Search to begin for new Black Ferns coach
New Zealand Rugby is set to start the process of finding a new Black Ferns coach as soon as it possibly can.
Wayne Smith made it clear when he signed on as the team’s director of rugby in April that he would take on the role through to the end of the Rugby World Cup but go no further.
And even after they defeated England in the final at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday for their 12th win in 12 matches with him in charge, his plans haven’t changed.
He’ll be watching on with renewed interest as the team – and international women’s rugby in general – embarks on a new era in 2023, having had ‘‘one of the greatest experiences of [his] life’’ over the past seven months.
That means someone new will have to take charge, with assistant coach Wesley Clarke and former
Black Ferns Sevens coach Allan Bunting, who has been with the 15s team this year in a culture and leadership role, likely to be amongst the leading contenders.
Speaking at the Black Ferns’ celebration event in Te Komititanga Square on Sunday, New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson said the appointment of a new coach was something the organisation would be getting onto ‘‘very quickly’’.
‘‘Obviously it hasn’t been an immediate focus. We didn’t want to distract from anything going on in these last couple of weeks, but there’s obviously been some conversations about what the process looks like and we’ll certainly communicate more around that when we’re ready.’’
Robinson wouldn’t commit to having a coach in place by Christmas, but early February, when Super Rugby Aupiki teams will start assembling, looms as the time when there will need to be someone in place.
The second season of the semiprofessional competition is set to start on February 25 in Levin and Dunedin and will culminate in a finals day in Hamilton a month later, with each of the four teams – the Blues, Chiefs Manawa, Hurricanes Poua and Matatū – playing five matches.
Whoever takes charge of the Black Ferns will be tasked with carrying on the attacking style of play Smith has installed – one the players, led by co-captain Ruahei Demant, have come to love.
Bonus payment for win
Mark Robinson says he is ‘‘hopeful’’ the Black Ferns will receive a bonus payment for winning the women’s World Cup.
Speaking on Radio NZ yesterday morning, Robinson said the organisation was currently working on a financial reward for the New Zealand players.
‘‘We are working through that at the moment,’’ Robinson said.
‘‘Hopefully over the next couple of days we will sort through that, and ... yeah, it would be nice to do something. We would like to be in a position to do something pretty soon.’’
The All Blacks were promised a $150,000 bonus per player if they defended their men’s World Cup crown in Japan in 2019. New Zealand were beaten by England in the semifinals.
Prior to the tournament, rugby bosses defended the lack of a bonus pot for the Black Ferns at the tournament, outlining a pay structure that puts female players in Aotearoa at the top of the scale globally.