John Schropfer will take up his new role immediately as part of the ongoing restructuring of the rugby development operation within the WRU. The new post is a key appointment which spans both the elite and community game to unify the coach development pathway for the future.
More appointments are in the pipeline within the coach development structure which is now being put in place.
John Schropfer has been promoted from his current role of WRU Community Rugby Coach Education Manager to take up the new post. He will report to the yet to be appointed Head of Rugby Development which is now a WRU Executive Board level appointment.
The new structure below the Head of Rugby Development includes the National Match Officials Manager, Rob Yeman, the National Performance Manager, Huw Wiltshire, the National Coach Development Manager and the yet to be appointed National Rugby Development Manager.
The new National Coach Development Manager will immediately start work on delivering an overall strategy for Wales which creates more first class coaches at all levels. A core aim will be to boost the number of Welsh coaches capable of operating at international level in Wales.
John Schropfer has worked for the Welsh Rugby Union for 17 years as an international coach, a development officer, a community manager and heading up the community coach education division. He is an IRB licensed trainer of coach educators and his hands on coaching experience includes coaching Wales at senior level as assistant coach to Kevin Bowring and coaching age grade international sides at schools and youth levels.
He said, “My mission is to create the world’s most respected rugby coaching system that delivers coaches who are fit for purpose in sufficient numbers at all levels and delivers the right coach to the right place at the right time for the needs of every player at every stage of their development.
“Part of my focus will be to develop a workforce with the technical skills to create more players with better skills. In essence that means better coach educators and better trainers.
“If we have more and better coaches across the spectrum we will ultimately ensure that more talented players progress along the development pathway which will ultimately deliver the best talent to the national squad.
“After all, the main aim is to ensure we get more players achieving their full potential to give the national coaches more choice in selection. We can move towards achieving that if we have excellent coaches at all levels.
“The strategy will also help us create coaches capable of competing at the top of the pyramid for the ultimate prize which is to coach Wales. I believe we already have a lot of very good coaches but we need more and we need enough to create a bigger pool of talented players.
“I already have a five year strategy plan in place and we are moving along the road in delivering the resources at levels one, two, three and four.”
Welsh Rugby Union Chairman, David Pickering, said: “This is an excellent appointment for Welsh rugby. John has the expertise and vision to take our coaching programme in the direction we need to go.
“He has the experience of coaching at international level as well as huge experience in coaching structures and systems.
“The key aim must be to produce more coaches and players capable of operating at the very highest level. John and his team are committed to a strategy that can deliver this. He understands our strengths and weaknesses fully and has the sharp focus required to create a structure which delivers success.
“His knowledge of the community game across Wales means he knows that if we have better coaches at all levels we will get more and more talented players moving along the development pathways we are now creating.
“The Union has allocated increased resource to coach development to ensure we give home grown talent the support it needs to rise to the top.
“John’s appointment builds on the firm foundations laid down by his predecessors in the rugby development operation.”
