Richard Blaze appointed England Women Forwards Coach

England Women have appointed Richard Blaze as forwards coach with immediate effect.

Former Leicester Tigers lock-turned-coach Blaze will head up the forwards division for the England Women’s team following the departure of Matt Ferguson to Northampton Saints earlier this year.  Blaze joins head coach Simon Middleton and backs coach Scott Bemand to complete the England Women coaching set up.

Of the appointment, England Women Head Coach Simon Middleton said: “We are delighted to appoint Richard Blaze as forwards coach.

“Richard brings a wealth of experience to the programme and will add great value to the team. He has already proven himself to be of the highest calibre of coaches within the Gallagher Premiership with Leicester Tigers. He has high performance and international experience as a player and is a proven developer of young players from his time with England U20.

“To recruit a coach of his capability is testimony to the direction in which women’s rugby is going.”


Blaze joined England Rugby as part of the coach development agreement in November 2017, working as England U20 forwards coach. Previously he worked as forwards coach at Leicester Tigers having played for the club from 2007-10.

He represented England Saxons at the Churchill Cup in 2007 and 2008 but was forced into early retirement through injury.


The Red Roses kick off their 2018-19 campaign with the Quilter Internationals, when they will play USA, Canada and Ireland in November. 

Quilter Internationals 2018
 
England Women v USA Women
Friday 9 November - Allianz Park (KO 7.45pm, live Sky Sports Action)
 
England Women v Canada Women
Sunday 18 November – Castle Park (KO 2pm, live Sky Sports and EnglandRugby.com)