Last month (November 2018), the Colts Head Coach and Transition Officer, Matt Ratana, from East Grinstead Rugby Football Club (EGRFC), was given a once in a life time opportunity to meet and observe a closed rugby training session with the most successful rugby union team in the world, Ireland.

The EGRFC Colts Coach headed off to Carton House, situated just outside of Dublin, a facility dedicated to being the best sports training centre for professional teams in Europe. Spending the day together, Matt, originally born in New Zealand, spoke with Ireland’s Head Coach, Joe Schmidt and Defence Coach, Andy Farrell, OBE, about the Irish victory, the progress of Ireland and their respective plans after the RWC 2019.

Talking about the trip, Matt Ratana said: “It was a privilege to be allowed into Ireland’s camp and speak with both coaches over lunch about their respective principles on attack and defence, as well as chat with players and other members of the coaching staff. You can but imagine the level of detail they go into in relation to all aspects of the game. I was certainly left with many new ideas and inspired to incorporate some into the work we do at EGRFC.”

“I asked Joe Schmidt if he had a key piece of advice to share with me, to which he replied, ‘look out there today Matt, those players, some at the top of their game, were all buzzing, as it was fun, sharp, and they were still being challenged to be better’", Matt said.

The EGRFC Colts squad is the final step of the ladder as a junior rugby player and is a vitally important time in the transition from junior to senior rugby. EGRFC strive to help young players progress to whatever level of rugby they want to, whether that is as a first or third team player or playing rugby at university.

Andy Poole, President of EGRFC said: “As a Colts Coach, there are two important roles to focus on. Firstly, to help players develop technically, tactically, physically, emotionally and cognitively to ensure that they can compete and enjoy their rugby within the Colts setting. Secondly, to help senior coaches identify players and opportunities for players to play senior rugby when they don't have Colts commitments. This is a great way for them to feel part of the senior club before they finish the Colts and over the past few years has proved to be a great introduction for a number of young players who have subsequently progressed through the senior teams”.

EGRFC was delighted to be presented with two official playing shirts, signed by the everyone in the squad and management team, both of which will be auctioned by the club for a very worthy cause close to their hearts, during a special pre-match lunch on Saturday 15 December 2018.

EGRFC Colts & Senior Training takes place every Tuesday and Thursday night, from 7.00pm until 9.00pm, at East Grinstead Rugby Football Club, Saint Hill Road, East Grinstead RH19 4JU. If you are interested in getting involved in the world’s greatest sport, please email operations@egrfc.com or visit www.egrfc.com.

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Matt is originally from the Hawke's Bay New Zealand. He was educated at Palmerston North Boy's High School where his passion for the game grew at a school which has produced a number of All Blacks as well as being consistently competitive within New Zealand Secondary Schools Rugby. Whilst at Otago University he played club rugby for Ravensbourne RFC in the Dunedin premiership competition. Having travelled to the UK in 1989 he played for London Irish RFC and over the preceding years played for a number of West London clubs.

Ireland Rugby Union Team - Winners of three Six Nations Championships, and last month (Nov 18) recorded their first ever home win over Joe Schmidt’s home nation side, the All Blacks.

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Andy Farrell (Defence Coach of Ireland Rugby), EGRFC Matt Ratana (EGRFC Colts Head Coach and Transition Officer), Joe Schmidt (Head Coach of Ireland Rugby) - Gifted signed EGRFC shirt.

Media enquiries: Milly O’Ryan, EGRFC, 01342 322338 - milly@egrfc.com