Future of Munster rugby in Adams’ hands
Adams is the recently appointed manager of the Munster Rugby Academy, a body that has evolved from the former Irish Rugby Football Union Academy.
The national Academy, put in place a number of years ago, was relatively successful but, because it was administered from Dublin, was hard to identify with from a provincial perspective.
The current situation, which has allowed the scheme to expand two-fold, allows the provincial managers to have much more of a hands on role.
Adams explains: “The guys involved in this have been identified as potential professional players of the future and my job is to develop them to their full potential, on and off the field.
“These guys have a pretty heavy work schedule. Guys are studying science, civil engineering and the like, so it’s pretty time consuming. They have heavy work loads in their own right but they are contracted to Munster and Irish rugby so they have obligations to carry out.”
The players are committed to four physical sessions every week and they have access to a nutritionist who works with them on dietary requirements; they also have access to the senior team doctor and physiotherapist and the structure is in place to help them achieve.
Participants in the scheme are not highly paid but the money does compensate them for the hours they are required to put in, particularly during the off-season when the work-load is twice as heavy.
“You’re not talking big money but it does provide a huge opportunity for these players to enter a programme which will help them to achieve a lot more than they might otherwise expect.”
Ultimately, Adams expects to be working with up to 22 players on a three year cycle and even more at what he terms level one (invitation only but not contracted).
“Level one is aimed at 16- to 19-year-olds and it gives the chosen players an opportunity to hone their skills as well as learning about other aspects of a sporting life.
“The important thing about all of this is to ensure that young players emerge as highly skilled individuals in their various positions but it’s also essential that they are prepared for life. These guys, all rugby players, are only one injury from having their playing careers ended and it’s important therefore that they have something substantial to fall back. I think that’s really the beauty of this Academy scheme.
“It’s really my job to deliver these players in the best possible condition for the people responsible in Munster and Irish rugby.”
Munster coach Alan Gaffney sits on the management board that includes former Irish International and Lions player and manager Donal Lenihan.
Already, a profile of Munster’s senior side has been put together and potential weaknesses have been identified.
“We’re identifying players four years out that we see capable of filling gaps that will appear through natural progression. If that happens - and it should - in every province, then Irish rugby should ultimately reap the rewards.”
: Shane O’Connor (UCC/Cork Con. Studying Business); Frank Cogan (College of Commerce. Studying Auctioneering); Tomas O’Leary (UCC/Dolphin. Studying Arts); Richard Lane (UCC. Studying Accountancy); Breffni O’Donnell (UL/UL Bohemians. Studying Sports Science); Anthony Kavanagh (UL/Garryowen. Studying Public Administration).
: Ross Noonan (UCC, Studying Business); Mark Melbourne (Limerick IT/Garryowen. Studying Civil Engineering); Tom Gleeson (UCC. Studying Biochemistry); Duncan Williams (Cork IT/UCC. Studying Business and Recreation); Donnacha Ryan (UCC. Studying Commerce and Irish).
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