Rugby: Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen signs on with Japan's Toyota Verblitz

Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has announced he's signed with Japan's Toyota Verblitz.

Hansen will move into an off-field role with the Top League side, where he'll act as a mentor and advisor.

"It's an interesting role," Hansen told AllBlacks.com. "It's not one as head coach.

"It requires me to be up there somewhere between 5-17 weeks a year.

"The key thing is to go in there and work with the people who are in the environment."

Kiwi head coach Simon Cron is one of those people. He was formerly an assistant coach with Super Rugby's Waratahs.

"I think he's going to be a very good coach and having the opportunity to help him grow is something that really excites me."

He'll have a familiar face on board in ex-All Blacks captain Kieran Read, who's also inked a deal to join the club after his retirement from international rugby this year. Springboks Willie le Roux and Gio Aplon also ply their trade there. 

Hansen said he hopes to create the same kind of positive family-type environment with the club that he established with the All Blacks, who he guided to two successive World Cup wins.

"I see that as what's normal in any rugby team. So if I can help in any way with that, then that'll be important too." 

The flexible nature of the job was something that hugely appealed to Hansen.

"Whilst it's not a fulltime coaching role, it is a role that allows me to stay in the game... and allows me to have the family time that I want to have. I'm really looking forward to it."

Toyota Verblitz are based in the Aichi perfecture in Southern Japan. They placed fourth in the competition last season, with a best-ever finish of second in 2007.

After a 15-year tenure, the 60-year-old stepped down from his position with the All Blacks at the end of October's World Cup in Japan.