Jo Yapp taps into Andy Farrell’s knowledge ahead of maiden Lions Women tour

England are expected to provide the bulk of the touring party but Jo Yapp is confident that stars from Ireland, Wales and Scotland will also present compelling arguments for their selection. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Jo Yapp is tapping into the knowledge of Andy Farrell as she prepares to lead the maiden tour of the British and Irish Lions Women.

Yapp has been appointed head coach for the three-Test series against New Zealand in September next year, emerging as the outstanding candidate from a seven-strong shortlist.

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.” 

Among the challenges facing Yapp is striking the right balance amongst 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.

“Ultimately, we want to pick the best players,” she said. “As it stands, and having watched a lot of games in the Six Nations, PWR and Celtic Challenge, there are a lot of very good players across the other unions that will definitely put their hand up.

“Although it’s not a long time until the tour, there are a lot of games to be played. I’m looking forward to seeing how the games go and how people put their hands up.

“Selection will be a continuous piece of work over the next 18 months, until post-Six Nations next year. It’s exciting when you start writing the names down and the possibilities.

“There’s people coming back from pregnancies, from fitness, from injuries, so it’s really important that we keep an open mind.” 

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 that 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.