Belinda Moore's Vision: Transforming Welsh Women's Rugby Culture and Contracts

Belinda Moore, recently appointed as the head of women's rugby in Wales, is focusing on revitalizing the team's culture and addressing player contracts as her top priorities. With a challenging task ahead, Moore aims to transform the women's game both on and off the pitch.

Moore stepped into her role just weeks ago, inheriting a team embroiled in a prolonged dispute over professional contracts in 2024, for which the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has apologized. This situation led Wales captain Hannah Jones to contemplate leaving international rugby due to the stress of negotiations.

The WRU conducted a comprehensive review, leading to Moore's appointment as part of its recommendations. Moore emphasized the importance of creating a supportive and proud environment for the players. "Creating the right culture and reviewing player contracts are at the very top of my list," she stated.

Moore will collaborate closely with new head coach Sean Lynn to prepare the team for the upcoming Women's Six Nations and the Rugby World Cup. Lynn, who recently concluded a successful tenure with Gloucester-Hartpury, is expected to bring a family-oriented culture to the team.

"We want the girls to feel that pride in pulling on the jersey again," Moore said. "Sean has done a great job. He talks a lot about family and the importance of that family culture around the team."

Beyond the Six Nations, the Women's Rugby World Cup represents a pivotal moment for Welsh rugby. Moore highlighted the positive momentum in the women's game, citing the 'Ilona Maher effect' at Bristol Bears as a testament to the growing interest and support.

"There's a lot of real positive momentum behind the women's game at the minute, and it's a really exciting time to be part of it," she said.

Moore, appointed on a nine-month interim basis in January, stressed the importance of listening and collaboration in her new role. She has been actively engaging with players to understand their needs and perspectives.

"There's been a very strong project that's been run as I was coming into post, which gave the players a chance to voice how they felt," Moore explained. "Reading that has been very useful. It's about building on that to go 'right, what do we need to do differently?'"

Ultimately, Moore is committed to placing the players at the center of all decisions: "They are the most important part of this whole operation."