White handed new Wales role
Fitness and conditioning expert Craig White has been promoted to the position of Wales national team performance manager until the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
White, who previously worked with Wasps, Leicester, Ireland and the Lions, joined the Wales fitness team in the summer but will now co-ordinate all aspects of physical performance at senior national level.
The position covers physical conditioning, injury prevention strategies, rehabilitation, nutrition, sports science and performance monitoring.
White will continue to work in a hands-on capacity with the regions in order to close the conditioning gap between the national squad and the rest of the professional game in Wales.
White said: “In my short experience in Wales, we have the potential for establishing a truly world-class environment for the production of top-class players and this has stood out in comparison to all the other places I have worked.
“We are in pretty good shape already and the players we are working with at the moment are in a position to maintain the healthy state of Welsh rugby for the short term.
“We have a squad that could go head-to-head with any in the world game at the moment physically and come out favourably on their day.
“But the important factor is to not only maintain those high standards but to continually improve them as the squad evolves, to stand us in good stead for years to come, and that is the very crux of this new role.”
White will report directly to Wales head coach Warren Gatland and will maintain strong links with Huw Wiltshire, who was appointed national performance manager in May.
Gatland added: “I have worked with Craig at London Wasps and in Ireland and I know the talent and tireless dedication he will bring to this role with Wales will be of great benefit to the players.”
