Loughborough University Director of Rugby

DURATION: Full time
LOCATION: Loughborough University
CLOSING DATE: Sunday 16th August 2026

Lead one of the most high-profile university rugby programmes in the UK and shape its future on the national and international stage.

Loughborough Sport is a world-leading, athlete-centred and research-driven environment, where performance, participation and people thrive together. Rugby sits at the heart of this ecosystem, spanning elite performance, student experience, professional pathways and commercial growth.

We are seeking an exceptional Director of Rugby to provide strategic, technical and cultural leadership across men’s and women’s rugby. This is a unique opportunity to define a bold vision, drive performance excellence and position Loughborough as a leading force in university and professional rugby.

What you’ll do:

Set and deliver a long-term strategy for rugby, shaping performance, participation, people and commercial growth.
Lead and inspire a high-performing rugby programme across men’s and women’s teams, including Lightning Rugby and BUCS competition.
Provide senior technical leadership and oversight, ensuring world-class coaching, playing identity and performance standards.
Develop and strengthen strategic partnerships with the RFU, Premiership and Championship clubs, and key rugby stakeholders.
Drive commercial growth and sustainability through innovative partnerships and revenue opportunities.
Oversee talent identification, recruitment and progression pathways into elite and professional rugby.
Champion an inclusive, high-performance culture that supports athlete wellbeing, development and dual careers.

What we’re looking for:

A credible and experienced leader with extensive technical knowledge of rugby and a strong background in high-performance environments.
A strategic thinker who can combine long-term vision with delivery of performance outcomes.
Proven experience influencing senior stakeholders across sport, education or professional contexts.
A strong leader with the ability to develop teams, drive standards and build a positive, high-performance culture.
Excellent communication and decision-making skills in high-pressure, high-visibility environments.
A deep understanding of rugby systems, pathways and the wider performance landscape.
Level 4 Rugby Coaching Qualification (or equivalent experience).

Join us and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of rugby at Loughborough, where excellence is expected, innovation is encouraged, and your leadership will have a lasting impact across the game.