Charlotte Wathan has been appointed as National Female Engagement Manager to take women and girls’ community rugby to the next level.

Wathan  will draw on her wealth of experience in innovative engagement from her work in insight and evaluation with the award winning Us Girls project, Street Games and the Welsh Rugby Union to further grow, develop, promote and strengthen female rugby across Wales.

WRU Head of Participation Ryan Jones said, “This is an exciting appointment for the continued growth of the female game in Wales. Our ambition is to give every female who chooses to engage with our game a positive rugby experience that suits their lifestyle.

“Charlotte will build on the current opportunities to play rugby, continue to adapt our model and cater for the growing demand for the female game by providing a range of engaging formats and locations around Wales.”

A former senior lecturer at the University of South Wales, Wathan said: “I’m passionate about using cutting edge insight to provide an environment that females are motivated to be part of and ensure that the rugby formats on offer are fun, flexible and friendly to fit into the lives of busy Welsh women and girls of all ages and abilities.”

WRU Group Chief Executive Martyn Phillips added, “Women and girls’ rugby is a firm priority for us as a Union and we are looking forward to working with Charlotte to ensure our female offer is adaptable and accessible across Wales in order to build solid foundations to grow and sustain the female game and underpin the performance end of women’s rugby.”