University of Nottingham bolstered by Performance Rugby Partnership with Leicester Tigers

The partnership will see cooperation between the University of Nottingham Women’s Rugby Union Club and Leicester Tigers women's programme on key areas such as coaching resources, staff development, training and playing opportunities for young players, plus integration into the established pathway programme.

Performance Partnership - University of Nottingham and Leicester Tigers

Bolstering the pathway programme is key to the focus of the women's programme in a bid to create sustained success, with an initial increased focus on developing home-grown internationals.

Speaking about the partnership, the club's Women's Director of Rugby Fraser Goatcher said:

This partnership is a real boost to what we are doing at the club this season and for the future, long-term success of the women's programme at Leicester Tigers." "In a few short months, we have already laid integral foundations for the new approach at the club, which we believe will help to develop this programme and those committed to it for years to come, and this partnership is only going to further strengthen those for all involved." "We are also excited to be able to offer young women's players new avenues to be identified and then developed into Premiership players.

Fraser Goatcher
Leicester Tigers Director of Women's Rugby

University of Nottingham Women’s Rugby Union head coach Tim Westwood added:

At the University of Nottingham Women’s Rugby Union club, we are thrilled to become a performance partner of Leicester Tigers Women. To have a clear pathway for our most gifted and talented players to earn an opportunity to represent one of the most famous and prestigious clubs in World Rugby is outstanding. We look forward to working closely with Fraser and his team as this partnership develops over the coming years.

Tim Westwood
University of Nottingham Women’s Rugby Union Head Coach

Notes for editors

University of Nottingham are the top UK University for team sport, placing 2nd in the overall British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) rankings in the 2024/25 season. For more information on our performance sport offer, including scholarships and support for student athletes, please click here.