BEN MOVES FROM RUGBY TO GOLF
Ben Waterhouse is to move from English rugby to take over the top job in charge of the Wales golf teams, filling the shoes of Walker Cup captain Nigel Edwards.
Waterhouse has taken over as the Director of Performance for the Golf Union of Wales, looking to build on the work started by Edwards who moved the other way across the Severn Bridge to the English Golf Union.
The 34-year-old Waterhouse worked for the Rugby Football Union, based at Worcester Warriors, and has been involved in sports development all his career. He is a social golfer who will be putting the structures and systems in place for the likes of national mens and ladies coaches Neil Matthews and Jeremy Bennett to provide the technical expertise.
Waterhouse comes into the role at a time when there is a great amount of talent coming through the system, spearheaded by Walker Cup hero Rhys Pugh and Junior Solheim Cup star Amy Boulden.
“I am really looking forward to this role,” he said. “I am hugely excited to be working for the Golf Union of Wales, maintaining everything Nigel has done while putting my stamp on it going forward.
“At the RFU I tried to surround myself with good people who are experts in their own field – so that is how it will work with Neil, Jeremy and all the other coaches with the expertise. I will let them do their job while I can come up with some other ideas to support and enhance what they can offer.
“Nigel has obviously done a lot right or he would not have been so highly regarded, but there are always things
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that a new person can look at.
“I hope it is a good thing that I am different, I am not a golfer in the same way, so hopefully I can bring something new to the table."
The appointment has been welcomed in Welsh golf, as Waterhouse prepares to take over the management of the Wales amateur golf coaching structure and teams from junior levels, through to the main Wales Mens and Ladies teams that compete on the world stage, as well as seniors level.
“We were never going to be able to replace Nigel directly, so we wanted someone who could come into the role with a wealth of knowledge in sports development and creating structures to help elite sports people,” explained Golf Union of Wales chief executive Richard Dixon.
“Ben comes in with that sports development experience, most recently in English rugby, he is knowledgeable, enthusiastic and he ticks so many of the boxes for what we were looking for.
“He wants to carry on the good work which has been done, rather than change things for the sake of it, which was very important to us because we feel Welsh golf is moving to a pretty good place for a small nation – though we will always strive to be better.
“We are sorry to see Nigel go, but we wish him all the best with the English Golf Union and his ongoing role as captain of the Walker Cup team while we also look forward in terms of the development of elite golfers in Wales.”
STATUE DEDICATED TO WELSH GYMNAST
A sculpture was dedicated to Welsh rhythmic gymnast, Frankie Jones, at a week longexhibition in Terminal 5, Heathrow Airport.
The statue, sculpted by Eleanor Cardozo (pictured), celebrates Frankie’s achievements in the field of gymnastics and is part of a collection of artwork showcasing the sport.
The event, hosted by the Terminal 5 Expo Fine Art Gallery, was opened by the Commonwealth Games Silver medallist and Olympic hopeful.
The five times British champion Frankie Jones said, “I’m literally speechless, this is such an honour never in my wildest dreams did
I imagine that a statue would be dedicated in my name for the sport that I love, and to think thousands of people will see it every day, it’s difficult to put into words how flattered I feel.”
Jo Coombs Head of Performance and Excellence for Welsh Gymnastics said, “Frankie has been one of our consistent high performers and has been an invaluable asset to the Welsh rhythmic gymnastics
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Welsh boys go where World Cup stars will follow
A group of Welsh footballers are heading out to play in the Middle East, where the World Cup stars of 2022 will follow when the planet's biggest sporting event is due to be held in Qatar.
The young players from a group of schools in the Vale of Glamorgan will be going to nearby Dubai to take part in a unique FIFA regulated international football tournament.
The team made up of Year 8 secondary
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