{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox rugby biography | birth_date = | birth_place = | provinceyears1 = | province1 = Taranaki | provinceapps1 = | provincepoints1 = 0 | coachyears1 = 1994–1995 | coachteams1 = {{ruw|NZ}} }} '''Vicky Dombroski''' is a former coach of the New Zealand women's national rugby union team. She was also a selector and manager for the team.
== Career == Dombroski played for Taranaki at provincial level.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Harvey |first=Helen |date=2019-05-10 |title=Women's rugby: From hand-me-down jerseys to professional contracts |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/112488887/womens-rugby-from-handmedown-jerseys-to-professional-contracts |access-date=2022-02-08 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref>
In the late 1980s, the women's rugby movement was emerging but recognition and assistance from the New Zealand Rugby Football Union wasn't available.<ref name=":3" /> In frustration, Dombroski wrote a letter to the NZRFU in 1988 requesting permission to have a club competition in Taranaki.<ref name=":3" /> She received a letter from former All Blacks coach, John Stewart on behalf of the NZRFU stating that they were in favour of women taking an active role in the game.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Palmer|first=Farah|date=2013-10-10|title=Opinion: Thanks JJ Stewart, and thanks Otago Spirit|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/other-sport/opinion-thanks-jj-stewart-and-thanks-otago-spirit|access-date=2022-02-08|website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}</ref>
She could have attended the 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup, but could not raise the needed $5000.
=== Coaching === Dombroski coached the Black Ferns from 1994 to 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ash |first=Julie |date=2002-06-10 |title=Lack of women in coaching - Sport News |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/lack-of-women-in-coaching/YR2SANDNE5GOELWZTEECHH4BVM/ |access-date=2022-02-08 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Hodson-Tomokino |first=Taylah |date=2018-06-14 |title=Coach Grant trailblazing at rugby's final frontier |url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/lockerroom/page/leading-the-way-for-more-women-rugby-coaches |access-date=2022-02-08 |website=Newsroom |language=en-AU}}</ref> Until Whitney Hansen's appointment in December 2025, she was the only woman to have coached the side.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=2025-12-19 |title=Whitney Hansen announced as Black Ferns Head Coach |url=https://www.allblacks.com/news/whitney-hansen-announced-as-black-ferns-head-coach |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-17 |website=www.allblacks.com}}</ref><ref name=":92">{{Cite web |date=2025-12-19 |title=Whitney Hansen announced as Black Ferns head coach |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/582271/whitney-hansen-announced-as-black-ferns-head-coach |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref>
She was as a selector for the Black Ferns from 1992 to 1997.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Johannsen |first=Dana |date=2022-03-01 |title=Why the absence of women in head coaching positions for Super Rugby Aupiki rankles |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/127902887/why-the-absence-of-women-in-head-coaching-positions-for-super-rugby-aupiki-rankles |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=www.stuff.co.nz}}</ref> She was manager of the team that won the 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup in the Netherlands in 1998, and served until 2000.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dinsdale |first=Mike |date=2023-08-24 |title=Herstory of Black Ferns on display in Kaitāia |url=https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2023/08/24/herstory-of-black-ferns-on-display-in-kaitaia/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=Te Ao Māori News |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
{{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{s-bef|before =Laurie O'Reilly}} {{s-ttl|title = Black Ferns coach | years =1994–1995}} {{s-aft|after = Darryl Suasua}} {{end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dombroski, Vicky}} Category:Living people Category:New Zealand rugby union coaches Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:New Zealand women's national rugby union team coaches