Welsh manager on planning trip to North America

June is six and half months away, but that doesn't mean that planning for the Canada vs Wales test hasn't already begun. This week, Alan Phillips, the manager of the Welsh team, was in Toronto reconoitering so there won't be any surprises when the game goes off on June 11th.

At a reception Tuesday night Phillips was introduced to the Welsh test committee, headed up by Trevor Jones, and shown that this will be a big event on the Ontario rugby calendar this spring.

Phillips, who has a few more pressing issues coming up such as the Six Nations tournament, says his trip to Canada and the USA (where the Welsh will be starting their North American tour in Hartford, CT) was good value, allowing him to find out everything he needs to know in order to ensure a smooth visit for his team.

"In the professsional era things such as big beds, good food and proximity to training facilities are important so there are no distractions for the players," Phillips told CRN.

He cites Canada as one of his favourite tour destinations, having first visited as a young player in 1976 and then again as manager of the Welsh Development tour with then coach Graham Henry in 2000.

"I am hoping one day to bring my family back here - it is without a doubt one of the nicest countries I have had an opportunity to visit," said Phillips in glowing terms.

He stressed that the Welsh visit will be about helping both to develop new blood into the playing squad, but also to help promote the game in Canada.

"We will do whatever we can to help raise the level of the game in this country," said Phillips, who departed on Wednesday for New York for the second part of his fact finding mission.

The reception for Phillips was held at the Steamwhistle Brewery in downtown Toronto, where the Grey Cup was on hand for the Brewery Christmas party crowd.

By Doug Crosse

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