Chiefs, Māori All Black Dwayne Sweeney appointed head coach of Chiefs Manawa
The Chiefs Rugby Club have appointed former Chief, Māori All Black and Waikato player Dwayne Sweeney as the Chiefs Manawa Head Coach.
Sweeney is already a familiar and respected mentor for players having assisted the team in the 2024 Sky Super Rugby Aupiki campaign. He steps into the position with an extensive knowledge of the game from his illustrious 20-year professional playing career in New Zealand and Japan.
Faithful to his roots, he returned to the Waikato to coach many of the province’s men’s and women’s teams in the 15s and sevens formats. Currently, he holds an assistant coach position with Waikato for NPC under Gallagher Chiefs assistant coach Ross Filipo.
“This team has had a lot of success already in its short time, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to add to its legacy,” said Sweeney. “It’s an exciting challenge and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve next season.
“We have a talented group of players here who are versatile and dynamic. We hope to develop a brand of rugby for them which is thrilling for both them to play and fans to watch. I look forward to connecting our people and building on the success of previous seasons.”
Chiefs Rugby Club CEO Simon Graafhuis is delighted to have Sweeney return as head coach.
“He has significant rugby experience in numerous environments and has given a lot to the Chiefs and our region as a player. We are very fortunate to have his continued contributions to the club as a coach. “
“Dwayne is a great fit for the club and is very aligned with our goals and thinking for developing the women’s game. We look forward to seeing the results of his efforts in the Chiefs Manawa environment.”
Carla Hohepa will also return as an assistant coach for Chiefs Manawa in 2025. The full Chiefs Manawa coaching and management will be confirmed later this year.
