Huw Bennett
S&C coach, quizmaster, ‘tur tle’ bag man – the f ormer Wales hooker was busy in South Af rica
ALIONS TOUR is all about balance. There’s a heck of a lot of work to do by players and staff to ensure that the best of Britain and Ireland are primed for the Test series, yet it’s important for training not to become a slog, for the tour to be an enjoyable experience – something that is even tougher with Covid protocols to follow.
On the tour to South Africa, Huw Bennett was crucial to maintaining that ‘buzz’. Described by one staff member as an “all-round good egg”, the former Wales hooker not only excelled in his role as strength and conditioning coach but also organised a host of activities off the pitch to help with team bonding.
The S&C team in any environment are key to keeping players motivated and Bennett was central to that on this tour, on top of preparing the squad for the rigours of a three-Test series against the Springboks and playing at altitude (although that didn’t prove as significant when all the Tests moved to Cape Town).
“Everyone in my team is a massive energiser,” explains Lions head of S&C Paul ‘Bobby’ Stridgeon. “That’s one of the main reasons they’re there.
“Huw is fantastic. He’s my assistant at Wales and my assistant with the Lions. He’s loyal, I trust him with anything and he’s always got his eye on the ball. He’s got great instincts and can read the group, when they need pushing or holding back. He did his degree while playing and as well as the sports science knowledge, he also has the knowledge of being a player, so he’s seen it from both sides. He’s a great link between the players and coaches.”
Stridgeon also welcomes the fact that Bennett is the one who dons the giant ‘turtle’ bag that players use to practise high-ball skills (see main photo). “When Biggsy (Dan Biggar) goes up high, he’ll get a clump,” says Stridgeon of the unpleasantness of that assignment. “That’s half an hour of training every time and he just gets on with it.”
Bennett himself is happy to shoulder the blows if it helps the players win the aerial battle on the pitch, although he isn’t keen on Stridgeon – or Kyle Sinckler – giving it a try again. “They had a go at jumping one day, trying to do what the other boys do,” recalls Bennett. “Bobby landed on top and gouged me! Sincks caught the edge of the bag and I went backwards.”
Yet Bennett didn’t only come to the fore when running conditioning drills or gym sessions, and holding boxing pads or that turtle bag; he played a significant role in team-building. Stridgeon says: “He’s brilliant as an S&C coach but does all the extra stuff too, entertainment, sorting days out… Anything the boys need help with, he’s always on hand.”
Stridgeon rattles through the various activities Bennett helped to organise when the squad first came together in Jersey – boat trips, bus tours, golf – and emphasises the importance of forging a team spirit at that point of a tour. “When you’ve got a group that’s not met before, you want to bond quickly. The more you get them doing stuff, the more it speeds the process up. That’s key in developing a group rather than individuals and means you can hit the ground running.”
Bennett ensured those bonds stayed strong in South Africa too and one thing members of the touring party mention is his role as quizmaster. He’d organised quizzes in Wales camp last season and had a couple of rounds prepared, then added more topical ones, like a ‘baldies’ round, where the Lions management had to be identified by images of the top of their heads. “Steve Tandy was on the winning team and he had expertise in that area,” jokes Bennett.
That quiz may have been his star turn, but Bennett’s tour highlight was of a simpler nature. “It was just a pleasure to watch the increase in the quality of training, the intensity,” he says.
“He can read the group – when they need pushing or holding back”