Ben Afeaki Named as Bunnings Warehouse NPC Head Coach

We're excited to announce that the Harbour Heat class of 2024, will be led by a face that's familiar to many in our community!

Ben Afeaki will take the reigns, starting on 1st February 2024!

As a former player for Harbour (#294), the Chiefs, Māori All Blacks and All Blacks (#1119); the 36-year-old began his professional coaching career in 2016 after retiring as a player. Afeaki, affectionately known to many as "Biggs ", can be found supporting the community on a regular basis as well; having represented Marist.

Beginning his coaching career as an assistant coach for the Heat, Afeaki's expertise at the set-piece saw Harbour take out the then-established Championship division of the NPC. With a margin of 17-14, Harbour edged Otago in the 2016 Final. Continued set-piece success through to the Premiership semi-finals in 2017, saw Afeaki link up with the Blues as set-piece coach for 2018. The Blues notably took out the 2021 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman title, with Afeaki's tutelage in the scrum.

Afeaki's coaching career has since seen him succeed globally; with his resumé also including stints with Manu Samoa in the 2019 Rugby World Cup; as well as with the title-winning Rugby United New York in 2023. One thing that's always been consistent through Afeaki's coaching career though, has been his admiration for our community and his maintained presence with the Harbour Heat!

His statement to the community, following this exciting news, is as follows:

"I'm super excited and honoured to lead Harbour, a club that's very close to my heart, full of great humans. The union gave me my first opportunity as a player and now my chance to keep growing the set legacy. There are some big shoes to fill, and I look forward to the challenge. It's a special team and a special job when you have the opportunity to improve lives through rugby ".

Adrian Donald, CEO of North Harbour Rugby, also shares the following statement with our community:

"We're delighted to have Ben, a high-calibre coach with both Super Rugby and international experience leading us, with the stage almost certainly set for a period of success. We're glad to open this new chapter in Ben's coaching career and can't wait for a highly-anticipated season ", ahead of the 2024 Bunnings Warehouse NPC.

North Harbour Rugby Union wishes Dan Halangahu all the best with his future endeavours and is excited to see Ben step up from his assistant coaching role.

Article added: Thursday 25 January 2024