Rachel Taylor (rugby union)

Rachel Taylor
Born (1983-06-13) 13 June 1983
Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight75 kg (11 st 11 lb)
SchoolAberaeron
UniversityCardiff Metropolitan University
OccupationParaveterinary worker
Rugby union career
Position Lock/back row
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
20xx– Bristol Ladies
20xx– Newport Gwent Dragons
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007–2017 Wales 67
Correct as of 25 May 2017

Rachel Taylor (born 13 June 1983) is a Welsh former rugby union player who played in either Lock or back row for the Bristol Ladies, Newport Gwent Dragons and the Wales women's national rugby union team. She won her first international cap against Canada in 2007, and later captained the team. Following retirement in 2018, she became the first female head coach of a WRU National League club side when she took over Colwyn Bay, before becoming the skills coach for Wales Women between November 2020 and February 2021. In September 2021, Taylor joined Premiership Women's Rugby team Sale Sharks Women as the club's performance coach. In September 2025, she joined the coaching team of Loughborough Lightning.

Early life

Rachel Taylor was born in Bangor in Gwynedd, Wales, on 13 June 1983.[1] She began playing rugby at the age of five, later describing her family as "rugby-orientated" since her father was a rugby coach and her older brother already played for a local team. Although she tried a variety of sports in her youth, she returned to rugby. Once her brother switched to playing association football, she focused on rugby, seeking to play for her national team.[2] She is trained as a Paraveterinary worker,[2] and gave the keynote speech at the British Veterinary Association in 2017.[3]

Playing career

As of 2017, her official Wales Rugby Union biography stated that she is 1.75 metres (5.7 ft) tall and weighs 75 kilograms (11.8 st). She has been given the nickname "Tails" by her teammates. She made her debut for the Wales women's national rugby union team against Canada in 2007.[1] She was first named as captain of the team in 2012 for the Women's Six Nations Championship.[4]

Taylor won her 50th cap for Wales when she played against Ireland in the 2015 Women's Six Nations Championship.[5] She continued to captain her national team, including at the 2016 Women's Six Nations Championship.[6] She was also involved in encouraging women's rugby at a grassroots level, being the Wales Rugby Union coordinator for the RGC West area in North Wales.[7] This was in preparation for a transition from her playing career into retirement.[3]

Coaching career

Following retirement from her playing career in 2018, Taylor became the first female head coach of a WRU National League club side when she took over Colwyn Bay,[8][9][10] before becoming the skills coach for Wales Women between November 2020 and February 2021.[11]

In September 2021, Taylor joined Premiership Women's Rugby team Sale Sharks Women as the club's performance coach.[12] She rose to head coach.[13] In January 2025, she announced that she would step down from the Sale Sharks at the end of the Premiership Women’s Rugby season.[9]

In May 2025, Taylor was announced as joining the coaching team of Loughborough Lightning for the 2025/26 Premiership Women’s Rugby season.[13][14]

Honours

In July 2022, Taylor was awarded an Honorary Degree by Bangor University.[15]

References

  1. 1 2 "Rachel Taylor". Wales Rugby Union. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  2. 1 2 Corbet, Thomas (6 February 2015). "Taylor Carrying the Family Name at Women's Six Nations". RBS 6 Nations. Archived from the original on 30 September 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Welsh rugby star to speak at BVNA Congress". MRCVS Online. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  4. ↑ Williams, Mike (23 January 2013). "Bay rugby star Rachel will captain women". North Wales Pioneer. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  5. ↑ "Wales Women's captain Rachel Taylor joins 50-cap club against Ireland as they chase Triple Crown". Wales Online. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  6. ↑ "Six Nations: Rachel Taylor to captain Wales Women's team". BBC Sport. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  7. ↑ Jones, Liz (8 March 2016). "Rachel Taylor Issues Rallying Call on International Women's Day". Wales Rugby Union. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  8. ↑ "New role for ex Wales skipper". Scrum Queens. 8 July 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  9. 1 2 "Rachel Taylor: Sale head coach to step down at end of season". BBC Sport. 22 January 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  10. ↑ Woolford, Anthony (8 July 2018). "Welsh rugby's first woman coach - the inside story". Wales Online. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "Rachel Taylor: Wales skills coach resigns ahead of 2021 Women's Six Nations start". BBC Sport. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  12. ↑ Diamond, Sam (1 September 2021). "Former Wales star Taylor joins Sharks Women's coaching team". Sale Sharks. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  13. 1 2 "Rachel Taylor joins Loughborough Lightning coaching team". Loughborough Lightning. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  14. ↑ "Rachel Taylor: Ex-Wales forward to guide Lightning defence after Sale exit". BBC Sport. 12 May 2025. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  15. ↑ "An Honour for one of the most decorated and respected women in the world of rugby". Bangor University. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
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