For the first time ever in Ireland, a pioneering long-term player welfare programme has been put in place at schools’ level, which will see all the College’s first and second year pupils wear the most advanced rugby headgear in the world. Developed by Galway-based sports tech company N-Pro, who are taking part in a World Rugby global law trial for rugby headgear, having fulfilled a very strict list of entry criteria. N-Pro is currently the only headguard in the world participating in the trial and it can be used in any rugby match, globally.

As part of the Cistercian College Long-Term Athletic Development programme, our students will wear the  headgear, the only headguard on the market specifically designed to reduce impact and lower the G-Force transferred through to the player, for all their contact training and matches. It is hoped that the initiative, initially involving up to 80 Junior Cycle students, will result in many of the players continuing to wear the equipment throughout their schools and adult playing careers.

The launch of the partnership, which took place on Friday 22nd October at the College, with ex-CCR and Connacht Rugby star Sean O’Brien, N-Pro’s Elite Player Manager and N-Pro CEO Mark Ganly visiting the campus to deliver the first orders for our Junior House players, got great media pick up both in the national and regional media. See coverage links below:

Irish Independent – https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/headguard-trial-aims-to-reduce-concussion-in-rugby-40981848.html

Sunday Independent Business Supplement – https://www.independent.ie/business/n-pro-wins-23m-funding-boost-to-develop-rugby-head-protection-40998231.html

Tipp FM – https://tippfm.com/sport/roscrea-students-drafted-rugby-headguard-testing-irish-company/

Well done to all involved in the Sports Department, led by Mr McKeogh, in making this exciting and innovative partnership happen.  Hopefully it is the first of many such deals as we put the College at the forefront of the player development and welfare in underage sport in Ireland.