Welsh Rugby Union intends to 'close the gap' on other nations with new women's coaching set-up
The Welsh Rugby Union has begun a search for a new head coach which will oversee its XVs and sevens women’s squads as part of a major restructuring to “close the gap” on other nations in the female game.
The body will also recruit an analyst for its senior female set-up and a physical performance lead to develop all levels of women’s rugby in Wales, while additional coaches are expected to be appointed to the women’s programme later this year.
There are also longer-term plans to create two women’s high performance centres in Wales, which would eventually form part of two ‘super clubs’ in a bid to grow the domestic women’s game in the country.
The major reshuffle comes just 14 months away from the World Cup in New Zealand in September 2021, which Wales have already secured qualification for.
It is thought the WRU could face a loss of £50m in revenue if no autumn matches are played this year in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite acknowledging the crisis had impacted the organisation, on Thursday Martyn Phillips, the chief executive of the WRU, confirmed that plans had been approved “to grow the women’s game and to strengthen its performance side.”
“We hope this will allow us to make progress in closing the gap with the top nations in women’s rugby, which has always been at the core of our strategy,” said Phillips.
The WRU would not disclose to Telegraph Sport details of the salaries of each of the new roles, but stressed there is a “significantly increased budget for the women’s performance programme”.
There are no full-time central contracts included as part of the package, which are seen as a crucial step if Wales are to avoid further one-sided score lines such as their 66-7 defeat to England - whose XVs women's side are professional - during this year’s Six Nations.
With a growing number of Welsh internationals now playing at Bristol Bears in the Premier 15s, England’s elite women’s rugby competition, it is hoped greater cohesion at domestic level can be replicated within the national side.
Some eight Welsh internationals are now playing in the West Country - including captain Siwan Lillicrap - and Kim Oliver’s squad have recently added highly-rated Welsh Olympian Jasmine Joyce and former Scarlets flanker Alisha Butchers to their ranks. Their compatriot Lisa Neumann also joined Premier 15s newcomers Sale Sharks last month.
Charlotte Wathan, the WRU women and girls’ general manager, said: “In the short term, the intention is that our performance players will train and play for Premier 15s clubs and longer term we aim to establish two high performance centres in Wales, hopefully leading to the development of two competitive ‘super clubs’.
“We know we have talented players in Wales and we believe these measures will help to further harness that talent and create an environment which increases competition for places in the programme.”
The recruitment process follows the departure of Rowland Phillips, who vacated his role as Wales women’s head coach in March earlier this year.
The WRU previously said Phillips was “taking some time away” from the set-up when he first stepped down in October last year.
His daughter, Carys Phillips, who was captain of the Welsh side, was not included in Wales’ Six Nations squad when it was named in January this year under an interim coaching trio of Chris Horsman, Geraint Lewis and Gareth Wyatt.
