Our People
Meet the Canterbury Rugby Team
Tony Smail
Chief Executive Officer
Anna Brown
Business Administrator
Community Rugby
Canterbury Rugby’s Community Rugby team oversees Club and School rugby throughout the Canterbury region.
Michael Sheat
Community Rugby Manager
michael.sheat@crfu.co.nz
027 553 2171
Steph Te Auhere Fox
Women & Girls Lead
steph.fox@crfu.co.nz
Brydie Washington
Metro Operations Coordinator - Junior & Teenage
brydie.washington@crfu.co.nz
021 587 505
Georgia Calder-Lee
Community Operations Manager
georgia.calderlee@crfu.co.nz
027 833 6789
Riki Tahere
Game Developer - Playing and Coaching
riki.tahere@crfu.co.nz
021 730 289
Allan Stead
Game Developer - Match Officials
allanstead@crfu.co.nz
021 369 853
Heather Algar
Community Rugby Administrator
Claudia Bethell
Participation Lead
claudia.bethell@crfu.co.nz
021 242 1152
Rick Whatarau
Game Development Lead
rick.whatarau@crfu.co.nz
Vaughan Utteridge
Club Capability Manager
vaughan.utteridge@crfu.co.nz
Partnerships & Engagement
Canterbury Rugby Partnerships & Engagement team is responsible for all commercial and marketing activities including sponsorship, events, media, communications and social media.
Matt Quinn
GM Partnerships & Engagement
matt.quinn@crfu.co.nz
Libby Aberhart
Head of Engagement
libby.aberhart@crfu.co.nz
021 460 410
Glen Thawley
Head of Partnerships
glen.thawley@crfu.co.nz
Zac Topping
Partnerships Manager
zac.topping@crfu.co.nz
Caleb Whippy
Content Creator, Media & Communications
caleb.whippy@crfu.co.nz
Jordan Skelt
Digital Marketing and Communications Executive
Sophie Power
Partnerships and Engagement Coordinator
sophie.power@crfu.co.nz
Meg Schmack
Events Executive
meg.schmack@crfu.co.nz
Finance
Maree Kettles
Chief Financial Officer
Emma Cliff
Payroll Administrator - Finance Assistant
Shelly Thompson
Finance Assistant
High Performance
The Canterbury Rugby High Performance team manages the professional rugby side of our Union and includes the NPC and FPC Coaches and support staff.
Tim Hurst
General Manager Professional Rugby
Solomona Paraki
Farah Palmer Cup Head Coach
Michelle Wood
Women’s High Performance Manager
Marty Bourke
NPC Head Coach
Alex Robertson
NPC Assistant Coach
Craig Dunlea
NPC Assistant Coach
Matt Todd
NPC Assistant Coach
Terry Williamson
NPC Team Manager
Shaun Curry
NPC Strength & Conditioning Coach
Sars Flood
NPC Performance Analyst
Neil Tucker
NPC Physiotherapist
Jonelle Quane
Professional Development Manager
Rebecca Archibald
Rugby Park Administrator
Board of Directors
Chairman - Peter Winchester
President - Brendon Hill
Vice President - John Stanley
Board Members
Ken Pope
Stu Boon
Lynda Coppersmith
Tim Ryley
Michael Lay
Brent Goldsmid
Di Humphries
Valentine Tauamiti
Emerging Director
Tana Luke