The RFU has today announced that Simon Middleton will become head coach of England Women's Rugby team. The current 7's coach, will become 15's coach in a new combined role after the completion of the Sevens World Series in May. It has been announced that the fixed term contract will run until 2017, the year of the next World Cup. With much of the squad playing both 7's and 15's rugby, it seems he will take up an over-seeing role which branches both disciplines.
Nicky Ponsford, head of women's performance, has been in temporary charge of the team since the departure of head coach Gary Street just before the start of the Six Nations in January. Street lead the team to multiple successful tournaments over the years he spent as head coach, culminating in the World Cup win last year in France. England beat Canada 21-9 in the final in Paris and less than six months later he stepped down.