Rugby Australia seeks new coach amid #RWC2025 bombshell

NEWS: Wallaroos head coach Jo Yapp will return to England at the conclusion of her current contract, which runs through to the end of the 2025 World Cup.

Yapp relocated to Australia to take on the Wallaroos head coach position at the conclusion of the 2023 international season.

The Wallaroos have won five of their past seven games under Yapp, including four Test wins in a row for the first time in history.

She led the Wallaroos to their first piece of silverware last year, the WXV2 trophy in Cape Town, which guaranteed Australia’s place at the 2025 Rugby World Cup in the UK.

Yapp said family considerations played a major factor behind her decision to return to her native England after the tournament.

Rugby Australia will now commence a recruitment process to appoint Yapp’s successor as Wallaroos head coach.

Massive #RWC2025 statement #rugby #news #Sports #WomenInRugby #WomenInSports @rugbyworldcup @RugbyCanada @WallaroosRugby
🔗https://t.co/EqcEwR0CkX pic.twitter.com/t0jpAiLMGZ

— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) May 23, 2025

“My family and I are very grateful for the opportunities we’ve had in Australia, and I am proud of the progression the Wallaroos program has had over the past 18 months,” Yapp said.

“This was a difficult decision, as I thoroughly enjoy coaching the Wallaroos, but my family always come first when considering future plans and we have decided to return to the UK once my contract expires.

“There is still a lot of rugby ahead, and the key reason for announcing this now is to avoid any distractions before the critical preparation period for the World Cup begins.

“I want to thank everyone at Rugby Australia who has made me feel so welcome. I am now focused on leading this talented and exciting Australian team into the 2025 World Cup.”

Rugby Australia Director of High Performance Peter Horne thanked Yapp for her strong contribution to the Wallaroos and Australian Rugby.

“Jo has made a positive impact on the Wallaroos since relocating to Australia 18 months ago and we wish her and her family all the best for the future,” Horne said.

“The growth of women’s rugby in Australia has been evident during her tenure and this is a credit to Jo and her staff as they build towards the Rugby World Cup.

“It’s an exciting period for the Wallaroos with a home World Cup in 2029 on the horizon and we will look at the best possible candidates to fill the role for next year.”

The Wallaroos will reassemble for camps in Canberra in June before their next Test against the Black Ferns in Wellington on July 12.

The Wallaroos will then return home for two matches against Wales in Brisbane on July 26 and Sydney on August 1, ahead of their departure for the Rugby World Cup in the UK.