Camila Lopera is relishing the opportunity to share her experiences and learn from other coaches from across the rugby world at the Gallagher High Performance Academy.
Camila first took up rugby in 2012 at the Athalantas club, in Medellín, and became an Olympian when she competed in the Rugby Sevens at the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, which was the highlight of a successful playing career.
She is now giving others the benefit of her experience as a coach at Athalantas, and as Assistant Coach of the Colombia Women’s Under-20s side.
“I want to share my experiences with coaches from other parts of the world and learn from theirs to aid my development as a coach,” Camila told World Rugby.
“I want to see what is being done in other parts of the world in rugby and see how coaches from other countries impact the development of rugby.
“Increasing the participation of women in rugby is important, as it will empower more women in the rugby world, promote gender equality and diversity in the sport, and foster closer-knit communities.”
Camila’s own progression from playing to coaching has been a smooth one, having demonstrated good communication skills and decisiveness under pressure while she was representing Colombia in both formats of the sport.
“I realised that I wanted to be a trainer when I found it easy to help my team-mates in training and see that I could lead from other areas of rugby,” she said.
“During my playing days, I understood the importance of teamwork, resilience and effective communication on the field.
“Dealing with pressure in critical situations taught me to be calm and make quick, but wise, decisions.
“As a coach, I have discovered that every player is different, with unique strengths and needs, which has led me to develop more empathetic and personalised communication.
“I also value the importance of strategic planning and adaptability during the game. I have learned that it is not just about tactics, but about building a positive culture that motivates all team members.”
