Rhys Ruddock

Well, I didn't actually play schools rugby in Ireland, so I went to secondary school in Wales and then England.

And I think from my recollection of what I experienced in the UK, it wasn't quite as sophisticated.

A very good level of rugby, but certainly in Ireland at the moment anyway, as the professional game takes strides in terms of technology and all those things, inevitably the schools rugby is kind of a little bit behind, but following that trajectory as well.

For coaches, probably a lot.

Me and Birna were just talking about outside sometimes, even just for coaches to feel like they've done their job.

You need to see all the video, the angles, and present meetings and things like that.

But I think for the kids, it definitely helps them to learn and progress, being able to watch games back and review their own performances, et cetera.

So it's definitely a big part, but they're out on the field four or five times a week training and working together.

Yeah.

Yeah, I think it definitely plays a role.

For instance, I'm in Newbridge College and we have S&C coaches very good, Ben, and he would help the guys really with understanding the basics that will set them up for the future and also allow them to perform at the moment.

So, like Ben has said, things like the carbohydrate and protein, fats, understanding what they actually are and how to implement that to get you ready to train and then back it up the next day, but also to perform in those big games around senior cup time as well.

Absolutely.

And also, you know, some lads would play a variety of different sports as well.

Yeah.

So their demands, you know, as young athletes training rugby, they might play GAA and maybe athletics.

So their demands are going to be huge in terms of the amount of food they're going to need to eat to allow them to perform.

I think so, yeah, massively for a number of reasons.

But there's certain sports that probably are more transferable.

Everyone always talks about Ireland and the GAA influence, the ability to, I suppose, that spatial awareness is a big one, but also fielding high balls.