Our Premier Coaching Group for 2026
Waitemata RFC is proud to welcome Brent Semmons home and congratulate him on his appointment as Premier Head Coach for the 2026 season.
His experience and leadership will play a key role as we build towards an exciting new chapter for Waitemata Rugby. As we prepare to celebrate our centenary in 2027 there is a strong sense of anticipation and renewed energy and we’re grateful for the ongoing support of our loyal West Auckland community.
Working with Brent in 2026
Bryan Donnelly
Bryan has been supporting Waitemata for five years—starting with our U21s and assisting our Premier team, coaching multiple rep sides along the way. He connects with players from all backgrounds (and yes, you’ll learn to understand the accent). His mission: help you level up your rugby IQ and become a stronger all-round player.
Sa’o Mulivai
From the same generation as Francis, Sa’o also returns home. With years of playing and coaching experience—including success at school and senior levels—he brings leadership, support, and a deep passion for lifting our Premier environment.
In 2027, our club will celebrate its centenary, a remarkable milestone that reflects 100 years of friendship, commitment, and community spirit.
This promises to be one of the most special and memorable years in our club’s history, and preparations are already well underway thanks to the dedication and hard work of many members and supporters behind the scenes.
While more details will be shared soon, we are currently gathering expressions of interest for a formal celebration evening, invitational games, and a range of other events that will bring our club community together to honour this very special occasion.
Waitemata v Ponsonby
from the Sidelines
Waitemata No1, 18 April 2026
From the kickoff, we created the first of many mistakes that allowed Ponsonby to get field position, and from another error off the back of the scrum within two minutes, we were behind.
To be fair, after that we attacked the line and all but scored; however, a knock-on or a penalty undid all that work.
Our latest International
Congratulations to Riley Williams — last season Riley captained our Premiers, went on to represent Canterbury in the NPC, and now pulls on the black jersey in Sevens, representing Aotearoa New Zealand on the international stage
