Connacht Rugby and Galway-Mayo Institute of
Technology (GMIT) have announced an exciting three-year partnership that will
see collaboration in areas of research and further educational opportunities
between the two institutions.
The partnership will involve the sharing of
knowledge and expertise across the areas of sports management, strength and
conditioning, and nutrition. This will provide great research opportunities for
GMIT students of these disciplines and will benefit departments throughout
Connacht Rugby. It will also enable learning opportunities for staff and
players in Connacht Rugby across the broad prospectus of undergraduate and post
graduate courses in GMIT.
GMIT will also be fostering the growth of rugby
across the province by supporting the work being done by the network of
Connacht Rugby Club and Community Rugby Officers (CCROs) who operate in clubs
and schools all over the west of Ireland. Furthermore, they will support the
age grade development pathway in the province by providing front of shirt
sponsorship to Connacht Girls and Boys Under 17,18 and 19 representative teams
for the next three seasons.
Announcing the partnership, CEO of Connacht Rugby
Willie Ruane said: “We are delighted to announce this strategic partnership
with GMIT. It will create exciting opportunities for both institutions to
benefit from the sharing of knowledge and expertise. The partnership will also
provide an opportunity to explore research opportunities in high performance
sport. Our role as an organisation extends beyond the game of rugby and GMIT
share our vision to make a positive impact throughout the West of Ireland, so
this partnership is a perfect alignment between both institutions”.
Commenting on the research opportunities that will
be created by the partnership, Head of Athletic Performance at Connacht Rugby
Dave Howarth added: “This partnership will open up some hugely exciting
research opportunities for both organisations. We have a team of experts in
sports performance and we are constantly trying to find new innovative methods
of developing our strength and conditioning, nutrition and sports management
practices. We have already begun the collaboration process and foresee real
tangible benefits to both institutions”.
Dr Michael Hannon, Acting President of GMIT says:
“Sport is a very important part of life in Ireland today and we are delighted
to be working closely with Connacht Rugby for the benefit of both
organisations. We see a significant
congruence between both organisations in terms of location, values and
commitment to the region. This agreement
is a wonderful way for us to promote our sport-related activity, especially in
schools and clubs across the province.”
Dr Des Foley, Head of School of Science and Computing, added: “The first graduates from the progressive honours degree in Sport and Exercise Science will graduate in 2020 and in Public Health Nutrition in 2021. The Institute will also begin a new Masters programme in Applied Sport and Exercise Nutrition next month. From a standing start in 2016, we are expanding our programmes and collaborations with sports organisations, such as Connacht Rugby, at a very rapid rate. This is an important step for us”
