Welsh Rugby Union Chief Executive Roger Lewis has sealed deals with kicking guru Jenkins and forwards specialist McBryde, with both putting pen to paper on three-year contract extensions to confirm Gatland’s full complement of back room staff will be on hand to maintain a steady ship right through to the next Rugby World Cup tournament in New Zealand.
Jenkins, the former world record points scorer who was only recently eclipsed by England’s Jonny Wilkinson, is a widely regarded master of his trade and McBryde brings 37-caps worth of playing experience as a hooker to his role whilst he has also worked under three other national team coaches in Gareth Jenkins and caretakers Scott Johnson and Nigel Davies.
“Both Neil and Robin are young, talented coaches who will offer a long term benefit to the game in Wales and I have very much enjoyed working with both of them in my first season in charge,” said Head Coach Warren Gatland.
“It’s great for me to have been able to keep all the coaching staff together from a good Six Nations tournament and credit needs to go to the WRU executive management team who have ensured that is possible.”
The next task for Warren and his coaching team is to face World Champions South Africa on the summer tour in June, with defence coach Shaun Edwards and backs coach Rob Howley already on board.
“It was important to us all to sustain the impressive high standards Warren and his coaching and management team have already set in the short time they have been involved with the national side,” added WRU Goup Chief Exectuive Roger Lewis.
“It is important to Welsh rugby to maintain a strong Welsh presence in his backroom staff as we all agreed at the outset of Warren’s appointment.
“I personally thank all of the coaching team for committing themselves to Welsh rugby.”
NEIL JENKINS – KICKING COACH
DoB: 8 July, 1971
Neil Jenkins scored a record 1,090 international points – 1,049 in 87 Tests for Wales and 41 in four Tests for the 1997 and 2001 Lions. The former Pontypridd, Cardiff and Celtic Warriors fly half was twice voted Welsh Player-of-the-Year and is one of only five players to score over 500 points in the Heineken Cup. He joined the Wales management team in the summer of 2006.
ROBIN McBRYDE – SET-PIECE COACH
DoB: 3 July, 1970
Robin McBryde won 37 Wales caps, scoring a try for his country in the 2002 match against Canada. The former Mold, Bangor, Menai Bridge, Swansea and Llanelli hooker captained the Scarlets, for whom he made 250 appearances, to the 1998 Welsh Cup final triumph and the Welsh Championship title the following season. An injury forced him home early from the 2001 Lions tour to Australia.
