Rugby star Andy Ward becomes fitness coach at Antrim

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/15151155.stm

Think this is good to see, the other provinces do more GAA cross over than us, and I think a mutual benficial relationship could develop.

I've be saying for years that Antrim and Ulster could help each other, they both share the same facilities in Jordanstown, but I never heard of any skills coaching cross over. Even Wasps have seen the benefit of using a GAA coach, hope this can lead to a better working relationship.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/?c=rugby&e=examiner&jp=snmhqleysn

Also hope this pays of for Antrim, as it's our fitness that costs us each year, last 20 minutes and run out of steam (think its more down to not having quality replacements to come on, compared to other teams) when playing 'puke' football the half backs have to do some amount of running, when other teams can replace them with siliar quality players, Antrim can't so either keep them on to long, and they concede points, or replace them with lower quality and concede points. the fitter and longer we can have the team perform the better we'll be for it.

Bryan Cullen just took a coaching job with Leinster. In an example of things going the other way.

Down have appointed an Irish woman rugby international as strength and conditioning Coach for next year.
Talking of next year the championship draw is on RTE2 this Thursday at 6pm

Speaking of GAA and Rugby....here's an interesting article about players who've made the transition:

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/win-some-lose-some-irelandrsquos-rising-rugby-stars-began-their-playing-careers-on-gaelic-pitches-2896215.html

Cheers for this, I had this in GAA and Rugby boards but edited the other now to include some off your comments, and make it more from a rugby view.

I think that Antrim have needed a full time fitness coach from another code for a while.

Sometimes a GAA coach (while very good and skilled) can have them doing the same drills they have done all there lives, a coach from a different code, will have the players doing different things and mix it up, breathing new life into training, i'm hoping for Kildare levels of fitness this Spring.