The initiative is the start of an Elite Coach Pathway group that is being established by Lynne Cantwell, SA Rugby’s High-Performance Manager for Women’s Rugby, in collaboration with SA Rugby's Human Resources and Coaching Education Departments, to empower and accelerate the development of female coaches as well as create a robust database of all former national players.
“Firstly, we would like to identify aspiring female coaches who have done or are doing their level two coach qualification, to form part of an accelerated coach education programme run by SA Rugby in 2024,” said Cantwell.
“And secondly, we want to take steps towards building a long-term women’s coaching pathway by identifying all former Springbok Women players as well as all former provincial players who are already coaching or who are interested in coaching in South Africa.”
Cantwell said the first step in the process would be to create a database of all former women’s players and of those already coaching or interested in becoming involved.
“We would really like all former Springbok Women’s players to complete the form, regardless of their coaching ambitions,” said Cantwell. “Women’s rugby is taking off around the world as well as in South Africa and we want to build that community to further enhance the game’s growth.
“We have very few qualified women coaches in the game and we’re setting targets that will be game changing for the sport.
“These former players have so much life experience and rugby IP that even if they have no desire to coach, we’d love to hear from them as we build a network to support the young girls and women players coming through now.”
To get in touch and join the women’s rugby movement, former women players should follow this link by clicking here.
