1. The FUTURE BLUES was launched on Tuesday 22nd November at Cardiff Arms Park

2. There are 13 Development Officers and 38 Community Officers working for the Future Blues

3. The Cardiff Blues region is made up of 56 clubs stretching from Builth Wells in Powys to Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan

4. The Future Blues receives support from the 5 Local Authorities. Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Merthyr Tydfil, South Powys,

5. There are 58 secondary schools and 321 primary schools within the region

6. Black Horse are the principal sponsors for the FUTURE BLUES while official partners Crownford, James and Jenkins, Brecon Carreg, Valley's Kids Initiative and Canterbury will also be backing the scheme.

7. Focus age groups are under 8 to under 19 for boys and girls

8. The new scheme is truly a community based programme where Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and Junior Clubs will receive support and development

9. The scheme's broad aims are to increase participation, offer increased playing opportunities and improve the standards of coaching/ teaching through coach education.

10. The Community Rugby pathway has exit routes to excellence and vice versa throughout the pyramid.

Visit the new Future Blues section on the Cardiff Blues website for more information on junior and district rugby, coach education, U8-U12 rugby and to meet the development team. Development Officer Profiles are below.

RICHARD HODGES
BLUES COMMUNITY & COACH DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Richard Hodges joined the Cardiff Blues region in December 2004. Previously with the Rugby League and the Welsh Women's RU, he is responsible for all the development officers in the region

CHRIS OWER
CARDIFF - West

Chris moved from the position of WRU Powys Development Officer to the same position within Cardiff in September 2005. Chris is the current head coach of Builth Wells RFC and will work with the U8-U19 age groups within the schools and clubs in the East side of Cardiff.

GARY KNOWLES
CARDIFF - East

Gary has been the Senior Development Officer for the Blues since 2001. He oversees the clubs in the West of Cardiff and co-ordinates district rugby in the region for the 12 district U12-U14 teams. An ex Pontypool front row forward, Gary is the current manager of the new Blues Amateur XV.

MATTHEW SILVA
VALE OF GLAMORGAN

Matthew Silva joined the Blues region as the WRU development officer for the Vale of Glamorgan in October 2005. An ex Cardiff player and current coach of Llantwit Major RFC, Matthew will work with the U8-U19 age groups within the schools and clubs within the Vale.

ADRIAN EVANS
RHONDDA CYNON TAFF

Adrian took over as Rhondda Cynon Taff development officer in October 2005. Previously he was head or rugby at Cardiff University and he plays for Glamorgan Wanderers. An ex PTI in the army, Adrian will work with the U8-U19 age groups within his local authority.

DALE MCINTOSH
CYNON VALLEY

'The Chief' covers the Cynon Valley area of the Blues region working closely with Adrian. Dale covers the U8-U19 age group in schools and clubs with Duane Goodfield assisting him in local primary schools. He is the current captain of Pontypridd RFC.

NIGEL WAY
MERTHYR TYDFIL

Nigel covers the Merthyr area looking after the U8-U19 age group. He is the current head coach of the Blues U20. He is an ex Dragons development officer who has been in post for just over a year working closely with the local schools and clubs within Merthyr.

CARL SCALES
POWYS - SOUTH

Carl is our latest appointment to the role of development officer in Powys. He started working for the Cardiff Blues in November 2005. Carl has been running his own rugby coaching company in the Midlands and will also work in with the U8-U19 age group within South Powys.

NADINE GRIFFITHS
CARDIFF BLUES

Nadine left the Welsh Women's RU to become the U8-U12 Blues development officer in Cardiff & Vale in September 2005. An ex international with 34 caps, Nadine is working with the primary schools and mini sections within clubs to ensure the players get an enjoyable experience as they begin their rugby careers.

BEN ROSE
CARDIFF BLUES

Ben has recently finished his Masters at UWIC to join the team as our U8-U12 Blues development officer in 'Blues North' - RCT, Merthyr & South Powys. Working closely with Nadine, he also works with the primary schools and min sections with clubs. Ben is a current player at Pontypridd RFC.

JOHN HUW WILLIAMS
BLUES SOUTH UNDER 12
CHRIS JONES,
VALLEY'S KIDS INITIATIVE

CLIVE JONES,
VALLEY'S KIDS INITIATIVE

NEIL BOOBYER
VALLEY'S KIDS INITIATIVE
STRUCTURE OF FUTURE BLUES