Lead Athletic Development Coach, Men's U20's

About the Role

The Lead Athletic Development Coach will lead athletic development for the Ireland Men's U20s, designing and delivering athletic development and sport science support for players during national camps and competition windows. The role is part-time, approximately 100 days per year on a one-year fixed term contract, covering national camps on set dates in November and December 2026 and January and February 2027, and competition windows including the U20s Men's Six Nations 2027 and the Junior World Cup 2027. The postholder reports operationally and functionally to the Head of Athletic Performance & Science at the IRFU and works closely with national and provincial performance staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and deliver the U20s athletic development programme for each camp and campaign, including training, recovery and match preparation.
• Individualise each player's programme to their athletic profile and development needs, aligned to their province.
• Coach players directly in the gym and on the pitch.
• Prepare players physically to perform at their best in every U20s camp and campaign, and build the physical qualities they need to thrive in the professional game.
• Work closely with provincial performance staff to support the successful transition of players in and out of camp.
• Build a thorough understanding of each provincial academy and pathway, including structures, staff, programme content and channels of communication.
• Liaise with provincial athletic development staff before and after each assembly to keep every player's programme aligned.
• Work with rugby, medical, nutrition and psychology staff to implement player development plans.
• Implement athletic performance testing, training and game-time monitoring in line with IRFU National Standards, and run daily player monitoring, raising any welfare concerns promptly with the relevant staff.
• Record, collate and report U20s training, testing and game-time data, and share player profiles and data visualisations with players and coaches to give them clear, reliable insights for their decisions.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Degree or Higher National Diploma in physical education, human movement, or exercise and sports science.
• At least three years in an athletic performance (strength and conditioning) role in elite or professional rugby; candidates from other elite sports may be considered.
• Applied knowledge of the physical, psychological, technical and tactical demands of rugby.
• Experience profiling and screening athletic qualities to inform individual programmes.
• Proven coaching and programming of general and rugby-specific strength and power.
• Proven coaching and programming of speed, including plyometrics, linear speed and multidirectional speed, integrated with rugby movement skills.
• Proven coaching and programming of rugby-specific conditioning, integrated within rugby training.
• Proven programming for injury risk reduction and return to play.
• Proven planning of recovery and regeneration.
• Evidence of working in an interdisciplinary team and sharing responsibility for player development.
• Eligibility to live and work in Ireland.

Preferred Skills

• Postgraduate degree (MSc or PhD) in physical education, human movement, or exercise and sports science.
• Recognised strength and conditioning certification (e.g. NSCA, UKSCA, ASCA).
• Experience working with developmental players on an elite player pathway.
• Experience collecting and managing GPS data.
• Experience in player monitoring and workload management.
• Recognised First Aid and CPR certification.

Workplace

• Part-time role of approximately 100 days per year.
• One-year fixed term contract.

Salary

• Salary is dependent on experience.

Benefits & Perks

• 22 days basic annual leave entitlement.
• Family friendly policies.
• Health insurance from the first day.
• Birthday leave.
• Education assistance programme.
• IRFU Group Scheme offering discounts from brands and retailers.
• Wellness initiatives, including self-care leave.
• Bike to work scheme.