Scarlets’ Athletic Performance Department making waves Down Under

Behind every motor racing driver is a highly skilled and competent team of mechanics and engineers and the Scarlets, as a professional rugby team, is no different.

The highly skilled and competent team of mechanics and engineers behind the team at the Scarlets, which work closely with the coaches and players, are a group of Doctors, Physiotherapists, Rehab Specialists, Strength and Conditioning Coaches, Sports Scientists and Nutritionists.

As a team of professional individuals always striving to be at the cutting edge of their fields it is with great pride, but no surprise, that the team has been invited to attend the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association Conference which is taking place in Melbourne this weekend.

Rhys Jones, Scarlets’ Sports Scientist and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, has undertaken a PhD with the brief of investigating the physical cost of the game and various recovery processes and the effect they have on players and the region’s programme.

Following this brief Rhys, and his colleagues at the Scarlets under the guidance of Head of Athletic Performance Brad Harrington & Andy Walker Head of Sports Medicine, will aim to improve performance and ensure that the Scarlets’ Athletic Performance & Sports Medicine programmes are industry leading and remains at the cutting edge.

One of the areas Rhys has researched within his PhD is the importance of sleep patterns and the effect that games have on players’ sleep patterns and the connection to performance and therefore recovery.

Having had his study accepted to be published in the Australian Strength & Conditioning Journal, a world-renowned journal in the industry, Rhys has been invited to attend the Australian Strength and Conditioning Conference which will be held this weekend, 8th-10th November, in Melbourne.

The Conference will deliver delegates knowledge and hands-on experience with the latest in strength and conditioning research, theory, technology and practise. The 2013 speaker set is at the cutting edge of the industry, and will present across a diverse range of topics.

The invitation was received with huge delight from Rhys, his co-workers at the Scarlets and the team and Swansea University, where Rhys is currently undertaking is PhD studies, and further recognises the world-leading work that is being done by the Scarlets’ Athletic Performance & Sports Medicine team.

Having left the UK on Tuesday 5th November, Rhys will attend the Conference this weekend and will also attend and observe facilities and sessions at Melbourne Storm Rugby League and Melbourne Rebels Super 15 before returning to West Wales next week.

The research work, undertaken over the last three years in partnership with the Athletic Performance department at the Scarlets and Swansea University, has been a huge task for all involved ensuring that the work is carried out to the highest level around the training schedules of a professional rugby squad, whilst not compromising overall performance.

Brad Harrington, Head of Athletic Performance at the Scarlets said: “Over the last six years we, the Athletic Performance Department at the Scarlets, have strived to develop industry leading training systems, staff and facilities to ethically enhance the performance of all Scarlets Rugby Athletes across the region.

“Within that period we have also forged a great relationship with Dr Liam Kilduff and Swansea University that has enabled us to carry out a number of research projects, in partnership with the University, within professional and semi professional rugby union.

“As a result of our relationship with Swansea University, Rhys has been able to study and complete his PhD and the research carried out by Rhys over the last three years has made a big impact on our program and allows us to stay at the forefront of sports science and athletic development strategies within the sport of professional rugby union.

“To have been selected from hundreds of applicants and invited to present some of our latest research at the Annual ASCA conference is a huge honour, not only for the Scarlets, but for Rhys and Swansea University respectively.

“I would personally like to thank Dr Liam Kilduff, Swansea University and Rhys Jones for their support of our program over the last number of years and I would also like to take this opportunity to wish Rhys all the best and safe travels as he represents us in Australia.”

Dr. Liam Kilduff, Associate Professor at Applied Sports Technology, Exercise and Medicine (A-STEM) Research Centre, Swansea University added: “Over the last number of years we have developed a very strong working relationship with Scarlets Rugby which is mutually beneficial. We strive to ensure our research and teaching is world-leading and this link with the Scarlets ensures this is the case. Scarlets rugby are a world class organisation that really complements Sports Science here at Swansea University on a number of fronts”.

The Australian Strength & Conditioning Association (ASCA) is the professional development body for strength and conditioning coaches in Australia, representing over 6000 accredited strength and conditioning coaches of athletes and teams from school and club levels through to Olympic and professional levels.

The annual Conference will enter its ninth consecutive year in 2013 and is renowned throughout the Australian and International strength and conditioning communities for bringing together the best presenters and most relevant, up-to-the-minute topics, including practical hands-on workshops.

The Conference will feature Keynote Presentations, Practical Workshops and Roundtable Sessions. The carefully selected speakers are at the forefront of research and training for athletic performance.