Whanganui Rugby Football Union board chairwoman Petra Allen said Williams’ experience, leadership, and commitment to player development made him the ideal person to guide the team.
“We look forward to the positive impact he will have both on and off the field, engaging with clubs and the wider community,” she said.
Williams will be joined in his new role by assistant coaches Todd Cowan and Tremaine Gilbert, and team manager Jerome McCrea.
He takes over from Jason Hamlin, who was head coach from 2022 to 2025 after a decade as assistant coach.
Whanganui finished the 2025 Heartland season with five wins and three losses, missing out on a Meads Cup semifinal spot to Wairarapa Bush on points differential.
Allen told the Chronicle that Hamlin’s contract had ended, and Whanganui Rugby “went through a thorough application process with over a dozen applicants”.
She could not say if Hamlin reapplied for the role.
In a Facebook post on November 21, Whanganui Rugby said Hamlin was a “long-time Heartland stalwart” who played more than 100 first-class games for the union.
Whanganui reached the Meads Cup final in 2022 and 2023, finishing runners-up on both occasions.
“Jason shaped a culture of achievement, resilience, and pride, developing players and setting high standards across the Heartland programme,” the post said.
“His national recognition came with selection to the NZ Heartland XV coaching group in 2021, reflecting his impact on rugby well beyond Whanganui.
“Whanganui Rugby extends its sincere gratitude to Jason Hamlin for his service, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to the jersey.”
Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.
