The Performance Coaching Team says yes to more of the same for 2021/22 and beyond!
Following the release of our stella fixture list for Pre Season and as we enter year 4 following project reset, we are delighted to share further exciting news ahead of the 2021/22 season.
The Performance Coaching Group including Director of Rugby Cai Griffiths, Lead Backs Coach Steve Shingler and Head of Strength & Conditioning Will Taylor will all return for another season when the squad comes back together on 15 June to commence pre season.
Indeed, Director of Rugby Cai Griffiths has been hard at work since the beginning of the pandemic, working with Head of Mens Rugby Jon Shankland, in structuring the programme and playing squad for the return of rugby and the 2021/22 season, with the full support of the board.
Cai, Steve and Will form a formidable trio and between them have outstanding experience in the game at the highest level. Cai and Will have of course been with us since project reset in 2017 and over that time have never wavered in their resolve and focus to return London Welsh RFC to the upper echelons of the rugby pyramid.
Steve Shingler joined the dynamic coaching group in 2019 and brings the innovative edge that you would expect from one of the games experienced professional players and a deep tactical thinker. The Wales u20 international’s CV is littered with top clubs including Cardiff Blues,Scarlets and London Irish.
Will Taylor has been a revelation at Old Deer Park since being persuaded to join the London Welsh journey by Cai and Sonny Parker in 2017. The squad will attest to the uncompromising approach that he has to the conditioning of the performance group and the dedication that he shows to ensuring that the players are on point in all aspects of strength, conditioning and nutrition. Will is of significant pedigree himself being capped for Wales at u20 level and going on to have a successful career with Wasps prior to a career ending injury in 2016.
Cai needs no further introduction of course and having had a glittering professional career with the Ospreys, London Welsh and London Irish, as well as being capped at u21 level for Wales.
Cai has overseen an incredible rebuilding phase at the club and within the playing squad. This has brought a 97% win rate since he took the helm in 2017 and has seen London Welsh unbeaten at Old Deer Park in over 4 years, achieving promotion in each season over that period.
Also retained in the performance training group are Paul Bessent and Rocky Hudson. Paul has been with London Welsh for over 15 years and aside from being a trusted coach, is really part of the heart and soul of the club, someone who is a key part of the bond in the player and coaching group.
Rocky joined us in 2019 bringing a vast amount of coaching experience and a rugby league background and ethos both as a player and a coach.
The coaching team are looking forward to the return of the squad and to getting stuck in to the 2021/22 season as we go for our 4th successive promotion.
We are excited to see the tight coaching group develop yet further and look forward to seeing continued success on the pitch. We take great pride in the quality of our performance player programme and we are confident that our leading coaching team will continue to grow as our future plans continue to take shape.
We looking forward to seeing many of you during pre season (pandemic restrictions allowing) and to welcoming everyone back to match days at Old Deer Park.
