He also exclusively told the Pioneer he’d be excited to be a young Welsh rugby player today on a visit to Llandudno.
@rhyljournal ‘I’d love to be a young Welsh player now’ Rugby World Cup winner Phil Vickery gives his view on Welsh rugby. #wales #rugby #walesrugby #welshrugby #warrengatland #philvickery ♬ original sound – rhyljournal
As we reported last week, Vickery was in town to help Clare’s department store in Llandudno launch its new menswear department featuring his own Raging Bull clothing brand.
But during his visit he also took time out to speak to us about Wales’ current struggles on the rugby pitch domestically and internationally and why he believes they have the best man to get them back into the world’s top 10.
“Ultimately I think this has been coming for a little while,” said the Cornish legend of the Welsh Rugby Union’s work to cut costs and produce a new five-year strategy. “But I think the nice thing for me is even seeing in the summer, I think you’ve got some great people in charge.
“Did some of that change need to happen anyway? Probably. Could it have been dealt with in a better way? Yeah, probably.
“But ultimately I think you’ve got a lot of good, young players coming through let’s hope that through the negative press that’s just happened in the last year or two, that now those things can be set in place moving forward and start progressing.”
Vickery spoke of his love of Wales and his career of playing against tough Welsh teams – stretching all the way back to his youth career back in Cornwall.
He added that while reforming the domestic and grassroots game, at the top Wales head coach Gatland would be a leader for the entire Welsh game.
“Let me tell you, with Warren Gatland in charge of Wales,” said Vickery. “There is no-one better, I believe, in the world who can set things going to create that next generation and let youngsters know how valuable they are in development.
“I’m actually quietly excited about Welsh Rugby. It might sound silly but I’d love to be a young Welsh player now.”
