In The Spotlight: Gordon Brett

We catch up with Kinsale native Gordon Brett on his role of Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach with the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy.

Gordon was first introduced to rugby by his then national school classmate – former Munster prop Darragh Hurley. A member of Kinsale RFC growing up, he plied his trade at full-back, although strength and conditioning was not his immediate calling upon finishing school.

Instead, he initially opted to work in dental engineering where incidentally, he became acquainted with another prominent rugby figure, Dr. Brian Hickey, dentist, who at the time was also the Forwards Coach for the province.

However, an unwavering love of sport ultimately saw him undertake a Strength and Conditioning degree through Setanta College under the auspices of Dr. Liam Hennessey – then also the Head of Fitness at the IRFU, having previously worked with Padraig Harrington and Bayern Munich – and Des Ryan – Head of Sports Medicine & Athletic Development at the Arsenal Academy.

On the advice of Ryan he volunteered for the National Talent Squads in 2009, training age-grade players from the ages of 15, some of whom he stayed working with all the way through to Academy and Senior level.

Continually learning, Gordon advanced to the role of S&C Coach with the sub-academy on a part-time basis in 2012, and eager to gain as much experience as possible, he also began volunteering in the Academy ranks and interned with the Senior squad in 2013, while all the time completing his degree and masters in Strength and Conditioning through Setanta College.

From there, the Cork-man focused on working with the province’s age-grade teams before his commitment, talent and determination was rewarded with the opportunity of joining the Greencore Munster Academy on a full-time basis at the beginning of Season 2015/16.

Now as the Academy Assistant S&C Coach, Gordon reflects on what he loves most about his role within Munster Rugby,

“I’m a bit of a nerd really when it comes to the technical aspects of training. I love seeing the advancements of the guys over the years. Some of the lads I have been working with since their teens. Obviously seeing the progress through the ranks in terms of rugby is great, but also seeing their advancements in terms of strength and conditioning is hugely rewarding.

“There are guys where we would have started doing bodyweight exercises, using just a 2kg broomstick and we have seen their continuous improvements in lifting technique, conditioning and muscle mass gains. For example, Sean O’Leary (sub-academy) is someone I’ve worked with straight through since he was 15, while Darren Sweetnam who has just progressed from the Academy to the Senior squad is someone I have worked with since he was 14.

“Since we started in 2009 the program has pushed on so much, the physical standards that these guys are at is pushed on every year and its great being a part of that. The work that Feargal O’ Callaghan, Johnny McGailey and Damien O’ Donoghue are doing at age grade and sub-academy makes myself and Joe McGinley’s (Lead Academy S&C Coach) job a lot easier when they come into the Academy.

Click here to catch up on the Academy’s preparations for the upcoming season to date.