From BUCS to Wales: Sean Lynn’s side rediscover the winning habit
Sean Lynn's coaching career has been characterised by significant results and victories
©Lizzy Terry/TEZ.PHOTOG
For Talking Rugby Union, Wales’ emphatic 50-19 victory over South Africa at Cardiff Arms Park last Friday was particularly satisfying, given our long-standing connection with Sean Lynn.
Lynn is an old friend of TRU, dating back to our coverage of university rugby and his successful years with Hartpury.
Long before he was entrusted with reviving Wales Women, Lynn was helping to establish Hartpury as one of the dominant forces in BUCS Super Rugby.
On Friday night, many of the characteristics associated with those Hartpury teams were visible again: powerful carrying, accuracy at the set-piece and a collective confidence which grew as the contest unfolded.
Wales entered their opening WXV Global Series fixture searching for a first Test victory in 14 months. With just one win in 15 matches since Lynn’s appointment in 2025, they needed something to change.
And they delivered it emphatically.
Eight tries saw Wales beat the Springboks. Following back-to-back wooden spoons in the Women’s Six Nations and an underwhelming World Cup last year, it certainly felt like a performance that clicked, particularly during the first half.
So, what went well and how important was this win for Lynn’s side?
“This is just the start for us” in potential new dawn
After Wales scored six first-half tries, Lynn acknowledged the challenging times his side had been through and hoped Friday’s victory could mark the beginning of a fresh start.
"There have been some tough times, but you've got to have those adverse times. This is just the start for us. This is going to be our new DNA.
"Those 23 players were aligned in everything, both sides of the ball, and they had that belief of how hard we worked in pre-season. The growth in our skill development has been the underpin of everything.
"Keira Bevan said to me, she's had 84 caps and that's the first time Wales have scored 50 points. That for me is up there."
The opening 40 minutes certainly backed up Lynn’s assessment.
Courtney Keight opened the scoring after six minutes, profiting from a floated pass by Bevan - who started at fly-half - and good work from Lisa Neumann.
Sisilia Tuipulotu then added the second with a typically forceful carry before Felicia Jacobs briefly interrupted the Welsh momentum with South Africa’s opening try.
Wales’ response was immediate.
Seren Lockwood crossed before the home front row took centre stage, with Maisie Davies and Kelsey Jones both powering over. Neumann then added another try to underline the hosts’ first-half superiority.
South Africa’s problems were compounded when Danelle Lochner’s yellow card for a high tackle on Kate Williams was upgraded to red. However, the result should not simply be explained by the visitors’ disciplinary difficulties.
Wales had already established control through the work of their forwards, the speed of their support and their willingness to attack the spaces created outside.
British & Irish Lions’ Jo Yapp in attendance as Tuipulotu impresses
While the overall statistics between the two teams were relatively even, Wales were able to get their ball carriers involved effectively under the watchful eye of British & Irish Lions head coach Jo Yapp, who was in attendance ahead of their inaugural tour of New Zealand next year.
Both teams created chances, but a pleasing statistic for the home side was the number of turnovers they won. Wales also made more than 145 post-contact metres despite making a similar number of tackles to South Africa.
They were led by lock Georgia Evans, who topped the carrying statistics with 16 carries, while Tuipulotu had a busy night with 13 carries and 18 tackles, as well as scoring two tries.
Alex Callender, returning after missing the Women’s Six Nations through injury, also gave the Welsh back row added authority. Her turnover contributed to Keight’s opening score, while Jones produced an important intervention in the build-up to Tuipulotu’s first try.
For both of Tuipulotu’s scores, Wales used her as part of a two-player pod, with a slight tip-on pass creating more space for the tighthead prop.
The first came from a short pass from Evans, leaving the former Gloucester-Hartpury prop one-on-one with a South African defender.
The second, in the 42nd minute, saw Callender produce a lovely tip-on pass between two Springboks players, allowing Tuipulotu to steer clear and score.
With some solid carries from the forwards providing the platform, Wales were also able to create a neat first-phase try moments before half-time.
Number eight Bryonie King picked the ball up from the base of a scrum before passing to Bevan, who linked up with Lleucu George, with centre Freya Bell hitting a decoy line.
With the decoy line tying in two defenders, South Africa’s inside centre Aphiwe Ngwevu shot out of line to target George but was too slow, which left a big gap for Neumann to break through and score unopposed.
Wales were not quite as fluent after the interval, but further tries from Tuipulotu and Callender took them to 50 points.
Maria Tshiremba and Maceala Samboya crossed for South Africa, although neither score threatened to alter the direction of the contest.
A familiar Lynn principle returns
For Lynn, this was his third victory as Wales head coach and his second in a full Test, following successes against Australia and the Barbarians.
More importantly, it felt like a potentially significant step in the development of his team.
When TRU spoke to Lynn during Hartpury’s 2018 BUCS Super Rugby campaign, he emphasised the importance of beginning well and building momentum.
Hartpury had recovered from winning only one of their first seven matches the previous season to retain their title, and Lynn understood how quickly confidence could transform a group.
“The camp is always a happy camp when you are winning,” he told TRU.
Eight years later, the circumstances and level are very different, but the principle remains relevant.
Wales needed a result which rewarded the work taking place away from matchday and gave the players tangible evidence of progress. Now they have one.
The decision to use the experienced Bevan at fly-half also demonstrated that Lynn is prepared to make bold calls. Lockwood’s injury led to the early introduction of Lleucu George, limiting the experiment, but Bevan looked composed and influential during her time at number 10.
Lynn also wants Wales Women to inspire a new generation of supporters.
“I want us inspiring that young boy, that young girl to be supporting Wales women.
“I also want to be inspiring that mum and that guy in the pub tonight watching it and thinking ‘I’m going to come and support Wales women’s rugby.’
“That’s what we’re about. We’re one nation, and we should all be backing each other.”
After all the doom and gloom surrounding Welsh rugby over the last couple of years, it was refreshing to see such an encouraging performance from a national side.
The USA are next up at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday. That contest should provide a clearer indication of how far Wales have progressed, but after 14 months without a Test victory, this was a night to appreciate.
TRU first encountered Lynn when he was developing players and winning titles in university rugby. His journey has since taken him through three consecutive Premiership Women’s Rugby crowns with Gloucester-Hartpury and into the Wales job.
Against South Africa, his latest project delivered its clearest statement yet.
