Dean Ryan believes Wales international prop Cerys Hale has the passion and drive to ensure girls across Gwent have a pathway to international rugby at Dragons.
Dragons this week announced the ground-breaking launch of a new Women’s Development Academy at the region that will run alongside the men’s age-grade set-up at Ystrad Mynach.
Hale has been appointed Performance Lead for the innovative new programme alongside her playing contracts.
Players picking up a ball at a young age will now know exactly how they can become a Wales international through our regional pathway.
And Director of Dragons Rugby, Ryan, believes Hale is the ideal choice to drive a successful programme.
“It's a huge step and I am really excited about it. The right thing to do was to take the first step into an age-grade programme,” said Ryan.
“I know from speaking to Cerys that we needed to not only take the step but take that step with somebody that is passionate and will inspire people through the pathway, getting the women's game in our region ready for the game going professional in Wales.
“You can sit and ask when that is going to happen and what is it going to look like, or you can just take the first step.
“Cerys was so passionate about it and her quote was 'why does a girl from Gwent have a different opportunity to a girl from elsewhere?' struck a huge chord,” added Ryan.
“Do we know what things look like outside of the age-grade programme moving forward? No. Are we going to work really hard and tirelessly to give the best environment to be ready for the next step? Yes we are.
“When we talked about it I said there was no point moving into that space without an individual that is so passionate about creating pathways for women's rugby. That passion is what will inspire and becomes contagious.
“Credit to everybody within the club that has worked across the programmes just to get it off the ground,” concluded Ryan.
“It has been humbling to see how many people have just got engaged with that programme in a short space of time because there is a lot of organisation and a lot of things needed to be put in place.”
Discover more about the new Women's Development Academy programme - click HERE for more information.
When we talked about it I said there was no point moving into that space without an individual that is so passionate about creating pathways for women's rugby... That passion is what will inspire and becomes contagious...
