Whitney Hansen
| Born | 4 February 1987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Whitney Hansen (born 4 February 1987) is a New Zealand rugby union coach. She is the current Head Coach of the Black Ferns, New Zealand's women's national rugby union team.
Rugby career
Playing
Hansen played provincially for Canterbury between 2011 and 2014, she appeared in 14 games for the side as a Front row and Number 8.[1][2] She also played more than 100 games for the University of Canterbury, before making her final appearance for the team in 2018.[1]
Coaching
Hansen's coaching career started in 2017 at the University of Canterbury.[3] In 2018, she coached Canterbury's Under-18 girls’ representative team.[1][4] In 2019, she was part of the coaching staff for the Black Ferns Development XV that competed at the Oceania Rugby Women's Championship in Fiji.[4][5]
She then coached the New Zealand women's Barbarians in 2019 and 2020 in matches against the Black Ferns.[1][4]
In 2022, she was the Black Ferns assistant coach to Wayne Smith during their successful campaign at the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup that took place in New Zealand.[3][6]
From 2020 to 2023, she was Canterbury’s assistant coach in the Farah Palmer Cup, the team won two titles in three years.[2][3]
She was Matatū's assistant coach under Blair Baxter in 2022, and in 2023 when they won the Super Rugby Aupiki title.[7][8] She then served as Matatū's Head coach from 2024 to 2025.[7][8]
In 2023, she was appointed as the inaugural Head coach of the Black Ferns XV's side.[9][10]
On 19 December 2025, Hansen was announced as the new Head coach of the Black Ferns, and is being appointed through to the end of 2027.[3][2] She is the 13th Head coach of the Black Ferns, and only the second woman to hold the position after Vicky Dombroski in 1994.[3][11] She is set to oversee 11 Tests in her first year followed by the historic British & Irish Lions tour scheduled for 2027.[3][2]
Personal life
She is the daughter of Steve Hansen, who was the All Blacks Head Coach between 2012 and 2019.[6][11] Outside of rugby she works as a teacher.[3][6]
References
- ^ a b c d "Whitney Hansen hoping to hone her craft on Rugby World Cup 2021 Coaching Internship Programme". Women's and Men's Rugby World Cup. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Whitney Hansen announced as Black Ferns head coach". RNZ. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Whitney Hansen announced as Black Ferns Head Coach". www.allblacks.com. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ a b c Cully, Paul (11 January 2021). "Black Ferns intern coach Whitney Hansen follows path of 'proud' dad Steve". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Whitney Hansen selected for Rugby World Cup 2021 coaching intern role". www.sporty.co.nz. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ a b c Lester, Ned (18 December 2025). "Whitney Hansen: 'The biggest thing I learned' from iconic mentors". www.rugbypass.com. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Whitney Hansen appointed Matatū Head Coach for 2024". Matatū. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Whitney Hansen named head coach of champion Matatū side". 1News. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Matatū's Whitney Hansen named Black Ferns XV Head Coach". Matatū. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ "Whitney Hansen to coach newly created Black Ferns XV". RNZ. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ^ a b Wall, Jamie (19 December 2025). "Family business: Whitney Hansen's time has arrived". RNZ. Retrieved 18 January 2026.