Aled Walters Leaves England to Head Up Athletic Performance for Ireland

Former Springboks World Cup-Winning Coach to Bolster Ireland's Rugby Ambitions

Aled Walters, the renowned head of strength and conditioning, has departed his role with the England rugby team to join Ireland as the head of athletic performance. The highly-respected Welshman, who was instrumental in South Africa's 2019 Rugby World Cup triumph, is set to bring his extensive experience and expertise to the Irish national team as they look to build on recent successes.

Walters joined England's setup ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, having previously held prominent roles in rugby for 18 years. His career includes a notable stint with Munster, where he served as head of athletic performance for almost six seasons, and a successful tenure with the Leicester Tigers from 2020 to 2023. Walters also contributed significantly to the Brumbies and the Taranaki Rugby Football Union in senior performance roles.

In his new position, Walters replaces Jason Cowman, who stepped down after the 2023 Guinness Six Nations, having dedicated 15 years of service to Irish rugby. Cowman’s departure marked the end of an era, but Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is confident that Walters will seamlessly fill the void and make an immediate impact.

Expressing his excitement about rejoining Irish rugby, Walters said, "I am delighted to join the Ireland national team and am excited about the opportunity to work with such a talented group of coaches and players. The Ireland team has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and it's an exciting time to rejoin Irish rugby as the team looks to achieve more success in the years to come."

Walters' return to Ireland comes at a crucial time as the team prepares for a busy international season, beginning with the Autumn Nations Series in November. His appointment is seen as a strategic move to further enhance Ireland's physical performance capabilities, with a focus on building on the team's recent achievements and maintaining their competitive edge on the global stage.

Andy Farrell, head coach of Ireland, praised Walters’ appointment, highlighting his track record in creating successful environments. "He has a wealth of experience and has been a key part of many successful environments over the course of his career to date. I know how excited he is to return to Ireland and hit the ground running, and I'm confident that he'll play an important role in the squad as we embark on a busy international season."

Walters’ departure from England marks the end of a brief but impactful period, during which he was credited with improving the team's physical preparation. His experience with elite teams such as the Springboks and Leicester Tigers has established him as one of the top performance specialists in rugby.

As Walters prepares to take on this new challenge with Ireland, the rugby community will be watching closely to see how his expertise influences the team's performance in the upcoming international fixtures. With his track record of success, expectations are high that Walters will help Ireland continue their upward trajectory in world rugby.