Clements aims to build on rich history of coach development

The world as we know it may have come to a shuddering halt thanks to coronavirus, but webinars, zoom conference calls and google hangouts are just some of the platforms Wales’ top rugby coaches are utilising to ensure they are ready to go when the sport’s administrators hit the reset button – whenever that may be?

Some of the top names in performance sport from around the globe have dropped in to share and learn with Wales’ best – Shaun Wane (England Rugby League head coach) and Anthony Seibold (Brisbane Broncos head coach) to name just two.

Eighteen months into his job as Wales Rugby Union performance coach manager, Dan Clements has quietly and methodically introduced significant changes to the top end of the coaching landscape in Wales.

“For us to achieve our targets in relation to international success, it is vital that we as a national governing body provide a support package to our elite coaches across the performance game that allows them to thrive in their role,” says Clements who arrived at the WRU via Head of Performance posts at Hockey Wales and Wales Rugby League.

“It’s a fact that quality coaching sits at the heart of a player’s development and ultimately performance, and we can’t underestimate the influence that a coach has on this process so it’s up to us to support this with our current and future elite coaches,” says Clements.

We have got a rich history in coach development and it’s important we build on this

“We are working hard to deliver a targeted development programme for coaches in the professional game and those that are looking to transition into this space. The future game must be supported by curious coaches that strive to improve their practice and possess the behaviours and characteristics that match this.

“The learning culture we are developing across the performance landscape will help with this, whilst also providing a coach development programme that meets the needs of the future game. We have got a rich history in coach development and it’s important we build on this.”

When JPR, JJ, Merv the Swerve and co were cutting a dash claiming Triple Crowns and Five Nations championship titles back in the 1970s, the Welsh coaching behind that success was revered around the world.

In the previous decade, Wales proved a nation ahead of its time, with Ray Williams becoming the world’s first professional full-time rugby coach. His knowledge was sought from around the world and he was also lauded for revolutionising coaching in Australia. Coaches swarmed to Wales trying to unearth the secrets to Wales’ on-field success.

Five decades on, no-one is suggesting history is about to repeat itself, but the early signs are encouraging as new programmes developed by Clements begin to bear fruit.

An Elite Coach Programme caters for coaches working in the elite environment who have transitioned into a senior role or have the potential to in the near future. Ex-Wales internationals Richie Rees, Duncan Jones and Rachel Taylor are among the current group alongside the likes of Dai Flanagan, Ioan Cunningham, Richard Fussell and Gareth Williams who all had lengthy club and regional careers.

Then there is a Player to Coach Programme that is preparing players who are looking to move into coaching in the future. They are supported with a bespoke education programme that focuses on effective coaching and are then supported in the field with some mentoring – current internationals Justin Tipuric, Leigh Halfpenny and James Hook among others, are in this group.

The much heralded Level 4 has been revamped as the WRU looks to build a bigger pool of coaches and expose them to an Open Learning programme as opposed to the typical assessment programme.

“In the elite space we really want to change the narrative about what coaching is and how we support coaches to then thrive in this space,” says Clements.

“I think for too long we have been focused purely on assessment and we need to shift this towards a culture of learning and collaboration and providing the best environments possible for players. The programmes we have developed will help with this but more importantly my role is about coaching the coaches and helping them in that regard,” he adds.

The WRU hasn’t been afraid to place coaches in challenging environments to offer unique insights from alternative worlds. A trip to Google’s swanky offices in King’s Cross, London proved hugely beneficial while coaches have shared ideas about ‘decision making under pressure’ with the Royal Airforce Spitfires and XX14 Sqn based at RAF Brize Norton.

Scarlets backs coach Dai Flanagan has soaked up the information like a sponge and says he has already benefitted immensely from the Elite Coach Programme and has already put into practice some of his findings.

“I’ve definitely found the course beneficial,” says Flanagan who is in the first year of a two year course. “The visits to Google and the RAF were totally different.

“Google were about being very much creative and how you get new thoughts and ideas out of people which tailors for me.

“If I could simplify it, the start of the week – you can always evolve and have a bit of fun but at tail end of the week you are making decisions, you’re narrowing your targets, so more RAF-ready for game time and then the game is absolutely in the thick of it.

“They talk about the OODA loop – observe, orientate, decide and act and that’s how the RAF make decisions basically, and how quicker you get through that loop the better decisions you can make.”

Flanagan also found the visit to Google enlightening.

“Google challenges everyone’s school of thought on new ways of doing things rather than going back to what your brain always tells you to do so that was quite innovative from Google – they massively sell not the ideas that make it but the ideas that fail,” adds the ex-Cardiff Blues and Ospreys fly half.

Google’s regime for meetings opened Flanagan’s eyes as well. No phones were allowed, laptops were shut to avoid distraction and meetings were precisely 52mins and began with some form of engagement to break the ice with attendees.

Flanagan has noted the influence this has had within the environment already with the structure and shape of meetings changing to maximise player learning.

But how does flying a plane into Kabul translate on to the rugby pitch?

“That’s a bit more instinctive,” explains Flanagan, before adding, “when it comes to making decisions it’s like a game – coaches are sat in the box and you’ve got 30 seconds to make a call or to give some advice or make a sub so they gave us some little tips on how to put processes in place to allow you to make quick decisions.”

Flanagan also took part in a rifle-shooting simulation with his fellow coaches where instant decisions had to be made to ensure civilian safety from enemy threats.

“They put us in a simulator around the training base and there would be civilians who you can’t shoot and then the occasional enemy would appear and you have got to make decisions whether that is a civilian or an enemy and then you have got to react quickly – so again it was being ready for decisions but not being too reactive – so you can relate that to coaching when you’d be ready, see something that would affect your decision-making – don’t react straight away, process it then make a decision.”

Of all the courses I have done this is the most bespoke course I’ve been on

Personality profiling and mentors are also provided on the Elite Coaching course and the former Newport High School teacher has no hesitation in saying it’s the most bespoke course he has ever taken part in as a coach.

“The personality profiling was really good as it showed how you work and where your strengths and weaknesses are – I’m finding the more self-aware I become the better I become so knowing this is what I go to when I’m under pressure – is that always the right thing?

“The course has been a lot more individualised, the personalised profiling helped and then between each catchup course we go away and try to break ourselves down to be a bit more uncomfortable to find out what it’s like to lead on coaching in a different way – of all the courses I have done this is the most bespoke course I’ve been on,” he says.

Little time is wasted on areas coaches know they already do well, rather emphasis is focused on the day in day out stuff that they are doing and on how they can get better at it.

“I go into most things trying to learn more about myself, the more I know about me the better I can be,” explains Flanagan. “So understanding the reasons why I do stuff, the reasons why I don’t do stuff – can I evolve things I don’t do, can I get better at stuff I do – and the course has definitely given me that.

“I’m massively into coach education and reading books and I follow the NFL very closely and there’s a book I love called Gridiron Genius written by Michael Lombardi and he speaks about coaches in general – coaches will fail, young coaches especially at some point in their career will fail and he talks about them, potentially being the best ones to go and re-employ. In NFL if you fail you don’t get another chance but his argument is why not because they’ve failed they will know what not to do next time.

“I will always try stuff and back what I believe in my beliefs, if we fail along the way we fail along the way but it’s important to learn from your failures so it doesn’t happen again. I’ll never be one for dying without trying.

In the recent past there have been claims that young Welsh coaches may not have been given a proper chance and end up on the scrap heap too soon but Flanagan believes there is enough talent in Wales for a prosperous future.

“I look at Welsh rugby and there have been a lot of young welsh coaches who have tried and failed. I do wonder why they haven’t been given a second chance – same as NFL. I know it is a ruthless industry but if we can educate them along the way and accept and try stuff that may not work but they will get better from it, then that can only be a positive step.

“As coaches we have to stick at it longer as well – it’s a choice we make to be a coach – someone said previously a coach has either been sacked or is about to be sacked – that’s a part of life we are in – you have got to choose to get back on the horse and carry on going and give it another shot – so do we give up too early I don’t know but there is definitely a lot of Welsh brains out there who can compete with any other country.”

At 34 years of age, Flanagan is just a babe in arms when compared to others in the coaching game but he praises the coaching education he has had at the Scarlets alongside that of the WRU’s.

“I’m taking every day as it comes and taking every opportunity to get better working with people like Brad [Mooar] who is now going to be attack coach with New Zealand and with Steve [Jones] for five years who is now Wales attack coach – it’s been a brilliant education for me so far, so for me, it’s about taking each day as they come and getting better along the way.”

With a harmonious partnership between the WRU and the regions, Flanagan, along with other coaches from the regions, have been given opportunities to coach their country at Wales U20 level to continue their coaching education. Flanagan also appreciates the fact that all regional coaches now have full access to Welsh camps if desired, “the link with the national coaches for myself has been golden – I speak to Byron [Hayward], Steve [Jones] and Wayne [Pivac] regularly,” he says.

“I’ve had a catchup with Steve on some of our players after the Six Nations and some of the learnings he has found and that will only help me and that link will only get stronger I’m sure and something as a union we should be proud of.

While some see the four Welsh regions close proximity as a negative, Flanagan has an opposite view on that opinion.

“The one strength we have in Wales is that we are all very close to each other logistically,” he argues.

He points out he regularly holds discussions with the likes of Richie Rees (Cardiff Blues) and Richard Fussell (Ospreys) to share ‘learnings and understandings.

“I know for a fact it happens in New Zealand and I see no reason why Welsh people can’t make each other better in Wales,” he concludes.