Deloitte Ulster Senior Women’s coaching team confirmed for 2021-22

Ulster Rugby can confirm the coaching team for the Deloitte Ulster Senior Women’s squad ahead of their Inter-Pro Series which kicks-off in August. Neill Alcorn has been appointed Head Coach, with former Ulster scrum-half, Paul Marshall taking up the Backs Coach role. Paul Heasley will be the Athletic Development Lead for the squad, while Emily Millar has been appointed Team Manager. Neill has been part of the coaching team for the Deloitte Ulster Women’s squad since 2019. He has been a Rugby Development Officer at Ulster Rugby for 7 years and worked across the player pathway in both male and female teams across various ages. Backs coach, Paul Marshall is a new addition to the coaching team this year. Since retiring from professional rugby in 2018 after 206 appearances for the province, he moved into teaching and coaching rugby at Antrim Grammar School, where he is also Head of Boys’ PE. “We have a great coaching team again this year,” Alcorn said. “We are very lucky to have Paul Marshall join us for our campaign, with responsibility for the backs. Paul comes with a wealth of experience, insight and knowledge that will a real asset to player development, on and off the pitch. Paul Heasley has been part of the Deloitte Ulster Women’s coaching set-up since 2014. He is a strength and conditioning coach specialising in youth and female athlete development. On Paul Heasley, Alcorn added, “Paul is our Athletic Development Coach and has been the ‘rock’ in our player and coaching groups. He has delivered outstanding work, putting great foundations in place over the past number of years and we’d be lost without him.” Team Manager, Emily Millar is a long-standing young rugby volunteer who currently assists with coaching the Malone youth girls’ teams, and took on the role of the club’s Women’s 1st XV Team Manager after their promotion to the AIL. Neill commented, “Emily has been a volunteer in Ulster Rugby for over five years, across several different projects. Having her onboard with us this year is a massive bonus – she will be a superb link between our players and coaching staff.” Alcorn and his coaching staff will now have the tough task of selecting an extended training squad for the Vodafone Senior Women’s Inter-Provincial Championship. He concluded, “Ultimately, as a coaching team, our job is to create a platform that enables players to thrive and achieve their goals. We have real drive and motivation to push each other on, hold ourselves accountable as a team and make great thing happens this year.”