Former Wallaby Scott Fava joins Harlequins as defence coach for new PWR season

Scott Fava, the former Australia back-row who guided the Brumbies to five Super Rugby Women semi-finals, has been appointed defence coach at Harlequins ahead of the 2026/27 Premiership Women’s Rugby season.

The 50-year-old brings a decorated résumé to The Stoop. As a player, Fava won a Super Rugby title with the Brumbies, earned five Wallabies caps and represented Australia in rugby sevens at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. His coaching career has been equally well-travelled: he served as the Wallaroos’ defence coach at Rugby World Cup 2021 before spending four years as head coach of the Brumbies in Super Rugby Women.

“I’m looking forward to getting going and getting integrated into such a great, family-focused club,” Fava said. “I see a lot of good intent in what we’re doing already in defence, but I want to try and add a bit more around our systems and processes that will help us when we’re under fatigue on the field. I want to help the players grow as individuals and as players.”

Harlequins head coach Ross Chisholm welcomed the appointment, saying Fava’s experience at both international and club level in the women’s game would be “invaluable” to the programme. “His record as a player speaks for itself, but he has also built a hugely impressive body of work as a coach in both the women’s and men’s game,” Chisholm said. “I’m confident he will be a major asset to the club.”

Fava’s arrival comes at a challenging moment for the club. Captain Aoife Wafer and Wales back Kayleigh Powell have already been ruled out of the start of the season, while Clàudia Peña Hidalgo, Silvia Turani, Lizzie Hanlon and Sarah Perry will also miss the opening fixtures through injury.

Harlequins also confirmed the departure of assistant coach Chris Laidlaw, who has joined Scotland’s women’s programme on a full-time basis following the conclusion of his secondment at the club.