Pathway Assistant Coach

England Rugby; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading sports organization as a Pathway Assistant Coach, where you'll develop coaching strategies and support young athletes. This full-time, hybrid role involves collaboration with coaches and stakeholders to enhance player development. Ideal candidates will have experience in high-performance coaching and a strong commitment to nurturing talent within rugby union.

Qualifications

• RFU Level 3 coaching award (or equivalent) as a minimum.
• Experienced development coach with respect as a developer of young athletes.
• Strong understanding of Rugby Union structure in England.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement coaching philosophies and strategies.
• Assist Head Coach in preparing players and monitoring their progress.
• Deliver team and specialist coaching sessions.

Skills

Stakeholder Management

Coaching

Communication

Motivation

Relationship Building

Time Management

Creative Thinking

Education

RFU Level 3 coaching award

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

Working at the RFU means being part of the ‘bigger picture’ at England Rugby: to be rooted in our purpose, which is to enrich lives, introduce more people to rugby union & develop the sport for future generations. If our purpose resonates with you, and you recognise the value that sport can bring to people’s lives, we’d love to work with you. An opportunity has arisen for a Pathway Assistant Coach to join our Pathway team on a fixed term basis for 2 years.

Job Title : Pathway Assistant Coach
Department : Professional Rugby Department
Reports to : Head Coach of either England u18 or u20
Job Level : Guide
Location : Hybrid
Employment Type : 2-year Fixed Term Contract
Working Hours : This is a full-time role, covering 35hrs per week

Application Information:

• Please submit an anonymised CV and cover letter (. please exclude personal details).
• The closing date for applications Thursday 10th July at 5pm.
• Please note; we are currently experiencing an issue with applications from Hotmail and Outlook accounts. Please apply using a different email address if you typically use Hotmail/Outlook as we cannot guarantee that you will receive communications from us if you use these.

The Role:

The post holder will, in conjunction with the Executive Director of Professional Rugby, Director of Team Performance and England u18 and u20 Head Coaches produce a progressive coaching and talent identification strategy for the player development pathway.
Support the Head Coach by managing and coordinating the relevant resources for the pathway.

Develop relevant relationships with all key internal (Rugby Development Department and Professional Rugby Departments) and external stakeholders (PRL, Regional Academies, schools, further education establishments and parents) in order to facilitate the development of identified players and the long-term success of the pathway.

In conjunction with other pathway coaches be responsible for the delivery of team and specialist coaching session, and where required across the women’s pathway too, as directed by the Executive Director of Professional Rugby. Be responsible for the support of Individual Development Plans for players and attached coaches who may be part of the pathway programme.

Some key responsibilities include:

• In conjunction with the respective Head Coach, Director of Team Performance and Executive Director of Professional Rugby, develop and implement the approved team coaching and playing philosophies and strategies.
• Assist the Head Coach in preparing players to play representative rugby and that their progress and development is continually monitored.
• Work closely with the club academies and provide regular visits and coaching support to identified players within their club environment.
• In partnership with the Head Coach and the Head of Player Pathway to deliver a world class talent identification programme that identifies appropriate players for the pathway through a structured and coordinated watching programme.
• Develop Annual Playing Programmes and Individual Development Plans for all England Academy Players (EAPs) in conjunction with clubs, players, coaches and athletic performance staff.
• Ensure there is a seamless transition between the u18 and u20s programmes for all players who progress through the pathway.
• Forge clear and positive relationships with Directors of Rugby, Academy Managers and coaches at clubs, schools, colleges and also player’s parents.
• Maintain squad and team discipline on and off the field to the highest standards and administer approved disciplinary procedures for players when it’s appropriate to do so.
• Liaise with the Team Operations Manager regarding the operational arrangements for a specified England team including hotels, travel, facilities, kit etc.
• In conjunction with all relevant Professional Rugby Department staff to establish and agree world class performance standards. Monitor achievement against these standards.
• To plan and work within agreed budgets and attend all player pathway meetings as required.
• To support the Head Coach and liaise with the RFU media and communications department regarding media matters for the pathway and associated England teams.
• Actively collaborate with colleagues to contribute to the development and delivery of the current strategic, business and operational plans.
• Act as an ambassador for, and promote the best interests of the RFU, including the promotion of our culture and core values.
• Undertake other duties as may be required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibilities of the post and the needs of the organisation.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience:

The skills and attributes outlined in this description are not exhaustive and we welcome candidates who can bring different relevant experiences to the role.

• RFU Level 3 coaching award (or equivalent) as a minimum.
• Experienced development coach (International and Premiership experience welcomed) with respect and credibility as a developer of young athletes.
• Experience of self-directed work and working as part of a team.
• High performance team coach with ability to deliver coaching across the pathway.
• Ability to build relationships with Premiership Club Coaches and Academy staff.
• Strong stakeholder management, ability to deal with difficult stakeholders.
• Ability to develop coaches, peers and other stakeholders.
• Technical and tactical knowledge.
• Understanding and experience in working with young people.
• Creative and innovative thinker.
• Must have a good knowledge of the structure and operation of Rugby Union in England.
• Personal time management and planning skills in order to focus on priorities in the face of a large workload.
• Excellent communicator and relationship builder.
• An excellent motivator of people.
• Ability to adapt to the specific needs of the various age-groups in England Rugby.
• Commitment to education and continuing professional development.
• Committed to embodying the ethos our culture by using our three core values.
• Committed to actively contributing and building an inclusive culture in your role and day to day behaviours.

Additional Information:

• We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential. If there is anything we could do to support you through your application or to provide the best environment for your interviews, including assistance or adjustment, please reach out to
• During your application, we will ask questions about your identity. This information is considered highly confidential and will not be seen by hiring managers. You can find out more about why we ask these questions.
• If you are a trans candidate applying for a job that requires a DBS check, please reach out to

for full details of this role.*

* We recommend keeping a copy of the JD to hand as you may wish to revisit the role requirements in the event you are invited to interview.