words hamish stuart pictures Steve Pope
Gareth Jenkins and the Scarlets, “As far as I was concerned, the old job I had days a ‘foreign’ player was someone from
both looking to the future, building done here as director of rugby had become Bridgend or Pontypridd.
on the past without dwelling on it undeliverable because it is such a big portfolio
and – perhaps most importantly – that it is nearly unmanageable,” he explains. Now the Scarlets success is built on players
smiling. not qualified for Wales, so changing that ratio
“What the board decided to do was make back is the job of Jenkins.
That is not an image from the end of his time two appointments, one being performance
as head coach of Wales. By the end he was and one being coaching development. “My aim to set up a legacy, a quality
grimacing, under pressure, ultimately sacked development structure to give us longevity
for a team performance which did not bear “Nigel Davies is responsible for performance as a region – to be up at the top end
his stamp. in the region and I am responsible for of performances within Europe, to be
development and recruitment. competitive in every competition we play in,”
He says the experience has not scarred him, he says.
he is glad he had the opportunity no matter “It is a challenge for Welsh rugby, not only us
how it turned out – though of course there as a region but the four regions have got a “at the moment the balance is not right
are things he is disappointed about and events very similar dilemma. in Welsh rugby - and we are one of the
he has learned from. responsible parties because we have nine
“The essence of regional rugby means that non-Welsh payers within our region at the
More on that later, but most importantly he within our area we should be influencing, but moment, but without them we would not be
has moved on - a return to his spiritual home the regions are like islands. The WRU has an competitive.
helping the recovery, with a huge challenge expectation of us to develop international
in charge of the wider developments in the rugby players and we have to accommodate “We have a business to drive and we have
Scarlets region rather than the performance development, but we have no actual control to be competitive for a million reasons, but
of 22 players each week. on it. at the same time our longer term goal is not
to be dependent on a host of non-Welsh
“I am enjoying it,” he says, with that natural players but to choose three or four world
smile and enthusiasm . “i think this is an class players who can add to what we are
trying to deliver here.
“I am comfortable with this and it has come opportunity that allows
at the right time for me. I have made a “The rest has to come from and through
decision, it the first time for 27/28 years that me to give something our development and we are starting that
I have not had a tracksuit on at the start of process, my role is getting the fundamentals
the season with the responsibility of coaching back to the region...” into place, getting the structure into place
a team. and creating the mindset.
“The WRU control the community game, they
“I am 57 now and I think it is about where I employ and direct the academies and we have “It needs the details – there are a lot of
go next and what I want to do, which is more limited influence on the semi-professional tier good things in place in Welsh rugby, what is
important than what other people think I which is very important too. missing is often is the detail, the delivery and
should be doing next. the measurement of it all.
“We have a title but no control, so the
“I think this is an opportunity that allows me challenge from my point of view is to work “We have to able to shape and influence
to give something back to the region, that within those parameters and influence the the coaching standards from the
will give us a structure which will develop WRU staff in delivering what we think is in age of 12 on.
from within and I really am excited by that the best interest of the region.”
possibility.”
The start of that was a meeting with 38 of
Whatever people think about his time in the region’s clubs turning up, some showing
charge of Wales, there is no doubt about the their commitment to the communal cause by
huge contribution Jenkins has made to Welsh travelling great distances for that is the nature
rugby - his Scarlets teams were always there of the Scarlets region – more sheep than
and thereabout at the highest levels, with a chimney pots, is the graphic description used
Heineken Cup record which is unsurpassed by Jenkins.
in wales.
Scarlets
Many of those club coaches have either
While Nigel Davies has the job of taking the played with or under Jenkins at Llanelli, which
first team squad and putting them back where is a great help.
SW
they were under Jenkins and in Phil Davies’s
6
first year in charge, Jenkins himself now has a Jenkins was part of the great Llanelli side
far longer term perspective and role. that so famously beat the All Blacks. In those
sportingwales
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