary Stead."
Another said that despite being South African born and bred he’s “as Kiwi as anything.”
Last week, Sport Nation revealed that Stead, the coach for the past seven years, was not offered an interview as part of the final four candidates.
On Wednesday, New Zealand Cricket confirmed that Stead had been ruled out of continuing in the role as Test coach, after the national body chose to continue to have one coach for all formats, while yesterday, Stead told Sport Nation Mornings that he was keen to continue in the role, should it have been allowed.
He will finish up at the end of the month.
It’s understood that alongside Bond and Walter, current Blackcaps batting coach Luke Ronchi, and former bowling coach turned Wellington mentor Shane Jurgensen were also interviewed.
However, Canterbury mentor Peter Fulton wasn’t - a decision which is believed to have come as a surprise to many in domestic cricket circles.
The panel consisted of New Zealand Cricket CEO Scott Weenink, board members Dion Nash and Roger Twose, with Test captain Tom Latham and experienced allrounder Daryl Mitchell the player representatives.
Walter’s first series will be next month’s T20 tri-series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, before two Tests against Zimbabwe in late-July and early August.
His first home series will be three T20’s against Australia in October.
Tune into Ric & Chappy on Sport Nation Mornings from 9am Thursdays and Fridays.
Gary Stead on the changing face of international cricket | Mornings with Ric & Chappy
