Kiwi Josh is Sligo’s new head coach

RUGBY: The new head coach of Sligo RFC’s first XV is New Zealander Josh Reeves. From Christchurch, New Zealand, Reeves has over 30 test caps with Brazil, having been a full-time player and coach in Brazil since 2015.

The 30-year-old, pictured, who turns 31 in August, played for Dublin club Wanderers in the AIL during the 2011-12 season and he also coached at St Andrew’s College in the capital.

He has played in America’s Utah Warriors in the Major Rugby League and with Brazil’s Cobras in the first season of SLAR (Superliga Americana de Rugby), a professional rugby competition in South America.

His international appearances have included games against Maori All Blacks, the Barbarians and an 18-point haul against Canada in the Americas Rugby Championship.

The appointment of Reeves, who will also be on Sligo’s first XV playing roster as an outhalf, was welcomed by Sligo RFC’s Director of Rugby Michael O’Hehir, who said: “We are excited about the arrival of Josh.”

“We feel that his experience and enthusiasm will be of a massive benefit to our club, both on and off the pitch.”

Reeves is the latest

New Zealand native to take charge of Sligo RFC’s footsteps – previous head coaches from the Southern Hemisphere include

Simon Galvan and Paddy

Pearson.

The new head coach moves to Sligo in August, following three Rugby World Cup qualifiers for Brazil, and will be accompanied by his wife Ana and their son Matias.

Meanwhile, Sligo’s rugby community have extended good wishes to Mark Butler on his departure to Australia. Butler spent almost two decades in Sligo RFC’s first XV.

Elsewhere, open trials for the

Connacht Senior women’s team, whose head coach is Sligo man Ross Mannion, are taking place this Saturday, May 29, at the home of Galwegians RFC (1pm-3pm). Players who wish to attend should complete an online form on the

Connacht Rugby website.