A 20-year-old from Machen is pursuing his dream of being a rugby coach and has been accepted onto the WRU’s Coach Core apprenticeship programme after receiving careers help and guidance from Careers Wales.
Connor Prankerd, a former pupil at Bedwas High School, wanted to be a sports coach from a young age. After studying sport for three years at Coleg y Cymoedd in Ystrad Mynach, Connor flew out to America to coach young children at Challenge Sport summer camps in Baltimore, Boston, Delaware and Maine.
When he arrived home after ten weeks of coaching at the soccer camps, Connor wanted to start a career in sport, and visited Careers Wales’ Caerphilly office for advice.
Connor said: “When I got home from America I was keen to start looking for a job that had links with sports and coaching, as that’s what I’ve wanted to do for a long time and it’s what I’ve been studying for and working towards.
“My dad told me about Careers Wales and that they would give me advice on what to do next, so I went to talk to one of the advisers. I told them I was interested in sport and wanted to coach. They were happy to help and searched for jobs with me, and found the WRU coaching apprenticeship, which sounded amazing.
“The only problem was that the application deadline was the next day, and I wasn’t very confident in my CV or in filling out the application.
“Hayley Thomas, one of the advisers, helped me to complete the application and went through my CV with me as it wasn’t very structured and needed updating, and with her help I managed to get it in on time.”
Connor was then invited to an interview at the Millennium Stadium, and was asked to attend a five-day coaching trial before being informed that he had secured a place on the programme.
The Coach Core programme was created by The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry in 2012 as part of the Olympic Legacy programme. It provides an intense training course for young people, many from disadvantaged social backgrounds, to become qualified coaches and inspire their peers. Over the coming months the apprentices will work in schools and rugby clubs in their local communities across South East Wales.
Connor continued: “I’ve only just started the programme, and it’s going to be a tough year with a lot of work involved, but I’m really excited to get stuck in and do something I’m passionate about.
“I’m so grateful to everyone at Careers Wales who helped me get to this point – especially Hayley – I keep her updated on my progress and couldn’t wait to tell her that I had won a place on the programme.
“I hope to gain confidence over the course of the apprenticeship, and my goal is to become a hub officer and co-ordinate the coaches in different regions – maybe I’ll be going after Warren Gatland’s job someday.”