New Zealand Rugby World Cup 2027 has confirmed Whitney Hansen as the new head coach of the Black Ferns. Appointing her to lead the national women’s side through until the end of 2027. Hansen will replace Allan Bunting Besides become the 13th head coach in the proud history of the Black Ferns.
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As she is only the second woman to hold the role, following Vicky Dombroski’s tenure in 1994. The decision comes at an important time for the Black Ferns. Who are entering a demanding and high-profile period on the international calendar. The team is scheduled to play 11 Test matches across 2026, providing valuable opportunities to build depth and cohesion.
That run will be followed by a landmark series in the Rugby World Cup 2027. When a British and Irish Lions women’s team tours New Zealand for the first time. Hansen arrives with an impressive coaching résumé and a deep understanding of New Zealand’s women’s rugby pathways.
Further appointments to the wider coaching group are expected to be announced in the coming months as preparations ramp up. Her coaching journey began at Canterbury University in 2017 and quickly gathered momentum. Hansen went on to coach Canterbury’s Under-18 girls programme.
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She later became involved with Matatu and was appointed head coach of the Black Ferns XV, further strengthening her experience at the elite level. After serving as an assistant coach at Matatu in 2023, Hansen stepped into the Head of Rugby role in 2024, guiding the franchise through a period of growth and consolidation.
She also played a key role in the Black Ferns’ unforgettable Women’s Rugby World Cup triumph at Eden Park in 2022, where she was part of the assistant coaching group. Speaking after the announcement, Hansen described the appointment as both an honour and an exciting challenge. She said the chance to lead the Black Ferns during a period of rapid development in the women’s game was something she embraced wholeheartedly.
There is generational talent coming through in the women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, and the new international calendar represents a huge opportunity to build on the Black Ferns legacy, Hansen said. I’m incredibly motivated to get started and help this group reach its full potential. She also emphasised the importance of her appointment beyond results in the field.
Hansen hopes her rise through the coaching ranks can inspire women and girls to pursue opportunities in rugby, whether as players or coaches, and highlighted the need for continued investment in developing coaching talent across the women’s game. New Zealand Rugby World Cup chair David Kirk praised Hansen’s appointment, describing her as the right coach at the right time.
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He highlighted her character, commitment, and comprehensive knowledge of the game, along with her strong understanding of domestic and international pathways. Whitney has a proven track record at every level she has coached, Kirk said. With a challenging 11-Test schedule in 2026, and significant growth ahead for the women’s Rugby World Cup Final.
We firmly believe she is the ideal person to lead the Black Ferns through this next phase. New Zealand Rugby’s General Manager of Professional Rugby World Cup Final and Performance, Chris Lendrum, echoed those sentiments. He said Hansen’s vision for the programme, combined with the feedback from players and colleagues she has worked with, made her the standout candidate.
Lendrum added that New Zealand Rugby is excited about the environment Hansen will help create, as well as the coaching and management team she will assemble. With her appointment, the Black Ferns now look ahead to a new era, confident they are in experienced and progressive hands as they prepare for the challenges and opportunities of the next two seasons.
Hansen’s appointment reflects the continued evolution of the women’s Rugby World Cup Final in New Zealand, where high-performance standards are gradually matched by clear pathways and control opportunities. As the Black Ferns build toward 2027, expectations remain high, but so does optimism. With strong support structures, emergent talent, and an ambitious head coach in place.
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