By Gareth Lewis

Steve Hansen has been linked with the Ospreys

New Zealand assistant coach Steve Hansen has ruled out an Ospreys move.

The ex-Wales coach has been linked to the big-spending region since Lyn Jones left as head coach in May.

Hansen told BBC Sport Wales: "It is fair to say I have ruled out a move anywhere until my New Zealand contract finishes at the end of 2009."

Sean Holley is caretaker Ospreys coach for the moment, Elite Performance Director Andrew Hore claiming huge interest in the full-time job.

Hansen's coaching ambitions were dealt a blow over the weekend when the New Zealand Rugby Union refused him permission to combine his All Blacks duties with the role of Crusaders head coach.

Another Ospreys target, former New Zealand captain Todd Blackadder, has also expressed his desire for the Crusaders job.

Hansen and Hore worked together with Wales at the start of the decade when Hore was Wales fitness coach.

Hansen revealed the pair remain in regular contact, although they have not spoken about him moving from New Zealand to the region.

"I speak to Andrew quite a lot, but we haven't spoken about that," Hansen said.

"Andrew knows I am contracted and he knows I will not break a contract, so it is something we have not talked about.

"We talk a lot about how he's doing and how I'm doing, and we have shared ideas."

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"Andrew is very good in the high performance area. A lot of people foolishly think that he is a trainer, but he is a lot more than that.

"Ospreys are very lucky to have him and in the next couple of years they will reap the benefits."

Hansen is held in high regard by players in Wales, who, despite his indifferent record as national coach, credit him with a lot of the groundwork for the Grand Slam success in 2005 when Mike Ruddock was in charge.

So under what circumstances might Hansen return?

"You never say never to anything or shut the door on anyone, but I certainly will not be coaching anywhere other than New Zealand until the end of 2009," he said.

And if the Ospreys were to wave an attractive offer of compensation under the noses of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Hansen would leave matters to his current employers.

"My thoughts are that the NZRU would tell them that it [releasing me] wouldn't happen and that would be the end of the matter, but you are better off asking the NZRU themselves."