Much-travelled Patricia Garcia Rodriguez has a passion for coaching
Patricia Garcia Rodriguez was one of Spain’s leading sevens players, starring for the national side at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, as well as playing top-flight domestic rugby in Spain, England and New Zealand. However, it is as a coach that she is now making her mark in rugby.
Following her experience in the Gallagher High Performance Academy, Garcia Rodriquez is set on inspiring the next generation of players through her role as Assistant Coach of the Spanish women’s national side.
As Spain’s representative on the Gallagher High Performance Academy for WXV 2023, she relished the opportunity to learn from other developing coaches around the world.
Reflecting on her time embedded within the national team set-up, Patricia said: “one of the highlights of the tournament was working alongside the girls that I have played with, but sharing those experiences in a slightly different capacity due to my new role as a coach.”
Garcia Rodriguez’s love of coaching is not limited to rugby. She has also coached basketball and athletics in Spain and enjoys sharing her passion to help inspire and improve players.
“I have always loved not just practicing sport, but also coaching it,” she said.
“One word that comes to mind when thinking about the Gallagher High Performance Academy is ‘proud’. Proud of the people I worked with; proud of myself for putting myself in this situation; but more than anything, I'm so proud of the team.”
Garcia Rodriguez was also nominated by the Spanish Rugby Federation for the 2024 Gallagher High Performance Academy at this year’s SVNS Series, following the programme’s expansion across all formats of the women’s game.