Update on Ulster Rugby Kukri Qualifying League 1 Coaching Teams & Player Movements 2014/15 by George Millar. Clubs finalised player / coach prep for commencement of the season 2014/15.
Ballyclare Rugby Club:
Head Coach: Chris Campbell
Assistant Coaches: Darren Best ( Forwards), Kris James ( Backs )
First XV Manager: Pete Kirk.
Captain: Robert Boyd.
Players in: strengthened squad. No details of players disclosed.
Players out: Andy Holmes (Armagh)
Ballymoney Rugby Club
Head Coach: Jason Taggart (Now entering his tenth season).
Number 8 Jonny Hanna is helping out with coaching while taking a year out following knee reconstruction.
Club Captain: Chris Beverland.
Players N/A this season: Incl James Cleland (family reasons), John Richmond ( retired due to injury), Andy Gardiner ( Work commitments). Former club Captain and prop Alex Houston ( Out due to back injury).
Players in: Chris Watson (Ballymena). Matthew Steele, Craig Anderson, David McKeeman ( Dalriada ). Sam Neilly ( Limavady Grammar ). Daniel McCord ( Cambridge House). Alan McBurney, Wesley Ferris, John McLean, Nathanial McCollum have progressed from the club under 19s to the senior squad.
Players out: Scott Nelson ( Banbridge).
Key players are Garvin Bellingham, Sam Kyle and Neal Mulholland who broke through last season along with experienced forwards Aidy Graham and Ryan Clyde as Ballymoney rebuild their 1st xv squad.
Bangor Rugby Club:
Head Coach: Rupert Preston.
Assistant coach: Jason Morgan.
Captain: Jamie Clegg.
Manager: Ricky Armstrong.
Players in: Jamie Ball ( Grosvenor), Oran McIImurray ( Belfast Harlequins), Mark Crockford (SUS), Gareth Irvine ( UUC).
Players out: None.
CIYMS Rugby Club:
Head Coach: Gareth Fry.
Assistant coaches: Davy Scott (Forwards), John Anderson (Backs)
Manager: Colin Farr, Captain Gavin Woods.
Players in: Harry Howard, Kyle Adams, Andy Pollack ( Belfast Harlequins),Tim Murphy ( Cooke), Elliott Boyd, Paddy Park ( Campbell College). Ben Robinson returning from Uni.
Players out: None.
Key second row forward Stevie McReynolds taking a year out for family reasons.
Clogher Valley Rugby Club:
Coaches: Glen Kyle and David Black. First xv Manager Richie Haire. Captain: Aaron Best.
Players in: Jack Stott ( Andover), Johnny Wright ( Dungannon), John Clarke ( Portora RS), Johnny McClure has returned to the club after working abroad. Second row Matthew Robinson returns after long term injury.
Players out: Stephen Baxter, Wayne Lyons ( Dungannon).
Cooke Rugby Club:
Head Coach: Colin Atkinson.
Assistant coaches: Rowan Frost, Philip Cartmill.
Players in: include four schoolboys, One returning student.
Players out: Tim Murphy ( CIYMS) plus two others- details not known.
Donaghadee Rugby Club:
Head Coach: Paul McKenzie.
Assistant coaches: John West, Jimmy McCoy, John Blewitt and Paddy McGrattan.
Manager: Peter Matthews.
Captain: Nigel Barker.
Players in: Chris Schofield.
Players out: David Murray and Rory Garnham.
Second row: Richard Martindale unavailable for season.
Dromore Rugby Club:
Head Coach: Graham Cloke.
Assistant coaches: De wet Bekker, Jeremy Ogle.
First XV Manager: Billy Savage.
Director of Rugby: Nigel Johnston.
Players in: none
Players out: Andrew Black: ( Malone).
Instonians Rugby Club:
Head Coach: Wilbur Leacock.
Assistant coaches: not known.
Players in: Robert Whitten, Paddy Pringle ( Queens)
Players out: Peter Stewart, Matthew McClelland ( Rainey OB)
Portadown Rugby Club:
Head Coach: Richard Hedley.
Assistant Coach: Ciaran O’Kane.
First XV Manager: Neil Irwin.
Captain: Johnny Holden.
Players in: Chris Cousens ( Dungannon), Brian Forristal ( Navan), Ross Jackson ( Glasgow Caledonian Uni), Luke Bush.
by George Millar
