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Tomorrow will see the finals day for the Regional Development Squads at Dexcom Stadium with North-East taking on North-West and South-East facing South-West. Games kick-off at 4:45pm and 6:30pm respectively.
The four Regional Development Squads were formed at the beginning of the season with 18 clubs and 30+ different schools represented. Over the course of this season, there were Inter-Regional game blocks involving the four newly formed Under15/16 Regional Squad Groupings along with weekly regional skills, strength and conditioning sessions, and regional position-specific skills nights. The selected players on the squads represent their respective regions. A thank you to Ballina RFC and Creggs RFC who hosted the Inter-Regional games.
This new regional programme being run by Connacht Rugby Club and Community is split into four teams representing four Regions: North-East; North-West ; South-East; South-West. The regional development Squads are a combination of the best of U15 and U16 players from clubs all over the province.
North-East will take on North-West tomorrow, Wednesday 3rd April at 4:45pm at Dexcom Stadium.
North-East Lead Gavin Foley says, "I’m really looking forward to seeing the lads perform on Wednesday in Galway. They have worked really hard in their regional sessions while also coming through a busy time with their clubs and schools. I’ve been very impressed with the growth of the players in terms of their skills and as coaches, what’s really satisfying is to see the lads bringing those skills into their club and school games week in and week out. We ask the players to take control of their own game and their development and this group has epitomised that. Will McCauley, Tadgh Power and Finn Bamber have worked with group all year, so a huge thanks to them and finally a special thanks to all of their coaches as well as the parents who have supported the lads consistently this season in their development".
North-West Lead JP Walsh says, "As coaches we are really happy with the players development up to now. They have shown huge growth in between the games and having the chance to compete with the other regions has allowed the players to test themselves against their peers during the development blocks. It’s very encouraging for our coaching team made up of Simon O Malley, Thomas Smith and Sean Maughan to see players that have come through in previous years playing in 17s and 18s leagues and cup as well as breaking into their adult sides in their clubs. Our aim is to continue to support the development of players in our region by giving them access to specialised coaching and to work alongside the club and school coaches".
South-East will take on South-West tomorrow, Wednesday 3rd April at 6:30pm at Dexcom Stadium.
South East Lead Conor Galvin says, "The group is made up of 4 clubs and 10 schools and the level of the lads in terms of skills and game understanding is a testament to the work going on in club and school rugby all year. A special mention must also go to the parents who have been brilliantly supportive to all of the group. The lads have been top class in how they have applied themselves and its very encouraging to see them excel in games on weekends. Charlie Couper, Graham Curran, Darin Classen and Godfrey Gibbons as well as many other guest coaches have given huge amount of time to the lads in skills sessions and games during their time. We wish the players the best of luck in the next step in their sporting development”.
South-West Lead Diarmuid Codyre says, "We currently have 28 lads training, some have been there since the beginning of the season and others have been added along the way due to impressive performances for school and club. Training has mostly been focused on improving the players core skills and position specific skills while also slowly installing attack and defence structures that they will need to progress into the future as players with their clubs and schools. Fellow coaches Oisin Halpin and Gary Lally have been invaluable all season for myself as well as the players".
The Regional Development Squads are as follows:
| North-East | North-West | South-East | South-West |
|
Alastair Hewson (Carrick RFC/Sligo Grammar) Alex Mescal (Ballina RFC/St Muredachs) Cathal Finan (Ballina RFC/St Muredachs) Cathal Moffatt (Sligo RFC/Sligo Grammar) Charlie Slevin (Carrick RFC/Carrick CC) Conor Murphy (Ballina RFC/St Tiernans College) Daniel Allen (Sligo RFC/Summerhill) Giacomo Gambi-Whelan (Sligo RFC/Grange PPS) Hugh Og Arnold (Sligo RFC/Summerhill) Iarlaith Martin (Carrick RFC/Roscrea) Jake Carr (Ballina RFC/St Muredachs) James Fox (Ballina RFC/St Muredachs) Jasper Gimena (Sligo RFC/Sligo Grammar) John Paul Flanagan (Sligo RFC/Summerhill) Killian O'Brien (Ballina RFC/Gortnor Abbey) Krystian Kopczynski-Fingh (Carrick RFC/Carrick CC) Oisin McCann (Ballina RFC/St Muredachs) Owen McNamara (Sligo RFC/Boyle ACC) Reuben Galvan (Sligo RFC/Sligo Grammar) Rian Costello (Carrick RFC/Carrick CC) Ronan Connolly (Carrick RFC/Drumshambo CS) Ronan Mullen (Sligo RFC/Sligo Grammar) Tom Ruane (Ballina RFC/St Muredachs) |
Adam Fahy (Tuam RFC/Holy Rosary Mountbellew) Brendon Witzl (Westport RFC/Rice College) Callum O'Grady (Westport RFC/Sancta Maria) Cathal Coyne (Tuam RFC/St Jarlaths) Cian Hynes (Tuam RFC/St Jarlaths) Cian Silke (Westport RFC/Rice College) Corey Kelly (Tuam RFC/St Jarlaths) Ethan Higgins (Claremorris RFC/St Colmans) Ethan Moran (Castlebar RFC/Balla) Felix Zeray (Westport RFC/Rice College) Fiachra Kinsella (Westport RFC/Rice College) Fionn McNicholas (Castlebar RFC/Swinford) Jack Danagher (Westport RFC/Rice College) Jake Tunney-Ware (Westport RFC/Rice College) Kian Feerick (Ballinrobe RFC/Ballinrobe CS) Luke Cox (Westport RFC/Sancta Maria) Maidhc Og Staunton (Ballinrobe RFC/Tourmakeady) Mathew Malleney (Westport RFC/Rice College) Mirran Saman (Dunmore RFC/Dunmore CS) Nathaniel Cooney (Claremorris RFC/St Nathys) Oisin Hernon (Corrib RFC/Pres College Headford) Reuben McGuire (Westport RFC/St Geralds) Rian Murray (Tuam RFC/ St Jarlaths) Ronan Hett (Claremorris RFC/Dunmore CS) Ross O'Connor (Westport RFC/Rice College) Shane Horan (Ballinrobe RFC/Ballinrobe CS) |
Andrew Cotton (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College) Cian Kiernan (Creggs RFC/CBS Roscommon) Cian Trimble (Creggs RFC/CBS Roscommon) Ciarán West (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College Athlone) Conor Diffley (Creggs RFC/CBS Roscommon) Daniel Fleming (Creggs RFC/CBS Roscommon) Daniel Kelly (Creggs RFC/Colaiste Mhuire Ballygar) Darragh Glennon (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College) Donal Nugent (Loughrea RFC/St Raphaels) Emmanuel Olanrewaju (Ballinasloe RFC/Garbally College) Euan McKeigue (Ballinasloe RFC/Garbally College) Evin Claffey (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College) Harry Kilcoyne (Creggs RFC/CBS Roscommon) Heshan Bowatte (Loughrea RFC/St. Brigid's College) Hugo Hannan (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College) Hugo McGowan Jack Finn James Kelly (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College) Kaylum Curran (Creggs RFC/Castlerea Community School) Nathan Kelly (Buccaneers RFC/Gallen CS) Oisin O Donoghue (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College) Oliver Burns (Ballinasloe RFC/Garbally College) Owen Egan (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College) Peter Bourke (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College) Philip Finnan (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College) Robert Bligh (Creggs RFC/Castlerea Community School) Rory Gallagher (Loughrea RFC/St Raphaels) Ruairi Dolan (Buccaneers RFC/Athlone Community College) Rueben Colleran (Buccaneers RFC/Marist College) |
Barry Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Coláiste Iognaid) Brian McHugh (Corinthians RFC/Coláiste Bhaile Chláir) Conor Dalton (Galway Bay RFC/Coláiste Éinde) Conor O'Reilly (Galwegians RFC/Coláiste Iognaid) Dara O'Coilean (Galwegians RFC/Coláiste Na Coiribe) Daragh Walsh (Corinthians RFC/Coláiste Éinde) Dylan Curran (Galway Bay/Coláiste Chroí Mhuire) Eric Grealish (Corinthians RFC/Coláiste Bhaile Chláir) Ethan Brennan (Monivea RFC/Clarin College, Athenry) Gabriel Timothy (Corinthians RFC/Coláiste Bhaile Chláir) Glaisne Mac Reamoinn (Corinthians RFC/Coláiste Chroí Mhuire) Harry Fox (Corinthians RFC/Calasanctius) James Higgins (Galway Bay RFC/St Jospehs College, The Bish) James Siva (Galway Bay RFC/St Jospehs College, The Bish) Jamie Burke (Monivea RFC/Clarin College, Athenry) Jason Francis (Galway Bay RFC/Coláiste Muire Máthair) John Brendan McDonnell (Galway Bay RFC/St Jospehs College, The Bish) Johnny Lyons (Gort RFC/Gort Community School) Joseph Healy (Monivea RFC/Presentation College, Athenry) Luke McEvoy (Galway Bay RFC/Coláiste Éinde) Luke Molloy (Corinthians RFC/Presentation College, Athenry) Marcus Manning (Connemara/Oughterard RFC/Clifden Community College) Noah Huban (Corinthians RFC/Seamount College) Oisin O'Connell (Galwegians RFC/St Jospehs College, The Bish) Ronan Diviney (Gort RFC/Gort Community School) Rowan Dempsey (Galway Bay RFC/Coláiste Éinde) Shane Lally (Monivea RFC/Presentation College, Athenry) Tomas Higgins (Corinthians RFC/Coláiste Bhaile Chláir) |
