Age Grade Coaches Attend IRFU Technical Workshop

It has been a rewarding year for Ireland’s age grade teams and their coaches on and off the pitch. This was reflected at the recent IRFU Technical Workshop for representative age grade coaches.

This year’s workshop took place on Saturday, May 7 at the Johnstown House Hotel, Enfield, and was attended by national and provincial head coaches, elite player staff and coach mentors.

Stephen Aboud, the IRFU Technical Development manager who directed the workshop, highlighted the key objectives as:

1. To reinforce the IRFU Technical Direction, particularly aspects of coaching adaptive rugby and the Elite Player Pathway

2. To provide an opportunity for coaches to share opinions and practices

3. To develop closer working relationships and understanding to ensure better players and better team performances through effective coaching

Presentations and workshops were also driven by Allen Clarke (High Performance manager), Colin Moran (Training manager), Mike Ruddock (Ireland Under-20 head coach), Greg Lynch (Ireland Under-18 Clubs head coach), Nigel Carolan (Connacht Under-20 head coach) and Terry McMaster (Ireland Under-18 Schools head coach).

Significant achievements in national age grade performances this season saw the Irish Under-18 Clubs team and the Ireland Under-19 side remain unbeaten, while the Ireland Under-18 Schools team recently won the FIRA-AER Under-18 European Championship.

Aboud added: “It’s always invigorating to listen and share opinions that contribute to better teams, coaches and player performances.

“The national results are perceptively very rewarding, but the reality is that the standards are greatly influenced by the work undertaken in the provinces, clubs and schools.

 “As this improves then we’ll be more successful and consistent at representative level in the future.”

Related Links –

U-18 Schools Team Crowned European Champions

Impressive Win For Ireland U-18 Clubs Side

Development Side Impress In France

IRFU Technical Model – View the IRFU Technical Model including multimedia examples, glossary of key terms.