New Coach Annouced Jared Mitchell appointed Heartland Championship Head Coach for 2025

NEWS | Jared Mitchell appointed Heartland Championship Head Coach for 2025
West Coast Rugby are pleased to announce the appointment of Jared Mitchell as Head Coach of the Heartland team for the 2025 season, marking a homecoming for the proud Hokitika local.

Mitchell’s rugby journey has come full circle. Having started his playing days as a junior at Wests, and with various West Coast age group representative sides, he went on to represent the Christchurch Boys’ High School’s 1st XV before playing senior club rugby for the University of Canterbury. Despite spending much of his career across the Alps, he never lost his connection to the Coast.

In recent years, Mitchell has been a key figure in the West Coast Heartland team, first as a player, then as a player/assistant coach, and most notably, as part of the history-making 2023 Lochore Cup-winning side. During that campaign, he was under the tutelage of Sean Cuttance, West Coast’s most successful coach in the Heartland era. Learning from Cuttance’s leadership and tactical approach has further shaped Mitchell’s coaching style, giving him valuable insight as he steps into the top role.

His coaching credentials extend beyond the Coast, including stints leading the Canterbury Women’s Sevens team and the Christchurch Boys’ High School Sevens side, while he is currently the assistant coach of the Division 1 University of Canterbury team. Now, he returns to his roots, ready to take the helm of West Coast’s premier rugby team.

“It’s a huge honour to step into this role,” Mitchell said. “West Coast rugby has always meant a lot to me, and I’m excited to help build on the legacy of this team.”
West Coast Rugby Chairman, John Canning, welcomed Mitchell’s appointment, highlighting his deep understanding of the region’s rugby culture and his experience both as a player and coach.

“Jared knows what West Coast rugby is all about. He’s been in the jersey, he understands the passion, and he’s the right man to lead us forward.”
With a season ahead full of promise, Mitchell’s appointment signals a new chapter for West Coast rugby—one that stays true to its roots while embracing the future.