December 19, 2025 • 8 mins
Whitney Hansen, daughter of Sir Steve Hansen, was announced as the new Black Ferns head coach after being appointed through to the end of 2027.
She becomes the second woman to hold the position after Vicky Dombroski in 1994.
Hansen chats to Jason Pine about what changes will be implemented under her vision, what assessments she's made of the team so far, what the biggest challenges will be, and how she wants to elevate the women's game higher.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks AB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
News TALKSB one thirty. Whitney Hanson has been announced as
the new Black Ferns head coach on a two year deal.
She succeeds Alan Bunting, who stood down after the third
place finish at the Rugby World Cup earlier this year.
Whitney Hanson was a Black Ferns assistant coach during the
twenty twenty two World Cup triumph, and most recently she
(00:34):
was head coach of Opeki's Matatu. She is the thirteenth
head coach of the national site and she joins us now.
Whitney congratulations on being appointed to the role of Black
Fern's head coach. I've had some time, I guess to
let this sink in now since the announcement yesterday. Presumably
you found it a couple of days before that. How
are you feeling about guiding our Black Ferns into next
(00:54):
year and beyond?
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Thank you. I guess a little bit of time to
sink in, but I'm probably still seeing a little bit
of mixed between the shock and excitement. But yeah, I
think just you know, when we think about the job
ahead and the team that's going to be around, the
team and the girls of that group is super exciting.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
When you presented your vision for the Black Ferns during
the recruitment process, what were the main planks of that?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Yeah, there was obviously a big piece around building on
what is already a really special culture in that space.
We have amazing talent, but we also have amazing people,
so how do we continue to bring that together and
for that to be a point of difference to that team?
And then talked about the rugby and when we want
to go and I've got a really clear idea of
(01:49):
what that looks like.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
What does that look like?
Speaker 3 (01:53):
The first thing probably is about being multi dimensional. We
have to have different ways of playing and we can't
be predictable when we play, so that's probably first and foremost.
It's a to export. We need to be physically dominant
and you know, we want to be able to leverage
off the amazing talent that we grow in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
So you think what you alluded to before, do you
think you need to come up with different ways to play,
not just you know, a game to game, but within
games as well. If plan a isn't working. For example,
Plan B and C might be useful.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Yeah, one hundred percent. And teams are going to use
different styles of attack and defense, and we've got to
be ready for anything.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
How do you assess the team? The talent in the
team that you are inheriting from Ellen Bunting.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Before you know, there's some amazing athletes who can do
some really special things. But if I think about the talent,
probably the biggest job is going to be how we
build deep with that. So it's not just about having
one great athlete or two in the position. How do
we have five?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
How then do you evaluate evaluate the strength of the
younger female players coming through our rugby system to allow
you to build that depth.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yeah, the talent's definitely there. Like we watched over the
last couple of years, a lot of age group stuff
and a bet around the country and different bits and
pieces within the pathway, And often those athletes who are
sitting in the under sixteen space and trump the ones
are in the eighteens, and it's the same for eighteens
and twenty. So what we know is that talent's coming.
It's getting better and better. The more opportunities they get,
(03:31):
the better they will be, But how we develop that
and support it's going to be important.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Yeah, And professionalism in the women's game is still in
its infancy, isn't it. How important is it to build
that and how do you build that?
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Yeah? Yeah, you bang on, And I think how we
build that is we can't be we can't just be
an island out on our own. We've got to make
sure that we take the opakie clubs with us and
what we do. We need them to be really a
part of the Black fans and who we are going forward.
And then we need to work really closely I think
(04:06):
with the hubs, the academies across SPC in connect right
across the pathway. I know my work with both Joe
Pasan and Kindri Cosidge will be hugely Inportal.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
And you'll have eleven tests in twenty twenty six. How
significant is it to have that many and as such
that much time together as a team and as a
wide squad.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah, there's been a massive cry out for that as
an air of the last little bit, and I think
again just in women's ropy in general, it's an amazing
thing to be able to celebrate, but particularly for new
Zealand in Southern Hemisphere to be able to have those
opportunities so that there's going to be a game changer
and we're really excited for that.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
And then beyond that we look ahead to the historic
first women's British and Irish Lions series here in twenty
twenty seven. I know you're taking this year by year probably,
but how enticing a prospect is that?
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Yeah, definitely one that's sort of sitting there on the horizon,
but not not the today job. But I again, what
amazing opportunity for women's rugby and I know a lot
for the players and management. That's just such an exciting
opportunity to be part of.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Have you developed what the general coaching philosophy regardless of
the level or the team that you're coaching.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Yeah, look, I think probably the main answer to give
you to that would be people first and players second.
You know, again, we have some really awesome talent across
New Zealand, but we also have great people and I
think how we care for them holistically is going to
be really important.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
So what's the first major landmark for twenty twenty six?
When will you get your hands on your players for
the first time?
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Yeah, we've got to camp at the end of jan
so we've already sort of started talking about what that
looks like, and there'll be a few things to do
for Christmas. Normally go away camping with the family, but
I had to sort of give them the heads up
yesterday that that might be for as long as I
normally go. Otherwise I've probably end up driving them. Sort
of all my questions in the notebook. So yes, planning, connecting,
(06:12):
and then we're bring the whole group and the need
to chat.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
It must be tremendously exciting for you, though you mentioned
at the start, you know, still sinking in a bit
and a bit of shock there, but also excitement. Yeah,
you must be. You must be really optimistic and excited
about what the future could hold.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Yeah, hand of recent you know, this team is a
special It's an incredibly special legacy, and yeah, it is
an absolute privilege to be out and be able to
be in front of them.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Well, congratulations on your appointment to this role. I think
that's been met with, from what I can see anyway,
universal approval. So we're looking forward to seeing how the
team going goes next year. Enjoy your truncated camping holiday
and we'll look forward to catching up again next year.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Founds a great matte.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Thank you, no, thank you, Whitney. Whitney Hanson, that freshly
minted brand new Black Ferns head coach announced yesterday on
a two year deal. Eleven tests next year for the
Black fans. That's what we're talking about, more rugby, more
time together, opick. He's got to expand too, doesn't it.
But yeah, eleven tests. I can't remember the Black Ferns
ever having eleven test matches. I stand to be corrected,
(07:16):
but I can't remember that many in a single year.
And then beyond that to the British and Irish Lions
women's tour here in twenty twenty seven. So tremendously exciting
time for the Black Ferns, but they do have to
catch up. I think if the Rugby World Cup this
year taught us anything it's that it's that we are
not at that very top echelon anymore. England have got
(07:38):
a jump on the rest. Canada. You'll remember beat us
in the semi finals in the Rugby World Cup and
we really had no answer and really interesting to hear
Whitney say, they're about how you need a different plan,
because if one plan wasn't working for the Black Ferns,
it felt this year, then there wasn't a second option.
There wasn't a plan be or a plan seef. We
(07:59):
couldn't get it white to Porsche and to Braxton and
to you know, Caitlin Carlow and the others, the the
wheels on the wings, and or if we did and
they were quickly closed down, it didn't feel like there
was another another strategy at play. So there's one for
Whitney Hanson to work on, and I'm sure she will.
I'm sure she will. Great mindset. She could coach the
(08:21):
all Blacks were that mindset's here's the text. I agree, Yeah,
I shall. I think she. Let's see how she goes
with that little black food's first, but I do love
her mindset.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk Set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks AB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
News TALKSB one thirty. Whitney Hanson has been announced as
the new Black Ferns head coach on a two year deal.
She succeeds Alan Bunting, who stood down after the third
place finish at the Rugby World Cup earlier this year.
Whitney Hanson was a Black Ferns assistant coach during the
twenty twenty two World Cup triumph, and most recently she
(00:34):
was head coach of Opeki's Matatu. She is the thirteenth
head coach of the national site and she joins us now.
Whitney congratulations on being appointed to the role of Black
Fern's head coach. I've had some time, I guess to
let this sink in now since the announcement yesterday. Presumably
you found it a couple of days before that. How
are you feeling about guiding our Black Ferns into next
(00:54):
year and beyond?
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Thank you. I guess a little bit of time to
sink in, but I'm probably still seeing a little bit
of mixed between the shock and excitement. But yeah, I
think just you know, when we think about the job
ahead and the team that's going to be around, the
team and the girls of that group is super exciting.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
When you presented your vision for the Black Ferns during
the recruitment process, what were the main planks of that?
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Yeah, there was obviously a big piece around building on
what is already a really special culture in that space.
We have amazing talent, but we also have amazing people,
so how do we continue to bring that together and
for that to be a point of difference to that team?
And then talked about the rugby and when we want
to go and I've got a really clear idea of
(01:49):
what that looks like.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
What does that look like?
Speaker 3 (01:53):
The first thing probably is about being multi dimensional. We
have to have different ways of playing and we can't
be predictable when we play, so that's probably first and foremost.
It's a to export. We need to be physically dominant
and you know, we want to be able to leverage
off the amazing talent that we grow in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
So you think what you alluded to before, do you
think you need to come up with different ways to play,
not just you know, a game to game, but within
games as well. If plan a isn't working. For example,
Plan B and C might be useful.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
Yeah, one hundred percent. And teams are going to use
different styles of attack and defense, and we've got to
be ready for anything.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
How do you assess the team? The talent in the
team that you are inheriting from Ellen Bunting.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Before you know, there's some amazing athletes who can do
some really special things. But if I think about the talent,
probably the biggest job is going to be how we
build deep with that. So it's not just about having
one great athlete or two in the position. How do
we have five?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
How then do you evaluate evaluate the strength of the
younger female players coming through our rugby system to allow
you to build that depth.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yeah, the talent's definitely there. Like we watched over the
last couple of years, a lot of age group stuff
and a bet around the country and different bits and
pieces within the pathway, And often those athletes who are
sitting in the under sixteen space and trump the ones
are in the eighteens, and it's the same for eighteens
and twenty. So what we know is that talent's coming.
It's getting better and better. The more opportunities they get,
(03:31):
the better they will be, But how we develop that
and support it's going to be important.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Yeah, And professionalism in the women's game is still in
its infancy, isn't it. How important is it to build
that and how do you build that?
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Yeah? Yeah, you bang on, And I think how we
build that is we can't be we can't just be
an island out on our own. We've got to make
sure that we take the opakie clubs with us and
what we do. We need them to be really a
part of the Black fans and who we are going forward.
And then we need to work really closely I think
(04:06):
with the hubs, the academies across SPC in connect right
across the pathway. I know my work with both Joe
Pasan and Kindri Cosidge will be hugely Inportal.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
And you'll have eleven tests in twenty twenty six. How
significant is it to have that many and as such
that much time together as a team and as a
wide squad.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah, there's been a massive cry out for that as
an air of the last little bit, and I think
again just in women's ropy in general, it's an amazing
thing to be able to celebrate, but particularly for new
Zealand in Southern Hemisphere to be able to have those
opportunities so that there's going to be a game changer
and we're really excited for that.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
And then beyond that we look ahead to the historic
first women's British and Irish Lions series here in twenty
twenty seven. I know you're taking this year by year probably,
but how enticing a prospect is that?
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Yeah, definitely one that's sort of sitting there on the horizon,
but not not the today job. But I again, what
amazing opportunity for women's rugby and I know a lot
for the players and management. That's just such an exciting
opportunity to be part of.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Have you developed what the general coaching philosophy regardless of
the level or the team that you're coaching.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Yeah, look, I think probably the main answer to give
you to that would be people first and players second.
You know, again, we have some really awesome talent across
New Zealand, but we also have great people and I
think how we care for them holistically is going to
be really important.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
So what's the first major landmark for twenty twenty six?
When will you get your hands on your players for
the first time?
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Yeah, we've got to camp at the end of jan
so we've already sort of started talking about what that
looks like, and there'll be a few things to do
for Christmas. Normally go away camping with the family, but
I had to sort of give them the heads up
yesterday that that might be for as long as I
normally go. Otherwise I've probably end up driving them. Sort
of all my questions in the notebook. So yes, planning, connecting,
(06:12):
and then we're bring the whole group and the need
to chat.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
It must be tremendously exciting for you, though you mentioned
at the start, you know, still sinking in a bit
and a bit of shock there, but also excitement. Yeah,
you must be. You must be really optimistic and excited
about what the future could hold.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Yeah, hand of recent you know, this team is a
special It's an incredibly special legacy, and yeah, it is
an absolute privilege to be out and be able to
be in front of them.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Well, congratulations on your appointment to this role. I think
that's been met with, from what I can see anyway,
universal approval. So we're looking forward to seeing how the
team going goes next year. Enjoy your truncated camping holiday
and we'll look forward to catching up again next year.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Founds a great matte.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Thank you, no, thank you, Whitney. Whitney Hanson, that freshly
minted brand new Black Ferns head coach announced yesterday on
a two year deal. Eleven tests next year for the
Black fans. That's what we're talking about, more rugby, more
time together, opick. He's got to expand too, doesn't it.
But yeah, eleven tests. I can't remember the Black Ferns
ever having eleven test matches. I stand to be corrected,
(07:16):
but I can't remember that many in a single year.
And then beyond that to the British and Irish Lions
women's tour here in twenty twenty seven. So tremendously exciting
time for the Black Ferns, but they do have to
catch up. I think if the Rugby World Cup this
year taught us anything it's that it's that we are
not at that very top echelon anymore. England have got
(07:38):
a jump on the rest. Canada. You'll remember beat us
in the semi finals in the Rugby World Cup and
we really had no answer and really interesting to hear
Whitney say, they're about how you need a different plan,
because if one plan wasn't working for the Black Ferns,
it felt this year, then there wasn't a second option.
There wasn't a plan be or a plan seef. We
(07:59):
couldn't get it white to Porsche and to Braxton and
to you know, Caitlin Carlow and the others, the the
wheels on the wings, and or if we did and
they were quickly closed down, it didn't feel like there
was another another strategy at play. So there's one for
Whitney Hanson to work on, and I'm sure she will.
I'm sure she will. Great mindset. She could coach the
(08:21):
all Blacks were that mindset's here's the text. I agree, Yeah,
I shall. I think she. Let's see how she goes
with that little black food's first, but I do love
her mindset.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk Set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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