Scarlets' Danny Wilson finalist in Coach of the Year Award

The Scarlets new successful forwards coach is a finalist in the Performance Development Coach of the Year.

A panel of judges is made up of representatives of sports governing bodies, young people, sports coach UK, Disability Sport Wales and Sport Wales.

The Scarlets new highly-regarded, successful 36-year-old forwards coach took over responsibility for the pack's performance at Parc y Scarlets this summer. He arrived in West Wales after working with the Wales U20 team as Head Coach, a role that brought him many plaudits after a successful campaign with some of Wales' most promising international players of the future.

Wilson has a wealth of experience in skills and forwards coaching at national and club level already in his career. Previous roles have included Forwards Coach of Newport Gwent Dragons, Head Coach of London Welsh RFC from 2008 - 2010 and WRU/Cardiff Blues Academy Skills Coach from June 2005 - 2008.

Originally born in the West Country, near Weston Super Mare and now living in Llanelli, Wilson has spent the majority of his coaching career in Wales.

A former University of Wales Cardiff graduate, he has also been Wales National Sevens Assistant Coach, Wales Senior Squad throwing coach and previously been skills and forwards coach throughout the age-grades for Wales Under 18s, 19s & 20s.

Danny Wilson said: "I am delighted and feel privileged to have been shortlisted for these awards after such a great year for Welsh and UK sport. I'm lucky to be doing a job I love and seeing some of our young rugby talent come through at a tough Junior World Cup this year was a great motivation for me.

"I am also very fortunate to be working with a number of developing and established players at the Scarlets. It's great to be involved with an ambitious and progressive Welsh region and to be part of a very close-knit rugby community with great traditions. We are excited about what will be achieved with such an exciting squad of talented players, particularly those coming through the ranks.

"The Scarlets are a model for Welsh regional rugby working well - particularly with the links they have with their Premiership clubs and how seamless they are in their partnerships with a number of young emerging players being advanced through regular Premiership game exposure."

Danny Wilson is one of only three coaches in rugby union that appear in the finals along with Warren Gatland in the high performance category and Tim Hoare in the coach educator of the year for his work in Colwyn.

The Awards are won across all sports with shortlisted coaches working in cricket, swimming, athletics, wheelchair sports, martial arts, gymnastics, football and netball.

Chair of Sport Wales, Professor Laura McAllister said: "We had a record number of entries to our awards this year and I know the panel found it difficult to create the shortlists, which is testament to the quality of all nominees.

"But we have an outstanding group of finalists who are a credit to their fellow coaches and volunteers. Every year I am humbled by the dedication of these women and men to sport in Wales and I'm looking forward to hearing more about their inspirational work."

The winners will be announced in a ceremony at the Sport Wales National Centre, Cardiff, on Wednesday 14thNovember 2012.

The Sport Wales Coach of the Year accolade will be awarded to one of the category winners.
For more information visit: www.sportwales.org.uk/coachoftheyear