Lynn confirms assistant coach shake up for Wales ahead of Six Nations

Sean Lynn has confirmed the addition of Ashley Beck and Steve Salvin to his Wales coaching team ahead of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

Both coaches have joined the team on an interim basis, with Brython Thunder head coach, Beck, leading the attack and Exeter Chiefs head coach, Salvin, taking on the forwards.

Alongside their appointments, the Welsh Rugby Union confirmed that Shaun Connor (attack coach) and Mike Hill (forwards coach) had “chosen to move on” from their roles.

Beck won seven Wales caps in his playing career and has been the head coach of Celtic Challenge‘s Brython for the past three seasons. This season the 35-year-old led the side to a semi-final finish.

He has previously worked with Wales internationals Alex Callender, Kate Williams, Natalia John, Gwen Crabb, Lisa Neumann, Hannah Bluck, Seren Lockwood and Branwen Metcalfe.

Lynn said: “Ash has a real pedigree in the women’s game and players find him relatable and I know Alex Callender has a high opinion of him and how he coaches.

“We have talked and discussed rugby regularly while he has been in charge of a young Brython Thunder team in the Celtic Challenge and I have been impressed at the way he thinks about the game.

“Ash is full of a new ideas of how to attack teams and I am excited to see what he can bring to the coaching team and the squad.”

Salvin has been seconded from his role with Exeter. The Premiership Women’s Rugby club are currently third in the table with two games of their season left to play.

Lynn said: “Steve is a coach I know well and respect from my time in PWR and his experience of the women’s game with the Chiefs is three to see.

“His forward pack have always been resilient, well-organised and a well-drilled outfit, and they make sides work hard throughout a game.”

They join defence coach Tyrone Holmes on the Wales coaching ticket. Holmes was appointed in February and previously held the same role with Scotland.

Ashley Beck, Wales attack coach, said: “Playing for Wales is the highest honour you can get when you are a player and it’s the same when you are a coach.

“To be asked by Sean to join the set-up for the Women’s 2026 Six Nations is a real privilege and I am excited by the challenge of coaching at Test match level.

“Having worked with a host of the players in the Celtic Challenge, I know the talent we have in Wales and the challenge for the players is to believe they can compete at this level.”

Steve Salvin, Wales forwards coach, said: “The opportunity to work at international level with Wales and in the Women’s Six Nations was too good to turn down.

“Sean is a coach I have coached against in the PWR and all the coaches respect what he built at Gloucester Hartpury and the success he had building a successful high-performance team.”

“His teams are always built on a real work ethic, grit and determination and his ability to bring players together and forge an identity has always been key.”