Joe El-Abd
Joe El-Abd | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 23, 1980 |
| Occupation(s) | Rugby union player, rugby union coach |
| Known for | Forwards coach for the England men's international rugby squad; former open-side flanker |
Joe El-Abd (born 23 February 1980) is a former rugby union athlete who currently holds the position of Forwards coach for the England men's international rugby squad.
Career
El-Abd's rugby journey commenced at Hove RFC and continued at the University of Bath. After an initial period with Bath Rugby, he transferred to Caerphilly RFC before signing with Bristol Rugby in 2003. There, he established himself as a pivotal open-side flanker and frequent captain, accumulating more than 100 appearances by 2008.
In 2009, El-Abd moved to France to compete in the Top 14 league with Toulon, where he played until 2012. Subsequently, he extended his playing career at Oyonnax in France.
Coaching
Upon retiring from playing, El-Abd took on the role of forwards coach at Oyonnax between 2014 and 2015, followed by a coaching tenure at Castres from 2015 to 2019. He then returned to Oyonnax as forwards coach from 2019 until 2025. In 2025, he accepted the appointment as Forwards coach for the England national rugby team.
Personal life
El-Abd is of mixed heritage, with an English mother and an Egyptian father. His younger sibling, Adam El-Abd, is a former professional football player known for his time at Brighton & Hove Albion and representing the Egypt national team.