John Mitchell set to be England women’s coach

Former All Blacks coach John Mitchell is set to take charge of the England women’s team.

Speculation in the British media reports that Mitchell will be named this week to replace Simon Middleton, who announced his resignation in February after nine years in charge.

It will be the 59-year-old’s first foray into the blossoming women’s game after a series of high profile roles in men’s rugby.

He has had two stints with the English men’s team – as a forwards coach under Sir Clive Woodward for three years from 1997, and as defence coach under Eddie Jones from 2018-2021.

He has been working as Japan’s defence coach since losing his job at English club Wasps where redundancies were made last year.

But Gary Street, the England head coach who won the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup, sounded a warning over Mitchell’s appointment, worried that his lack of experience coaching women could be “a big risk”.

“He’s a great coach and will bring a wealth of experience, but it is a big risk bringing in a coach who has never coached women this close to a World Cup,” Street told The Times.

“It feels like a left-field choice. I’m not concerned about the coaching side – technically it’s not that different to men’s rugby – but it’s very different from coaching men.”

Mitchell is known for a forthright style.

England, who lost the World Cup final to the Black Ferns in Auckland last year, are set to host the 2025 global tournament.

It’s expected Mitchell will continue his assistant’s role with Japan at this year’s men’s World Cup in France before taking over the England women’s team in time for the WXV, the new global structure for the women’s game, set to kick off late this year.

Mitchell, a former All Blacks captain, has vast international coaching experience that includes assistant role at Ireland and a head coaching role with the United States.

His international club dossier includes experience with the Chiefs, Waikato, Western Force, Sale, Lions, and Bulls.