Walsh anoints replacement as Sevens eye LA Games

Murray Wenzel | July 21, 2026

Tim Walsh has described the promotion of assistant Reg Tayler as the next phase of a succession plan as Australia’s women’s rugby sevens outfit eyes Olympic redemption.

Tayler, formerly with the Irish men’s and women’s sevens teams, joined Walsh’s staff last year.

Before that Irish stint he was embedded in the Queensland Academy of Sport program developing current stars like Maddison Levi.

Fresh off the side’s stunning world series triumph and with the 2028 Los Angeles Games on the horizon, he’ll take the reins as head coach, with Walsh in the new position of women’s high performance director.

“We have built tremendous momentum following our world championship win and the squad is determined for continued success through to the Olympics,” he said.

Walsh’s side, who won gold in the sport’s Games debut at Rio in 2016, left Paris heartbroken after being upset in both their semi-final and bronze medal games to miss the podium for a second-straight Olympics.

“Reg has been part of a succession plan … since joining the coaching staff last year and is a seamless acquisition for the squad ahead of the Olympics,” he said.  

“He’s not going in cold, he completely understands the game and his expertise is going to be fully utilised by the program.”

The program will begin preparations for the Olympic qualifying campaign when players return to pre-season training in October.