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New Zealand Rugby has appointed Whitney Hansen as Black Ferns coach until the end of 2027.
Hansen, the daughter of former All Blacks coach Steve, takes over from Alan Ponting as the 13th person to hold the role.
The former Matatu coach is the second woman to coach the Black Ferns, after Vicky Dombroski in 1994.
She will oversee 11 Tests next year followed by a historic series against the touring British and Irish women’s team in 2027.
“It is an honor to be asked to lead the program, and it is exciting to take on the role of head coach,” Hansen said.
“There is generational talent in New Zealand women’s rugby to come, and the new international calendar represents a great opportunity to further the Black Ferns’ legacy. I can’t wait to get started.”
New Zealand, who have won six of the previous seven Women’s Rugby World Cups, were eliminated in the semi-finals of the 2025 edition by Canada before defeating France to finish third.
Hosts England defeated Canada in the final to lift the cup.
However, Hansen played a role in New Zealand winning the Women’s Rugby World Cup at Eden Park in 2022, as an assistant coach.
She will be joined by assistant coaches Tony Christie and former England midfielder Ricky Flutie, with the wider coaching and management group set to be confirmed in the new year.
Hansen, a teacher, represented Canterbury during her playing days and has held senior roles at every level of the game since taking up coaching.
She was assistant coach of the title-winning 2023 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki matatu team before becoming the club’s head of rugby for the past two seasons.
From 2020 to 2023, she was in charge of Canterbury’s set-pieces in the Farah Palmer Cup as the team won two titles in three years, before becoming head coach of the Black Ferns XV in 2024.
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