Dragons backs coach Darren Edwards has been named as Head Coach for the Welsh Under 20 side.
Edwards joined the Dragons in 2009 and has overseen the further development of regional players including Will Harries, Adam Hughes and Jason Tovey as a fly half.
“This is an exciting new challenge, working with the most promising young players in Wales,” he said. “It’s always an honour to work with any national team and it will be a different environment to work in. Hopefully I’ll be able to point the players in the right direction of what it takes to be a regional player. I’ll be able to bring back a higher level of experience to the Dragons.”
“Coming from a Regional perspective, I understand the standards required of young players coming through and having spent two years with the Wales Under 18 group, this is a natural progression for me. I’m excited at the season ahead with the main objective being to create an environment which enables as many players as possible to become future professional rugby players.
“This appointment won’t affect my commitment to the Dragons.”
Edwards was the Attack Coach for the Under 18 side for the last 2 seasons, as well as coaching the backs at the Dragons.
Last season saw 6 Men of Gwent representing Wales Under 20 with Dan Watchurst captaining the Under 20s and current Dragons first team players Toby Faletau and Adam Hughes were also involved.
In addition to the management groups appointed for each international team, a coaching skills support unit has been set up to connect coaching strategies, philosophies and player development as well as the identification of talent throughout the player pathway.
Swansea head coach and former Swansea, Wales and Lions flanker and rugby league international Richard Webster will be assistant Wales Under 20 coach and former Wales centre Mark Taylor, who has been Wales Under 18 team manager for the past two seasons, moves up to take up the same role with the Under 20 group.
The Wales Under 18 management team is made up of full time WRU performance pathway staff. Gruff Rees, who has worked as a WRU skills coach with youngsters in the Ospreys region for the past five years and has gained exposure to the professional game within the Ospreys coaching structure, takes on the role of head coach, with Pontypridd head coach Dale McIntosh continuing as assistant coach (forwards) and Gethin Watts, a WRU Performance Programme Manager, acting as team manager.
The Wales Sevens management team is unchanged with Paul John continuing as head coach and David Jenkins as team manager.
Wales Women head coach Jason Lewis has taken up a new role within the WRU, that of national development manager, and has therefore relinquished his coaching duties with Wales Women. The Wales Women’s coaching structure is currently part of a strategic review and will be announced before the end of the year.
The Welsh Schools Under 16 set-up has re-appointed Simon Davies as its head coach for the sixth successive season, with Euros Evans entering his second year as assistant coach and Roy James continuing as team manager.
Former Ospreys prop Andrew Millward (front five), former Wales back row Rob Appleyard (defence), Wales Under 18 head coach Gruff Rees and Wales Sevens coach Paul John (backs skills) make up the skills coaching unit, with those individuals working with players and coaches in all of the national squads from the cutting edge of Warren Gatland’s national squad right through to the Welsh Schools Under 16 side. These coaches are currently working with the national squad with a view to disseminating ideas and techniques to the other international pathway teams.
WRU International Player Pathway coaching teams
Wales U18:
Manager – Gethin Watts
Head Coach – Gruff Rees
Assistant Coach Forwards – Dale McIntosh
Wales U20:
Manager – Mark Taylor
Head coach – Darren Edwards Dragons
Assistant Coach – Richard Webster
Sevens:
Manager – David Jenkins
Head Coach – Paul John
Skills coaching support group:
Gruff Rees, Paul John – backs sills; Andrew Millward – front five; Rob Appleyard – defence.
Edwards joined the Dragons in 2009 and has overseen the further development of regional players including Will Harries, Adam Hughes and Jason Tovey as a fly half.
“This is an exciting new challenge, working with the most promising young players in Wales,” he said. “It’s always an honour to work with any national team and it will be a different environment to work in. Hopefully I’ll be able to point the players in the right direction of what it takes to be a regional player. I’ll be able to bring back a higher level of experience to the Dragons.”
“Coming from a Regional perspective, I understand the standards required of young players coming through and having spent two years with the Wales Under 18 group, this is a natural progression for me. I’m excited at the season ahead with the main objective being to create an environment which enables as many players as possible to become future professional rugby players.
“This appointment won’t affect my commitment to the Dragons.”
Edwards was the Attack Coach for the Under 18 side for the last 2 seasons, as well as coaching the backs at the Dragons.
Last season saw 6 Men of Gwent representing Wales Under 20 with Dan Watchurst captaining the Under 20s and current Dragons first team players Toby Faletau and Adam Hughes were also involved.
In addition to the management groups appointed for each international team, a coaching skills support unit has been set up to connect coaching strategies, philosophies and player development as well as the identification of talent throughout the player pathway.
Swansea head coach and former Swansea, Wales and Lions flanker and rugby league international Richard Webster will be assistant Wales Under 20 coach and former Wales centre Mark Taylor, who has been Wales Under 18 team manager for the past two seasons, moves up to take up the same role with the Under 20 group.
The Wales Under 18 management team is made up of full time WRU performance pathway staff. Gruff Rees, who has worked as a WRU skills coach with youngsters in the Ospreys region for the past five years and has gained exposure to the professional game within the Ospreys coaching structure, takes on the role of head coach, with Pontypridd head coach Dale McIntosh continuing as assistant coach (forwards) and Gethin Watts, a WRU Performance Programme Manager, acting as team manager.
The Wales Sevens management team is unchanged with Paul John continuing as head coach and David Jenkins as team manager.
Wales Women head coach Jason Lewis has taken up a new role within the WRU, that of national development manager, and has therefore relinquished his coaching duties with Wales Women. The Wales Women’s coaching structure is currently part of a strategic review and will be announced before the end of the year.
The Welsh Schools Under 16 set-up has re-appointed Simon Davies as its head coach for the sixth successive season, with Euros Evans entering his second year as assistant coach and Roy James continuing as team manager.
Former Ospreys prop Andrew Millward (front five), former Wales back row Rob Appleyard (defence), Wales Under 18 head coach Gruff Rees and Wales Sevens coach Paul John (backs skills) make up the skills coaching unit, with those individuals working with players and coaches in all of the national squads from the cutting edge of Warren Gatland’s national squad right through to the Welsh Schools Under 16 side. These coaches are currently working with the national squad with a view to disseminating ideas and techniques to the other international pathway teams.
WRU International Player Pathway coaching teams
Wales U18:
Manager – Gethin Watts
Head Coach – Gruff Rees
Assistant Coach Forwards – Dale McIntosh
Wales U20:
Manager – Mark Taylor
Head coach – Darren Edwards Dragons
Assistant Coach – Richard Webster
Sevens:
Manager – David Jenkins
Head Coach – Paul John
Skills coaching support group:
Gruff Rees, Paul John – backs sills; Andrew Millward – front five; Rob Appleyard – defence.
