(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 to Feature Record Number of Female Coaches
World Rugby and Gallagher have announced a record-breaking step for women in sport, with 14 female coaches joining the Gallagher High Performance Academy ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
For the first time in tournament history, 32% of all coaches will be women — more than double the 15% recorded in 2021. The number of female coaches has grown from just six in 2021 to 23 confirmed for 2025. Overall, women now make up 40% of the 281 staff across the 16 national teams.
Key Highlights
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14 nations represented in the new Gallagher High Performance Academy intake.
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Three female head coaches named for 2025 (France, Australia, Japan).
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USA and Samoa leading with majority-female coaching teams (75% and 60%).
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Female coaching numbers quadrupled since 2021.
The Coaches Joining the 2025 Programme
The latest cohort includes names such as Aroa González (Spain), Bella Milo (Samoa), Kelly Griffin (USA), Sarah Hunter (England), and Gaëlle Mignot (France), who is also co-head coach of the French national side.
Global Progress for Women in Sport
The growth in women’s rugby coaching stands out compared to other sports. At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, women represented around 13% of coaches, while UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 saw a rise to 43.75%. Rugby’s progress to 32% at the World Cup shows clear momentum for greater gender equity.
What Leaders Said
Sally Horrox, World Rugby’s Chief of Women’s Rugby, said the progress shows rugby’s commitment to diversity:
“These record-breaking figures are a clear sign of the momentum building for women in high-performance coaching. The Gallagher High Performance Academy is not just creating opportunities, it is accelerating progress across the game.”
Christopher Mead, Chief Marketing Officer for Gallagher, added:
“The Rugby World Cup will provide these coaches with invaluable experience. Their involvement and success will inspire the next generation.”
Looking Ahead
The Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 is set to be the biggest in history, and with record numbers of female coaches on the sidelines, the tournament promises to be a milestone for the sport and a powerful example of progress for women in leadership roles.
