Wicklow RFC’s senior Women’s team have been promoted to the Energia All Ireland League for the upcoming season when they will be competing amongst the top ten teams in the country for the first time in the club’s history. To help our players to prepare for this challenges the club have put together a very experienced coaching group to give the women the best possible backup towards preparing for life in the top flight.
The Coaching team will be led by last years Head Coach Jason Moreton. Jason previously coached the Pirates women’s rugby team 1994-96, winners Southland wide rugby competition 1995 -96. Southland Womens coach 1996-97,. Rathdrum senior men coach 2001 – 2006, Gorey Senior men coach 2007 – 2011, Clane senior Men coach 2011 – 2014, Trinity senior 2nd coach 2014 – 2015, Rathdrum women’s coach 2015 – 2019 and Last season was Head Coach as Wicklow won the Metro Cup, were safe in the playoff position in Leinster Division one when the shut down occurred and were looking forward to the Cup with confidence as the team were building Momentum. Jason said “Exciting times ahead with the Senior team continuing to achieve great results, we are all looking forward to new AIL season playing against the top 9 clubs in the Country. We have a very exciting coaching team now in place to help a great bunch of players achieve their full potential”
Jason is joined by assistant coaches Colin Younger and Mark Kinlan with Marian Earls taking on the strength and conditioning role. Colin played with Terenure and Old Wesley in the AIL and has also represented Leinster. He has been involved with Old Wesley as assistant coach in the AIL for 2 years. Colin has also coached a number of youth teams including both boys and girls sections in Wicklow. Previously was Senior Women’s head coach and is now assistant coach with our AIL team. Colin has attained the IRFU Level 2 Assistant Coach accreditation.Colin said ” I am really looking forward to the season that lies ahead for the squad in our first year in the AIL. We have a young squad of talented and ambitious players that cannot wait to go up against the best teams in Ireland. We have enjoyed great success over our relatively short history in the women’s leagues. We will have an enjoyable summer preparing for the challenge ahead.”
Mark will be joining this years coaching party as assistant coach and has been brought in to make use of his extensive knowledge to look after the forwards, like Colin he brings plenty of experience with him to this role. Mark has been assistant coach For Old Wesley 1st XV for 5 years – looking after the forwards and also in Old Wesley U20s head coach for 2 seasons. Since he returned to Wicklow he has coached various youth sides – both boys and girls – and is currently head coach of U17 boys team.When asked how he felt about joining the women’s set up Mark said “Having coached a number of the team previously,it’s an honour and a privilege to be asked to join the coaching team of the Wicklow Senior Women’s XV – especially as they embark on what promises to be a historic and ground breaking season for women’s rugby in Wicklow RFC. I’m really looking forward to next season.”
Marian Earls will also be joining us this season as our Strength and conditioning coach as we look to give the players the ideal platform to be at the very least as well prepared as any other side in the league. Marian is a UK Strength and Conditioning Accredited and Irish Sports Council Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach, with a BSc in Sport and Exercise Science and MSc in Strength and Conditioning from University of Edinburgh.Marian spent 4 years with the Irish Rugby Football Union as Head of Fitness for the Men’s and Women’s National Seven’s teams and the Irish Women’s Rugby team. In this role she has travelled the world on a European and World stage to Dubai, Sydney, Brazil, France, Las Vegas and Japan. Prior to taking on this Head of Fitness role, Marian led the Strength and Conditioning for the Connacht Rugby Academy having previous experience with the Scottish Rugby Union and Edinburgh Rugby. Adding weight to Marian’s coaching career is her 14 years as group and personal trainer within the fitness industry.I am really looking forward to working with a local team, that is Wicklow Rugby Club – Women’s Team to really push them to their limits and bring out their full physical potential. It is a really exciting time to build on the previous success of this team and work with this massively talented squad of players.
Brian Clarke – Club President welcomed the announcement. We are delighted with the team of coaches we have put in place. They are each of the highest calibre and we are extremely lucky to have such an experienced and accomplished team on board. The club is really looking forward to taking on another challenge as we step up to the top table in Irish women’s rugby. This group of girls are full of talent and ability, they have been unbelievably resilient as they progressed through the leagues to the AIL. They simply love a challenge and this forthcoming season is the biggest one yet. We look forward to the ongoing support of the club and wider community as we face into the season ahead. We can’t wait to get going.
