Newport Gwent Dragons senior team will have a new fitness and conditioning coach at the helm next season with New Zealander Paul Bunce taking over the role from Ryan Campbell who has joined the WRU.
Paul has been in charge of The Dragons Academy for the past season where the fitness level of the Academy members has come on leaps and bounds.
Paul is originally from Napier but has spent the last three years in Wales where he previously was with the Sports Council for Wales. Paul qualified in Sports Science at Otago and combined lecturing and exercise science for three years with Wellington and New Zealand hockey team. He then studied sports and recreation management for five years before working with elite athletes and the NZ hockey team at the Sydney Olympics.
After that he came to Cardiff where he got the position with the Sports Council for Wales as senior strength conditioner - the first person to hold the position. His role there involved developing athletes for Elite Cymru and Great Britain before he landed the job with The Dragons Academy.
“From a conditioning point of view there have been some substantial improvements. Some are faster, bigger and stronger than the senior regional and national players, all they lack is rugby experience,” stated Paul.
Taking over Paul’s position and charged with the responsibility of all Academy members is Byron Haywood who began his job last Monday. Byron a former Ebbw Vale and Newport player will be based in Usk alongside Academy Manager John Williams, Ron Shottle who is in charge of High Performance and Community and Coach Development Manager Gerry Roberts.
Speaking on the appointment of Byron, John commented, “It is a fantastic appointment and with Paul moving upwards it is a positive move and will allow more integration between The Dragons senior squad and Academy members. Byron’s background is in professional rugby and he fully understands the demands of the modern game and I am sure the heights he hit in his rugby and boxing career will stand the youngsters in good stead. He has a strong knowledge of the game and of the mental approach needed to succeed, his appointment is good news for The Dragons region.”
