Phil was the first National Community Manager to be employed by the WRU in the 2004/05 season. He was instrumental in putting in place development structures to grow the game within Wales and modernise the WRU development department.
In 2009, Phil moved across to become a coach development manger for West Wales, and his contribution to coach development has been instrumental in raising standards in the Principality Premiership. He has also had a huge impact on the development of coach educators to run and deliver formal coaching qualifications in the grassroots game. Phil also sat on the Six Nations coaching committee.
As a coach himself, Phil coached at Gowerton, Ammanford and Amman United over a number of years and also previously held the role of Wales Women head coach. He had coached the Ospreys Under 18 side in the WRU Regional Age Grade Championship since the tournament was introduced in 2005 and was Wales Under 18 team manager last season, working alongside head coach Allan Lewis.
WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis said: “Phil was a key member of the WRU’s Development staff, working to raise the standard of coaching across the board in Wales, from grassroots to the Principality Premiership. He was also a committed coach, giving of his time to develop players, both within the Ospreys region and internationally with Wales Women and Wales Under 18. His sudden death is a shock to everyone he worked with and he will be sadly missed.”
