After 103 Tests, Graham Henry has resigned as coach of New Zealand's rugby side.But fears Henry would be lost to the game in his native country have been allayed, with reports he is in talks with the New Zealand Rugby Union about working as a coaching mentor with the organisation.

Henry's career as a coach was capped with the 2011 Rugby World Cup victory in October, and he was quick to acknowledge the role the board of the NZRU had in retaining the coaching staff after their 2007 World Cup failure.

"That went against what normally happens for people who coach professional sport and they don't win a particular tournament," he said.

Henry took that opportunity with both hands, culminating in an 8-7 victory in the World Cup final against France.

Of his 103 Test matches in charge, Henry won 88 of them for an 85.4 percent success rate, making him one of the most successful All Blacks coaches of all time.

Aside from the World Cup win, other notable achievements in Henry's eight-year reign included three Grand Slam victories, a 3-0 series win over the British and Irish Lions in 2005, seven successive Bledisloe Cup victories and five Tri-Nations tournament wins.

"It's been an enormous privilege to coach the All Blacks and I am exceptionally proud of how the team has added to the All Blacks legacy over the last eight years, involving 103 Test matches," he said.

"I am also exceptionally proud of how they have developed an extremely professional and enjoyable culture and environment, and how they have reached out to people of all ages and put a smile on their faces, both here in New Zealand and overseas."

"So I want to say a special thank you and congratulations to all the players who have played during this time, especially to Tana Umaga and Richie McCaw, the two long-term captains."