Sale Sharks can confirm that Women’s Head Coach Rachel Taylor will step away from her current role at the end of the 2024/25 PWR season.
Former Wales captain Rachel joined the club’s coaching staff in September 2021 after a glittering playing career that saw her play 67 times for her country.
After retiring as a player, the 41-year-old became the first female coach of a national league Welsh rugby team when she took over at division two side Colwyn Bay in 2018.
And prior to joining Sale, the former back-row forward had broken more ground as the WRU’s first professional national female coach.
Both Rachel and Sale Sharks now hope to agree on a new role for her with the club and more details will be announced at a later date.
Rachel said: “This role has been super-challenging but I’ve really loved it and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved and what we’re building. We were never going to get success overnight, creating a new team, but I’m confident that we’ve weathered the storm.
“It’s been a real journey but now I feel that it’s time for a change and for someone with fresh ideas to come in and lead the team forward to the next level. It’s an amazing opportunity because the future for this team is really bright and exciting.
“We want to build a sustainable, successful team and create a pathway for homegrown players to come through and play in the PWR. That’s the DNA of this club. I really believe in this project and what we’re trying to do and that’s why I want to stay involved in some capacity.”
Sale Sharks’ Women’s Performance Lead Katy Daley-Mclean said: “Rachel has given everything for this club and this team over the past three years.
“She let us know earlier in the season that she wouldn’t be leading the team into the 25/26 season and while we’re disappointed and had every confidence in her leadership, we respect her decision.
“Rachel leaves the role with the team in a much stronger position than when she arrived, and while her hard work hasn’t always been reflected in results on the pitch, there’s no doubt that we’ll see the impact of her work with this young team in the coming years.
“We’re hoping that she will stay at the club in a new role because we don’t want to lose her experience or coaching ability.”
Rachel’s departure from the Head Coach role is not the only change to the Sharks coaching staff.
Former Scotland international Louise Dalgliesh will also step away from her role as Women’s Assistant and U23 Coach at the end of the season to become Edinburgh University’s Head of Performance Women’s Rugby.
Sharks co-owner Michelle Orange said: “We’re really sad that Rachel has decided to step down and that we are losing Louise. They’ve both made a huge impression on everyone on and off the field during their time with us and everyone at the club wishes them all the very best for their future careers. We hope in Rachel’s case that that will be with us.
“The process of recruiting a replacement for Rachel has now begun and I really believe that leading women’s team is a fantastic opportunity. The club has so much ambition and with the right person in charge, the team has massive potential to achieve something special.”
For more information about Sale Sharks Women, contact katy.DM@salesharks.com.
