Former New Zealand cricketer Rachel Priest, 39, has been named Glamorgan’s first women’s head coach. Priest, who is well-known for her aggressive batting and wicket keeping skills, brings an array of expertise to her new position.
Priest played 87 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 75 T20 Internationals (T20Is) for the White Ferns between 2007 and 2020, scoring 1694 and 873 international runs, respectively. She was praised for her strong batting style and frequently overpowered bowlers with her powerful demeanour.
During her time in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), her aggressive style of play was especially noticeable, where she scored 2026 runs in 96 games. With her innings of 157 runs, she also holds the record for the greatest individual score by a wicketkeeper in Women’s ODIs.
Priest is making the move from player to coach with the goal of creating a supportive and professional atmosphere for Glamorgan’s women’s squad. She stresses how crucial it is to create an environment where players can enjoy the game and enhance their skills.
Priest said, “I’m excited to take on this position and be part of Glamorgan’s journey in women’s cricket, I want to help build a strong and professional environment where players can develop, enjoy their cricket, and take the women’s game in Wales to the next level.”
It is anticipated that her coaching philosophy, which promotes aggressive, fearless cricket, will mirror her playing mentality. Priest has a wide range of tactical views thanks to her vast experience in several local divisions, such as the WBBL and England’s Kia Super League.
Priest has a particular grasp of the local cricket scene because of her prior experience with the sport, having played and coached in Wales. As she guides Glamorgan over the future seasons, this knowledge will be quite helpful. Before being fully professional in tier one starting in 2027, Glamorgan will compete in tier two of the new professional structure in 2025 and 2026.
“We’re delighted to have someone of Rachel’s standing in the game joining Glamorgan as our first women’s head coach, this is an exciting time for women and girls’ cricket in Wales and we’re looking forward to Rachel being a big part of that moving forward,” said Glamorgan director of cricket Mark Wallace.
With Priest leading the team, Glamorgan is ready to progress immensely in women’s cricket by fusing her international experience with a dedication to developing domestic talent.
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