As the senior team makes a #ReturnToRugby, we spoke to Tom O'Toole on the new safety measures in place, how it feels to be back training together at Kingspan Stadium, and what it is that players are most looking forward to in the weeks and months ahead.
How have you found the first few weeks back at training?
The first few weeks have been good. At the start, it was a bit weird being in groups of seven – but every week, more players have joined my group. It was good each week to see the new faces coming in! It’s been a steady start so far, and it has allowed our bodies to get used to being back at training. It’s been a good to start getting ourselves ready for what is ahead.
Have the #ReturnToRugby safety protocols had an impact?
In terms of protocols, with everything that has been introduced, it has taken a little time to adjust - but as athletes, we adjust to our environment and we are able to adapt to the new policies that have been introduced. It’s going well, and everyone is quite strict to make sure that when we are abiding by the rules and regulations, as well as listening to what the coaches have to say.
How are you feeling about the upcoming Inter-pros in August?
After four months away, everyone is excited to be back training and it’s just under a month until we are playing our first game away to Connacht. We don’t have much time to prepare, so everybody is excited and eager about it – and we have the realisation that they are important games. We don’t have any pre-season games, so we need to be ready, we need to play, and we need to be on it. There is that level of importance with everything we are doing at training – there are no wasted reps, we’re making sure that everything we do is 100% - so when we do look to replicate that in a game, it’s going to be a pretty smooth transition.
What are your ambitions for the weeks and months ahead as we make a #ReturnToRugby?
We have a lot of important games coming-up. For me, it’s about trying to pick-up where I finished off - and not letting the four-month break slow anything. As a team, we are really eager to keep a momentum and to make sure that when we do go back to playing, it’s with the flair and speed that we were playing at in our last game against the Cheetahs.
How have you found the first few weeks back at training?
The first few weeks have been good. At the start, it was a bit weird being in groups of seven – but every week, more players have joined my group. It was good each week to see the new faces coming in! It’s been a steady start so far, and it has allowed our bodies to get used to being back at training. It’s been a good to start getting ourselves ready for what is ahead.
Have the #ReturnToRugby safety protocols had an impact?
In terms of protocols, with everything that has been introduced, it has taken a little time to adjust - but as athletes, we adjust to our environment and we are able to adapt to the new policies that have been introduced. It’s going well, and everyone is quite strict to make sure that when we are abiding by the rules and regulations, as well as listening to what the coaches have to say.
How are you feeling about the upcoming Inter-pros in August?
After four months away, everyone is excited to be back training and it’s just under a month until we are playing our first game away to Connacht. We don’t have much time to prepare, so everybody is excited and eager about it – and we have the realisation that they are important games. We don’t have any pre-season games, so we need to be ready, we need to play, and we need to be on it. There is that level of importance with everything we are doing at training – there are no wasted reps, we’re making sure that everything we do is 100% - so when we do look to replicate that in a game, it’s going to be a pretty smooth transition.
What are your ambitions for the weeks and months ahead as we make a #ReturnToRugby?
We have a lot of important games coming-up. For me, it’s about trying to pick-up where I finished off - and not letting the four-month break slow anything. As a team, we are really eager to keep a momentum and to make sure that when we do go back to playing, it’s with the flair and speed that we were playing at in our last game against the Cheetahs.