Women’s Pathway and PDG Strength and Conditioning Coach - U18

Join to apply for the Women’s Pathway and PDG Strength and Conditioning Coach - U18 role at England Rugby.

Overview

This fixed-term opportunity is to join the Pathway team on a 2-year contract. Salary is c. £35,000 depending on experience; your actual pay will be based on skills and experience—talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Job Details

• Job Title: Women’s Pathway and PDG Strength & Conditioning Coach (U18s)
• Department: Professional Rugby Department
• Reports to: Athletic Performance Manager – Women’s Game
• Salary: £35,000 depending on experience
• Job Level: Guide
• Location: Hybrid
• Employment Type: 2-year Fixed Term Contract
• Working Hours: 35 hours per week

Application Information

• Please submit an anonymised CV and cover letter (exclude personal details).
• The closing date for applications: Sunday 14 September 2025 at 9pm.

Please note: we are experiencing issues with applications from certain email providers. Please apply using a different email address if you typically use Live, MSN, Hotmail, or Outlook to ensure communications.

The Role

The U18 & PDG Strength & Conditioning Coach will carry out all S&C delivery for the U18 England team, operating within a multidisciplinary performance support team to create world-class environments and build bespoke individual development plans for the development of young English players. This role will work in partnership with the nine PDG Centres to deliver the physical attributes required for individual players to maximise rugby potential and requires close collaboration with key PDG staff to ensure players are able to transition between regional and national environments. The role may also provide coaching support at England U20 camps as required and provide advice and educational materials on athletic development for the benefit of the game of rugby.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver world-class conditioning programs to developing rugby players and monitor the efficacy of the program design for individual players.
• Communicate effectively with international, PDG and other relevant performance teams on individual player development.
• Attend all required England U18 training camps, matches and tours and work full-time out of camps.
• Aid in the strategic planning to meet current and future development requirements.
• Effectively collate a broad range of sport science data and evidence to drive athletic performance development in our best young players.
• Plan, implement, monitor and coach individualised fitness programs for England players during camp and competition periods.
• Deliver nutritional advice and good nutritional behaviours in U18 players and coordinate the activities of consultants including pathway nutritionists.
• Support the PDG S&C Coaches to embed and deliver the Athletic Development Framework to all U18 PDG players.
• Support the administration of S&C provision within the U18 Girls PDG programme.
• Build and maintain excellent relationships with the PDGs and other key stakeholders to ensure effective communication on individual player development.
• Assist in the planning and coordination of team camps and tours to ensure optimal player preparation.
• To work with the women’s U20 S&C coach and the wider RFU performance teams to further develop best practice for fitness development, profiling and recovery.
• Participate in specified research projects as required.
• Maintain a commitment to self-development; continue to research and develop current practice to ensure delivery is maintained at the highest possible standards.
• 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 – This Rose Means Everyone: Put The Team First, Shape The Future, Respect Each Other.
• 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; we welcome candidates who can bring different relevant experiences to the role.

• Credible experience of planning, implementing, coordinating, and monitoring individual fitness programmes within an elite sport environment.
• Significant experience leading an athletic development programme, ideally with experience of working in an academy setting.
• Experience working with, and thus understanding, the unique working context of adolescent athletes is favourable.
• Proven technical capability to a UKSCA or similar formal or applied professional standard.
• Be comfortable using and interpreting information from player monitoring systems (such as GPS and heart rate) and physical testing systems (such as force plates). The candidate must be capable of processing and reporting such performance data for use by the coaches and the performance team.
• Strong motivational, leadership, communication and listening skills.
• Demonstrate an understanding of high professional standards combined with passion, confidence, and a proven track record of fitness coaching.
• Commitment to education and continuing professional development.
• 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 – This Rose Means Everyone: Put The Team First, Shape The Future, Respect Each Other.
• 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.

Additional Information

• We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills; if you need support during the application or adjustments, please reach out to recruitment@rfu.com.
• During your application, we will ask questions about 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 here.
• This role will require a DBS check.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Contract

Job function

• Management

Industries

• Spectator Sports and Sports Teams and Clubs