Priestland spoke to the WRU Podcast about the role WRU Lifestyle Performance Manager Alun Davies has played in his graduation from Swansea University with a degree in Economics.
“I had a lot of help from Alun Davies at the WRU and Kevin George from the Scarlets Academy,” he said.
Priestland completed one year of his degree in Bristol, one year in Cardiff and the final year in Swansea when training schedules increased as Priestland progressed into the regional first team.
And now that he has his degree behind him, Priestland is turning his attention to his first-choice career.
“Hopefully this year I can push for my place in the Scarlets line-up and it’s an exciting time here in Llanelli with the new stadium and hopes for the new season,” he said.
Davies and his team look after over 150 players across Wales in a scheme that focuses on player welfare, personal and educational development and equipping players with the skills for life beyond rugby.
The WRU became the first professional sports body to achieve UK Sport licence status, provided by Athlete Career and Education (ACE UK) in 2000.
That programme was re-branded in 2004 to ‘Performance Lifestyle’ and Davies said: “The depths to which we manage these players increases year on year.
And Davies says the programme gives Welsh rugby players a balanced approach that is key to their personal development in the professional era.
“We deal with players upwards of 15 years of age and make sure they don’t put all their eggs in one basket,” he added.
“The programme is about planning and preparation and putting a proper career pathway in front of the players, be it rugby, academic or vocational.
“It’s a balanced approach to make sure we get the best out of these people.
“The facts show that when people have a balanced lifestyle they can cope with stresses outside and that they can cope better on the rugby field.”
Davies’ team deal with personal issues such as finance, agents and the day to day issues that professional sportsmen face and you can hear the full interview by clicking the link at the bottom of this email.
Further information on the Performance Lifestyle Programme can be found here: http://www.wru.co.uk/13674_13681.php
