WRU PRESS RELEASE
Issued: 12 November 2009
WORLD CUP WINNING RUGBY COACH SCOOPS TOP GONG
The man at the helm of Welsh Rugby Sevens - Paul John - was awarded the prestigious Sports Council for Wales 'Coach of the Year' accolade today (Thursday 12 November), along with High Performance Coach of the Year, at a glittering ceremony at Cardiff's Welsh Institute of Sport.
The former PE teacher's contribution to rugby in Wales over the past 12 months undoubtedly put him in prime position on the podium, after he became the first Welsh coach to lead a team to World Cup victory in any sport.
For Pontyclun-born John, rugby has clearly been in his blood from an early age. First pulling on his boots for local side Llantwit Fardre, the scrum half went on to play and captain Pontypridd RFC and earn ten caps for his country.
Taking on the role of National Sevens Coach in October 2008, just five months later John was leading his first choice squad out to the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai. Having knocked out the tournament favourites, New Zealand, in an earlier round, Wales went on to beat Argentina 19-12 and be crowned Rugby World Cup Sevens Champions.
Nominated by John Schropfer, WRU National Coach Development Manager, the 39 year-old former-Wales international player dedicates every spare second developing his squad.
John Schropfer explains:
"Paul's attributes make him an ideal role model for the young players aspiring to become professional players. His empowering style of coaching has seen his charges develop considerably this last year. He is the first Welsh rugby coach who can say that he has won the World Cup for Sevens. This was an incredible achievement."
And coaching must be in the blood for father, Dennis, led Pontypridd to triumph in the Welsh Cup in 1996 and was responsible for their Championship crown accomplishment in 1997. He then took over as Wales's caretaker coach in 1998 before the appointment of Graham Henry.
Chair of the Sports Council for Wales, Philip Carling said:
"Paul John has made a massive contribution to Welsh sport, in particular, rugby and we have certainly enjoyed the fruits of his labour this year with a World Cup victory. Good coaches inspire, motivate and encourage and it's vital that we recognise their work.
"The awards also demonstrate that coaches at local level are just as vital as those who work with elite athletes. It is their industrious contribution that encourages youngsters into sport, keeps them motivated and active at a young age and instils the core values of hard work, accountability, belief and - above all - enjoyment."
And Paul John wasn't the only coach to go home with a pat on the back from the Sports Council for Wales. Malcolm Arnold, a man who's coaching career spans over 40 years was recognised for his continued contribution to sport.
Arnold, who has helped shape the careers of many high profile athletes, including Wales' own Colin Jackson, had his dedication rewarded by taking home the Lifetime Achievement award.
National Coach for Wales from 1974 - 1994, Arnold led Jackson to an Olympic Silver medal, World, European and Commonwealth Games gold medals and a world record in the 110m hurdles.
Now Senior Performance Coach for UK Athletics, Arnold continues to play a key role in developing Olympic hopefuls; guiding Swansea Harrier, Dai Greene to the World Championship final and a string of personal bests in 2009 and bringing Rhys Williams back from injury to qualify for the Berlin World Championships.
The Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones said:
"I would like to warmly congratulate each one of the winners and in particular Paul John. He deserves great credit for the performances of Wales's rugby Sevens squad and to steer the team to a richly-deserved triumph in the Sevens World Cup makes him a worthy winner of this prestigious award."
"Behind each one of the award winners, there seems to be a truly inspiring story of sporting commitment. I hope that other coaches, at all levels of sport in Wales, are inspired by their examples and carry on their good work. It is vital we recognise the crucial importance of their work, without which sport in Wales would not exist."
Other coaches collecting their accolades today included:
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
ROY COURT, JUDO Cardiff
• Roy is the Welsh Judo Association's Liaison Officer for Special Needs and has been involved with Welsh disability judo for more than 25 years.
• He assisted the British Judo Association Inclusion Commission to form a grading system for Disabled Athletes.
• Roy has taken teams from Wales and the UK to competitions in Germany, Finland, Sweden, Belgium and France.
• In 2000 he organised the first European special needs judo event, in Cardiff, with 12 countries participating and over 200 competitors.
• Roy was instrumental, together with a Dutch coach, in setting up and delivering the Special Olympics Sports Rules for judo.
• He has designed and put together a Disability Awareness Course specifically for judo, delivered in Wales and many areas of England and Scotland. To this end he wrote a Judo Manual for coaches, judoka, referees, officials and volunteers.
• Over the past ten years, he has also mentored students from UWIC, who attend sessions for practical experience in working with special needs students, as part of their degree courses, including international students from around the world.
CLUB COACH
Sponsored by sports coach UK
JOHN BELL, CRICKET Wrexham
• John has coached cricket for more than 25 years and is currently the Head Coach at Gresford Cricket Club and a coach to the North East Wales Under 14s.
• John's passion for the sport has helped expand a small youth section into four youth teams with around 120 players.
• An active member of the Gresford Cricket Club for 40 years, John not only coaches but he also coordinates youth teams, plays in various leagues and is even the groundsman, club secretary, transport coordinator and first aid officer.
• 2009 has seen many of his players be selected for national and regional squads and a number of players from the U13s and U15s have progressed into the senior second team, helping the team secure promotion from the fifth division to the fourth.
COACH TO DISABLED SPORTSPEOPLE
Sponsored by Mo Motors
TIM HAZELL, ARCHERY Newbridge, Gwent
• Team Coach of the GB Paralympic team and Wales' able bodied team, development squads and the GB Talent Identification Programme, Tim has been coaching for 10 years.
• Tim has a first-class track record and in 2008, his team picked up the highest number of medals ever won by a Paralympic archery team at a Paralympic Games.
• Tim has been responsible for building a coaching structure within Paralympic archery. The current team us the most successful team ever in GB archery in all disciplines - able bodies and disabled - with two Paralympic champions, world record holders and world champions in both team and individual events.
• 2009 has seen Tim help the GB Paralympic women's compound team (which includes Pippa Britton - originally from Cowbridge, now based in Newport) win gold at the World Championships and scoop two world records.
• Tim also travelled to Arizona in 2009 for one of the most important able bodied events in the archery calendar - the women's team came home with silver, while the men's compound team won bronze and the men's recurve team completed the hat-trick with yet another bronze.
YOUNG COACH/LEADER
Sponsored by University of Wales Institute of Cardiff (UWIC)
NIA THOMAS, RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS Llanelli
• Nia has gone from competitor to taking control of the Elite Squad in Llanelli Academy and the Welsh Prep and Advanced Squads.
• Under her guidance the squads are climbing the ranks both in Britain and internationally. She has consistently produced British champions and medal winners, across several age categories.
• Nia has taken the Welsh National Squad gymnasts to compete in Poland, America, Portugal and Finland.
• She balances her coaching role with a full time job working as a 5x60 Officer in Swansea and also coaches at Llanelli Academy for 18 hours a week and six hours at the Welsh Institute of Sport in Cardiff.
FEMALE COACH OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by SkillsActive
PAM RICHARDS, HOCKEY Wrexham
• As Senior Women's Head Coach, Pam has propelled the team to winning bronze at the Euro National Trophy in Rome.
• For the first time since 1998, the women's team has qualified to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi 2010. The team have also made the grade to compete at World Cup qualifiers in 2010.
• She has coached for 15 years and is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader at Glyndwr University.
For further information about how you can get involved in coaching at all levels, visit the Coaching Wales website at www.coachingwales.com or contact 0845 045 0904 / email: coachingwales@scw.org.uk
For photographs of the award ceremony, contact Jane Williams at the Sports Council for Wales on 029 2033 8274 / jane.williams@scw.org.uk
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NOTES TO EDITORS
• The Sports Council for Wales is the national organisation responsible for developing and promoting sport and active lifestyles. It is the main adviser on sporting matters to the Welsh Assembly Government and is responsible for distributing funds from the National Lottery to sport in Wales.
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