Jo Yapp, the women’s British & Irish Lions head coach, has reached out to Andy Farrell for guidance as she prepares for the inaugural tour to New Zealand in 2027. Yapp, who led Australia at last year's World Cup, emphasizes the importance of learning from those who have previously succeeded in similar roles.

In her conversation with Farrell, who coached the victorious men’s team during their 2025 tour of Australia, Yapp highlighted the significance of assembling a trustworthy coaching staff. She stated, “I have already spoken to Andy Farrell, who was really helpful...it would be naive not to use that experience.”

As Yapp works on finalizing her coaching team, she aims to create an optimal environment for the players, mentioning, “It will be about getting the best people in the room.” Fans are concerned that the Lions squad may lean heavily towards England players, given the Red Roses' dominance in women's rugby, including their current winning streak of 38 consecutive games. Yapp reassured supporters that she intends to select the best talent from all unions, stating, “There are a lot of very good players across the other unions that will definitely be putting their hands up.”

Additionally, there are discussions about fan attendance for the tour, with some speculating that a location like France might attract larger crowds. However, Lions chief executive Ben Calveley reinforced their commitment to New Zealand, indicating future tours could explore new territories.

In other news, Matt Smith, a council member of the Rugby Football Union, has resigned following a discriminatory remark about former World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi. The Warwickshire RFU emphasized their stance against sexism and misogyny in their announcement.