All Black Coach Quits

All Black coach John Hart has quit the top job only hours after his side finished a poor fourth at the Rugby World Cup.

Hart has said he will not seek to have his contract renewed when it comes up again in December.

Hart said after four years in the job his time was up and it was time to go. The decision was made before the All Blacks loss to South Africa in the match for third place.

Hart said he hoped his announcement would allow the players, the new coaches and the public to move on.

The announcement was made flanked by Hart’s wife Judy, children Chris and Kay, Taine Randell, Jeff Wilson, the side’s management team and Rugby Union chairman Rob Fisher.

He said the players had done their best and asked the public not to blame them for what went wrong. “A week ago everyone would have said nothing but positive things [about the All Blacks]. I don’t think we should allow a week to change that,” he said.

“There will always be inquisitions but in the end we weren’t good enough to win the World Cup on a given day.”

Fisher said a decision on Hart’s replacement would be made before Christmas. Assistant coach Wayne Sloane has declined to comment on whether he will apply for the job.

Hart said he felt he had righted the ship this year and that he would be leaving the All Blacks in good health. “But I guess whatever legacy is left is for others to judge and not for me to try and determine.

In his four years in the job the All Blacks played 42 tests, won 32, lost nine and drew one.

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