Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp signed a two-year
deal to join Rugby Australia in 2023 after the
departure of Jay Tregonning and became the
only female head coach of an Australian senior
national team in a major football code.
The former Red Rose played 70 games for her
country, including at three World Cups in 1998,
2002 and 2006 World Cup, captaining them
to the Final.
This was followed by a transition into coaching,
joining England’s U20 program and helping
issue in a golden generation of talent as head
coach for five years
Yapp was promoted from skills coach to director of rugby at Worcester, taking the club to
sixth in the English comp before they folded.
She has also coached the Barbarians on two occasions, eager to take the Australian program
to the next level after a positive 2023 season.
Yapp has worked closely with National Women’s High-Performance Manager Jaime
Fernandez in helping the Wallaroos continue the transition to becoming a full-time program.
Yapp guided the Wallaroos to the WXV 2 title in her first year in charge and became the first
coach to lead the side to four consecutive Test wins.
Off the field, Yapp has two children, Megan and Jack. Yapp will finish her tenure as coach of
the Wallaroos at the conclusion of the World Cup and return to the UK.
Career
 |
Australia Women Head Coach |
2025 - present |
