Hopkins hopes Buccs can ‘lay down a marker’ in first home game
Frankie Hopkins may hail from the hurling heartland of Kiltormer in east Galway, but his sporting energies have been firmly focused on rugby for a number of years at this stage.
“I would have played hurling in school and with Kiltormer up to about minor level, but then you’re going off to college and you kind of have to pick what to focus on. Rugby was the one for me,” said this season’s Buccaneers senior captain.
“I was originally playing with Ballinasloe and then moved down to Buccs at U20 level. Minor would have been my last time playing hurling. It’s always been rugby since then.”
During his time in Garbally College, Hopkins enjoyed Connacht Schools Senior Cup success. Now well established as a scrum-half, Frankie also played at out-half for the Ballinasloe school.
“Apart from in the juniors, the last time I played out-half in sixth year but number nine is my preferred position and that’s where I’ve played most of my rugby. I haven’t played any senior AIL games at out-half,” he said.
Looking forward to the 2023-24 AIL season, Hopkins said: “Every single game in Division 1B is tough. We’re under no illusions about the challenge.”
Having lost away to St Mary’s College last weekend, Buccaneers host UCC in their first home game at Dubarry Park this Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm).
“In the first home game of the season, you want to lay down a marker. It’s about letting everyone know that we’re here to compete. Last season we prided ourselves on our home form and we want to do that again this season,” said Hopkins.
The recent defeat to Sligo - which saw Buccs lose their Connacht Senior League crown - provided some food for thought and areas to work on, Hopkins acknowledged.
“If you actually look at the score, it doesn’t paint a fair reflection on the game. We were six points off them with 15 minutes to play but sometimes the floodgates can open and they got a few lucky breakaways at the end and that put a real shine on the scoreboard for them,” he remarked.
“It wasn’t a reason to panic. We had a tough video session the following Tuesday and called out a few things that we can definitely improve on. For us it’s about going back and trusting ourselves and our systems. We have full belief in the systems we have and our style of play.”
Hopkins hopes the lessons learned from last season will stand to Buccaneers in this campaign.
“It was a good reminder of the quality of rugby that is in this division. At the start of last season, it was probably about consolidation and finding our place in the league, but we got on a run before Christmas and we were at the top of the table up until nearly February,” he said.
“It was difficult then losing a few games in a row and we had a few unlucky injuries in key positions and that came back to bite us.
“The main learning from last season was the consistency that is needed to win a league like Division 1B or even to be in the play-offs.
“But even though we had a big fall (in form) after Christmas, we didn’t panic. If we had got another score against (City of) Armagh, we would have been in the play-offs and it would be a different conversation,” he added.