TELFER TO ATTEND COACHING COURSE…AS A PUPIL

Former Scotland and British Lions’ legendary coach Jim Telfer will take part in one of Scottish Rugby’s coach development clinics next month.

The course, one of two taking place, is aimed at coaches involved in the U15-U18 player pathway programmes and will run from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 June at Madras’ playing fields in St Andrews. It will be followed by a second course at Inverclyde Sports Centre, Largs from 24-26 June.

This is the first time Scottish Rugby has run courses for all the coaches who play a major part in development of talented young players. Jim falls into that category having coached Selkirkshire Under-15s this past season.

The coaches will benefit from the knowledge of the Scottish Institute of Sport high performance rugby manager Bob Easson and his Institute colleague head of sports science Malcolm Fairweather who will pass on his expertise in skills acquisition.

From Scottish Rugby, rugby academy coaches Phil Smith and Colin Robertson will join up with Scotland Under-19 coaches Peter Wright and Eamon John along with Henry Edwards, Grant McKelvey, George Breckenridge and Alec Duncan from the national under-18 set-up.

Henry Edwards, who is also Scottish Rugby’s coach education manager, said: “We hope that these courses will help coaches raise players’ awareness and game understanding. It also allows us to raise the coaches’ awareness of how to develop game sense and introduce them to the requirements of preparation for playing on the international stage.

“A lot of the coaches also take charge of clubs and schools so the input they will receive on the course will provide invaluable support and help community rugby as well as the pathway programmes. This is not just for the benefit of elite coaches but for all who are working with our best young stars,” he added.

This article was posted on 27-May-2005, 13:55 by Hugh Barrow.