England coach John Mitchell has put his hand up to be the first ever coach of the Women’s Lions.
Mitchell is about to lead his first 6 nations campaign with our Red Roses and was an All Black player.
About the maiden Lions in New Zealand he told me,”I’m definitely interested, especially as the
first tour is to my country NZ. There will be 3 tests and i’m eager to find out which provincial matches will be played.
Mitchell, who has also worked as a coach with England men, added “I expect the Lions coach will be announced shortly after next year’s world cup next autumn. ”
Mitchell says he has already had to learn a lot about the different demands of coaching women and men.
‘I have found it a refreshing change. I have to understand things like menstrual cycles and different physical demands in things like tendon loading. Also about handling athletes who have come back from motherhood.
‘In the women’s game, we still see a lot of involvement of amateurs in top squads. I’m learning a hell of a lot’.
Meanwhile, with England’s former world player of the year Emily Scarratt making her comeback from injury, Mitchell is looking elsewhere for vice-captains for the six nations.
He says he doesn’t want to burden Scarratt with extra responsibility as she is returning from a long term neck injury. Scarratt should focus on performance to start with, though she will form part of the ‘leadership group’.
Asked what would happen if Marlie Packer is injured? Mitchell said; ‘Zoe Aldcroft, Sadia Kabeya and Megan Jones will be in line to takeover. It would depend on who was on the pitch at the time’.
