Willie Walker Appointed Head Coach of the Vodafone Fijiana XV

Fiji Rakavi Football Union is pleased to announce the appointment of Willie Walker as the new Head Coach of the Vodafone Fijiana XV, ushering in an exciting new chapter for Fiji’s national women’s rugby programme.

Walker joins the Vodafone Fijiana XV with an outstanding coaching résumé and a proven record of success in New Zealand women’s rugby. Since taking charge of the Blues Women in their inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki season in 2021, he has established the team as one of the competition’s dominant forces, leading them to three consecutive Super Rugby Aupiki titles in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Most recently, Walker guided the Blues Women to victory over the NSW Waratahs in a hard-fought trans-Tasman encounter in Sydney.

His coaching credentials also include serving as Head Coach of the Black Ferns for their 2025 international campaign, while continuing to lead the Auckland Storm in New Zealand’s Farah Palmer Cup (FPC).

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the women’s game, Walker was named ASB National Women’s Coach of the Year at the 2025 New Zealand Rugby Awards.

Fiji Rakavi believes Walker’s appointment will complement the outstanding work that has already been undertaken over the past decade in the growth and development of women’s rugby in Fiji.

His role will be to build on that strong foundation by contributing to the continued development of a high-performance women’s programme, strengthening coaching pathways, establishing robust systems, and helping create an environment that supports long-term success across all levels of the women’s game.

Walker brings extensive experience in developing high-performance environments, building winning cultures, and nurturing elite athletes—qualities that will be instrumental in the continued growth of the Vodafone Fijiana XV as the team strives for sustained success on the international stage.

Before transitioning into coaching, Walker enjoyed an accomplished professional playing career. A versatile first five-eighth (fly-half) and fullback, he represented the Highlanders in Super Rugby from 2002 to 2003 and earned selection for the New Zealand Māori during the same period.

Domestically, he played for North Harbour, Otago, and Counties Manukau, before spending five successful seasons in England with Gloucester Rugby and the Worcester Warriors in the English Premiership.

Speaking on his appointment, Walker said he is honored to join Fiji Rugby and is excited about the opportunity ahead.

“It is a privilege to be entrusted with leading the Vodafone Fijiana XV. Fiji has an incredible rugby culture and a talented group of athletes with enormous potential. I look forward to working with the players, management and Fiji Rugby to continue building a high-performance environment that inspires success and makes the people of Fiji proud.”

Fiji Rakavi Football Union welcomes Willie Walker to the Vodafone Fijiana XV family and looks forward to his leadership as the team continues its journey towards achieving sustained success on the global stage.