Tasman Rugby Union Appoint New Director of Rugby & Mako Head Coach

Tasman Rugby Union (TRU) has appointed Jono Phillips as its new Director Of Rugby
& Mako Head Coach on a two-year fixed-term contract.

Phillips has previously coached at the Taranaki Bulls and the Hurricanes, and brings
valuable international experience through his involvement with the USA Eagles
programme and Scottish Rugby.

In accepting the role, Phillips said he was incredibly honoured and excited.

“This is a pivotal moment for the province, and I am committed to building on the
foundations already in place while driving the game forward with ambition, integrity,
and a clear vision for success both on and off the field.

“I want to thank the Board, and everyone involved in the appointment process for
placing their trust in me. I also want to acknowledge the dedication of the players,
coaches, staff, and supporters who have contributed so much to creating the identity
and culture of Mako rugby over the last twenty years. Together we will work to create
an environment where talent can flourish, high performance is the standard and the
team continues to inspire pride in the community,” he said.

TRU Board Chair Wayne Young said Phillips brought extensive experience and
strong connections throughout the Tasman rugby landscape.

“A respected coach and rugby leader, he has built a strong reputation for developing
players and programmes across both community and representative rugby. His deep
understanding of the region, combined with high-performance coaching experience
and commitment to player development, made him a standout candidate for the
role,” Mr Young said.

The TRU Board utilised an experienced six-person Independent Selection Panel to
appoint the newly created Director of Rugby & Mako Head Coach role.

This comprised independent members Angus Gardiner, Crusaders High
Performance Lead; Matt Sexton, New Zealand Rugby High Performance; Kieran
Keane, former Mako coach and Tasman Rugby life member; and Alex McKenzie,
High Performance Coach Development Manager at New Zealand Rugby. Mr Young,
Tasman Rugby Chair, and Mike Fraser, Tasman Rugby High Performance Chair,
completed the panel.

Alex McKenzie, High Performance Coach Development Manager at New Zealand
Rugby, said Phillips’ appointment reflected the strength and reputation of Tasman
Rugby both nationally and internationally.

“Jono’s appointment is a significant boost for Tasman Rugby. We had strong interest
in the Director of Rugby & Head Coach role from across New Zealand and
internationally, and the quality of the final interviewees was outstanding. That speaks
volumes about the reputation and pulling power of Tasman Rugby and the Mako.

“Jono’s experience, knowledge, and passion for the game at all levels in our region
— from community rugby through to the Mako — make him an excellent fit. We’re
confident Tasman Rugby is in very good hands,” Mr McKenzie said.

The appointment follows an extensive independent operational review commissioned
by the TRU Board and conducted by Stu Mather, former Auckland Rugby Chair,
Blues board member, and former New Zealand Rugby director during October and
November last year.

A subsequent restructure process has been led by Tasman Rugby’s recently
contracted Change Manager, Tony Lewis.

Staff, stakeholders, the clubs, and commercial partners were all consulted as part of
the review process, resulting in a comprehensive independent assessment of the
union’s strengths, challenges, and future opportunities.

The review highlighted the need for the organisation to evolve and adapt to the
changing demands facing the union as Tasman Rugby approaches its 20th
anniversary in 2026, Mr Young said.

As a result, the restructure has established three new leadership positions across
the organisation - Director of Commercial – Julie Bensemann, Director of Community
Rugby – Chris Little, and Director of Rugby & Mako Head Coach – Jono Phillips.

“The Tasman Rugby restructure has resulted in a new leadership team and with
updated responsibilities introduced across the organisation. The new 2026-focused
job descriptions have been designed to improve delivery, accountability, productivity,
and operational efficiency across the business.

“The newly created leadership positions are strategically aligned to strengthen
Tasman Rugby’s future direction as the youngest provincial union within New
Zealand Rugby. Tasman Rugby believes the new structure positions the organisation
strongly for the future and reinforces its commitment to building sustainable success
on and off the field,” Mr Young said.