Speakers Announced For Conditioning Coach Course
The speakers for the IRFU’s annual Certified Conditioning Coach Course have been confirmed with host of experts in the field of strength and conditionining including a former All-Ireland SFC winning captain.
The CCC is a practical hands-on course where coaches have the opportunity to learn and practice the many drills and exercises that are appropriate for conditioning rugby players at all levels.
This year the speakers include:-
Ian Jeffreys
Ian Jeffreys is a highly experienced coach, author, academic and presenter, and an acknowledged worldwide leader in the field of sport specific speed and agility development.
He is currently a reader in strength and conditioning at the University of South Wales, where he directs all of the University’s strength and conditioning activities.
Ian has worked with athletes in a wide range of sports, and at range of abilities up to international and professional level. Ian is the editor of the UKSCA Journal, ‘Professional Strength and Conditioning’, and is on the editorial board for the NSCA’s Strength and Conditioning Journal and the Journal of Australian Strength and Conditioning.
Ian has authored three books, ‘Total Soccer Fitness’, ‘A Coaches Guide to Enhancing Recovery – The Performance Lifestyle’, and ‘Developing Gamespeed’. Ian was the NSCA’s High School Professional of the Year in 2006, and was made a fellow of the NSCA in 2009.
Ian will deliver the ‘Gamespeed for Rugby’ module on the CCC programme.
Bryan Cullen
Bryan Cullen is the lead strength and conditioning coach with the Leinster Academy having previously worked as a fitness coach with the Leinster sub-Academy since 2011.
He is a sport science graduate from Dublin City University, and completed his PhD. in Exercise Physiology in 2014. In 2011 he led Dublin to the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title and has represented Ireland against Australia in the International Rules Series.
Bryan will give a guest presentation on the implementation of conditioning strategies at the Leinster Rugby Academy.
Places on the course are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.
Eamonn Flanagan
Eamonn Flanagan is the IRFU Academy strength & conditioning co-ordinator and the lead S&C coach to the Ireland Under-20 team. He has a PhD. in Sports Biomechanics from the University of Limerick.
Eamonn has previously worked in strength & conditioning for the Scottish Rugby National Academy, Scotland ‘A’ and Edinburgh Rugby.
Eamonn will deliver ‘Strength Training for Rugby’ and other modules on the CCC programme.
Cathal Byrd
Cathal Byrd is a highly experienced competitive weightlifter and active strength & conditioning coach. Cathal has a degree in physical education from the University of Limerick and is a certified weightlifting coach.
Cathal has represented Ireland in weightlifting at the European Championships, World Championships and World University Championships.
He has worked extensively as a strength and conditioning coach within the Munster Senior Cup rugby schools system and within the Ulster Bank League.
Cathal has also coached a number of Irish weightlifters to national titles, as well as junior and Under-23 international representation.
Cathal will be an assisting tutor on the strength training module on the CCC programme.
Kevin Cradock
Kevin Cradock has a wealth of experience as a strength and conditioning coach and educator at all levels of the game of rugby.
Kevin was the head of fitness at Connacht Rugby for three years and has also worked as a senior S&C coach at Connacht and an Academy S&C coach at Leinster.
He has also worked with the Ireland Under-19 and Under-20/Under-21 squads and the Ireland ‘A’ national team. Kevin also works as an educator for World Rugby and has run level 1 and level 2 World Rugby conditioning courses around the world. Kevin is currently completing a PhD. at NUI Galway.
Kevin will deliver ‘Warm-Up and Movement Skills’ and other modules on the CCC programme.
Places on the course are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.