Richmond rugby star and England Women Sevens captain Abigail Chamberlain is set to take her first steps into coaching next season.

The 30-year-old has teamed up with London Welsh lock Dan Leo and ex-London Irish prop Dinos Alexipoulos to join the coaching staff at London Division Two South West London Cornish.

The trio will work under Cornish director of rugby Dickon Moon, whose men just missed out on promotion via the play-offs last term, and he believes Chamberlain’s arrival will strengthen his team’s hand.

“Though we finished runners up in the league and lost the play-off, we do not have a divine right to promotion next season,” said Moon, whose team play at the Richard Evans Memorial Ground in Roehampton – Harlequins’ former training base.

“Bolstering the coaching team is essential in demonstrating the committee’s commitment to our players.

“Abi was introduced to me through a mutual friend – she is extremely personable and a great communicator, who will be able to be involved on Saturdays as well as at training, which is a real help.”

l Richmond number eight Alexandra Matthews scored a try to give world champions England Women a 7-6 lead against New Zealand on Wednesday, but that was as good as it got.

The Black Ferns proved too dominant as they claimed two tries to go with 16 points from the boot of experienced Kendra Cocksedge to ease to a 26-7 win in Canada.

England beat the USA 39-13 on Saturday and face the host nation in their final match of the Super Series on Sunday.