News article - Style A 2669

STRICTLY COME DANCING - OSPREYS STYLE!

The group have been taking part in twice weekly sessions under the watchful eye of Swansea based dance instructor Rhiannan Cole at Afan Lido, Aberavon, as Academy coaches have looked to challenge the players and add variety to their training programme.

The dance lessons are the idea of Keith Hollifield, Ospreys Academy Coach, and he commented:

"Each pre-season at the Ospreys Academy we like to try out different activities and sports and this year we have asked Rhiannan to come in and take two dance sessions per week for three weeks.

"The first session of the week is based on body control, and in particular, body control in the air. This involves running, jumping, twisting and turning on the floor and in the air. The second session has an emphasis on footwork and learning complicated dance routines. At the end of each session, Rhiannan puts the players through a series of stretching drills to improve their flexibility.

"The sessions are enjoyable and fun, but the development of footwork, co-ordination, agility and spatial awareness have a particular relevance and cross over to modern young rugby players."

Rhiannan Cole added:

"The attitude of the players has been brilliant, they were a little bit wary when they first came along but have seen how it can benefit them and have relaxed into it now. They've all improved their dancing ability in the few sessions we've had so far.

"The are plenty of benefits from dance lessons for rugby players. They are all big and fit, but many of them aren't particularly mobile or flexible so this definitely helps. Also, in rugby, spatial awareness, positioning and the need to understand where you should be in at a given time in relation to your colleagues are vital so I've worked with them on routines that will help with this and they have responded positively."

Ospreys youngster and Wales U-18 captain Lloyd Peers said:

"The lessons have been good fun. We can definitely see where they will help us on the rugby pitch when the new season starts; it's surprising how so many disciplines can cross over. We'll definitely benefit from this experience, so we're grateful to Rhiannan for her patience and support!"