John Mitchell is named new England womens rugby union team head coach
0
41
For anyone who wondered what Mitch has been doing recently, and what he'll be doing next year: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...-appointed-rfu
- Japan defence coach will start after mens World Cup
- Former captain Sarah Hunter becomes transition coach
John Mitchell has been appointed head coach of the England womens team and will begin the role this autumn after the mens Rugby World Cup.
The 59-year-old is currently defence coach for the Japan mens team and will succeed Simon Middleton with the Red Roses, whose final match in charge was last Saturdays Six Nations grand slam-clinching victory against France.
The mens World Cup final is on 28 October but Mitchells start date will depend on Japans fortunes at the tournament. Following successive Womens Rugby World Cup final defeats under Middleton, the Kiwis primary focus will be the 2025 tournament, hosted by England.
Mitchell twice held coaching positions with Englands men, most recently as defence coach under Eddie Jones from 2018-21. His coaching CV includes spells in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the USA.
In a statement released by the Rugby Football Union on Thursday, Mitchell said: The Red Roses have set an incredible standard and foundation for womens rugby, being the most successful team in the Six Nations which is a tremendous achievement, and we now have the opportunity to build on this, mature in key areas and become a truly champion side that can rightfully contest for the World Cup in 2025.
I would like to honour the hugely supportive Red Roses fans with successful performances as we work towards winning and selling out Twickenham Stadium for the Rugby World Cup in 2025.
Louis Deacon, the former England and Leicester lock, stays as forwards coach and will lead the team until Mitchells arrival while Sarah Hunter, the Red Roses most-capped player who retired in March, is appointed transition coach.
The RFU statement said Hunter will work with both the senior womens team and pathway programme. Lou Meadows becomes attack coach for the senior team, departing her role as under-20s head coach, while Charlie Hayter is the new head of womens performance.
The RFU executive director of performance rugby, Conor OShea, said: We are thrilled to be welcoming John back to England Rugby this will be a formidable coaching team to take the Red Roses to the next stage in their development.
Before his spell with Englands men under Jones, Mitchell was forwards coach from 1997-2000. He was appointed All Blacks head coach in 2001 and led New Zealand to third at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, departing after a semi-final defeat by the Wallabies.
- Japan defence coach will start after mens World Cup
- Former captain Sarah Hunter becomes transition coach
John Mitchell has been appointed head coach of the England womens team and will begin the role this autumn after the mens Rugby World Cup.
The 59-year-old is currently defence coach for the Japan mens team and will succeed Simon Middleton with the Red Roses, whose final match in charge was last Saturdays Six Nations grand slam-clinching victory against France.
The mens World Cup final is on 28 October but Mitchells start date will depend on Japans fortunes at the tournament. Following successive Womens Rugby World Cup final defeats under Middleton, the Kiwis primary focus will be the 2025 tournament, hosted by England.
Mitchell twice held coaching positions with Englands men, most recently as defence coach under Eddie Jones from 2018-21. His coaching CV includes spells in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the USA.
In a statement released by the Rugby Football Union on Thursday, Mitchell said: The Red Roses have set an incredible standard and foundation for womens rugby, being the most successful team in the Six Nations which is a tremendous achievement, and we now have the opportunity to build on this, mature in key areas and become a truly champion side that can rightfully contest for the World Cup in 2025.
I would like to honour the hugely supportive Red Roses fans with successful performances as we work towards winning and selling out Twickenham Stadium for the Rugby World Cup in 2025.
Louis Deacon, the former England and Leicester lock, stays as forwards coach and will lead the team until Mitchells arrival while Sarah Hunter, the Red Roses most-capped player who retired in March, is appointed transition coach.
The RFU statement said Hunter will work with both the senior womens team and pathway programme. Lou Meadows becomes attack coach for the senior team, departing her role as under-20s head coach, while Charlie Hayter is the new head of womens performance.
The RFU executive director of performance rugby, Conor OShea, said: We are thrilled to be welcoming John back to England Rugby this will be a formidable coaching team to take the Red Roses to the next stage in their development.
Before his spell with Englands men under Jones, Mitchell was forwards coach from 1997-2000. He was appointed All Blacks head coach in 2001 and led New Zealand to third at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, departing after a semi-final defeat by the Wallabies.