Rugby Development October Round-Up | Participation

With the 2023/24 season now up and running, October was a busy month for the Rugby Development Department with a number of participation events taking place throughout the province.

See below for a round-up of what took place.

Participation

On Tuesday, October 3rd, an Emerging School Blitz took place in Tralee RFC which saw a number of schools from the region compete on the day. The blitz was run by Particpation Programme Co-Ordinator Ray Gadsden, Rugby Development Officer Euan Gee and CCRO Brian O’Dowd.

A view of the Emerging School Blitz held in Tralee RFC last month. Photo Credit: Munster Rugby

A view of the Emerging School Blitz held in Tralee RFC last month. Photo Credit: Munster Rugby

A rescheduled North Munster 1st Year blitz was held in Shannon RFC on Wednesday, October 4th which was saw over 100 players take part on that day.

A view of the North Munster 1st Year blitz held in Shannon RFC last month. Photo Credit: Munster Rugby

A view of the North Munster 1st Year blitz held in Shannon RFC last month. Photo Credit: Munster Rugby

Áine Reidy, who is a Munster Rugby CCRO working with Abbeyfeale RFC, is introducing rugby into a number of primary schools in the area including Dromtrasna NS, St Mary’s Boys School and Meenkilly School. Reidy has held a number of sessions with primary school students throughout the month of October.

A view of Meenkilly primary school students who have been taking part in rugby sessions with Munster Rugby CCRO Áine Reidy. Photo Credit: Abbeyfeale RFC

360 children across 24 teams took part in a national school blitz that was held in Charleville RFC last month. The blitz was a huge success with a number of new schools competing on the day and the club have already experienced new players attending training on the weekend as a result.

A view of last month’s National School blitz held in Charleville RFC.

A view of last month’s National School blitz held in Charleville RFC.

A coaching course was held for Transition Year students in Coláiste Muire Ennis last month. The TY students coached 1st year players and assisted in organising a blitz which was attended by Clare Participation Officer Bryan Murphy and CCRO Cian Guilfoyle.

A view of the blitz held for 1st year students of Coláiste Muire Ennis.

A West Munster Emerging Schools blitz was held in Tralee which saw Coláiste na Scelige, Killarney Community College and two teams from ISK Killorglin compete on the day.

A view of the West Munster Emerging Schools blitz held in Tralee.

A view of the West Munster Emerging Schools blitz held in Tralee.

Across the month of October a number of Emerging School blitzes were held at Munster Rugby’s Regional Centre of Excellence in Fethard Town Park. 10 different schools from across the region participated in blitz days for U14, U15 and U17 players.

A view of the Emerging School Blitzes held in Munster Rugby’s Regional Centre of Excellence in Fethard Town Park. Photo Credit: Ólan Daly.

A National School blitz was held in Galbally RFC at the end of October which saw 350 players compete on the day.

A view of the National School blitz held in Galbally RFC

A south Munster U17 blitz was held in Musgrave Park which saw teams from Carrigaline Community School and Coláiste Mhuire Cobh compete on the day.

A view of the U17 blitz held in Musgrave Park

There were strong numbers present at a national school blitz which took place at the end of October in Clanwilliam FC in Tipperary.

A view of the National School blitz held in Clanwilliam FC

The aforementioned events are just a sample of what took place throughout the province in the month of October with many other blitzes and participation days also taking place.