Chesham Rugby Club’s Karl Cross has joined a select group of coaches by attaining a new qualification which will help him develop the game in Buckinghamshire.

Cross is one of 59 coaches to achieve his level two standard qualification on the QBE Coaching Club which is part of a joint initiative from QBE Insurance and The Rugby Football Union (RFU).

The coaches have had a positive impact on more than 1,475 players in the county, and Cross has seen a lasting impact on the Bletchley Ladies Seconds side he trains.

He said: “Several of my players would say that I am a completely different coach since taking the level two course.

“I think that’s because I’ve learnt how to communicate my ideas better. I’m clearer on the point making.”

The new found skills as an orator which Cross believes he has found have also produced a clear and profound improvement in results on the pitch. In his first season in charge the club enjoyed a 50 per cent win ratio, which has since increased to 60 per cent.

The last 12 months have been particularly positive for Bletchley as they reached the National Cup semi-final, and went on an unbeaten run which lasted until February this season.

The QBE initiative is a key part of the RFU’s 2015 World Cup lead up and legacy programme, and was set up to give coaches the skills required to attract new players to the game and keep current ones interested.

Cross realises the role coaches can have in player recruitment and engagement, and has seen an increase in the number of women playing at Chesham since he attained his new level two training.

He said: “Players often encourage their mates to come down to training due to the quality of the coaching.

“Numbers at training went from around 15, which is excellent in women’s rugby, to a peak of about 25. The total women’s squad across the teams is about 30-35.”