Alun Harries Appointed Coach Development Director

Coach Development Director

Ebbw Vale RFC have appointed former player Alun Harries to a new position for the club as Coach Development Director.

Having taken over a large part of the Mini and Junior in the town at the beginning of the 2019/20 the club has been considering how best to assist the volunteers who put a lot of time and energy in providing a safe and enjoyable rugby experience for the children within our community. It was felt that helping those coaches develop with a resource at the club would build on the excellent Coach Development structure already provided by The WRU.

Alun, a former player at the club during the professional era has built on an 18 year playing career that encompassed spells at his hometown club Abercarn, Newbridge, Neath, Newport and Treorchy plus representative honours at Wales A, Barbarian, Crawshays, Welsh Academicals and Welsh Presidents with a career in coaching and Coach Education. Alun is a Level 3 qualified coach who was part of a successful Cross Keys coaching group under Greg Woods has also worked with Wales Women, Gwent Schools, Penguins International Academy and is currently the Coach Development at Gibralter RFU and is looking forward to once again working at Eugene Cross Park.

The aim of the role is Develop and Support a strong and sustainable coach and player pathway for Ebbw Vale RFC as a Welsh Premiership team and in the longer term to build on this to become a rugby pathway centre of excellence that supports the wider rugby community within the Blaenau Gwent region. Alun will work closely with the senior coaches in managing the transition of players from the age group set up into the Welsh Premiership Squad and this work begins in earnest with the current Youth Squad who are the first to represent the Steelmen for 25 years and further down the age groups where emphasis will be placed on enjoyment and skills

All at the club believe that this will provide long term sustainability and that Alun’s coaching knowledge and knowledge of the club are ideally suited to this role and this appointment has been welcomed by all playing groups at Ebbw Vale RFC