But like many women trying to forge coaching careers in the game, she is unsure how females can use the same pathway that has been historically used by male coaches.
The men’s Championship has been a breeding ground for men’s coaches working at the top of the elite women’s game.
Both Bristol Bears head coach Dave Ward and Mouritz Botha, now defence coach at Saracens, coached at men’s second-tier outfit Ampthill before taking up roles at their respective PWR clubs. Nathan Smith, the Loughborough Lightning head coach, spent three seasons working as forwards coach for Doncaster Knights.
“If you’re a female coach, where do you get this level of experience or exposure? That’s one of the big areas of development,” says Daley-Mclean. “How do we give good female coaches exposure at an appropriate level? The Women’s Championship is nowhere near the same level as the PWR. The step up is just too big.”
‘The perception is that it is an old boys’ club’
Those further down the rugby pyramid, such as Jess Bunyard, can relate. After seven seasons coaching in the women’s community game, most recently at Huddersfield, she harbours hopes of doing so in the women’s top flight but is struggling to gain experience at the “mid-to-top level”.
Gender bias remains a major problem – many referees and opposition coaches have mistaken Bunyard for the team physio – but she thinks there are some easy wins to be made.
“Something I wish the Rugby Football Union would look at is how robust the hiring and firing of candidates is, so there’s guidance for clubs that are making decisions to know they’re hiring the best candidate,” Bunyard says. “If you are struggling, like me, to break in from the outside, the perception is that it is an old boys’ club.
“I’ve probably encountered two other female coaches at my level. There’s a great number of male allies doing wonderful work, but the growth in female players isn’t represented in the growth of female coaches.”
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