WRU Creates New Group of ‘National Interest’ Players

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is looking to future proof the depth chart of talent in Wales by selecting a group of up to 60 players of ’National Interest’ from the age of 15-24.

These players will receive an additional programme of nationally run support delivered in collaboration with Regional Academies to help accelerate their development and transition through the player pathway system.

Those who are identified as ‘Wales Pathway Players (WPP)’ will have the best future potential to graduate into national age-grade sides, regional teams, and ultimately the Wales senior side.

WPP status players will receive access to nationally run group clinics to work on their technical, tactical, and physical development; locally delivered position specific coaching sessions; regular one-on-one support and advice from S&C specialist coaches and nutritionists; and mentoring from current or recently retired senior professional players.

This will all enhance and compliment the provision already offered through the five newly licenced Regional Academies in Wales (or professional clubs if based outside Wales). There will also be an opportunity to observe and even join Warren Gatland’s senior side in training.

“This is another piece in the jig-saw aimed at ensuring our domestic player development system is joined up between our emerging talent programmes at 15-16, the Regional Academies, the WSC Rugby schools and colleges competition at 16-18, Super Rygbi Cymru, the Wales Pathway teams, the Regions themselves, and ultimately the national side,” said WRU performance director, Huw Bevan.

“Our goal is to provide players with the right support at the right time – proactively supporting and accelerating players who show early promise, while also providing entry and re-entry points for late bloomers.

“It is part of an ‘eyes and hands on’ approach to ensure we are able to positively influence, support, and nurture our most talented players both in Wales and outside to help create more players capable of playing regional and senior international rugby.

“There is no doubt the player pathway in Wales produces plenty of talent and you can see more and more youngsters playing for their regions at an earlier stage.”

Head of WRU player development, John Alder, added: “This programme will also become a critical support mechanism for high potential players who leave Wales to remain connected and engaged with us, enabling us to continue to play our part in supporting their long-term development.

“This support is all about enhancing and optimising the development and making the transition at every stage as effective and seamless as possible.”

Selection as a WPP will be recognition of long-range potential of a player but won’t guarantee selection for Wales at U18, U19 or U20 teams. If a player is given WPP status and is not part of one of the five Regional Academies, the Academy in the area where the player resides will be engaged to provide the player with the service.

The Wales Pathway Squad (WPS) will be selected on an annual basis and will consist of no more than 60 players. Identification and selection will be based on future potential rather than current performance and made by a panel of WRU senior and pathway management staff in consultation with the Regional Academies.

Among the many considerations during the selection process will be:

Is the player:
· within positional age profile for the RWC 2027 and RWC 2031
· deemed to be a standouts amongst his peers
· in possession of a unique selling point differentiating him from his peers above and below in the pathway
· featuring on the national depth chart and succession plan
· playing in a position of national need

The WRU and Regions (or other professional clubs) will ‘case-conference’ each player to monitor progress and set goals, and two-way feedback will be ongoing between stakeholders. Formal reviews and (re)selection will form part of the calendar of reviews that links with each Region’s annual player planning process and competition windows.

Among those who feel they will benefit greatly from the additional investment in Welsh playing talent is Wales U20 head coach Richard Whiffin.

Along with team manager Andy Lloyd, Wales U18 head coach Richie Pugh and set-piece coach Marc Breeze, and in conjunction with Wales assistant coach Rob Howley who oversees pathway development, he has already seen benefits from the changes made to the pathway system.

“The joining up of every aspect of the pathway programme in Wales is going to be so important moving forward and is already allowing us to identify and work with the best talent in the country,” said Whiffin.

“Being able to identify and then nurture young talent is the best way to help them to fulfill their talent and to match the needs of the professional and international game in Wales.

“It will also help us to better connect with and track those Welsh players who move across the bridge into England. It can hurts us at U18 and U20 level when they got into other programmes.”

Cardiff Rugby academy manager, Gruff Rees, added: “We’re seeing so many more youngsters around the clubs this season and that can only be good for them and the game as a whole. We’re getting higher ball in play time in the matches and having great contests,” said Cardiff Rugby Academy manager Gruff Rees.

“There just seems to be more joined up thinking between the clubs, academies and regional coaches that in the past, as well as with the Wales U20 coaching team. That can only be good for Welsh rugby.”