Wellington Pride Coaching Group Confirmed

Wellington Rugby Football Union have announced that 2023 Hurricanes Poua Assistant Coach, Fusi Feaunati, will lead the Wellington Pride in the 2023 Farah Palmer Cup. 

Joining Feaunati will be assistant coaches; former Black Fern and Black Ferns 7s player Aimee Sutorius, former ManuSina and Black Ferns international Serena Curtis and MSP Women’s Head Coach, Ryan Setefano, who will provide valuable knowledge and guidance to the 2023 squad. 

Feaunati, 2023 Hurricanes Poua assistant coach, and former head coach of the Manawatū Cyclones, said he was excited for the season ahead. 

“I’m looking forward to being a part of systems and processes that will create solid pathways for women in rugby in all roles, as well as steering the Pride towards FPC success. 

“Linking up with Wellington is special for me, as it’s an opportunity to give back to the Union that helped me learn rugby. Wellington has a proud history; I want to be a part of building a legacy with the Pride to help bolster the WRFU brand as well as establish a strong whānau / aiga unity for our Wellington Rugby community.   

“I’m expecting a strong showing from our Pride staff and players. The establishment of a strong caring culture, a shift in mindset to accepting the requirements of High Performance and laying the foundations for the future of Women in rugby in the whole of the Wellington region,” said Feaunati. 

Former Black Ferns and ManuSina representative, Serena Curtis, will support Feaunati with set piece, bringing with her 20 years of coaching experience having coached all levels of rugby from junior rugby right through to Premier 2. Curtis, currently coaching the Premier Women’s side at Pōneke, was one of New Zealand's first woman coaches of a men's team.  

Curtis, who played for the Pride for over a decade, said she was thrilled for the opportunity to coach her former team.  

“Being a former member of the Pride, it’s a huge honour for me to represent my province and to be named a member within this year’s management team.

“It is an opportunity for me to continue to give back to the game, but also to the development of the women’s game. I am looking forward to working with the rest of the management team and supporting those selected to represent the Pride to achieve their goals,” said Curtis.  

The Pride will also have the helping hand of former Black Fern and Black Ferns 7s player, Aimee Sutorius, as defence coach for the 2023 season. Sutorius previously coached the Otago Spirit in the 2019 Farah Palmer Cup campaign, and prior to that was the women’s rugby high-performance development manager at Otago Rugby. 

Former Lions Development, and Wellington 7s player, Ryan Setefano, will complete the Pride’s coaching lineup, focusing on the backs. Setefano comes to the Pride following eight years as head coach of MSP’s Premier Women’s team.  

Setefano said he felt “privileged” to be a part of this coaching team and added that he was looking forward "to unleashing the talent in Wellington.”