Maw gets by with help from friends

Jan 6 2008 by Simon Roberts, Wales On Sunday

GRAEME MAW may be an unknown quantity to Welsh rugby but he has some of the best coaching contacts in the world, writes SIMON ROBERTS.

The Welsh Rugby Union’s new Elite Performance Director was unveiled last week to end an exhaustive global search for someone to fill the role. Former Wales coach Kevin Bowring and their ex-fitness guru Andrew Hore had both turned it down previously.

Now we can reveal that Maw numbers Bill Sweetenham, the Aussie and British swimming guru, Sir Clive Woodward, England’s World Cup winning coach, Rick Charlesworth, the legendary hockey coach, Rod McQueen, the Wallaby World Cup-winning coach, and John Buchanan, the Aussie cricket coach, among his associates.

Bristolian Maw’s CV and no-nonsense reputation go before him. He was the Performance Director for the British Triathlon Association and had been High Performance Manager of the Queensland Academy of Sport.

Maw has also rubbed shoulders with some of the best swimmers in the world, like Olympic champions Keiron Perkins, Susie O’Neill and Grant Hackett.

He expects the same dedication from Welsh rugby players.

“They were thoroughly focused and professional in everything they did,” said Maw. “If we can develop people like that here it will be fantastic.

“I have expectations of myself and every elite athlete. You have to ask yourself what can I do and what do I have to do to be the best.”

Maw will bring a wide range of skills to his new role but Welsh players can certainly expect to be pushed out of their comfort zone.

“Elite sport is about being uncomfortable,” said Maw. “That is not an innate human trait. We have to challenge people here.”

Even Warren Gatland, the new Wales coach, can expect to be challenged by Maw.

“We need to have a dynamic relationship,” said Maw. “I sure he will challenge me and demand the best service from me.”

What does Maw want from Welsh players and is there a perfect rugby role model they should aspire to?

“The strongest example for me would be Tim Horan,” said Maw. “I did some work with the Queensland Rugby Union and he did a lot of his rehab with us after his knee injury. He was intelligent and a world-class rugby player but he managed to change his game as his career developed. I think he was a tremendous ambassador for his country and his sport.”