Allan Bunting has been given a ringing endorsement for the vacant role of Black Ferns coach, with sevens successor Cory Sweeney supportive of his potential appointment.
After a review into the Black Ferns' team culture led to the shock resignation of Glenn Moore on Saturday, the Women's Rugby World Cup holders are without a coach, less than six months out from the 2022 tournament that they're also hosting.
With little time for New Zealand Rugby to act if the Black Ferns are to defend their title and win the World Cup for a sixth time, Bunting's name has been touted to replace Moore, with a glowing CV at every level.
The 47-year-old masterminded the Black Ferns Sevens on their way to becoming the most dominant New Zealand side, establishing the side as a global force in sevens during his tenure.
Taking over from Sean Horan after the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, Bunting led the Black Ferns Sevens to gold in Tokyo last year, as well as winning the Sevens World Cup twice, gold at the Commonwealth Games, and the Sevens World Series six times.
Bunting stood down as the Black Ferns Sevens' head coach after the Tokyo Olympics, but continued his success by leading Chiefs Manawa to the inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki title earlier this year.
As Bunting's co-coach during his time with the Black Ferns Sevens, Sweeney has since taken on the head coaching role on a full-time basis, leading into this year's World Cup in South Africa and Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
And asked about the possibility of what Bunting would bring to the role of Black Ferns coach, Sweeney was nothing but supportive of the potential appointment.
"I've known Bunts [Bunting] for a long time," Sweeney told Newshub. "He's a great coach, he's done some really special things with this group of players.
"Certainly, if that was what happened, I would support that."
As for what makes Bunting such a special coach, Sweeney outlined his ability to connect with players and staff alike as a key skill in his successes.
And with the Black Ferns at a historic low-point after 2021's northern hemisphere tour, New Zealand's women's side could do a lot worse than appoint the serial winner to build towards the World Cup later this year.
"Bunts has got a real special way with people," Sweeney added. "He established a real special way with people.
"He established a culture within this programme right from 2016. The players and the management all bought into that.
"He connected people together with a real common purpose. He's a special guy, and I wish him well if he goes down that track."
New Zealand Rugby has advised that the new Black Ferns coach will be announced in due course.
