Rugby Initiatives In Kerry

A number of schools rugby programmes, blitzes and workshops have taken place in Kerry over recent weeks.

Rugby in Listowel
A rugby programme took place in St. Michael's Secondary School, Listowel which culminated in a blitz for the first year students.

Munster Community Rugby Officer Ray Gadsden and Club and Community Rugby Officer Ken Imbusch organised and facilitated the school blitz with all pupils getting a chance to experience the game.

Other classes have also had school coaching with the school now also coming into the regionalised Emerging Schools blitzes.

West Munster Schools Blitz
The West Munster schools U15 11-a-side blitz was held in Tralee RFC recently.

The Emerging Schools initiative is building on the very successful first year of the programme in the 2015/16 season and this year sees an additional U17 blitz series.

The Community Rugby Officers are coaching rugby to students, many of whom have never played the sport, in schools from Kerry, West Cork, East Cork, Cork City, North Cork, Tipperary, Limerick, Waterford and Clare.

The top two schools from each region will go into a finals day in Cork and Limerick after Christmas.

The aim of the initiative is to give as many young people as possible the opportunity to play rugby with the venture proving a great success so far.

Workshop with Castleisland underage teams
Community Rugby Officer Ray Gadsden facilitated a defence and tackle technique workshop with the U13/14 squad and coaches of Castleisland RFC.

Players worked on the approach, tackle and after the tackle techniques put together with understanding of their roles in defence.

Mini refresher workshop at Killarney RFC
Community Rugby Officer Ray Gadsden ran a mini refresher workshop for coaches at Killarney RFC last Saturday.

It was a busy morning in the club with around 100 mini players training, both the U18 and U14s were playing at home with the U16s in Listowel.

The coaches worked on different aspects of passing, catching and tackle technique in line with their players' capacities. A big thanks to Liam Murphy from Killarney RFC for organising the event.

Community Rugby Department
The Community Rugby Department at Munster Rugby is comprised of five Community Rugby Officers with each one responsible for a group of clubs, schools and colleges within an allocated geographic region.

It also includes a Women's Development Officer, Girls Participation Officer, Limerick Regeneration Officer and 12 part-time Club and Community Rugby Officers working in schools in conjunction with their respective clubs.

The primary role of the department is to increase participation across all areas of rugby throughout Munster. For more details, please email info@munsterrugby.ie.