Shannon RFC Appoint New Head Coach

Recently crowned AIB league champions Shannon have moved to replace outgoing head coach Geoff Moylan after the executive committee did not extend his year long contract.

After a review of the season where all parties were consulted, the decision not to reappoint Moylan was a very difficult one according to club Chairman Jack Keane. "Geoff Moylan is a coach with three AIB league titles to his credit, and taking that phenomenal record into account, the executive did not make this decision lightly? said Mr Keane.

He added, "We sincerely thank Geoff for his enormous contribution to ensure our clubs continued All Ireland success, and we wish him well for whatever path his coaching career takes."

Twenty seven year old Colm Tucker is set to become the AIB league’s youngest head coach, after his appointment was ratified at the Clubs executive committee on Wednesday evening.

In announcing the appointment, Club President Martin Clancy said that "the club have full confidence in Colm’s ability as head coach to Shannon, despite his relative youth. He has played to a very high level and has shown exceptional coaching ability over the last number of years. He has worked very hard, and last season was instrumental in our ninth AIB league title. We wish him and his coaching team the very best of luck."

Colm has been involved in Shannon from a very young age and was an exceptional hooker in his playing days. He went to St Munchins College and captained the Irish Schools side in 2000-01 and then went onto play with the Irish U/19’s a year later.

His very promising rugby career was however blighted with injury and despite several major setbacks he did win two AIB league medals with Shannon until eventually, under medical advice he was forced to retire from playing four years ago.

His involvement in coaching began over eight years ago where he took up the reigns as U/16 coach and has since progressed through the IRFU coaching system. He co coached Shannon’s U/20 side for two seasons before being brought up to the senior ranks last year as forwards coach in Geoff Moylan’s management set up.

A graduate of the University of Limerick, Colm now works with the Bank of Scotland as a lending executive. Speaking of his appointment, Tucker said he was "delighted and honoured" to be selected as head coach. "This is a fantastic honour for me and I am confident I can repay the club’s faith in me. To be head coach of a club such as Shannon at a young age is a somewhat daunting task, but I have no doubt in my own ability and those around me. I am grateful to Geoff for giving me the opportunity to work in last season’s successful management side and look forward to building on that success in the coming season. We have a great squad of players with a superb work ethic and I know that they are already looking forward to defending the AIB league title."

Chairman Jack Keane reiterated the sentiments of the club and expressed his support for Tucker,
"It’s a big role in a big club and we are in no doubt that Colm is the right man to lead Shannon forward into the new AIB league format."

Tucker will be joined in the coaching team by long time colleague Ger Casey who will have responsibility for the backs as well as video analysis. The newly installed head coach stressed the importance of Casey’s role, "Ger and I have worked together for quite a number of years and the commitment he brings to his roles is phenomenal and his abilities will be of enormous benefit to me and the players."

The Shannon senior side are set to resume collective training in mid July. Shannon have once again utilised a tried and tested policy of recruiting coaches from within the club, a policy that has proved enormously successful over a long number of years.