Jo Yapp was named the first head coach of the British and Irish Lions women's rugby team for their inaugural tour to New Zealand in 2027 [1, 2, 3]. The women's Lions team will play their first match against a Black Ferns XV on September 4, 2027, marking a historic milestone for the Lions women's rugby squad [2].
Ben Calveley, Lions CEO, said the selection process involved a thorough search and that the panel was unanimous in supporting Yapp's appointment. "We were unanimous as a panel that Jo Yapp was the right person to lead the tour," Calveley said [2, 3].
Yapp, who recently stepped down as Australia’s head coach, currently works in a talent development role with the Rugby Football Union and was part of England's coaching staff during the recent Women’s Six Nations [2]. She plans to select the best players for the tour, regardless of nationality, but acknowledged England players could be well represented given their current dominance as women's world champions. "Ultimately, when it comes to the Lions, it's about picking the best players. That is absolutely key - if you're a Lion, you want to know that you deserve to be a Lion," Yapp said [2].
England's women's rugby team has won 38 consecutive matches, a streak making their players strong candidates for selection [2, 3].
Yapp also consulted Andy Farrell, head coach of the men's Lions and Ireland, to gain insights on preparing the women's team for the tour. "I think it is really important to draw on the experiences before. I have already spoken to Andy Farrell who was really helpful so my plan is to make sure we pick the brains of those who have gone before because it would be naive not to use that experience," she said [3]. Farrell led the men's Lions to a series victory in 2025 [2, 3].
The 2027 tour is the first ever for the Lions women's team with a second tour planned for 2031. Future destinations, including France, are under consideration for subsequent tours [3].
