This appointment will underline the WRU’s commitment to the women’s game and its new headline five-year strategy for Welsh rugby, launched in June.
The new head coach for the national side will lead a 37-strong squad of WRU contracted players and professional coaching, S&C and medical teams during a huge year in women’s rugby with the 2025 World Cup on the horizon.
The new appointment will build on the foundations already established and lead a programme in it’s fourth year of professionalism. They will be expected to deliver and drive the performance and culture to the highest standard expected of a national team.
The candidate will build key relationships with players, staff and the WRU business, valued sponsors and partners, and recognise the opportunity and rapid growth of the women’s game in Wales and on the global stage.
The new head coach will have a key strategic role in developing Welsh playing and coaching talent and will have a rugby vision to establish Wales as one of the top five nations in the world.
They will lead a squad of players currently 10th in the world rankings but who recently reached third, finishing third in two successive Six Nations campaigns (2022 and 2023), qualifying for WXV1 (in 2023) and who play regularly at the highest level in the best club competition in the world.
The new head coach will be expected to recognise and develop player and coaching talent at all pathway levels of the game in Wales and have experience at professional, national and international level.
The new expanded Celtic Challenge tournament has seen the WRU establish two new franchises – Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning – to usher in a new era in Welsh rugby and which were established to hone the next generation of internationals players.
They play a key role in the identification of the young Welsh rugby talent, along with the WRU’s three new innovative Player Development Centres across the country and the new head coach will also input into the development programmes at that level.
Abi Tierney, the WRU Chief Executive, said: “This is a critical appointment for the Welsh Rugby Union, and we are looking for candidates of the highest quality with a proven record in high performance.
“With a Six Nations and a World Cup in 2025, this appointment will play an integral role within our strategy for Welsh rugby.
“We need someone who will take the team to the next phase of professionalism and lead the
development of a robust and vibrant team dynamic.”
