Alan Miller – Munster Catch Up With U19 Team Manager

Munster Rugby catch up with Alan Miller, Manager of the Munster U19 squad at Rockwell College in week two of the Munster Talent Camps.

The U19s along with the Munster U20 and U18 club and school squads will be taking part in the training camp up to the end of August.

Can you outline the Talent Camp week to week activities?

“We’re here from a Tuesday to a Thurdsay. When the squads arrive on the Tuesday they go through specific skills in the morning. In the afternoon the players have a rugby session, followed by a recovery session in the evening. Wednesday morning is dedicated to the gym and a pitch session and after lunch we do two further pitch sessions followed by another recovery session. On Thursday we are back in the gym and finish the day on the pitch”.

Could you tell us about the education element incorporated within this five week programme?

“These guys will be in full time training in Rockwell but there will also be down periods. We have organised educational modules on the Tuesdays and Wednesdays. They will consist of things like nutrition, psychological talks and we will also have a number of external coaches giving rugby specific talks. We believe educational modules are very important for the players both in rugby and beyond”.

How many U19 players are involved?

“Our squad numbers are 26, we’ve also added on two sub-academy players and also brought over one of the exiles players Stephen Dalton who is on a trial for the full five weeks while we’re in the Talent Camp".

"The 26 are the guys we are looking to play in the interpros come September, we do have ten players in reserve who will continue to train with us on a Monday and a Friday in the local gym sessions, and the intention would be that if we do pick up injuries or fellas don’t perform or don’t meet certain criteria that they may be removed from the camp and we may bring in reserve players as required”.

What is the overall feedback of the Talent Camps to date?

“It is the first time that Munster have done this form of Rugby Camp and certainly the feedback to date has been very good. We have other age-grades here, U18 clubs and schools (two squads) and Under 20’s and we are all working well together”.

“The intention for all the coaches and managers here is to continue to look at the players who are playing and training at Under 18’s level. Obviously the Under 20’s will be looking at our players for development going up but we will also look to see what we have currently and look to next season for the players that are coming through to make themselves available for the Under 19’s".

Munster U19 Talent Camp Participants: Shane Airey (St. Munchins), Cillian Ansbro (Youghal), Aaron Atkinson (Garryowen), Greg Barry (Crescent), Rory Burke (CBC), Ben Burns (Castletroy), Liam Cronin (Castletroy), Diarmuid Dee (Crescent), Jack Dinneen (Crescent), Sonny Dwyer (Rockwell), Adrian Enright (Abeyfeale/Garryowen), Ryan Foley (CBC), Conor Glynn (ASR), Dan Goggin (St. Munchins), Ned Hodson (Midleton), David Johnston (Rockwell), Seamus Keating (Dungarvan), Patrick Kearns (ASR), John Madigan (Garryowen), JJ McDonnell (Castletroy), Ronan McKenna, Darragh Moloney (CBC), Cormac O’Donnell (St. Munchins), Killian O’Keeffe (Crosshaven), Oisin O’Mara (Kilfeacle), Tom Ryan (Glenstal), Aidan Slattery (PBC), Charlie Slowey (CBC), Stephen Dalton (Exiles).

U19 Team Management

Team Manager: Alan Miller
Head Coach: Keith Murphy
Backs Coach: Mossie Lawlor
Forwards Coach: Ken O’Connell
Technical Assistant: Ultan O’Callaghan
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Ross Callaghan
Team Physiotherapist: Frances Mulcahy
Team Video Analyst: Gill Bourke
Kit Manager: Jim Crowley