15 emerging coaches from across Europe are preparing to come together in Manchester from 28–31 August 2025 as part of the inaugural Rugby Europe Women’s Coaching Academy — a bold new initiative aimed at developing the next generation of national team coaches in the women’s game.
This first-of-its-kind program is generously supported by UK Sport and the RFU’s Impact ’25 initiative, helping make it accessible and impactful for coaches across Europe.
With the Rugby World Cup 2025 just around the corner, it’s a real opportunity for these aspiring coaches to work collectively, as described by Zsuzana Jakab from the Hungarian Union, “I’m hoping to meet coaches who can help me with ideas on how to take the next step beyond the intermediate level.”
During the Academy, there will also be an opportunity for the coaches to attend one of the matches at the Rugby World Cup, with Jakab adding, “The World Cup is a big chance to put women’s rugby in the spotlight. It can inspire more girls to play.
“Female role models are so important. They show young girls that coaching or playing at a high level is possible. In today’s world, with the influence of social media, it’s even easier to reach young people, so it’s more important than ever that the right inspiring figures are visible and active.”
Charlie Brown, Rugby Europe’s Regional Training Manager, who has been bringing this program to fruition and is excited about what lies ahead, said “This Academy has been a long time in the making, and it’s thanks to the belief and support of key partners — including World Rugby, Impact 25, UK Sport, and national unions — that it’s finally here. What excites me most is the diversity of this group, with coaches from across Europe representing different rugby cultures, all united by a shared ambition to lead in the women’s game.”
Designed for coaches from developing Unions, this four-day experience will blend technical and tactical development, leadership training, live match analysis, and high-performance exposure, all set against the backdrop of RWC 2025. Participants will also attend the Scotland vs Fiji match, gaining real-time insights into international-level play and engaging in structured post-match reviews.
Brown emphasised that the Rugby World Cup provides a powerful platform to spotlight and invest in the women’s game.
“We know the real value of this program will come after the four days in Manchester. This isn’t just an event — it’s a launchpad. We’ll be following each coach’s progress closely, working with their Unions to ensure they’re supported and positioned to step into future national team roles. The long game here is about building a pipeline of prepared, visible, and confident coaches who can shape the future of women’s rugby.”
Nele Plein, also one of the participants from Belgium Rugby added, “I'm excited to reconnect with coaches I've played with or against, and to see how we're all growing together in our coaching journeys. Above all, I look forward to learning new skills, developing myself further as a coach, and gaining fresh insights to better support the players I work with."
"My main ambition is to give back to a sport that has given me so much—helping girls and women discover who they are, build confidence, and grow both on and off the field. Seeing their development is truly my greatest joy."
The journeys of these future leaders in women’s rugby will be shared across Rugby Europe’s social media channels, so be sure to follow along as the story unfolds.