Nucifora finally gets IRFU stamp of approval

Former Wallaby hooker David Nucifora will finally be unveiled as the IRFU’s new Performance Director tomorrow at a press conference at the Aviva Stadium.

Nucifora held a similar position with the Australian Rugby Union until late December and his CV also boasts spells as head coach with two Super Rugby franchises, the ACT Brumbies and Auckland Blues.

The 52-year old won the Super Rugby title with the former and counted a certain Joe Schmidt as one of his assistants at the latter before the current Ireland coach departed his native New Zealand to link up with Vern Cotter at Clermont Auvergne. His appointment is a belated one as IRFU officials admitted this time last year their preference would have been to appoint a Performance Director first and a senior coach second but events at the time dictated otherwise.

Nucifora’s brief is a wide-ranging one encompassing planning and evaluation, elite player and coach development, national team performance, provincial team performance, sports science and medical provision and the development of refereeing policy.