Walker to depart Blues after title success
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Title-winning Blues Women head coach Willie Walker will depart the club after six seasons to take up an opportunity with Fiji Rugby as the Fijiana XVs coach.
He joins Brad Mooar, a former All Blacks and Scotland assistant coach, who is the new Fijian Drua coach in Super Rugby Pacific.
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Walker has been at the helm of the Blues since the team's inception in 2021, guiding the side through the historic first women's Super Rugby match in New Zealand and into the inaugural season of Super Rugby Aupiki the following year.
Under his leadership, the Blues capped a three-peat of Super Rugby Aupiki titles in the recently completed season and claimed back-to-back Women's Super Rugby Champions crowns along the way.
Maiakawanakaulani Roos (captain) of the Blues and Braxton Sorensen-McGee of the Blues pose with the trophy, Blues Women v NSW Waratahs Women, Inaugural Women's Super Rugby Champions Final match at North Harbour Stadium.
His departure brings to a close one of the most successful eras in the club's history.
Walker represented the Māori All Blacks before heading overseas to Italy, Japan and then on to play for Gloucester and Worcester in England.
He brought that playing pedigree into coaching, first with the Auckland Storm, then with the Blues, building a culture that attracted and retained some of the country's best talent.
Walker said the decision to leave was not an easy one, but the opportunity was one he couldn't pass up.
"My time at the Blues has been an amazing adventure and I know that I will always be a part of this club in some capacity," he said.
"The joy of being in and around a group of people who enjoy hanging out together has been really special. I'm genuinely going to miss the group, but I know I've left it in a good space.
"I wish everyone well and look forward to seeing what the next chapter looks like as the programme continues to grow and develop. I'll be forever grateful for the opportunity I had with the Blues."
Blues general manager of rugby, Murray Williams, paid tribute to Walker's impact on the Blues.
"Willie leaves an enormous legacy at this club," said Williams.
"To take a team from its very first game to three consecutive titles speaks to the calibre of coach and person he is. He's not just built a winning team, he's built a culture that players want to be part of, and that will be his lasting mark on the nib Blues.
The Blues will continue the process to recruit for a new head coach in the coming months.
