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RGC appoint Josh Leach as new Director of Rugby


July 02, 2024 - 1792 views

RGC are delighted to announce that Josh Leach will step up from his role as Performance Manager to become the development regions Director of Rugby.

The newly formed role will oversee pathway alignment into seniors as well as encompassing the Head Coach duties. Josh will be assisted by fellow North Walians Afon Bagshaw as Backs Player/Coach and Saul Nelson as Forwards Coach. 

As well as having played for RGC on 108 occasions from Division 1 East upwards and representing the team on pitch in each of the last 3 decades, his coaching career began in 2010 with Coleg Llandrillo. Leach was part of the RGC senior coaching set-up that won promotion from the Championship in 2016 and over the past 11 years he has also coached with a range of national pathway sides.

Having learnt from the likes of Chris Horsman, Damien McGrath, Phil Davies and Mark Jones he plans use that experience in his new role.

"RGC has been a huge part of my life having worked in various playing, coaching and management roles over the past 14 years. I've watched the vast majority of this squad develop as players as they've come through the pathway, and after a year setting up the Emerging Player Programme and Female Player Development Centres, I'm looking forward to getting back on the pitch with the team. Our focus will be building a team and performances that we and the region can be proud of."

RGC General Manager, Alun Pritchard added “This is a significant moment for the region. For the first time we will have a North Walian Head Coach who has developed here and will bring a different insight, knowledge and passion to the role.

“Josh is extremely thorough in everything he does, and I have no doubt he will ensure the squad achieve their potential whilst continuing to develop our pathway players.

“He will be ably supported by two other North Walian coaches with Afon continuing as player/coach and Saul stepping up to support the senior team alongside his role as u18’s Head Coach.

“There is a lot going on at RGC and I think it’s an exciting time to be involved when you look at this appointment alongside the revamped Super Rygbi Cymru league format and our new signings, we could be in for a gripping season ahead”.