Regional Development Programme Continues

Munster Rugby recently held a regional development programme clinic in CIT.

The player development training sessions were co-ordinated by the Munster Rugby Elite Development Department, in conjunction with the Rugby Development Officers.

The clinic focused on position-specific development, decision making, core skill development, continuity, breakdown and general movement activities for the school and club development players.

The schools development squad were first on the pitch with a focus on continuing their programme leading into the 2015 Interprovincial series. They will be looking to emulate the success of last year's side who won all three games to claim the Interpro title.

Their club counterparts were next up with representatives from clubs around the province involved. These players will go forward to the 2015 Interprovincial campaign looking to go one better than last year's side who were beaten by Leinster in the title decider.

In addition to the Munster Rugby Christmas Development programme, the Irish U-18 Schools and Youths were also in camp. Munster Rugby had 15 participants within these camps wherein the schools played the youths in a training day. The 15 were chosen out of the initial record of 21 Munster players selected in the extended squads.

Munster Players In Ireland Schools Squad
Mark O’Mara (Castletroy)
Peter Kelleher (CBC)
John Foley (St. Munchins)
Jack Lyons (Crescent Comp)
Bill Johnston (Rockwell)
Alex McHenry (CBC)
Calvin Nash(Crescent Comp)
Conor Leahy(CBC)
Jack O’Sullivan(PBC)
Michael Casey(Rockwell)

Munster Players In Ireland Youths Squad
Ian McCarthy (Highfield)
Dylan Reeves Wasik (Bruff)
Robbie Walsh (Waterpark)
Jack Quilter (Tralee)
Dave McCarthy (Skibbereen)

On Friday, January 2 the incoming regional development teams from north, south, east and west Munster were also hosted by the Elite Development Department and their respective Rugby Development Officers. The focus of this session was on position-specific development, core skill development, continuity and decision making.

Following lunch, these players were involved in a regional screening process wherein each of the regions played each other in a blitz format.

Munster Rugby would like to thank all players for their participation in the clinics and to CIT for hosting both days over the Christmas period.

The incoming regional development squad players will continue their programmes in each of their respective regions over the coming months as they prepare for the summer programme.

The U-17 development schools and clubs squads will also be coming in for extra skill development clinics in the coming months. Those players are all hoping to be part of the Munster Rugby talent camps in Rockwell this summer where 26 players will be selected for each squad leading into the 2015 Interprovincial series at U-18 club and school level.