Richard Hodges spent 20 years working in Welsh rugby and cites the late Kevin Bowring – Wales’ first skilled coach – as his inspiration.
However on Saturday, he can be trying to defeat the nation with whom he has such an in depth affinity as a part of an Italian set-up who’re favourites for victory in Rome.
After greater than a decade with Cardiff preceded eight years as a Welsh Rugby Union worker, Hodges is now employed as Italy’s defence coach.
‘The WRU put me in contact with Kev years in the past and he was my confidant and mentor from a training perspective,’ stated Hodges, who’s English however has come by the Welsh system. ‘The dialog I had with him was that I needed to be a world defence coach by 2025. That is managed to work itself out.
‘It was completely tragic what occurred with Kev final 12 months. I used to be with him the day earlier than he fell ailing. We would gone to Gloucester to look at them practice. It has been a troublesome one for me to recover from, however clearly for his family and friends it has been even worse.
‘I feel every day about him and what he would do or what his recommendation could be for the conditions I discover myself in. I’ll at all times keep in mind the coffees we would have in Magor Providers.
Richard Hodges spent over 20 years in Welsh rugby however will tackle Wales this weekend
After greater than a decade with Cardiff and eight years with the Welsh Rugby Union, he’s now working with Italy
He’ll use his idol and former buddy, the late Kevin Bowring, as inspiration for fulfillment towards Wales this weekend
‘I need to do Kev proud and do justice to all the recommendation he gave me. I am simply glad he knew I might bought to worldwide stage earlier than he handed away.
‘I and so many different coaches are so grateful for the assistance he gave.’
Hodges’ previous is with Wales. However his current is with the Azzurri. His detailed data of each camps makes him an interesting interviewee forward of the Stadio Olimpico conflict.
Wales have misplaced their final 13 Assessments. Their wonderful successes of the previous – which got here at a time when Hodges labored of their pathway techniques – now appear historic historical past.
A 14th successive Welsh worldwide defeat on Saturday would virtually undoubtedly spell the tip of Warren Gatland’s second tenure as head coach.
‘I’ve bought a number of associates within the Welsh group. I converse to their coaches and gamers virtually on a weekly foundation. However I have never actually thought of that this week,’ Hodges stated.
‘We have each misplaced our opening video games and the Six Nations is brutal. Should you lose your first two, it will get very, very robust. My focus has been all on Italy this week.
‘If I am trustworthy, I am not lacking Welsh rugby. It does make me unhappy to see what’s occurred, however I do not suppose it is too obscure the way you get again to success.’
Warren Gatland’s aspect are on a document run of 13 consecutive losses, with this weekend a must-win sport
Hodges stated he has ‘a number of associates’ within the Welsh group however hasn’t thought of that this week
Hodges and his household have thrown themselves full tilt into life in Italy. After a brief stint with the nation’s membership aspect Zebre, he was shortly promoted to Gonzalo Quesada’s full worldwide set-up.
‘Our house continues to be in Wales. We do see ourselves going again there, however not for the foreseeable future,’ Hodges stated. ‘I’ve bought 25 associates arriving in Rome from Wales for the sport. We’re lock inventory and barrel out right here as a household. My youngsters go to European college in Parma and are taught in English. We have thrown ourselves into it 24/7.
‘I might battle to return again to the UK now. It is 21 levels right here at the moment and I am sat out in shorts and a tee shirt. The European climate adjustments every little thing. It is modified my outlook on life.
‘There are little issues out right here which are simply unbelievable. We lease a stunning little flat and all of the payments are included which helps massively with the price of residing. It prices half what it does at house to fill the automotive up. The lifestyle right here is completely different. It is very a lot slower.
‘The Italian gamers do principally converse good English, however I’ve come to their nation, so it is on me to talk their language. That is why I am making an attempt to study as a lot as I can.
‘I am having a number of classes, however my one at the moment was horrible! It is given me a headache. I must go and lie in a darkish room for an hour!
‘Studying the language is a very large factor for me. This time final 12 months final 12 months I used to be nowhere with it so after I do get pissed off, I do should remind myself I am making progress.’
After serving to enhance the fortunes of conventional United Rugby Championship whipping boys Zebre, Hodges and Quesada are actually bringing a extra combative, aggressive edge to Italy at worldwide stage. Italy have overwhelmed Wales in two of their final three conferences.
Hodges stated he cannot see himself returning to the UK any time quickly with a brand new outlook on life
Italy themselves misplaced their first match of the Six Nations – dropping the primary two makes issues robust for any aspect
‘I used to be in a reasonably protected job and beneath contract with Cardiff,’ Hodges stated. ‘But when we have been to take a look at going overseas as a household, it needed to be now.
‘Zebre actually intrigued me as a result of they’d been horrible for 18 months and hadn’t gained a sport. They could not actually have gotten any worse.
‘I actually loved that however the purpose I feel I bought the job with Italy was as a result of Zebre have been a staff that simply attacked from all over the place, however they’d little or no defence or kick technique. ‘Italy bought beat by a number of factors by New Zealand and France on the 2023 World Cup, so have been related in a method.
‘With Italy now we would not win each sport, however in virtually all matches we’re in it going into the ultimate 20.’
Whereas Wales’ pathway techniques have badly regressed, Italy’s have gone the opposite method and earlier than the Six Nations, their greatest membership aspect Benetton claimed a press release outcome by beating French giants La Rochelle to qualify for the knock-out levels of the Champions Cup.
Benetton’s gamers additionally kind the center of the Italian aspect. It stays a quirk that the Azzurri have by no means gained a second-round match within the Six Nations.
However they need to be assured of fixing that this weekend. Final Saturday, their 2025 opener noticed them overwhelmed 31-19 by Scotland in Edinburgh.
‘I anticipate us to be so much higher this weekend. It does appear to take us a sport to rise up to hurry,’ Hodges stated.
‘On our summer time tour, we had a automotive crash first sport towards Argentina however gained our subsequent one after which pushed New Zealand all the best way.’
Hodges has come a great distance since first teaching membership rugby in Wales with Glamorgan Wanderers. Bowring would certainly be justly happy with his development to worldwide stage, even when it meant making an attempt to defeat a proud rugby nation which gave them each a lot.
