Arrival of ex professional rugby players Rhys Ruddock and Craig Ronaldson set to create buzz at club
Lansdowne Football Club has announced an exciting new coaching ticket for the 2024/25 rugby season, supporting the Lansdowne senior team to compete for the Energia All-Ireland League (AIL) First Division title and other competitions and fixtures throughout the year.
Among the newly recruited coaching team that is sure to generate interest and make an impact is the appointment of Rhys Ruddock as Assistant Coach and Craig Ronaldson as Backs Coach.
Rhys has just announced his retirement as a professional player for Leinster Rugby at the end of the current season. He has now played 229 times for Leinster having featured in the recent Leinster v Connacht URC game at the RDS and has been capped on 27 occasions by Ireland.
As the newly appointed Assistant Coach for Lansdowne FC, Rhys opens a new chapter in his coaching career, following in the footsteps of his dad, Mike Ruddock, who famously coached Lansdowne to three AIL trophies, and for the first time ever, achieving a haul of five senior trophies for Lansdowne in one season. Mike’s distinguished coaching credentials also saw him guide Wales to Grand Slam glory and take the Ireland Under 20s to a World Rugby U-20 Championship semi-final appearance, among his many other achievements.
Craig Ronaldson, Lansdowne’s new Backs Coach, previously played professionally for Connacht, primarily as an outhalf and centre, where he spent six seasons from 2013 to 2019. Craig is a former player at Lansdowne FC. He won the AIL with Lansdowne in 2012-2013 and finished as the leading points scorer in the league and Player of the Year that season.
Commenting on the new coaching and management team, Conor Shaw, President at Lansdowne FC said: “We’re delighted to announce our coaching & management group for the Men’s Senior team for the upcoming 2024/25 season and wish them the very best for the season. We feel extremely proud and grateful to have such excellence and experience guiding, inspiring and supporting our young players to make the most of their rugby experience and playing careers at Lansdowne.
“Declan Fassbender will remain as head coach and is joined by Rhys Ruddock as Assistant Coach. Craig Ronaldson returns to the club as Backs coach, while Mark Flanagan continues as our Lineout & Set Play Coach. Adam Boland transitions from playing in our senior team, to becoming our new Scrum Coach. Michael Quinn Jr, heads up the coaching team as Director of Senior Rugby, with Paddy Gore acting as Team Manager.
“Dan Moore and Aisling Frawley resume their roles as Head of Strength & Conditioning and Head of Physiotherapy, respectively, and Ian Hopkins has become Lansdowne’s Chairman of Rugby.”
The deadline to facilitate any senior player transfers and registrations to new clubs for the 2024/25 season is set for 10 June, 2024. Players interested in joining the Lansdowne Senior squad for next season should contact the Club at email: info@lansdownerugby.com before the registration deadline.
About Lansdowne Football Club
Lansdowne Football Club was founded in 1872 by Henry Dunlop. The Club caters for players at all levels and currently fields five senior teams, as well as an under 20’s side.
Mini and Youth Rugby, including a girls’ section, also flourishes in the Club, with several hundred youngsters involved in teams from under 6/7/8’s up to under 17’s. Lansdowne FC is also committed to a Women’s Rugby programme and is currently looking to further establish and build a senior Women’s team, following its launch last year.
