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Claire Coghlan has been around rugby from a young age, having grown up playing with a view of Croagh Patrick in the background over in Westport RFC. Claire was a Club Rugby Development Officer (CRDO) with Westport for 3 years where she worked not only with the club, but also with the schools in the area. She saw great success in the growth of rugby in the area, particularly schools rugby at Sacred Heart School and Rice College.
In her current role, Claire works closely with Galway City Council and Galway Sports Partnership – a strategic partnership which allows for increased funding for grassroots rugby in Galway City. In this role, Claire focuses on a number of key pillars of rugby participation, including working directly with National & Secondary Schools, Women in Rugby, Diverse communities, people with a disability and adult rugby.
Name and Role: Claire Coghlan, Rugby Development Officer for Galway City
How long have you been in the role? Just over two months in my new role, and three years previously as CRDO with Westport.
What area of Connacht do you work with (club/schools)? I work throughout Galway City in various clubs and schools including primary and secondary schools.
What does a week look like for you in the Summer and then in season? Summer is very busy between summer camps and the U18 Girls' provincial programme. Every week, I manage various summer camps throughout the province which is hugely enjoyable. Then, on a Tuesday and Thursday evening I am over in Dexcom as attack coach with the U18 Connacht Girls' squad. In July we play a couple of warm up games before heading into the Interpros in August. This summer we had a great coaching group and a young, talented squad. I also ran the tag rugby series in Westport in May/June.
Midweek is made up of school sessions during the day. This has included national schools like Bushypark NS, Gaeilscoil Dara & Radharc na Mara over the last few weeks. I am also doing a tag rugby block in Salerno secondary school along with some contact rugby in Coláiste Muire Máthair.
I work alongside the CRDOs in the area, helping out at any school blitz' that are run around the city for primary or secondary schools.
Wednesday evenings are PTS days where I coach the U18 girls. We have a great crew there who train in Dexcom. We play in season games along with training which keeps me busy! I also help out with the RSS (Regional skills sessions) & NTS (National Talent Squad) sessions during the week.
Favourite Moment or Event? Beating Munster down in Virgin Media Park in our first game of the U18 Interpros stands out for sure.
What do you love about being an RDO? I love seeing people enjoying all forms of the game and realising their potential through the sport. Bringing rugby to communities which might not have been exposed to the game is very rewarding. I look forward to bringing that into the role here in Galway City.
Why are RDOs important? RDOs bring rugby to communities that may not have been exposed to the game before. Collaborating and supporting clubs and schools in growing the game plays a crucial part in increasing numbers at grassroots. We also play a role in promoting rugby as a sport for all, including through non-contact forms like tag/touch or contact.
