Key appointments made to national pathway coaching set-up

The Welsh Rugby Union has boosted its national pathway coaching set-up with two new key appointments.

Marc Breeze has been unveiled as pathway scrum and throwing coach while Ashley Beck has been named Women’s performance pathway coach.

Both possess impressive playing and coaching credentials and are looking to hit the ground running.

“It’s a really exciting role and I’m looking forward to see where the role takes me,” said Breeze, currently assistant coach at Super Rygbi Cymru side Aberavon and previously a coach and referee development officer with the WRU.

He will work closely with senior Women’s forwards coach Mike Hill and senior men’s forwards coach Johnathan Humphreys to drive forward a national plan for the development of front row forwards for senior professional and international rugby.

“I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to work with young front row players and help support them in their development to ultimately try and push them into higher honours,” said Breeze.

“I’m already getting out and connecting with the clubs and regions for both the boys’ and girls’ games connecting and having some good conversations finding out what support players need so I can then put an appropriate plan in place.
“I’ve already been through a Six Nations and World Cup, so I’ve got a real flavour of what the job entails and what happens in those tournaments so I’m not going into the role blind so to speak.”

As the new Women’s performance pathway coach, Beck’s role will see him work closely with the network of Player Development Centres to oversee the development of a portfolio of players as well as return to his head coach role with Brython Thunder for a second season and work as an assistant coach with Wales U20.

“This is really an exciting opportunity to continue the work that was started with Brython Thunder in the first season of the Celtic Challenge,” said Beck.

“We established the team’s identity and the new home and away league structure this season shows the commitment to women’s rugby when the spotlight will be bigger than ever before with a World Cup in England in 2025.

“We have seen players from Brython move into the national set-up and the Wales U20s and to have the chance to work at international level is a real privilege.

“Wales has always produced rugby players and it’s the same in the women’s game and it’s all about providing the players with a clear pathway to achieve their dreams and to hone their skills so they can represent Wales at the highest level.

“To able to play a role in that is not something I take lightly, and I know how important it is to support and challenge the players so they can make themselves, their families and all of us proud.”

WRU head of player development, John Alder, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Ashley and Marc to our national pathway coaching staff. Both appointments signal our ongoing commitment to optimising our national pathway across the men and women’s game, and are business critical to the development of our future internationals. We are grateful for the assistance from the Royal London & British & Irish Lions Levelling the Playing Field fund which has made both roles possible.

“Marc’s prior experience not only in coaching on the men and women’s pathway but also in coach development means he is uniquely placed to contribute to the way our male and female front row forwards are developed.

“Ashley joins us with a real ambition for the future of the women’s game in Wales after cutting his teeth in the PWR with Worcester Warriors and then having led Brython Thunder in last year’s inaugural Celtic Challenge for the team.

“Both coaches will bring a unique perspective and a shared passion for developing players for professional rugby, and with our other coaching staff, will be instrumental in shaping the next generation of male and female Welsh talent.”