Salvin to join Wales Women’s coaching team

Exeter Chiefs Women’s head coach Steve Salvin has accepted an offer to join Wales Women’s coaching team on a permanent basis.

Salvin stepped in as interim forwards coach for the Guinness Women’s Six Nations and has now been offered a permanent role, which means he will leave Exeter Chiefs at the end of June.

He said: “This was obviously an incredibly difficult decision after such a wonderful five seasons with Chiefs. The job has changed mine, and my family's lives, in so many ways. Thank you so much to everyone who has made those give seasons so memorable. We will still be living in Exeter and coming to watch both the women and the men on a regular basis, and it will be lovely to remain part of the club in a slightly different way.

“I just want to say a big thank you to all the players who I have worked with and wish them the very best of luck for next season and remind them that they will have the best fans in the women's game cheering them on.”

Salvin will join head coach Sean Lynn as they prepare for the WXV Global Series in September, which will see Wales Women take on South Africa and USA at Cardiff Arms Park and with away tests to follow.

Lynn said: “Steve is a coach I knew well and respected from my time in the PWR, but I was really impressed with his technical expertise and how he relates to players in the women’s game.

“He made a real impact in a short time during the recent Six Nations, and I am delighted he will now come on board full-time with Wales.”

Salvin was head coach for the 2026/27 season following four seasons as assistant coach in charge of forwards and defence.

He arrived in Devon after two years as head coach of Rotherham Titans after a three-year stint as Yorkshire Carnegie’s academy coach.

Exeter Rugby Club’s CEO Tony Rowe CBE said: “We wish Steve all the very best for his new role with Wales. I would like to thank him for his service to our women’s team during the last four years, which saw him uproot his young family In Yorkshire and move down to Devon to start a new life with us.”

Exeter Chiefs Women will announce Salvin’s replacement in due course.