Sixteen experienced coaches from England, Ireland, Germany and Wales met in Cardiff to participate in an RLEF Level 2 coaches course at Sport Wales’s headquarters, as part of the EU-backed Training and Education Portal project. Wales Rugby League national manager Idris Evans was joined by six Welsh candidates, with Anthony Loxton entered onto the RLEF’s coach educator pathway.

Bob Doughton, Simon Cooper and Mawuli Amefia represented Germany, and Mike Aughey, Tony Dale and Wayne Kelly Ireland, with Kelly joining Loxton on the educator programme. Leeds Rhinos’ foundation coaches Leon Crick and Chev Walker also attended as project partners.

Amefia said: “The course was very helpful for me as a coach and as a player. I've learned a lot and I can't wait to pass the knowledge on in Germany. The course once again helped me understand how important coaching the basic core skills are to players, no matter what level we are at.”

All attendees will now undertake a series of continuing professional development tasks that will be used to evaluate their competence and progression.

Dublin-based Aughey commented: “It was a very good, productive four days working with coaches from different countries. There were very open discussions and input from all and great practical and classroom sessions led our partners Leeds Rhinos.”

The TEP is a three-year, €723.000 investment into capacity building through good governance and technical training, funded by €466.000 from the EU’s Erasmus+ project and the remainder from the RLIF and five of its full members. It is intended to build the knowledge and skills of the RLEF’s 21 European members, divided into six regional clusters, through high quality training and mentoring, while granting opportunities to share experiences amongst fellow Europeans dedicated to rugby league development.

Pictured: Chev Walker and Mawuli Amefia get technical on the floor.