Club Notes: Week Ending 19.05.13

15th May 2013 By Munster Rugby

This week’s Club Notes come from Bruff RFC and Richmond RFC.

Click here for Richmond RFC Club Notes

The executive committee of Bruff RFC are delighted to announce the creation of our first ever skill specific development programme, mentored by John Hayes, former Bruff, Munster, Ireland and British and Irish Lions player.

This initiative will be managed by Bruff Club Community Rugby Officer Eoin Cahill, and facilitated by Johnny O’ Connor (Shannon, Munster, Bruff) as well as the senior Bruff squad members.

Continuing the fantastic underage tradition in Bruff RFC since its foundation, this new development programme will be greatly helped by the revamped facilities of the club, including the newly fitted electronic video analysis systems and electronic whiteboard system.

Brendan Bourke and Gráinne Hayes will oversee the diet and nutrition programming along with fitness coaching and testing while Club Physio Derry Bowman will take charge of recovery when necessary.

The programme will deal with player requirements including speed, agility, skills, diet and weight training, individually tailored to measure and target each player’s specific needs.

Catering for underage players from U15 to U20, the programme will aim to enhance the training, fitness, rugby skillset and dietary standards of each of the Club’s underage players with the aim of streamlining the process of graduation from the Club’s fantastic underage system that has always existeted right through to the Bruff Senior XV.

Coupled with this new system we also wish to announce the new senior XV management team for the coming season. Ben Martin has been appointed Head Coach (UL Bohs, Munster, US Colomiers), Stephen Keogh will oversee the forwards (Bruff, Shannon, Munster, Leinster, Irish U21’s) and the Management team will consist of John Broderick (St. Munchins, Old Crescent, Young Munster & TG4), Alfie Laffan (Bruff, UCC, Shannon, Bruff) as we head into the new season in Division 2A.

Speaking on behalf of Bruff RFC, Club President Richard Leonard said "we are delighted with this exciting appointment and with the experience at the highest levels of rugby that this new management team bring with them. As a club we are noted for being more progressive than most and we look forward to a fantastic future as we create a strong fresh structure throughout the club from Mini rugby, Youths, Adult and Ladies teams that will continue the fantastic work that has been done to date. Having scaled the heights that we have reached in our short nine year career as a Senior Club, staying ‘upwardly mobile’ was always going to be a tough ask, and we have had three great years in division 1, during which time we managed our first Munster Senior Cup win and our first All-Ireland Cup win. We will regroup in Division 2a next season and with this calibre of management coming into the Bruff system, coupled with the new Underage development programme under the mentorship of John Hayes, we are confident that the future is going to be very bright indeed at Kilballyowen Park."

Outgoing forwards coach Cathal O’ Regan is handing over the reins to concentrate on playing with the Bruff Senior squad for the coming year.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank outgoing head coach Mike Lynch for his work during what was a particularly tough hard season for the Bruff Senior XV and wish him well in all of his future endeavours. He has been a fantastic servant to this club over the years.

Richmond RFC: Courtesy of Natalie McNamara, PRO

The Rugby season is just over but we still have a busy few weeks ahead with a number of events happening off the field for the club before we wrap the season up.

Ulster Bank Prize:

It was just announced that we have been shortlisted to win 5k from Ulster Bank. We are the only Limerick club that made the final 16 places, most votes wins. Great opportunity for the club to secure some much needed funding for our floodlights. We’re flying the flag for Limerick on this one and need your help. It’s down to a vote and we need everybody to get behind this. Voting is open now and will close on the 27th of May. As well as the €5000 we also have the opportunity to win a training session with an IRFU coach and 2 International Players. Your Support is needed, Thanks in advance.

Please Vote here https://rugby.ulsterbank.com/rugbyforce_vote.php.

Underage Awards:

Last Sunday we held our underage Awards at St Patk’s GAA for all underage players. It was a great afternoon even with the poor weather but that didn’t stop the kids from enjoying the free BBQ and games. There was a huge turnout of players from all age groups and credit to the underage committee for the huge success of the event once again. Thanks to everyone that sponsored an award and to St Patricks GAA for the use of their facilities. Full range of pictures available on Facebook of all winners.

Victory Dance:

Our Club Victory Dance is to be held on the 25th of May 2013 in the Pery Hotel, Limerick. All players, families, friends, supporters and all members are invited to join the first and second teams celebrate their successful season and the club going back senior. We have music, finger food and medal presentations to all players for the competitions they won this year. Also on the night there will be awards for Player of the year and Player’s Player of the year. Tickets are only €10, Anyone looking for tickets please contact Irene Flanagan or Natalie Mc Namara.

Club Cycle:

The club cycle has been scheduled for the last weekend in June just in time for pre-season. We will be cycling once again to Kilkee, this year it has been limited to 50 cyclists. There will be 3 stops on route for refreshments and games before we move on. This was a great day last year and we have music and food arranged for Kilkee for the evening time. We will have the sponsor cards available from this weekend, anyone interested please contact Dave Young or Sean Bennett ASAP as spaces are going fast. Anyone looking to help with cycle please let us know. Thanks in advance.