Scarratt Named England Attack Coach for 2026 Nations
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- Emily Scarratt was appointed as England's lead attack and backs coach for the 2026 Women's Six Nations, replacing assistant coach Lou Meadows.
- Sarah Hunter continues as England's defence coach, partnering with Scarratt as the team develops two of its biggest talents while awaiting a female head coach.
- World Rugby set a target of 40% female coaches for the Women's World Cup, but only 32% of coaches were female at the last tournament, up from 15% in 2021.
- FIFA introduced a regulation requiring every team in its women's football tournaments to have at least one female head coach or assistant coach.
- John Mitchell said that both Scarratt and Hunter are strong candidates for future head‑coach roles, possibly for the 2033 World Cup.
- Emily Scarratt said that having female coaches makes a big difference, allowing players to speak more comfortably and handle logistics like changing‑room access.
Why it matters: England's women's rugby gains a high‑profile former player as lead attack and backs coach, bolstering the push for gender‑balanced coaching staff; the move underscores progress toward World Rugby’s 40% female‑coach target while highlighting the continued shortage of women in senior coaching roles.
