Gaëlle Mignot’s participation in the Gallagher High Performance Academy (GHPA) RWC 2025 cohort is proof that a coach never stops learning.
Gaëlle enjoyed a stellar playing career, in which she won 70 caps as a hooker between 2010 and 2018, and captained France to a Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam in 2014 and a Six Nations title two years later.
Apart from a spell playing for Richmond in England, Gaëlle played most of her club rugby for Montpellier, who were quick to identify her potential as a coach when she retired from playing in 2020.
Having started her coaching career with Montpellier’s academy, Gaëlle then made history when she became the first woman to coach a men’s team in the Top14 - when she was promoted to work with the club’s front-row forwards.
Her coaching skills were also noted by the French Federation, who appointed Gaëlle to Thomas Darraq’s coaching team for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand, where France won the bronze medal.
When Darraq stepped down after the tournament, Gaëlle and David Oritz were promoted to joint Head Coaches, roles they will hold for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England.
Although it might appear that Gaëlle has reached the pinnacle of her coaching career, she believes that she has scope for further development, hence her place on the GHPA RWC 2025 cohort, which follows her involvement in World Rugby’s ‘Rugby World Cup Coaching’ Internship Programme in 2021.
“Every day I get something positive out of my work,” Gaëlle told World Rugby.
“I’ve had the opportunity to pass on my passion for rugby to different audiences – young people, adults with disabilities, autistic or hyper-active children, all the boys’ and girls’ categories, right through to the specific professional sector – all of which has enriched me enormously.
“I’m looking forward to learning from new experiences and exchanging ideas on managing a female audience and getting a different perspective on the game.”
Gaëlle’s own rugby journey began at the age of seven, when she was encouraged by a cousin to take up the sport.
“He saw another girl try rugby out, so he came home that evening and suggested I give it a try. I tried it the following weekend and never stopped,” she said.
From those beginnings, a career at the highest level was forged, and Gaëlle hopes to help inspire the next generation of female players and coaches.
“My most beautiful rugby experiences are all the moments on and off the field with my club and my federation. Wearing the jersey of your country, or winning a title are moments engraved in my memory forever,” she said.
“I had such a good time playing. Rugby is a welcoming sport, accessible to all, and I wanted to pass on everything I’ve learned throughout my career.
“I also really enjoyed working on strategy and finding solutions to be better, so I wanted to train as a coach.
“I realised very early on that I wanted to teach the sport. I was then selected for the national team and realised that I couldn’t live without rugby, so I decided to coach the kids at the rugby school.”
