Tucker’s U-17s up for challenge
THE Connacht U17s took on Munster U17s in the UL Sport Arena last week in a challenge game that allowed both sides to use the full 30 players in their squads.
Connacht were the clear winners but regardless of the scoreline, the purpose of this fixture was to allow the coaches to get a closer look at the talent on show.
Commenting after the game, head coach Colm Tucker said that he is satisfied with the progress his squad are making.
“This is a great fixture for the guys to test themselves against their peers, it is an opportunity for players to demonstrate their core skills in a highpressure environment and offers a chance for the squad to gel as a team as well,” he said.
“The result of these challenge matches is largely irrelevant, all our emphasis is on the development of the players and how they react to different situations and, from that point of view, it has been an incredibly successful day.”
With one eye on the upcoming U-18 interprovincial Championship, Tucker explains the importance of player development.
“The majority of these players will go on to form the backbone of the Connacht U-18 team that will face these Munster players in the more formal U-18 Interprovincial Championship this coming autumn and matches such as this are the best possible preparation.”
The next challenge the Connacht U17s will face will be at the end of March when they take on the Sale Sharks Academy U17 as part of their Easter tour to North Wales.