Women’s Pathway Senior Physical Development Coach
At an exciting time for women’s performance rugby in Wales, the purpose of this newly created role is to optimise the physical development of identified players on the female pathway in Wales to enable effective transitions of high potential players through the women’s pathway, ultimately resulting in more players being physically ready for professional (or equivalent) and international rugby.
Closing Date: 26 November 2025
Salary: £40,000 per annum
Location: WRU National Centre of Excellence, Hensol
Hours of work: 35 per week, Monday to Friday, including unsociable hours such as evenings, weekends and occasional time outside the UK.
Responsible to: National Lead (Physical Performance), dotted line to Women’s Physical Performance Lead
Contractual status: Permanent, subject to a 6‑month probationary period
The Person
Knowledge, Skills, & Experience
* Educated to degree level in sports management, sports science, or coaching (postgraduate education desirable)
* UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) accreditation, or ability to obtain within 12 months
* Minimum of 5 years working in performance sport and/or talent development in an applied role, including extensive frontline work with regional and junior international/age grade teams and their athletes/coaches
* Proven track record of successfully supporting the physical development and preparation of athletes for professional and/or international sport
* Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the developmental needs of high‑potential female athletes aged 15‑23
* Experience in designing, delivering and evaluating age‑ and stage‑appropriate physical development programmes
* Ability to create engaging, inspiring, and challenging high‑performing learning environments
* Experience in a dynamic, complex environment satisfying multiple stakeholders
* Strong ability to build networks and relationships to facilitate achievement of ambitious goals
* Experience collecting, analysing, managing, and integrating complex data to answer development questions and optimise pathways
* Excellent communication skills, orally and in writing, to explain complex information to diverse audiences
* Excellent IT skills, especially Microsoft package
* Excellent knowledge of regulatory compliance
* Desirability of Welsh language communication
The Role
Key Responsibilities, Tasks and Activities
* Individual Development Programmes
o Design and lead a philosophy and model for elite female athlete physical development across the entire female pathway in partnership with the Women’s Physical Performance Lead
o Case‑manage a cohort of pathway players with PDCs S&C coaches and other stakeholders, developing, monitoring and reviewing ambitious and challenging physical development plans aligned to senior physical performance requirements
* Programme Leadership
o Lead day‑to‑day management and execution of physical preparation within the Wales Women’s Pathway team programmes (U18, U20, Celtic Challenge)
o Lead and coordinate the physical preparation programme for the Wales Women U20 pathway team at all training days and competitions
o Recruit and manage quality S&C support staff for aspiring women players across Wales
o Collaborate with medical and coaching staff to minimise injury risk while maximizing performance
* System Support (Technical Leadership & PDCs)
o Implement age‑ and stage‑appropriate physical development in the Player Development Centre (PDC) network and Celtic Challenge programmes
o Provide technical leadership and strategic support to new PDCs
o Develop and deliver a programme of professional development for physical capabilities in female rugby players for the PDC Network
o Implement and deliver National Physical Profiling days with accurate tracking and monitoring of identified players within the pathway
o Improve existing practitioner networks and cultivate satellite S&C coaching & facility relationships across Wales
* System Support (Female Athlete Health & Physical Development)
o Work closely with the Women’s Pathway Physiotherapist to design and implement a female athlete health plan throughout the pathway
o Build relationships with relevant partners for female athlete projects
o Contribute to applied research across the organisation as appropriate
o Support national initiatives and projects related to the Women’s Performance Pathway as directed by the Head of Player Development
o Be an active member of the WRU Pathway team, bringing ideas and practice to our ways of working
o Carry out duties in support of the WRU Group Strategic Mission, Purpose and Values
* Key Relationships
o Women’s Pathway Physical Development Coach
o Women’s Pathway Senior Coach
o Performance Pathway Manager and Coach
o Player Development Centre Leads and PDC S&C Coaches
o WRU Physical Performance Team
o U20 & U18 Women’s Pathway Team Management
o Performance Development Centre Leads
o Schools, Colleges & Universities
* Other
o Valid UK driving licence required
o Role subject to enhanced DBS disclosure, reviewed regularly in line with policy requirements
WRU Requirements
Proficient IT skills (Microsoft packages), excellent written and verbal communication, ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, desire to communicate through Welsh, and a valid UK driver’s licence. Basic/enhanced DBS check required.
The Perks
* Salary Sacrifice Pension (5% employee contribution, matched by WRU)
* Life assurance scheme
* WRU Group Ticket Allocation
* Employee assistance programme
* Team Tactics – hybrid working arrangements
* Free stadium parking and gym
* WRU Group store and tour discounts
* WRU Group partnership offers
* Eye Care Voucher Scheme
* Cycle to Work Scheme
Our Values
The WRU Group is committed to developing a culture where all employees are equally valued and respected, underpinning our aims, vision and mission with core values: Integrity, Excellence, Success, Courage, Family & Humour.
Inclusion at the WRU
The WRU Group is committed to building diverse, high‑performing and engaged teams across Welsh Rugby, providing a people‑first culture where everyone can belong, be heard and respected. We support the EDI strategy (2024‑2029) and publish a Diversity and Inclusion Policy.
Diversity Monitoring
To support inclusive recruitment, we ask candidates to complete a short monitoring form. Information is anonymous.
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