Changes to Premier coaching ranks in 2017

Fourteen coaching teams are hard at work preparing their Premier squads for a big season ahead and a shot at the Jubilee Cup final in early August. 

UPDATED: Pre-season preparations are well underway at all 14 of Wellington’s Premier rugby clubs as they gear up for another season. Kick-off of the Swindale Shield is a week earlier than in recent years on March 18, for the 131st season of Wellington club rugby.

As has become the norm in recent years many clubs will have new coaches at the helm, and the trend of recent, and even current, players moving into the ranks continues.

At Jubilee Cup winners Tawa Doug Fletcher returns for another season but will have a new sidekick with him at Lyndhurst Park in 2017 in the form of Wellington representative and former Highlander Shaun Treeby, who takes his first steps into coaching and will likely mesh this role with playing. Treeby takes over from Willie Lafaele, with Vice Saletele moving up from the Premier Reserves to assist the backs with Treeby as well.

The side they beat in last year’s title decider – Marist St Pat’s – will have a new duo in charge. Andrew Robinson steps up from the Premier Reserves, with the mastermind of the Under 85kg Blues run of success over the past decade joined by Bernie Upton who returns ‘home’ after being with OBU last year. The pair takes over from the familiar faces (and voices) of Brendan Reidy and Ross Bond.

Jamie Parkinson moves from assistant to head coach of the second side, alongside Francois Hecquet who has coached the Hutt Valley HS 1st XV for the past three years. Edwin Meachen and Ciaran O’Brien will look after the Colts, while current Premier player Ryan Setefano will continue with the Women’s side, joined by club legend Fa’atonu Fili. MSP have also established a High Performance Unit, led by a quartet of former Premier players in Arden David, Nic Fitisemanu, Dan Kauraka, and James McHardy.

Across Evans Bay parade at Poneke Shane Pihema continues with their Premiers, and with him in 2017 as co-coach is Wellington women’s sevens coach Charles Aliva. Ueli Faletolu is joined by club legend Misipalauni Moananu with the Premier Reserves with Joe Fiu, Toby Robson and John Jackson working as technical advisors for both sides.

The Colts will be led by Faleono Seve and Malaga Leota, with James Mose coming alongside Sam Isa’ako with their Womens team

Over on Miramar at Oriental-Rongotai Lui Aukuso moves up from their well-performed Women’s side to take over the Premier handle from Roy Kinikinilau. He’ll be joined by two Magpie stalwarts in Whetu Henry (forwards) and Sean Hay (backs) who’ll combine coaching and playing duties, while former head coach Sandy McConnell returns as technical advisor.

Club RDO Mason Malagamaalii takes over from the Women’s side from Aukuso, while long-serving halfback Peme Leiataua moves into the Premier Reserve coaching team alongside former loose forward Daniel Ioapo. Serena Curtis-Lemuelu and Jared Curtis continue with the Colts, joined by Pio Savali.

At Hataitai Park former All Black, Wellington, and Wairarapa-Bush midfielder Marty Berry is the new head coach of the Wellington Axemen, stepping up from an assistant’s role last year. He’ll be assisted by Simon Culley who has an extensive coaching background in England; with 2015-16 head coach Richard Deck stepping back into a management and support role.

Also stepping up from an assistant’s role is John DeGregorio who takes over the second side, with recent Premier player and regular Premier Reserve captain Numi Mika alongside him.

Through the tunnel at Old Boys-University Jamie Williams steps up from the assistant’s role to take over as the Goats' Premier head coach. He takes over from Jeremy Little, who’s two-year tenure saw the club capture both the Jubilee Cup and the Swindale Shield, the latter of which they’ll defend in the first part of this season. Alongside him will be the well-traveled former Maori All Black, Blues, Crusaders, and Munster midfield back Rua Tipoki, and coach of last year’s champion Colts side Michael Barnes. Long-time club coach Paddy Gough will also be involved.

Stradford Adams returns with their Premier Reserves, joined by current Premier players Andrew McWhirter and Titapu Pairama-Lewington. Hamish Vance, Matt Anderson, and Mike Brodie remain in charge of the defending champion First Grade team, and Gary Hilsdon resumes as head coach of the Impala's women’s side.

Up State Highway 1 Logan Tauiliili returns for a second season at Johnsonville, undoubtedly hoping for better fortune with the Hawks than what he endured last year. Garry Archer moves up from their second side to be his assistant for 2017.

There’s no change at Northern United with head coach Gerard Fasavalu and assistants Rob Aloe and Tane Langdon-Lane all returning. It’s the same story with the Premier Reserves with Siua Fiso and Talanoa Malaulau both back, and their Colts with Peter Tapau and James Maote again in charge. Matt Poutoa continues with their Women’s side.

Over at Paremata-Plimmerton 2007 Jubilee Cup winning coach Phil Gibb takes the reins of their Premiers. He’ll be assisted by Mike Hunter with the two having worked together with both Paraparaumu and in the Horowhenua-Kapiti Heartland set-up, with last year’s assistant Frank Bentham returning.

Ronnie Cooper remains with their Premier Reserves, with 2015 Premier coach Dave Birnie joining Semi Kuresa with the Colts. The club will also be entering a Womens team in 2017 with Aotea College and Wellington U18 Girls coach Findlay Siania and Tala Misky the coaches.

Across the Haywards at Maidstone Park at the Upper Hutt Rams Adam Campbell returns and will look after the forwards. His backs co-coach in 2017 will be Tim Kareko.

Over the Hill Road Wainuiomata will once again have Justin Wilson calling the shots, with Daniel Smith returning as one of his two assistants. Steve Crilly has stepped away this year and replacing him is last year’s Petone assistant and long-time Villager Premier player Dan Farani.

Last year’s Premier Reserve coach Nick Domonkos has stepped down a grade and will look after a new third side the club will be fronting in the First Grade competition.

At the Hutt Rec Dan Vulu returns as one half of the Hutt Old Boys Marist Premiers coaching duo, with Kent Harris stepping up from the second side replacing Dan Pavihi. Other notable coaching appointments involve the Colts team, with Peter Time and Taniela Tavite moving over from the Division 2 winning Womens team and joined by a pair of Premier centurions in Alexis Time and Otto Rasch. Josh Syms, who was an assistant coach with the 2014 Jubilee Cup and 2015 Swindale Shield-winning before being involved with Wairarapa Bush the past two Heartland campaigns fills the dual roles of Director of Coaching and club RDO.

Over the river at Petone the Villagers will have a new duo in charge in 2017. Former All Black Graham Purvis and Tui Bradbrook take over from Riki Flutey and Dan Farani.

Premier Head coach Aaron Falloon returns as Avalon's Premier head coach, with Nick Brown as his assistant. Brown has stepped up from the Premier Reserves where he has coached for a number of years.

Joe Nepia and Jude Perez are coaching the Avalon Rremier Reserves. Joe has coached the reserves for a number of years with Jude taking the step up from a successful year with the colts. Matt Dorward has stepped up to head coach of the colts he has high hopes for the colts this year. Lewis Tata and Carl Mann are new Avalon's women's coaches, while Bruce Chase is assisted by Alberto Morrone with Avalon's U85kg team.

Thomas Kiwara a long time Avalon player coming though the junior ranks and now playing senior rugby has accepted the roll as CDO at the Avalon Wolves, replacing Scott Waldrom.

Wellington Premier Rugby coaches 2017

Avalon Wolves: Aaron Falloon and Nick Brown
Hutt Old Boys Marist: Dan Vulu and Kent Harris
Johnsonville: Logan Tauilili and Garry Archer
Marist St Pat’s: Andrew Robinson and Bernie Upton
Northern United: Gerard Fasavalu, Rob Aloe, and Tane Langdon-Lane
Old Boys-University: Jamie Williams, Rua Tipoki, Michael Barnes and Paddy Gough
Oriental-Rongotai: Lui Aukuso, Whetu Henry, and Sean Hay
Paremata-Plimmerton: Phil Gibb, Mike Hunter, and Frank Bentham
Petone: Graham Purvis and Tui Bradbrook
Poneke: Shane Pihema and Charles Aliva
Tawa: Doug Fletcher, Shaun Treeby and Vice Saletele
Upper Hutt Rams: Adam Campbell and Tim Kareko
Wainuiomata: Justin Wilson, Daniel Smith, and Dan Farani
Wellington: Marty Berry and Simon Culley