Pre-Summer Block Begins For Munster Age-Grade Player Development Programme

Plans and schedules are currently being finalised ahead of this summer’s Munster Rugby Age-Grade Player Development Programme.

Currently, the Boys U17, U18 and U19 groups are in the middle of a six-week pre-summer programme.

This makes up approximately 170 players and they are now undertaking two training sessions per week in different centres across the province including the University of Limerick, Musgrave Park, MTU: Kerry Campus and Cashel RFC.

At the beginning of this month, the final trials took place to determine the makeup of the U17 and U18 Girls squads for the summer programme with the respective squads being finalised by Rugby Development staff last week.

The U17 and U18 Girls squads will now commence a five session skills and conditioning programme which will run up until the end of May.

The U18 Girls squad will start their summer programme at the beginning of July with a residential camp in Kerry while the U17 Girls will begin their summer programme in the middle of June.

The month of July will consist of a residential camp in the University of Limerick where the Boys U19s and the U18 Clubs & Schools sides will train four days per week while the Boys U17 Clubs & Schools sides will train three days per week.

The Boys U16 Clubs & Schools development programme will commence at the start of July and they will train two days per week during the summer.

The Munster player development programme is designed to provide players with a full holistic coaching approach which includes athletic development, nutrition, mental skills and anti-doping education on top of the technical and tactical rugby programme.

Across all playing groups, including the U18 and U17 Girls group and the U16 Boys group, there are approximately 370 players currently taking part in player development programmes.

Coach and Player Development Manager, Keith Murphy said:

“Following the challenges of the past two summers, it is great to be offering a full rugby development programme this summer, including a residential offering at the University of Limerick once again.

“Players will experience a wide-range of development and performance programmes where the Rugby Development and Elite Development staff, together with a number of qualified volunteer coaches, will deliver on technical, tactical, physical and lifestyle components.

“This holistic player development approach is designed to support the players’ personal development and enhance their capacities in the game.”