Development Officer Chris Ower introduces the development programme in Powys, the most northern part of the Blues region.
South Powys made up under the old historic Shire districts of Breconshire and Radnorshire is a large rural area which in recent years has prided itself in its emergence as a rugby nursery and from within its senior Clubs: Builth Wells (Division 1) Brecon (Division 3 East) Gwernyfed (Division 5 East) Rhayader (Division 5 North) compete in the Lloyd TSB National Leagues and Llandrindod Wells and Tref-Y-Clawdd RFC compete within the Cambrian Training Mid Wales League.
As the Development Officer For Powys and covering such a vast geographical area, its key that the Club and Schools relationship is strong. This link is now being forged with the assistance of the Cardiff Blues whom in recent months have visited Brecon High School, involving over 85 kids within a development day and in February the Blues will devote a full day, working with South Powys Secondary Schools: Builth Wells, Gwernyfed, Brecon, Llandrindod Wells, John Beddoes and Crickhowell U15s age group at Brecon RFC.
COACH EDUCATION
Under the new Coach Education structure that the Welsh Rugby Union will being implementing from February 2005 onwards, both myself (Chris Ower) and Nigel Way (Development Officer For Merthyr) will be running courses for the Blues areas of South Powys and Merthyr Tydfil commencing on Sunday 3rd April and Sunday 17th April with the new Level 1 Coaching Award. A venue will be confirmed nearer to the date and will be on this occasion based within the Merthyr locality. All interested Coaches from within the South Powys and Merthyr areas interested in attending this course should make contact with Nigel or myself in the near future.
TAG RUGBY
An ongoing cluster schools/club programme is being implemented by myself and the Dragon Sport Officer for Powys working alongside Junior Section Club volunteers to initiate a development programme whereby schools will attend special tagtaster days at the designated Club for the cluster area and take part in fun based tag activities and festivals at ages 7yrs 9yrs. These days will help to promote tag within the Blues South Powys primary schools and provide an excellent tool for Clubs to strengthen the development link to their junior sections. Events are already in the pipeline involving Gwernyfed RFC, Brecon RFC and Builth Wells RFC and their respective cluster schools.
Look out for more news updates from Chris in the Blues match programme and on the Blues official website, .