The Ospreys are delighted to confirm that Mostyn Richards is to join the region after accepting an offer to take the post of Team Manager.
Richards will take up his new role with immediate effect, initially working alongside current incumbent Dani Delamere, before she hands over the reins to move into an extended role incorporating commercial and player appearance activities.
He will already be well known to many in Welsh rugby, and within the Ospreys set-up, having previously spent 17 happy years working within the WRU. He joined the Union in 1991, having been a schoolteacher prior to that, starting off as a Development Officer and working his way up the ladder, culminating in his appointment in 2005 as Elite Performance Manager. He left the WRU in 2008, since when he has combined a lecturing post at the University of Glamorgan with a coach development and mentoring role for Torfaen Borough Council.
Speaking about his appointment at the Ospreys, Mostyn said today:
“Since stepping down from the WRU I’ve been able to take a step back from full-time involvement in rugby and take a wider look at life and work. I’ve turned down two full time offers over the last six months but sometimes an opportunity comes along that is too good to turn down and this is definitely one of those occasions.
“At the WRU I particularly enjoyed working alongside both Andrew Hore and Scott Johnson, they are likeminded individuals, straight talking and very driven, and the opportunity to work with them again is an exciting one that really tickled my fancy, so to speak.
“We’ve spoken about the plans that they have for the Ospreys, I can see something big building here and I really want to play a very small part in that. The infrastructure that is now in place is completely geared towards making the Ospreys a rugby leader and I’m looking forward to doing what I can to help.”
Elite Performance Director, Andrew Hore added:
“I’m delighted to be able to welcome Mostyn to the Ospreys. In Welsh rugby, the Team Manager position is one that is relatively new and has maybe been undervalued in the eyes of the wider public, but an effective Team Manager should be central to the day-to-day goings on.
“With certain changes taking place within the commercial department at the Ospreys over the summer, Dani Delamere has been promoted to a new role with wider responsibilities, and after an initial bedding in period, Mostyn will work alongside her, focussing entirely on the rugby side of things.
“He is an individual who brings vast rugby knowledge, and will no doubt prove to be highly effective at the operational end of things, while his vast player development experience will definitely be a huge plus in terms of assisting with the growth of our development pathway.
“His appointment is a positive one for the Ospreys, and I’m looking forward to seeing him make a big impact, becoming a valued member of the management team.”