Mako lock in Head Coaches for 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The Tasman Rugby Union is pleased to announce the appointment of Gray Cornelius as the Head Coach for the Mako men's team and La Toya Mason as the Head Coach for the Mako women's team for the 2024 and 2025 Bunnings Warehouse NPC and Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse seasons.
Cornelius, a former schoolteacher and Marlborough representative player, has risen through the coaching ranks in the Tasman region, and will embark on his sixth year in the Mako coaching team in 2024, this time as sole Head Coach, following two seasons as Co-Head Coach alongside Dan Perrin, who has departed to concentrate on his role with the Crusaders.
The Blenheim based 48-year-old is excited to the continue the work he has been devoted to for the past five years, "I feel privileged to take on the role of head coach of the Mako - a team and province that I love. I am excited by what I see coming through our clubs, Academy, and schools, as well as the continuity we have with our returning players. I look forward to working hard to enhance our culture and performance over the next two seasons”.
Mason, an Aucklander who represented England at the highest level 70 times and won a Women’s Rugby World Cup, was assistant to Mel Bosman in the 2023 Farah Palmer Cup season that saw the Mako team make the Championship semi-final.
With Bosman moving into the USA Eagles coaching setup, the chance to take the reigns at the Mako was too good an opportunity to turn down for Mason, “I’m incredibly excited to be entrusted with the Mako for the next two seasons. Building on the success of last season is a great challenge, but one I’m relishing.”
TRU Board Chair, Baz Henare, is thrilled to have the leadership for the two Mako teams secured for two years, “The Board are delighted to confirm Gray and La Toya’s commitment for the next two years. Their dedication to our programme is contagious amongst our High-Performance staff and players. They have our full backing, and we look forward to a successful period for our Mako teams with Gray and La Toya at the respective helms.”
Both Head Coaches will now begin the task of populating their coaching staffs ahead of the 2024 Bunnings NPC and Farah Palmer Cup seasons.
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