Welsh front row legend Garin Jenkins this week hosted a scrum clinic for Ospreys Under-18 players at Llandarcy Academy of Sport.
Jenkins, who was recently appointed to the role of Elite Youth Development Officer at the region, was joined for the session by Under-18 coaches Ioan Cunningham and Andy Lloyd who added their expertise.
The clinic focused on the front five, with a view to ensuring the correct body positioning in the scrum, maximising power output at engagement, and an understanding of the scrum mechanics and principles.
Speaking about the sessions, Garin commented:
"The scrum is one of the key areas of the modern game and it is important that the forwards have a clear understanding of what is required of them to maximise the opportunities presented in this area. Things like body positioning and power output at engagement are closely linked. If you don't get the first aspect correct, providing stability at the scrum, then you won't be able to generate the power that's needed to drive forward at engagement.
"It's important that we work hard and smart on these things on the training ground to ensure that we get it right on a match-day. The attitude of the boys involved was first class, they have the correct approach to learning the game, they want to listen and they want to transfer what they are being told into action. We will be expanding the scrum clinic to include the back row as well in due course, but we felt that first of all, it was important to ensure that the front five were working together as a unit to provide the base for the back row to do their thing."
Ioan Cunningham added:
"We are fortunate to be able to call on Garin to be able to pass on his immense knowledge of the scrum gained through many years playing at the very highest level. As well as being a great player, he is extremely passionate about player development and enjoys playing a role within the Eyasses (Academy) and age-grade structure. His enthusiasm rubs off on the players and coaches he is working with, and the boys who participated in the scrum clinic feel that it has been a massive benefit to them, and they are looking forward to using what they have learnt in a 'live' situation."