'Long gone are the days when video analysis meant a 'volunteer' precariously balancing on a club-house roof, video-camera in hand.
Universities are now churning out a whole swarm of fully qualified analysts equipped with the skills and IT equipment to capture every aspect of the game before utilising the latest computer software to break down what they capture on film and produce a mass of technical information for the coaching staff to utilise.
Graduates from UWIC University in Cardiff have a world-wide reputation in the field of performance analysis and one of them Andy Jones is employed by the WRU to support both the RGC 1404 Senior and Academy squads. Andy, a former pupil of renowned rugby school Cowbridge Comprehensive, gained a wealth of experience at Bridgend Ravens, Cardiff and Pontypridd Rugby Clubs, as well as having spent time as an intern with the Wales Under 18 squad, prior to accepting the full-time position with RGC 1404.
Pre-season has seen Andy ensuring that every RGC 1404 Senior training session has been filmed prior to the resulting footage then being broken down by he, Damian and Chris before the highlights (and lowlights) are then shown back to the squad to demonstrate what has gone both well and less well as it continues with its preparations for entry into Division 1 East in September.
These preparations continue next month with three friendly fixtures, all of which Andy will have responsibility for filming and then analysing, a task which can take up to seven hours per game, something which will then be repeated for every RGC 1404 senior league game as well as both the Under 16 and 18 pre-season friendlies and regional age-grade matches during the season proper.
This, in addition to the on-going filming and analysis of training sessions, as well as analysis of footage of opposing teams. It is thus hardly surprising that in spite of having two interns to support him in all of this, when asked his favourite past-time away from work, Andy firmly replied,'sleep'.
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