Brown has named Jo Yapp as the key to success

Yapp, who was appointed as Head Coach of the first women's Lions squad back in May 2026, accumulated 70 caps for the Red Roses as a scrum-half and was Australia boss between 2023 and 2025.

Fromer Red Rose, Brown revealed that Yapp's focus on culture on and off the field is set to be the key in creating a history-making winning team next September.

"She's very good at bringing people together, getting people to not only believe in yourself but in each other and the culture of the whole tour," said Brown, speaking as an ambassador for the Tour's founding partner Royal London around their Championing Women & Girls’ Rugby Award.

"Anybody can get 40 of the best players in the world together, and they're probably going to play some good rugby, but are they going to play outstanding, entertaining, inspiring rugby? Potentially not.

"Being able to bring their emotions and their mental side together is what's going to be the difference on this Tour and I've got full faith in Jo Yapp being able to bring that together."

The month-long Tour begins on 4 September 2027 as the British & Irish Lions take on the Black Ferns XV in Whangārei and the year to go milestone is an important marker in the journey for Brown, who has been a key part of the developmental process over the past six years.

And despite having retired from the game in 2022, receiving 30 caps for the Red Roses, the Royal London ambassador is counting down the days until the first pass.

"On a personal side, it's the reminder that I have been in this conversation from the beginning, back when it was just a question, 'how come there's no women's tour?," she said.

"From that one question, we're now one year away from the first ever Lions women's tour in New Zealand.

"It sounds surreal. It's been such a long journey and I can't wait to see it get off the ground."

Through Royal London's partnership with The British & Irish Lions, they are investing £3 million to drive positive, long-term change for women’s rugby, including their annual Championing Women and Girls’ Grassroots Rugby Award.

The initiative recognises one club from each Union per year, who receive a £10,000 grant to invest in their women and girls' programmes, with Keswick Rugby Football Club rewarded for England.

"This award is about that recognition and realisation for women and girls and clubs that they matter," said Brown.

"Nobody cares how successful your men's side is, nobody cares how many boys you've got. This award is entirely about has the biggest ambition for women and girls in the sport."

"Keswick told us directly what they were going to spend their money on, which is updating dilapidated squash courts, and not only getting them back into use, but using them as an indoor rugby facility.

"I'm also passionate about getting non-rugby people as such into rugby and they've had events like beer festivals; they had the Keswick Half Marathon and engagement with their local Women's Institute.

"It's not a rugby club, it's a community club."