New Senior Women Coaching Team announced
Northumberland Rugby are delighted to announce the new coaching line up for the Senior Women for 24/25.
The new head coach will be Katie Crute. Katie is an England Rugby Coach Developer, the current Lead Coach for the U18’s Girls PDG and oversees the Newcastle University Women’s Performance Rugby Team.
Katie has played at the highest level of the women’s game including the Women’s Premiership and Championship as well as gaining International honours for England Deaf Rugby. Katie is incredibly passionate about developing women’s and girl’s rugby across the north east.
After 4 years working abroad in Fiji, Katie concluded her rugby playing with DMP sharks in 2022/23 after 3 seasons with the team. During this time, Katie was selected to be involved within the first cohort of the England Rugby Every Rose Scholarship. A season long program designed especially for female rugby coaches who were enrolled on the ER Advanced Coaching Award.
Since 2022, Katie has supported the growth of Newcastle University Women’s Rugby. Although the club now has 3 teams actively competing in BUCS one of her proudest contributions is the creation of the Tri Uni Tournament.
The tournament sees the top 3 University women’s teams in the North East competing ahead of the BUCs competition. With last years winners Durham hosting Newcastle & Northumbria on 23rd September 2024 it’s set to be another great encounter for North East rugby.
Ian Moralee, Director of Rugby for NRU added, “we are delighted that Katie has agreed to run the Women’s programme. Katie will be joined by a formidable coaching team including Falcons coach, Zoe Hornby, ex Harlequins player Bev Gilbert, Jess Richards and team manager Matt Blakesley-Spicer.”
