Now back in training with the Ospreys ahead of the Guinness PRO14 season resuming on August 22, Webb’s focus is on returning to competitive action.
But he is also busy off the field after launching 9Twelve Rugby Academy with his former Ospreys team-mates Ben John and Ashley Beck.
Webb’s rugby academy has been developed to help improve the fundamental rugby skills of young rugby players while also improving their game understanding and rugby specific fitness.
We want to give young kids an opportunity to try and develop. What we want to do is help and hopefully give something back
“I set up the business with Ben and Ashley. We know each other very well from the Ospreys academy. Unfortunately Ben had to retire due to concussion,” Webb said.
“It was something Ash and I were looking at a while ago actually. It went a bit quiet and then we heard Ben had been looking at the same sort of idea so we thought we’d try and progress it a bit further together as a trio.
“It’s working really well at the moment.
“We thought there was a big market – especially in Wales – for young players. When you get picked up by say the Ospreys academy you’re 15 or 16 and there is nothing before that to help with fundamental skills and development.
“At that age you can go away and have fun playing with your local team, but there is no real platform for boys and girls from 10 to 15.
“We thought we’d create something to help development and knowledge and we can be a bit of a mentor too.
“When some of these young boys do get picked up by academies then they’re ready to go and 100 per cent know what they’re doing. Their skillset is where it needs to be then.
“For boys who don’t get into academies it’s a platform for them to keep working with us. We’ll have lots of footage uploaded for them to tap into and keep learning so they can get to the level they want to.”
Rhys Webb, Ben John and Ashley Beck (left to right) in action together for the Ospreys
The coronavirus lockdown has presented challenges to 9Twelve Rugby Academy meaning they have held numerous coaching sessions via Zoom.
But Webb, John and Beck have enjoyed stepping into the business world with Wales stars Justin Tipuric and Leigh Halfpenny also offering their expertise to the next generation.
“Eventually we want to get clients to sign up and come on board with us. Once they’re part of 9Twelve Rugby Academy they’re going to have lots of position-specific content available to them,” Webb said.
“They’re going to have one-to-one coaching and if we can’t get there in person we have things like Zoom these days which is a pretty resourceful tool. Players will have access to different people to help them in their position.
“If we had a young flanker coming in for example we could help him with his fundamental skills, but we could also get someone like Justin in to add something.
“We want to give young kids an opportunity to try and develop. What we want to do is help and hopefully give something back.”
Rhys Webb is back in Wales with the Ospreys
So what about returning to life with the Ospreys this week?
“It’s a new dawn and back to where it all started,” Webb said. “With the rules we have to follow it’s going to be a bit awkward.
“It’s going to take a lot of getting used to in the next couple of weeks, but hopefully we can soon get back into a full team environment.
“I’ve maintained the level of fitness required for international rugby throughout lockdown. I’ve been doing body and weight sessions and a lot of running and cycling alongside some home schooling.
“We’ve got a bit of a smallholding going on at home too so I’ve been running after the animals. We’ve got pigs, chickens, donkeys and a horse so I’m pretty busy at the moment!
“The donkey had a foal last week. That was a nice surprise to wake up to! I’ve always wanted a few fields and when I came back from France we found a nice house.
“It’s been great to spend 24 hours a day with my family.”
For more information on 9Twelve Rugby Academy you can visit their website here or follow them on Twitter @9TwelveRugby
