Sir Ian McGeechan, one of the world’s top coaches and a star of the Rugby world, will open the 2010 Herts Coaching Conference at Hertfordshire Sports Village in Hatfield on Sunday 21st February. Sir Ian has an impressive career in world class rugby and is most famed for his lengthy association with the British and Irish Lions since 1997, most recently masterminding the Test series against South Africa in 2009.

The conference, organised by the Herts Sports Partnership, is the highlight of Coach Education Week the UK’s biggest coaching event in the country, which is expected to attract around 2000 coaches from the South East. Sunday’s Coaching Conference will consist of a keynote lectures, interactive workshops and practical coaching sessions – delivered by some of the country’s leading coaches.

Announcing Sir Ian’s involvement, John O’Callaghan, Sports Development Manager for the Partnership said “To have secured Sir Ian to deliver this keynote address is a major coup. He is a true legend in sports coaching and has retained an interest and empathy with grassroots coaching programmes. We are absolutely delighted that he has agreed to open this year’s programme and his presence is a glowing endorsement of how far this programme has developed over the past few years.”

We are extremely grateful to the Hertfordshire Rugby Union, the University of Hertfordshire and the Hertfordshire Ready for Winners Partnership for their support in making this event possible. I would urge coaches of all levels from across all sports to join us, on Sunday 21st February, for what promises to be a hugely enjoyable occasion.”

Full details of the speakers and sessions can be found on the Herts Sports Partnership's Coaching Conference page.