Following their Grand Slam triumph and fourth place at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the Wales coaching team were rewarded with a special achievement award as recognition for their success.
Alongside the national coaching team, the WRU were nominated for three other awards. Wales U20 head coach Danny Wilson was shortlisted for the performance coach of the year award while Tim Hoare was a runner up as coach educator of the year.
Finally, Warren Gatland was one of three candidates for the high performance coach of the year.
Though the national coaching team were the only winners, with four nominees overall, the evening was hugely successful for Welsh rugby overall.
“It’s been a successful year for Welsh rugby and to have four nominees up for awards speaks volumes for that success,” said WRU Head of Rugby Joe Lydon.
“I know how hard our coaches work to develop the players at all levels of the game and it’s evident this is the same for their peers in other sports across Wales.
“Warren Gatland, Danny Wilson and Tim Hoare have all been dedicated to improving the game in Wales and their recognition is well deserved while no one can deny the national squad management their award following last year’s success.”
Speaking on their special achievement award for the national coaches, Wales interim head coach Rob Howley said: “I think that when Warren Gatland came in in 2008, his ability to bring everyone together and to allow everyone to have an opinion is testament to the success we’ve had in Wales. Long may that continue.”
“I think it’s a massive honour to be part of this list,” added Wales head coach Gatland.
“It’s been a fantastic year for Welsh sport and to be on the shortlist is a huge honour for me personally.”
Despite finishing as a runner up in his category, Danny Wilson was delighted to have been recognised. Wilson coached the Wales U20 to their first win over the Junior All Blacks, a 9-6 victory in terrible conditions earlier this year.
“It’s a great honour to be recognised but it’s recognition for the whole group including the three coaches and all the players,” said Wilson.
“Mark Taylor, Byron Hayward and Ioan Cunningham should all be credited with the success but it’s the players’ achievement really, they were the ones that beat New Zealand.
“In terms of the game itself, conditions definitely favoured us and we executed our game plan to perfection. It was definitely the biggest win of my career.”
The success of the evening was welcomed by WRU Coach Development Manager Gerry Roberts.
“Without coaches developing themselves the standard of the game would not be where it is today,” he said.
“The challenge is now to keep the improvement of coaching moving upwards in order for the players to become better. It was pleasing to see the number of nominations at last night’s ceremony which is a credit to those individuals who had been nominated for their hard work.
“Hopefully we will see more coaches being recognised for their efforts and commitment to coaching rugby within Wales next year and the years to come.”
