The All Blacks will head into their upcoming Grand Slam tour without assistant coach Jason Holland.

The team have announced they have parted ways with their attack coach, just a day before flying to Chicago for their clash with Ireland at Soldier Field.

Holland is the second of the original four assistant coaches in Scott Robertson’s stable to leave his post, after Leon MacDonald – who was originally tasked with leading the side’s attack – and Robertson mutually agreed to part ways in August last year.

Holland and MacDonald were joined by Jason Ryan and Scott Hansen in Robertson’s initial coaching group, with Tamati Ellison elevated into an assistant coach role after originally being with the team in another role.

When he joined Robertson’s group in 2023, Holland said: “It’s pretty humbling to be asked to contribute to the All Blacks legacy and it’s something every New Zealand coach aspires to, so it is an exciting challenge.

“I’ve known Razor for a long time and I’m looking forward to continuing that relationship in 2024. In the meantime, I’ll be putting everything into the Hurricanes Super Rugby Pacific campaign.”

Holland was initially in the group to lead the backs, joining the All Blacks set up after four years at the helm of the Hurricanes. Before joining the Hurricanes, Holland had worked as an assistant coach for Munster –for whom he played from 1999 to 2008 – and later with the Canterbury NPC side.

The All Blacks finished second in the Rugby Championship, but scored the second-fewest points in the competition, with their 159 better than only Australia’s 152 across six tests.

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson and assistant Jason Holland look on at training last year. Photo / SmartFrame

Their Grand Slam tour sees them go from Chicago to Edinburgh to face a resurgent Scotland. The following week they play England at Twickenham before finishing the tour in Cardiff against struggling Wales.

Ireland will be without winger Mack Hansen in Chicago, after he suffered a foot injury in club rugby, while key midfielders Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw are also in doubt.