Buildcorp Super W coaches to join World Rugby High Performance Academy

Tue, Apr 9, 2019, 12:00 AM
Rugby Australia
by Rugby Australia
Queensland Women’s Head Coach, Moana Virtue. Photo: Brisbane Tens
Queensland Women’s Head Coach, Moana Virtue. Photo: Brisbane Tens

Five up and coming women in high performance roles, including two Buildcorp Super W coaches have been selected to attend World Rugby’s High Performance Academy in Stellenbosch in South Africa this May. 

Queensland Women’s Head Coach, Moana Virtue and Melbourne Rebels Women’s Head Coach, Alana Thomas, will travel alongside Amber McLachlan (match official), Sophie Pidcock (S&C) and Buildcorp Super W winning coach Emma Lincoln Smith (S&C) from the NSW Waratahs Women’s side for the week-long Academy. 

The Academy will have a strong focus on personal and professional development for key people involved in the growth of women’s rugby from around the world. 

As a key part of their high performance investment programme, World Rugby’s High Performance Academy is aimed at building capacity within targeted unions by providing identified coaches, strength & conditioning coaches and match officials with a bespoke learning opportunity in a high-performance environment.  

Rugby Australia Head of Women’s Rugby, Jilly Collins said: “We are delighted that five candidates have been selected from Australia to attend World Rugby’s Academy in Stellenbosch. 

“It is a fantastic opportunity for them to develop and meet other women from around the world with similar Rugby aspirations. 

“It is important that more women recognise what’s available to them in Rugby and the various career pathways.” 

World Rugby General Manager, High Performance Peter Horne said: “One of the strategic priorities of World Rugby is the growth and development of the Women’s game. 

“Over recent times we have seen unprecedented levels of interest in Women’s High Performance Coaching, Match Officiating and Strength & Conditioning. 

“This edition of the World Rugby HP Academy will be the first time that the programme will focus solely on talented women in these High Performance roles to grow their capability and build a supportive global network of the future leaders of our game.” 

Queensland Women’s Head Coach, Moana Virtue said: “This is a very exciting opportunity to gain professional development on the global stage and meet with fellow coaches from around the world. 

“It’s really important in coaching that you are constantly striving to improve and understand the game better and this will allow us to learn not just about our roles within the game, but the wider machine that is important to the growth of Rugby. 

“It’s also humbling to be representing the next generation of women coming through the system in Australia and I look forward to working with my colleagues when we get to South Africa.”  

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