Underage Development Programme and Senior XV Management squad announcement.

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 RFC, Munster, Ireland & The British and Irish Lions, Managed by Bruff YDO Eoin Cahill, and facilitated by Johnny O’ Connor (Shannon, Munster, Bruff) & 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, electronic whiteboard system and with Brendan Bourke and Gráinne Hayes taking over Diet and Nutrition programming and fitness coaching/testing and Club Physio Derry Bowman taking charge of recovery when necessary. It will deal with player specific programmes including speed, agility, skills, diet and weight training, individually tailored to measure and target each players 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 our underage players with the aim of streamlining the process of graduation from the fantastic underage system that has always existed in Bruff RFC 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 of Head Coach Ben Martin (UL Bohs, Munster, US Colomiers) , Forwards Coach Stephen Keogh (Bruff, Shannon, Munster, Leinster, Irish U21’s), and Management team of John Broderick (St. Munchins, Old Crescent, Young Munster & TG4) and Alfie Laffan (Bruff, UCC, Shannon, Bruff) as we head into the new season in Division 2a. 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 RFC Senior XV and wish him well in all of his future endeavours. He has been a fantastic servant to this club over the years.

Quote: (Richard Leonard, President)

“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.”