'Tough' to leave Gloucester-Hartpury - Lynn

Sean Lynn is aiming to win a third-straight league title with Gloucester-Hartpury this season

Gloucester-Hartpury head coach Sean Lynn said it was a "really tough" decision to leave the club, after being announced as Wales' new head coach last week.

The Swansea-born coach has been in charge of the Premiership Women's Rugby champions for five years and will be finishing the 2024-25 campaign before moving to the national side full-time.

Gloucester-Hartpury have been transformed under Lynn's leadership into the dominant force in domestic English rugby, winning back-to-back league titles, while they currently top of the table with three games to go.

"It was a real difficult decision. I've been involved in GH for five years, the success we've had, the environment we're creating, it's a great run," Lynn told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"But to be head coach of my own country. I was brought up in Swansea in Wales, I'm a proud Welshman - I couldn't turn down that opportunity."

Lynn, who also oversees all aspects of the women's rugby programme at Hartpury College and University set-up, will take charge of Wales for the first time during the Six Nations.

He already coaches a large contingent of Welsh internationals at Gloucester-Hartpury, with captain Hannah Jones, prop Sisilia Tuipulotu, fly-half Lleucu George and hooker Kelsey Jones among them.

Gloucester-Hartpury currently hold a three-point lead in the Premiership ahead of Harlequins and a 10-point advantage on Bristol Bears in fifth, with the top four teams qualifying for the play-offs.

Since the start of December they have won their past six league games - including against three of their four top four rivals. They place Leicester Tigers away in their next game on Saturday.

"It's something we set out in June, July, let's get a home semi-final, it's knock-out rugby, it's what we enjoy, and my full focus is on Gloucester-Hartpury and making sure we can [do that]," Lynn added.

"We said in the meeting on Monday, where we've come from just before Christmas, playing all those top four teams and coming away with max points it's incredible.

"I'm super proud of the group of players and staff that we've got. That job has been done and now it's looking to build going into knockout stages."

'We want to win the title for him'

England and Gloucester-Hartpury back row Georgia Brock said there will be "a lot of change" at the club, after Lynn's departure but that they now have extra motivation to win the title this season.

"It's a lot of change but hats off to him, credit to him, he's obviously put a lot of work and effort into this job the past five years," Brock said.

"We as a group are very proud of him and we want to give him the best send-off we can with the top four coming to the end of the season, we want to give him a home semi-final - that's the main aim.

"It motivates us even more."