Former Football Association head of performance analysis Rhys Long has been appointed to the role of technical director of the Welsh Rugby Union.

The role is a senior position within the rugby and elite performance department of the Union.

A former Head of Analysis at the WRU between 2007 and 2016, a period which saw two Grand Slams, a Six Nations Championship title and a Rugby World Cup semi-final appearance for Wales senior men’s squad, Long has also worked on two British & Irish Lions tours (2009 and 2013).

Originally from Porthcawl, Long has built a cv which spans early experience in elite analysis to his current role as a senior strategist and innovator supporting senior England football managers including Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel, and supporting the development of world leading player development pathways in football.

As the new Technical Director, Long will be responsible for designing and delivering integrated performance strategies across men’s and women’s pathways, operating across technical and performance environments and aligning stakeholders around shared strategic goals.

“This is an important time to join Welsh rugby, we are in a period of transition but bold steps towards a successful future have already been taken,” said Long who will return to the WRU in April.

“Working at the highest levels of performance and talent development in football has enhanced my perspective on elite standards in sport, on how winning environments are built, and what it takes to sustain them.

“This blend of Welsh system knowledge and performance leadership will help me to shape a uniquely Welsh performance model and DNA, as the department seeks to re-establish clear standards and a winning mentality across Welsh rugby.”

“I’m delighted to have secured Rhys’s appointment. He is a great example of an expert, very much made in Wales and in rugby, who has gone on to develop himself by experiencing different environments and perspectives and to become greatly respected at the very top of world sport,” said WRU Director of Rugby & Elite Performance Dave Reddin.

“He will play a key role in defining and embedding a Welsh rugby DNA in the principles of how we play, coach and our Welsh identity across both our men’s and women’s pathways and senior teams.

“His background in Rugby and his experiences in supporting and developing world class talent identification, development and performance insight will help support our ambition of creating a unique system to take Welsh Rugby back to the top echelons of the world game.”

“As a passionate Welshman, Rhys is emotionally invested in the journey we are on and brings a unique combination of skills and experiences which I believe will significantly enhance our capability, capacity and connection across the Welsh rugby system.”

“We are all looking forward to welcoming Rhys to the Welsh rugby family and, in particular, working together to create an identity for our game which permeates through the whole system and reflects both our rich history and our progressive approach to future success,” Wales senior women’s Head Coach Sean Lynn said.

“I’m excited about Rhys joining the team and how he will enable us to accelerate our development,” Wales senior men’s Head Coach Steve Tandy added.

“I’m impressed by Rhys’s personal energy for Welsh rugby as well as his clarity of vision.

“I think it’s great to see the way he has challenged himself by moving into another sport and developing himself to succeed at the highest level and I can’t wait to start working with him when he begins this role.”

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