Boks’ fitness chief heading to Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers have announced that they have added Aled Walters to their backroom staff ahead of the 2020/21 season as Head of Physical Performance.
Walters, who replaces Alex Martin at Leicester, spent four seasons with the Scarlets before taking on the role of head of strength and conditioning at Taranaki and then athletic performance coach at the Brumbies in Super Rugby.
In 2012, Walters became head of athletic performance/strength and conditioning at Munster Rugby for six years ahead of being recruited to head up the Springboks programme.
Speaking about his appointment at Tigers, Walters admitted to having been a long-time admirer of the club from afar.
“I grew up a staunch Scarlets fan and have a lot of history with Leicester,” he said. “I was there when the famous Tim Stimpson penalty went over.”
“You have to fit the culture and I definitely appreciate that. That’s why teams like Leicester are more attractive to me.
“Leicester is a very similar club to Munster and Scarlets – it’s a working-class area, they’re tougher people and that’s something that definitely appealed to me.”
Walters accepted leaving the world champions was not a decision he made lightly, but said the parallels between Tigers and the Springboks he joined in 2018 were clear.
“It’s a genuine privilege and I don’t take leaving a World Cup team lightly,” he said.
“It’s a very similar challenge to a couple of years ago, when I was approached to join the South African team who were playing below par.
“I see this as a similar scenario, and what I know first-hand is that things can change, but it takes a lot of hard work and only happens if everyone buys into it.
“The challenge wouldn’t be as attractive if I didn’t believe there were things in place to turn things around and get the job done.”
Walters has been doing his homework on the Tigers squad and says his first task will be to “establish relationships” before contributing towards ensuring the club is “going in the right direction”.
“The initial challenge when you join any team is to establish relationships and understand the culture of the team,” he added.
“I have got an idea of what it is about, from the outside, but it’s only an idea and, pretty quickly, I need to contribute to making these guys better rugby players.”
Tigers head coach Geordan Murphy, who will move into the director of rugby role on July 1, described it as a “significant” appointment for the club.
“Aled is a world-renowned, world-class coach who we are excited to have joining us in Leicester,” said Murphy.
“The addition of someone of Aled’s experience and knowledge is a significant signing for Leicester Tigers.
“He has worked with some of the game’s best athletes and been a big contributor to the successful environments he has been a part of, which will be key for us moving forward into this new chapter at Tigers.”
Murphy also described the dual appointments of Walters and incoming head coach Steve Borthwick as a “game changer” for the club.
“Aled’s addition alongside Steve [Borthwick] is key to what we are doing in Leicester,” added Murphy.
“It’s a game changer for us at Tigers and something we are extremely excited about going into the next phase of this journey.”
🗣️ "Johnny hit the ground running last summer and has been a great addition to our environment, on and off the pitch." #GallagherPrem
🐅 Johnny McPhillips extends Leicester Tigers stay. 👉 https://t.co/eouEWAI2eD pic.twitter.com/TaL1hY4Hyd
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) May 6, 2020
Meanwhile, Tigers have also bolstered their coaching ranks with the addition of Rob Taylor ahead of the 2020/21 season as an assistant coach, responsible for the side’s attack.
The addition of Taylor sees Mike Ford take charge of the Tigers defence.
Taylor joins from Sydney University in Australia, where he has won four Premiership titles in his four seasons at the Shute Shield club in both their colts and senior programmes.
The New Zealand-born Taylor – who is of English heritage – was also the head coach for the New South Wales Country Eagles in Australia’s National Rugby Championship and, earlier this year, won the Australian National Club Championship with Sydney University.
Speaking about his appointment to the Tigers coaching staff, Taylor admitted to being “honoured” at being considered for the opportunity.
“It was a big honour to get a call from Leicester Tigers,” said Taylor.
“Every rugby person knows who Leicester Tigers are and what they have achieved in their history.”
The new attack coach admitted that he was excited to link up with the Leicester squad and new signings as well as those on their way up the ranks at the club.
“It’s a very exciting prospect with the roster Tigers have,” he said.
“It’s a privilege to get this chance to work with the likes of players at Leicester already and the high quality players coming in like Matt Scott and Nemani Nadolo. I am really looking forward to it.
“However, I am also really passionate about the younger guys at the club and how they come through to the first team.
“It’s nice to be working with big names but will certainly be looking at everybody and the pathway for them and how I can contribute to them playing their best ever footy.”
Murphy said Taylor was the coach the club believed was the right man for the job.
“Rob’s record in Australia and New Zealand at all levels is hugely impressive, he has been successful in all of his roles,” he said.
“He has impressed us all in our discussions with him and we are confident his approach to the game will complement what we have in our coaching ranks at the club for next season.”
With the addition of Taylor and Walters alongside incoming head coach Borthwick, Murphy feels the balance is right at Tigers.
“It’s a new-look group for us next season and, with Mike Ford moving into defence where he has worked at the highest levels in the game, and the trio of additions in Steve, Rob and Aled all adding their own unique skills and experience, we feel we are a much better and balanced group to take the club forward.
“This is an exciting time and one that will require hard work from the coaches, players and staff in Leicester together, moving in the same direction.”