The Welsh Rugby Union is establishing a new Talent Insight and Management department designed to strengthen how Welsh rugby identifies, understands, develops and retains talent across the game.
The changes form part of the WRU’s wider work to create a more connected national performance pathway and a uniquely Welsh Rugby DNA, bringing together the intelligence that already exists across the game through a stronger national network, more connected player insight and better use of AI.
A new Head of Talent Insight and Management will lead the function, with a clear aim to ensure Welsh rugby knows its players better than anyone else, spots potential earlier and has the information and systems to make more joined-up decisions across both the men’s and women’s pathways.
The department will build a connected national talent network across schools, colleges, clubs, regional programmes and Welsh-qualified players outside Wales, strengthening relationships between the people who see, coach and work with players every day.
“Welsh rugby has an enormous amount of knowledge about its players, but historically that knowledge has often sat with different people, teams and organisations.
“The biggest opportunity is to connect it,” said WRU Technical Director Rhys Long, who designed and implemented a similar talent and insight programme within English football during his time at The FA.
“Our aim is to build one connected view of Welsh talent.”
Andy Lloyd will transition into an expanded Talent Management Lead role, building on his existing experience within the Welsh pathway and extending his work across both the men’s and women’s game.
His role will help connect rugby expertise across the system, improve how knowledge about players is shared and strengthen decision-making and coordinated support throughout their development.
There will also be dedicated Rugby AI and data science capability, working alongside the WRU’s Digital and Data team to build a performance platform that connects information from across Welsh rugby and makes it easier for coaches, performance staff and decision-makers to access, understand and use.
“This is not about replacing coaches or rugby judgement with AI,” Long said.
“We have to be brave enough to think and do things differently in Wales and make the most of our unique strengths and collective intelligence.
“We are not going to have the largest playing population, finances or resources in world rugby, but we can become outstanding at recognising talent. If we can know our players better than anyone else, understand what they need and connect the system around them, that can become a unique competitive advantage for the whole of Welsh rugby.”