All Blacks coaching great Steve Hansen joins rugby league side Manly

World Cup-winning All Blacks coach Steve Hansen joined Manly Sea Eagles as football performance director Friday in a coup for the Australian National Rugby League side.

Hansen lost just 10 of the 107 New Zealand Tests he oversaw during his reign from 2012 to 2019 and steered them to World Cup glory.

Since leaving the All Blacks the 67-year-old New Zealander has been focused on strategic leadership, mentoring and high-performance development, including roles in Japanese rugby union.

"I'm really excited to be joining the Manly Sea Eagles and to be part of a club that is steeped in history, success and a strong sporting identity," said Hansen.

He will work closely with rookie head coach Kieran Foran and chief executive Jason King.

"He is one of the greatest sporting minds of his generation and I am incredibly excited to work with him and learn from him," said Foran, who is in his first coaching job.

"Steve brings an incredible level of experience and insight, and I know he will challenge all of us to think bigger, raise our standards and become better."

Manly finished ninth on the 17-team NRL ladder this season.

Hansen is following in the footsteps of other rugby union heavyweights to join the NRL with former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika assisting at the Sydney Roosters this season.

French legend Freddie Michalak is working at the Cronulla Sharks.