Latest news from Loughborough University

21 May 2015

Bemand named as England Women’s Rugby Union Lead Coach

Loughborough University is incredibly proud to confirm that former Loughborough Rugby Union coach Scott Bemand has been named as the Lead Coach for the England Women’s team.

Appointed as Skills and Attack Coach for Loughborough Students Rugby in March 2012, Bemand brought a vast amount of experience to the rugby programme during the two years he was here. In his first full-time coaching role after a long and successful playing career that culminated in an England cap against the Barbarians, Scott was very popular within the Loughborough set-up, and helped raise our already high standards.

Earlier this year the England team finished fourth in the Women’s Six Nations, and one of Bemand’s first tasks will be trying to guide the team back to the imperious form they showed when lifting the World Cup in 2014.

The former Harlequins, Leicester Tigers and Bath man will also be aiming to successfully defend the Women’s World Cup crown in Ireland in 2017.

Of the announcement, Bemand said:

“I’m unbelievably proud to get the opportunity to defend a Rugby World Cup and be involved with a rugby program with so much potential. It is testament to the fast paced sporting culture at Loughborough University that I was able to develop my coaching skill-set that has led to this opportunity. The values that are important to the club hold true and I look forward to being the best coach I can be.”

Speaking on behalf of Loughborough, Director of Rugby Dave Morris added:

“I speak on behalf of everyone involved in rugby at Loughborough in saying we’re delighted for Scotty. Scott undoubtedly has the personality, skill-set and drive to succeed in his new role, and we’re really pleased we could make a contribution to his development.

“Scott brought a huge amount of technical and tactical experience to the Loughborough set-up during the two years he was here, as well as having a big impact on our culture thanks to his hugely positive, enthusiastic and energising personality. Off the field Scott is a family man who conducts himself with real integrity, so I’m sure he’ll be a huge asset to the RFU.”

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR 15/92

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world, and was named University of the Year in the What Uni Student Choice Awards 2015. Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. It was 2nd in the 2015 THE Student Experience Survey and was named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. Loughborough University London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.

Contact for all media enquiries

Pete Matthews
PR Officer for Sport
Loughborough University
P.W.Matthews@lboro.ac.uk
01509 228686