Jo Yapp Named Head Coach for Historic First Women’s British & Irish Lions Tour

Jo Yapp has been appointed head coach of the first women’s British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand in 2027, marking a major milestone for women’s rugby. The former England captain and current head of women’s pathway at the Rugby Football Union will lead the inaugural side on a landmark tour that includes three Tests against the Black Ferns.

Yapp was chosen ahead of England head coach John Mitchell, despite Mitchell’s successful run with England and his public interest in the role. Her appointment reflects the Lions’ desire to select a coach with broad experience across both the UK club game and the international women’s game in the southern hemisphere.

The 46-year-old said it was an immense honour to be named for the role and said the tour offered a chance to create something special and help shape the future of women’s rugby. She will begin part-time work with the Lions from July before taking a sabbatical from her RFU position next year to focus full-time on the tour.

The remaining coaching staff, who will be drawn from the four home nations, has not yet been announced. The Lions are scheduled to tour in September 2027, with New Zealand’s women’s team set to be led by Whitney Hansen, who took charge in December 2025.

Carol Isherwood, chair of the Lions women’s committee, described the appointment as hugely significant for women’s rugby and the start of an exciting new chapter in Lions history. She said Yapp’s leadership, experience and understanding of the women’s game made her well suited to unite the best players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Yapp’s coaching career has included roles with England Under-20s, Worcester and Australia. After retiring as a player in 2009, she moved into coaching and later became head coach at Worcester before the club folded in 2023. She then took over Australia’s women’s team, becoming the first woman to coach the Wallaroos.

Under Yapp, Australia won the WXV2 title in 2024 and secured qualification for the 2025 Rugby World Cup. The Wallaroos reached the quarter-finals of that tournament before being eliminated by eventual finalists Canada. She also has experience coaching the Barbarians twice.

As a player, Yapp won 70 caps for England and played in three World Cups. She was part of England teams that reached the finals in 2002 and 2006, both of which ended in defeat to New Zealand. Speaking about the challenge of facing the Black Ferns in New Zealand, Yapp said it was exactly the kind of test that makes the tour exciting and noted the depth of talent available across the four unions.

Lions chief executive Ben Calveley said Yapp’s appointment followed a rigorous international selection process and praised her vision for bringing together players from across the home nations. He added that the decision also supports the wider growth of the women’s game and the promotion of female coaches.