All Blacks coach Graham Henry has been given the chance to put right his side's humiliating early exit from the last rugby World Cup with his reappointment until after the 2011 competition, which New Zealand will host for the first time since the inaugural event in 1987.
Henry controversially kept the job after the 2007 World Cup quarter-final loss to France and his two year contract was due for renewal at the end of this year.
But New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs said the decision to keep Henry and assistant coaches Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen for another two years had already been taken by the union's board in April.
"We agreed the time was right to consider the next two years, and the reappointment reflects our confidence in them," said Hobbs.
"They have a formidable record and we hold them in very high regard. They are totally committed to New Zealand rugby and have become an important part of the wider organisation."
Despite the World Cup disappointment, Henry's overall record is impressive.
A former coach for Wales and the British and Irish Lions, he has guided the All Blacks to 57 wins from 66 Tests since taking control in 2004. During that time, the All Blacks have won the Tri-Nations series against South Africa and Australia four times, achieved a clean-sweep of the British and Irish Lions in 2005 and won two Grand Slams during European tours in 2005 and 2008.
Henry, 63, described his reappointment as "an honour and a privilege".
"After the World Cup, I don't think any of us thought we would continue," he said. "But after our review and the support of other people and support of the guys we coach, we decided to carry on.
"We managed to do reasonably well last year and we've obviously got major challenges this year."
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