Joanne Yapp

Joanne Yapp
Date of birth (1979-09-06) September 6, 1979 (age 45)
Height1.61 m (5 ft 3 in)
Weight57 kg (126 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrumhalf
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Worcester ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1997–2009  England 70 (90)
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
 England
Coaching career
Years Team
–2023 Worcester Warriors Women
2024– Australia (Women)

Joanne Yapp (born September 26, 1979) is an English rugby union coach and former player. She represented England at the 1998 and 2002 Rugby World Cups, and captained the side at the 2006 World Cup.[1] She was appointed as the Wallaroos first female Head Coach at the end of 2023.

Rugby career

Yapp competed at the 1998 and 2002 Rugby World Cup's.[2][3] She captained the side to the 2006 World Cup final in Canada.[1][4] She played her last test in 2009.[5]

Coaching

Yapp transitioned into coaching after joining England Women's U20s program as head coach for five years.[6][4] She was Worcester Warriors Women's skills coach before being promoted to director of rugby, she took the club to their sixth Premier 15s competition before they folded.[6][4] She also coached the Barbarians women's team twice.[6][3]

Yapp played in the qualifier for the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens.[7][8] In 2011 she was appointed as an athlete mentor for Sky Sports Living for Sport.[9]

Yapp was the head coach of Exeter University for eight years and led them to BUCS gold in 2013 at Twickenham and BUCS gold in sevens in 2014.[10] She was England women's backs coach in the 2015 Women's Six Nations Championship.[5]

In December 2023, Rugby Australia confirmed her appointment as Australia women's first female Head Coach.[11][5]

References

  1. ^ a b "England Women announce Cup squad". BBC Sport. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Yapp makes history as new Wallaroos head coach". BBC Sport. 2023-12-12. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  3. ^ a b Chapman, Simon (2023-12-12). "Wallaroos create sporting history with coaching appointment". wwos.nine.com.au. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  4. ^ a b c "Jo Yapp: Former England captain Yapp named Australia Women's first full-time head coach". Sky Sports. 2023-12-12. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  5. ^ a b c "Jo Yapp named Wallaroos head coach in historic appointment". www.rugbypass.com. 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  6. ^ a b c Williamson, Nathan (2023-12-12). "Wallaroos announce Jo Yapp as new full-time head coach". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  7. ^ RFU (5 June 2008). "England Women's 7s squad to compete in Rugby World Cup qualifier". Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  8. ^ ESPN Scrum (RFU) (8 May 2008). "England 7s squads announced". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  9. ^ Ian Morgan (31 October 2011). "Former women's rugby skipper Jo Yapp appointed athlete mentor for Sky Sports Living". Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  10. ^ "Former England captain Yapp named Australia women's head coach". www.reuters.com. 2023-12-12. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  11. ^ ""Excited" Jo Yapp aiming to drive Wallaroos forward | World Rugby". www.world.rugby. 2024-01-02. Retrieved 2024-01-03.