Sana Govender appointed new Leinster Women’s Head Coach

June 11, 2026
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Ultimate Rugby

Leinster Rugby can confirm that Sana Govender will take over as Head Coach of the Leinster Women’s senior team ahead of this summer’s Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship, replacing the outgoing Ben Martin.

Govender got his start coaching the first ever Girls team at his local club, Skibbereen RFC, taking them up from U-15 level to U-18 and helping to establish the club’s first Senior Women’s team.

In 2018, he began working with Munster Rugby in various roles, first as an Assistant Coach and then Head Coach for the Girls U-18 Sevens team. He also won an Interpro title as an Assistant Coach for the province’s U-18 Girls side before moving up to coach with the Senior Women’s team in the summer of 2024 as a Skills Coach.

Govender was appointed Attack and Backs Coach for Ireland U-18 Girls ahead of the 2024 Six Nations campaign before moving further afield, taking up a Head Coach role at the semi-professional Polish side RC Lechia Gdańsk.

One year later, he returned to Ireland where he took up a role in the Leinster Branch as Head Rugby Coach/Rugby Development Officer in TU Dublin, as well as providing performance analysis and skills support for CBC Monkstown Park.

Most recently, he guided Railway Union FC to the semi-finals of the Energia All-Ireland League as Head Coach.

Govender will be joined by a coaching staff featuring a mix of familiar and new faces – including Matt Gill, the head of the Women’s National Talent Squad (WNTS) who served as Leinster’s Set Piece Coach in last year’s Interpros and previously worked with Govender during their time with the Irish U-18 Girls team.

Commenting on the appointment, Philip Lawlor, Head of Rugby Development, said: “We’re delighted to confirm Sana Govender as the new Head Coach of the Leinster Rugby Women’s side. Sana brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge from across the Women’s game, having worked previously with the likes of Munster Rugby, the IRFU and Railway Union FC.

“A total of 20 players made their Leinster debuts across four games in last year’s Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship and with our Irish internationals returning after missing last season because of the World Cup, Sana has the opportunity to work with an extremely talented group of players.

“We are looking forward to supporting Sana and the team across their summer programme and we wish them all the best for the season ahead as we look to reclaim the Interpro title.”

Speaking to leinsterrugby.ie about the new role, Govender said: “I’m extremely excited. It’s an honour and a privilege to be involved. I’m looking forward to the summer and working with some exciting players and the coaching team, as well.

“I think the main thing is getting to build on some really good work that’s been done over the last few years in the programme itself, both in Women’s rugby in the country and the province.

“We get to work with really good athletes across the board, some coming in for the first time and some who are internationals. Bringing all of that together is the most exciting part.

“Last year was a landmark in terms of the new caps who were brought on. Of course, the World Cup was on at the same time, so it gave the space to give young players an opportunity to play at provincial level. This year is about building on that.”

Leinster Women’s Coaching Staff 2026:

Head Coach: Sana Govender
Assistant Coach (Defence and Set-Piece Lead): Matt Gill
Assistant Coach (Attack Lead): Stephen Maher
Assistant Coach (Transition Lead): Adam Philphot
Development Coach: Eleanor Furlong
AD: Paul Rossiter
AD Intern: Eleana McGrath
Physios: Conor Duffy and Stephen Armstrong
Analyst: Niamh O’Brien
Nutritionist: Rachel Walker
Team Manager: Hayley Whyte