Welsh Prem such a vital safety net
DALE McIntosh insists the World Cup performances of Aaron Wainwright and Wyn Jones reinforces the value of the Welsh Premiership.
Whereas most of Wales’ World Cup stars came through the Wales U20s pathway, Jones and Wainwright learnt their trade in the semi-professional Premiership. With the value of the Premiership constantly in question, especially with the recent formation of regional A sides, Merthyr head coach McIntosh believes it still has a vital role to play.
“The Premiership is excellent at picking up players who have slipped through the net and making sure they aren’t lost to Welsh rugby and Wyn Jones is an example of that,” said McIntosh, below.
“Wyn was excellent for Wales at the World Cup and played most of his early rugby for Llandovery in the Premiership. Aaron Wainwright has been a godsend.
“We need the Welsh Premiership to pick up the pieces and to act as a safety net for players who don’t come through the regional academies. It means if players don’t initially make it they don’t fall out of the game.
“The
Premiership also provides a good platform for young kids.”
McIntosh has recently returned from coaching Namibia at the World Cup where he was assistant to former Cardiff Blues and Scarlets boss Phil Davies.
He said: “I had a phenomenal experience at the World Cup and I learnt a lot about the game, other cultures and about myself.
“I think we take for granted in Wales the game of rugby and we think it owes us something.
“Coaching Namibia in Japan was awesome and opened my eyes a bit.
“I probably won’t get this opportunity again because Phil has now left them and he was my contact.
“They’ll probably get a Namibian or South African coach and he’ll bring in his own staff.
“It was huge for my development as a coach.”