This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Now a coach and no longer playing.. (November 2023) |
Rachel Taylor (born 13 June 1983) is a Welsh former rugby union player who plays in either Lock or back row for the Bristol Ladies/Newport Gwent Dragons and the Wales women's national rugby union team. She won her first international cap against Canada in 2007, and has since captained the team. Following retirement in 2018, she became the first female head coach of a WRU National League club side,[1] before becoming the skills coach for Wales Women between November 2020 and February 2021.[2] In September 2021, Taylor joined Premiership Womens Rugby team Sale Sharks Women as the club's performance coach.[3]
| Date of birth | 13 June 1983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 75 kg (11 st 11 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Aberaeron | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Cardiff Metropolitan University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Paraveterinary worker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life
editRachel Taylor was born in Bangor on 13 June 1983.[4] She began playing rugby at the age of five, later describing her family as "rugby-orientated" since her father was a rugby coach and her older brother already played for a local team. Although she tried a variety of sports in her youth, she returned to rugby. Once her brother switched to playing association football, she focused on rugby, seeking to play for her national team.[5] She is trained as a Paraveterinary worker,[5] and gave the keynote speech at the British Veterinary Association in 2017.[6]
Playing career
editAs of 2017, her official Wales Rugby Union biography states that she is 1.75 metres (5.7 ft) tall and weighs 75 kilograms (11.8 st). She has been given the nickname "Tails" by her teammates. She made her debut for the Wales women's national rugby union team against Canada in 2007.[4] She was first named as captain of the team in 2012 for the Women's Six Nations Championship.[7]
Taylor won her 50th cap for Wales when she played against Ireland in the 2015 Women's Six Nations Championship.[8] She has continued to captain her national team, including at the 2016 Women's Six Nations Championship.[9] She is also involved in encouraging women's rugby at a grassroots level, being the Wales Rugby Union coordinator for the RGC West area in North Wales.[10] This was in preparation for a transition from her playing career into retirement.[6]
References
edit- ^ "New role for ex Wales skipper". Scrum Queens. 8 July 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ "Rachel Taylor: Wales skills coach resigns ahead of 2021 Women's Six Nations start". BBC Sport. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ Diamond, Sam (1 September 2021). "Former Wales star Taylor joins Sharks Women's coaching team". Sale Sharks. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Rachel Taylor". Wales Rugby Union. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ a b Corbet, Thomas (6 February 2015). "Taylor Carrying the Family Name at Women's Six Nations". RBS 6 Nations. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ a b "Welsh rugby star to speak at BVNA Congress". MRCVS Online. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ Williams, Mike (23 January 2013). "Bay rugby star Rachel will captain women". North Wales Pioneer. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ "Wales Women's captain Rachel Taylor joins 50-cap club against Ireland as they chase Triple Crown". Wales Online. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ "Six Nations: Rachel Taylor to captain Wales Women's team". BBC Sport. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ Jones, Liz (8 March 2016). "Rachel Taylor Issues Rallying Call on International Women's Day". Wales Rugby Union. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
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