Kaua and Grant to become first female Super Rugby head coaches

The Chiefs and Hurricanes will have the first female Super Rugby head coaches.

Photo: NZ Rugby

Crystal Kaua will coach the Chiefs Manawa, with Victoria Grant to guide the Hurricanes Poua for next year’s second season of Super Rugby Aupiki.

Kaua assisted former Chiefs Manawa head coach Allan Bunting to their inaugural title win.

She spent 2022 as the Black Ferns Sevens Performance Analyst and Skills Coach.

Grant will step into the head coaching role after being Black Ferns Assistant Coach Wesley Clarke’s understudy for the Hurricanes Poua’s inaugural season.

Blair Baxter remains as coach of the South Island Matatū side, with Willie Walker the Blues coach.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) General Manager Professional Rugby and Performance Chris Lendrum said he was thrilled to announce the quality of head coaches the Super Rugby clubs have assembled for 2023.

“It was great to have the inaugural season of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki take place earlier this year. Even though the teams faced disruptions due to Covid, it produced exciting rugby and saw some incredible talent on display.”

“We are thrilled to announce the appointments of Crystal Kaua and Victoria Grant as the head coaches of Chiefs Manawa and Hurricanes Poua respectively.

“We are committed to providing pathways for women coaches in our game. This is testament to the work achieved by these wahine and those who have assisted their development. It is an exciting time for them both and we are looking forward to seeing them continue their coaching journey,” said Lendrum.

Lendrum was excited to see Sky Super Rugby Aupiki’s competition extended, with the 2023 tournament to be played over five weeks

“We are thrilled to have the competition extended this coming season. It will provide greater exposure for a number of talented players. Sky Super Rugby Aupiki is fast, open and exciting rugby; it will be our first taste of the women’s game after Rugby World Cup 2021 and we know teams and fans alike will be looking forward to kicking off come February,” said Lendrum.

2023 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki Draw

The opening round of Sky Super Rugby Aupiki will kick off on Saturday February 25 with the Hurricanes Poua hosting Chiefs Manawa at 2.05pm in Levin, while Matatū will welcome the Blues to the deep south, hosting in Dunedin at 4.35pm.

Teams will play a round robin format for the first three weeks of competition before heading into play-offs.

Semi-finals on Sunday March 19 will determine the two teams in the Final and third/fourth play-off, both of those matches to be held on Saturday March 25.

Players will assemble for one preseason match in February before coming together four days a week through the competition window.

The squads will be named later this year.