Carmarthen Journal

PEEL EXCITED AT NEW CHALLENGE

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DWAYNE Peel has spoken of his delight at returning to Wales next season as senior assistant coach with Cardiff Blues responsibl­e for attack.

Peel will join the existing coaching staff at Cardiff Arms Park in the summer after signing a long-term contract in what is a major coup for the Blues.

The former Wales and Scarlets scrum-half and 2005 Six Nations Grand Slam hero has establishe­d himself as one of the most highlyrate­d young Welsh coaches in recent years.

He has developed a reputation for being an innovative coach with an impressive eye for detail and understand­ing of the game.

The Welsh-speaker from Tumble spent two seasons as skills and attack coach at Bristol Bears before joining Ulster Rugby as an assistant coach in 2017.

He is now in his fourth season in Northern Ireland and Ulster are currently unbeaten in Conference A of the Guinness PRO14 having scored more tries than any other side in the Championsh­ip with an average of 5.1 per game.

The 39-year-old said: “I am really excited to come back to Wales with this opportunit­y at Cardiff Blues which was impossible to turn down.

“I have really enjoyed my time with Ulster Rugby and remain incredibly grateful to everyone at the Kingspan Stadium.

“I feel like I have made a good contributi­on in Ulster and we have developed an attractive, all-round style of play.

“But to come back home to Wales and play a part in developing the next generation of players is really exciting.

“Cardiff Blues have a wealth of young attacking talent and enormous potential.

“I remain full committed to Ulster for the remainder of the season and I’m determined to leave with success before joining Cardiff Blues.”

Peel enjoyed an illustriou­s playing career before turning his hand to coaching following shoulder injury.

Having come through the Scarlets a persistent he also represente­d Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears.

He won 76 Wales caps, playing a key role in two Grand Slams, and started three Tests for the British & Irish Lions in 2005 on the tour to New Zealand.

Peel continues Cardiff Blues’ investment in young Welsh talent, with all their coaches below John Mulvihill products of pathways in Wales.

And Mulvihill is now looking forward to adding Peel’s expertise to the existing coaching group.

Mulvihill added: “We’re all really looking forward to welcoming Dwayne to our coaching group. He brings enormous experience as a player at the top level and has already transferre­d much of that to become a top-quality coach.

“While we have a huge amount of attacking talent in our squad, we need to take our attacking play to the next level and I am confident Dwayne will help us achieve this and realise our potential.

“I have been very impressed with his overall attacking philosophy and how he plans to get the best out of our players.

“He’s had an excellent run at Ulster over the past four seasons and his record there attests to his coaching ability.

“Dwayne’s role as a senior coach within our programme will focus primarily on our attacking framework and the strategy and delivery of this both on and off the field.

“Richie Rees will continue as our backs coach and work closely with Dwayne to deliver world-best practice to our back-line.

“We are building upon a solid base of Welsh coaches here at Cardiff Blues and Dwayne’s appointmen­t further embeds our cultural identity and values.

“We welcome him into our family and I’m sure we will all benefit from his knowledge, enthusiasm and commitment.”

 ??  ?? Dwayne Peel has done a fine job with Ulster.
Dwayne Peel has done a fine job with Ulster.

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