Who is involved in NZSA Rugby Coaching?

The NZ Sports Academy rugby coaching team are here to give you the best rugby coaching experience

Jim Love

New Zealand Sports Academy Director

Jim is a former Māori All Black Assistant Coach, Tongan Rugby World Cup Coach and former Māori All Black player.

His vision to create a unique sports and career training programme for aspiring sports professionals resulted in the establishment of the New Zealand Sports Academy in 1999.

Jim is the former coach of Arix Viadana in Italy, winners of the Italian Cup (May 2007).

Rotorua Team

Darrel Shelford

New Zealand Sports Academy Director
Darrel started his playing career in rugby and played Bay of Plenty representative rugby for 7 years, before making the NZ Māori All Blacks team, and being named as an All Black trialist.

He then switched to professional Rugby League and for the next 10 years he played for a number of teams including Bradford Northern, Huddersfield Giants and the Scotland Rugby League team. He was also assistant coach for the Bradford Bulls for six years, and helped set up the Bradford Bulls Rugby League Academy. Before returning to New Zealand, Darrel was also contracted as an assistant coach to the UK’s Saracens Rugby Club.

Darrel was assisting Jim with the Arix Viadana team in Italy.

Nick Poulos

Nick has been involved with the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association for a number of years and was accredited as a Level 3 ASCA Strength and Conditioning Coach in 2002. In 2007 he was awarded the title of Elite Professional Coach and in 2010 he was awarded the title of Master Coach the highest recognition within the ASCA Professional Coaches Association. At the 2011 Annual ASCA Conference Nick was awarded the Bruce Walsh Award for services to strength and conditioning in Australia and to the ASCA.

Previously the Physical Performance coordinator with the Toyota Rugby Union team in Japan, Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union – NSW, the Tongan Rugby Union for the 2003 RWC campaign, Nick was also employed in Qatar as the senior/lead strength and conditioning coach for athletics in ASPIRE, Qatar’s Academy for Sports Excellence for nearly 4 years. He is overseeing the strength and power programs for 3 Olympic track and field athletes (Brazil and Ecuador) in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics.

Nick recently joined the Adelaide Crows AFL team’s physical performance department in November 2011.

Nick is currently undertaking a PhD in Exercise Science with Edith Cowan University and will be overseeing the NZSA Physical Performance Program.

Jeanna Love

Director / Business and International Manager
(Bachelor of Management studies)
Jeanna started the NZSA with Jim in 1999 and set up the business, finance and international systems for NZSA while she was a business advisor for Poutama Trust. After their return from Italy in 2009 Jeanna now works fulltime with the NZSA concentrating on their international programme and business development.

North Harbour Team

Slade McFarland

General Manager
Slade has a Diploma in recreation management, IRB level 3 coaching
He played for the NZ Maori for 10 years, NZ colts and NZ under 19.

His professional rugby career included playing for the Waikato Chiefs, Auckland Blues and Canterbury Crusaders. He then played for Stade Toulouse, Lyon and Cergy-Pontise in France.

Returning to NZ in 2009 he has persued his coaching career and has coached East Coast Bays senior team and has been assistant coach for North Harbour U18’s. This year he coaches the Northcote premiers and is the assistant coach for North Harbour Senior B’s, Maoris and forwards technician for North Harbour teams and clubs.

Wellington Team

Alex Scott

General Manager
Alex has a Diploma in Exercise Science from Massey University Wellington. Trainer & Specialist grappling coach for Petone Panthers & Wellington Orca’s 2009-2010 and for Windsor Wolves 2010-2011 NSW rugby league competition. 3 times NZ National open Fencing champion and current Pan-Pacific champion Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Peter Rikiriki

Senior Club Coach / Strength and Conditioning Coach
Peter has a Diploma in Exercise Science from CIT in Wellington. Peter is a local coach currently in charge of Petone Panthers. He is from Upper Hutt and played and coached there for over 20 years until making the move this year. He was coach of the Wellington Orca’s U18 this year who defeated the highly successful Kebra Park High School (QLD) and Penrith Panthers (NSW) U17 rep teams. He was also assistant coach of Wellington Orca’s U20s who went down narrowly to the NZ Warriors Toyota Cup team earlier this year.