Chiefs Women appoint new assistant coach

Exeter Chiefs Women have appointed Curtis Bradford as their new assistant coach to concentrate on defence for the 2026/27 season.

Bradford is making the move from his current position as director of Rugby Germany’s men’s XVs and head coach of the German women’s sevens squad. He was Germany’s national skills coach for two years after coaching three European club teams in Germany, Italy and Austria.

He also spent four years as Rugby Austria’s national coach and in development roles for NSW Rugby in Australia, Kuala Lumpur Tigers in Malaysia and the Welsh Rugby Union.

Exeter Chiefs Women’s head coach Oli Bishop said: “Curtis really impressed us throughout both stages of the interview process. First and foremost, his values and beliefs align closely with the identity and culture we are building at Chiefs. It was important for us to bring in someone who not only shares our values but also has a clear vision for how we can continue to evolve as a team. Curtis demonstrated that throughout the process, and his ideas excited not just me and the coaching staff, but also the players who were involved.

“Curtis brings a wealth of experience from working with different teams across a number of countries. Most recently, he has been director of rugby for Rugby Germany. That experience has given him a strong understanding of the differences between the men's and women's games, but importantly, an appreciation of the opportunities within the women's game to innovate, challenge traditional thinking and continue to push boundaries. That is something I'm particularly passionate about, and I think Curtis will bring a fresh perspective to our environment.

“From a coaching perspective, Curtis is very process-driven, logical and clear in how he approaches the game, both in his planning and his delivery on the pitch. Defensively, we already have a strong foundation at Chiefs, and I'm excited to see how he can build on that. We want to become a more aggressive and connected defensive side, one that doesn't just stop the opposition but actively creates pressure, forces mistakes and generates more opportunities to transition into attack. I believe Curtis has the knowledge and approach to help us take that next step.

“Alongside leading our defence, Curtis will also work closely with our backs. Having another coach who can bring fresh ideas, challenge our thinking and invest in the individual development of our players will be hugely valuable, particularly as we look to grow the depth and quality within that group.”

Bradford will arrive in the UK today ready to meet up with the coaching team tomorrow.

He said: “I wanted to come to Chiefs because I believe that we have an exciting group of players and staff, and a group that are focused on developing together. Culture is massively important to me and I was really impressed with how intentional the club has been in that area.”

Exeter Rugby Club’s CEO Tony Rowe CBE said: “We are very pleased to welcome Curtis to the women’s coaching team ahead of the start of the PWR season next month. He has extensive experience in both men’s and women’s rugby in a range of different competitions. I believe he will bring something different to our current set-up and complement the work of Oli and our forwards coach Ross Bundy.”