Star-studded new rugby coaching line-up

Rugby at St Andrew’s College has had a significant boost, with former Crusader and England international, Willi Heinz, appointed as the new Head Rugby Coach, in charge of the 1st XV and the wider rugby programme at the College.

“It’s a huge honour to be given the opportunity to lead the rugby programme this year,” Willi shares. “Fundamentally, I’m a very competitive person, so I want us to do as well as we can. The effort and attitude of the players so far has been outstanding.”

The star-studded coaching line-up guiding the 1st XV doesn’t end there, with Tony Fenner, who has a wealth of professional playing experience in the UK and New Zealand, continuing as the team’s Assistant Coach, and former All Black, Crusader, and two time Rugby World Cup Champion, Owen Franks, joining as the team’s forwards coach.

“Our goal is to build the players’ potential, and be a little bit creative in the way we go about things to compete with the really big rugby schools,” explains Willi. “Earlier this year, the three of us had a number of conversations and meetings to figure out how we want the 1st XV to approach and play the game in 2026. It’s an organic process which works itself out once we understand the profile of the team, which is different every year in the Secondary School environment.”

Willi, who was a coach with the Gloucester U20 rugby programme in the UK, has been back in New Zealand for four years. He joins St Andrew’s after local coaching roles with High School Old Boys, and Christchurch Boys’ High School. Tony Fenner is entering his third year with St Andrew’s rugby, and Owen Franks will be with the College until the back end of the season, when he will head to Japan to take up coaching duties with the national team.

Another focus for the coaching team is to align and elevate the St Andrew's rugby programme across all levels, nurturing players to challenge themselves, grow in confidence, and continue to develop a strong love of the game.

“Our goal is to challenge the boys and girls to improve their skills, play the game with a smile on their face alongside their mates, and bring forward the College values,” Willi explains. “One of the things I learnt throughout my career was to fall in love with the process, without worrying about outcomes. When we grow a culture and environment with high standards, strong habits, and a love of the game, the outcomes take care of themselves.”