GWENT can lead the way in making the future bright for Welsh rugby claims Huw Wiltshire, the Welsh Rugby Union’s national performance manager who hails from Pontypool.

He heads up a major department which was recently strengthened further by the announcement of a new management team heading up the Welsh sevens, under 20s, under 18s and women’s teams, all with head coaches, assistants, team managers, fitness coaches and technical advisers.

Phil Davies, the former Wales captain and Leeds and Scarlets coach, is the highest profile appointment as coach of the Under 20s.

Part of Wiltshire’s role is to oversee the lot and to cast a heavy eye over the future of Welsh rugby, which he sees as optimistic with Gwent helping to lead the way.

“The depth comes from the four regions and I know Gwent will come out firing through players from the academies. They have all got to front up and deliver,” he said.

“Players like Aaron Coundley (just 19 and a current senior Dragons prop), Stuart Maguire (prop) and Adam Hughes (wing) already look the part. There are a lot of good things in Gwent rugby and I know there are players coming through, there’s a real honest ethos there.

“The basic culture, integrity and honesty are there and in Gwent you won’t meet better people than Byron Hayward and Wayne Jones while we have a huge regard for Paul Turner. They will all help Gwent rugby back to where it should be.

“I went over to Wellington in New Zealand and watched a gym session and realised our lads mature later, so we need to get early maturers, players like Dan Biggar to front up while Lewis Evans and Dan Lydiate (both Dragons back row forwards) are potential internationals - these are the players who can help Gwent and Welsh rugby. We exist in a blame mentality, but straight talking is essential and we look for a mental toughness. On a fitness front, Mark Bennett, the national conditioning coach and Ryan Campbell (ex-Dragons), national academy trainer, have improved things considerably.

“Our player development is going really well and Will Thomas (the Dragons’ new academy chief) will do a fantastic job. He’s got to address the competitive structure because we need more. The Premiership is getting better and we’ve got to respect that brand.

“These clubs have got value and we can take the semi-professional to a different level and while you’re not going to change the Magners League, having the top eight qualifying for Europe will up the ante. Regional development games is also a burning issue because the players need something different.”

Wiltshire went to West Mon Grammar School, describing his period there as “good times” and Pontypool as a great sporting town and a rugby heartbeat.

After leaving school he attended South Glamorgan Institute studying human movement and sports science, then spent some time lecturing at UWIC before going into fitness coaching with Bridgend from 1992-96 after meeting up with JJ Williams and Lyndon Thomas.

Two years followed with Pontypridd (including the battle of Brive) and four years with Cardiff before a tricky spell with Celtic Warriors. Their demise led to a spell out researching at UWIC until he applied for the job of national fitness director after Andrew Hore left. “I wanted a performance role to take a wider remit from just fitness after 18 years. My skills had developed and I wasn’t sure how to take things forward, but I was pretty excited getting hold of this issue in Welsh rugby - how to get success at age grade level after a 60% success from 1999-2007 taking in three senior World Cups,” he said.

“Now I can see a direction and intent with what we’re doling with a good environment and we’re becoming more transparent. We are also more accountable so there are a lot of positives and a lot to look forward to.”