Rhys Long has been appointed as Technical Director at Welsh Rugby Union, a senior position in the rugby and elite performance department.
Long joins Welsh rugby from the role of Head of Performance Analysis and Technical Insights at the Football Association and brings over 20 years of practical and strategic leadership experience at the highest level in sport.
A former Head of Analysis at the WRU between 2007 and 2016, a period which saw two Grand Slams, a Six Nations Championship title and a Rugby World Cup semi-final appearance for Wales senior men’s squad, Long has also worked on two British & Irish Lions tours (2009 and 2013).
Originally from Porthcawl, Long has built a cv which spans early experience in elite analysis to his current role as a senior strategist and innovator supporting senior England football managers including Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel, and supporting the development of world leading player development pathways in football.
“This is an important time to join Welsh rugby, we are in a period of transition but bold steps towards a successful future have already been taken,” said Long who will return to Welsh rugby in April.
“Working at the highest levels of performance and talent development in football has enhanced my perspective on elite standards in sport, on how winning environments are built, and what it takes to sustain them.
“This blend of Welsh system knowledge and performance leadership will help me to shape a uniquely Welsh performance model and DNA, as the department seeks to re-establish clear standards and a winning mentality across Welsh rugby.”
As the new Technical Director, Long will be responsible for designing and delivering integrated performance strategies across men’s and women’s pathways, operating across technical and performance environments and aligning stakeholders around shared strategic goals.
He will assist in the development of a comprehensive elite rugby strategy, support the development of ‘winning’ models for national and professional club teams aligning resources and philosophies and installing a Welsh rugby ‘DNA’ across all departments.
Elite coach recruitment and succession planning across the national coaching pathways, talent and insight management and match officials will all also fall under his remit.
“I’m delighted to have secured Rhys’s appointment. He is a great example of an expert, very much made in Wales and in rugby, who has gone on to develop himself by experiencing different environments and perspectives and to become greatly respected at the very top of world sport,” said WRU Director of Rugby & Elite Performance Dave Reddin.
“He will play a key role in defining and embedding a Welsh rugby DNA in the principles of how we play, coach and our Welsh identity across both our men’s and women’s pathways and senior teams.
“His background in Rugby and his experiences in supporting and developing world class talent identification, development and performance insight will help support our ambition of creating a unique system to take Welsh Rugby back to the top echelons of the world game.”
“As a passionate Welshman, Rhys is emotionally invested in the journey we are on and brings a unique combination of skills and experiences which I believe will significantly enhance our capability, capacity and connection across the Welsh rugby system.”
Wales senior women’s Head Coach Sean Lynn said:
“We are all looking forward to welcoming Rhys to the Welsh rugby family and, in particular, working together to create an identity for our game which permeates through the whole system and reflects both our rich history and our progressive approach to future success.”
Wales senior men’s Head Coach Steve Tandy added:
“I’m excited about Rhys joining the team and how he will enable us to accelerate our development.
“I’m impressed by Rhys’s personal energy for Welsh rugby as well as his clarity of vision.
“I think it’s great to see the way he has challenged himself by moving into another sport and developing himself to succeed at the highest level and I can’t wait to start working with him when he begins this role.”
Roadblock
The first rugby team to perform the Haka did so 1888 – The Haka, a traditional dance of Maori People, was first performed by New Zealand Rugby Team The Natives in 1888 to demonstrate their pride, strength, and unity. It has been performed before games ever since and has become a symbol of rugby for New Zealand. Whether you’re a Kiwi or not, it’s one of those spine-tingling moments when you know a big game is about to be played. The Haka is one of the most iconic moments in rugby
Low Voltage
Sport Trivia: What sport would you associate Brian Mitchell with? Answer: Boxing – Brian Mitchell won the WBA junior lightweight title in 1986, and ended up defending it successfully 12 times which in itself was a world record. He retired undefeated in 1991 with 46 wins, one loss, and two draws.