Beard Muscles His Way To Prestigious Award

The UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) have named WRU Head of Physical Performance Adam Beard the Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year in the Elite Sport category.

Beard was presented with the prestigious award for contributions that have significantly impacted elite sport at a recent Gala Awards ceremony at the University of Nottingham.

In his role at the WRU, Beard is in charge of the physical performance department which consists of the strength and conditioning, sports science and nutrition sections.

He was appointed to the Wales management team in 2009 by Warren Gatland and also accompanied him on the successful British and Irish Lions tour of Australia earlier this year as the Head of Strength and Conditioning.

Beard has a wealth of experience working with teams in Rugby Union, Rugby League and Australian Rules Football as well as the Australian Institute of Sport, UK Athletics and at the Aspire Academy of Sports Excellence in Qatar.

He was awarded the National Strength and Conditioning Association High School Coach of the year award in 2009 at the 32nd National conference in Las Vegas Nevada for his work with elite junior athletes at Qatar's Aspire Academy of Sports Excellence.

The latest accolade, presented to him by the UKSCA was awarded for his outstanding work in elite sport both with Olympic athletes and professional sporting teams internationally over the last decade.

The presenters of the award made reference to his cutting edge work including cryotherapy camps to Poland, innovative fitness methods with the Wales national squad at the 2011 Rugby World Cup and recent Six Nations campaigns as well as the British & Irish Lions series win in Australia earlier this year.

"I am honoured to receive this award from the UKSCA in such a prestigious category, especially with team GB's success at the London Olympics and the amount of very good practitioners who contributed there,” said Beard.

"Being a part of the backroom staff, awards are not something that are strived for so I do appreciate the efforts and hard work from players buying in to the program, from the national squad management and my family's support.

"I do want to highlight and thank Warren Gatland for his contribution to me receiving this award as his support, belief and trust to drive the physical performance direction over the last 4 years is appreciated.”

WRU Chief Executive, Roger Lewis, added his congratulations to Beard.

"This is an outstanding achievement and testament for the work Adam and his strength and conditioning team put in,” he said.

"For Wales to have won three Championships and appear in a Rugby World Cup semi-final in six years is testimony to great teamwork.

"The Welsh players are always prepared to the highest level and the WRU has continued to back innovative methods used in physical preparation.

"The national squad has what I believe to be one of the best management teams in the game and it is a tribute to them all to see them being honoured for their work.”