Building on the dream in Connacht

Rugby was played in a different era for Willie Ruane. Back in the late 1990s, the battle between professional and amateur rugby was the tale of the decade for the IRFU and the other three provinces.

In Connacht it was still just a game largely restricted to the minority and amateur in every sense. The game was largely restricted to Galway city and a few of outposts like Monevea, Clifden, Ballina and Sligo. Ruane played full back on a Ballina team breaking into the AIL. His career was capped by a Barbarians appearance but while the club struggled, underage talents like Gavin Duffy and Peter Durcan emerged. Again professionalism interfered.

Neither would play at the top level for the club, instead careers with Connacht and Montauban beckoned. Just like a career in banking took Ruane on a different path. The difference was his travels were not permanent. A job in Sligo in Ulster Bank’s business restructuring division allowed him to buy a house in Foxford, just outside his home town, where he still lives. Sucked back into the club, he was coaching mini rugby for a few years before helping the U14s win a Connacht title last season. Last year he was interviewed about taking over the Connacht Rugby chief executive role. It meant a two and a half hour round trip to Galway on a good day and, given the strenuous nature of the position, a few overnight stays each week too. It was too good an offer to turn down.

But having seen how fragile rugby in the province once was, he’s knows the professional route alone will not create a rugby tradition in largely rural GAA country.

“There’s a long-term development plan for the region and that’s ultimately the task for us along with IRFU to carry out,” he said. “Professionalism mixes in with that and provides an outlet for exposure at the highest level. That profile drives participation. When I’m down at U8s and U7s training in Ballina, those guys are talking about Gavin Duffy and Robbie Henshaw. It’s a circle. We want as many people playing in Connacht. We genuinely believe the values are worthwhile and you can see that on the ground. Professionalism plays a key role. They can make a career out of it and it’s not just about Connacht. They can go on and play for Ireland and the Lions. To be able to achieve that within your own region, it’s a hugely powerful card for guys. For little kids to see that within geographical touching distance is huge. These guys don’t have to leave home to become top professionals.”

While acknowledging none of the provinces are likely to be self-sufficient anytime soon, Connacht perhaps possess the greater scope for development, given how low the starting base once was. A look at the schools competitions in the past 15 years tells that story alone. Whereas back in 1999, just six schools regularly played rugby, now they can boast an active number of 28 and it’s still growing.

“Last year saw a 20% increase in schools participation, which is a considerable jump. We had a summer camp in Carrick-on-Shannon with over 70 kids. Claremorris is another place really developing. Erris is providing kids for blitzes now. There are areas developing that are not regarded as hotbeds of rugby and there is a lot for appetite for more. But we’ve got to be able to deliver better.”

His early days in the job have shown him that can be achieved due to a recurring attitude prevalent at every level — ambition.

That also means challenges for him too though. To deliver on that goal, then he must ensure the correct structures are in place, at every level.

“We need to find out how to convert that. We want to develop world-class systems and structures. It won’t happen overnight but we have to because we are competing against teams that do.

“What we need to do in every area is to reach that standard. Whether that’s on the pitch, more numbers coming through our underage setup or supplying more players for the Irish squads.

“We’re closely aligned to that as it’s part of the IRFU strategic plan and we need to be doing that. We have been doing it but we want to continue to do that.

“We want the clubs to grow participation levels and develop future stars. We want to work on best practice, increase our sponsorship which is at the highest ever level but it’s not enough.

“We want to strengthen our links with community... We’re not just a Galway team, and you could see that in our recent visits to Sligo and Ballinrobe. The management team get that. They understand they represent Connacht.

“We also need to develop facilities. It’s something we’re looking closely at. We need facilities that allow us to grow, from a commercial point of view.”

A move away from the Sportsgrounds then, at some stage?

“It’s not something that’s high on the agenda. We want to see how to make it commercially viable. This is our home. That’s what we’re looking at.”