Kevin Morgan is former Welsh Rugby Union player, current First-Team Athletic Performance Coach with Bristol Bears and a student on our MSc in Sports Injuries & Return to Performance Management. 

Kevin shared insights into his journey from playing for his national team to winning a Grand Slam with Wales to his transition into the world of coaching. 

A Career Driven by Passion 

Kevin grew up in Pontypridd, South Wales a place where “rugby was part of everyday life” and it was here where his love of rugby began. “It was either on TV or played in the school yard with your friends. Like most children, I had ambitions of playing for my local team and dreams of one day playing for Wales,” he shared. 

During his early rugby years, the sport still held an amateur status. Initially, Kevin planned to go to university and get a job, “whilst trying to play rugby to a high standard and hopefully achieve some representative honours.” However, during his first year in university, the game turned professional, and his future changed overnight. “I was lucky enough to force my way into the Pontypridd first team during that first year of professional rugby, and university quickly went part-time as I embarked on a 14-year career as a professional rugby player,” he explained. “I was fortunate to play for some great teams over my career (Pontypridd, Swansea & Dragons) and achieved my dream of playing for Wales.” 

Reflecting on his proudest moments as a player, Kevin points to being part of Wales’ 2005 Grand Slam-winning team. “It’s very special to me because I had suffered some serious injuries in the years prior and had to work really hard to get into the team that had been performing well over the previous year,” he said. 

The occasion was made even more meaningful by the significance of the victory. “Wales had not won a Grand Slam for 27 years, so the swell of support for the team was huge. To achieve the win with the whole nation behind us made it a truly memorable time.” 

The Beginnings of a Career in Human Performance 

It was during his time at secondary school, thanks to one of his teachers, that Kevin first became interested in human performance. “My secondary school teacher really opened my eyes to how athletic development was key to becoming a successful athlete. He put a lot of extra work into physical development during my adolescent years and this no doubt had a massive impact on my future success as a rugby professional,” Kevin shared.  

As the game became increasingly professional, Kevin began considering a career in athletic performance after retiring from playing. This led him back to university, where he completed an MPhil in Physiology during his final years of playing rugby. 

Coaching Career Highlights 

Since then Kevin has forged a successful coaching career starting out at Ospreys Rugby as an Academy S&C Coach in 2009 before taking up his current role with Bristol Bears in 2019. “I was lucky enough to be coaching with the Ospreys when they won the Celtic league in 2011/12. To go over to Dublin and turn over the reigning European champions in their backyard is a moment that will live long in the memory,” Kevin shared. “Winning the European Challenge cup with the Bears in 2020 is also a huge highlight in my coaching career.” 

Bridging a Knowledge Gap with Setanta 

As Kevin transitioned into a coaching role, particularly in rehabilitation and return-to-play (RTP), he realised there were gaps in his knowledge regarding the early phases of the rehabilitation process. However, finding the right course proved challenging. “I talked to a couple of universities in South Wales to see if they offered a part-time postgraduate degree aimed at this field but there was always a stipulation that some weekly time had to be spent at the university receiving lectures, which was impossible with the busy schedule of professional sport,” he said. 

Setanta stood out as the perfect fit, offering a flexible online learning structure that allowed him to study while balancing his coaching career. “The experience has been a great one so far. The ability to take modules at my own pace whilst fitting it around a busy work schedule has been a huge plus,” he shared. “The content in each module has been very informative, and the ease in which you are able to access the weekly lectures and tutorials online makes for a smooth learning process.” 

Managing the demands of studying alongside his coaching role has been challenging at times. “The nature of the rehabilitation/RTP role means your workload can increase massively if the team picks up several injuries. This tends to happen when players are returning to running and integrating into elements of team training. I know from previous experience that coaching & planning time increases significantly if I have many players entering the return to running/training stage at the same time,” he explained.  

However, due to the flexible nature of Setanta’s programmes Kevin was able to maintain a balance between working and studying.“Being able to defer modules to a later start date if it’s hectic or take modules consecutively if my workload looks quieter has been a huge help in balancing work and study life,” Kevin said. 

The Importance of Continued Learning 

Due to the fast rate at which strength and conditioning develops, Kevin believes there is always more for coaches to learn, something he recognised himself as he moved through his coaching career. “From my perspective, as I have moved through my career, I have focused more on the rehabilitation side and the need to gain more knowledge in the area became apparent. I think most coaches get to point in their career where they realise there are gaps in the knowledge and seek out the information to make them a better practitioner,” he noted.  

For coaches who are interested in furthering their knowledge and enhancing their coaching skills, Kevin gives one piece of advice. “Just go for it! The hardest part in committing to studying while working is that final step. Research several courses to ensure they are targeting your needs. Get an understanding of the time commitment required and when you find the right course for you, go for it!” 

Looking Ahead 

Kevin has two aims for utilising his qualifications in the future. “Firstly, I hope that the course provides me with the information I need to make me a better coach. If it makes me better at organising and planning, helps me deliver a more rounded programme, and allows me to communicate better with my colleagues, then it has served its purpose,” he said. 

“When professional sport finally decides to kick me into touch, then maybe I’ll use it to venture into the world of academia!” he added.