Keith Roberts helps rugby aim high

To beat the best, you have to be the best, says renowned international trainer Keith Roberts.

Roberts made such a huge impression on local athletes and the wider sports community during his eight-month stint in the Cooks last year that he has been invited back to the islands by Cook Islands Rugby Union president and good friend Chris McKinley.

Although Roberts was only back on the island for a few days while on a break from Japan where he is contracted to the NEC Rugby club, McKinley believes he is the man to run a high performance programme in the islands.

“We wanted him back in our system and personally I believe that Keith is the sort of guy we want here to run the high performance programme,” says McKinley.

“When he was here last he just blew people away and when I was appointed CIRU president he was the first person I called.”

While on the island for four days, Roberts met with local coaches to give them direction for training and moulding their players.

In particular Roberts has been working with the Rarotonga based national sevens and under 19 coaches.

“I’ve worked with a number of codes on the island and with Chris as a personal trainer and he has a great passion for sports,” says Roberts on him accepting McKinley’s invitation to return to Rarotonga.

“I’ve been working with local coaches on the way forward for Cook Islands rugby.”

Robert has been urging local coaches that planning ahead is what’s needed for success in sports.

“It’s all about reliability and consistency.”

He says this needs to happen right from the grassroots level right up to the senior players.

He says he is in full support of McKinley’s vision of setting up a high performance programme in the Cook Islands.

He adds that for this vision to take off, the right facility, resources and people are the key ingredients.

A full-time contract with Cook Islands rugby is still something he has to discuss with CIRU executives as he says his priority is with his Japan club but on his breaks from the NEC club he will be happy to provide his service to Cook Islands sports.

“I have a passion and love for Cook Islands people and love the potential here on the island.”