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Black Ferns complete coaching group with set piece specialist
By Ned Lester
Whitney Hansen’s Black Ferns coaching group has been completed by the appointment of Simon Kneebone as the team’s set-piece specialist.
Hansen succeeded Allan Bunting as Black Ferns head coach last December and opted to stick with the incumbents, attack coach Tony Christie and defence coach Riki Flutey, when she took over.
Kneebone’s experience with numerous successful teams throughout the New Zealand system set the scene for his Black Ferns appointment, with his trophy cabinet including titles from age-grade competitions, the Farah Palmer Cup, Super Rugby Aupiki, and the MLR. He has also been the head of rugby at Eastern Suburbs RFC in Sydney and was assistant coach for the Black Ferns XV on the team’s inaugural tour of South Africa in 2025.
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“Coaching in the women’s space is incredibly rewarding. I love how motivated the players are for growth, both on and off the field, and supporting them as they chase greatness. The Black Ferns are a special team with a proud history, and I’m excited to contribute to the success of our players as they reach their highest potential,” Kneebone said.
Hansen, who worked with Kneebone throughout her rise through the Canterbury pathways and in the Black Ferns XV, said she was confident he was the man for the job.
“I’ve had the privilege of witnessing Simon’s coaching journey throughout the ranks, and his knowledge around set piece is outstanding. His understanding of the style we want to play combined with his passion for skill development will be invaluable to this group in bringing out the best of our players, experienced and new.
“His ability to build trust will be critical to enhancing our environment alongside our other coaches and management. I believe we’ve got the best people in place,” Hansen said.
Black Ferns Coaching Group
Whitney Hansen (Black Ferns Head Coach)
Tony Christie (Black Ferns Assistant Coach – Attack)
Riki Flutey (Black Ferns Assistant Coach – Defence)
Simon Kneebone (Black Ferns Assistant Coach – Set piece)
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