FORMER Wales coach Kevin Bowring has died at the age of 70.
Bowring, who became Wales’ first full-time professional coach when he took over in 1995, led Wales in 29 matches with 15 wins and 14 defeats before leaving the role in 1998. In 2001, the RFU appointed Bowring as its head of elite coach development.
Bowring stayed at the RFU until his retirement in 2016 but afterwards continued to mentor young coaches as a coach development consultant, including spending some time with the Welsh regional coaches.
Bowring played a few games for the Neath senior side in the back row alongside his boyhood idol Dai Morris, the former Wales flanker.
Bowring was seen as one of the great thinkers of the early professional game and he wanted his national side to play in the traditional expansive way associated with Welsh rugby.
His reign as Wales coach ended following a 51-0 defeat to France in the 1998 Five Nations.
