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Senior Men's Coaching Panel

NiallSmullen.jpg
StephenDuffy.jpg
JamesNolan.jpg
KarlMoran.jpg

The executive committee is delighted to be able to announce the senior coaching team for the 2020/21 season.

 

Niall Smullen (left) has been appointed Head Coach, stepping up from the assistant coach role he held last season. Niall played for Salmo with distinction for a number of years and has held a number of club and school coaching roles since his playing retirement. He will have overall responsibility for the senior squad, directing his group of coaches while working directly with the players and liasing with, and supporting, the other coaches across the adult club teams.

Niall will be supported by assistant coaches Stephen Duffy (second from left) and James Nolan (third from left), who will each also play for the club. Stephen, who has represented Leinster Juniors, joins from Wicklow RFC and he will have coaching responsibility for kicking and backs defence. James, who represented Leinster at underage and junior levels, moves to Salmo from Gorey RFC and will take up coaching responsibilities for backline attack and skills.

The above group will be further assisted by Karl Moran (right), another of our ex-players, who will focus on breakdown and backrow defence work, whilst also having a remit with the club’s Under 20 squad.

Niall Smullen: “It’s an honour to be head coach of Salmo, a club I really enjoyed playing with for 6 great seasons. I believe that with the quality coaching group that we’ve assembled, overseeing a young, talented and ambitious squad, we can represent the entire club with pride and distinction in the coming season. And with the club fully behind this group of players, success will hopefully follow soon.”

 

Norman Byrne, Director of Rugby: “I’m delighted that Niall has taken on the role of head coach, which he has already embraced and pushed ahead with. The group of assistant coaches bring fresh eyes to the club, and each will bring different core coaching skills to the equation.

 

"I strongly believe that the approach we have taken to putting the coaching group together is a new and exciting one, which will bear fruit for us and allow both our players, and the coaches themselves, to develop in a challenging but rewarding environment."

We have a very exciting squad of players, comprised of those who were in the senior and metro squads last season, the majority of last season’s successful Under 20s, and some quality additions to the group: Enda Dowling, Andrew Sweeney, Shane McGuire are all joining Salmo, whilst Ronan Costelloe and Luke Moran are coming back to play with us again. I’ve no doubt that under Niall’s leadership, this group will have a really enjoyable and successful season."

Finally, everyone at the club would like to take the opportunity to thank Massey Tuhakaraina for all his efforts in his 5 years with Salmo, and to wish him all the very best for the future both professionally and personally.

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