The New Zealand Rugby Union announced late on Thursday the All Blacks would play England in a test at Twickenham next year as an add-on to an already scheduled tour of the northern hemisphere.
The union was also looking for the New Zealand Maori team to tour the northern hemisphere at the same time.
Joseph had coached the New Zealand Maori team against England and Ireland in June last year, the last time the Maori side had played.
When contacted yesterday, Joseph, the Highlanders coach, said he knew little about any proposed tour.
There had been talk of taking the Maori side to play games in Russia, which is showing interest in the game, but details were still being finalised.
Joseph said coaching the Highlanders would have to come first.
"That has to be my first priority. You'd never say never to something like the Maori job, but I just haven't heard anything about it," he said.
Technically, Joseph was no longer the New Zealand Maori coach. He had been appointed for the matches last year, which was the centenary of New Zealand Maori rugby, and the role then ended after the games.
"I applied for that job when I was coaching Wellington and then I became Highlanders coach shortly afterwards. It was a good team to be involved with and it was a hell of an experience."
He did say the Maori tour would have to be meaningful to keep the players interested.
But before any thoughts of a Maori tour, Joseph had this season with the Highlanders to look forward to, with the 30-man squad assembling next weekend.
The side would have a lengthier pre-season than last year and Joseph and his assistants were in the process of finalising the team's eight wider training squad players.
England will also play Fiji, Australia and South Africa at Twickenham before facing the All Blacks on December 1.
New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew welcomed the match against England, in which the Hillary Shield - named in honour of Sir Edmund Hillary - will be on the line. It is also a revenue-sharing test, so the NZRU could be looking at making upwards of $5 million.
The test against England is in addition to the All Blacks' IRB scheduled three-match tour to the northern hemisphere in November next year.
The NZRU is yet to announce the fixtures for this part of the tour.
