Wallaroos announce interim teaching crew, ‘absolutely resourced’ program

In an effort to “guarantee continuity and excessive requirements” following the Wallaroos’ World Cup quarterfinal exit, Rugby Australia has introduced Sam Wants will step up because the Wallaroos’ interim head coach by to the top of the 2026 Pacific 4 Collection.

Wants served as Jo Yapp’s assistant coach and fills the void left by Jo Yapp, who determined to not reapply for the place forward of the latest World Cup and, as a substitute, return to England.

The rising coach is joined by Gill Bourke, the previous Irish hooker, who frolicked with the Wallaroos throughout their profitable WXV2 final yr, and the vastly skilled Andy Good friend, who has jumped on board as a technical advisor. It’s believed Good friend will be a part of on a part-time foundation.

In addition to the teaching replace, which has seen Jaime Fernandez resign as girls’s excessive efficiency supervisor over the previous fortnight, RA stated the governing physique would proceed to “spend money on and implement a world-class program for the Wallaroos” within the build-up to the 2029 World Cup.

As a part of RA’s dedication, the governing physique insists they plan on delivering a “fully-resourced” program in 2026, which incorporates participant contracting. RA additionally contracts 21 feminine sevens gamers.

The Wallaroos may also play an extra ten Assessments in 2026, together with the Pacific 4 Collection.

“Rugby Australia is worked up to proceed the elite Wallaroos program as we begin our journey in direction of a once-in-a-generation alternative on the 2029 Ladies’s Rugby World Cup in Australia,” Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh stated.

“The Wallaroos have superior to the quarterfinals of the final two Rugby World Cups and work has commenced to plan a excessive efficiency program finest positioned to take our nationwide crew to the following degree when the world’s finest groups arrive on our shores in 2029.

“While we finalise our nationwide girls’s rugby supply mannequin, we’re delighted that Sam, Andy and Gill will lead the crew ahead by the Pacific 4 Collection in 2026.

“The appointment of the Wallaroos interim teaching panel and the opening of participant contracting will guarantee continuity and excessive requirements as we enter a brand new Rugby World Cup cycle.

“RA would additionally wish to take the chance to acknowledge Jaime Fernandez, who has stepped down as Ladies’s Excessive Efficiency Supervisor after two years within the function. We thank Jaime for his laborious work and want him all the perfect for the long run.”

RA director of excessive efficiency Peter Horne alongside chief govt Phil Waugh in late December. (Photograph by Mark Evans/Getty Photos for Rugby Australia)

Wants, the previous Waratahs prop, who performed one match beneath Daryl Gibson, served beneath Yapp throughout her two-year tenure and stated he was “honoured” to be requested to step up as RA considers who the most suitable choice is to take the Wallaroos by to the World Cup.

“I’m honoured to guide the Wallaroos for this era and look ahead to persevering with to construct off the again of the Rugby World Cup,” Wants stated.

“The expertise we have now within the squad is thrilling, and the depth we’ve constructed this yr has put us in an amazing place heading into 2026.

“I’d wish to thank Jilly Collins, Peter Horne and Phil Waugh for the chance and acknowledge Jo Yapp and Jaime Fernandez for his or her management, steerage and assist over the previous two years.”

Lately departed Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp with gamers forward of the 2025 World Cup at Allianz Stadium on August 04, 2025 in Sydney. (Photograph by Darrian Traynor/Getty Photos)

Gamers had been knowledgeable of the teaching modifications on Friday throughout a collection of conferences, which additionally see RA basic supervisor for girls’s rugby, Jilly Collins, step up as performing excessive efficiency supervisor.

RA additionally insisted to gamers that funds cuts, reported by The Roar final week, had been grossly inaccurate and inflated. It comes after The Roar was instructed by a number of sources that the governing physique was contemplating stripping $1.89 million from the funds amid sweeping cuts throughout your complete enterprise to make sure a affluent and sustainable future.

The governing physique additionally pointed to their elevated funding in girls’s rugby in recent times, which noticed RA greater than double its funding between the 2 World Cup cycles, for instance that it was taking girls’s rugby severely.