Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
USA Rugby have named Interim Head Coaches for the Women’s and Men’s Eagles. Richard Ashfield and Scott Lawrence step into the respective roles following the departures of Gary Gold and Rob Cain in recent weeks. Both will stay in place until full-time successors are chosen following a High Performance review and application process.
Ashfield has been an Assistant Coach with the Women’s Eagles since 2013. Originally from Northern Ireland, he played for Ulster at age-grade level. At the collegiate level Ashfield has been an assistant with Stanford since 2017. His first tests in charge are expected to be in March as the USA takes their first steps in preparation for the 2025 World Cup.
Lawrence won five caps for the Eagles as a flanker before coaching the USA u20s to a Junior World Trophy title in 2012. He was the long-time Director of Rugby for Life University until taking over as Head Coach for Rugby ATL in Major League Rugby in 2020. Since stepping down ahead of the 2021 campaign he has acted as an Assistant Coach for the Men’s Eagles.
It will be double-duty for Lawrence, who also takes on the role of Interim GM of Men’s High Performance. Dan Payne had previously held the role but has stepped down, though he remains involved with USA Rugby as an advisor on special projects.
