On 18 September 2013 FrontRow Legal sponsored the UK Israel Business Breakfast Club’s event in Leeds, which featured Kevin Bowring as the guest speaker.
For anyone unfamiliar with Kevin’s work, his official title is Head of Elite Coach Development for the Rugby Football Union. Through what was an extremely informative and entertaining speech Kevin explained that in simpler terms that this role requires him to coach the RFU head coaches how to be better coaches. It soon transpired however that this simplistic description was a result of Kevin’s modesty. It has often been said that Kevin is the man behind a lot of English Rugby’s successes on and off the pitch, and he is frequently the man who Stuart Lancaster turns to for advice.
A man with a passion for coaching, Kevin’s involvement in Rugby Union has included playing for London Welsh for over 350 games as well as representing British Colleges, Middlesex County, London Counties, Crawshays Welsh (at the Hong Kong Sevens), The Welsh President’s XV and the Barbarians. Following this illustrious playing career his coaching career began with coaching the Welsh Rugby Union’s Under 20 team in 1989. He progressed through the WRU coaching system, taking charge of Wales Under 21 and Wales ‘A’. He was voted the Sports Council of Wales Team Coach of the Year in 1994. He was appointed as the 11th Wales National Coach in November 1995. He was the first full time National Coach to be appointed in the professional era and prepared the Welsh team for nearly 30 international matches.
A teacher for 17 years, Kevin explained how he has combined his passion for the profession with his love of rugby to become a better coach and, ultimately, become a better coacher of coaches. A man who says that he doesn’t believe in luck, Kevin continuously drew comparisons between coaching and business, explaining how he felt that both areas were more similar than most people would imagine. Kevin explained how both require a plan of action, hard work, determination and a willingness to continually strive to improve oneself.
All in attendance were certainly in agreement and Kevin received a very warm reception. Although seeing as he is an openly proud Welshman currently working for the English RFU, it is almost certain that he would have been able to handle a bit of stick, not that this was ever likely!
