Vicky Dombroski

Vicky Dombroski
Rugby union career
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
Taranaki (0)
Coaching career
Years Team
1994–1995  New Zealand

Vicky Dombroski is a former coach of the New Zealand women's national rugby union team. She was also a selector and manager for the team.

Career

Dombroski played for Taranaki at provincial level.

In the late 1980s, the women's rugby movement was emerging but recognition and assistance from the New Zealand Rugby Football Union wasn't available. In frustration, Dombroski wrote a letter to the NZRFU in 1988 requesting permission to have a club competition in Taranaki. She received a letter from former All Blacks coach, John Stewart on behalf of the NZRFU stating that they were in favour of women taking an active role in the game.

She could have attended the 1991 Women's Rugby World Cup, but could not raise the needed $5000.

Coaching

Dombroski coached the Black Ferns from 1994 to 1995. Until Whitney Hansen's appointment in December 2025, she was the only woman to have coached the side.

She was as a selector for the Black Ferns from 1992 to 1997. She was manager of the team that won the 1998 Women's Rugby World Cup in the Netherlands in 1998, and served until 2000.

References

  1. ↑ Harvey, Helen (10 May 2019). "Women's rugby: From hand-me-down jerseys to professional contracts". Stuff. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Palmer, Farah (10 October 2013). "Opinion: Thanks JJ Stewart, and thanks Otago Spirit". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  3. ↑ Ash, Julie (10 June 2002). "Lack of women in coaching - Sport News". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  4. ↑ Hodson-Tomokino, Taylah (14 June 2018). "Coach Grant trailblazing at rugby's final frontier". Newsroom. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  5. ↑ "Whitney Hansen announced as Black Ferns Head Coach". www.allblacks.com. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ↑ "Whitney Hansen announced as Black Ferns head coach". RNZ. 19 December 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. 1 2 Johannsen, Dana (1 March 2022). "Why the absence of women in head coaching positions for Super Rugby Aupiki rankles". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ↑ Dinsdale, Mike (24 August 2023). "Herstory of Black Ferns on display in Kaitāia". Te Ao Māori News. Retrieved 18 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)