Six Nations winner Gill Bourke joins Leicester Tigers as lead forwards coach for 2026/27

Gill Bourke, a two-time Women’s Six Nations winner and 51-cap Ireland international, has been named lead forwards coach at Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2026/27 Premiership Women’s Rugby season.

The 42-year-old former front-row arrives with a broad coaching pedigree, having spent two years with Rugby Australia in various roles, most recently as an assistant with the Wallaroos at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Prior to that, she spent six months working with the Springbok Women following her retirement from playing.

Bourke’s playing career took her across club rugby in Ireland, France and England — with stints at Munster, UL Bohemians, Stade Français, Harlequins and Loughborough Lightning — before she represented Ireland at the 2010 and 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cups. At the 2014 tournament she was voted into the Dream Team alongside Ireland teammate Niamh Briggs and a cohort that included Emily Scarratt, Maggie Alphonsi and Magali Harvey.

Her appointment is one of several significant changes to Leicester’s backroom. The club finished bottom of the PWR table last season without a single win, and have invested heavily in their programme this summer. Head coach Ross Bundy, who took charge ahead of 2025/26, departed during the off-season to join Exeter Chiefs.

Fraser Goatcher remains as Director of Women’s Rugby. Ben Duke, previously the Tigers’ Under-23s lead and current head of community, has been appointed lead backs and assistant attack coach. Ben Slessor, a former Scotland age-grade international, steps into the lead U23 role and will also oversee first-team defence.

George Cox, who joined the club ahead of last season, has been appointed contact skills coach. The 29-year-old former Northampton Saints academy player spent nearly a decade with Championship side Nottingham before moving into coaching. Adam Dowsett, who joined in February from Trailfinders Women and Wasps Women, continues as head of performance.

The collective overhaul signals a clear intent from Leicester to turn the page on a difficult campaign and establish themselves as a competitive force in the PWR.