Wallaroos name new head coach as 2029 Rugby World Cup looms on horizon

In short: Sione Fukofuka has been named Wallaroos head coach. He will take on the role in 2027, with a transitional coaching team to lead the Wallaroos for the remainder of this year. Fukofuka will be in charge of the Wallaroos at the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup, which will be hosted by Australia. The Wallaroos have made another key appointment in the build-up to the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup with Sione Fukofuka named head coach. Fukofuka will begin the role in 2027 after the Wallaroos become a full-time program. He will work under Rugby Australia's (RA) director of women's high performance, Tim Walsh, who took on his newly created position last month. Fukofuka was Scotland women's head coach until last week. He was granted a release from his contract for family and personal reasons. The 47-year-old will be returning home to Australia, having begun his coaching career while working as a teacher in the Queensland schools system. He previously served as an assistant on the Wallaroos staff and was USA head coach between 2023-25. "Although a difficult decision to leave the Scottish role, this opportunity allows me to be in Sydney closer to my family," Fukofuka said in an RA statement. "I know many of the players and coaches well from my time in the Queensland and Australian systems and, as we transition to a full-time program this year, the opportunity for growth is enormous." RA is determined the Wallaroos make an impression at the next Women's Rugby World Cup, which Australia will host. They departed last year's tournament at the quarterfinal stage and are ranked ninth in the world. The Wallaroos went winless during April's Pacific Four Series following losses to Canada (24-0), USA (33-12) and New Zealand (40-5). But the move to full-time status will be a game changer for the Wallaroos in terms of improving on-field results. The alignment of the Wallaroos and Australian sevens programs, under Walsh's guidance, will also make the squad competitive with the likes of New Zealand and reigning world champions England. Walsh said he was confident the Wallaroos would make progress under Fukofuka, whose contract runs through until the end of the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup. "Sione is a pioneer among international coaches of Pasifika heritage and a proud product of the Australian rugby coaching system," Walsh said. "He is highly regarded by players and staff alike for his connection, team culture and driving high standards within the daily training environment. "He is well-positioned to lead the Wallaroos into a new era and a generational opportunity presented by the home Rugby World Cup in 2029." The Wallaroos still have six Tests to play this year, with a return bout against New Zealand coming up in Auckland on August 22. The clash with New Zealand has historical significance as it will be the Wallaroos' 100th Test. They head to Europe next month to play WXV Global Series Tests against England in Salford (September 13), France in Aix-en-Provence (September 20) and Scotland in Edinburgh (September 27). The Wallaroos will later host Scotland in Sydney (October 17) and Canberra (October 23) as part of the WXV Global Series. Vast coaching experience Fukofuka took charge of Scotland last December. Under his watch, Scotland finished fifth in this year's Women's Six Nations Championship with a 1-4 win-loss record. Former Wallabies hooker and ACT Brumbies men's coach David Nucifora, now working as Scottish Rugby performance director, said Fukofuka left with the governing body's blessings. Fukofuka moved to Scotland after stepping down as USA head coach following the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England. USA, which drew 31-31 with the Wallaroos in the pool stage, did not advance to the quarterfinals but Fukofuka was credited with improving the level of professionalism within the Eagles program during his tenure. "Sione is a leader with a comprehensive knowledge of Australian and international systems and a reputation for creating world-class team environments and standards," RA chief executive Phil Waugh said. As Fukofuka will not take the reins until next year, Walsh will oversee the Wallaroos' coaching transition team for the remainder of the Test season. Walsh recently guided Australia to its World Championship victory in women's sevens, ending a successful second stint as head coach. He coached Australia to a historic victory at the 2016 Rio Olympics during his first term. The Wallaroos' coaching transition team includes NSW head coach Mike Ruthven, who led the Waratahs to the Super Rugby Women's title last month, and ex-Wallabies captain Ben Mowen. Mowen currently works on the Brumbies' coaching staff. Interim coaches Sam Needs and Gill Bourke have departed the Wallaroos' set-up.