Harlow Rugby Club Appoint New Coach

Harlow Rugby Club has appointed Alan Yates to take overall control of coaching at the club for the coming year.  Alan will be working directly with the senior squad from which the club First XV is drawn. He will however also contribute to development throughout the club both by running sessions for other squads and by contributing to the club’s extensive ongoing training programme for club coaches. The young people of the town will also benefit because within his agreement with the club is a commitment to spend part of his time offering specialist rugby coaching to Harlow schools.

Alan Yates has played rugby professionally for Sale, Harlequins and Cardiff and more recently as a semi-professional at Fylde. In addition to his strong rugby expertise he holds university degrees in Health & Exercise Science and also in Sports Psychology. John Harron, Chairman of the Rugby Committee at Harlow, said

          “The club has been searching for a new senior club coach since the end of last season. We have interviewed a number of good candidates and have invited some them to meet the players and run training sessions. In Alan Yates we have found a coach who offers first class practical rugby experience at the highest level together with a strong theoretical background which is essential in the modern game.  Equally important, he has shown that he can communicate with and motivate the Harlow players; as shown by the very well attended and productive pre-season training sessions he has organized. With player and team development in his hands we can really look forward to the coming season”.

When asked how he saw his role at Harlow Alan said

“I am delighted with the welcome I have received at Harlow Rugby Club from players, club officers and members in general. My first objective is to create a culture of enjoyment among the players both on and off the field. I want to encourage initiatives and policy input from the players; I believe very much in that there should be shared ownership of team strategy. As a coach I regard enhanced fitness as a key objective if we are to meet our playing targets.

I see in Harlow a great opportunity to develop my ideas and potential as a coach. The club has a good young squad of players many of whom show great promise. I look forward to helping them realize their full playing potential. I am particularly keen to work with all sections of the club to provide an effective development pathway for players of the future.”

The first team face their first big challenge on 28^th August when they are at home to Basingstoke in the qualifying round of the Powergen Cup. In the following five weeks they have four key league matches which will be a strong marker as to their potential for the rest of the season. Rugby is a demanding game and it takes time to build for success. With Alan Yates in control every one at Ram Gorse is confident that we will see rapid progress towards the ultimate goal of returning to London I.