Buccaneers seeking new coach as Kolo steps down

Buccaneers RFC is seeking a new head coach for their senior team after Kolo Kiripati stepped down from the role.

A very popular former player with the Athlone club, Kiripati guided Buccs to promotion from Division 2A of the Energia All-Ireland League last season.

The Athlone side travelled to Belfast and defeated Queen’s University in dramatic fashion in the Division 2A promotion play-off (18-17).

Queen’s had topped the league standings but Buccaneers still managed to defeat them on their home turf in the promotion decider. A conversion attempt by Queen’s player James Humphreys hit the post with the last kick of the game as Buccs just about held on for victory.

As a consequence, Buccs will take their place in Division 1B next season, but they will have to appoint a new coach to guide them before preparations for next season can begin in earnest.

Henry Bryce (backs coach), Cormac Ward (strength and conditioning), Benny Gilligan, Paul Byrne, Joe Browne and John Doyle were part of Kiripati’s backroom team last season.

A native of Samoa, Kolo grew up in New Zealand where he honed his rugby skills and the Kiripati family has been closely associated with Buccaneers for many years.

The fixtures for the various divisions in next season’s All-Ireland League are expected to be released in August.

In seeking applications for the role of senior head coach, Buccaneers RFC has stated that expressions of interest (with coaching CV) should be emailed to rugby@dubarrypark.com for the attention of the club’s director of rugby. The closing date for applications is this Friday, June 17.