Senior Coach Award
Defence Coach Denis Leamy Credit ©INPHO/Ben Brady
Irish Rugby’s Senior Coaching Course is for coaches working with 15-a-side teams where players are aged 16+.
Principles of Play are developed through Key Factor Analysis and applied to individual skills, mini-unit skills, unit skills and team skills.
Coaches who complete the course are expected to be able to identify and rectify technical deficiencies in players. They will also have the ability to plan, organise, manage, communicate and develop the skills of their players through implementation of both sport specific and generic sport modules.
The course is designed to develop the coach in a ‘Challenger’ role.
Entry Criteria
- Participants must be 18 years of age
- Participants must have proven rugby playing/coaching experience
- Participants must be actively coaching a 15-a-side team of players aged 16+
Numbers Per Course
50 maximum
Accreditation
Course Requirements – all attendees must ensure the following certificates are completed and uploaded to GAINLINE, the IRFU’s online education platform
World Rugby Laws Certificate
World Rugby Concussion Awareness Certificate
Details of GAINLINE and online modules will be available to anyone who registers for the course
Full course attendance is mandatory
All participants must undertake a personal coach mentoring session
All post-attendance course work is mandatory and must be uploaded to GAINLINE
The IRFU reserves the right to modify, replace or add to accreditation requirements in accordance with updates to Coach Development programmes.
Upcoming Course
Online #1
Date: Wednesday 8th October 2025
Time: 19:00-21:00
Online #2
Date: Thursday 16th October 2025
Time: 19:00-21:00
Practical/On pitch
Date: Saturday 18th October 2025
Time: 09:00-17:00
Venue: University Limerick 4G Rugby pitch and The Pavilion Conference room
“Before completing the form, please ensure you meet the requirements and available for online and practical sessions as well as the ability to complete the pre course requirements.”
Expressions of interest close – Monday 15th September at 5pm
Successful applicants will be informed no later than Friday 19th September, and will be provided with the relevant information to register for the course.
