Professional rugby coaching

Rugby Academy Ireland has a fantastic team of experienced, professional coaches who ensure that individual players receive the best rugby education possible across a range of disciplines.

Let us introduce you to some of the people you will meet…

Rugby Academy Founders

Dan Van Zyl

Dan, a former Springbok international player is recognised as a World Rugby educator. In Ireland he has coached Leinster U18, U19 and Woman’s teams as well as Irish students, Irish youths & AIL.

Johan Taylor

Johan was the Sri Lankan National coach winning 2 Asian Nations Cups and is also a World Rugby Educator. He is an IRB qualified coach, coached AIL in Ireland and was the head of rugby of the French ex coach, Phillipe Saint Andre Academy in France.

As a father, I could not have asked for a better man to be coaching my son.

Joe CarberyFather of Irish international Joey Carbery

Coaches and Tutors

Thinus Delport

Thinus Delport

Played: Lions, Gloucester, Worcester Warriors, Springbok
Coaching: Senior National Club Level
Commentator: Sky Sports
Initiatives for Youth Sport Trust and Dame Kelly Holmes Trust

Denis Fogarty

Ex Munster Rugby And Ireland A player
European Cup winner
ProD2 hooker of the year (France)
Provence Rugby Academy Coach 2016-2018

Nigel Hall Rugby Coach

Nigel Hall

Mentored by Mike Cron in Canterbury
Represented New Zealand Divisional Fifteen
Played Otago, Nottingham, Newport Gwent Dragons
Barbarians 4 Caps

Bernard Jackman - Rugby Academy Ireland coach

Bernard Jackman

Played Connacht, Leinster, Sale Sharks
Irish international player
Coached numerous Irish clubs
Coached FC Grenoble and Newport Dragons

Matt Jess

Exeter Chiefs as premiership winners
Represent England Counties
Only player to have played every minute in one premiership season
Director MSJ Coaching Ltd

Louis Ludik, Rugby Academy Ireland

Louis Ludik

Ulster player that played for Golden Lions and Natal Sharks in super rugby, Agen in France, Co Founder Rugby Rising

Simon Maisuradze

Represented Georgia in U/21 and Senior World Cup
Played in France incl. Clermont
High Performance Director Georgian Rugby Union

Will Matthews

Played for Wasps in Premiership as 18 year old
England 7s team on the World series for 3 seasons
Stage 4 Head coach in Ireland with Lansdowne FC

Allison Miller Rugby Academy Ireland Coach

Allison Miller

69 Irish Women 15's International Caps
Two Wold Cup 15's and 1 World Cup 7's
Irish 7's International Player
Women's Barbarian Representative

Johne Murphy

Johne Murphy

Played: Leicester, Munster and Ireland A
Player/coach AIL league
Senior SCT coach Newbridge College
Coach Irish Club international team

Billy Ngaweni

Billy Ngaweni

Pro player for 15 years
New Zealand Rugby League and Touch Rugby
Maori u20
Italy 7's
Ireland Touch Rugby Coach

Peter O'Donnell

Peter O'Donnell

World Rugby level 3 coach/IRFU stage 4
All Ireland League Head coach
Irish Womans assistant coach
Leinster u18 assistant coach
Throwing coach

Maz Reilly

Maz Reilly

1st Team coach with WAIL team Old Belvedere RFC, Leinster Metro U18 Girls Coach, Leinster Women’s Senior Coaching & Management Team

Mike Ross Rugby Coach

Michael Ross

61 Ireland Caps
152 Leinster appearances
AIL Coaching experience
Ireland Women’s Team Scrum Coach

Philippe Saint Andre

Philippe Saint Andre

Director of Rugby Montpellier
69 French Caps, Coach of Gloucester, Sale Sharks and Toulon French international coach.
Founder PSAacademies, Media Commentator.

Eoin-Sheriff

Eoin Sherriff

Played Irish U/20, Leinster, Saracens, London Irish & Barbarians.
London Scottish Lineout Coach
Coach Wanderers AIL
Leinster Juniors forwards and youth coach
Coach Wanderers & Presentation College Bray

Bobby Skinstad

Winner rugby World Cup 2007
Media commentator incl Sky sports
80/20 mindset program facilitator
International Motivational Speaker

Andre Snyman

Andre Snyman

Springbok who played both International 15s and 7s from 1996-2006
Glendale Raptors Coach in MLR
Head Rugby Coach at Hill House School Doncaster
Skill Development coach

Ben Swindlehurst, Rugby Academy Ireland

Ben Swindlehurst

Snr Cup Attack/Backs Coach Newbridge College
Glenstal Abbey Snr And Junior Coach
Munster Rugby Club Community Rugby Officer
Naas Skills Coach

Massey Tuhakaraina

Massey Tuhakaraina

Head Coach Sweden National 7's
Coach Belvedere SCT / De La Selle
New Zealand 7's player
New Zealand u19 as a player

Joe Walsh

Joe Walsh

RAI Video Analysist
SCT Forwards and Defence Coach Kings Hospital
Former Performance Analyst Ulster Womans and Lansdowne AIL
Director Skill Assessment Ireland

Tony Yapp Rugby Coach

Tony Yapp

England A, U21s
Exeter and Barbarian
Head coach Exeter university and Taunton Titans
Coach Dr Dave Alred kicking philosophy through "School of Kicking"

Rugby Academy Ireland is proud to work alongside: