Canterbury FPC Coaching Group announced for 2023
Canterbury Farah Palmer Cup family is coming together, with a group consisting of six coaches announced for the 2023 season, with flexibility and pathway opportunities a key component for this year’s group.
Sinclair will be joined by Assistant Coaches Sid Tauamiti and Solomona Paraki, and will also have the support of former Canterbury players Kim Smith and Anna Livingstone joining the campaign.
Liz Worthington will be the Coaching Intern, ensuring continued development for Worthington who will also take charge of the Canterbury Development Team.
“Being able to keep some consistency across the group from last year with Sid and adding in some fresh thinking with the rest of our coaching group, like Solomona who has returned home to Canterbury from Japan, will set us up in good stead for this season.” said Sinclair.
“Having a group with so much experience and enthusiasm for the women’s game makes it super exciting and we’re looking forward to working together.”
Having Smith, Livingstone and Worthington in the team environment during the season enables further growth for female coaches in Canterbury, but also provides opportunities for coaches to continue their development around other commitments, with both Smith and Livingstone having seven-month-old children, as Canterbury adapts to provide flexible coaching opportunities.
“It’s great to have some really strong female role models present in our group, and it’s equally great to have these coaches given opportunities to develop their coaching around their own commitments too.” Sinclair said.
Sid Tauamiti, a returning member of last year’s successful coaching group, is also excited to get back on the grass for the 2023 season.
“I had a really enjoyable experience last year, forging relationships with this group that I can now carry over into this season,” Tauamiti said.
“It’s great to have a power of experience in our group, through culture setting and leadership, and this has really come to the fore with our early coaching sessions already.”
“It’s really cool to have the likes of Anna and Kim in the group. Having them in the group provides some great role models for our playing group, and also provides an opportunity for them to pass on the knowledge they have from their own playing experiences too.”
Back in the Canterbury set up 10 years on from last wearing the red and black, former Black Fern Kim Smith is looking forward to the opportunity to return in a coaching capacity.
“It’s great to be able to be back with Canterbury and be around such great people.” said Smith, “I worked with Jimmy with the Canterbury 7’s in 2019, and he’s such a good person to work with"
“Having the ability to be flexible around my commitments and my son, he will be in bed when we’re doing most of the coaching, has presented this chance and I can’t wait to get into it.”
The coaching group will be in charge of a 66-women wider squad who began training last week, with the first game of the FPC season on the 15th of July against Wellington.
At a snapshot:
Sid Tauamiti:
Coach Sydenham & University of Canterbury Premiers (2011-2021)
Representative coach with Canterbury FPC (2022), Canterbury B’s (2016-2018) and Canterbury Colts (2014)
Current Waihora U7’s coach
Solomona Paraki:
Played for Northland, Canterbury Māori, Canterbury Colts, Canterbury 7’s and Mid Canterbury Heartland (2012-2016)
Coached Sydenham Rugby Colts (2023), Christchurch Girls 7s (2022), Nagato Womens 7s Blue Angels (Japan 2020 -22), Nikkie University Women 15s – Backs coach (Japan 2021-22) and Kelston Boys High School skills coach (2019-2020)
Kim Smith:
Canterbury Women’s player (2005-2011, 2013), Co-Captain and Player of the Year in 2011
Black Fern #132 (2005-2009)
Volleyball New Zealand Representative (2013-2022), Captain since 2015
Coached Avonside Girls’ High School 1st XV (2008-2014), Canterbury Men’s 7’s Assistant Coach (2019) and Volleyball (2015-2023)
TIMA coach - Adapted sport for Rangatahi with Disabilities (2014-2017)
Anna Livingstone:
100 games for Sydenham (2002-2005, 2007-2008 and 2010)
Canterbury Women’s (2003-2005, 2007-2008)
Coached Cantabrians, HSOB Womens, HSOB Senior Girls, Christchurch Girls’ High School and Canterbury Secondary School Girls Development (2015-2023)
Liz Worthington:
Played Senior Rugby for BDI (2016)
Coached school girls’ at Rolleston College and Lincoln Combined, Coached U16/U17 Prebbleton Royals, Senior Women's at Lincoln University and Prebbleton (2019-2020, 2023)
Representative coach for Canterbury U15's 7's (2019), Canterbury U18 Girls’ (2019, 2021) and Canterbury Development Team (2022- )