Cairns new Black Fins coach

Matt Cairns

SURF LIFESAVING

Gisborne’s Matt Cairns (pictured) has been appointed coach of the New Zealand Surf Lifesaving open Black Fins team for the next world championships, to be staged in Italy in September 2020.

Cairns was coach of the junior team who won the world teams title in Adelaide last year.

“Matt led the team to their first Life Saving Youth World Championships win in 2018 and was also a national selector over 2017-18,” a Surf Life Saving New Zealand spokesman said.

“He is well qualified and well positioned to take over the senior Black Fins coaching role.”

Cairns works as communications and marketing manager for the Eastland Community Trust.

“I am really proud to have been appointed and am looking forward to the opportunity,” he said.

“I am excited to work with such a great bunch of athletes.”

Cairns is the son of longtime Waikanae clubman Brian Cairns and Anne, and the younger brother of Poverty Bay rugby’s new Heartland coach Tom Cairns.