Huw Wiltshire has been named as the National Performance Manager tasked with driving forward fitness and conditioning standards outside Warren Gatland’s national squad.
His aim will be to deliver a constant flow of talent capable of challenging for selection at the highest levels of rugby in Wales.
The new role of National Performance Manager is the first appointment in the structure considered earlier this month by the Welsh Rugby Union as part of an ongoing review of the elite rugby team.
The National Performance Manager will oversee all the elite performance delivery needs of Welsh rugby outside the national squad. He will report directly to the Head of Rugby Development while also liaising closely with the Head Coach of Wales and his elite performance staff to align strategies.
A review is continuing into the structure of elite performance management within the national squad and the search for a new Head of Rugby Development to replace Nigel Davies has already attracted a number of high calibre applications.
Huw Wiltshire has been promoted to the new post from his current role as National Fitness Director.
Huw Wiltshire is a former Senior lecturer in Sports Science at UWIC in Cardiff and went on to become a Wales A and Cardiff Blues Fitness Coach before taking up his WRU National Fitness Director role.
Huw said: “I am thrilled to be taking on this important new role which is focused entirely on improving our performances at elite level.
“I will be working across the whole of Welsh rugby, but at the heart of my role will be a close relationship with the national team management to ensure we are working to one vision within the elite environment.
“There is so much talent in Welsh rugby and we must ensure that every player with the skill to reach the top gets the best possible preparation.
“I pride myself on staying ahead of all the latest research and developments in fitness and conditioning so that we remain competitive in this constantly changing environment. The demands on performance at all levels in rugby are changing constantly and the new structure I am part of is designed to deliver the best service for Wales.”
The Group Chief Executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, Roger Lewis, said: “I am delighted to be able to confirm that Huw Wiltshire is our new National Performance Manager.
“Huw has already proved himself to be one of the top professionals in this field and we are delighted to have someone of his calibre and commitment working here in Wales. I have got to know Huw very well over the past couple of years and I know we have got the right man for this crucial new appointment.
“We have been looking extremely closely at the structures and systems we have in place to drive forward elite performance in Welsh rugby and we are now clear in our focus on what is needed to create and sustain a winning Wales.
“Now we arguably have the finest national coaching team in world rugby and alongside that we are creating a first rate elite development pathway.
“The new operational structure we are now putting in place accurately reflects how the modern game and its demands are evolving at a frantic pace. It is an exciting time and we are ready for a thrilling journey ahead.”
