Rugby AI Lead

Welsh Rugby Union (WRU); Cardiff; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary Sacrifice Pension

Life assurance

Ticket Allocation

Birthday leave

Employee assistance programme

Hybrid working

Free stadium parking

Discounts

Eye Care Voucher

Cycle to Work

Job summary

WRU is seeking a lead data scientist to drive AI and data science across Talent Insight & Management. You will develop longitudinal player intelligence, build trajectory and potential models, and create predictive indicators of future performance to support coaching and talent decisions.

You will lead AI-enabled workflows, integrate diverse data sources, and establish rigorous data standards while working cross-functionally with rugby experts and performance scientists.

Qualifications

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in data science, computer science, statistics, mathematics, AI, ML, or quantitative discipline.
• Experience applying data science, statistical modelling and ML to complex problems.
• Advanced proficiency in Python and/or R, SQL and modern data-analysis environments.
• Demonstrable experience developing predictive models with feature engineering and monitoring.
• Strong understanding of statistical inference, uncertainty and hypothesis testing.
• Experience with longitudinal/time-series data and modelling progression over time.
• Practical understanding of modern generative AI and large language models and their applications.
• Understanding AI architectures, agents, retrieval, orchestration and human-in-the-loop approaches.
• Ability to prototype and productionise AI-enabled workflows.
• Experience with cloud-based data/AI environments and integrating models into analytics products.
• Strong data wrangling, integration, QA and handling imperfect datasets.
• Ability to translate technical analysis into actionable intelligence for non-technical decision-makers.
• Curiosity and experimentation mindset; ability to evaluate emerging technologies.
• Ability to work across disciplines, combining quantitative evidence with expert judgement.
• Strong understanding of responsible AI, privacy, security, explainability, bias and governance.
• Growth mindset and continuous learning.
• Welsh-language communication is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead AI and data science across Talent Insight & Management, translating rugby and talent questions into models and decision-support tools.
• Develop longitudinal player intelligence across identification, pathway, professional and international rugby.
• Build trajectory and potential models using statistical modelling, ML, time-series to understand progression and potential.
• Develop predictive indicators of future performance considering technical, tactical, physical and contextual factors.
• Create AI workflows for data gathering, research, monitoring, scouting, player tracking and reporting.
• Develop human-in-the-loop AI-enabled player intelligence systems with profiles, visualisations and alerts.
• Integrate structured and unstructured data to enrich understanding of each player.
• Develop and productionise advanced models with validation and monitoring.
• Translate complex analysis into decision-ready intelligence with intuitive visualisations.
• Establish rigorous AI/data standards: quality, explainability, privacy, security, bias and auditability.
• Collaborate across rugby experts, coaching judgement, scouting and performance science.
• Lead experimentation and applied research, testing AI/ML approaches against real rugby problems.
• Maintain forward-looking tech horizon and build relationships with researchers and practitioners.

Skills

Python

R

SQL

Data modelling

Time-series analysis

AI & ML

Data engineering

Statistical inference

Education

Degree in data science / CS / statistics / maths / AI/ML or equivalent

Postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional expertise

Tools

Python

R

SQL

Job description

The Person

• Degree, postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional expertise in data science, computer science, statistics, mathematics, artificial intelligence, machine learning or another relevant quantitative discipline.

• Strong practical experience applying data science, statistical modelling and machine learning to complex real-world problems.

• Advanced proficiency in Python and/or R, SQL and modern data-analysis and machine-learning environments.

• Degree, postgraduate qualification or equivalent professional expertise in data science, computer science, statistics, mathematics, artificial intelligence, machine learning or another relevant quantitative discipline.

• Strong practical experience applying data science, statistical modelling and machine learning to complex real-world problems.

• Advanced proficiency in Python and/or R, SQL and modern data-analysis and machine-learning environments.

• Demonstrable experience developing predictive models, including feature engineering, model selection, training, validation, tuning and ongoing performance monitoring.

• Strong understanding of statistical inference, uncertainty, hypothesis testing and the limitations of predictive models.

• Experience working with longitudinal, time-series or repeated-measures data and modelling change or progression over time.

• Practical understanding of modern generative AI and large language models, including their application to structured and unstructured information.

• Understanding of modern agentic AI architectures, including AI agents, tool use, retrieval, orchestration, workflow automation, multi-agent systems, memory and human-in-the-loop approaches.

• Ability to prototype and productionise AI-enabled workflows rather than simply use off-the-shelf AI applications.

• Experience working with cloud-based data and AI environments and integrating models into scalable analytics products or operational workflows.

• Strong capability in data engineering fundamentals, including data wrangling, integration, quality assurance and working with complex and imperfect datasets.

• Ability to translate technically complex analysis into clear, actionable intelligence for non-technical decision-makers.

• Strong curiosity and experimentation mindset, with the ability to rapidly evaluate emerging technologies and distinguish genuine capability from hype.

• Ability to work effectively across disciplines, combining quantitative evidence with expert human judgement and contextual information.

• Strong understanding of responsible AI, including privacy, security, explainability, bias, model governance and appropriate human oversight.

• A growth mindset, commitment to continuous learning

• Ability to communicate and work through the medium of Welsh is desirable.
  

The Role

• Lead AI and data science across Talent Insight & Management, translating strategic rugby and talent questions into analytical models, AI capabilities and practical decision-support tools.

• Develop longitudinal player intelligence, connecting historical and current information across identification, pathway, professional and international rugby to understand how players develop over time.

• Build player trajectory and potential models using statistical modelling, machine learning, time-series and other appropriate techniques to understand changing trajectories, probability of progression and future international potential.

• Develop predictive indicators of future performance, exploring the interaction between technical, tactical, physical, behavioural, maturation, opportunity, exposure and contextual factors.

• Create an agentic AI workforce capable of securely undertaking appropriate elements of data gathering, research, monitoring, video and scouting workflows, player tracking, quality assurance, reporting and intelligence preparation for human review.

• Develop human-in-the-loop AI-enabled player intelligence systems, including automated player profiles, trajectory visualisations, alerts, comparison tools, depth-chart and succession modelling, that augment expert judgement and enable coaches and talent staff to interrogate evidence, understand uncertainty and make better-informed decisions.

• Integrate structured and unstructured information, including performance data, physical information, video, scouting observations, coaching assessments, reports and other relevant evidence to create a richer understanding of each player.

• Develop and productionise advanced statistical and machine-learning models, ensuring models are appropriately validated, monitored and continually improved as new evidence becomes available.

• Translate complex analysis into decision-ready intelligence, creating intuitive visualisations, tools and outputs that allow coaches and senior leaders to understand player potential, uncertainty, development priorities, opportunities and risk.

• Establish rigorous AI and data standards, including data quality, model validation, explainability, privacy, security, bias assessment, auditability and responsible use of player information.

• Work trans-disciplinarily with rugby experts, combining data science and AI with coaching judgement, scouting expertise, talent science, performance science and human factors rather than treating analytics as a standalone discipline.

• Lead experimentation and applied research, rapidly testing emerging AI, machine-learning and decision-science approaches against genuine Welsh rugby problems and scaling those that demonstrate meaningful value.

• Maintain a future-facing technology horizon, developing relationships with leading researchers, technology organisations and practitioners and identifying emerging capabilities capable of materially improving how Welsh rugby identifies, understands and develops players.

WRU Requirements

The WRU require that individuals are proficient in IT skills, specifically Microsoft packages. Excellent written and verbal communications are essential, along with the ability to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh and a Valid UK Driver's License is desirable. This role is subject to a basic/enhanced DBS check.

The Perks

As a permanent member of the WRU Group, you will have access to our full range of employee benefits, including:

• Salary Sacrifice Pension (5% employee contribution, matched by WRU)
• Life assurance scheme
• WRU Group Ticket Allocation (in line with ticketing policy)
• One additional paid day off (birthday leave)
• Employee assistance programme
• Team Tactics - hybrid working arrangements
• Free stadium parking and gym
• WRU Group store and tour discounts
• WRU Group partnership offers
• Eye Care Voucher Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Our Values

The WRU Group are committed to developing a culture whereby all employees are equally valued and respected. Our aims, together with our vision and mission, are underpinned by our core values and beliefs which embrace: Integrity, Excellence, Success, Courage, Family & Humour.

Inclusion At The WRU

The WRU Group are committed to building diverse, high-performing and engaged teams across Welsh Rugby. We are ambitious about providing a people first culture where everyone can belong, be heard and respected. We are happy to talk to you about our Crys I Bawb EDI Strategy (2024-2029) and you can also read more about our commitment in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.