Munster Rugby Development Office News

Details of recent activity undertaken by the Munster Rugby Development Office- including tag blitzes, coach education, and an upcoming skills clinic

TAG RUGBY

Youth Development Officers held their Regional tag Blitzes in all counties and four teams from each Province were selected to go forward to the IRFU Coca Cola Munster Tag Rugby Extravaganza in UL on Wednesday 5^th April 2006. This was Coca Cola’s 4th year sponsoring the Munster Tag Rugby Extravaganza, with special awards given for teams with the best skills, best costumes for the Nation s Parade and the overall award is for Fair Play. Twenty one schools from all over Munster took part in the event, which is non competitive, with the referees nominating the schools for each award. The fair play award was won by St Oliver s NS, Killarney, who will receive a computer for the school. Gaelscoil Thurles received the Best Costumes Award for their China-themed ensemble during the Nation s Parade, while Nenagh CBS got a special award for Best Skills. The children received a surprise visit from Munster players Jerry Flannery, Stephen Keogh and Mossy Lawlor, who lent their support to the event. We would like to thank the schools, clubs, YDOs, RDOs, UL and Coca Cola for contributing to a very successful extravaganza.

Participating Schools:

Garrydoolis N.S., Pallasgreen, Co.Tipperary

St. Oliver s N.S, Ballycasheen, Killarney, Co. Kerry

Knockanean N.S., Knockanean, Ennis, Co. Clare

Clonpriest N.S., Gortroe, Youghal, Co. Cork

Convert Primary School, Mallow, Co. Cork

Nenagh CBS, Co. Tipperary

Scoil Barra, Beaumount, Cork

Faha N.S., Killarney, Co. Kerry

Presentation Monastery, Killarney, Co. Kerry

John F. Kennedy Memorial School, Ennis Road, Limerick

St. Senan s N.S., Kilrush, Co. Clare

Gaelscoil Chorain, Eochaill, Co. Chorcai

Gaelscoil Thurles, Tippperary Town.

Athlacca N.S., Killmallock, Co. Limerick

Scoil Ide, Corbally, Limerick

Kilcummin N.S., Cill Airne, Co. Kerry

Ennis N.S., Ennis, Co. Clare

Scoil Naomh Micheal, White s Cross, Co. Cork

Bunscoil Mhuire, Youghal, Co. Cork

Hospital N.S. Hospital, Co. Limerick

Clarecastle N. S., Clarecastle, Co. Clare

• CLUBS & SCHOOLS

The Clubs of Ireland visits were finished this month. These visits were carried out in conjunction with the referee department to highlight the need to recruit new referees in the Province, with the Clubs being very responsive to this initiative.

• REP TEAMS

Screening has commenced for Schools and U21s. The Development Staff are assisting all the coaching and management teams with this.

COACH EDUCATION

The first mini rugby coaching clinic took place in Tralee for the Kerry Region on Wednesday 18^th January 2006, run by Catherine Carroll, Mark Hickey and YDO Ray Gadsden and was a huge success with a turnout of 37 coaches.

Plans are underway to hold Long Term Player Development Coaching Clinics shortly. The courses will be aimed at Level 1 coaches and tutors are currently preparing the delivery under the direction of Stephen Aboud.

Coaching Course Dates for Spring/Summer 2006

Foundation

6/7 May Cork * RESCHEDULED DATE

Level 1

26-28 May Limerick

25-27 August Cork

• CANTERBURY SUPER 10 s- SCHOOLS 10-A-SIDE BLITZ

The tournament was a pilot programme sponsored by Canterbury and ran in Cork and Limerick on 22 March. Ten schools in total participated in Cork and Limerick, with Presentation Brothers College winning the southern section and Castletroy College winning the Northern section. The tournament was open to Bowen Shield Players and has been set up to improve the individual skills and backline play of schools players in Munster over the next five years. The tournament had the full support of the Munster Branch: Garrett Fitzgerald, CEO, the Senior Management Committee and Declan Kidney, Provincial Director of Coaching.

• EAST MUNSTER RUGBY CADETS

The second project being piloted by the Development Office is the East Munster Cadets, in Co. Tipperary. The emphasis in this project is to improve player s individual skills, with a gold, silver and bronze badge system being put in place to recognise successful completion of courses. Plans are also in place for a PR day with professional players. If the pilot is a success, the Development Office plan to run the Cadets in North, South and West, and also to set up an inter county cup

• SUMMERCAMPS

The summercamp venues and dates are now set and the forms are available for clubs to collect and distribute to the underage and local community. After the fantastic success of last year where Munster had the highest attendance we hope to grow these numbers even more this year.

• KELLOGGS FROSTIES SKILLS CLINIC

Our YDOs along with Professional Players will hold a one day skills clinic in Limerick for children. The clinic includes a nutrition talk and skills drills from the YDOs and a visit from the players.

I would like to take this opportunity as the season draws to a close to thank all the volunteers, coaches, parent, clubs and schools for working with us in the development of rugby throughout the province. As always it is a pleasure working with you.

Ultan O Callaghan – PDM