Matatū rugby have welcomed back Blair Baxter as an assistant coach for the 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season alongside Simon Kneebone and Jason Kjestrup.
Baxter was the sides inaugural Head Coach, passing the baton to Whitney Hansen after winning the Aupiki 2023 Championship, he then spent the remainder of the year working with China’s Women’s National Sevens Team as they prepared to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
During his time away from the South Island Baxter felt he wasn’t quite finished with Matatū,
The opportunity came along to be back involved, and it was an easy decision to be fair. I feel super privileged to be accepted into the space again”.
“I’m a way better coach than a supporter” quipped Baxter, “watching the girls last year, I was pretty animated. I thought I can’t sit here, I want to join in and work alongside them again and see if we can continue our journey to be great.
Whit and Sarah [Munro (] formed an amazing crew, not only athletes but the staff that all enable that”.
Baxter will work primarily on defence and is excited for the challenges ahead, “a really exciting challenge for me is to see how I can enable them to perform” said Baxter, “I’ll be doing everything I can to enhance the brand, enhance the footy and enhance myself”.
Head coach Whitney Hansen is thrilled for Baxter’s return and the knowledge he brings.
"In some ways it feels like he never left, a lot of the things we built across the first two seasons of Matatū remain and are an important part of our legacy still today” she said, “he is a great coach, who cares deeply for Matatū and the people in it. On a personal level, I’m really looking forward to coaching alongside someone who has always brought out the best in me and who I know will challenge us to continue to chase great”.
And the feeling is clearly mutual, “I love working alongside Whit, and I have an immense connection to the brand and the girls” said Baxter, “Matatū was a huge part of my life for two years. I’m now back with my whānau”.