Cardiff Rugby are delighted to announce the introduction of a ground-breaking new role in Wales – an Emerging Player Programme / Under-16 District Lead.
Interviews took place last month and the club are thrilled to appoint Gloucester’s Foundation Phase Manager and former Under-18s head coach Stuart Bradfield in the position.
Stuart grew up in Wales but has spent the majority of his career in the English system. He is a RFU coach educator, a Level Three Mentor an former Community Development Officer
He will begin his new role with the Blue & Blacks in January with an immediate mandate to engage with each EPP centre and oversee more than 450 players at Under-15 level, while driving standards and alignment across our Dewar Shield sides.
It is the first time any club in Wales have created such a role and Academy Manager Gruff Rees believes it is a key appointment.
He said: “We are thrilled to put this appointment in place and extremely grateful for a supportive board who understand our vision. It is no secret that we have had challenges in this area due to stretched resource in delivering the programme expectations.
“However with Stu in place we can really make a difference in quality enhancing the content and delivery players receive, as well as putting more effective talent ID processes in place while creating a greater affinity at an earlier age.
“Stuart has a great track record in this phase of player development and I am excited by the impact he will make as we continue growing and improving the Cardiff pathway.”
Stuart graduated from the University of South Wales in 2010 and has spent the last 14 years working in development pathways
He said: “I’m excited to join Cardiff Rugby after seven years at Gloucester Rugby, with the opportunity to return home and work with some of Wales’ best young players.
“The Dewar Shield final, featuring two teams from the Cardiff catchment area, highlights the depth of talent in the regional pathway.
“Im determined to enhance player identification beyond the current EPP pathway by strengthening links with schools and clubs, ensuring more opportunities for players to progress through the academy.
“This new role and investment demonstrates Cardiff’s strong commitment to developing it’s academy and building a successful future.”
The appointment is just the latest investment in the pathway in recent months, with a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes at Cardiff Arms Park.
Coach development and mentoring initiatives are being implemented for regional age-grade coaches, while board member Sam Warburton is taking an active role in the pathway, which is proving invaluable.
Rees continued: “There’s a mountain of programmes which we run and when you look at EPP numbers and the district sides, it is a huge amount of work.
“Having Stu in that space is hugely significant across the system and allows our Pathway Manager Aled James to take a bit of a step back to focus more on the schools and colleges.
“Sam is also getting out and about and spending time with our schools and colleges and he is bringing a real passion about the club, the pathway and how we operate. He’s providing some really great expertise on gym programmes and individual player plans in particular.
“Having someone of his calibre actively involved on a weekly basis, is hugely impactful for the players and their parents, when it comes to making those decisions.
“We’re also putting a lot of time into a coach development strategy with Dan Fish, Craig Everett and Josh Turnbull and have been providing more development and mentoring support or our regional age-grade coaches.
“Working with Cardiff Met, we have a system in place for six selected coaches and we’re really trying to make headway there to make a bigger, more impactful difference around the pathway.”