Jo Yapp Appointed Head Coach for Inaugural Women’s British and Irish Lions Tour

Former Australia women’s head coach Jo Yapp has been officially appointed to lead the British and Irish Lions women’s team for their inaugural tour of New Zealand next year.

The 46-year-old former England captain currently serves as the head of women’s pathway at England’s Rugby Football Union (RFU), having previously guided the Australian national side during the 2025 World Cup campaign.

Strategic Appointment and Selection Dynamics

The recruitment process concluded with Yapp securing the position over other high-profile figures in international rugby union. John Mitchell, the head coach of the all-conquering England women’s national team, was widely understood to be a major candidate for the prestigious role following the Red Roses’ World Cup triumph on home soil in September 2025.

Lions chief executive Ben Calveley explained that the historic decision was heavily influenced by a broader strategic desire to promote and support female coaches within the women’s rugby union ecosystem.

Explaining how the decision was heavily influenced by a broader desire to promote and support women coaches, British and Irish Lions Chief Executive, Ben Calveley, said:

“Jo’s breadth of experience across the UK club game and the international women’s game in the southern hemisphere made her an outstanding candidate for this role.

“Her vision for bringing together players from the four unions was hugely compelling and we are thrilled to welcome her on board.

“For a moment that represents such a step forward for the game, it was important to us that this appointment serves our desire to grow and support all aspects of the women’s game including the promotion of female coaches.”

The administration identified Yapp’s extensive coaching record across United Kingdom club structures and her recent international experience in the southern hemisphere as ideal components to execute a compelling vision that unifies athletes from the four Home Unions.

Tour Schedule and Commercial Implications

The landmark five-fixture programme scheduled for September 2027 represents a massive commercial milestone for the development of international women’s sport. The competitive core of the tour features the following major operational and sporting structures:

• The British and Irish Lions will play three highly anticipated Test matches against New Zealand’s world-champion Black Ferns on Kiwi soil.
• The touring squad will compete in two additional tour fixtures to round out the comprehensive five-match international schedule.
• The selection process is expected to rely heavily on English talent, with the Red Roses projected to provide the overwhelming majority of the touring party following their fifth consecutive Grand Slam victory in the Women’s Six Nations.

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