Amanda joins Ipswich at a pivotal moment, bringing outstanding coaching credentials, community leadership and a passionate commitment to growing the women’s and girls’ game.

An England Rugby Advanced Level 3 Coach, Amanda’s rugby journey combines grassroots inclusivity with elite-level experience. She is currently Chair of Youth Representative Rugby at Eastern Counties alongside coaching at international level with Finland Women’s 7s and Finland Men.

Amanda has a history of leading initiatives to boost participation and strengthen pathways for girls, with previous rugby development roles at the Saracens Foundation, Leicester Tigers, Shelford RFC and Wymondham RFC. Her leadership has repeatedly delivered results: from launching new girls’ rugby sections to spearheading inclusive rugby programmes that provide early access to the sport for all backgrounds.

Amanda is widely recognised as one of the most qualified coaches in the Eastern Counties. She’s known for building pathways from youth into senior rugby, creating opportunities for new players while nurturing performance and personal development. Her ethos aligns with our ambition to grow and elevate our women’s section over the next 5 years.

In her new role at Ipswich, Amanda will head up the established Women’s 1XV - the Scorpions - in their second season in the National Challenge 1 East, the fourth tier in English women’s rugby. She’ll also develop a dedicated development squad to sustain growth, retention and performance at all levels. As Women’s Director of Rugby, Amanda will oversee coaching strategy across the girls’ age groups, ensuring continuity, shared values and a clear progression pathway.

Mike Hancock, Chair of Ipswich RFC, commented:
“This is a transformative appointment. Amanda brings both proven expertise and a commitment to community and performance, embodying our belief in what Ipswich women’s rugby can achieve.”

Amanda Jones, reflecting on her new role, said:
“It’s an honour to join Ipswich at such an exciting time. I share the club’s vision of growth, excellence and inclusion and look forward to building a sustainable pathway for girls and women in Ipswich.”

A bold statement of intent for our Women's and Girls' divisions
We're investing in elite coaching leadership to match our ambitions for the girls' and women’s game in Ipswich.

Leadership at every level
Amanda will shape both strategic and tactical direction across performance squads and grassroots pathways.

Inclusive community growth
Amanda’s proven record in community outreach and inclusivity projects supports our commitment to widening access and organically growing participation.

We warmly welcome Amanda and look ahead to an exciting new era of women’s rugby driven by purpose, inclusion and high-performance ambition.

About Ipswich Rugby Club’s Women’s Section
Ipswich Rugby Club is home to the Scorpions Women’s 1XV who gained promotion to National Challenge 1 East in the 2023‑24 season. The squad has grown in experience and depth with numbers increasing year on year. The ambitions for 2025-26 are for the Scorpions to achieve promotion alongside launching a structured development squad and boosting participation across the youth girls’ section.

Interested in joining?
We have rugby for girls and women of all ages and abilities, from our mixed tag-rugby age groups from U6+ to our dedicated girls Athenas from U12 to U18 and our two senior women's teams.

The Scorpions Women's 1XV is perfect for experienced players or those transferring from other sports, with a talented squad and ambitious targets for the season. Our newly-formed 2XV provides a supportive space to learn the basics and develop as a player, even if you've never touched a rugby ball before. We have a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, the women are closely linked with other sections and there's a thriving social and events scene for you to get involved with.

Women's pre-season training currently takes place on Tuesdays (6.45pm-8.30pm) and we welcome you to come along and try it out with a few free sessions - no cost, no commitment!

To find out more, drop us a message @ipswichwomensrugby on Instagram.