Before the Medals Comes the Preparation: Dai Watts Supports Wales’ Boxers in Tenerife

Cardiff Met’s Head of Strength and Conditioning, Dai Watts, has been supporting the Welsh Boxing Team in Tenerife as preparations continue for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The nine-day training camp, running from 25 June to 3 July, brings together Wales’ Commonwealth Games-bound boxers in an intensive environment designed to sharpen performance ahead of the Games later this month.

There is also a further Cardiff Met connection within the squad, Cardiff Met student Dan Pitt as well as alumna Rosie Eccles among the Welsh boxers continuing preparations for Glasgow. Eccles studied at Cardiff Metropolitan University between 2014 and 2019, graduating with a First Class BSc (Hons) in Sports Studies before completing a Master’s degree in Sport Psychology with Distinction.

The squad in Tenerife includes Connor Williams, Dan Pitt, Orlando Holley-Sotomi, Owain Harris-Allan, Rosie Eccles, Helen Jones and Niamh Brookes, with Alfie Lewis and Haaris Khan also joining the camp as sparring partners.

Led by Head of Coaching Colin Jones, alongside coaches Gamal Yafai and Mally Maciver, the camp is an important stage in the squad’s final block of preparation before travelling to Glasgow.

For Cardiff Met, Dai’s involvement is another reminder of the impact the University’s performance services staff continue to have beyond Cyncoed Campus. As Head of Strength and Conditioning, Dai is overseeing the team’s S&C provision during the camp, helping the boxers prepare physically for the demands of a major multi-sport Games.

Reflecting on the intensity of the camp, Dai said: “Everyone has trained really well and the group is in good spirits. It has been a tough camp, with days starting at 7.30am and often running through until 6pm or 8pm.

“We have fitness first thing in the morning, where I take some of the athletes through off-feet conditioning while the rest of the squad complete their running work. That is followed by gym work at 1pm and sparring at 4pm, so the days are full on, but the athletes have responded brilliantly.”

It continues a strong period of recognition for Dai, who was recently shortlisted for the TASS Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year award for 2026. The nomination follows his success at the 2025 TASS Practitioner Awards, where he was named S&C Coach of the Year.

Now in his 26th year at Cardiff Met, Dai leads Strength and Conditioning within the University’s Performance Services Programme, supporting student-athletes, professional players and coaches across a wide range of sports.

Speaking recently about Dai’s impact, Michael Peacock, Head of Performance Services at Cardiff Met, said: “Dai’s commitment to improving athletes is second to none.”

That commitment is now playing a part in Wales’ preparations for Glasgow, with the Tenerife camp offering the boxers the opportunity to develop physically, technically and tactically in a focused training environment.

The Welsh Boxing Team will be looking to build momentum as they move closer to the Commonwealth Games, which take place in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August.

Pob lwc to Dai, Rosie and the Welsh Boxing Team as preparations continue.