Kris de Scossa has been revealed as the new new head coach of the Wales Women’s team, replacing Jason Lewis who stood down after last year’s World Cup in Guildford.

De Scossa has been working with the Canadian women’s team and was part of the back room staff which guided the side to sixth place in last year’s World Cup – Wales eventually finished ninth.

He will be joined by assistants Liza Burgess, who is one of the most respected coaches in the women’s game, while Beddau head coach Rhys Edwards makes up the coaching trio.

Edwards is also Head Coach of Blues South U16s while he is a PE teacher by profession and currently is Head of PE and Year at Caldicot School.

Tanzanian-born de Scossa brings a wealth of experience to the WRU Women’s programme. After moving to England, he excelled at the U21, U19, and U16 levels. He went on to play senior rugby for Somerset, the South West of England, Old Redcliffians and Bath Rugby, finishing his playing career in 1997.

Kris has coached professionally at Elite level within England, Australia and Italy, as well as coaching with top clubs in Sydney, Rome and England.

Coaching the seven’s game he has excelled in European championships and assisted Glen Ella with Australia in the World Series. The last four years has seen de Scossa work in Alberta and British Colombia, Canada, as well as returning to Europe to conduct elite specialist sessions in the English Premiership.

He was a Canadian High Performance Coach to National teams. He undertook the role of lead coach of National Age Grade Women’s teams, as well as the role of co-coach/assistant coach with the Canadian National Senior Women’s Team at XV’s & VII’s.