From the pitch to the sidelines: My Journey into Coaching Women’s Rugby


 How I accidentally swapped boots for a whistle (and sometimes forgot both)


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If you’d told younger me that I’d be coaching women’s rugby, I would’ve laughed, probably spilled my drink, and said something along the lines of: “Me? The one who still forgets which way we’re playing until half-time?”


And yet, here I am. Whistle in hand, clipboard somewhere at the bottom of my kit bag, and surrounded by the most brilliant, chaotic, determined group of women you’ll ever meet.


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🏉 Still Playing, Still Coaching, Wondering Why I Do Both


I started coaching while I was still playing. Some might call that dedication. Others might call it questionable time management. Both are correct.


Playing gave me the adrenaline- the tackles, the mud, the sheer joy of crashing over the try line. But coaching? Coaching gave me something else entirely. It was a chance to see the game from a different angle, to step back slightly and help other women fall in love with rugby the way I did. And so became my coaching philosophy- to have as many women and girls playing our marvellous sport as possible. 


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💡 The First Session I Coached


I remember my first ever session with terrifying clarity. I had a plan. Drills neatly scribbled down. Cones lined up. Whistle at the ready. I had no idea what I was doing. There was four or five of us. The stubborn ones that remained of a team that had failed due to things I’m too professional to get into in a blog post. 


Five minutes in, the whistle broke, the cones got stolen by the wind, and I forgot half the drills. (Not quite, but it wasn’t exactly polished or put together well) But the players laughed, they learned, and they came back the next week. That’s when I realised: it’s not about being perfect, it’s about creating a space where people feel welcome to try, fail, and try again.


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⚡ What Coaching Women’s Rugby Feels Like


It’s loud. It’s messy. It’s full of bad jokes (mainly mine), bruises, and unexpected brilliance.


But it’s also powerful. Coaching women’s rugby isn’t just about teaching how to ruck or pass. It’s about building confidence. It’s about watching someone who once said “I’m not sporty” score their first try and suddenly stand a little taller.


There’s nothing like it.


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🚀 Why I Stayed (Even When I Swore I Was Done)


Somewhere along the way, coaching stopped being the “extra thing I did on the side” and became a huge part of who I am. I’ve lost count of the evenings spent on muddy pitches, the late-night texts checking on players, the endless car boot full of stray bibs and balls. The tears, the tantrums, the politics. 


And honestly? I wouldn’t change it. Coaching has given me more than I ever expected - community, confidence, and the kind of chaos that makes life fun.


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🌟 From the Pitch to the Sidelines 


So here’s the truth: I never really left the pitch. I just shifted roles. Now, instead of chasing down tackles, I get to chase down spond responses (and potential in other people of course). I get to stand on the sidelines and watch women discover their strength, their grit, and their love for this ridiculous, wonderful sport.


And in my book, that’s even better than scoring the winning try.


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PS: If you ever see me turning up to training without my boots, don’t judge. Old habits die hard.

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