Sean Lynn appointed Wales women head coach

Sean Lynn said he is "all about setting the right environment" after being appointed as the new Wales women's head coach.

Welshman Lynn, who masterminded back-to-back Premiership Women’s Rugby titles as Gloucester-Hartpury boss in 2023 and 2024, succeeds Ioan Cunningham.

Cunningham left his role in November, while Nigel Walker resigned as the Welsh Rugby Union’s executive director of rugby just before Christmas.

Those departures came following a turbulent spell last year that saw the WRU’s handling of now-completed contract negotiations for its top female players fiercely criticised.

The WRU said that Lynn, who has agreed a three-year contract, will switch full-time to Wales ahead of the Six Nations as he sees out the PWR season with Gloucester-Hartpury, which ends in March.

"I am all about setting the right environment," Lynn, whose side host Ireland in round four on 20 April, said.

"That is why I set the tone this morning with the player group and the staff. That’s the piece where we all need to be aligned.

"Look, this is a real, strong rugby nation. I was brought up coming to the Principality (Stadium), and I really want to make that impact in the international arena.

"I feel there is massive talent there. The girls who are shining lights in the PWR, we are very lucky that we have them playing for Wales, and I am really excited to make sure they can gel."

Lynn’s arrival comes on the back of former PWR chief executive Belinda Moore taking a newly-created post as the WRU’s head of women’s rugby.

The head of rugby position was among recommendations from a recent strategic review into the women’s game in Wales.

The Six Nations, which Wales begin against Scotland on 22 March, is followed by the England-hosted World Cup during August