Rugby-Former England captain Yapp named Australia women's head coach

"I have fond recollections of battling Australia as a player, and you cannot help but be impressed by the strides the Wallaroos have made in the past couple of years," Yapp said in a statement. She will take charge of the 2021 World Cup quarter-finalists from January. "I am looking forward to getting started, getting to know the players, and building further towards the 2025 Rugby World Cup," Yapp added.

Former England captain Jo Yapp was named head coach of the Wallaroos on Tuesday, becoming the first female to take charge of a senior Australian national team in a major football code, governing body Rugby Australia (RA) said. The former scrumhalf, who played 70 matches for England and captained them to the 2006 Rugby World Cup final, had signed a two-year deal, RA added in a statement.

After retiring from playing Yapp made a smooth transition to coaching, building up her credentials as head coach of the England under-20 women's team and as director of women's rugby at Exeter University. "I have fond recollections of battling Australia as a player, and you cannot help but be impressed by the strides the Wallaroos have made in the past couple of years," Yapp said in a statement.

She will take charge of the 2021 World Cup quarter-finalists from January. "I am looking forward to getting started, getting to know the players, and building further towards the 2025 Rugby World Cup," Yapp added.