9:49am Saturday 3rd May 2008
By Jim Keay
CHRIS Heal, coach of Ivel Barbarians for the past two seasons, has become Bridgwater & Albion's assistant first-team coach in a management shake-up announced this week by director of rugby Mike Tewkesbury.
Heal succeeds Kevin Innalls, who takes on a new role as specialist positional coach for hookers. He will also analyse Albion's opponents in advance of matches against them.
Heal, a former Somerset cricketer, who is in his early 40s, coaches various sports at schools and colleges in Somerset, including at Bridgwater College, where Tewkesbury met him.
Albion's chief coach said this week: "I spoke to various people who were interested in the job and Chris was the one who impressed me most. I'm confident that he will bring a dynamic attitude to the coaching set-up."
Heal will specialise in some aspects of forward play, but the scrummage coach will be Nick Hill. Hill, a former Clevedon prop, will carry on as coach of the development side and also be the specialist in weight-training technique.
Tewkesbury said of him: "I've been very impressed with the job Nick has been doing and his new role with the scrum will enable him to develop further as a coach. He is very experienced in the use of weights and a great enthusiast."
The first XV have a new team manager, Andrew "George" Steed. He has performed the same role, which is mainly administrative, for the development side over the last two seasons. Steed succeeds Tony Pomeroy, now chairman of rugby.
Tewkesbury said of Steed: "He's done a great job with the development side and brings tremendous energy and commitment to the role. He knows all the players and is well liked by them and I'm sure that he will up the level of admin. It is an important role and will take a lot off my shoulders."
Steed's successor as manager of the development squad will be another club loyalist Andy Webber. "Andy is also going to help me with some aspects of back play," said Tewkesbury. "He is a player of vast experience, Bridgwater through and through, and will be a mentor to the younger players in the squad."
Tewkesbury added: "I am very, very appreciative of Kevin Innalls for having stayed on as assistant last season, considering the family and work commitments he has. He will bring considerable knowledge to his new role."
The new coaching and management team, who also include recently-appointed conditioning specialist Jill Newbury, began their duties on Thursday following a meeting on Wednesday night.
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