'The opportunity for growth is enormous': Fukofuka lands new coaching role after Scotland exit

Eight days after his exit as Scotland head coach Sione Fukofuka has been appointed head coach of the Wallaroos.

The 47-year-old left his role with Scotland after nearly eight months under compassionate grounds and cited ‘family stress’ as a reason for his departure from the position.

Across his five matches in charge of Scotland at the Guinness Women’s Six Nations, Fukofuka presided over one win against Wales at the beginning of the Championship.

In addition to his tenure with Scotland, Fukofuka also spent time as head coach of the USA Women’s Eagles for two and a half years – who he led at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 – and spent three years as an assistant coach with the Wallaroos.

He began coaching in the Queensland schools system before leading the Australian Youth Women’s Sevens at the Youth Commonwealth Games. Fukofuka was later appointed head coach of Australia Women’s Sevens before being names attack coach of the Australia Women’s Sevens.

Fukofuka will lead the Wallaroos until the conclusion of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029, which will be hosted in Australia.

Fukofuka will start his role with the Wallaroos at the start of 2027 and report to newly appointed Rugby Australia Director of High Performance, Tim Walsh.

Walsh will oversee the trasition of coaching across the remainder of the year. With the appointment it has been confirmed that interim coaching staff that led Australia at this year’s Pacific Four Series, Sam Needs and Gill Bourke, have moved on.

A coaching transition team has been put in place for the remainder of this calendar year. This includes Super Rugby Women’s winning coaches from the NSW Waratahs, Mike Ruthven and Duncan Chubb. Current Brumbies assistant coach Ben Mowen and current Australia Women’s Sevens head coach Reg Tayler will also be part of the temporary coaching staff.

Fukofuka said: “I would like to express my gratitude to Scottish Rugby for their understanding of my family situation and desire to return home to Australia.

“Although a difficult decision to leave the Scottish role, this opportunity allows me to be in Sydney closer to my family. I wish the players and staff all the best for the future.

“I know many of the players and coaches well from my time in the Queensland and Australian systems and, as we transition to a full-time programme this year, the opportunity for growth is enormous.

“The opportunity to align the 7s and XVs programs and work closely with Reg Tayler is an exciting prospect and one I am very much looking forward to.”

The Wallaroos will play the Black Ferns on Saturday 22 August in Auckland in the second Laurie O’Reilly Cup clash of 2026. Earlier this year New Zealand beat Australia 40-5 on the Sunshine Coast. The Wallaroos squad for that fixture will be announced this week.

Tim Walsh, Rugby Australia Director of High Performance, said: “Sione’s appointment to the position of Wallaroos Head Coach comes at an exciting time for the game in Australia as the programme transitions to full-time status for the first time in its 32-year history.

“Sione is a pioneer among international coaches of Pasifika heritage and a proud product of the Australian Rugby coaching system. He is highly regarded by players and staff alike for his connection, team culture and driving high standards within the daily training environment and is well-positioned to lead the Wallaroos into a new era and a generational opportunity presented by the home Rugby World Cup in 2029.

“Sione’s deep passion for and knowledge of Australian Rugby, along with his outstanding international coaching resume, makes him the ideal person to take charge of the Wallaroos’ programme as it transitions to full-time status and schedules a minimum of 10 Tests per year through this World Cup cycle.

“I look forward to leading a transition team of Mike, Duncan, Ben and Reg for the remainder of an exciting three-month programme that includes the Wallaroos’ 100th Test match and the inaugural WXV Global Series.”