Former Wales full-back Kevin Morgan has hung up his playing boots to take up a full-time coaching role at Ospreys.
Former Wales full-back takes on full-time coaching role at Ospreys
Former Wales Grand Slam winner Kevin Morgan has hung up his playing boots to concentrate on his fledging coaching career.
The 33-year-old has been appointed as the new strength and conditioning coach at Ospreys, replacing Alex Lawson, who left the club this summer to take up a senior role at Newport Gwent Dragons.
Morgan has been working towards a coaching career for a number of years and combined playing with the post of conditioning coach for Neath RFC in the Premiership last term, while he also took on a role within the Ospreys' elite player development system since the turn of the year.
The former Swansea and Wales full-back will now take up his new duties when the Ospreys squad return for pre-season training in July, working alongside head strength and conditioning coach Mark Bennett.
Looking forward to his new challenge, Morgan told the club's
official website: "I'm really pleased to get this role with the Ospreys, who are one of the best rugby organisations in Europe.
Fantastic opportunity
"I'm really looking forward to starting the role when the players come back for pre-season, it's a fantastic opportunity for me to work on the conditioning side of things with elite rugby players, and also, with some great coaches.
"Over the course of the last season I've got some great experience with Neath and within the Ospreys' elite development set-up, but it's not something I've only just thought about.
"For probably the last four or five years, as my playing career has been coming to an end, I've been working towards this role, doing my Masters in physiology at the University of Glamorgan and trying to build my all-round knowledge and experience.
"It's something I've aspired to for a number of years, and when the players come back in July I'll get my opportunity.
"I've worked under Mark Bennett and (elite performance director) Andrew Hore as a player, and I've got nothing but respect for them in terms of their conditioning knowledge and everything they have achieved in their respective fields.
"Likewise, I played under (director of coaching) Scott Johnson and I'm excited about being a part of a team that has such a clear plan of where they are looking to get to."
Capped
The 2005 Grand Slam winner was capped 48 times for Wales, and also featured for Pontypridd, Celtic Warriors and Newport Gwent Dragons during his playing career.
He added: "Obviously, to be able to take up a full-time role with the Ospreys and making such a big commitment, it means that I'm going to have to retire as a player which is something I'm a bit sad about.
"But, the work that I've put in to get to this stage, along with the faith that the Ospreys have shown in me, means that it's an exciting challenge that I'm looking forward to."
Elite performance director Hore welcomed the appointment, saying: "One thing which I find myself constantly repeating and stressing is our commitment to identifying and developing Welsh talent, and Kevin is definitely someone who fits the bill.
"As a Grand Slam winner and former Wales full-back, his rugby pedigree is without question, and he has put in the hard work and the hours to develop himself a strong reputation as an up and coming strength and conditioning coach."
