Representative Management Teams Confirmed
The Irish Rugby Football Union has confirmed the coach and manager positions for Ireland’s representative teams for the coming season.
Connacht coach Michael Bradley, who took control of the Ireland senior side for three games as part of last season’s summer tour, will again guide the fortunes of the Ireland ‘A’ squad this season.
The ‘A’ squad’s schedule will include games against both Scotland and the England Saxons, as well as the Churchill Cup in June.
Joey Miles, who also toured with Ireland during the summer as part of the interim management team, will renew his manager role for the ‘A’ side.
The Ireland Women’s team will be managed by Rachael Reid and coached by Steven Hennessy for the season.
The Ireland Sevens team recently qualified for the 2009 IRB World Cup Sevens tournament, which will take place in Dubai next March and the management team that guided them to that success has remained intact, with Jon Skurr coaching the side and Hugh McCaughey as manager.
At underage level, there is a change of coach to the Under-20s. Former Ireland international and current IRFU High Performance Manager Allen Clarke takes control of the side with the assistance of Phil Orr continuing as team manager.
The Ireland Under-18 Youth team, which has reached the final of the FIRA-AER Under-18 European Championship over the last two years, will be again under the guidance of coach Greg Lynch and team manager Willie Gribben.
The Ireland representative management teams for the 2008/09 season are as follows:
Ireland ‘A’
Michael Bradley – Coach
Joey Miles – Manager
Ireland Women
Steven Hennessy – Coach
Rachael Reid – Manager
Ireland Sevens
Jon Skurr – Coach
Hugh McCaughey – Manager
Ireland Under-20s
Allen Clarke – Coach
Phil Orr – Manager
Ireland Under-18 Youth
Greg Lynch – Coach
Willie Gribben – Manager