Life beyond the touchline: Stuart Lancaster's new chapter in Ireland

Extra.ie​

3 hours ago

As Stuart Lancaster begins his next chapter as head coach of Connacht Rugby, the former England boss is once again calling Ireland home – but this time, without the constant commute.
Lancaster spent seven years with Leinster Rugby, earning praise for helping build a high-performance culture and guiding the team to multiple titles.
Off the pitch, however, life wasn't always seamless, as for much of that time, Lancaster was commuting between Dublin and his family home in Leeds. Pic: INPHO/Tom Maher
Despite the demanding schedule, he made it work. His wife, Nina, and their two children remained in the UK, with Lancaster frequently flying home on weekends to be with them.
In interviews, he often acknowledged the strain but spoke about how supportive his family had been throughout his career.
'It's worked surprisingly well,' he once said of the arrangement to The 42, 'The family are used to being away from home with the England job. This is actually closer to home than Twickenham was'. Stuart and Nina Lancaster. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Nina Lancaster is a fitness, nutrition, and wellness expert, and runs her own coaching and consulting business.
While Stuart's coaching took him abroad, she remained based in the UK to support their children, Dan and Sophie, and manage her own professional commitments.
When news of Stuart's Connacht appointment was announced, Nina shared her excitement online, posting on social media: ' Looking forward to our next venture in Galway.'
His son, Dan Lancaster, is an English professional rugby union player currently with Racing 92. He has previously played for Leicester Tigers in the Premiership, as well as for Ealing Trailfinders, Leeds Tykes, and Nottingham in the RFU Championship.
Now, based in Galway for his new role with Connacht, Lancaster is enjoying a more settled experience in Ireland.
The move to the west of the country marks a significant shift – not just professionally, but personally.
With Connacht's state-of-the-art High Performance Centre and a strong local rugby culture, he has spoken enthusiastically about being part of a project he believes in from the ground up.
Although Lancaster keeps his family life relatively private, it's clear his wife and children remain a core part of his decision-making.
He has previously mentioned how his children's milestones, from finishing school to starting university, impacted his choices about where and how to work.
Ireland has played an important role in Lancaster's coaching journey.
His time at Leinster helped rebuild his reputation after England's 2015 World Cup exit and gave him a real appreciation for the Irish rugby culture.
Now in Galway, he's deepening that connection, taking on a new challenge while enjoying a more balanced life off the pitch.