Coventry Rugby launches new Women & Girls Development Programme
Initiative to create long-term pathway for female players across Coventry and Warwickshire
Last updated 16th Jul 2025
Coventry Rugby has announced the launch of their new Women & Girls Development Programme, which is set to begin this summer ahead of the 2025/26 season. The initiative marks a significant step in the club’s long-term ambition to expand opportunities for female rugby players in Coventry and Warwickshire.
Modelled on the successful Academy framework for male athletes across the Midlands, the new programme aims to provide high-quality coaching, regular training, and a structured pathway for aspiring young women in the sport.
Matthew Jones, Academy Manager at Coventry Rugby said:
"If you want to get the best out of yourself, it's better that you play in your sport at sixth form as well as your local club, whereas potentially girls at the moment, they might play for some of the great local clubs at the weekend and training the week, but they're missing out on, like, quite a lot of stuff that could be built into their academic timetable.
"Our ambition is that that we can grow some local players that that end up in that system as well and give them the opportunities.
"The aim of the women and girls program now is it's that they get spring boarded, and the girls can go and play for some great local clubs and play the best level they can."
Launching this August, the programme will begin with a U12–U14 Performance Camp, with additional Development Days planned for Year 10–11 girls starting in September 2025. These sessions are designed to complement players’ existing commitments, whether they are part of a Player Development Group (PDG) or not, and will offer tailored support to build skills, confidence, and match readiness.
Scottish international, Caity Mattinson, has been named Women & Girls Ambassador for the club and will play a key role in delivering the programme. Mattinson, who also coaches within the boys’ U18 Elite Player Development Group (EPDG), brings valuable experience as both a professional player and coach.
“I’m really excited to be joining Coventry Rugby at such a pivotal time for the women’s game,” said Mattinson. “The chance to help shape and grow a new female pathway—right from its early stages—is something I feel genuinely passionate about. I’m looking forward to working with the next generation of players in the region and can’t wait to get started.”
Although based on the boys’ academy principles, the programme will be tailored to reflect the evolving landscape of the women’s game. With no professional women’s team currently affiliated with Coventry Rugby, the emphasis will be on creating a dual pathway that integrates elite rugby training with academic development.
From September 2025, the club will begin recruiting players into a newly established Sixth Form Women & Girls Rugby Partnership, set to begin in the 2026/27 academic year. This full-time programme will offer 12–16 hours of rugby training per week embedded into the students’ academic schedules, alongside a competitive school and college fixture calendar.
Looking further ahead, Coventry Rugby also plans to launch a Women’s BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) team in partnership with UCFB, targeting a 2028/29 debut. This pathway will allow players to access high-performance training while continuing their education and representing club teams at the weekend.
The programme is being hailed as a major milestone in the club’s broader commitment to community engagement and the future of rugby in the region.
The Women & Girls Development Programme promises a sustainable, inclusive, and performance-driven environment for young female athletes to thrive- backed by elite coaching and a clear pathway from grassroots to higher education and beyond