Welsh Coaches trawl world for top ideas

The fact-finding missions have taken them to Australia, New Zealand and the United States, studying Rugby Union, Rugby League, Aussie Rules, American Football and wrestling among other sports.

The aim is to find the best methods anywhere in the world and to find ways of applying those to Welsh rugby development.

However, one of the first lessons is that much of the development and coaching work in Welsh rugby is going along the right lines and can compare favourably with the good practice anywhere else.

Among those studying sport across the world are the four Objective One funded Skills Coaches, Rob Appleyard of the Scarlets, Wayne Jones from the Dragons, Danny Wilson from the Blues and Gruff Rhys from the Ospreys. Wilson and Jones studied Rugby Union in New Zealand, Appleyard and Rhys saw a variety of sports in the United States.

Ospreys Coaches Lyn Jones and Sean Holley have just returned from Australia where they spent time with the Brisbane Broncos Rugby League side, while National Kicking Coach Neil Jenkins stayed out in Australia at the end of the Wales tour to try to pick up some tips from Aussie Rules. Blues Coach Rob Howley is also in Australia with the regions co-funding their staff.

Elite Coach Development Manager Leighton Morgan said, “This is a vital part of their development to find out the best methods around the world.

“These are all young coaches so the lessons they learned can be applied to Welsh rugby for the next 20 to25 years. This is a vital part of their development.”