Tony Brown says he and Jamie Joseph both want to coach the All Blacks but "at the right time".

The former All Blacks midfielder has revealed he has rejected overtures from both Ian Foster and Scott Robertson to be part of their coaching teams if they succeed in replacing Steve Hansen as All Blacks coach.

Instead, Brown will be part of Jamie Joseph's team if the current coach of Japan applies for the All Blacks job.

Brown told Sky's Breakdown rugby show on Tuesday night that he was not '100 per cent sure" of Joseph's immediate plans but would talk to him on Joseph's return to New Zealand on Wednesday.

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"We both want to coach the All Blacks, but we both want to do it at the right time.

"Whether the right time is now, I hope it is, but it might not be; it might be in four years."

Brown told Breakdown show host Jeff Wilson that if Joseph stayed on with the Japan national team, he would stay on with him as an assistant coach.

However, he drew the line at Australia."If Jamie goes to Aussie, I'm not in."

Brown said he had made his decision within the past week.

"It just didn't feel right to be floating between three coaching teams," he told Breakdown.

ANDREW CORNAGA/PHOTOSPORT Tony Brown has rebuffed Ian Foster and Scott Robertson in their All Blacks coaching bids.

He said he loved coaching with Joseph.

"I think our relationship, how we coach, how we know each other is what I love about the game of rugby.

"I've decided that me and him, wherever he goes I will go. I'm not sure where that is."

Brown, 44, and Joseph, 49, shared similar rugby player pathways with Otago, the All Blacks and New Zealand Māori.

Brown broke into professional rugby in 1996 after Joseph left Otago to play in Japan.

The pair teamed up as coaches at the Highlanders in 2013, taking the southern franchise to a maiden Super Rugby title in 2015.

They have coached together in Japan since 2016 with the national team and the Sunwolves Super Rugby squad.

Brown said it "felt right to stick with Jamie and continue what we've been doing for the last eight years."

Brown's work as the Brave Blossoms' attack coach has enhanced his reputation and it was reported last week that both Foster and Robertson were keen to incorporate him into their coaching teams as they seek to become New Zealand head coach, with an appointment expected in the next year.

Brown was the architect of the stunning attack that Japan unleashed on Ireland to cause one of the major upsets of the World Cup, with the 19-12 win in a pool game.

The south Otago stalwart will be back in Super Rugby next year, running the Highlanders' game plans and strategy, but he is obviously keen to get involved at All Blacks level.