Youth coaches are axed as Ryan stamps his authority
Even though England are in U-20 final again, restructuring continues, writes Daniel Schofield
By beating South Africa 32-31 on Tuesday night, England reached the World Under-20 Championship final for a record sixth consecutive occasion. On the surface that would appear to be yet another vindication of the Rugby Football Union’s youth development policy but behind the scenes the most successful programme within English professional rugby is being ruthlessly dismantled.
At least seven members of the development programme have moved on since Dean Ryan took over as the head of international player development less than two years ago.
The latest victims of the bloodletting are John Fletcher and Peter Walton, the universally popular former coaches of the England Under-18 team, who were summarily dismissed last week at a coaching conference.
The Daily Telegraph understands that this came shortly after Fletcher had challenged Ryan’s view in public.
Their departures led to an outpouring of support from players past and present.
Bath and England full-back Anthony Watson tweeted: “Sad to see two unbelievable coaches and better blokes in Fletch and @waltsrugby moved on. Both had an immeasurable influence on my career at that age and beyond. No matter where they end up I have no doubt they’ll have as much success there as they did at U18 level.”
From the England XV that lost 42-39 to South Africa in Johannesburg, 11 players had come through the Under-18 programme. “They can’t even begin to estimate the value and the work that him and Peter Walton have done,” an insider said.
“They have so much experience in youth development that cannot be replaced. They were a priceless asset.”
Not everyone has been pushed.
‘The RFU cannot even begin to estimate value of the work Fletcher and Walton have done’
Some have jumped and others stepped aside soon after Ryan was appointed by the RFU’S professional rugby director, Nigel Melville, in July 2016.
Those departures include Martin Haag, who led England to the World Rugby Under-20 World Championship in 2016, Richard Shuttleworth, the professional coach development manager, Alun Powell, the head of regional academies who has taken up a similar role with the England and Wales Cricket Board, sports psychologist James Bell and strength and conditioning coach Neil Taylor.
“Unless you conform to Dean’s way of thinking then you are living on borrowed time,” a source claimed.
Ryan was always a curious appointment. Even his detractors acknowledge that he has a phenomenal rugby brain yet he has next to no background in youth development. What he did have was a long association with Melville going back to their days at Wasps and Gloucester together. “They are best mates,” one source said.
With the backing of Melville, who took over the role from Rob Andrew, there have been few curbs upon Ryan’s influence.
Haag, the England Under-20 coach, was gone within four months of winning the 2016 Junior World Championship.
His replacement was Steve Bates, who also played with Melville and Ryan at Wasps during the 1990s.
Just as abrupt as the personnel turnover has been the shift in philosophy, involving a detailorientated, structure-driven approach towards youth development, a virtual 180-degree shift.
None of this is to say that Ryan’s approach or appointments will not be successful, particularly with the England Under-20 team seeking a fourth world title in six years against France on Sunday.
However, the true effects of his overhaul will not be felt for a further four or five years.
Maybe revolution was needed, but it seems perverse to jettison so much of the personnel in the one area in which England are world leaders. Time will tell.