Judo to give Gloucester added edge

GLOUCESTER’S pre-season preparations have been given a lift from an unlikely source – judo champion Dave Kavanagh.

Kavanagh, a former jujitsu world champion and current judo world masters bronze medallist, has put the Gloucester players through a six-week training programme.

I have given them body mechanics to suit their needs. I gave them specific judo skills, and then told them to use them on a rugby pitch,” said Kavanagh.

“The judo skills were about helping a player to move an opponent to free up the ball for a second player. The skills they’ve learnt will help them control the opposition players.

“Of the 20 players that I trained regularly, I believe that at least 19 could achieve a black belt if they were to take up the sport seriously when they finish playing rugby. They are athletes who learn very quickly.”

The idea to utilise Kavanagh’s expertise came from Gloucester’s fitness and skills coach Rudi Meir.

“We didn’t want to teach the players to be judo players but we wanted to talk to a massively-experienced judo coach about areas of contact in rugby where he would have highly-tuned skills that might be applicable to us,” said Meir.

“What you see on the pitch, in terms of the physical confrontation, is usually not very subtle.

“It is about me being stronger than you, and just dominating you physically to get you out of the way for me to get hold of the ball, or keep the ball or change the point of attack.

“What we have tried to get through to the players is that there may be times when this is still the case, but if you can go into a physical confrontation situation and you have some skills where you think a bit more about what you do, and you have some specific techniques that you can use, it can make you much more effective and uses much less energy in the process.”

Roly Meates is to remain with Leinster, having turned down an offer from the Scottish national team.

Leinster Rugby chief executive Mick Dawson welcomed the announcement yesterday: “Leinster are delighted to have retained the invaluable services of Roly Meates.

“Once approached by Scotland, Roly informed the Leinster Branch, and he kept us fully briefed on his discussions at all times.

“Roly has told us that he is looking forward to the new season and working with Gary Ella and Willie Anderson.

“All in Leinster are looking forward to Gary Ella’s arrival this week. We now have our squad finalised and our coaching team complete.

“Our first pre-season game against Gloucester is just over two weeks away and we look forward to a successful season.” Dawson concluded.

Leinster Lions Squad: Forwards: Niall Breslin, David Blaney, Emmett Byrne, Shane Byrne, Reggie Corrigan, Victor Costello, Peter Coyle, Leo Cullen, Des Dillon, Ben Gissing, Keith Gleeson, Gavin Hickie, Shane Jennings, Aidan Kearney, Aidan McCullen, Eric Miller, Darren Molloy, Malcolm O’ Kelly, Niall Treston.

Backs: Felipe Contepomi, Gordon D’Arcy, Girvan Dempsey, Derek Hegarty, Denis Hickie, Shane Horgan, Matthew Leek, Kieran Lewis, John McWeeney, James Norton, Brian O’ Driscoll, Brian O’ Meara, Brian O’ Riordan, David Quinlan, Christian Warner.

Development Contracts: John Lyne and Niall Ronan