Regional Performance Development Manager Appointed
Ebbw Vale Head Coach Will Thomas has been appointed as Regional Performance Development Manager for the Dragons region as one of four new WRU appointments within the elite development department.
The appointment means he will relinquish his coaching role with the Premiership side, with his last match in charge of the Steelmen being the televised home clash against Newport on October 4.
The former Wales A backrow was Welsh Rugby Industry Project co-ordinator for the five Objective 1 funded WRU academies for the past three years, a project which has now come to an end.
The key aims of the Regional Performance Development Managers are to identify and manage the development of elite, young players, working closely with professional and semi-professional coaches and managers within the four regions, along with the regional academy staff, with the distinct aim of producing potential future professional rugby players. The job combines the off-field, holistic management of players' career and educational pathways with the on-field development of players, including overseeing the team performance element of the regional age grade teams.
Former Cross Keys captain Will Thomas said, "I'm thrilled to be taking on this hands-on role working with the exciting, young talent in the Dragons region.
"A number of international age grade players have graduated into the professional Dragons playing squad in recent seasons and I'm looking forward to working with the professional and semi-professional coaches within the region, along with the WRU skills and fitness coaches within the Dragons academy to continue to develop and strengthen that production line of talent into the professional game."
Dragons:
Regional Performance Development Manager - Will Thomas
Skills coach - Wayne Jones
Fitness coach - Byron Hayward
