Blair Baxter to lead Matatū as Head Coach for 2026
Matatū is proud to announce Blair Baxter as our Head Coach for the 2026 season. A highly respected figure in women’s high‑performance rugby, Blair brings deep experience, strong leadership, and a long‑standing connection to our kaupapa and playing group.
Blair has built an impressive coaching résumé across both domestic and international programmes. His early success at age‑grade level paved the way for his appointment as Head Coach of Canterbury Women in 2020, where he guided the group to a Farah Palmer Cup title in his debut season, a clear marker of his impact and coaching calibre.
As Matatū’s inaugural Head Coach, Blair played a formative role in shaping our environment from the very beginning in 2022.
Under his leadership, we celebrated a defining moment in 2023, lifting the Super Rugby Aupiki Championship Trophy, Hineruhi, and establishing a legacy that continues to guide our standards today.
In 2025, Blair was part of our wider coaching team as Assistant Coach, working closely alongside Whitney and contributing significantly to our team culture, defensive systems, and overall growth. His presence within the group last season means this appointment represents both continuity and evolution, a natural progression for a leader who understands our identity and what drives this team.
Blair’s coaching reach extends globally as well. In 2023, he served as Assistant Coach of the China Women’s Sevens programme, and he recently achieved outstanding success with the New Zealand U18 Sevens, guiding the team to victory at the Youth Global Sevens. His ability to inspire and develop athletes at all levels has become one of his greatest strengths.
Closer to home, Blair has continued to contribute to the heartland rugby community most recently through his role as Game Development Manager at Mid Canterbury, further sharpening his leadership capability and technical craft. These experiences enrich what he brings into the Matatū whānau as he steps into this next chapter.
Matatū General Manager Sarah Munro says Baxter’s appointment reflects both continuity and growth for the organisation.
“Blair has been part of our journey from the very beginning. His deep understanding of our kaupapa, his genuine care for our athletes, and his proven ability to lead at the high-performance level make him the right person to guide us forward into 2026. This is an exciting step for our club.”
Blair’s deep connection to our kaupapa, his genuine care for our athletes, and his long history of shaping our environment make this appointment exciting for everyone involved.
His collaborative approach, humility, and passion for elevating women’s rugby will be invaluable as we build towards our 2026 campaign.