Nick Evans has been named Pakuranga United Rugby club’s 2019 Premier Coach.
Evans picked up a coaching award at the Auckland Rugby awards at Eden Park last year.
He won the award for most promising club coach of the year for his sterling work with PURC’s premier development (reserves) team which won the Development Final at Bell Park.
“Following our annual reviews and interviews, PIC Insurance Brokers Pakuranga United Rugby Club are pleased to announce our 2019 premier coach and his management team,” said Club Captain Neville Shirley.
“Following a long process to review 2018 with coaches, managers and players, it became very clear to the selection panel that Nick was the man for the job in 2019.
“He will be joined by PURC Director of Rugby (and former All Black) Pita Alatini who after a year off coaching the squad returns with a renewed vigour to improving the team’s performance.
It is fantastic to have club centurion Jono Steele also coming into the coaching group with his wealth of experience at club level in Auckland.
“We have a fantastic group of players and they deserve the very best Coaching team we can put together” added Shirley.”
The team will be managed again by highly-respected team manager Ken Johns and he will have the services of returning club man Carl Lynch to assist him.
“KJ and Carl are the perfect guys to ensure the squads off-field needs and commitments are met and we are sure this entire squad will now put together a highly competitive premier programme in 2019,” said Shirley.
Meanwhile Evans is very pleased. “It is a honour and a privilege to be named head coach of a team and club that I love and care about. I really want to bring together a team that shall play with the pride in the jersey and respect our great club deserves.
“I’ll be leaving no stone unturned to ensure my players are ready to compete in the ARU Premiership. Together we can create something special and I know we have the full backing of the club to achieve this.”
Attention now turns to putting in place the rest of the coaching and management positions for all other teams in the club.
