Video | Munster Club Select Player Programme

The CSP (Club Select Player) programme is a player development initiative in Munster which sees age-grade club players play in high intensity games in the pre-Christmas pool stages of the Munster Schools Junior and Senior Cups.

The programme, which is run in conjunction with the players’ respective development programmes at their clubs, sees representation from a wide-range of clubs throughout the province.

Last week we caught up with Fiach O’Loughlin, Munster’s Player Development Lead and head coach of the U16 CSP side that plays in the Munster Junior Cup, and current Bruff player and CSP squad member Thomas Buckley.

Speaking about the programme Fiach said:

“The Club Select Player programme is something that we have had running for a number of years now. It is a pathway system developed for club players which allows them to have the opportunity to play some higher intensity games against their peers from the schools level.”

“We have seen huge success with this programme and have had players come through and move into academy contracts from it such as Dylan Hicks and Sean Edogbo who are there at the moment.”

The programme itself runs from September and welcomes players from all four regions of Munster. They train Mondays, between the University of Limerick and Virgin Media Park in Cork. Speaking about an average training day O’Loughin said:

“On an average night the guys will come together, they will do their gym first of all and then move from the gym to the pitch.”

“They play four matches on the programme and on average train at least seven or eight times a month.”

As a Player Development Lead O’Loughlin wants to give players the opportunity to move forward in their playing careers. Discussing how important these opportunities are he said:

“It is hugely important for them, what they do in their clubs in excellent, but this is another platform for them to be able to show themselves. It is important for their development and is just an opportunity to give them extra.”

But what is next for the team?

“We’ll hopefully see these guys come through into next summer’s under 17s, under 18, and under 19s squads for our summer programme and this will give them a good foundation on both and S&C and a rugby basis to move forward from that.”

Thomas Buckley plays his club rugby with Bruff and is current in his second season with the junior CSP team. |Speaking about his experience he said:

“It has been fairly good. It’s a big step up from the club but I’ve grown a lot from playing here the past two seasons”

To learn more about the Club Select Programme check out our video below.

Video | Munster Rugby Club Select Player Programme