With the 2020 Super W competition fast approaching, RugbyWA has selected a host of new coaches set to lead the RugbyWA Women’s side including returning head coach Sebastian Delport who will lead the side after a year interstate.
Also in the role of RugbyWA head of ladies pathway Delport will be joined by a new group of assistant coaches forming a completely fresh management and performance team.
With RugbyWA's Super W program having a larger focus towards athlete development for 2020 and beyond the RugbyWA Women’s team have brought in a larger coaching group to help target the next generation of Super W talent.
Palmyra coach Callum Payne has also been brought into the field as assistant coach for the RugbyWA Women, Payne has been a driving factor in the development of younger female talent in the state coaching the famous U18s Schoolgirls side that took the first-ever schoolgirl's championship trophy back in 2018.
Joining Payne in the supporting cast is Cottesloe Shegulls assistant coach Christain Cano, Cano was an integral part to Cottesloe’s Women’s side this season, working closely with Delport who lead the side as head coach.
To round out the coaching team will be development coach Wayne Walden who will have a major focus on individual skill work for the side.
With the addition of the Ladies Pathway program directly linking to the RugbyWA Women's team Delport’s knowledge across both high-performance coaching and athlete development made him a clear cut for the role.
Performance Director Steve Anderson uttered is confidence with Delports ability to advance Women’s game WA in both the head coaching and head of pathway roles.
“Seb (Delport) has been in our academy program now for three years and as head coach back in 2018 and in the end he was an easy choice in reprising that role.”
“His work in the emerging program makes him a very good fit to lead this team, he understands the holistic approach that RugbyWA have in developing our program right through from emerging into pathway and Super W, having that is crucial for this role.”
With the rise in younger talent coming out of recent Schoolgirls and U18s success in WA Women’s Rugby the Super W is expected to comprise of some very new and promising athletes entering the team for the 2020 competition.
Taking advantage of the emerging talent coming through RugbyWA are looking to prepare its players for both the Wallaroos 2021 and 2025 World Cup campaigns looking to get more WA representation into the national ranks.
“Our goal for the 2020 season is not only to develop the performance of our Super Women’s team but also to find our best athletes, we had six members in the player of national interest group in 2019 and hopefully that can continue,” Anderson said.
The RugbyWA Women’s side for 2020 will be selected off their performance in the Alcohol Think Again Women’s competition with the aim of boosting the Women’s game at a club level.
The 2020 Super W competition will take place in late February with the RugbyWA Women already preparing for the tournament as a wider training squad.
