| New Structures announced in Connacht Rugby | |||||
|
|
New Structures announced in Connacht Rugby Multitudes of television, radio and print journalists descended on the Sportsground today as the Irish Rugby Football Union and Connacht Rugby jointly announced a new structure for the professional game in Connacht. Unfortunately due to the inclement weather conditions, the delegates from the IRFU were unable travel West. Instead, a simultaneous announcement was made from IRFU headquarters in Lansdowne Road.  The announcement focused around a new independent Professional Game Board (PGB) to oversee all aspects of the professional game in Connacht. There will also be increased support from the IRFU based on recommendations of the new PGB, and a commitment from Leinster, Munster and Ulster to allow more movement of selected players to ConnachtThe newly constructed Connacht Professional Game Board (PGB) has been established with responsibility for all activities associated with the running of the professional game in the province for the next three years. The Board will be chaired by Jimmy Staunton, a Connacht businessman who has achieved nationwide success as founding partner of Elvery’s Sports, the largest sports retailer in Ireland. He will be joined on the Board by a blend of experience from both the business and sports worlds and the remaining members of the board are: · Conor McGuinness – Former Connacht player and international scrumhalf · Damian Devany – Marketing consultant and former Marketing Director of O2 · Steve Cunningham – Business consultant and former Connacht Branch President · Pat O’Connor – Swinford Solicitor & Former President of the Law Society · Liam Rhatigan – Managing Partner of RBK Accountants · Simon Heaslip – Galway Business-man & entrepreneur The Board is independent of the Connacht Branch and IRFU but is accountable to the IRFU Management Committee. The Connacht PGB, whose activities will also include generating additional commercial revenues, will have the responsibility to prepare the budget annually for agreement and approval by the IRFU. A significant element of the new structure is that the Leinster, Ulster and Munster Branches have each provided a firm commitment to the initiative, which will involve movement of selected players from those provinces to Connacht. This will allow Connacht to benefit from the playing talent from the other provincial academies and teams to develop the strength of Ireland qualified players throughout all of the four provinces. Additional support in the coaching and management assets of the Connacht Team will be provided to ensure increased competitiveness. Gerry Kelly, Connacht Rugby Chief Executive, said: “This new development represents a shot in the arm for professional rugby in Connacht. It is an endorsement by the IRFU that Connacht is a core element of the Irish rugby family and under the direction of the new Professional Game Board, and with the commitment of support from the other Provinces, we believe that a bright and sustainable future is in store for professional rugby in the West. It is indeed a challenge but one we are looking forward to. New Chairman of the Connacht professional Game Board, Jimmy Staunton said today: “It is an honour and privilege for me to be chairman of this new Professional Games Board. Connacht Rugby is now a business, and as such we will run it like one. I would like to thank the staff that have been working on building a brand up to now. We will start working as quickly as possible to put the plan into action but I would say to people to judge us in two to three years. We will do our best for Connacht. It’s time to get the tills ringing and get the people who would normally watch the game in front of the fire up into the Sportsground. We see the Growth in support coming from the whole province as well as the ex-pat community nationwide. In terms of facilities, we saw that in Munster and Leinster, they built the facilities and the fans flocked. Therefore we would be looking to have a 10,000 capacity stadium that would bring in an average gate of 5-6,000 people. “ Connacht Rugby’s Head Coach Eric Elwood, who has just signed a two-year contract extension said; “This announcement gives us a great opportunity to build on what we are doing this year. We are trying to play a good brand of rugby that is attractive to both fans and good for the Magners League. The process of contracting players beyond this year has begun, and we are looking to bring some more quality into the fold, which will inevitably mean there will be changes. From the IRFU HQ, Ireland Coach Declan Kidney was particularly pleased and said: “I think today’s announcement is a big step for both Connacht and Irish Rugby. I have always believed that the Ireland team can only become stronger with four competitive provincial teams. Competition for places and in particular in a number of key positions has been something that we have been trying to develop with the Ireland team over the last 18 months. The new developments in Connacht can only add to this as game time is essential for the development of players.” A review is to be undertaken by the new Connacht PGB on current management, coaching structures and personnel with specific recommendations for any further structure to be discussed with and agreed by the IRFU. The new structures announced today follow a request received from the Connacht Branch to undertake an examination of the game in Connacht. Arising from discussions between delegates of the Connacht Branch and the IRFU Management Committee, it was agreed that an independent assessment should be conducted. Specialist sports consultancy ASMT were appointed to conduct the evaluation and report jointly to Steve Cunningham, President of the Connacht Branch and Finbarr Crowley, Chairman of the IRFU Management Committee. The report involved a complete assessment of all areas of professional rugby in Connacht. Pic (C) www.inpho.ie |
| Last Updated ( Friday, 03 December 2010 14:45 ) |  |
