Record 21 Munster Players Attend Irish Camps

A record high 21 Munster players took part in last weekend’s Ireland Clubs and Schools age-grade talent camps in Campbell College, Belfast.

14 players from the Interprovincial-winning Munster U-18 Schools side and seven players from the Munster U18 Clubs side were selected for the three-day camp.

Munster Rugby’s Domestic Rugby Manager Ultan O’Callaghan was thrilled with the high number of Munster players selected for the camps.

“It’s the biggest representation we’ve ever had at national camp,” said O’Callaghan.

“About three or four years ago we had to sit down because our representation wasn’t as significant as it is now.

“We were at single digits and we had to step back and look at how we work on player development with the Elite player development office.

“There has been three years’ work go into the Munster age-grade sides which are the Clubs U-18s and the Schools U-18s.

“It’s good that national selectors are seeing that and acknowledging that we are on the right track.”

The camps are the first step towards the international fixtures to be played in spring 2015 with the next camp to take place at the end of December.

The squad will be whittled down ahead of those internationals and O’Callaghan is optimistic that the Munster representation will remain high come spring time.
“The hope for Munster Rugby is that when it comes to March that you’d have all 21 still in contention. That’s a very big ask because you’re coming up against some very talented players from the other provinces and from the exiles.

“We’ve got to challenge ourselves now to keep improving and support the players between now and next February/March.
Tralee's Jack Quilter took part in the U-18 Clubs talent camp CREDIT: Inpho

“We’ve sat down with the players and the Head Coaches of our representative sides and got feedback on what the young players need to work on. So we’ll work on those areas with the players between now and Christmas when they go into their next National camp.

“Hopefully, they’ll be in a better place to play international rugby which is a much higher step up from the Interprovincial series. They are now going to go up against the best players of their age-group in Europe,” he added.

The players would all have been identified by Munster Rugby at the age of 15 when they entered one of the six Regional Development Squads (RDS). The RDS programme is made up of four club squads (north, south, east and west) and two schools squads (north and south).

O’Callaghan had high praise for the Munster Rugby staff and the schools and clubs volunteers who are continually nurturing the young players in the province to maximise their potential.

“There’s a team of Coach Development Officers, Community Rugby Officers, Partnership Officers, Elite Officers and Strength and Conditioning staff. They are all working as one for Munster Rugby for the betterment of the player, the club, the school and the province.

"That alignment can only be good when you see players like Jack O’Donoghue, John Madigan, Darren Sweetnam, Rory Scannell and all these young talented players now coming through the system.

“And of course all of this work can’t be done without parents, teachers, schools, clubs, coaches and volunteers.

“There’s a huge commitment to this. It’s not just turning up for a match, there’s a huge lifestyle management around becoming a Munster Representative player. And then going on to become an Irish Schoolboy or Club player – that brings it to another level again.

“For us, as staff, it’s a pleasure to work with parents, teachers, clubs and schools who have such energy and such high regard for the staff and volunteers in helping their children becoming better people in the community and better players for Munster and Irish rugby,” O’Callaghan added.

Munster Players Selected To Attend Ireland Schools Camp:
Peter Kelleher (CBC)
Mark O'Mara (Castletroy College)
James Kendrick (Rockwell College)
Kevin O'Leary (PBC)
Gavin Coombes (Bandon Grammar)
Jack O'Sullivan (PBC)
Bailey Faloon (Crescent College)
John Foley (St Munchin's College)
Jack Lyons (Crescent College)
Bill Johnston (Rockwell College)
Alex McHenry (CBC)
Calvin Nash (Crescent College)
Glen Dickinson (Crescent College)
Colm Hogan (Glenstal Abbey)

Munster Players Selected To Attend Ireland Clubs Camp:
Ian McCarthy (Highfield RFC)
Robert Carey (Midleton RFC)
Dylan Reeves Wasik (Bruff RFC)
Robbie Walsh (Waterpark RFC)
Alan Fitzgerald (Shannon RFC)
Liam Coombes (Skibbereen)
Jack Quilter (Tralee RFC)