Two young players from Carlow Rugby Club are embarking on exciting foreign assignments following their graduation from Carlow IT’s Sport Science faculty.
Ross Elmes of Ardriston, former captain of the Carlow J1 side, is heading to French Top 14 Club Grenoble this week as a Player Performance Analyst. Grenoble already has Carlow native Bernard Jackman as Head Coach.
John Farrell of Kilcoole Rathoe, who played hooker for Carlow J1 side last season, is heading even further afield as he takes up a training and fitness measurement post with the National rugby sides in Georgia. John, who studied Sports Science in Waterford IT, recently completed a Masters Degree in Sports Performance from Carlow IT. He is due to travel to Georgia in about two weeks where he will work with the Senior men, Under 20 men and also the Women’s team.
Both contracts are to run for the next rugby season but are open to renewal.
While Ross Elmes has been taking a crash course in French and is expected to continue studying the language in France, John Farrell is not under the same pressure to learn the Georgian language.
The National rugby teams in Georgia operate through English. They already have a number of New Zealanders on the coaching team.
John Farrell has operated as a performance analyst with Carlow’s county Gaelic football team. Ross Elmes has held a similar position with Wexford’s county Gaelic football side.
Performance analysing and fitness measurement is based on video analysis and GPS measurement of a player’s on field activity. This is new technology that both players have studied. The new Netwatch sponsored gym installed last season in Carlow Rugby Club’s clubhouse at Oakpark also played an important role in the career development of both Carlow players.
Ross Elmes secured the Grenoble contract following his first class honours degree from Carlow IT and contact between the College and Bernard Jackman. When asked if he intends to play rugby in France, he said that he would try to try playing with an amateur team that is fielded by Grenoble.
John Farrell saw the Georgian post advertised on line and was successful following a number of interviews for the post.