Loughborough Lightning Head Coach Nathan Smith will spend a period of time away on secondment with Canada Women, with Rachel Taylor promoted on an interim basis during his absence.
Throughout September and into late October, Smith will operate as the Canucks’ Assistant Coach during WXV, followed by their subsequent Test matches against England.
The 2025 World Cup finalists kick off their WXV 1 campaign against Scotland at Hive Stadium, Edinburgh, on Saturday 12 September, before taking on the Red Roses at Sandy Park a week later. Canada’s WXV commitments conclude with a trip to La Rochelle on Sunday, 27 September, to face France.
Canada then return home for a two‑Test series against England, beginning in Toronto on Saturday 17 October, with the second instalment taking place a week later in Ottawa.
It is the second time Smith has been called upon to join the Canadian coaching team this calendar year, having led their lineout during the Pacific Four Series fixtures against Australia, USA and New Zealand back in April.
Smith’s absence will cover the entirety of the JAECOO PWR Next Gen Cup campaign, which begins with a trip to Sale Sharks on Saturday, 19 September, with Assistant Coach Taylor stepping up during that period.
“Once more, I am grateful to Loughborough University for allowing me to go away on secondment, and to Canada for extending the opportunity,” said Smith. “I returned from my first secondment enriched and a better coach for the experience.
“I am confident that it will go up another level this time, as challenges do not get much bigger in women’s rugby than preparing a side to face the Red Roses three times, as well as playing in four different countries across my time away.
“I leave the Lightning team in extremely capable hands. Tails [Taylor] is a former Head Coach at PWR level and is a very capable operator, as is Matt Campbell, who worked with much of the group that will form the Lightning squad during this period in Loughborough University’s BUCS Super Rugby Milk Championship‑winning campaign last season.”
Smith will return to Lightning on Monday, 24 October, ahead of their JAECOO PWR 2026/27 opener against Trailfinders Women at Franklin’s Gardens on Friday, 20 November (kick‑off 7.30pm).
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