WALKER AIMS TO BUILD ON nib BLUES SUCCESS

Willie Walker has inked a new one-year deal to remain as nib Blues Head Coach for the 2025 Super Rugby Aupiki season.

Walker, who has coached the nib Blues since their inception, said he’s proud of the environment and culture the team have created, culminating in an Aupiki title last season.

“It was one of the main focusses once this team was up and running - we wanted to build an environment where players were comfortable and wanted to be,” said Walker.

Blues CEO, Andrew Hore, said keeping Walker at the helm was an easy decision. 

“Willie’s taken this team to new heights – he’s created and nurtured a unique nib Blues culture that the club are extremely proud of,” said Hore. 

“His skill and level of care in the women’s space is unparallelled and it was pleasing to see the team rewarded with a title. I’m excited to see him continue to build the women’s programme.” 

While Walker is motivated by the prospect of back-to-back titles, he knows opposition teams will be hunting them down in the coming season.

“We’ve got to be innovative around our game, we built nicely throughout the 2024 season, but that’s last season,” he said.

“We have to keep upskilling our players both in core skills and understanding of their games and how they can be better. We’ve got a really tight group of players who understand what our DNA is within our nib Blues team and our Blues region – it’s really exciting to be part of it all once again,” he said.

Walker is hoping to have a largely settled squad for the 2025 season and expressed a desire for more double-header fixtures like the cliff-hanger victory against Matatū at Eden Park last season.

“It’s always good to play in main stadiums in front of decent crowds and grow the exposure for us as a team and making sure our competition grows alongside the men’s game,” he said.

“The ability to play at Eden Park, the home of rugby, is always good and I know the players enjoy and appreciate it.”

As the new Aupiki season approaches, Walker is keeping a keen eye on his nib Blues players both domestically and on international duty.

“It’s been great to see the talent on display in the Farah Palmer Cup and it certainly bodes well for competition within our squad,” he said. 

“You don’t get the chance to play at places like Twickenham often, so those Black Ferns will come back better for the experience and put it back into our nib Blues season.”

The complete nib Blues squad will be named in the coming months with Super Rugby Aupiki’s new season kicking off in March 2025.