Munster Focuses On Coach Development

The Munster Rugby Coach Development Department are strategically looking to improve the quality of coaching within Munster clubs and schools and are currently running coaching workshops, seminars and clinics within the province.

“We’ve redesigned the province into four regions based on our four Coach Development Officers – Noel O’Meara, Ken O’Connell, Brendan O’Connor and Fiach O’Loughlin, said Coach Development Manager Keith Murphy.

“This year we’ve looked at emphasising coach development and personal development strategies and within that we are running a number of workshops for Stage 2, 3 and 4 coaches. We’re currently hosting up to eight workshops within the four regions and in essence we’re hoping to run approximately 30 workshops within the year.

“The coaching courses are designed to accommodate coaches looking to upskill and develop an understanding of the capacity of player that they will be coaching. This season so far we have run two stage 2 courses, two stage 3 courses and at national level a stage 4 Head Coach Coaching Course.”

“We have also hosted three Stage 1 courses to date in Cork, Limerick and Tipperary for the mini coaches who look after players up to 12 years old.”

Working in conjunction with the IRFU scrum and lineout model, Munster Rugby are currently upskilling coaches in these areas throughout the province with a number of former Munster and Ireland international forwards leading the workshops.

“Over the past couple of years we have integrated a scrum forum in Munster and with a number of our presenters being part of the IRFC scrum forum, have been integrating some key and up to date philosophies. The coaches that are attending those workshops have been informing us that the information they are receiving is very up to date and in particular has helped with their own development of the scrum.”

“In the past few weeks we’ve hosted Scrum and Lineout workshops with over 100 coaches in attendance to date. We commenced in Limerick at LIT with Marcus Horan delivering a scrum workshop. We hosted a lineout workshop with Mick O’Driscoll in Cork while Colm McMahon and Mike Storey recently presented a scrum and lineout workshop in Tralee. Denis Leamy and Darragh Hurley will also we running a similar workshop in Clonmel in the New Year”, Murphy continued.

“I believe the emphasis of using these experts is really helping us with our coach development strategy on the ground in domestic rugby – especially around the key technical areas in the scrum and lineout and now incorporating areas like backline attack, laws of the game as well as strength and conditioning.”

With a number of initiatives in place Munster Rugby’s Coach Development Department has also focused on developing further skill sets for coaches within the province.

“We have already run two nutrition seminars in Cork and Limerick and have run a strength and conditioning workshop in Clonmel with three more scheduled for the New Year under the guidance of Munster’s S&C Age Grade and Education Lead, Feargal O’Callaghan.

“Four regional workshops on the ‘Laws of the Game’ will also be running over the next four weeks which will be hosted by international referee Johnny Lacey. Laws of the Game workshops are designed for the Stage 2, 3 and 4 coaches incorporating specific regulations around the lineout and in particular adhering to full lifting in the lineouts for the perspective of the development of the Stage 3 player (Under 16) and upwards.”

“As we continue to focus on coach and player development within domestic rugby in Munster we look forward to a busy calendar for the remainder of the season.

For information on upcoming Coach Development workshops please email info@munsterrugby.ie

Munster Rugby Coach Development Officers

North & East: Noel O’Meara
South: Ken O’Connell
East & South: Brendan O’Connor
North & West: Fiach O’Loughlin