October Youth Rugby Roundup

30th October 2024 By The Editor

A view of the West Munster Emerging Schools Blitz in Fethard Town Park

This month saw our Emerging Schools programme continue as well as a number of smaller blitzes run by our fantastic group of RDO and CCRO staff.

First up this month was the North Munster 1st Year Emerging School blitz in UL’s North Pavilion. There were students from Gaelscoil Luimnigh, Salesian Pallaskenry, Ennis Community College, St. Patricks – Shannon, Villiers College, CBS Nenagh, St. Caimins and Scoil Pol in attendance on the day.

The day was focused on coaching the players through the games that they played. This was done in a manner to encourage those who may have never played rugby before to step onto the pitch and give it a try.

See below for some photos from the day.

A view of the North Munster Emerging Schools Blitz in UL

A view of the North Munster Emerging Schools Blitz in UL

A view of the North Munster Emerging Schools Blitz in UL

As the sun shone down on West Munster, Fethard Town Park played host to their 1st Year Emerging School blitz. There were over 120 students taking part on the day from five different schools.

Take a look at what they got up to below.

A view of the West Munster Emerging Schools Blitz in Fethard Town Park

A view of the West Munster Emerging Schools Blitz in Fethard Town Park

A view of the West Munster Emerging Schools Blitz in Fethard Town Park

Scariff played host to one of our National School blitzes this month.

There was over 180 players in attendance on the day and some fantastic rugby played.

They also had a surprise visit from a couple of familiar faces in Roman Salanoa and Cian Hurley.

The two Munster players made sure to cheer the teams on as well as answering their burning questions once the games had finished.

Check out below for some photos from the day

Roman Salanoa and Cian Hurley meet the kids taking part in the Scarriff National School blitz

Roman Salanoa and Cian Hurley meet the kids taking part in the Scarriff National School blitz

A view of the Scariff National School Blitz

A view of the Scariff National School Blitz

A view of the Scariff National School Blitz

The Girls X 7s North and South, Junior and Senior competitions also took place this month in Shannon RFC and Ballincollig RFC respectively. It was fantastic to see so many girls taking part and to have a number of our female RDOs and CCROs in attendance on the day showcasing their coaching prowess.

Emma Byrne, Heidi Kramer, Ken Imbush, Ray Gadsden, Willie Shubert, Damien Hicks, Brian O’Dowd and Rosemary Dillon at the Girls X 7s competition in Ballincollig RFC

A view of the Girls X 7s competition in Ballincollig RFC

A view of the Girls X 7s competition in Ballincollig RFC

A view of the Girls X 7s competition in Ballincollig RFC

As well as blitzes our cohort of CCROs have been busy visiting schools in every corner of the province. The purpose of the CCRO programme is to link schools to their local clubs and encourage primary school children to pick up a rugby ball.

Kanturk CCRO Daire Daly, brother of Olan Daly our East Munster Rugby Participation Lead, headed to Ballyhass National School where he coached the students through a number of different games and activities so as to engage with the pupils.

Kanturk CCRO Daire Daly with students from Ballyhass National School

Tony Henebry our Galbally CCRO visited Angelsboro National School, Kilebenney National School, Galbally National School and St. Ailbes National School.

Galbally CCRO Tony Henebry on duty in Angelsboro National School

Galbally CCRO Tony Henebry on duty in Kilbenney National School

Galbally CCRO Tony Henebry on duty in Galbally National School

October also saw the first round of the inaugural Zara Horan Trophy kick off as North Munster took on South Munster and East Munster took on West Munster.

West Munster got proceedings underway in Thomond Park as they took on East Munster defeating them 31-22 while South Munster overcame North Munster with a score line of 31-7.