Chitchanok Yusri is a high-flyer, both on and off the rugby pitch.
Chitchanok’s day job is a Flying Officer in the Royal Thai Airforce, a role she combined as a flying wing for her country’s national Sevens team for ten years.
Since she made her last international appearance in 2019, Yusri has begun a second rugby career in coaching, with roles as a Coach Educator, Assistant Coach of Thailand’s national team and gaining her Strength and Conditioning level two qualification.
Chitchanok has now become the first Thai coach to join the Gallagher High Performance Academy, a recognition of the important role she plays in the development of women’s rugby in the country.
“I hope to acquire new coaching skills and a growth mindset from all coaches on the programme,” Chitchanok told World Rugby.
“This programme provides an opportunity for female coaches to develop their potential on a global stage, with experienced and highly-skilled instructors - especially in countries where women have limited opportunities to showcase their abilities.
“Participating in the programme together also helps build a community, allowing the participants to connect and potentially support each other in the future.”
Chitchanok’s own rugby career began after she switched from athletics, with the pace she developed as a sprinter being used to devastating effect as a free-scoring wing.
“I was invited to play rugby because I was a sprinter. Over time, I fell in love with the team and transitioned into a rugby player,” she said.
“With 20 years of rugby experience, I now feel ready to take on a greater role, and push myself into a new role as a Coach.”
Chitchanok’s coaching philosophy can be simply explained by the acronym TEAM – Teamwork, Efficiency, Achievement and Motivation – while Yuka Kanematsu, the Japan Women’s Sevens coach and Gallagher High Performance alumni, is her role model.
“My coaching role model is Yuka. I am incredibly proud of her becoming the first female Head Coach of a national team in Asia,” Chitchanok said.
