Andy Hughes - WRU Wales Team Analyst
The North Wales influence on the Wales Coaching staff will be at the forefront when Robin Mcbryde takes the Head Coach Role for the tour of Japan as Warren Gatland and Rob Howley are on Lions duty.
Another North Walian who is on the coaching staff is Analyst Andy Hughes who has been speaking to the RGC Programme.
His road to the Millennium Stadium saw him play for Nant Conwy as a child to studying Sports Science at John Moores where he got an insight into analysis to a Masters at Cardiff Newic where he spent time with renowned Analyst Mike Hughes.
Andy spoke about his early days “I was working for the Cardiff Blues Under 16/18’s and got invited to join Wales U19’s in the Championships in Dubai before joining the senior side”
8 years ago Analysis was a new discipline, but the players in the U16/18’s have grown up with it so even today in the RGC Academy the boys will be comfortable with it. Both players and coaches demand more data and can absorb more details. When I work with Rob Howley he is so aware of rugby and his knowledge of the game is immense so the Analysis can help to confirm thoughts or develop ideas”
“I am looking forward to be working with Robyn McBryde as Head Coach, as we did on the USA and Canada tour which I enjoyed. He thinks differently to Gats and likes to look at the big picture along with the fine details. He likes to challenge the players with ideas so I have to be on the ball when with Rob being inventive”
Andy’s role in between the autumn series and 6 nations hasn’t slowed down as on a day to day basis he works on everything from Seniors to Region Academy teams. “We have been working on the debrief of the contact area with Rob Howley from the Autumn Internationals and some stats on the kicking with Neil Jenkins.
We will then ramp it up January looking at the 6 Nations opposition and reviewing their games including individual players and strengths along with the lineouts and contact areas. It’s not all about the senior side as I have just finished reviewing the Academy Players from the Regions so my days are always busy and varied”
And as the mantra at RGC has shown “There’s more than George up North!
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