women
Premiership-womens-rugby
Exeter Chiefs The women have appointed the experienced Curtis Bradford as assistant coach ahead of the new JAECOO Premiership women’s rugby season.
The Welshman arrives in Devon after three-and-a-half years with Rugby Deutschland, where he most recently led the men’s XV program as director of rugby and was head coach Germany women’s sevens. Previously, Bradford was a union skills coach.
Bradford has held coaching and development roles with the Welsh Rugby Union, the Kuala Lumpur Tigers in Malaysia, the NSW Waratahs and the Austrian Rugby Union, along with coaching positions at clubs in Italy and Germany.
Upon arrival at Sandy Park, Bradford’s main responsibility will be to lead the defence.
Oli Bishop, Exeter Chiefs Women’s Head Coach, said: “Curtis really impressed us during 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 of how we can continue to develop as a team. Curtis has demonstrated this throughout the process and his ideas have delighted not only me and the coaching staff, but also the players involved.
“Curtis brings a wealth of experience from working with different teams in a number of countries. He was most recently 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 most importantly, an appreciation of the opportunities within the women’s game to innovate, challenge traditional thinking and continue to push the boundaries. That’s 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 the way he approaches the game, both in his planning and in his execution on the field. Defensively, we already have a strong foundation with the 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 not only shuts down the opposition, but actively creates pressure, forces mistakes and creates more opportunities to transition to offense. I believe Curtis has the knowledge and approach to help us take the next step.”
“As well as 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 of great value, especially if we are to increase the depth and quality within that group.”
Last season, Exeter finished third PWR and lost to the eventual champions Saracens in their playoff game. Bishop’s squad for the 2026/27 season Bristol Bears at Shaftesbury Park on Saturday 28 November in Round 2 of the new season.