With a passion for the game and an ambition to take women’s rugby in Bath to new heights, Maria Crowfoot-Riggs is helping shape the sport’s future in the city. As Women’s Performance Lead at Bath Rugby, she’s nurturing emerging talent, building pathways to the top and inspiring the next generation of players.
Where did your love of rugby begin, and what inspired you to become a coach?
I watched my brother growing up and was so competitive, I wanted to join in! I fell in love with rugby and never looked back. Coaching became a reality at Loughborough University when I got injured and wanted to stay involved. When I graduated, I chose coaching over playing Premiership rugby because I felt I could make a bigger impact. In the early days, I worked six jobs to develop my coaching career. There were plenty of long days and nights, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
You’ve coached at Loughborough Lightning, Lichfield and Nottingham. What attracted you to Bath Rugby and the opportunity to develop the women’s game here?
The opportunity to build something from the foundations up, drawing on the history of Bath RFC and Bath Rugby Ladies. I could see the vision was there, but the path was up to whoever Bath hired. I desperately wanted that to be me! I felt I could bring my experience to developing women’s and girls’ rugby here. I still believe our region holds some of the best untapped talent in the country. As a family, we’d always loved the idea of living in the South West, and it hasn’t disappointed.
What does your role as Women’s Performance Lead involve?
It varies, which is great! I coach three teams – the University of Bath, Bath Rugby Ladies and Bath Rugby 7s – alongside leading our bid to enter Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR). One morning I might be teaching someone who’s never played rugby to tackle, and an hour later I’m sitting with Bath Rugby’s executive team planning our next steps towards the PWR. I have to be flexible, adaptable and wear different hats. I love the variety.
From grassroots rugby through to university and senior teams, how important is it to create a clear pathway for aspiring young players?
If you can see it, you can be it. It’s a phrase that’s used a lot, but it’s genuinely important to me. I want every girl who picks up a rugby ball in our region to have the same dream as her male counterpart – to play at the Rec in blue, black and white. We have fantastic talent and junior programmes here, but top-level players often leave for more established college and university pathways. I’m working hard to keep that talent local while attracting players from elsewhere.
What’s the biggest change you’ve witnessed in women’s rugby?
That it’s a credible game. It sits within a brilliant sport of rugby union, but it has its own path – whether that’s how we market women’s rugby, how we play it? The coaching delivery, the commercial strategy. We can learn from the men’s game, but the men’s game can learn from us too! Since being at Bath, the number of people popping into my office to share with me the excitement of the Red Roses game they watched at the weekend has grown significantly – more people are watching, getting to know players and talking about them!
Where would you like women’s rugby in Bath to be in five years’ time?
I’d love us to have thriving PWR, Championship, university and college programmes, where players can stay in our area and progress through the pathway. And I want us to play rugby that excites and inspires people of all generations and backgrounds.
How close is Bath to having a women’s team competing at the highest level?
Watch this space…
What gives you the greatest satisfaction as a coach?
The greatest satisfaction for me is players fulfilling their potential and helping players find the love for the game whether new to it or someone falling out and coming back in via a team I’m coaching. I also love it when a coaching intervention works! Nothing better than a back running clean through via a strike move I’ve created! Or a maul try from a forwards session.
Beyond physical ability, what qualities do you look for in a player?
Willingness to learn and drive to succeed are two key qualities. You have to fit into our environment and culture to reach your potential, but having that internal drive is so important to maximise your enjoyment and potential in any sport. As a player, you can become so laser-focused that you lose sight of the wider picture. That’s something I help players understand – selection, feedback and so on are all contextual I also look for players with a point of difference, something they can go back to when things are going wrong, their go-to when they’re under pressure. That can be an X-factor skill of speed or footwork, it could also be hard work!
Coaching 15s and sevens – which gives you the most grey hairs?
I love sevens! It’s fast-paced and you have to trust your instincts. Take too long to decide and the moment’s gone, and suddenly the game’s over! Fifteens is more like a chess match, tactically choosing what will have the biggest impact. I’ve become better at staying present and reflecting, so hopefully the grey hairs are a few years off yet.
How do you switch off from rugby?
With a three-and-a-half-month-old baby at home, it’s about spending as much time as possible with her and my wife, Martha. We love sport and the outdoors, so we’re usually off doing something together.
What have you come to love about living and working in Bath, and are there particular places you gravitate towards when you have some precious time off?
Anything outdoorsy! We love walking around the city, doing the Bath Skyline walk and going for coffee – the Columbian Coffee Co., Rosarios and Society Café are favourites. We’re also big foodies, so meals out are a must! Further afield, we love National Trust walks around Bradford-on-Avon, Holt and, of course, Dyrham Park.
And finally, complete the sentence: “For me, Bath is…”
The city of opportunity.
Photography by Joe Short, an award-winning photographer based in Bath. joeshort.com