Four Pacific Island Coaches and Referees selected for IRB Talent Optimisation Program

Four Pacific Island Coaches and Referees have been selected for the IRB’s Annual Talent Optimisation Program which will take place in Stellenbosch, South Africa from Sunday 22nd July through to Saturday 28th July.

Stephen Betham (SAM), Inoke Male (FIJ) and Sateki Tuipolotu (TGA) are the three coaches that have been selected. Kelekolio Petelo (SAM) is the only Pacific Island referee to be selected for the intensive course. They join 28 other coaches, match officials and Strength & Conditioning trainers from around the world for the flagship course of the IRB Training and Education Program.

During the intensive week-long course, the participants will receive training from industry leaders which in 2012 include the following experts:

• Richie Dixon – IRB High Performance Consultant & Georgia coach
• Tappe Henning – IRB Referee Selector
• Craig Joubert – IRB Panel Referee
• Prof Tim Noakes
• Paul Treu – SA Rugby Sevens Coach
• Rassie Erasmus – SARU HP General Manager
• Des Ryan – IRFU Fitness Education Manager
• Craig White – IRB Fitness Consultant
 

Stephen Betham, who was recently appointed coach of the Manu Samoa after a successful stint as coach of the National Sevens team, is looking forward to sharing ideas with counterparts from around the world.

“I am honoured to be accepted into the TOP initiative by the IRB. I see this opportunity as ideal for myself as a young aspiring coach to build knowledge and to connect with some of the world’s best technical personnel in rugby. I also see this opportunity as a unique one for the future generation of coaches, referees and strength & conditioning coaches, to grasp the vast knowledge and experience that will be  shared by the program guest presenters to help inspire us all, to be the best at what we do”.

The TOP is a key component of the IRB’s Training and Education program and is targeted specifically at coaches, match officials and strength and conditioning coaches from Strategic Investment and Targeted Unions.

TOP 2012 will be the 7th such annual event. Many of the coaches and Referees from the previous programmes have gone on to coach their national teams or to referee on the international stage. TOP is a bespoke workshop which allows experienced and accredited coaches and referees to interact with world class performers in the unique environment that is Stellenbosch. The IRB is delighted to partner with SARU, University of Stellenbosch and Stellenbosch Academy of Sport.

The IRB invests over AUD100,000 each year in Training and Education programs throughout the 13 Member Unions in Oceania. There are presently 1684 accredited coaches, 1,356 accredited Match Officials and 65 Strength & Conditioning coaches in the Pacific Islands as a result of this investment.

Check out the IRB Online coaching resources at: http://www.irbcoaching.com/