BLUES women’s rugby coach Willie Walker has signed up for another season as coach of the side.

Walker will be looking to make it back-to-back titles for the team that features a number of Black Ferns, including skipper Ruahei Demant of Omaio.

Demant is currently touring Canada with the Black Ferns ahead of the WXV 1 tournament, while Walker is in New Zealand working towards finalising playing numbers for 2025.

The former Highlanders and North Harbour first five, who was born in Ōpōtiki, is excited to be back on board for another Super Rugby Aupiki campaign.

“We are going back-to-back. I am looking forward to it, it’s pretty exciting. The opportunity to go back-to-back was enticing and just getting the core of the group from last year together again.”

Walker is excited to see how he can make the squad improve.

“We’ve got to do different things and throw different pictures to what people have seen before.”

He said they would continue to focus inwards.

“We just have to focus on ourselves and not dwell too much on the others.”

Walker puts their success last year down to the environment and culture created.

“We love playing at the big stadiums like the men and continuing to boost the profile of women’s rugby. It’s the home of rugby and the players appreciate it.”

He is excited to see several Blues players on the international stage.

Walker’s presence adds to the strong number of Eastern Bay people involved in the competition with players such as Luka Connor, Mererangi Paul, Kate Henwood, Te Urupounamu McGarvey and others likely to be involved with Super Rugby Aupiki.