We have a new manager

We are chuffed to announce that former Tasman Rugby Union chief executive Tony Lewis will be our new manager.

Tony will be familiar to many Nelsonians, having spent seven years from 2013 until 2020 transforming Tasman into one of the most successful unions in the country, culminating in the Mako being crowned premiership champions in 2019 and 2020.

He was then headhunted by the Western Force where he spent three years as chief executive re-building the Perth-based franchise and overseeing their re-entry back into Super Rugby before returning to Nelson with his family late last year.

His earlier career included spells as chief executive of Randwick Rugby Football Club in Sydney and general manager of the New South Wales Corporate Games.

After a more than 20-year career in professional sports administration, he is keen for a new and less stressful challenge in taking our club to the next level.

Tony – who has been playing casual golf at Waahi Taakaro - will be joining us from June 10 and will take over the reins from Peter Watson who is stepping down after five years in the job. Peter will remain an adviser to the management committee until the AGM in September.

Please give Tony a warm welcome - we are very lucky he has agreed to join us.