Richard Ashfield

Stanford Rugby welcomes Richard Ashfield as the program's new Assistant Coach in 2017. Ashfield joins the Cardinal after many years in the northeast including stints with Beantown Women’s Rugby and Boston Irish Wolfhounds. He will bring his experience and knowledge to The Farm as an integral member of the coaching staff for both teams.

Originally from Northern Ireland, Ashfield started as Ulster & Ireland Rugby Football Union development officer after a childhood of playing experience. He arrived in Providence to play for three months and continues to grow rugby in the USA fifteen years later. In addition to coaching at the club level, Ashfield will continue as the skills coach for the USA Rugby Women’s National Team as they prepare for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017.

Ashfield has experienced coaching success at The Farm, as Providence College won the 2005 USA Rugby Women’s Collegiate Division 2 National Championship held at Steuber Rugby Stadium. After a successful seven year stint, he moved to coach senior women’s rugby at Beantown Women’s Rugby Club. Ashfield joined the Boston based club as it continued to be perennial contender in Women’s Premier League and Women’s Division 1. An active member of the community, Ashfield helped as the Assistant Coach of the Brown University Men’s team 2009-10. Throughout his time as a player with Providence Men’s Rugby Club, he took on the challenges of player-coach from 2001-10.