British & Irish Lions confirm first-ever Women's head coach for 2027 Tour of New Zealand

Jo Yapp has been confirmed as the first-ever head coach of the British & Irish Lions Women’s Team.

The former Australia, England Under-20s and Worcester Warriors head coach is currently the Head of Women’s Pathways at England Rugby. She will take a sabbatical from her current role and work part-time with the Lions from July before taking on the role full-time from January 2027.

Next year the first Lions Women’s Team will face the Black Ferns in a three-match Howden British & Irish Lions Women’s Series, as well as tour fixtures against a Black Ferns XV and an Invitational XV. One pre-Tour fixture is yet to be announced.

During her playing career Yapp won 70 caps for England and competed at three Women’s Rugby World Cups. Last year the Shropshire-born coach took Australia’s Wallaroos to the quarter-finals of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, where the team exited with a 46-5 loss to eventual runners-up, Canada.

Yapp, on her appointment, said: “To lead the first-ever British & Irish Lions Women’s Team is an incredible honour and something I’m immensely proud of. The Lions represents the very best of our sport, and this Tour to New Zealand is an opportunity to create something truly special and help shape the future of women’s rugby for years to come.

“I know from experience how challenging it is to face the Black Ferns on home soil, but that challenge is exactly what makes this Tour so exciting. There is an enormous amount of talent across the four unions and I’m looking forward to bringing together the very best players to represent the Lions in 2027.”

The appointment of Yapp is something of a surprise. For several months England Red Roses boss John Mitchell was tipped as the leading name to take on the role, but it could well be Yapp’s two years at the helm of the Wallaroos that tipped the odds in favour of the former scrum-half.

During her time with Australia, Yapp coached her side to eight wins from the 21 matches she presided over. After her departure from the Wallaroos, Yapp spent time coaching her local village team in Shropshire, Clee Hill RUFC, before beginning her role with England Rugby.

Ben Calveley, The British & Irish Lions CEO, said: “We are delighted to announce Jo Yapp as head coach of the British & Irish Lions Women’s Team for the 2027 Tour to New Zealand.

“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.

“The selection process was rigorous, competitive and international in scope as befitting the significance of this historic appointment.

“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.

“We are delighted to appoint Jo who we believe will excite players and fans alike as we continue to build towards New Zealand in 2027.”