Former Ireland, London Irish, Ulster and Connacht scrum-half, Kieran Campbell, has been appointed the new Head of the Hughes Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy.
The 35 year-old takes over from Allen Clarke who is now an Assistant Coach with the senior team.
Campbell played 115 times for Ulster between 2001 and 2008. He moved to Connacht for the final two years of his playing career before retiring from the game in 2010.
He completed a PGCE and taught in Dromore High School while starting his coaching career as an assistant coach to Justin Fitzpatrick at Dungannon RFC.
His success there led to him being offered an Elite Performance Development Officer role and he worked as the Academy’s backs specialist for two years before being appointed to the role of Academy Manager (Acting) in July 2014.
Campbell was Head Coach of the team that won the U19 inter-provincial championship in the 2012-2013 season and the Ulster U20s which won the inter-provincial championship for the second time in three years this season.
Seven players from that team have represented Ireland U20s in this season’s RBS 6 Nations and nine are in contention for selection for next week’s game against Wales.
There is exciting talent within this group including Sam Arnold who is in the Ulster match day squad for the game with Newport Gwent Dragons and Jack Owens who has scored two tries in the first three games of this year’s 6 Nations Championship.
Speaking about his appointment, Campbell said: “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to lead the Hughes Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy. Having been an Ulster player, I feel that I am exceptionally privileged to be helping to create the environment where young players can fulfill their potential and reach the standard required to represent the province.
“If the senior team is to compete at the top level, then we need to be producing players that can be successful for Ulster in the PRO12 and European Rugby Champions Cup. I want to build on the work that Allen (Clarke) has already begun at the Academy and to put in place a programme that is exceptional and that is the best in Europe.”
Bryn Cunningham, Ulster’s Team Manager, believes that Campbell has a vision for the Academy that will benefit rugby at all levels in the province:
“When you look at players like Stuart McCloskey, Stuart Olding and Andrew Warwick, we know that the Hughes Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy is producing highly talented rugby players who are regarded as some of the most exciting young players around.
“We want to continue the success that the Academy has had in recent years and to continue to develop players who can compete at the top level.
“Kieran’s experience of working in the programme and his desire to further develop the offering that we have make him the right person to take the Academy forward and I have no doubt that we will see the results of his vision and drive in the months and years ahead.”