Liza Burgess has been appointed Warriors Women’s new Forwards Coach ahead of the 2021/22 Allianz Premier 15s season, bringing a wealth of experience to Sixways having coached Wales and the Barbarians.
Burgess or ‘Bird’ as she is widely known in the game, was capped 87 times by Wales as well as representing Great Britain on six occasions during a playing career which spanned more than two decades.
“The welcome that I’ve received from everyone at Worcester Warriors has been phenomenal,” said a delighted Burgess.
“It’s been a fantastic experience from the off and I’m really excited to get started in this role. We’ve got straight into pre-season and I’m really excited to see how the players do when the new season starts.
“We have top four aspirations and for me it will be about building on the set-piece and focussing on the breakdown. I’ll be looking to bring the experience that I had in the Premier 15s and prior to that with Wales.
“I just want to add to what Worcester have got and it’s a great opportunity.”
The former second-row featured in four World Cups and captained Saracens to the first recorded domestic treble in the women’s game, underlining her stature as a player.
Inducted into the prestigious World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2018 alongside the likes of Ronan O’Gara and Stephen Larkham, Burgess made history in November 2019 as she became the first female Welsh Rugby Union vice-chair to be elected to the board.
Burgess makes the switch from Gloucester-Hartpury where she helped guide them to a fifth place finish in the Premier 15s last season.
Warriors Women Director of Rugby Jo Yapp said: “We are really pleased that Bird is joining us and she brings so much experience as a player and a coach.
“She is someone that is hugely respected in the women’s game. As a coach she has so much energy and drive, and is really passionate about coaching at Warriors.”