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Trailfinders announce shock exit of Giselle Mather

EXETER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: Giselle Mather, Director of Women's Rugby at Ealing Trailfinders looks on prior to the Allianz Premiership Women's Rugby match between Exeter Chiefs and Trailfinders Women at Sandy Park on January 07, 2024 in Exeter, England. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Trailfinders Women have announced that Director of Rugby Giselle Mather has left the club just over a week before the team is due to start their season in the PWR Up Series.

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The decision, said to be mutual, was made due to a ‘difference in philosophy’ ahead of their second top-flight season.

Mather, who as a player won the 1994 World Cup with England, was a runner-up for PWR Coach of the Season for 2023/24 alongside Loughborough Lightning’s Nathan Smith with Gloucester-Hartpury’s Sean Lynn earning the accolade after back-to-back PWR titles.

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Trailfinders finished sixth in their first season in the league, ending their maiden campaign on a high with a 54-27 victory against local rivals Harlequins.

Mather, previously Director of Rugby at Wasps, built the Trailfinders team from scratch, recruiting international stars such as Abby Dow, Kate Zackary, Tyson Beukeboom, and Lindelwa Gwala ahead of their first top-flight season.

After first joining the club in 2022, she blended youth with experience in the set-up, nurturing the development of younger players alongside stars of the game.

Mather said on the club’s website: “I am immensely proud to have built the foundations for future success for Trailfinders Women. Building an elite premiership side from scratch has been an incredible project, and leading it has been an honour.

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“Due to a difference in philosophy for our second season, we have reached a mutual decision to part ways. I would like to acknowledge the huge privilege it has been to work with the amazing and talented athletes and committed staff at the Club. I am proud of the momentum we have built during our inaugural season. I wish all those involved every success going forward.”

Mather’s unexpected departure is the third from a female head coach in the league ahead of the 2024/25 season, following Vicky Macqueen leaving Leicester Tigers and Harlequins’ Amy Turner moving to another role at the men’s side of the club.

A trailblazer in her field, Mather became the first female coach to be employed full-time by a men’s Premiership side when she became London Irish’s Academy Coach and ASSE (Advanced Apprenticeship and Sporting Excellence) Head Coach.

One of the first Red Roses, with cap number 35, Mather has additionally worked as Head Coach of England U20s Women and Assitant Coach of the England women’s senior team.

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The Telegraph report that Mather’s exit was the result of a disagreement with Ealing Trailfinders Managing Director Ben Ward, who said in the club’s statement: “I would like to thank Giselle Mather for how hard she has worked for Trailfinders Women and what she has accomplished. Building a new team is incredibly hard, and she led us forward in our first season in the PWR.

“Our style of rugby represents the Trailfinders way and has been enjoyable to watch. She is written into the history books at Ealing Trailfinders and Trailfinders Women. We wish Giselle the best for the future.”

The PWR Up Series starts on 7 September with Trailfinders due to play Harlequins on the 8th. The PWR league season will start on 5 October, with Trailfinders facing Saracens in the first match.

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Comments

1 Comment
B
BC 64 days ago

I too have huge respect for Giselle. I suspect that she wanted to stay true to attacking running rugby but the CEO wanted results and a more pragmatic approach. I can see some players leaving. She should be involved in international rugby preferably with the Red Roses but she deserves a No 1 role.

C
CN 67 days ago

Ealing is not my club, although I am full of admiration for Giselle Mather and what she achieved at the club. She has been a trailblazer for women's rugby for some time and became one of the first qualified female coaches. I am sure she will not be short of offers, maybe a place for her in the Red Roses set up or another international team following the path of Jo Yapp

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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