The review, which began immediately following the 2007 Rugby World Cup and which has involved all of the key stakeholders in the game in Wales, aims to create the optimal structure and staff for taking rugby forward throughout the nation.
Today’s announcement follows elite performance director Graeme Maw’s presentation to the directors of the WRU two weeks ago and a further discussion by the Board last night, the first outcomes of which include the following highlights.
* The importance of hands-on elite performance management and direction in the National Squad Coaching Team. Yesterday it was announced that Craig White, one of the most respected rugby fitness and conditioning coaches in the world game has joined the Welsh set up alongside an already formidable and successful team of conditioning, nutrition and sports medicine experts
* The need for hands-on elite performance management at the level below the national and regional structure to link up the age grades, academies and Premiership teams. It has been decided that a new post will be created to achieve this.
* The significance of the Head of Rugby Development position within the WRU, working in conjunction with the elite performance management team in the National Squad Coaching Team and elite performance below this level.
* Coach, player and match official development below the National Squad Coaching Team will now report into the Head of Rugby Development.
* The Head of Rugby Development position will be elevated to a WRU Executive Board post.
* An increased focus on the Community Game with a new rugby club development team which will augment our regional community managers and development officers.
* The opportunities to share resources at the National level with the four Regions.
As a result of the review process Maw has been conducting he will step down as EPD at the end of June facilitating the increase in specialist elite performance management in the National Squad Coaching Team, the need for hands-on elite performance management below this level and the significant increased responsibility of the Head of Rugby Development.
The WRU thank Graeme for his work on the rugby plan and wish him well for the future.
The review process continues this week with meetings involving the WRU rugby staff and there will be further announcements over the course of the coming days.
The process includes discussions with the four rugby regions who are now engaged in detailed and positive discussions to create a new partnership to take the game forward beyond the next Rugby World Cup in 2011.
The changes in the rugby structure have been approved by the full Board of the Welsh Rugby Union.
The Group Chief Executive of the WRU, Roger Lewis, explained that the Union is acting to ensure that the objective of repositioning Wales as a significant force in the global game will be achieved over the course of the coming years:
“This review is proving to be critical in our decision making. The arrival this week of Craig White and the decision to appoint a similar role below the national team and the decision to join up the national team thinking with the regions along with the desire to elevate the role of Head of Rugby Development will prove to have been pivotal.
“In the professional era the rugby world is constantly evolving and so we must embrace change. To build upon the success we have so far achieved means that difficult decisions have to be taken and have to be taken quickly. We are in a strong position at present and so now is the time to move forward decisively to secure our future.”
