Coach-tutor trainees from Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Malta and Spain received training from RLEF Coaching Manager Martin Crick and his team of Thierry Dumaine of the Catalan Dragons, Tiziano Franchini and Remond Safi, in London as part of the RLEF’s EU-backed Leadership Devolution Project. The European Commission has provided €195.000 towards the overall cost of the project.

“It is very important to have these kind of seminars for the development of rugby league around Europe,” said Italy’s Franchini, who has himself delivered two Level 1 courses in Italy and one in Spain.

Trainees conducted sessions on tactics, focussing around the play-the-ball area, as well as game-sense coaching and honing their tutor techniques.

Aitor Davila, who along with two Spanish colleagues will join the three-phase tutor-trainee programme later this month, said: “The course was a great experience and it was a good chance to exchange knowledge with coaches from different countries. Undoubtedly that will help us improve our concepts when coaching at our clubs.”

Bob Doughton, who is working with colleagues in Germany to rebuild RL Deutschland, added: “The course was very practise-orientated and full of extremely useful tips and advice. The broad spectrum of nations participating also provided ample opportunity for seeing things from different perspectives."

The LDP covers match official tutor training and governance as well as coach tutoring and is set to continue in Latvia, when coaches from Scotland, Poland and Spain will join the hosts.

With sessions already having been conducted in Italy, Holland and Czech Republic, the first round of coach tutorial activities will be concluded in Denmark in October. The less experienced countries, categorised as ‘Learners’ in the project, will then host the activities.

Pictured, from left: RLEF Coaching Manager Martin Crick; FIRL coach tutor Tiziano Franchini; and RLEF tutor Remond Safi.