Cricket Ireland today announced another important advance in its coaching structure with the appointment of Brian O'Rourke as Leinster Development Manager.
Cricket Operations Director Mark Garaway said: "We want to make the coaching role in Leinster consistent with everywhere else. We've got Jim Doran who is the Munster Development Manager, and Tim Simmonite and Ryan Eagleson in the North. Tim is working with club development, and Ryan with talent identification."
"By bringing Brian under the Cricket Ireland umbrella there are benefits for both parties, and it's a win-win situation as far as Irish cricket is concerned. Brian has done some brilliant work over the past 11 years, particularly in the area of player development. You only have to look at the Under 19 World Cup squad to see the results of some his hard work."
"His role isn't going to change a great deal - all the initiatives that he's carried out in his time with Leinster cricket, we're just going to link them up a little bit better, and make it more strategic. That way all the considerable effort that he's put in will bring considerable dividends for Irish cricket."
O'Rourke is delighted to be joining the Cricket Ireland staff saying: "It's a great move for me, and gives me the opportunity to continue the work that I've been carrying out since I started work with the Leinster Cricket Union." "I'm very proud of my work introducing cricket to schools - from nothing up to 100 primary schools as part of the 'school coaching visit' programme. The better schools play in the newly established Leprechaun Cup, which is a hard ball competition for 32 Primary schools."
"I've also been heavily involved in taking cricket into 'non traditional' areas, including many Gaelscoil (Irish-speaking schools). At Secondary school level, I continue to offer advice to PE teachers and assist with the continuing upgrading of playing and practice facilities."
O'Rourke has been instrumental in the successful Leinster Underage coaching programme for boys from Under 11's through to Under 19's, along with girls Under 11's through to Under 17's throughout the winter.
He has big plans for 2010 - he continues to grow the Leinster touring programme, with six tours planned to various tournaments in England. In the area of Coach Education - he will continue to offer courses for our coaches to attend and gain valuable knowledge, with more than 60 coaches a year going through this programme.
His work is not confined to Ireland and the UK - he has run four training camps In Mumbai for the more talented Leinster players, and he has developed extensive links with South Africa. As part of that link, eight boys travel there for a ten-week period as part of their transition year studies. Indeed Andrew Balbirnie was one of the more recent beneficiaries of this initiative.
O'Rourke concluded by saying: " I have established links with the provincial Boards in South Africa, and have an Under-15 tour there planned for February 2011. In addition, we have developed close ties with both Middlesex and Warwickshire, bringing a number of players over for coaching and playing opportunities.
"On the domestic front, I'm particularly keen to help new clubs form and enter the Leinster leagues - at the moment I'm assisting Adamstown, Dundalk and Clonnee, and hopefully there will be many more. I'd love to hear from potential new clubs - my e mail is brian.rourke@irishcricket.org"
