:Rachel Taylor (rugby union)
{{short description|Wales international rugby union footballer}}
{{Update|reason=Now a coach and no longer playing.|date=November 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Rachel Taylor
| image =
| image_size =
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| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|06|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales
| height = {{convert|1.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|75|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
| school = Aberaeron
| university = Cardiff Metropolitan University
| relatives =
| occupation = Paraveterinary worker
| ru_currentposition = Lock/back row
| ru_currentteam =
| ru_position =
| ru_amateuryears =
| ru_amateurclubs =
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| ru_clubyears = 20xx–
20xx–
| ru_proclubs = Bristol Ladies
Newport Gwent Dragons
| ru_clubcaps =
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| ru_clubupdate =
| ru_nationalyears = 2007–2017
| ru_nationalteam = Wales
| ru_nationalcaps = 67
| ru_nationalpoints =
| ru_ntupdate = 25 May 2017
| ru_sevensnationalyears =
| ru_sevensnationalteam =
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| website =
}}
Rachel Taylor (born 13 June 1983) is a Welsh former rugby union player who plays in either Lock or back row for the Bristol Ladies/Newport Gwent Dragons and the Wales women's national rugby union team. She won her first international cap against Canada in 2007, and has since captained the team. Following retirement in 2018, she became the first female head coach of a WRU National League club side,{{Cite web |date=2018-07-08 |title=New role for ex Wales skipper |url=https://archive.scrumqueens.com/news/new-role-ex-wales-skipper |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Scrum Queens |language=en}} before becoming the skills coach for Wales Women between November 2020 and February 2021.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-25 |title=Rachel Taylor: Wales skills coach resigns ahead of 2021 Women's Six Nations start |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/56525248.amp |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-gb}} In September 2021, Taylor joined Premiership Womens Rugby team Sale Sharks Women as the club's performance coach.{{Cite web |last=Diamond |first=Sam |date=2021-09-01 |title=Former Wales star Taylor joins Sharks Women’s coaching team |url=https://www.salesharks.com/2021/09/01/former-wales-star-taylor-joins-sharks-womens-coaching-team/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Sale Sharks |language=en-US}}
Early life
Rachel Taylor was born in Bangor on 13 June 1983. She began playing rugby at the age of five, later describing her family as "rugby-orientated" since her father was a rugby coach and her older brother already played for a local team. Although she tried a variety of sports in her youth, she returned to rugby. Once her brother switched to playing association football, she focused on rugby, seeking to play for her national team.{{cite web|last1=Corbet|first1=Thomas|title=Taylor Carrying the Family Name at Women's Six Nations|url=http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/news/27452.php#.WScUTmjyvIU#JygEkP0LGAWLj3KS.97|publisher=RBS 6 Nations|accessdate=25 May 2017|date=6 February 2015}} She is trained as a Paraveterinary worker, and gave the keynote speech at the British Veterinary Association in 2017.{{cite web|title=Welsh rugby star to speak at BVNA Congress|url=http://mrcvs.co.uk/en/news/15762/Welsh-rugby-star-to-speak-at-BVNA-Congress|publisher=MRCVS Online|accessdate=25 May 2017|date=25 April 2017}}
Playing career
As of 2017, her official Wales Rugby Union biography states that she is {{convert|1.75|m|ft}} tall and weighs {{convert|75|kg|st}}. She has been given the nickname "Tails" by her teammates. She made her debut for the Wales women's national rugby union team against Canada in 2007.{{cite web|title=Rachel Taylor|url=http://www.wru.co.uk/19814.php?player=54286&includeref=dynamic|publisher=Wales Rugby Union|accessdate=25 May 2017}} She was first named as captain of the team in 2012 for the Women's Six Nations Championship.{{cite news|last1=Williams|first1=Mike|title=Bay rugby star Rachel will captain women|url=http://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/119227/bay-rugby-star-rachel-will-captain-women.aspx|accessdate=25 May 2017|work=North Wales Pioneer|date=23 January 2013}}
Taylor won her 50th cap for Wales when she played against Ireland in the 2015 Women's Six Nations Championship.{{cite news|title=Wales Women's captain Rachel Taylor joins 50-cap club against Ireland as they chase Triple Crown|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-womens-captain-rachel-taylor-8818596|accessdate=25 May 2017|work=Wales Online|date=11 March 2015}} She has continued to captain her national team, including at the 2016 Women's Six Nations Championship.{{cite news|title=Six Nations: Rachel Taylor to captain Wales Women's team|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35303337|accessdate=25 May 2017|work=BBC Sport|date=13 January 2016}} She is also involved in encouraging women's rugby at a grassroots level, being the Wales Rugby Union coordinator for the RGC West area in North Wales.{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Liz|title=Rachel Taylor Issues Rallying Call on International Women's Day|url=http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/36152.php#.WScT92jyvIU|publisher=Wales Rugby Union|accessdate=25 May 2017|date=8 March 2016}} This was in preparation for a transition from her playing career into retirement.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Wales Squad 2017 Rugby World Cup}}
{{Wales 2014 WRWC Squad}}
{{Wales squad 2010 WRWC}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, Rachel}}
Category:Rugby union players from Bangor, Gwynedd
Category:Wales women's international rugby union players
Category:Welsh female rugby union players
Category:21st-century Welsh sportswomen
Category:Wales international women's rugby sevens players
Category:Welsh rugby sevens players
Category:Alumni of Cardiff Metropolitan University
Category:Bristol Bears Women players
Category:British veterinarians
{{Wales-rugbyunion-bio-stub}}