Coaching group named for inaugural NZ Under 21 women's team
Inaugural New Zealand Under 21 women's team coaching group named
Hayden Triggs, Emma Jensen and Solomona Paraki have been announced as the coaching group for the New Zealand Under 21 women's team to play Australia NextGen.
Current Hurricanes Poua Head Coach and former Māori All Black Triggs, has been appointed Head Coach, with former Black Ferns halfback and Poua Assistant Coach Jensen and Canterbury Farah Palmer Cup Head Coach Paraki as his Assistant Coaches.
The trio will make history when the match kicks off at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on 31 October and 4.30pm for what will be the first time New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has assembled a women’s Under 21 squad.
The New Zealand Under 21 team will be supported by 2degrees as the team’s Official Partner with the fixture live and exclusive on Sky, as a double-header to the Black Ferns WXV Global Series Test against France.
Triggs guided the Poua to four wins from six in a season that fell just short of a Sky Super Rugby Aupiki finals appearance but unearthed and highlighted a large group of exciting new talent.
Capped 10 times by the Māori All Blacks, Triggs long playing career traversed the Hurricanes, Highlanders, Chiefs and Blues in Super Rugby as well as 116 appearances in the Hilux NPC with Manawatu, Otago and North Harbour before a sting overseas with Leinster.
“To be part of the first New Zealand Under 21 women's team is a real honour. We want to provide these players with an environment and experience that will prepare them and elevate them to higher honours. Women’s rugby is going from strength to strength and the squad we select will reflect the talent that’s in the pathway,” Triggs said.
Emma Jensen and Solomona Paraki named as Assistant Coaches
Jensen holds the record for most first-class appearances by a female player in New Zealand with 184 matches between 1999 and 2021. She played 49 Tests for the Black Ferns from 2002 to 2015 and was part of the Rugby World Cup-winning sides of 2006 and 2010. She has since coached alongside Triggs at the Poua and sits on the Board of Hawke's Bay Rugby.
Paraki came into the Matatū environment for Super Rugby Aupiki in 2025 as Skills Coach, following multiple seasons as Canterbury’s Head Coach in the Farah Palmer Cup presented by Hilux where he helped guide the side to three consecutive finals, and has also coached in Japan.
The New Zealand Under 21 squad will be named on Friday, 2 October.
The New Zealand Under 21 2026 women’s coaching and management group is:
Head Coach: Hayden Triggs
Assistant Coach: Emma Jensen
Assistant Coach: Solomona Paraki
Scrum Coach: Pip Love
Strength and Conditioning Coach: Chantal MacDonald
Manager: Amy Courtney
Analyst: Tandi Keet
Physio: Ala Bakulich-Leavasa
Doctor: Anika Tiplady
Mental Performance Lead: Jessie Hansen
