Lesley McKenzie

Lesley McKenzie. A fully caffeinated conversation.

It was a nice surprise to see a female listed as head coach for the Japanese team and an obvious choice for a coffee and a chat.

Lesley’s journey to being a head coach sums up so many of the stories we will be telling. A rugby player super passionate about the sport, tries to progress as a coach only to find roadblocks at every turn not because she doesn’t know her stuff - but because she is female.

A real good sort - we made the most of the bottomless coffee at Al’s Diner in the city and we could have talked for hours.

I have huge respect for everything Lesley has achieved in her coaching career. You know none of it was done the easy way. There were no World Rugby Coaching Internships available to help fast track her career. She is where she is today out of share hard work and patience. A desire to make it at the top of world rugby by whatever means possible.

Which for Lesley has meant moving to a foreign country on her own. Learning another language and learning how to not only survive but thrive in that culture.

When our book is published you can read the full story including whether being a female has helped or hindered Lesley’s journey to being an International head coach.