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New Coaching Staff 2017/18
Andrew Miller9 Jun 2017 - 17:49
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Finally they have arrived!!
After a long and difficult season Donaghadee Rugby Football Club are pleased to announce their new rugby structure for the upcoming 2017/18 season where they will look to rebuild and compete in the Ulster Rugby Championship Division 3.
The Club Council have re established a Rugby Committee to focus and guide the ON FIELD performance and development of the Club as a whole, with focus from Mini Rugby, up through the ever growing youth structure, to senior rugby and ultimately the 1st XV. DRFC Director of Rugby Andy Monson, ably flanked by past club Captains and Coaches Paul Blewitt and Chris Good see the relegation into Division 3 as an ideal opportunity to invest in the Youth of the Town and surrounding areas to develop and build a more sustainable, home grown, future for Donaghadee Rugby Club.
“The first role of this Rugby Committee is to put in place the coaching team for the senior club teams, and we are now in a place where we can announce the appointment of Connor McKee as DRFC Head coach for the coming season,” said Monson. “Connor will be backed by another young Dee man Rory Garnham who will be taking on a Strength and Conditioning role, with further focus on continuity and attacking plays.”
Connor is a born and bred Dee man, with his rugby roots laid in the mini rugby section at Donaghadee. Connor has played through the age grades at Bangor Grammar School culminating with 3 years on the schools 1st XV. At only 20 years of age Connor will be the youngest senior rugby Head Coach within the Ulster Leagues and is reportedly the youngest in the UK to hold his Level 1,2 & 3 coaching certificates. Currently studying Sport, Physical Activity and Health at Stranmillis University, Connor has spent the past few years coaching at ulster rugby summer camps and IRFU Camps of excellence, and is excited about furthering his coaching career in the senior game. As a Dee man at heart, Connor sees taking on a division 3 team as an ideal opportunity for growth, with aims and ambitions of developing both himself and this new group of players from Donaghadee Rugby Club back to the clubs recent highs of Division 1 and Junior Cup Success.
Rory, another born and bred Dee man, and Junior Cup winning player in the Dees 2011 success, is returning to the ranks following a few years in Australia where he has been gaining valuable experience coaching at the Sydney Boys High School. With a BSc Degree in Sports Coaching and Performance, Ror is a qualified level 2 coach and is hoping to complete his Level 3 within the next year whilst back at his home town club.
Andy Monson, Paul Blewitt and Chris Good have taken on assistant roles to share the workload and provide experience and backup whenever required from the Young Coaches. Andy, as Director of Rugby, brings a wealth of experience as both a player and coach, having been involved in rugby in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and closer to home playing everything from Butler Shield to All Ireland League 1. Paul, as Skills Coach, is the most capped player in the history of Donaghadee RFC, with 25 seasons of 1st XV rugby under his belt. Paul has been through good times and bad with DRFC and there is no better man , and no bigger club man, to guide the club back to winning ways and to provide the coaches with some hard fought experience. Chris, the Set Piece Consultant, a World Cup Winner with Ireland U19s has spent over 10 years tearing apart Scrums across the country, before settling into the town and rugby club at the Dee where he has been an invaluable asset, both as player, captain, and coaching the young aspiring front rowers of the club the techniques and dark arts of scrummaging.
The Rugby Committee and Coaching panel have been working hard over the past number of months on player recruitment, and have been encouraged by the number of new and old faces that are emerging and showing an interest in playing in the Red & Green next season. This influx of coaches and players, along with the heart and passion shown last season should be a good recipe for success when the ball is kicked off again in September 2017. We look forward to bringing winning rugby back to Donaldson Park. If you are an aspiring young player, fed up losing and want to become a part of something special, or if you are a just a social player or spectator wanting to get involved with your local rugby team – Donaghadee Rugby Club could be for you. Contact donaghadeerugby@gmail.com.
The Club Council have re established a Rugby Committee to focus and guide the ON FIELD performance and development of the Club as a whole, with focus from Mini Rugby, up through the ever growing youth structure, to senior rugby and ultimately the 1st XV. DRFC Director of Rugby Andy Monson, ably flanked by past club Captains and Coaches Paul Blewitt and Chris Good see the relegation into Division 3 as an ideal opportunity to invest in the Youth of the Town and surrounding areas to develop and build a more sustainable, home grown, future for Donaghadee Rugby Club.
“The first role of this Rugby Committee is to put in place the coaching team for the senior club teams, and we are now in a place where we can announce the appointment of Connor McKee as DRFC Head coach for the coming season,” said Monson. “Connor will be backed by another young Dee man Rory Garnham who will be taking on a Strength and Conditioning role, with further focus on continuity and attacking plays.”
Connor is a born and bred Dee man, with his rugby roots laid in the mini rugby section at Donaghadee. Connor has played through the age grades at Bangor Grammar School culminating with 3 years on the schools 1st XV. At only 20 years of age Connor will be the youngest senior rugby Head Coach within the Ulster Leagues and is reportedly the youngest in the UK to hold his Level 1,2 & 3 coaching certificates. Currently studying Sport, Physical Activity and Health at Stranmillis University, Connor has spent the past few years coaching at ulster rugby summer camps and IRFU Camps of excellence, and is excited about furthering his coaching career in the senior game. As a Dee man at heart, Connor sees taking on a division 3 team as an ideal opportunity for growth, with aims and ambitions of developing both himself and this new group of players from Donaghadee Rugby Club back to the clubs recent highs of Division 1 and Junior Cup Success.
Rory, another born and bred Dee man, and Junior Cup winning player in the Dees 2011 success, is returning to the ranks following a few years in Australia where he has been gaining valuable experience coaching at the Sydney Boys High School. With a BSc Degree in Sports Coaching and Performance, Ror is a qualified level 2 coach and is hoping to complete his Level 3 within the next year whilst back at his home town club.
Andy Monson, Paul Blewitt and Chris Good have taken on assistant roles to share the workload and provide experience and backup whenever required from the Young Coaches. Andy, as Director of Rugby, brings a wealth of experience as both a player and coach, having been involved in rugby in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and closer to home playing everything from Butler Shield to All Ireland League 1. Paul, as Skills Coach, is the most capped player in the history of Donaghadee RFC, with 25 seasons of 1st XV rugby under his belt. Paul has been through good times and bad with DRFC and there is no better man , and no bigger club man, to guide the club back to winning ways and to provide the coaches with some hard fought experience. Chris, the Set Piece Consultant, a World Cup Winner with Ireland U19s has spent over 10 years tearing apart Scrums across the country, before settling into the town and rugby club at the Dee where he has been an invaluable asset, both as player, captain, and coaching the young aspiring front rowers of the club the techniques and dark arts of scrummaging.
The Rugby Committee and Coaching panel have been working hard over the past number of months on player recruitment, and have been encouraged by the number of new and old faces that are emerging and showing an interest in playing in the Red & Green next season. This influx of coaches and players, along with the heart and passion shown last season should be a good recipe for success when the ball is kicked off again in September 2017. We look forward to bringing winning rugby back to Donaldson Park. If you are an aspiring young player, fed up losing and want to become a part of something special, or if you are a just a social player or spectator wanting to get involved with your local rugby team – Donaghadee Rugby Club could be for you. Contact donaghadeerugby@gmail.com.
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