Crystal Nuku Switches Clubs and Takes On WCCO Role With USRC Tigers in Hong Kong China Premiership

Hong Kong Premiership 2025/26 season Women’s title winners USRC Tigers have announced the appointment of Crystal Nuku as their new WCCO (Womens Club Coaching Officer), replacing Conor Joyce, who guided them to their first title since 2019. 

She also previously played for their cup final rivals last season, Societe Generale Valley RFC.

Feature Photo Credit – HKCR

The former Black Ferns 7s and Hurricanes player Crystal Nuku (nee Mayes) was born and raised in Palmerston North, New Zealand, and was most recently the Head Coach of the Yokohama TKM in the Japanese Taiyo Women’s Sevens Series this season.

That side included Sakura 7s Haruna Utsumi and at least four players who represented Sakura XVs in winning the Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship 2026; Mele Yua Havili Kagawa, Nagoka Moe, Fuji Shuka, Yamamoto Minoru, and Nishimura Mio, as well as Kahlia Awa (Blues (Super Rugby Aupiki and Black Ferns XV), Taylah Watson (Briars Rugby), and Fiji 7s players Ateca Leiyamo & Roela Radiniyavuni (Fiji 7s, Olympics 2020, Fiji RWC 2021).

The team finished 6th in the Grand Final tournament.

Prior to that, she was with Valley RFC in the Hong Kong Prem and, in recent seasons, was in a player-coach role and the club’s MVP in their title-winning 2024/25 season. She has previously held the player-coach role with SCAA Causeway Bay RFC in Hong Kong in 2022.

Crystal Nuku has also played the HKFC 10s with the NZ legends, Bay of Plenty Volcanix (Sarah Palmer Cup), Hurricanes (Super Rugby Aupiki), Melbourne Rebels, Nagato Blue Angels, and the Black Ferns 7s.

Her wife, Jayme, played with Societe Generale Valley RFC for the past two seasons, so she could be coaching a team that will play her partner.

USRC Tigers said online, “We are so excited for the journey ahead. Welcome to the Tigs!”

Last season, in the 2026 Nan Fung Group | AIRSIDE Hong Kong Premiership 2025/26 season final in March at King’s Park Sports Ground, the Kroll USRC Tigers claimed the Women’s Grand Championship for the first time since 2019, defeating Societe Generale Valley RFC 27-24, in which Crystal Nuku played.

Title-winning CCO Conor Joyce had confirmed it was his final season with the club in Hong Kong after winning the title.

The Tigers club’s men’s team have announced that current Men’s CCO Nigel Hotham (whose daughter Jasmin Felix-Hotham is a Black Ferns 7s player, and son Noah Hotham is an All Black) has extended his stay with the club.

This appointment news follows Hong Kong China Premiership club Hong Kong Scottish RFC appointing Will Webster as the new Men’s CCO for the upcoming season, taking over from former NZ U85kg coach Ngatai Walker, who was in the role last season.

Sam Hocking was also appointed as Head of Valley RFC Women’s Rugby (where Crystal played) and will be the HKCR Women’s Club Coaching Officer, taking over the reins from Bella Milo, who is now the Samoa Women’s XV Head Coach, and who led the Valley Women for several years as well as serving as HKCR Women’s interim Head Coach.

Asian Rugby Coaching News

• Sam Hocking Appointed as Head of Valley RFC Women’s Rugby
• Hong Kong Scottish RFC Appoints Will Webster As Club Coaching Officer.
• Robbie Fergusson Leaves Hong Kong China 7s Programme – Joins as Head Coach of Glasgow Warriors Women.
• Malaysia Men’s Head Coach Duke Krishnan is Building Towards Long-Term Development.