Mel Bosman appointed Tasman Mako FPC Coach
Mel Bosman appointed Tasman Mako FPC Coach
Mel Bosman with Evan Heywood of sponsor Golden Bay Fruit
Former Black Fern and seasoned provincial player Mel Bosman will head up a new coaching unit for the Golden Bay Fruit Tasman Mako women in the 2020 Farah Palmer Cup.
Mel will lead a team that comprises backs coach Steve Curtis and skills coach Billy Guyton. Joining Bosman in a selectorial capacity will be Baz Henare from Marlborough.
Mel is delighted with the challenge to lead this year’s Farah Palmer Cup campaign. “I’m excited to build on the past and see where the Mako women can get to in this fourth year of our journey. The talent is here in the region and my job going forward is to develop the structures to give the players self-belief and confidence. I want to set the foundations and values in this side that players will want to stay at or return to after their University days”.
The other members of the coaching staff, Steve and Billy, are well known in the region and will provide invaluable expertise. The team will be managed by former Tasman Sevens manager Jo MacLean, the physio is Hazel Davidsen and strength and conditioning coach is Robbie Salton.
About the Coaches
Melodie (Mel) Bosman
Mel Ngatai (now Bosman) played provincial rugby at number eight and prop from 1995 to 2014 including for Waikato, Auckland, Canterbury and Hawkes Bay. She made 17 appearances at prop for the national team (Black Fern # 119) over several years, firstly from 2004 to 2006 including the 2006 Rugby World Cup in Canada. Mel stayed on in Canada playing and coaching Alberta to two premierships. Upon her return to NZ she was re-selected for the 2010 Rugby World Cup winning team in England.
Mel has been coaching female rugby in Tasman since 2017 as head coach of the Tasman U18 secondary schools’ girls and set piece coach for the Mako in the Farah Palmer Cup, and was head coach of the 2019 Waimea Old Boys women’s premiership team.
Steve Curtis
Steve has enjoyed nearly two decades of coaching both male and female teams at school and club level. His female team’s association has included roles at Waimea College, re-introducing a girls’ team into the competition in 2011, and at Waimea Old Boys with the women’s team from 2013.
Billy Guyton
A 52 match Tasman Mako halfback, Billy also played 29 games for North Otago, Super Rugby at the Hurricanes, Crusaders and Blues and represented NZ Maori in 2016. Following retirement as a player Billy assisted coaching at Waimea Old Boys last season and is the 2020 head coach of Central club.
