Coaches for 2024 season
Marist St Pats is pleased to announce coaches across the grades for the upcoming 2024 season.
Director of Rugby, Sean Horan, has secured a group of exciting coaches who have vast experience in the culture of our club and how we support the growth of players.
Premier Women
Firstly, Marist St Pats would like to acknowledge our Ryan Setefano who rebuilt Women's rugby at our club as the team's head coach. Ryan developed a team with an outstanding culture which translated into huge success on the field. Ryan finishes his tenure as a champion and we wish him all the best with his relocation in the New Year.
While we are still conducting an extensive search to secure a head coach for our Premier Women of the calibre required, we are pleased to announce the rest of the coaching team.
Sonny Whitman will join the Premier Women as an Assistant Coach. Sonny has been a mainstay of the Premier Reserve coaching team over the past few years. Sonny's appointment is another great example of sharing our coaching experiences across our grades which is a theme this year. All teams will have access to resource coaches.
The reigning Wellington champions will enjoy the continuity of Norm Broughton who has been involved in the coaching team for the past two years. The former Marist St Pats centurion and Maori All Black will be a resource coach for the team with strong experience developing young players at MSP and as coach at Hato Paora.
Our Premier Women, as with all teams, will be supported by our Director of Rugby, Sean Horan, along with a number of resource coaches including Brendan Reidy, Bernie Upton and Nick Focas.
Kathy McConnville returns as the team physio and great support to the team off the field.
Premier Reserves
Our Premier Reserve side have an exciting young coaching team which extensive playing experience in the grade. The team will be led by mainstay Tovio Apolo who has probably played over 150 Premier Reserve grades alongside his Premier caps. Tovio was involved in the Premier Womens coaching team last year and is ready to continue his development stepping into the head coach role.
He will be joined by another familiar face to the Premier Reserve grade with Jay Cameron onboard as the team's backs coach. Jay too has extensive playing experience at the Premier Reserve and Premier level.
The Premier Reserves will continue to be managed by John Poutawera and Poto Masina.
Colts
Our Colts coaching team have a fresh look yet with familiar faces. Long time Marist St Pats members and former players and coaches, Bernie McLaughlin and Mouse Jensen, will take the reigns of our Under 21 grade.
Bernie has a long affiliation with Marist St Pats having joined the club in 1987 out of St Patrick's College. He played in that years championship Colts side with Sean Horan and made a number of appearances at hooker at Premier level. After a serious injury he also dipped his toes into refereeing. Bernie's father, John, was also a Club Captain in the 1990s.
Bernie is joined by good mate Mike 'Mouse' Jensen. Mouse was an outstanding fullback and won the St Patrick's College Old Boys Cup for kicking the most points for the club many times throughout the 1990s. He is a previous Colts coach, having led the team to an unbeaten season in 2000.
Theo Gordon will return at the Colts manager for 2024.
For 2024, we're introducing a new role to support our Colts progamme. Cal Iaccarino will join the team as the Colts Co-ordinator, a role that supports the organisational and pastoral support of the team working closely with our Director of Rugby.
Cal’s involvement in rugby at Marist St Pats started as a junior playing in the old green and white strip. After a serious back injury in his last year at St Pats College and unable to play any sport, he focused on a career in Telecommunications that has seen him work all over the world.
Cal’s return to Marist St Pats came about when his son decided to play and there was absolutely no hesitation in registering him at the club. After following his son through Juniors, his son issued a challenge asking to see his father play and at the sprightly age of 46 laced up for a short stint with the Pressies. Being overweight and unfit (Cal's words!), common sense dictated that the sideline was a better place for him, and Cal has been helping Henry Fidow with the management of the Pressies for the past few years. Cal has now completed several NZRFU training modules including the WRFU Level 1 First Aid in Rugby (FAIR) and has been helping with IT related matters as and when they arise.
Cal is looking forward to working with the players, coaching staff, and committee to help deliver a successful season for the players and the club.
Internationals
The mighty Internationals return with a consistent team of coaches who are led by Head Coach Aaron Bouzaid. Keeping it in the Internationals family are Alex Baylis (Forwards Coach), Mike Bridges (Backs Coach) with Nate Simpson and Dave Isaia as Skills and Fitness Coaches.
Under 85s
Continuity remains a theme with the Under 85s being led my mainstays of the team Calum Bron (Head Coach), Malcolm Mashingaidze (Forwards) and Anthony Tuck (Backs). The side will again be managed by Kate Bron with Reuben Ouwerkerk as Resource and Equipment Manager.
Presidents
While it probably goes without saying, the Presidents will once again be coached by Henry Fidow with Mick Joyce.
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