Arabic version: سيوان ليليكراپ تتولى منصب تطوير كرة قدم السيدات في اتحاد ويلز

According to BBC News, former Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap has been appointed the Welsh Rugby Union’s first head of women’s coaching and development. The newly created role will see her deliver an aligned coaching and development system across the women’s performance pathway for players aged 14 to 24.

Lillicrap won 51 Wales caps and was among the first 12 players awarded full-time WRU playing contracts for Wales women in 2022. Since retiring from international rugby that year, she has worked as the WRU’s pathway manager and as head coach of the Wales women’s under-18s side. As pathway manager, she oversaw player development centres in east, west and north Wales.

“I am incredibly excited to take on this new role and bring my passion, knowledge and experience to this next chapter of developing our women’s and girls’ pathway,” Lillicrap said. She said she had enjoyed the past three and a half years with Wales Under-18s and as performance pathway manager, during which the development system progressed and players moved successfully into senior environments.

Lillicrap said Wales has an ambitious pathway and a clear vision to develop people and players who can help Welsh rugby succeed at the highest level. During her time coaching the under-18s, Wales recorded a 32-24 win over England at the 2026 Under-18s Six Nations Festival.

WRU technical director Rhys Long described the appointment as key for the union, citing rapid growth in playing numbers and coaches in the women’s game in Wales. He said Lillicrap’s experience as a former Wales captain, alongside her work managing player development centres for women’s and girls’ rugby, was central to her appointment.