SA Rugby has announced the appointment of Lynne Cantwell as its first ever High Performance Manager for Women’s Rugby.
Cantwell is a former Ireland captain and will work closely with Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus, GM of Rugby Charles Wessels, and Springbok Women’s coach Stanley Raubenheimer, to improve the women’s game in South Africa.
The Springbok Women will take part in the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in September.
“If we’re serious about women’s rugby – and we are – we had to make a serious appointment, and we have,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby. “Lynne comes on board at a time when we have committed to growing the game amongst women – a directive from World Rugby and a South African national imperative.”
Cantwell, who served as an Executive Committee Board member with Sport Ireland, said: “Globally, women’s rugby has been recognised as the strategic growth area for the game where it is experiencing rapid transformation as a result of World Rugby’s focus. At SA Rugby, we are committed to progress, but recognize the work that needs to be done to repair and rebuild in order to move forward.”
Cantwell holds a degree in Sports and Exercise Science from the University of Limerick in Ireland and has a Masters in Physiotherapy from Southampton University in England. The former outside centre amassed 86 Test caps for Ireland.
