{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}}{{Infobox rugby biography | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_date ={{birth date and age|1987|2|4|df=yes}} | birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand | ru_position =Front row, Number 8 | amatyears1 =–2018 | amatteam1 =University of Canterbury | amatapps1 = | amatpoints1 =0 | provinceyears1 =2011, 2013–14 | province1 =Canterbury | provinceapps1 =14 | provincepoints1 =5 | coachyears1 =2017 | coachteams1 =Canterbury University (Head Coach) | coachyears2 =2018 | coachteams2 =Canterbury U18 girls (Head Coach) | coachyears3 =2019–2020 | coachteams3 =NZ Barbarians (women) (Head Coach) | coachyears4 =2020–2023 | coachteams4 =Canterbury women ({{Tooltip|Asst.|Assistant}} Coach) | coachyears5 =2022 | coachteams5 ={{nwrut|New Zealand}} (women) ({{Tooltip|Asst.|Assistant}} Coach) | coachyears6 =2022–2023 | coachteams6 =Matatū ({{Tooltip|Asst.|Assistant}} Coach) | coachyears7 =2024–2025 | coachteams7 =Matatū (Head of Rugby) | coachyears8 =2024 | coachteams8 =Black Ferns XV (Head Coach) | coachyears9 =2026– | coachteams9 ={{nwrut|New Zealand}} (women) (Head Coach) }} '''Whitney Hansen''' (born 4 February 1987) is a New Zealand rugby union coach. She is the current Head Coach of the Black Ferns, New Zealand's women's national rugby union team.

== Rugby career ==

=== Playing === Hansen played provincially for Canterbury between 2011 and 2014, she appeared in 14 games for the side as a Front row and Number 8.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2021-01-26 |title=Whitney Hansen hoping to hone her craft on Rugby World Cup 2021 Coaching Internship Programme |url=https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/609711/whitney-hansen-hoping-to-hone-her-craft-on-rugby-world-cup-2021-coaching-internship-programme |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=Women's and Men's Rugby World Cup |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":92" /> She also played more than 100 games for the University of Canterbury, before making her final appearance for the team in 2018.<ref name=":1" />

=== Coaching === Hansen's coaching career started in 2017 at the University of Canterbury.<ref name=":0" /> In 2018, she coached Canterbury's Under-18 girls’ representative team.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Cully |first=Paul |date=2021-01-11 |title=Black Ferns intern coach Whitney Hansen follows path of 'proud' dad Steve |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/black-ferns/300202126/black-ferns-intern-coach-whitney-hansen-follows-path-of-proud-dad-steve |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=www.stuff.co.nz}}</ref> In 2019, she was part of the coaching staff for the Black Ferns Development XV that competed at the Oceania Rugby Women's Championship in Fiji.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-17 |title=Whitney Hansen selected for Rugby World Cup 2021 coaching intern role |url=https://www.sporty.co.nz/crfu/newsarticle/98659?newsfeedId=459306 |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=www.sporty.co.nz}}</ref>

She then coached the New Zealand women's Barbarians in 2019 and 2020 in matches against the Black Ferns.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />

In 2022, she was the Black Ferns assistant coach to Wayne Smith during their successful campaign at the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup that took place in New Zealand.<ref name=":0">{{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 |access-date=2026-01-17 |website=www.allblacks.com}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Lester |first=Ned |date=2025-12-18 |title=Whitney Hansen: 'The biggest thing I learned' from iconic mentors |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/whitney-hansen-the-biggest-thing-i-learned-from-iconic-rugby-mentors/ |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=www.rugbypass.com |language=en}}</ref>

From 2020 to 2023, she was Canterbury’s assistant coach in the Farah Palmer Cup, the team won two titles in three years.<ref name=":92" /><ref name=":0" />

She was Matatū's assistant coach under Blair Baxter in 2022, and in 2023 when they won the Super Rugby Aupiki title.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-03 |title=Whitney Hansen appointed Matatū Head Coach for 2024 |url=https://www.matatu.co.nz/news/whitney-hansen-named-matat-head-coach-for-2024 |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=Matatū |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-03 |title=Whitney Hansen named head coach of champion Matatū side |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/11/03/whitney-hansen-named-head-coach-of-champion-matatu-side/ |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=1News |language=en}}</ref> She then served as Matatū's Head coach from 2024 to 2025.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" />

In 2023, she was appointed as the inaugural Head coach of the Black Ferns XV's side.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-18 |title=Matatū's Whitney Hansen named Black Ferns XV Head Coach |url=https://www.matatu.co.nz/news/matats-whitney-hansen-named-as-black-ferns-xv-head-coachnbsp |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=Matatū |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-18 |title=Whitney Hansen to coach newly created Black Ferns XV |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/496048/whitney-hansen-to-coach-newly-created-black-ferns-xv |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref>

On 19 December 2025, Hansen was announced as the new Head coach of the Black Ferns, and is being appointed through to the end of 2027.<ref name=":0" /><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 |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref> She is the 13th Head coach of the Black Ferns, and only the second woman to hold the position after Vicky Dombroski in 1994.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Wall |first=Jamie |date=2025-12-19 |title=Family business: Whitney Hansen's time has arrived |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/582340/family-business-whitney-hansen-s-time-has-arrived |access-date=2026-01-18 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}</ref> She is set to oversee 11 Tests in her first year followed by the historic British & Irish Lions tour scheduled for 2027.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":92" />

==Personal life== She is the daughter of Steve Hansen, who was the All Blacks Head Coach between 2012 and 2019.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> Outside of rugby she works as a teacher.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{s-bef|before =Allan Bunting}} {{s-ttl|title = Black Ferns coach | years =2026–}} {{s-inc}} {{end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hansen, Whitney}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:New Zealand rugby union coaches Category:New Zealand women's national rugby union team coaches