The former assistant to Wales coach Kevin Bowring and one of Graham Henry’s selectors in the 1990s, Lewis previously coached Llanelli, Moseley, Newport, Bridgend and Celtic Warriors. He joined the WRU in 2012 from Hartpury College where he was Director of Coaching and will step down at the end of next month.
He said, “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last three and a half years at the Welsh Rugby Union. The priorities when I joined were to bring promising young coaches through but also to implement a playing philosophy to help establish a sustainable, Welsh game that was dynamic and mobile. It is vital that we have a common playing philosophy throughout age grade rugby in Wales.
“By concentrating on playing with the ball in hand at a young age, you can develop players who are able to adapt to whatever style of rugby a senior coach asks of them at a later stage and I’m encouraged by the attacking approach of the young coaches coming through. It is up to them now to influence the hearts and minds of other coaches and players.”
Lewis says the highlight of the past three years was beating Australian Schools using this philosophy.
“Not only did we beat a good, southern hemisphere side, but we scored four tries and also fronted up to the physicality of the encounter.”
WRU Head of Rugby Josh Lewsey added, “I don’t think there are many people who have contributed as much to Welsh rugby as Allan Lewis has. He’s been a great ambassador for the game and for Wales. He’s a true gentleman and a living example of rugby union’s values and has had a huge impact on generations of Welsh rugby players.
“From his time at Gwendraeth Grammar School influencing the likes of Jonathan Davies to coaching Ieuan Evans during his days with Llanelli and Wales to the period he spent at Bridgend where he was so influential on players such as Gareth Thomas who credits Allan for turning his career around. At Hartbury College too, Allan gave Alex Cuthbert and Andries Pretorius their first, crucial opportunities and developed other youngsters who have gone on to become professional players such as Jonny May, Henry Trinder and Tom Savage recently.
“Over the last three years at the WRU, Allan has overseen the development of a number of young, upcoming coaches and put in place a playing and coaching philosophy to give our young players and coaches the tools to be able to make a smooth transition to senior, professional rugby. He has mentored our three international skills coaches and created a close working relationship with the National Management Team for the benefit of players and coaches alike. I hope he will stay involved in some capacity.”
The new Elite Coach Development Manager role, advertised from today (CLICK HERE) concentrates purely on elite coach development, enhancing the pathway for elite coaches in the Welsh game.
WRU Performance Manager Gethin Watts said, “This is an exciting new role created to enhance and harness the pool of coaching talent in Wales. Many young coaches have come through the WRU development system, such as Gruff Rees, Danny Wilson, and more recently, Dai Flanagan and Ioan Cunningham., The new appointment will enhance this important pathway by establishing and managing the delivery of a world class elite coach development programme to further identify, mentor and develop elite coaches for the regional and international game.”
Jason Strange, who has carried out a part-time WRU international skills coach role from March, in conjunction with his teaching at Ebbw Fawr Learning Community and as Ebbw Vale RFC head coach, will now focus solely on the WRU role as of September 1, alongside Geraint Lewis and Chris Horsman.
He said, “This is a professional challenge which is too good to turn down. I’m an ambitious coach and feel this is the right time to take on this full-time coaching role.
“Like Geraint Lewis and Chris Horsman, I will have the opportunity to continue working with the international pathway teams, but also affect how we play the game in Wales, particularly from an attack point of view.
“That is something I feel passionately about. We are in a position where we can further develop playing philosophies which can be rolled out across the game, from top to bottom, through working with the School-Club Hub Officers. If we get that right, everyone will benefit.”
“The last five years at Ebbw Vale Rugby Club have been a magnificent journey for the players and myself, it’s been an enormous privilege to coach Ebbw Vale and I’m exceptionally proud of how the team has added to the club’s history during this time.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time teaching at Ebbw Fawr Learning Community too and in terms of my personal development, I’ve learned so much about developing players and young people from those roles, along with my coaching role at the Welsh Rugby Union and I’m looking forward to putting that into practice in my new role.”
Gethin Watts added, “Jason Strange is one of our top, young coaches and it is fantastic that he can now continue the work he has started on a full-time basis alongside Geraint Lewis and Chris Horsman, working with all our international pathway players and shaping our national game. I would like to thank Ebbw Fawr Learning Community for being so understanding in allowing Jason to take up this opportunity at this time.”
