As a review – one of several currently ongoing within the WRU – seeks to look at how the contract row could have been better handled, the players have already been consulted over who they want as Wales head coach.
“I would like someone that has experience in the women’s game,” Wales flanker Alisha Joyce-Butchers told The Good, The Scaz & The Rugby podcast.
“We spoke about Simon Middleton and a couple of the PWR coaches. Sean Lynn [Gloucester-Hartpury] is Welsh, would he come? Same with Dave Ward [Bristol Bears] and Alex Austerberry [Saracens].
“If we can get the right appointment in that role, we can thrive as a squad, I truly believe that.”
But former Wales fly-half Elinor Snowsill disagrees.
“I don’t think we should limit ourselves to just coaches who have coached in the women’s game as long as they’re emotionally intelligent to be able to apply their knowledge to a different playing group, that’s the important thing,” she said.
“Wayne Smith [New Zealand] and John Mitchell [England], as far as I’m aware, didn’t have any previous experience in the women’s game but are having success.”
