Brad Shaw
By the sound of it, Niamh Tinman doesn’t do things by halves. The former Welsh rugby and football international has joined the powerhouse lineup at SW7 Academy — founded by ex-Lions and Wales captain Sam Warburton and business partner Josh Davies — as the Academy’s new Client Success Manager and Performance Coach.
For Niamh Tinman, it’s a return to her sporting roots with a modern twist. Having represented Wales at Under-17 and Under-19 level in football before switching codes to rugby during her time at the University of South Wales, Tinman has since pulled on jerseys for Cardiff Met Women’s University in the BUCS 1 League and the Wales Development XV.
Now, she’s turning her focus to helping others push past their limits. “I’m so excited to be a part of the SW7 Academy and it’s a massive opportunity for me,” said Tinman. “There’s so much I’m looking forward to and there’s a lot we can do here at SW7. I’m a very energetic person and I’m quite creative.
I love bringing new ideas to the table. SW7 Academy is somewhere I can grow and as the company is quite new, I can grow with it too.”
A Passion Rooted in Strength and Conditioning
Tinman’s appointment was no coincidence. She studied Strength and Conditioning at the University of South Wales under lecturer Chris Tombs — who now heads performance at SW7 Academy — before completing her Masters in Strength and Conditioning at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
“When the role was advertised, I knew it was perfect,” Tinman said. “It was orientated around strength and conditioning, which is one of my main passions in life.”
After spotting the vacancy, she contacted Tombs, who encouraged her to apply. The rest, as they say, is muscle memory.
Building the Female Performance Academy
Tinman’s first major focus at SW7 Academy will be driving the Female Performance Academy, designed to help women of all levels build strength, gain muscle, and improve their athletic performance — whether they’re chasing medals or simply chasing a healthier lifestyle.
“There’s lots of exciting projects coming up that I can’t wait to get stuck into,” she said. “I’m currently in the process of setting up a project focusing on female rugby players and have some great names joining us for this including Emma Cantrell who plays for USA Under-23s and is the current BUCS 1 Cardiff Metropolitan Women’s 1st Team Captain, Emma Swords who represents Ireland and Trailfinders Women, ex-Scotland international Lisa Martin, and Laura Delgado Dueñas who is a Spanish international and Gloucester-Hartpury Women player.”
The goal, she says, is to expand beyond rugby and create a supportive training hub for female athletes across all sports. “My main aim is to get more females involved at SW7 Academy and I want to get the message out there that the academy is for people of all levels and abilities,” Tinman added.
The SW7 Formula
Founded in 2019, SW7 Academy was built to bridge the gap between elite-level conditioning and everyday athletes. Its online training platform gives users access to professional-level programming — including tailored nutrition plans, video demonstrations, and periodised strength and conditioning sessions — all designed by Warburton, Tombs, Davies, and now Tinman.
It’s a formula that’s transforming how athletes at every level approach training — and Tinman’s arrival signals another strong chapter in the Academy’s evolution.
As women’s sport continues to surge globally, from the Lionesses reaching the World Cup Final to the rise of Welsh Rugby’s international fixtures, Niamh Tinman looks ready to help drive that momentum.
“It’s an exciting time for women’s sport in general,” she said. “With so much growth and opportunity, it’s the perfect time to help more women see what’s possible through performance training.”
For more on SW7 Academy and its training programmes, visit www.sw7academy.com.
