O’Sullivan back as Buccaneers head coach

Eddie O’Sullivan has been appointed Head Coach at Buccaneers RFC for a second time following his tenure back in the late 90’s.

The Athlone club recently gained promotion to Division 1B of the Energia All-Ireland League following a dramatic play-off final victory over hot favourites Queen’s University in Belfast.

O’Sullivan returns to the club he steered to the ‘old’ Division One in 1997/98 and he helped the Pirates to a top four finish the following season before Ireland came calling for his services just weeks before the commencement of the ensuing season.

He returns to Dubarry Park on a two-year deal and is a major coup for the midlands club.

O’Sullivan said he is “delighted to be back and involved again at Buccaneers. I enjoyed my time there previously and I believe there is a young but highly talented group with rich potential at Buccs to further develop.”

The club have re-iterated their happiness by saying, he is “a coach who can get the most out of their promising squad of eager and willing players.”

O’Sullivan will oversee all Senior’s rugby including u-20’s and Juniors.

 His playing career took off at Garryowen where he played mainly on the wing but also at fly-half. He was a regular with Munster during 1983/86 and won an Ireland A cap in 1984. 

He coached Connacht in the mid 1990’s and led Ireland to a first ever U-21 Triple Crown in 1996.

His next key coaching role was with the USA Eagles in 1997/99 and he then succeeded Warren Gatland as Ireland Head Coach for the period 2001/8. During that term Ireland won Triple Crowns in 2004, 2006 and 2007 although the Six Nations title narrowly eluded them on a number of occasions.

He was also an assistant coach with the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 2009.

Eddie’s formidable coaching track record includes five World Cup finals, three of them as head coach.

Final year Journalism student in DCU. St. Pats reporter. Celtic supporter.

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