Bryanston School has made a series of high-profile appointments from the world of professional sport, in a bid to “raise the bar” for sportsmen and women at the school.
Former junior All-Black and Cardiff Blues back-rower, Nick Williams, has been confirmed as the school’s new head of rugby following 16 years at the top of the sport.
Former England captain and RFU Council and board member, Phil De Glanville, and the highly respected former Sri Lanka test cricketer, Kumar Sangakkara, have also been confirmed as the first two members of Bryanston’s new sports advisory board.
The new appointments follow the arrival of Rory McCann as Bryanston School’s director of sport and coincide with Bryanston’s lead cricket coach, Richard Scott, being appointed as an England and Lions scout. They will also build on the success of Bryanston’s ground-breaking Performance Sports programme and the imminent launch of a specialist rugby 7s programme for all pupils, following the school’s ongoing work with former Rugby League professional, Joe Lydon.
Nick Williams, who retired from professional rugby in 2020 said: “I know from first-hand experience that sporting success is not just about desire, confidence, and raw skills. Of course, all those qualities are important, but achievement is also about continuous personal development and having the right mindset and attitude to be at the top of your game both on and off the pitch. This ethos for developing rounded and focused sportsmen and women runs through every aspect of Bryanston’s approach to coaching.
“Culture is the cornerstone that nurtures positive and joyful individuals, fuelling players drive to excel in their chosen sport, like rugby. I firmly believe that culture can only be cultivated organically, and this ethos promises an exciting future for rugby at Bryanston School.”
Williams’ appointment coincides with the imminent introduction of a new Sport Advisory Board at Bryanston School formed of high-performance leaders from within the world of sport. The new board will support the school’s “sport for all” ethos alongside its “performance pathways” and will help senior staff and coaches to identify, develop and prepare pupils for a career in high-performance sport.
Phil de Glanville, a former Bryanston School pupil, said: “I am sure other members of the new advisory board will share my enthusiasm for adding a dynamic new dimension to the school’s sports strategy.”
Assistant director of sport, Beth Rodford, a former GB rower and double Olympian, added:
“The insight, experience, and dedication of top achievers like Nick, Phil, Kumar, and Joe set a perfect and inspiring example for our aspiring young sportsmen and women. These exciting new appointments will help Bryanston stay ahead of the curve in the provision of personalised programmes for developing the skills, resilience, and performance of all our young athletes.”