Every Game Matters

It’s been a year since lockdown. No doubt many will be reflecting on a year of change. A year ago, we (Inside Track) were in the latter stages of feeding-back on an evaluation of the Academy programmes in the five rugby regions in Wales. Then coronavirus hit and progress was curtailed.

In the year that has passed, Welsh Rugby has seen considerable change. What was a ‘new’ and re-developing national coaching team a year ago, is now, 12 months later, on the cusp of winning the 6 Nations … and was the only team capable of winning the 2021 Grand Slam until last weekend when the French spoilt the party!

The impact of a global pandemic has curtailed the community game in Wales for two seasons. The professional game – PRO14 – has stuttered yet has found its feet, albeit behind closed doors. Having had the opportunity to work in and amongst the many facets of Welsh Rugby for the past few seasons, we reflect on our journey within Wales’s national game.

Bridging the ‘gap’

Our first ‘foray’ into rugby in Wales was to explore what opportunities there were to reform the ‘pinnacle of the community game’. We were entering the realm of iconic brands of rugby in Wales. Clubs with heritage and tradition, clubs at the heart of communities. Clubs that were at the formulation of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in 1881.

The emerging challenge in Wales, at the time, included:

• How to ‘raise the bar’ at the top of the community game when cross-border and league competitions were changing
• Players ‘transitioning’ between club rugby and regional – professional – rugby and potentially falling through the cracks, and
• A need to improve playing opportunities for ‘talented’ players within the professional game but not getting quality game time to support their development.

This was ‘blurry zone’ territory. Where players flirt between the club game, the ‘semi-pro’ ranks, and the professional game. Our approach is to reach-out and ask. To find out what everyone thinks. To understand different perspectives. We embarked on an intense period of engagement meeting and connecting with many people from numerous stakeholder groups to discuss the present, and to explore the future. Players, coaches, club volunteers and WRU staff … amongst many others.

The resultant outcomes of this intervention were somewhat unexpected yet illustrated the speed at which evolution can happen within professional sport. Our initial recommendations received mixed response – they challenged ‘status’, perceptions and traditions – yet through further engagement and after numerous models being proposed, implementation was agreed. The unintended outcome was a connection to Irish Rugby and a desire to have some competitive ‘A team’ rugby for those with the potential to reach into the professional game – the Celtic Cup was launched.

Without question, there is huge ‘investment’ in rugby within education settings in Wales. Schools utilise rugby to develop skills; life skills, as well as rugby skills. There are examples of incredible investment in facilities and people to provide high-quality opportunities to play rugby in schools, colleges and universities throughout Wales.

The enthusiasm for the game, and for it to be integral to the education pathway is admirable. What is evident, is the education sector can provide a ‘safe’ platform to grow the game in Wales, where female rugby is thriving and the male game continues to evolve. As one primary head teacher shared with us …

“The values of rugby fit with the values of our school”.

Harnessing this appetite within education is the key. Building relationships. Connecting schools, and clubs, to share ideas and develop collaboratively. Ensuring the experience within rugby is a good and positive one; for all who are involved. Winning is ‘great’ but not everyone can win.

Talent in Wales

There’s fire in the belly of Welsh Rugby. What many people don’t see is all the ‘hard yards’ done behind the scenes, in the background, away from the public view. We were very fortunate to spend time with each of the professional regional Academies and the Academy programme in the North. The ‘thirst’ to improve is motivating. To spend time with the people and players involved in the ‘talent pipeline’ of Welsh Rugby was fulfilling.

Identifying talent is not easy – a combination of ‘by the eye’, knowledge of the game, and metrics. There is no exact science determining a player’s potential. Even more, many people in Welsh Rugby have a view of what talent is.

In collaboration with the Academy staff, the regional executive and the WRU, we explored and proposed systems to continually monitor progress. New ways of working, to share ideas and progress thinking, as a collective, for the betterment of Welsh Rugby.

When you ‘look under the bonnet’ of an organisation, in our case, a number of different ones, you get to see all the moving parts! What we found was the future of Welsh Rugby was very much about the people. The coaches, the support staff, the players, the parents and the support network of the players. There are many moving parts, some of which grind against each other. Yet, with a willingness to improve and an openness to learning as a collective, Welsh Rugby has some solid foundations to continue to develop world-class rugby players for the future.

What we learned on our journey within Welsh Rugby

• Engage – if you want to affect change, give everyone the chance to ‘have their say’. Our approach is to look from the ‘outside-in’. Let those who are part of Welsh Rugby, have an opportunity to say what they think. Sometimes you have to ask difficult questions and hear uncomfortable feedback; yet, if you want to know, you have to ask.
• Make decisions – intensive reviews are exhausting and if there is no outcome, perceived or otherwise, this leads to frustration. What people want to know is “Has my voice been heard?” and “What will impact on me?”. Explaining the reasons for decisions made goes a long way; silence is like inaction.
• It’s difficult to reach a ‘win-win’ – there is so much invested by so many within Welsh Rugby, reaching outcomes that benefit all concerned is hugely challenging. There are many people we have met within Wales who are looking ahead and preparing for the future, knowing that change is inevitable, yet continually being proactive and positive.
• Continuous improvement – cutting through the noise of opinion, tradition and the heritage within Welsh Rugby, there is an evident appetite to continually improve. We have worked with many organisations yet it remains heartening to work alongside people who are open to change, have great integrity, and want to improve what they do.

Sport is passionate. For people involved in Welsh Rugby, it’s personal. There are conflicting views about the future of Welsh Rugby and there are deep divides about the professional game in the regions. There is ambition in Welsh Rugby yet there are also limitations. Wales could be the 6 Nations Champions a year after questions were being asked about a downturn in performance. A great deal can change in a year.

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As the 6 Nations concludes this week, we can look back over a period of time that has enabled us to look into the world of those invested in Welsh Rugby. It will be the people within Welsh Rugby that will determine its future success yet this week, it is out of their hands; Scottish Rugby will have gained a few Welsh supporters since last weekend!