British and Irish Lions Women’s head coach Jo Yapp insists the squad for next year’s inaugural tour of New Zealand will include players from each of the four unions, not just the Red Roses.
Yapp has been appointed head coach for the three-Test series against New Zealand in September 2027, emerging as the outstanding candidate from a seven-strong shortlist.
Among the challenges facing Yapp is striking the right balance among the four nations in her playing squad.
England are expected to provide the bulk of the touring party and the Test team having recently been crowned Grand Slam champions for a fifth-successive year, extending their winning run to 38 Tests.
Yapp is confident that stars from Ireland, Wales and Scotland will also present compelling arguments for their selection.
“It is really important from a Lions perspective we’re picking the best players,” she told Sky Sports.
“The Lions is about picking the best players across all four unions. We cannot shy away from that, it’s really important we do that. If you’re on that tour, you want to know you are there you deserve to be there because you are the best player.
“England have obviously dominated but watching the Six Nations and the leagues, there are so many excellent, talented players across the other unions as well.
“Over the next 18 months, I am sure they will take the opportunity to express themselves and put their hands up.
Former England captain Jo Yapp will lead the British and Irish Lions Women on their inaugural tour of New Zealand
“There’s people coming back from pregnancies, from fitness, from injuries, so it’s really important that we keep an open mind.”
To give the Lions the best possible chance against the Black Ferns, former England captain Yapp is drawing on Farrell’s experience after the Ireland boss masterminded a 2-1 series triumph by the Lions men’s team against Australia in 2025.
“Andy was super open, which was really lovely,” said Yapp, who currently acts as England’s head of women’s pathway.
“One of the things he talked about is when you’re pulling together your staff, you get the right people, people who you can trust and can work with. That’s massively important.
“It’s really important that we draw on the experiences of people who have gone before us and pick their brains. It would be naive to not use that experience.”
The Lions will play two further matches in New Zealand, against a Black Ferns XV and an Invitational XV.
Negotiations are ongoing to stage a warm-up match against France that will be hosted by one of the four home nations before the squad departs for the southern hemisphere.
Lions chief executive Ben Calveley revealed future tours are not wedded to the men’s rotation of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, raising the prospect of France and Canada becoming future destinations for the women.
Howden British & Irish Lions Women’s Series: 2027 schedule
Kick off times TBC
- Saturday September 4 – Black Ferns vs Howden British and Irish Lions – Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei
- Saturday September 11 – Black Ferns vs Howden British and Irish Lions (First Test) – Go Media Stadium, Auckland
- Tuesday 14 September – Invitational XV vs Howden British and Irish Lions – FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
- Saturday September 18 – Black Ferns vs Howden British and Irish Lions (Second Test) – Sky Stadium, Wellington
- Saturday September 25 – Black Ferns vs Howden British and Irish Lions (Third Test) – One NZ Stadium, Christchurch
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