Two new Assistant Coaches for Matatū in 2025
It’s set to be a big 2025 season for Matatū as the team welcomes two new assistant coaches into the environment.
Simon Kneebone and Jason Kjestrup will join Head Coach Whitney Hansen for the upcoming Super Rugby Aupiki season.
Kneebone has been in and around the Canterbury and Crusaders rugby scene for years and serves as Forwards Coach for the 2024 Canterbury Farah Palmer Cup team. He’s previously been the Crusaders Academy Forwards Coach and most recently helped Linwood RFC claim their first Canterbury Metro Premier title in 51 years.
He coached in Australia’s Shute Shield for several years and “always stayed in touch with Whit”.
“When I came back to New Zealand I got the opportunity to get back into the women’s space with Canterbury, connected with Whit and that led to a conversation about what I’m looking to do,” Kneebone said.
“This is home for me, and when I dug a bit deeper into Matatū and what the team represents – yeah it felt right and I’m just so pleased to be here.”
Described as a “play-centric coach”, for Kneebone it was “relationships and trust” that create a positive high-performance environment.
“I’ve found certainly in these past two years in Sydney, if they’re not having fun they don’t want to come to work every day. So that’s really important that they’re developing but also having fun in what they do,” he said.
Jason Kjestrup brings considerable experience to the group. A self-described “fly on the wall” for Matatū’s title-winning 2023 season, he also spent time in camp with Waikato and Canterbury during past NPC seasons and has provided advisory expertise to Mid Canterbury’s Heartland squad.
“Success for me will be pairing my skill-based knowledge with what I’m learning from the likes of Whit, to create an environment that motivates players and excites them to be here,” he said.
“I was blown away last time I was in the Matatū environment, the girls, they’re like sponges. Always asking why, always pushing for more info and their learning from that is really rapid.
“So for me, if I’m turning up to trainings at the end of the season and see the team picking up the learnings, self-fixing and doing it, then that’s success, the job’s done.”
Whitney Hansen, current Matatū Head Coach, said Simon and Jason are “both reflective of what it means to be Matatū and we are privileged to have them in our coaching make up this season”.
"Bona’s set piece understanding is exceptional, which will be critical in challenging our experienced athletes, but also invaluable in growing some of our younger players, and those who are transitioning to new positions. His ability to build trust and create a fun, challenging environment is second to none."
"Jase is an incredibly innovative coach, who has a real passion for skill development, and the game in general. His curiosity and his approach to understanding the player paired with his ability to coach to individual strengths will be critical. I know he’ll have a big impact on the group."