Cardiff Metropolitan University has partnered with Tennis Wales to establish a new National Training Programme and coach the stars of the future.
The flagship programme will see Cardiff Met Tennis host the National Performance and University Head Coach who will support the development of some national and international level tennis players over 14 years old. The joint role will also lead Cardiff Met University Tennis’ new student performance programme.
The junior and student performance programme will make Cardiff Met the leading destination for over tennis players aged 14 and over in Wales. It will enhance the Welsh tennis player pathway, building on the success of the U14 LTA Regional Player Development Centre in Swansea, and will attract high-quality student tennis players to study at the university.
Cardiff Met Tennis Centre at the university’s Cyncoed campus, which is the only university campus indoor tennis facility in Wales, will become the new hub for high-performance tennis players seeking to enhance their skills and receive elite support.
The university students and junior players on the National Training Programme will have free access to Cardiff Met Sport’s elite Performance Services such as Strength and Conditioning, Athlete Lifestyle and Education support and Physiotherapy.
Billy Barclay, Cardiff Met’s Head of Tennis said: “We’re thrilled to have collaborated with Tennis Wales over the past two years to bring this programme to fruition. The appointment of a new National Performance & University Head Coach at Cardiff Met allows us to establish a fresh pathway for Tennis in Wales. This initiative will open doors for our Welsh athletes and athletes from across the border, offering them an exciting new opportunity.
“This programme also aligns with Cardiff Met University’s vision to be Wales’ Sporting University and it’s fantastic to see more National Governing Bodies like Tennis Wales joining us on this journey along with the likes of Team Wales and the WRU.”
Chris Lewis, Head of Performance for Tennis Wales said: “This new performance partnership will make a significant difference to the player pathway in Wales. It will provide a national training base for Wales’ best players aged 14-years-old and above, and raise the profile and quality of the Cardiff Met student performance programme.
“Tennis Wales is excited to work with Cardiff Met University more closely than ever over the coming years to create opportunities for Welsh players and students to progress.”
The announcement comes after Cardiff Met Tennis recently won the 2024 Tennis Wales University of the Year Award and finished in the top three of the LTA National Finalists in the LTA Tennis Awards. Alongside this, the University’s men’s team finished third in the 2023-24 season in the BUCS Premier South – the highest any Cardiff Met men’s tennis team has ever finished.
