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Whitney Hansen: 'The biggest thing I learned' from iconic mentors
By Ned Lester
Whitney Hansen carries with her not just one of rugby’s most well-respected names but the game IQ that comes with it. And she now carries it into the Black Ferns as the team’s new head coach.
Having been revealed as the new leader of women’s rugby’s most successful side on Friday, Hansen reflected on her journey to the black jersey, with plenty of interest in the mentors she’s had along the way.
She says her grandad, Desmond Hansen, had left his mark on her coaching journey, instilling humility with the blunt realism her father, Steve, would go on to become known for.
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Sir Steve Hansen led the All Blacks at the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups, after serving as assistant coach under Sir Graham Henry from 2004 to 2011. Whitney said her father, who now coaches in Japan, had been a “massive help” in her journey to the Black Ferns.
“My dad is an amazing supporter of who I am as a human being, regardless of what I’m doing,” she said. “My whole family is like that, they’re just so proud to see me achieve some success and love what I do.”
“He’s just been super supportive in backing myself and being the best version of me. We’ll always have some really cool conversations around the rugby, and we’ll continue to do that. Like a lot of the awesome people I’ve got in my corner, he’ll provide a really epic challenge for how we’re going to play the game.”
While she grew up with one of the game’s great brains, Hansen didn’t find her love for rugby until she was in her early 20s.
“To be honest, I came to rugby really late,” she explained. “I was 21, I was at uni. I wanted something different to do, and I fell in love with the people, and I fell in love with the game. I love moving the salt and pepper shakers around.
“It is an incredible privilege to do this, but the reality of my journey is I probably haven’t ever been someone who sought out a role as a dream, more so just a hunger to be better for the people I’m in front of.”
A teacher by trade, Hansen came through the ranks to earn her place as assistant coach for the Black Ferns’ 2022 Rugby World Cup campaign. During her stint with the side, she worked under another of New Zealand’s most iconic rugby minds, Sir Wayne Smith.
“That was a bit of a roller coaster ride,” Hansen reflected with a grin. “I think the biggest thing I learned from Smithy, I remember he came in, and had a really clear direction of how he wanted to play the game.
“He was so inspiring, and he provided so much hope for a group of athletes who, probably at that time, were a little bit unclear and a little bit lost.
“He just came in and said, ‘This is how we’re going to do it. This is how we’re going to play. These are the four things we’re going to measure it on.’ And we got after doing that. Everything we did was about that, everything was purposeful, everything was in the direction we wanted to head.
“And then I think too, having to be the calm one on the box was a great learning, too.”
Smith remains involved in the Black Ferns and All Blacks as a performance coach, contributing his wisdom and ideas to both outfits. Hansen said that regardless of his position, Smith’s legacy in the sport is everlasting.
“I think his innovation will continue to be a part of our game in New Zealand, across men’s and women’s rugby, forever.”
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