New Australia Women’s Sevens head coach signs on through to LA Olympics

Reg Tayler is making the step up from assistant coach to the top job with the Australia Women’s Sevens program ahead of the 2028 LA Olympics, with Rugby Australia confirming on Tuesday the successor to former boss Tim Walsh.

Walsh has been elevated into the new Director of Women’s High Performance role, and the former coach will continue to work closely with Tayler, who was an assistant during the team’s run to the HSBC SVNS World Championship title.

Tayler has previously held coaching positions with the Australia A Women’s Sevens team, at the Queensland Academy of Sport, and with the Ireland Sevens program. But in 2025, the former Queensland coach joined Walsh and the Aussie Sevens side.

Australia claimed one of six regular season events during the 2026 HSBC SVNS Series before hitting season-best form during the World Championship Series. The Aussies took out titles in Valladolid and Bordeaux, as they claimed the circuit’s top prize.

“I am honoured by the opportunity to take the next step in my coaching career and lead the Australian Sevens Women’s team,” Tayler said in a statement.

“We have built tremendous momentum following our World Championship win and the squad is determined for continued success through to the Olympics in Los Angeles.

“Our players are professional and dedicated to achieving a gold medal and I am confident we will have the squad capable of that in 2028.”

Tayler will work closely with the Wallaroos head coach and Walsh, with Rugby Australia previously outlining the women’s rugby strategic plan. It’s a big year for the sevens side, who will look to book their place at the next Olympics.

Australia captain Isabella Nasser and try-scoring machine Maddison Levi were both named in the Dream Team of the Year, following a remarkable end to the campaign. An entire season came down to one last match between rivals Australia and New Zealand.

The national team will now look to build on that success ahead of the LA Games, with new coach Tayler leading that charge.

“Reg has been part of a succession plan for the Australia Women’s Sevens program since joining the coaching staff last year and is a seamless acquisition for the squad ahead of the Olympics,” Director of Women’s High Performance, Walsh, added.

“Reg is highly knowledgeable of the World Series circuit and has worked with many of our players coming through the pathways system. He’s not going in cold, he completely understands the game and his expertise is going to be fully utilised by the program.

“It’s a privilege and honour to retain Reg and a real positive for Rugby Sevens and women’s rugby in Australia.”