Blair Baxter leads star studded Black Ferns XV coaching group

Black Ferns XV

1 hour ago

Blair Baxter will coach the Black Ferns XV in 2026-27 alongside Kelly Brazier, Carla Hohepa and Charmaine McMenamin ahead of a historic Lions clash.

Blair Baxter appointed Black Ferns XV Head Coach

Matatū Head Coach Baxter will lead the Black Ferns XV 2026 high-performance campaign including a match against the Black Ferns on 14 August, and an historic fixture against the British & Irish Lions next year.

Baxter has worked in the women’s pathway space for more than a decade, growing, and developing the pathway for women’s players and coaches, including the national U18 and U20 programmes. He won the ASB National Women’s Coach of the Year award in 2022, a Super Rugby Aupiki title with Matatū in 2023, and guided Canterbury to three consecutive Farah Palmer Cup championships.

The

Black

Ferns

XV

is

an

important

part

of

the

women’s

professional

rugby

pathway

and

with

a

fixture

against

the

British

&

Irish

Lions

next

year

on

the

calendar

it’s

an

exciting

time

to

be

involved.

I’m

working

with

three

of

the

best

Black

Ferns

to

wear

the

jersey

as

players,

but

they

are

also

a

reflection

of

the

quality

of

coaches

coming

through

the

pathway.

Kelly,

Carla

and

Charmaine

have

collectively

won

six

Rugby

World

Cups

and

played

103

Tests,

so

bring

a

vast

amount

of

experience

and

knowledge

to

the

group.
Black Ferns XV Head Coach, Blair Baxter

Black Ferns legends strengthen coaching group

Brazier, who has played 44 Tests and won two World Cups (2010, 2017) as well as an Olympic Gold medal in Sevens at Tokyo in 2020, officially retired as a player earlier this year. A gifted playmaker, she transitioned into coaching in 2023 and has recently been the Assistant Coach for the Chiefs Manawa in Super Rugby Aupiki. She has also been with the Black Ferns recently as a developing coach and will spend further time in the environment during their 2026 campaign.

Hohepa, 28 Tests, was also a World Cup winner in 2010 and 2017. An elusive wing she was a try scoring sensation with two on debut against Australia in 2007 and crossed for seven tries during the 2010 World Cup. She moved into coaching in 2024 as an Assistant Coach with the Chiefs Manawa and Waikato Rugby.

McMenamin (Ngāti Porou), 31 Tests, lifted the World Cup in 2017 and 2021. A dynamic loose forward, she was the Black Ferns Player of the Year in 2019. In 2024 she moved into coaching as the Blues Women’s Forwards Coach and has also held an Assistant Coach role with the Auckland Storm.