Club Captain Neville Shirley, Club President Michael Biddick and Senior Chairman Mike Anderson are pleased to announce our 2018 Premier Coaching and Management team to members.

Our 2018 Premier appointees are:
Head Coach: Chad Hopa
Assistant Coach: Nick Evens
Strength and Conditioning / Technical Advisor: Scott Palmer
Team Manager: Carl Lynch

Chad came to the club having played at Maclean’s College, he played for both our then U18 and U19 sides before moving into the “famous” U85kg side the Pythons for several seasons. At the same time Chad started on his coaching career spending 4 seasons coaching various grade sides at Maclean’s. His first appointment at the club was our U20 side which he coached for 2 seasons before moving onto the U21 side for two further years winning the ARU U21 title in 2016. In 2017 Chad moved onto coaching our Premier Development side. As we know this team went from strength to strength this year winning the final in impressive fashion over a very tough Ponsonby side.

At Auckland level Chad has coached the U14, U16 (winning both these grades) before doing U18’s last year and is currently the assistant coach of the U18 Divisional side.

“We are delighted to be able to promote Chad, Nick and Carl into our Premier programme for 2018. We have invested heavily in the development of Chad by sending him to both IRANZ academy and the Blues level 3 courses and given him goals over the last two seasons which he has achieved by winning back to back ARU championships a highlight” said Neville Shirley.

“Chad has earned the right to coach our Premier side and the club will now back him 100% as he goes about putting together his team and programme for 2018” added Mike Anderson.

“Chad would be the first to admit he was quite “green” when he started out coaching but with good support from Rugby Director Pita Alatini and other a few other old heads in the club he has grown to a point where we are totally confident he can handle the pressure the Premier competition brings with it and bring our team back to the top of the competition in 2018” said Shirley.

“Being offered this opportunity with the support from the club to coach the Premier Team in 2018, is not only a huge honour but, also a responsibility that I am looking forward to immensely. Pakuranga United Rugby Club is one of the most prominent clubs in Auckland rugby and I will endeavour to continue its’ recent success following in the footsteps of Pita Alatini” added Chad Hopa.

Chad is joined in his team by assistant coach and ex-Premier player Nick Evans and Premier Development Manager Carl Lynch with current Premier Assistant Coach Scott Palmer having a switch in roles for 2018 being the side’s strength and conditioning coach / technical advisor. 

Pita Alatini continues in his role of Rugby Director at the club and is now freed up to focus on both coach and player development as well as strengthening our already strong links with local schools and our junior section.

To contact Chad Hopa: 021 149 9595