Leinster Rugby vs DHL Stormers

Director of
Rugby Norman
Byrne is 30
years into a
love affair
with DLSP.
Club in
Focus
BY DES BERRY
dlsp
Photo: John Crothers
“The club is ingrained in me. I
joined as a player in 1993. I even
played in the first match DLSP
played in the All-Ireland League
back in 1995,” he says.
“I captained the club in 1996/97. I have
been involved as a player, a coach and
a member ever since, becoming the
Director of Rugby on a full-time basis in
November 2018.
“I feel very fortunate to be part of such
a wonderful rugby club, which is like an
extended family.”
The various roles Norman immersed
himself into over the years provided a
great vantage point to observe and to
understand the complexities of the club.
“Because I know the club as well as I
do, I was in a position to work with great
people in all levels of the club to evolve
the revised strategy which we have been
implementing in recent years.
“It is very much a community-based
club, evolving even more in that direction
as the residential population of the city
has grown out towards Stepaside and
Enniskerry.
“We are one of a few rugby clubs that
have facilities in the area. We just had to
get our strategy right.”
80 | www.leinsterrugby.ie