Claire Bain has no regrets about the moment she swapped ballet for rugby.
They did not play rugby when Claire Bain started school in Cupar, in Fifeshire, but she is indebted to the teacher who was talked into starting after-school sessions.
“There was no team, but we managed to talk a geography teacher into starting rugby after school,” Bain told World Rugby.
“I actually gave up ballet dancing to play rugby. I’ve always been obsessed with watching, playing and talking rugby since then.”
Bain’s rugby journey took her through Scotland’s pathway system into the senior side, where she is now passing on her knowledge and passion for the game as one of her country’s talented emerging coaches.
“I enjoy working with players and other coaches trying to better players and the team as a collective,” she said.
“I also enjoy the tactical side of rugby, previewing, planning and working with players to break down teams.”
Bain is currently assistant coach of Watsonians Women in Edinburgh and has also coached Edinburgh Regional Academy’s Under-16s boys’ team.
Her involvement in the Gallagher High Performance Academy will be an important next stage in her coaching development.
“I hope to gain valuable coaching experiences from the Academy; putting myself outside my comfort zone into new environments, learning from other coaches across the world and getting an insight into different coaching cultures and philosophies,” she said.