Who is British & Irish Lions Women's head coach Jo Yapp?

The British & Irish Lions have confirmed that Jo Yapp will be head coach of their 2027 Tour of New Zealand.

Yapp, 46, is currently England Rugby’s Head of Women’s Pathway, a role she took up in January, and will take up her post with the Lions on a part-time basis from July, and full-time in the New Year.

She pipped Red Roses head coach John Mitchell to the historic position after much speculation that the reigning World Rugby Coach of the Year was favourite to lead the Lions in his native New Zealand.

“To lead the first-ever British & Irish Lions Women’s Team is an incredible honour and something I’m immensely proud of,” Yapp said upon her appointment.

“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.”

Before Yapp leads players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, get to know a little more about a coach used to breaking the mould:

A trailblazing coach

When Yapp was appointed Wallaroos boss in December 2023, she was the first female coach of the side. During her time Down Under, the 46-year-old was a clearly well-liked figure with her squad.

Her final game in charge of Australia was a 46-5 loss to Canada in a Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 quarter-final. She ended her tenure as the Wallaroos’ head coach with a winning percentage of 38.1, having won eight of her 21 games at the helm.

Before she led Australia, Yapp was head coach of former Premiership Women’s Rugby side, Worcester Warriors. Yapp spent her entire senior playing career with the club and joined them in 2019 as an assistant before taking on the Director of Rugby role.

Yapp was also head coach of the Barbarians Women on two occasions. She also coached the University of Exeter’s Women’s side for eight years, during which time she led them to numerous BUCS titles, and led England Under-20s Women for five years too.

To carry on her history of trailblazing, Yapp will lead a first of its kind British & Irish Lions Women’s team on their Tour of New Zealand in September 2027.

An established international

Yapp was an England international for a whopping 12 years. During that time as a Red Rose, she won 70 Test cap and scored 90 points for her country from scrum-half.

During this time the 46-year-old played at the 1998 and 2002 Women’s Rugby World Cups and captained her country at the 2006 edition of the tournament in Canada, at which the Red Roses lost 25-17 to the Black Ferns in the final.

Yapp spent her entire domestic playing career with Worcester and studied at the University of Worcester before teaching physical education in the city.

Passionate about development

Much of Yapp’s senior coaching career has been based in development. She currently holds the role of England Rugby’s Head of Women’s Pathway. It is a position that was specially made for the 46-year-old by the union/

She also spent a fruitful five years at the helm of England’s U20s Women, with the likes of Emma Sing, Connie Powell, Detysha Harper and Phoebe Murray making senior Test appearances for England, while Carys Cox and Hollie Cunningham now play their international rugby for Wales and Scotland.

Yapp also enjoyed eight years with the University of Exeter as head coach of their women’s team. In the South West she coached the likes of Lagi Tuima, Caity Mattinson, Poppy Leitch and Clara Nielson, which ended with back-to-back BUCS Women’s National League success at Allianz Stadium.

Even during her time away from elite coaching following Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, Yapp could be found at Clee Hill RUFC, where she coached her local girls rugby team before being joining England Rugby.