NOEL ON A ROLL

Ireland U20 coach continuing to make waves in game

IN different circumstances, Noel Mcnamara could have been guiding Ireland under-20s to back-to-back Grand Slams in Perpignan last night.

The postponement of the Italy and France games has put paid to that ambition for the time being at least.

Mcnamara will now lose some of the players who helped get the team this far – wins over Wales, Scotland and England securing another Triple Crown – as they move out of the age grade and up to senior level.

But he is philosophical about the situation and said: “That may well be part of it, if it is so be it. The reality is that we talk about adaptation, talk about how you respond to setbacks as a key part of the development journey. There’s no doubt that that has been tested more so this year than any other.

“If that happens we will be delighted to see the lads go on and play with their province and it will be an opportunity for someone else to step up.”

Mcnamara, who picked up the Signify Manager of the Month award for

February, is an interesting character.

The Clareman never played professional rugby but is regarded as one of the brightest young coaches in the country. He was a PE and maths teacher who, as a final year student in UL, began coaching with Glenstal Abbey.

From there he moved on to Clongowes, guiding the Kildare school to four senior cup finals and two wins in 2010 and 2011.

Mcnamara also led UCD RFC to the Leinster Senior Cup and into the AIL play-offs. At international level he has coached across a number of age grades while also being the assistant boss with the Leinster A team. “I suppose I’m a typical PE teacher,

I’m pretty passionate about sports full stop,” said Mcnamara. “One of the best things I did over the last 12 months was visiting Willie Mullins’ yard down in Carlow.

“When you talk high-performance environment, that’s an outstanding example of how to prepare, train and get better. I taught Willie’s son Paddy in school, he was a good middle-distance runner.

“You try and learn from other sports. I’d be interested in Gaelic games. Soccer I was passionate about, always. American sports have been professional a long time and there’s a lot you can learn from those.

“You can learn from everything really, you can learn from the migrating habits of geese if you want to.”

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TABLE TOPPERS Noel Mcnamara with some of his talented U20 players last month TOP OPERATOR Horse racing trainer Willie Mullins