Corstorphine Cougars are delighted to announce our new Women’s Coaching team for 2026/27 headed up by Gavin Emerson ably supported by Michael Hird, Joel Blanchfield and Connor Smillie.

Gavin brings over 13 years of Head Coaching experience and is an Advanced Coach and Coach Educator. Crucially, he has successfully coached across both the men’s and women’s game, giving him a deep understanding of how to create inclusive, high-performance environments where female athletes can thrive. His approach centres on building confidence, technical excellence, and a strong team identity.

Stevie Wright, President of Corstorphine Cougars, confirms “this is a real statement of our support for women’s rugby pulling together what we believe will be the best coaching team to develop established and aspiring women players in Scottish Club rugby”

Gavin adds “Taking on the role of Head Coach for Corstorphine Cougars Women’s Rugby next season is an exciting opportunity for me, both professionally and personally. It offers the chance to lead a team with strong foundations while contributing to the continued growth of the women’s game.”

“From my conversations with the club, it’s clear our values align around building sustainable foundations within women’s rugby. The players are keen, committed, and motivated to develop, with a clear desire to create and maintain a positive team culture.”

“I’m also pleased to be supported by a strong coaching team of Michael Hird, Joel Blachfield, and Connor Smillie who will bring valuable experience and energy to the programme.”

Michael Hird complements this with his recent experience as Ross High Development Officer and Head Coach. As a Coach Educator, Michael is passionate about creating clear development pathways and supporting players at every stage of their journey. His work in growing participation and performance makes him a strong advocate for the continued rise of the women’s game.

Connor Smillie adds a vital layer of specialist coaching as a Front Row expert. His ability to break down technical detail and build confidence in key positions is especially important in the women’s game, where high-quality, position-specific coaching can have a huge impact on both performance and player safety.

Joel Blanchfield, who has been interim Head Coach for the past few months, completes the team adding his experience from Canadian rugby and focus on player development whilst he seeks to deepen his rugby coaching experience.

Together, this coaching team is committed to creating a positive, ambitious, and player-centred environment—one that not only develops skills and performance but also champions the growth, visibility, and success of women’s rugby.

Couple with the improved facilities and the new gym space we believe this team will bring a huge amount of knowledge, fun and ambition to Union Park which will hopefully help us push again for honours in the seasons ahead. The team also has the depth to be able to develop aspiring talent to which end we aim to build our playing numbers to a level that can help us put out a 2nd XV again.