World Rugby Appoints Nicky Ponsford As Director of High Performance

World Rugby has announced the appointment of Nicky Ponsford as its Director of High Performance after being the Women’s High-Performance Manager since 2021.

Ponsford has been in the interim Director of High Performance role combining her role across the women’s game with a broader remit. She has been involved in exploring the opportunities of unions preparing for the new men’s Nations Cup from 2026, a remodelled Men’s Rugby World Cup qualification model, and discussions around future women’s competition models.

The sports governing body says she has been “instrumental in resetting the sport’s global high performance structures, creating a targeted approach to high-performance gains in line with the sport’s mission to increase its global audience share.”

Photo Credit – World Rugby – World Rugby Appoints Nicky Ponsford As Director of High Performance

Ponsford said, “This is an era-defining time for a sport with a clear growth mandate over the next decade and I am excited about working across the business, and more broadly with unions and regions to provide targeted solutions that sustainably support increases in competitiveness within a calendar that includes new competition models and expanded men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups and beyond.”

Ponsford will be heavily involved in discussing with unions and regions on individualised programmes that will help advance rugby on the field which in the near future sees the two-division Nations Cup from 2026, the introduction of Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup, and the new Men’s Rugby World Cup qualification model

She will also be reviewing the global women’s competition models.

World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said of her appointment: “We are delighted to confirm Nicky Ponsford as Director of High Performance following a global process. One of the most successful and widely respected high-performance managers in the global game, Nicky will continue to bring her considerable experience and energy to a role that is pivotal in supporting our mission to grow the global game, broadening its appeal to more people in more nations.”

Nicky Ponsford Rugby Achievements

Ponsford has helped unions to prepare for events such as the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021 and WXV, while also contributing to the reshaping of the global calendar.

Other highlights include introducing new coach education programmes and the deployment of specialist performance consultants to raise global standards as part of the women’s rugby plan.

World Rugby Director of Competitions and Performance Nigel Cass added: “With the sport entering an important and exciting era with new men’s and women’s calendars and competitions and expanded Rugby World Cups within a clear growth mandate, Nicky will bring her passion, expertise and collaborative approach to helping targeted unions achieve their potential, raising the competitiveness of the global game and ultimately unlocking new revenue opportunities for all.”

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