May 6, 2008
Elite Rugby Director, Rob Andrew MBE today announced the appointment of Leeds Carnegie Director of Rugby Stuart Lancaster to the role of Head of Elite Player Development. Stuart will join the RFU on June 1, in place of Conor O’Shea who joins the English Institute of Sport on July 1, 2008.
Said Rob Andrew, “This is a very important appointment for the department. Stuart brings Guinness Premiership coaching experience and is also one of the coaches who has achieved the Elite Coaching Level 5 qualification*.
“Stuart directly replaces Conor O’Shea who has done an excellent job for the RFU. The only change we have made is to remove Conor’s old job title of Director of the National Academy and replace it with Head of Elite Player Development so it more accurately reflects the role.
“Stuart will be directly responsible for all the administration and elite player development processes relating to the National Academy, the 14 Regional Academies and our links through the Community Schools of Rugby, which help identify young talent from the age of 13.
"He will also be responsible for the overall management of the U18, U20, Sevens and Saxons representative sides as well as bringing a wealth of coaching experience across the programme.
“Stuart will work closely with myself, Kevin Bowring the Head of Elite Coach Development, the Head Coach of the National Academy and Roy Headey, Head of Sports Science to ensure that the progress made by Conor is maintained with the Academy structure. As part of the recent RFU/PRL agreement, which takes effect from July 1, the Academy licenses have now been re-negotiated and will be reviewed on an annual basis, which will ensure that the highest standards are being maintained.
“Stuart’s appointment does not affect the offer to Brian Ashton MBE as Head Coach of the National Academy and these discussions are continuing.”
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Stuart Lancaster Profile
Stuart Lancaster was born in 1969. A native of Penrith, Cumbria he ran the Leeds/RFU Academy for five years from 2001 after playing under former boss Phil Davies before retiring in 2000. He became the Director of Rugby at Leeds Carnegie in 2006.
A former back rower, Lancaster was the first ever player to play more than 100 games for Davies' Leeds before taking up a full time role developing the young players at the club.
He began playing for Leeds following the merge of Headingley and Roundhay, having previously played for Headingley. He also played for Wakefield Rugby Football Club and represented Scotland at U19 and U21 level and Scotland Students.
* Over 40 English qualified coaches have achieved the new Levels 4 and 5 coaching qualifications. A number of Elite players have progressed into coaching and have been supported by the Elite Coach Development (ECD) programme. Dorian West, Paul Grayson, Mark Mapletoft, Neil Back, Mark Cornwell, Ian Peel, Graham Rowntree, Neal Hatley, Alex Sanderson and Mike Catt are just some who are benefiting from the ECD programme.
