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Important update on 1476AM'It felt right': Why Gilbert Enoka returned to the All Blacks
Stephen Foote •  April 22nd, 2026 9:57 am
Gilbert Enoka with Steve Hansen | Photo: Photosport
Sometimes, when you know, you know - and that was certainly the case with Gilbert Enoka and his return to the All Blacks fold.Â
On Tuesday, NZ Rugby turned plenty of heads with its announcement Enoka would be returning to the team he spent 23 years with to reprise his role as mental skills coach. Â
The man affectionately known as 'Bertie' admitted it had been an "Interesting few days" from his acceptance of the position to what he described as an "overwhelming" reception from both friends and the general public.
Reflecting on how events transpired to lead him back to the men in black, Enoka identified the recent reunion of the 2011 World Cup-winning All Blacks squad in Auckland as the final piece of a puzzle he never genuinely believed he'd make another attempt at.
Combine that with some words of encouragement from some renowned former colleagues, and it eventually became a no-brainer.
"I wasn't chasing it, but when it came it felt right, and I know I can add value," Enoka told Sport Nation's Scotty & Izzy.
"The noise since the appointment has overwhelmed me a little bit really, just the encouragement I've had from people.Â
"It started as a conversation between Dave [Rennie] and I, and then there were some wise voices who nudged me that carried weight - guys like Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen, Graham Henry, Joe Schmidt and my family.Â
"Being around the guys at the reunion was just so warm and welcoming and refreshing and nourishing about everything with the jersey we loved.Â
"When people you respect say you've still got something to give when you listen, and I did, it became an easy decision in the end."
Gilbert Enoka | Photo: Photosport
Enoka's original stint with the All Blacks began back in 2000 under then head coach Smith and went on to include the All Blacks' groundbreaking consecutive World Cup triumphs in 2011 and 2015.
By the time he stepped away after the 2023 tournament in Japan, Enoka had been the longest-serving member of team management, with 291 Tests to his name.
Looking ahead to the imprint he wants to leave in his next chapter with the side, Enoka says it's simply a case of adding another layer and building upon the foundations he'd previously laid.
"If I was going to sum up what I can assist the players and management with is, we really chase reliability under pressure," he explained.Â
"In a sport like this, unpredictability is a killer. So, my role is to help people with the systems and structures that help access that consistently. Some of that's to do with who you are as a person and as an individual because, if you ain't got that bit right, then you can't get the other stuff right.Â
"Then the second part is to really understand that, these days, pressure isn't the enemy, it's the arena in this environment for the All Blacks. Once you understand that, then you're not trying to rise above it and you're not trying to push it to one side. You're embracing the discomfort that comes along with it.Â
"My role is to help people develop skill sets that can help them navigate through the waves of discomfort that's associated with this pressure that is now a lifestyle.Â
"That's my job, really, is to assist at that level. It's not about me, it's about the legacy, and I'm not there to protect it. We're there to help it grow, and that's the privilege we all have."
Listen to the full interview below:
