Crystal Kaua

Coach Profile

Brutal and beautiful is the way that rugby coach Crystal Kaua wants the Chiefs Manawa team to play.

It’s also a perfect way to describe the rugby coach’s life so far.

“I love that feeling of navigating hard stuff. Because I believe greatness is on the other side of that – you need to be brutal and beautiful at times.”

Raised in Tairāwhiti Gisborne, Kaua’s passion for coaching stems from a deep desire to help young people find and become involved in sports.

“Sport saved me as a kid.”

“Life was challenging for me as a youngin. Sport was the one place where I didn’t have to think about everything else that was going on in my world.”

Kaua found a sense of freedom on the rugby and touch rugby fields. She’s quick to recognize pivotal people at different stages of her life that exposed her to life outside of Gisborne and a pathway in sport.

“People like my PE Teacher at Lytton High School, Mrs Dixon, and my friend Di Kingi. They really took me under their wing,” reflects Kaua.

The same sense of freedom she remembers from her playing days, which included the Aotearoa Māori sevens team and playing fifteens for Waikato and the Auckland Storm, Kaua now finds “on the grass” coaching.

“For me, it’s about giving people the fishing rod, teaching them how to fish, but they’re going to have that for their whole life. They own that moving forward.”

Kaua has been coaching since high school when she coached younger teams. She continued at university. Helping others has always been part of her life.

The first time she went “full noise” in coaching was at St Peters in Cambridge, with the mixed touch team, where she coached them to a national title and a top-three position for three consecutive years. She also coached at other Waikato High Schools before setting up a dynasty of rugby sevens and XVs success at Hamilton Girls High School (HGHS), winning three Condor Sevens National Titles and two National XVs titles.

At Hamilton Girls High School, she coached alongside her husband Brent. The team went on to win World Youth titles in Hawaii and Japan.

In 2018, Kaua coached professionally with husband Brent in Japan. During their five-year stint, they were in charge of the Mie Pearls sevens and fifteens teams in Yokkaichi.

“Prior to going to Japan, I was the CEO of our own business (Athlete Nation), coaching three teams after hours and trying to raise a family – it was a lot for our family and me personally.”

Having spent time in Japan, the Kauas realized what was most important to them as a family.

“I really want to be an epic Mum to Ryda (12) and Kona (9), an epic wife to Brent and an epic coach – being able to have my passion as my job in Japan was amazing, but it really made me realize none of the coaching accolades matter to me if we didn’t have our family unit intact.”

The full-time coaching role at the Pearls finally gave Kaua full immersion in coaching – something she thrives on.

Reflecting on the difference between her Japanese experience and the time constraints in coaching in the 2024 Super Rugby Aupiki competition, Kaua says the time available with players is worlds apart.

“The start of professionalism restricts us because we can only train together as a full team one day a week throughout the season,” says Kaua, who is in her second year as head coach for the Chiefs Manawa side after being an assistant coach in the first season.

“Everyone is feeling the pressure – players and coaches.”

It’s the pressure that Kaua responds to, and she’s actively sought out mentors who challenge her to push boundaries – her own and others.

“I have awesome mentors in Wayne Smith and Dame Noeline Taurua. My personality is to find the best people and get uncomfortable.”

She’s also actively found other growth opportunities – coaching in the United States and also the Bay of Plenty men’s U18 side in 2023.

Now residing in Mount Maunganui with her whānau, Kaua has found there’s a perception in the ability of female rugby coaches in New Zealand with language around closing the gap between females and males, but she says that assumes there is a gap.

“Ultimately, every time I walk into a room, I have to prove myself – whether it’s to the boardroom or alongside an assistant coach or the players who are female.”

Committed to being part of the change, Kaua wants to shift the value and perception of female rugby coaches. As a coaching pioneer for women, she’s well placed to use her platform to forge a better future for female coaches.

“Nothing amazing comes easy. As a coach I’m constantly navigating leaning into that space.”

“I’m just really trying to make sure I enjoy the journey.”

Photo Credit: NZ Rugby