Andy Williams, Ospreys Player Development Officer for the Swansea District, teamed up with the coaching team from Swansea RFC to deliver a special coaching session to teenagers at Waunarlwydd RFC last weekend.
Former Wales scrum-half Williams, one of the Ospreys originals from the 2003/04 season, was appointed to the region’s Community Rugby team earlier this summer after calling time on his playing career, and he has been tasked with increasing the player base in the community game in Swansea.
More than 50 U15 and U16 players attended the session on Friday evening where they were put through their paces by Williams and the new-look All-Whites coaching team of Jason Hyatt and Damian Karauna, along with Mickey Evans, Conditioning Coach at Swansea. Then, on Saturday, Swansea held a training session at Waun's Roseland Road ground with the age-grade youngsters invited along to watch.
Speaking about the weekend, Williams said:
“It was a great event and we have received excellent feedback from those present. It’s definitely the kind of thing we will be looking at repeating at clubs in Swansea in the future.
“With the strengthened links between the Ospreys and the Swansea now, and in particular, the coaches being part of the Ospreys development pathway, it makes it easier to be able to do this kind of thing where we are working with community clubs to encourage more people to not only take up the game, but to continue playing as well.
“Jason, Damian and Mickey were great, and I know that they are keen to do what they can to promote rugby among teenagers in the Swansea District.”
Andrew Hore, Ospreys Chief Operations Officer, added:
“This was a great initiative which I know was well received by Waunarlwydd RFC. With the appointment of Jason as Head Coach of Swansea and Damian as his assistant, there is a clear development pathway in place, bringing the club closer to the Ospreys, as is the case at Bridgend RFC with Steve Tandy in place.
“These relationships are vitally important if we are to strengthen our ties to the community game, giving a national progression from the local clubs that are the strength of the region, through to the Premiership, and then the Ospreys, a clear pathway for coaches, players and administrators alike.”