New Wales boss Sean Lynn excited to wake ‘sleeping beast’

Incoming Wales head coach Sean Lynn described the team as a “little bit of a sleeping beast” as he looked ahead to his new role in international rugby.

Gloucester-Hartpury boss Lynn has spent the last three Wednesdays in camp with Wales, getting to know the set-up – or “family” as he describes it – ahead of starting the job proper at the end of the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) season next month.

The Welshman will hope to begin the Women’s Six Nations as a three-time PWR champion and does not see any reason why that success cannot continue in the Test arena.

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

Wales finished bottom of last year’s Six Nations standings but played in WXV 1 only 15 months ago and, as Lynn noted, the wider squad currently contains more than 20 representatives across the four PWR semi-finalists.

Asked if that was a stat he would be pressing home between now and the start of the championship, Lynn said: “I’ve been on calls with the girls on a Wednesday for the last three weeks, and they know that I am super excited in the talent we’ve got.

“I’m sending them highlights about how proud I am of the family and just some highlights of what we’re doing.

“Look, I think we’re a little bit of a sleeping beast and I’m really excited about taking on board and getting stuck into the Six Nations, travelling [to] Australia, really spending some good time with the family and then building into that World Cup.”

Wales will kick-off their Six Nations campaign with a trip to Scotland on March 22, but Lynn has plenty of work to do at Gloucester-Hartpury before then.

The Circus welcome Harlequins to Kingsholm in the final round of the PWR regular season on Friday night. Guaranteed top spot and a home semi-final, Lynn and his players could be three matches from a third successive title and a place in history.

Whatever happens between now and the PWR final on March 16, though, Lynn knows he has less than four weeks left at a club he has served for 24 years.

“I’m an emotional guy, so I’m pretty sure there will be some [emotion] coming to the end of it,” he said.

“However, fingers crossed, I can finish this chapter on a massive high and then I’m really excited to start a new beginning with something I take super pride in being a proud Welshman.”