Skip to main content

McCausland-Durie back for Pulse in 2022

August 2, 2021

The wide-ranging expertise of Yvette McCausland-Durie will once again be close at hand when she returns to Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse as head coach for the 2022 ANZ Premiership netball league.

A proven performer, the popular McCausland-Durie stepped down following a four-year-stint last season after guiding the Pulse to four successive Finals Series. This year’s Central Manawa National Netball League (NNL) head coach Anna Andrews-Tasola, who was also the Pulse specialist shooting coach, will take on the assistant coach role with the top team in 2022.

Andrews-Tasola has continued to build on her coaching resume to forge an impressive record at club, age-group, national and international level, enjoying a   particularly successful return in 2019 which included winning the NNL title, winning the gold medal at the Pacific Games as head coach of the Cook Islands team, guiding the Wellington Centre team to the U19 national championship title while also being head coach of the PIC Premier 1 team in Wellington club netball.

She also spent three years as the Manawa assistant coach before stepping up to the head coach role last season.

``In accordance with the (Central) Zone’s over-riding desire to produce homegrown talent, Yvette was happy to assume the coaching duties in the interim to ensure continuity while also acting in the best interests of the team,’’ Pulse CEO Fran Scholey said.

``It was important for us to stop and review where our future homegrown coaches were and what support and development opportunities are required to set them up for success for the long term.

``So, we are working through plans that cover our high performance coach programmes to provide those opportunities and are delighted Yvette was able to take up this appointment.    

``We welcome Yvette back with open arms and look forward to her working with our athletes as well as our future coaches. I wish to acknowledge the support from her whānau and MANUKURA (School) for her to be able to take this lead role.’’

Netball Central Director of High Performance Wai Taumaunu will continue in her role as specilaist defence coach with the Pulse.

McCausland-Durie takes over from Gail Parata, who who leaves the job by mutual consent after being at the helm for the 2021 season.

This year’s Pulse assistant coach Pelesa Semu has decided to take some time away from the top level to refresh, spend time with her family and take up some part-time study.

After two years as head coach of the Manawa team and the last two years as Pulse assistant coach, Semu is hopeful time out will help her take stock, regroup and possibly return to the top flight.

``I’m very grateful for the respect Netball Central have shown for my need to have time away,’’ Semu said.

``It’s mainly going to be about spending more time with my family. The high performance space is pretty full-on and you miss out on a lot of the personal moments.’’
Semu will stay involved with coaching through her role as NZ Secondary Schools assistant coach while she also runs the highly successful netball programme at St Mary’s College in Wellington.

A full appraisal will be undertaken ahead of the 2023 season in regards to the future head coach appointment.


Ends

For media enquiries and interview requests, please contact:

 Jane Hunt | Media & Communications Manager 
E: [email protected] 
T: +64 21 107 0287