Munster Rugby v Leinster Rugby Match Programme

"Trying to support the excellent club volunteers
who put their hands up as COVID safety officers
and compliancy officers in clubs, giving them
really clear messages and taking away any
confusion was a big part of what we tried to do."
During this time, the staff within the Rugby
Development Department visited clubs
and schools throughout the province to
demonstrate what kind of sessions could be run
whilst maintaining and adhering to government
guidelines.
"We went in and we showed the clubs the stuff
we had been preaching that we felt was allowed
through the guidelines. We got into some
player development stuff as well in late July
and in August. Again, I think because people
had been away from the game for so long there
was a huge buzz of being back and the young
players we brought in enjoyed it. The staff went
to clubs and worked there and showcased what
could be done for the non-contact sessions
and how you look after pods and the cleaning
of the equipment. Stuff that has now become
second nature but at the time was very new to
everybody involved."
getting an opportunity to get back to what the
Rugby Development Department normally do
- creating a positive rugby experience in the
province for anyone who wants to play or be
involved in the sport.
"We have a huge amount of time to reflect on
how we did our business as a staff and as a
department. We've done a lot of that. We had a
lot of stuff lined up and ready to get back to but
we're still playing that reaction game to COVID
numbers and to government announcements.
"We want to get everybody back out playing that
wants to play the game. Get back to what we
normally do which is to give people who haven't
played the game of rugby an opportunity to
play in a safe environment and create a good,
positive rugby experience for them so that they
want to play the game and get involved in it as
much as possible. Be that in their school or in
their club."
Due to the nature of the pandemic and the everchanging
situation surrounding what is or is
not permissible, the roll-out of online webinars
and other coaching resources were a key part
of the strategy from the Rugby Development
Department.
"Keith Murphy and his team of coach and player
development and rugby development officers,
they have done a huge amount of work online to
get messages out because that is the new way
of getting messages out through Webinars and
coaching content online. That has been really
important and I know that again, coaches out
in the clubs and schools have found that very
useful."
Looking ahead to 2021, McMahon is hoping
that a more traditional domestic season isn't
too far away and he is looking forward to
"Trying to support the excellent
club volunteers who put their
hands up as COVID safety
officers and compliancy officers
in clubs, giving them really clear
messages and taking away any
confusion was a big part of what
we tried to do."
MUNSTER v LEINSTER | 23.01.21 | THOMOND PARK
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