The British and Irish Lions have confirmed Jo Yapp as head coach for the inaugural women’s tour to New Zealand next year – with World Cup-winning coach John Mitchell overlooked for the role.
Former England captain Yapp will oversee the first Women’s Lions squad on a six-match itinerary culminating in three Tests against the Black Ferns next September.
As previously reported by The Independent, the Lions hierarchy have long desired a strong female presence at the top of the coaching team and have settled on their “outstanding candidate”.
Yapp won 70 caps as a scrum half for England and has since forged an impressive coaching career, leading Australia to the quarter-finals of the last year’s Women’s World Cup.
She was appointed head of the women’s pathway with England earlier this year and will take a sabbatical from that role in 2027, taking on the role of Lions head coach on a full-time basis in January.
“To lead the first-ever British & Irish Lions Women’s team is an incredible honour and something I’m immensely proud of,” Yapp said. “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.”
Mitchell had admitted his possible interest in taking on the Lions job after leading the Red Roses to World Cup glory on home soil last year. Yapp, though, is hugely liked and respected within the game, and has experience of leading an elite programme from her time with the Wallaroos.
The 46-year-old also did fine work with Worcester Warriors during a challenging period for the club before, during and after its demise.
A former England U20 and backs coach, Yapp had worked with much of the England squad that featured at last year’s World Cup and was involved during this year’s Women’s Six Nations.
A key task for the new Lions boss will be squad selection, with Ireland, Wales and Scotland likely to supply a smaller number of players to a Red Roses-dominated travelling party. A pre-tour fixture in Europe is expected to be announced in the coming months.
“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,” Ben Calveley, Lions chief executive, said. “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.”
Further appointments to the coaching team will also be made, while the Lions have recently advertised for a head of communications to lead on the tour.
