Black Ferns Seek New Coach As Bunting Steps Down

Allan Bunting has stepped down from his domiciled arsenic New Zealand head of rugby pursuing nan Black Ferns' semi-final exit astatine nan caller Women's Rugby World Cup.

New Zealand Rugby has announced it will enlistee a caller caput coach pursuing an "extensive reappraisal of nan Black Ferns programme" aft nan tourney successful England - and that Bunting will not beryllium seeking nan position.

New Zealand, who had won six of nan erstwhile 7 Women's Rugby World Cups, were knocked retired successful nan semi-finals of nan 2025 version by Canada but past beat France to decorativeness third.

Hosts England defeated Canada successful nan last to triumph nan competition.

Bunting, who was appointed head of rugby of nan Black Ferns successful 2023, said it had been an "absolute honour" to lead nan team.

He added: "Over nan past 14 years, I've been honoured to lend crossed some nan Sevens and Fifteens programmes and acquisition pinnacle events specified arsenic nan Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Series and World Cups.

"To person played a domiciled successful nan maturation of nan women's crippled during this clip has been a privilege."

Chris Lendrum, wide head of master rugby and capacity for New Zealand Rugby, said nan "positive impact" Bunting has had connected nan women's crippled is "immense", while Bunting and his squad had "delivered a beardown instauration for nan adjacent four-year rhythm and nan team's effort to triumph a grounds seventh Women's Rugby World Cup".

In its statement,, external New Zealand Rugby said it hoped to person a caput coach successful spot by Christmas.

Lendrum said: "We are heading into an incredibly breathtaking four-year rhythm of nan master women's game, pinch a caller title almanac and nan first Women's British and Irish Lions circuit successful 2027.

"A robust process to guarantee we find nan champion campaigner to return nan Black Ferns guardant is imperative."