U18s Festival Enters Final Stages
The IRFU U18s Festival will come to a close on Sunday with the final round of matches. In the meantime, the players and coaches have been active on and off the pitch with development modules and visits to Thomond Park.
Wednesday was the second match day of the ten-day festival and once again the teams served up some excellent rugby watched by a sizeable crowd of families and friends.
There were wins for Ulster U18 Schools, Connacht U18, Leinster U18 Clubs and a draw between Leinster and Munster Schools.
Joe Lydon, Head of IQ Rugby emphasised the key development nature of the festival in looking at how the players are continuing to learn regardless of the result.
Learning. Joe Lydon of IQ Rugby on the learning environment at the IRFU #U18sFestival @irfuexilesrugby pic.twitter.com/d8YtMT6pX1
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) August 22, 2018
Thursday was a rest day with the players doing some light recovery work as well as accessing the pool and ice baths
Education and Development is a key part of the festival and getting your nutrition right is one of the core principles for recovery.
IRFU Nutritionists have worked with UL and the provincial academy nutritionists to deliver a varied menu across the week. That includes match day requirements and post-match recovery.
Feeding the troops at the #U18sFestival in @UL
Nutrition advice modules are all part of the festival programme. pic.twitter.com/UE1J8MtfzV
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) August 23, 2018
The players have been encouraged to cook and create snacks to supplement the meal times on campus.
There was also a second round of Mental Skills seminars with Ultan O’Callaghan, Munster Domestic Rugby Manager, delivering some simple and powerful messages about goals and mindset on and off the pitch.
The coaches also came together on Thursday morning for an Attack Skills workshop with Ireland Team Skills & Kicking Coach Richie Murphy.
Great session with @IrishRugby national coach Richie Murphy today. #rugbycoaching #AlwaysLearning #decisionmaking #U18sFestival pic.twitter.com/saeikgF7qW
— Brett Igoe (@brettruganalyst) August 23, 2018
There was also time this week for trips off campus.
The IQ Rugby squad enjoyed the chance to meet IRFU Exiles alumnus Sam Arnold and took a trip to Thomond Park.
Saturday will see the teams at Captain’s Run as they prepare for the final round of matches on Sunday.
IRFU U18 Festival – Match Day 3, Sunday, August 26th
11am – U18 Schools – Munster v IQ Rugby
1pm – U18 Clubs – Connacht v Ulster
3pm – U18 Clubs – Ulster v Leinster
5pm – U18 Schools – Munster v Leinster