A letter by Kris De Scossa.

Hi Everyone,

As you may or may not know, Kris De Scossa has been selected to coach the Welsh Sr. Women's team. This means that he has to leave the head coaching position at BLRC in order to pursue this opportunity. He has written a letter that explains his decision which can be found on the link. We would like to thank Kris for his outstanding tenure here at the BLRC and, wish him well in all his future endeavors.

BLRC

To All it may concern;

I am writing this to bring everyone up to date with what has been happening in my personal life and to thank you and the senior rugby management of the club in there advice & support over the last month.

The back ground

Since finishing the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010 with the Senior Women’s National Team and returning to Canada I have been coaching at Burnaby Lake Rugby Club, National coaching was put on hold, whilst a review was completed by the performance department of Rugby Canada. Coaching with the National Women has been a huge part of my life for 3 years, a role which I enjoyed very much with Canadian players of the best attitude commitment & desire. The review was made very lengthy for some reason and took a long time, eventually for my part the review was very good indeed. From players, managers & coaches alike,recommendations were made that my attributes were of a National Head Coach. So initially the future looked bright, nationally, provincially & at club level.

Unfortunately (for still some unknown reason) I was sidelined from the national program with no explanation or reason given except an SMS which told me “there is no place for you in Rugby Canada”! Now there are all sorts of theories as to why this happened, budget, old coaches and HP centers for men’s RWC prep, ‘old boys or old friends network’, fear etc etc for whatever reason a big part of my life and commitment to rugby had been taken away, despite all national players stating they wanted my coaching and reviews stating I delivered excellent work. As you might imagine it left me in a state of quandary.

The Opportunity

At this time out of the blue, around the beginning of December I was approached independently by two Rugby Nations one in the Northern Hemisphere & one in the Southern. Both asked if I would be interviewed for the post of National Head Coach with there national teams. Although taken by surprise by the approach of these Nations, I immediately spoke with our rugby leaders at the Lakers and sought there advice, the advice given was that these were opportunities to good to pass up, the sort that only come once in a lifetime and so to be interviewed, if I was offered a job then we would approach that decision together, but to go for it.

The Decision

After interview, I was actually offered independently both jobs. After discussion and advice from our BLRC leaders, I have taken the National Head Coach position for the Welsh Women’s National Team, this job exposes me at a national level to a tier one rugby nation and will also include close work conditions with the Welsh National Men based at the Welsh National Center of Excellence at Cardiff.

I am still completing my permanent residency for Canada and organising some personal matters, I will return to Europe on the 18th of January 2011 to start my role in Wales on the 19th.

Leaving, British Colombia & Canada will be difficult as I have many friends all over; during the last 4 years national players & the BCRU have been great in supporting & helping me, whilst in return I have been happy coaching, delivering coaching courses & high performance/academy sessions. Some of you who have been with me at the National level know the relationship we have will never end.

Leaving the Burnaby Club will be extremely difficult; in these last 6 months I have made many more friends, friends that will remain life long! Whilst at BLRC I have truly been very impressed with the commitment and energy of players. With the leadership at the executive level and of Pikey our captain, as well as the over sea’s players Northern Hem & Southern (Bula). Also the desire to make a difference by our ‘home Canadian’ players and coaches has always impressed. The support of the BLOB and Twighlighters is fantastic & I thank you for the many ‘socials’, I also will always have a private thought in memory every time I down a Jagermeister.

I am looking forward to the challenges & exciting times ahead with the 6 Nations Tournament. This finishes at the end of March & it is then my intention to return to BC at that time to conclude private matters and to seeing the end of the season.

I want to thank you all for this experience and want you all to know that there is really nothing you cannot achieve, as long as you dedicate your self, make the right choices and respect your investment to make yourself, the team and club better. I remain as I always will be a part of Burnaby Lake Rugby

Kris

Posted by Rain at January 17, 2011 04:01 PM