Chiefs deliver coaching masterclass

By Mark Stevens
8/9/2016

Exeter Chiefs stars Geoff Parling, Julian Salvi, Matt Jess and Haydn Thomas helped to head up a coaching masterclass aimed at developing coaching techniques for rugby players across the region.

The Aviva Premiership stars, along with other members of the Chiefs’ Academy set-up, briefed over 60 coaches from Devon and Cornwall in a wide range of training drills at Launceston’s Polson Bridge ground.

Looking to forge even closer links with clubs at the grassroots level, the Chiefs see evenings such as this as the perfect opportunity to help nurture potential stars of the future.

Using four of the club’s most senior players, coaches were given a detailed insight into exercises and games which could be used to develop young players.

Areas included tackle technique, line-out lifting, passing moves and structured games to help promote attacking space on the field.

Offered the chance to not only work closely with the Chiefs stars, the coaches were also able to discuss up-to-date training plans with other members of the club’s Academy staff.

Reflecting on the night’s activities, Haydn Thomas said: “The evening was a huge success and a great opportunity for us as a club to get out amongst local and ambitious rugby coaches.

“Getting the chance to discuss latest training techniques for young players is high on our agenda here at the Chiefs as it’s imperative that core skills are taught correctly from a young age.

“The other positive from the night was the feedback we received from the coaches themselves. Talking tactics and learning from them is just as important in terms of our own development.”

Plans are already afoot for similar nights to be run in the future, details of which will be released via the Chiefs’ official media outlets.