The former Scarlets and Wales Women attack coach left his position with the Wales women’s team after helping them play at last year’s World Cup in New Zealand. Before that, he had spent two years as attack coach at the Scarlets.
The former head of Gloucester’s rugby academy has left Wales to join new Highlanders manager Clark Dermody in Dunedin. The two had previously worked together at London Irish and he completed a full Super Rugby Pacifica campaign this year as their attack coach.
He has now returned to the UK and will take up his new role as CAVC looking for a temporary replacement for the highly successful Martyn Fowler, who is currently on sick leave.
“We are delighted to announce that Richard blew it as our new interim Head of Rugby. Richard brings a wealth of experience working with London Irish, Gloucester, England U20, Scarlets, Wales Women and recently worked as attacking coach for Highlanders in Super Rugby Pacifica,” the CAVC Academy announced via Twitter.
Fowler created the Rugby Academy at CAVC 10 years ago and guided them to back-to-back victories over the past two seasons in the WRU’s best U18 schoolboys tournament.
Last season, Fowler’s side not only topped the league, but also added the scalp of Coleg Sir Gar to that of Llandovery College which they had taken in the final a year earlier. They also finished fourth at The World Schools Festival in Thailand last December.
Whiffin will have the opportunity to lead CAVC to that tournament again this year from December 12-17. Last year they beat Leinster Schools 2019 champions St Michael’s College, lost 14-11 to South African side Gray College and then saw a last kick of the match penalty against Millfield doom them to a 15-11 defeat at the third. final play-off place.
Three of the 2022 cup final graduates – Mackenzie Martin, Lucas de la Rua and Harrison James – were part of the Wales U20 squad last season and De La Rua and Martin played in the recent Rugby U20 World Championship in South Africa.
Three more from last season’s champion team – captain and hooker Saul Hurley, fullback Scott Delnevo and center Elijah Evans – also made the Wales under-18 squad. Both Hurley and Delnevo have signed for Indigo Premiership side Aberavon for next season.
