Ballynahinch's Adam Craig is pictured during a training session with the Ireland Club XV squad at the IRFU High Performance Centre last year ©INPHO/Nick Elliott
The Ireland Club XV coaching and management team for the 2026 Club International fixture against Scotland next month has been finalised.
Adam Craig, who was also last season’s head coach, will continue in the role. He will be joined again this season by Emmet MacMahon and Ger Slattery as assistant coaches.
Craig, who is currently the head coach at Ballynahinch RFC, helped ‘Hinch to retain the Bank of Ireland Ulster Senior Cup and reach the final of the Energia Bateman Cup this season. The former player doubles up his responsibilities as Head of Rugby at Sullivan Upper School.
MacMahon will continue as the lineout coach. He is the director of rugby at UCD and this will be his third outing with the Ireland Club XV set-up.
Slattery, a former Ireland Club international player himself, will act as scrum and defence coach. He is the current head coach at Young Munster RFC, and this will be his second season involved with the Ireland Club XV squad as a coach.
Mark Hamilton will continue as the team manager for the match against the Scotland Clubs at Energia Park on Friday, February 13 (kick-off 6pm), which will be live streamed on Irish Rugby’s streaming platform, irishrugby+.
He holds the same role with Terenure College RFC and is looking forward to the occasion, which comes 20 years on from the inaugural Club international clash with the same opposition. Matthew Irvine takes on the role as baggage master.
Eager to get a big crowd out in support of the Ireland Club XV stars in Donnybrook, Hamilton said: “Hopefully young players involved in mini rugby all over the country will come along to the game in Energia Park and support players from their own clubs or provinces.
“That kind of experience can encourage them to keep playing and drive them to achieve a similar goal in the future. It’s not just about the professional game, club rugby in Ireland is in a fantastic place.
“There’s huge talent and quality here, and being selected to compete in the Dalriada Cup is a massive opportunity for everyone involved.”
Clontarf clubman Mark Synnott will be the Ireland Club XV squad’s athletic development coach, while Michael Harding from Old Crescent RFC will manage the group’s video analysis.
Billy Twomey returns as the team doctor, as Patrick Gillman joins the management side as the team physio.
Craig’s charges will attend training camps at the IRFU High Performance Centre on January 18 and February 1, ahead of their game against the Scottish counterparts at Energia Park in mid-February.
Head Coach: Adam Craig
Lineout Coach: Emmet MacMahon
Scrum & Defence Coach: Ger Slattery
Athletic Performance Coach: Mark Synnott
Video Analyst: Michael Harding
Physiotherapist: Patrick Gillman
Team Doctor: Billy Twomey
Team Manager: Mark Hamilton
Baggage Master: Matthew Irvine
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