Tenby United RFC’s incoming director of rugby, Tim Poole, is relishing a fresh challenge.

Tim has recently returned to the area after completing a full career in the British Army and completed his service in Devon, before moving back to Pembrokeshire in June of last year.

He is a RFU level three coach, qualified director of rugby and a coach developer. He is also a qualified referee and a level 2 rugby league coach.

Tim has been coaching for nearly 20 years, predominantly in the military, both Army and Navy, gaining much success. For the past 10-plus years or so, he has coached at club level with Shelford and within the Cambridgeshire County set-up. He then moved to Barnstaple RFC and was also involved with the Devon 20s age group.

His coaching philosophy is about the development of players and the team, with the focus being on technique, tactics, mental approach, learning new skills and enhancing existing skills. He is a firm believer that if you get the basics right, then the winning takes care of itself.

It’s been a difficult and challenging season for the club to date, but everyone is still remaining upbeat and extremely positive.

One of the first priorities given to Tim by the committee in the role of director of rugby is to refocus the club’s rugby operation and develop the pathway that runs through the junior and youth sections - senior XV and the creation of a rugby academy for all 13-19-year-olds. This academy will look to educate, motivate, develop and grow players to reach their full potential in rugby at Tenby United RFC.

It will be about setting and developing an environment that allows the club to grow and develop players from within, as well as the support staff and its coaches.

“We are now focusing on rebuilding a strong culture that will underpin a professional playing environment, in which the club can move forward and strive for success,” said a spokesperson. “The aspiration is to bring together the club and develop a shared (TEAM) purpose to support this structure by providing an open and transparent system of player recruitment and development.

“There’s a lot to be done over the whole club and we’ve got a lot of things to concentrate on. At this moment in time moving forward, there will be fantastic opportunities for any players across the club and the community ranging in age from 13-24, who want to be involved in an exciting time for the club as we commence shaping and building for the future. The environment that will be created will allow players to progress their development and also to get game time regularly.”

If you are interested in playing rugby next season for Tenby United, then please get in contact with Tim Poole, director of rugby, or Chris James, head coach, at Tenby United RFC.