The former Wales assistant coach is currently Wales Under 18 head coach and establishes the playing philosophies for Wales’ international age grade teams.
He has spent the past two weeks at every Wales training session and team meeting, picking up ideas and information on how the National Squad are prepared and coached in order to improve the transition between Wales Under 18 and Under 20 to the senior Wales side.
He will continue to be the eyes and ears of the National Academy as the Wales squad heads to the Land of the Rising Sun for the next fortnight, and insists the experience will have immediate benefit for Wales’ youngsters with Wales Under 18 touring South Africa later this summer.
He said: “I’ve already learnt a great deal from observing the content and delivery of the training sessions and those techniques will be implemented with the Wales Under 18 squad as we prepare to play England, France and South Africa in August. It has been great to share the thoughts of the National Coaches and hopefully this arrangement will grow further in future years.
“I admire the selection policy of the Wales coaches in taking young players to Japan – with Dafydd Howells from the Wales Under 18 squad and Rhys Patchell and Harry Robinson in the Under 20 age group – and the average age of the squad only 23, the coaches are certainly looking to the future.
“The tour will be a fantastic test of character for the young players involved. You can measure the abilities and personalities of players so well when you’re away as a squad and Japan will no doubt be a very well prepared side who will prove a difficult challenge.”
Lewis believes one of the main roles of the National Academy is to prepare young players for when that call comes from the National Team.
“Our aim is to make the transition to senior, international rugby as seamless as possible which is why we introduced the National Academy last season. There are a number of very talented young players out there who are able to step into the shoes of senior Wales players such as Jamie Roberts and James Hook when they leave Welsh regions, but for that to happen we must do everything we can to help smooth that process.”
Wales Under 18 leave for South Africa at the start of August and Lewis believes the tour will be invaluable in order to prepare more young players for the senior, international game.
“Dafydd (Howells) will certainly have benefitted from last summer’s tour along with the games against England and France Under 18 and the FIRA-AER tournament in the spring, where he impressed Wales coach Shaun Edwards,” added Lewis.
“This summer’s tour is set to be another fantastic opportunity, giving young players a taste of living and breathing in a professional environment for two weeks. We have tough games against some big hitters of the game but the experience will no doubt be a big part of those players’ future development.”
