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Former Connacht Rugby stalwart Ronan Loughney has returned to the province as Player Development Manager. Here he shares his thoughts after his first few months in the role.
The opportunity to contribute positively to the player environment in Connacht Rugby was very appealing. I have a great appreciation for what Rugby Players Ireland (RPI) did for me whilst I was playing rugby and in particular the support I received from Deirdre Lyons. I saw at first-hand the amount of amazing work Deirdre did to create an accepted culture of self-development within the player group.
While I appreciate that I have big shoes to fill, the Player Development Manager (PDM) role stood out to me because I am very aware of the impact a person in that position can have. From my own playing days I know how stressful and intense the professional rugby environment can be.
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I am very excited about the role I can play at Connacht Rugby and in building on Deirdre’s legacy. It’s actually a very exciting time at Dexcom all-round. While the office set-up is makeshift at the moment, the construction work taking place around us represents the great optimism for the future.
It’s hard to believe it’s been seven years since I retired. Although the place is undergoing a massive facelift, it was reassuring to find that many of the great people I encountered over the years are still involved with Connacht. We always felt very lucky to have such a passionate community surround the team.
I think that says a lot about Connacht Rugby. The people involved in this organisation care a lot about their players. I was therefore delighted to see the enhanced value and importance that they place on the role of the PDM in assisting them. I have no doubt that this is down to all that Deirdre achieved.
When I first came into the PDM position, the season was already in full flow and so there wasn’t much of a honeymoon period. There has been a lot of information I’ve had to take on board and plenty of upskilling to do. Thankfully I’ve had great support from all of my colleagues which has also enabled me to enjoy the challenge and experience so far.
One of the most interesting aspects is that six of my former teammates are in the current crop. Even though I have a formal role in the club now, it’s been good to get back and catch up with them. I’d like to think there is a mutual respect there from our time spent playing together that we can all benefit from. They have all been very welcoming so far anyway, and more importantly they have been keen to engage and learn.
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Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/James Crombie
I’d like to think I’m a good example to players because my transition experience is a little bit off the beaten track. When I retired from rugby, I set up my own business called RO-Design. I built bespoke furniture and did some commercial fitouts for clients. Whilst it was hugely challenging it was also a very rewarding experience.
As the years went on I gravitated towards project management roles. For example, I spent the past year setting up a retrofit company for someone who I had previously completed a project for. I have also enjoyed working with TG4 and RTÉ as both a commentator and pundit.
Ultimately, I felt that I could bring a lot of value to what RPI set out to achieve in the personal development space. I’d like to think that my insights might benefit the type of player who has no interest in pursuing a career in academia or in corporate Ireland.
That’s not to say I had it all figured out. In fact, I found the transition far from easy. Physically, I knew I was ready to finish because my body was telling me so. However, moving from professional sport to self-employment was much more challenging than I had anticipated.
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Without realising it, I had become accustomed to a very structured lifestyle. As a sportsperson, I had a clear roadmap to achievement. As a start-up, I quickly realised that, firstly, any sense of a structured way of living had to go out the window. Secondly, I hadn’t developed a clear enough vision of what success looked like when I was setting off. Above all, I was suddenly out on my own and for someone who had been part of a team for much of his life, that natural support structure I used to rely on was badly missed.
While retirement for any player will be challenging, it’s my job to mitigate against that sense of loss. Although the sport has moved on, I’ve found that the challenges current players face haven’t changed drastically since I was playing. For instance, managing further education, training or career development along with a high-performing rugby career remains a delicate balance.
Frustratingly, there are a limited amount of opportunities for off-field development that sit easily within a professional rugby programme. While the provinces are far more understanding of its importance, the logistical difficulties involved tend to give too many players an easy-out. I hope to help them understand that personal development can have a highly positive impact on their environment, on and off the pitch.
It’s all part of the challenge, one I’m hugely excited for.
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