Byrne setting ‘no limits’ as Buccs look for new leaders

In advance of last season, consolidation in Division 1B of the All-Ireland League appeared to be the name of the game for Buccaneers. But the Athlone club confounded expectations by storming to the top of the table, before faltering in the second half of the season.

And new Buccaneers head coach Paul Byrne is realistic but nonetheless cautiously optimistic about what can be achieved this season.

“When you lose experienced players and you don’t replace them, it can be very difficult to then say we’re going to challenge this year,” said Byrne, when asked about targets for this campaign.

“We thought last year we were aiming for mid-table and just wanted to survive and, all of a sudden, we were top of the table. This year it’s a similar attitude – let’s see if we can get close to the top of the table.

“We were frustrated last season not to get into the play-offs. We were within a score of reaching the play-offs so that was disappointing for the lads and for the coaching set-up.

“We obviously want to survive but we also want to thrive in this division. We are an ambitious club. We believe the minimum standard is Division 1B and we obviously want to get up to Division 1A. Whether that is next season or in the next couple of years, that’s what we’re building towards,” continued Byrne, who is joined at the helm by Benny Gilligan, David Henshaw and Craig Milling.

Buccaneers have lost key players from last season such as Martin Staunton, Ciaran Booth and Ruairi Byrne. Though naturally disappointed at not being able to call on such players, the head coach sees it as an opportunity for others to fill the breach.

“It offers opportunities for other guys to step up and show that leadership. They may be young in age but they have been around the senior set-up for a number of years,” said Paul.

“We’re trying to push some of these guys forward to take a leadership role. Lads have stepped up to the plate without a doubt and that’s exactly what we’re looking for. They are good quality players but we want lads to be leaders on the field and drive the messages from the coaches.”

In terms of recruiting new players, Byrne admitted that some difficulties were encountered.

“Part of the challenge for us was coming into the role a bit later than we would have liked. We made a lot of calls but some lads were already signed up by the time we effectively came to the market. Come next January, we’ll be starting to look at recruiting guys again,” he said.

“We have got a couple of really good guys who have experience of playing AIL rugby which is fantastic. But even more important is the guys stepping up from the U20 team.

“What we want as a club is to develop players internally - we can’t be relying on bringing lads in. We’ve got a really good underage section in the club so we’ve got to develop our own local players as well as sprinkling in a bit of experience and some of those Connacht players who can bring that X factor.”

Byrne pointed out that Buccaneers don’t have “the luxury” of drawing from a large pool of players like clubs in Dublin.

“It is a challenge in the Midlands to get players in, without a shadow if a doubt, but we’re happy with the squad we have,” he said.

He feels there is a “a core group of four leaders” in the squad, but the management team hopes to develop the leadership skills of other players.

“What we want is guys who will take on extra responsibly and do things like game analysis or a review in front of the playing group,” said Byrne.

“It’s very easy to let the likes of Frankie (Hopkins) and Danny (Qualter) always do the talking, but we have to get other lads to step up and find their voice. It’s about getting lads out of their comfort zone. Some of these guys would have been captains of teams at underage level, so they have that experience, and it’s a question of not being afraid because other lads are older or more experienced.”

As for suggestions that patience will be required with the younger players in the squad, Byrne said: “It’s a balancing act. What we don’t want to do is limit these players and put a ceiling on them. We believe this squad is good enough and strong enough.

“We’ve seen the step up from Division 2A to 1B – it’s a serious standard of rugby. But we have to believe that we’re capable of being in the play-offs at the end of the season, or what is the point in competing?

“We’ve never put limits on the lads. Yes, they’re young, but they are enthusiastic, keen to learn and their work ethic is off the charts,” he added.