Elwood and Foley set to unleash Wolfhounds on Scotland and Saxons

RISING coaching stars Eric Elwood and Anthony Foley have been given the reins of the Ireland Wolfhounds team for two A internationals in the new year.

The new coaching ticket for the games against Scotland A and England Saxons in late January and early February boasts 97 Ireland caps in total. Elwood, in his first season as Connacht head coach, won 35 of those caps and scored 296 points and was yesterday named as Wolfhounds’ head coach, with current Munster defence coach Foley named forwards coach.

“I am delighted to take up this role and to be getting the opportunity to work with such a wide group of players at international level again,” Elwood said. “I know from my time with the Ireland U20 team that there is nothing more satisfying then bringing players together and to help prepare them to represent their country. It will be great to work with my old team-mate Axel (Foley) as both of us have progressed onto the other side of the game as coaches.”

Elwood and Foley will work closely with Ireland head coach Declan Kidney and his management team to prepare the Wolfhounds for games against Scotland A on Friday, January 28 in Galashiels and the England Saxons at Ravenhill seven days later on February 4.

“The exposure of Ireland players to top-class opposition at international level is important for not only the development of the players themselves, but also to have them prepared and primed to step into the senior team, particularly from the timing of our matches, in terms of the RBS Six Nations Championship,” Elwood added.

“I will be working with Declan in terms of getting the best out of the players and impressing on them that the Wolfhounds team will be another opportunity to press their claims for a place in the Ireland team.”

A delighted Foley pointed to the development opportunities for players and coaches alike that the Wolfhounds provided.

“Both myself and Eric are young coaches, so I think it is an exciting chance for both of us to pass over some knowledge to the players we work with but also learn from them,” Foley said. “The Wolfhounds is always seen as a stepping stone for players, as the recent history of the side has shown, but from my own development as a coach, it’s a chance to broaden my experience across other parts of preparing a team. I’m looking forward to it.”

Joining Elwood and Foley on the Wolfhounds management team is manager Joey Miles.