England Rugby Women’s Pathway U21 Lead Physiotherapist in Home

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An opportunity has arisen for an England Rugby Women's Pathway U21 Lead Physiotherapist to join Performance Rugby in a contractor role.

The women’s game in England continues to move from strength to strength following the Red Roses’ victory at their home Rugby World Cup in 2025. The pathway aims to inspire and equip players to reach their potential, with the U21 programme working closely with key stakeholders to develop the most exciting talent in the England Rugby pathway. The programme includes a series of camps across the season and a competitive fixture schedule, including home and away standalone matches and the Women’s U21 Six Nations competition that runs alongside the senior programme in April and May.

Following the promotion of the current Women’s U21 Lead Physiotherapist to the Red Roses, there is an exciting opportunity to join the England Women’s U21 team. The post holder will provide physiotherapy support to athletes both in and out of camp, support player development as part of the wider Women’s U21 multidisciplinary team, and work closely with selected players and their domestic Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) clubs to ensure high-quality, consistent medical care. The successful individual will receive support and professional development from the RFU Professional Rugby Department Medical Team.

The Women’s U21 management team is made up of a full-time head coach, team operations manager, lead strength & conditioning coach and pathways analyst. These roles are supported by contracted roles, including an assistant coach, lead doctor, lead physiotherapist, camp physiotherapist and pathway nutritionist. The Women’s U21 team work closely with the wider England Rugby Women’s Pathway including the U18 programme and U18 Regional Player Development Groups (PDGs) to ensure players receive an aligned experience linked to a central development curriculum. The Women’s U21 team have an important relationship with the Red Roses management team to prepare players for a successful transition into the next stage of their rugby journey with the senior team. To support this, there will be opportunities for the post holder to spend time with the Red Roses medical team in camp.

Responsibilities

• To personally provide immediate medical care at all England Women’s U21 training sessions and competitions.
• To personally provide high standard physiotherapy care, assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation when appropriate for all squad members at all England Women’s U21 training sessions and competitions.
• To work with the Women’s U18 Lead Physiotherapist to ensure there is appropriate medical cover for England Women’s Pathway positional days.
• To work with the Women’s U21 Strength and Conditioning Coaches to establish the fitness to play status of squad members before designated squad training sessions or competitions.
• To establish and develop strong working relationships with club medical staff, including undertaking regular club visits, to support high-quality medical care for players.
• To support the Head Coach and Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach in medical aspects of player development and develop a screening and injury prevention plan.
• To work with the lead strength and conditioning coach to implement the injury prevention plans.
• To order and ensure the availability of physiotherapy equipment and supplies needed for optimal treatment of the squad.
• To ensure the safe and appropriate storage and disposal of all physiotherapy stock and supplies.
• To maintain comprehensive medical records for all player assessments and treatments using the Kitman Labs Intelligence Platform: Performance Medicine (iP:PM) electronic medical record system, in accordance with Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) guidelines and the RFU’s Best Practice Guidance for Medical Record Keeping by Medical Practitioners and Therapists.
• To provide clear communication to the Women’s U21s Head Coach on all fitness matters for squad players.
• To accompany and support the Head Coach and lead S&C coach on their club tour once a year and ensure medical works are included in each player’s IDP.
• To work closely with the team operations manager around player availability and IT system access.
• To assist in the implementation of best practice nutrition, hydration, and recovery protocols.
• To support the Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach on the development and delivery of injury prevention programmes.
• To support the Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach to ensure best practice is followed in warm up/recovery sessions.
• To assist the team doctor in the planning of tournaments and training camps.
• To collaborate and share working practices with other PRD, club and university medical teams to ensure alignment of working practice where appropriate.
• To attend three face-to-face PRD internal Medical CPD days per season and monthly Teams-based CPD when other commitments allow.
• To be an active member of the wider PRD Medical Services team.
• To actively collaborate with colleagues to contribute to the development and delivery of the current strategic, business and operational plans.
• To act as an ambassador for, and promote the best interests of the RFU, including the promotion of our culture and core values – This Rose Means Everyone: Put The Team First, Shape The Future, Respect Each Other.
• To undertake other duties as may be required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibilities of the post and the needs of the organisation.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Essential

• Graduate degree or equivalent in physiotherapy.
• Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) Membership.
• Current Level 3 Pre-Hospital Immediate Care in Sport accreditation (or equivalent).
• At least 3 years of post-graduate experience within elite sports physiotherapy.
• Demonstrable experience of providing physiotherapy support within an elite rugby or contact sport environment within the last 3 years.
• Evidence of continued medical education specific to Sport and Exercise Medicine.
• A range of diverse advanced clinical skills.
• Experience in the professional development of more junior medical staff.
• Commitment to embodying the ethos of our organisational culture by using our three core values – Put The Team First, Shape The Future, Respect Each Other – to guide your day-to-day decisions, actions and interactions.
• Commitment to actively contributing and building an inclusive culture in your role and day to day behaviours.

Desirable

• To hold or be working towards a post-graduate degree (MSc equivalent or higher) in Sports Physiotherapy, Sports Medicine, or Sports Science.
• Experience working with elite female athletes.
• Experience working with adolescent athletes.
• Experience of self-directed work and working as part of a travelling sports team.
• Experience in the management of female health conditions within a sporting environment.
• The ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• An understanding of and experience of applying appropriate medical ethics in an elite sports medicine environment.

This role will require a DBS check. All role holders must maintain an appropriate standard of confidentiality. Any disclosures of confidential information (including personal information kept on computer or other media) made unlawfully outside the proper course of duty will be treated as a serious disciplinary offence. The role description, person specification, job level and job title may be subject to change at the discretion of the RFU and under business developments. Any changes will be communicated to the role holder as appropriate.