NEW GREAT BRITAIN PROGRAMME DIRECTOR APPOINTED
Gregg Cropper has today been named as the new Great Britain Programme Director.
Gregg will be responsible for overseeing the Great Britain Tag Rugby Programme, including the strategic development of players, coaches, and support staff. He will play a key role in ensuring Great Britain teams continue to thrive on the international stage, while also strengthening the pathway that connects local leagues to elite competition.
Gregg brings a wealth of experience and passion from the sports sector, having been heavily involved in the Touch Rugby community for over 15 years. He has contributed at every level, from grassroots development, coaching and refereeing to international competition and governance.
Alongside his work in Touch Rugby, Gregg has worked with multiple national governing bodies, in senior and C-suite roles including England Squash, British Weightlifting, British Mountaineering and GB Climbing and British Taekwondo.
As an Advanced Level Touch Coach, Gregg has been involved in coaching at club, national and international level for over a decade, while also refereeing Touch Rugby at Level 3, refereeing at national and international level.
The appointment comes at a pivotal time for Great Britain, with the Tag World Cup a little over a year away.
Gregg’s leadership, vision, and understanding of the game of Touch Rugby and other sports are expected to play a big role in the next phase of the Great Britain Tag Rugby programme’s growth.
Gregg Cropper said this about joining the Great Britain Tag Rugby set-up: “Having first worked with Try Tag Rugby in 2015 during my time with the Rugby Football League (RFL), I’ve followed their progress and have been hugely impressed by the growth of the organisation and the results achieved both on and off the field. Over the years, it’s been impressive to see how the game has expanded, how participation has flourished, and how the GB representative pathway has continued to strengthen.
“I’m excited to now be joining the team and bring with me a background in High Performance sport, as well as significant experience in strategic development, policy creation, and logistical planning and delivery. My aim is to use my skill set to build on the outstanding foundations that Will has established, ensuring continuity while also identifying opportunities to take the GB programme to the next level.
“With the Tag World Cup on the horizon next October, this is another exciting moment for the sport. I’m looking forward to working closely with players, coaches, and staff to create an environment that gives us the best chance to succeed on the world stage, while also contributing to the long-term growth and sustainability of the programme.”
Try Tag Rugby Co-Founder Alistair Davis said this about Gregg’s appointment: “I’ve known Gregg for almost a decade, having worked closely with him when he was our Partnership Manager at the RFL, and I’ve kept a close eye on his journey since. He was our clear first choice to succeed Will Shepherd, given his depth of experience in amateur sport and his leadership at NGB level. We’re genuinely excited to have him on board to drive the GB programme forward in the coming years.”
Key dates for 2026 including GB trials, the British & Irish Cup and the Tag World Cup will be announced as soon as possible.
Find out more about Great Britain Tag Rugby at www.greatbritaintagrugby.com and on socials Facebook and Instagram(both GreatBritainTag).
