The Ospreys have confirmed details of a new-look rugby operations management and support team that will see ‘original’ Andrew Millward taking up a senior position with the organisation.
The restructure also sees his former colleague in the Ospreys pack, Andy Lloyd, taking up a new role where he will focus on player recruitment and retention, with day to day team logistics now being overseen by Dai Davies with the aid of Guy Wilson.
Millward has served the region on and off the field since its 2003 inception, having previously played more than 100 times for Neath.
Named in the starting line-up for the region’s first ever Celtic League fixture against Ulster in September 2003, Millward won two league titles with the Ospreys as well as featuring in the historic 24-16 victory over Australia in November 2006, playing 94 times for the Ospreys in total. He also featured for Swansea and Bridgend while an Osprey and spent a short time as Forwards Coach for the Ravens.
Having hung up his boots in 2008 he was appointed WRU Regional Performance Manager for the Ospreys region. In that post he has worked closely with regional age-grade and senior team coaches, as well as club coaches across the region and WRU development staff operating within Ospreylian boundaries, to ensure the on and off-the-field development of young players.
He now takes up the post of Rugby General Manager, overseeing the growth, development and day to day management of the community, elite youth development and senior divisions within the rugby arm of the business.
Andy Lloyd, currently Rugby Operations Manager, will take up the newly created position of Recruitment and Retention Manager. Having signed for his home region from Bath in November 2003, Lloyd played 85 times for the Ospreys prior to retiring in January 2011 to become Team Administrator. Following Andrew Hore’s move from the rugby department to oversee the whole of the business later that year, Lloyd became Rugby Operations Manager with responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the senior team.
In his new position he has responsibility for developing and maintaining talent ID structures, overseeing the recruitment and retention process and co-ordinating personal and professional development opportunities. The role also covers administrative areas including registration, visa and disciplinary procedures.
Former Wales cap Lloyd will be supported by Dai Davies who, after serving as Team Administrator for the last 12 months, takes up additional responsibilities and the title of Team Logistics Manager.
Originally from Bridgend but now living in Trebanos, Davies served 32 years in the British Army, reaching the rank of Sergeant Major, which was where he first took up coaching rugby, working with the army age-grade teams and securing four successive inter-service titles. He also coached the Combined Services U23 team and the Army senior side.
Three years ago he joined the Ospreys age-grade set-up as U18s Team Manager, a role he still carries out today. He was Assistant Team Manager of the Wales U18s until recently, travelling with the team to three FIRA tournaments and on a summer tour to South Africa.
Davies is now responsible for all administration relating to the senior team and management, annual calendar and budgetary planning, and management of match day procedures and the technical zone.
The final piece in the jigsaw is the appointment of Guy Wilson as Kit Manager. He joins the Ospreys after 24 years with HMP Prison Service across the UK, culminating in a return to his native South Wales to finish in Swansea.
Speaking about the changes, Chief Executive, Andrew Hore, commented:
“These appointments will allow us to become more efficient in how we operate on the rugby side. Every professional organisation needs to constantly review how it operates if it wants to ensure that the structure allows it to be as efficient as it needs to be. Professional sport in particular is a constantly changing and evolving industry. If you stand still you will find yourself falling behind your competitors before you know it.
“The changes announced today are a result of us reviewing how we operate. The width and breadth of certain roles had become too large and with the demands on certain areas increasing demonstratively over the last couple of years, it was important we took this opportunity to restructure ahead of the new season to ensure we have the right experience and skills in the right areas.
“In Andrew Millward and Andy Lloyd we have two true Ospreys, who live by the core behaviours we have in place and are role models to those around them. They both have crucial roles to carry out and will be hugely influential in the next stage of the Ospreys life. In Andrew’s case, he has spent the last six years in an important WRU role overseeing all development activity within the region. Ospreys Rugby and the Welsh Rugby Union have invested a lot into his personal development and this new role is the logical next step for his career.
“With Dai we have an individual who has a strong track record in logistics management and experience of rugby administration. He has strong ideas on how we can improve how we do things on a day-to-day basis and a passion to drive that change, while we are delighted to welcome Guy to the team, an individual who is already making a favourable impression in the environment.”
WRU Head of Rugby Josh Lewsey said:
“The WRU is delighted to be able to congratulate Andrew on his appointment, where he will be able to continue the good work he has done in developing Welsh players in this new significant role with the Ospreys. He has proven his ability in this area over a number of years as an integral part of the WRU player development team, providing specialist input to international age grade teams and the WRU National Academy. He will undoubtedly continue to progress and nurture future talent which is so vital to sustaining our national game and I’m sure our excellent working relationship with Andrew will go from strength to strength in this new role for the good of the game.”