Overview
- Jo Yapp was confirmed as the British & Irish Lions women’s head coach in a June announcement, becoming the lead figure for the inaugural tour.
- She will work part-time while retaining her RFU duties and move to the Lions full-time in January 2027 to prepare the squad and staff.
- Yapp says she will pick the best players from all four home unions and is actively mapping potential squads to address concerns about England-dominated selection.
- The Lions are planning a six-match itinerary in New Zealand anchored by a three-Test series against the Black Ferns and are developing ticket and travel packages to build large crowds.
- The organisation reports strong early public interest with a women’s-only database of hundreds of thousands of sign-ups and is exploring future touring destinations beyond the men’s traditional rota.