Back in 2009, Huw Bevan was hired by the England cricket team after they were bowled out for 51 by the West Indies in Jamaica.
That side recovered from their Caribbean humiliation to become the best in the world within 18 months and Bevan, now the interim performance director of the Welsh Rugby Union, is hoping to engineer a similar swing in fortunes for Welsh rugby.
‘When England were bowled out by the West Indies, they were eighth or ninth in the world,’ Bevan told Rugby Confidential. ‘Andrew Strauss, the captain, and Andy Flower, the coach, made a commitment to become No 1 in all formats of the game.
‘The buy-in they got from everybody to the strategies they wanted to deliver over four or five years was essential. We had an unbelievable data analyst, Nathan Leamon, who plotted what we needed to do and which series we needed to win, to achieve that.
‘Medical, pathway, selection… it was all geared up to it. Everyone was absolutely clear on their roles. That’s the sort of approach we want to implement here in Welsh rugby.’
The WRU are finalising their One Wales strategy to restore the fortunes of the game at all levels.
Huw Bevan (left) and WRU chief executive Abi Tierney are charged with turning Wales around
The One Wales strategy is aimed at returning the nation to its glory days in the 2010s
The men’s national team have not won a Test since 2023 and the interim head coach, Matt Sherratt, has just one match remaining before he returns to his full-time job with Cardiff.
The recruitment process for Warren Gatland’s permanent successor is well underway and the key criteria is someone with the credentials to build bridges between Wales’ four regions and the national team.
‘A lot of candidates have put their names forward,’ said Bevan. ‘We have a long list but there haven’t been any interviews yet. We’ve been utilising some external people to provide us with information and data on the coaches’ performance over a significant period of time.
‘We want a coach with an understanding of the system and Wales and they have to be prepared to collaborate with the regions. They have to be someone who has a perspective on the future as well as looking for results now.
‘It is going to take time to build a system and nurture these players. They’re going have to be someone who’s prepared to look after the succession plan better than perhaps was previously the case, where we lost a whole lot of talented players all in one goal and they ended up having to introduce younger players as a group.
‘That’s something we need to work better at. It needs to be someone who buys into the system and has the gravitas to lead an international team. It’s a critical role.
‘Ideally, we’ll have someone in place to go to Japan in the summer but that may not be the case, depending on people’s contractual situations. With contract lengths, obviously you need mechanisms so you’re not overly committed to somebody should things not go well.
‘But I would like to see a long-term appointment who can deliver our performance objectives for 2029 and beyond.’
Ireland interim head coach Simon Easterby has been discussed to replace Matt Sherratt when the latter’s own temporary tenure ends on Saturday night
Pat Lam of Bristol Bears is among the names linked to the Wales head coach job
Franco Smith is another contender after leading Glasgow Warriors to the URC title
Such an approach may count against gun-for-hire coaches such as Michael Cheika.
The likes of Simon Easterby, Pat Lam and Franco Smith have been discussed, while there will be plenty of public clamour for Sherratt to be given the role if Wales land an upset against England this weekend.
But the WRU’s project extends beyond just the senior national team. Having lost young stars such as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Kepu Tuipulotu to England, they are keen to enhance their development pathway to reverse the tide of players moving across the border.
‘We’ve always had players going into England and their public schools, going back to the 1960s when Gareth Edwards went to Millfield,’ said Bevan.
‘The first thing is to ensure that what we provide in Wales is as high quality as it can possibly be and that’s from the regions and the WRU collectively. That includes educational opportunities and so on. There will be players who go over the border for education.
‘As a parent, if you were offered a scholarship to a public school in England for your son or daughter, you would consider it. The changes to World Rugby Regulation 8 (player eligibility) have maybe muddied the waters a little bit.
‘But firstly, we want to make sure they stay in Wales for their education. We need to make sure they understand what the offer in Wales is to compare it against. And I don’t think we necessarily have been successful at that.
‘Our pathways program is critical. It’s about building a succession plan and utilising that succession plan. We’ve completely restructured the whole pathways program both on the men and women’s side.
‘We’ve now got a 10-year development program – an entry point of around 14 into a two-year development emerging player program and then there’s academies which takes them through to 24.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is one that got away for Wales, as he chose to play for England instead
England Under 20s star Kepu Tuipulotu is another who chose them over Wales
Wales are not closing the door on a return for Louis Rees-Zammit if he returns from America
‘Alongside that, we’ve looked at restructuring the competitions to ensure that players are exposed to the appropriate levels of competition at the appropriate time.
‘Super Rygbi Cymru is a vehicle for the highest potential players giving them greater match exposure. ‘Each of the regions partners with at least one club and allocates players from their academy to those clubs. They agree on time and match minutes and starts.
‘We’ve just done a review of that, particularly for our Under 20s and there’s been a significant increase in their match exposures leading into the Under 20s Six Nations.
‘There are a number of guys at Bristol and we remain engaged with them. Ultimately, we do want to repatriate as many players as we can.
‘We need to demonstrate what it is they can get in Wales that they don’t get in England. One of the things they get in Wales currently is more opportunity for younger players.
‘You’re seeing a lot of younger players coming through and playing in the United Rugby Championship and being capped by the senior national team. So, there’s a lot that’s attractive for a young player to encourage them back.’
Nor have they forgotten Louis Rees-Zammit, who has moved to America to pursue his dream in American Football. ‘If that does come to an end, he’s of an age where he could make a significant contribution to us going forward,’ said Bevan. ‘We would welcome him back with open arms.’
There are plans to increase the regional salary cap gradually over the next five years. It will move above £5million next season and it is forecast to eventually stabilise close to £7m. The finances come from a restructuring move, with the WRU taking on shares in the regions.
There are plans to increase the regional salary cap gradually over the next five years
It’s been eight years since a Welsh region won a major title – back when the Scarlets lifted what was then the Pro12 trophy
‘There’s an increase in funding for the senior teams going forward and an increase in the funding for academies as well,’ said Bevan. ‘There’s a cap-and-collar salary cap mechanism, so there’s a minimum and maximum spend.
‘It’s all going up so the regions have the capacity to increase their salary spend significantly. Obviously, there is a cash component to all of this but it’s about the whole package on offer.
‘We’ve gone through a period where we’ve had to limit the spend because of how tight the finances were. The offer we’ve made to the regions is an excellent offer and I think it’s going to benefit all of rugby in Wales.’
England off to Washington
England are set to play the USA at Audi Field in Washington DC this summer.
Steve Borthwick’s side will take on the Americans after two Tests against Argentina in Buenos Aires and San Juan.
It will be the first time that England have played at Audi Field, the 20,000-seat soccer stadium where Wayne Rooney played for DC United in the 2018-19 season.
The US will host the 2031 World Cup and Washington is one of the 25 shortlisted host cities.
England are set to play the USA at Audi Field in Washington DC this summer
Lancaster’s Dublin day out
Stuart Lancaster and his son, Dan, were in Dublin at the weekend to watch France’s victory over Ireland.
The pair enjoyed a Guinness together at a bar near the Aviva Stadium before France ran riot.
Lancaster Snr has a close affiliation with both sets of players, having coached at Leinster and Racing 92.
Marchant’s Shearer fundraiser
Exiled England centre Joe Marchant was among the guests at the Alan Shearer Foundation ball this week.
Marchant is engaged to Shearer’s daughter, Hollie, and the pair arrived on the red carpet for the fundraiser in Newcastle.
Marchant currently lives in Paris, having signed for Stade Francais after the 2023 World Cup.
Joe Marchant, who is engaged to Alan Shearer’s daughter Hollie, now plays for Stade Francais
Rare mementos from the late Welsh icon JPR Williams will be placed on auction next month
Late JPR’s memorabilia to be auctioned off
Rare mementos from the late Welsh icon JPR Williams will be placed on auction next month.
The former full-back, a Welsh hero of the country’s legendary 1970’s era, died in January last year.
Cardiff-based auctioneers Rogers Jones will put a number of Williams’ matchworn shirts under the hammer on April 10.
Rogers Jones sold Sir Gareth Edwards’ Barbarians shirt from 1973 for £250,000 and the valuer hopes a similar sum can be reached for Williams’ prized possessions.
