Last season was hugely successful and saw the HDL senior 1st XV secure promotion into London 1 North for the first time since the 2014-15 season and the strong likelihood of the Magpies also being promoted to London 3 Eastern Counties for the first time (tbc). The club and its committee are looking forward to next season, we have been working hard to ensure our community return to the playing season fully prepared to realise Jim Clark’s (Head Coach) intent of securing two promotions in five years.

The committee is pleased to confirm that Jim will remain as Head Coach as part of our long-term coaching plan. Jim has also being working hard away from the club this year and has recently just completed his Level 3 coaching course. Marcus Tobin is appointed as Director of Rugby (DoR), a change of title from Director of Rugby Development. As well as being an important part of Jim’s coaching team, Marcus’s role will continue to have responsibility for overseeing the development of all rugby activities at the club, including the progression of our younger players through coach education and our Ipswich Rugby Academy programme, working with the age grade coaching team.

In addition to re-affirming both Jim’s and Marcus’s roles within the club, we can now confirm that Anthony O’Riordan will be joining the senior coaching team this pre-season. Anthony, who recently stepped down from DoR of Colchester Rugby due to the logistical conflict of level five rugby and his career having led the Raven Park club to Promotion for the second time this season.

Anthony has a wealth of experience in both coaching a sports business management. In 2015 he joined Colchester Rugby having moved back to Essex from Hartpury College. Upon joining the Mill Road club, they secured promotion to the then National 3 League, scoring over 1000 points in the same season. During his tenure, Colchester had secured two promotions, finishing third or above in their leagues with the exception 2016-17.

Aside from club rugby, Anthony has had a professional career in rugby and education for 14 years, joining St Joseph’s College in 2015 as Director of Rugby and moving into a Senior Leadership role in 2017 as Director of Sport and Business Development.

Before coaching, Anthony played for Rochford Hundred, Rosslyn Park, and had a brief period at Newbury under Ben Ryan where he sustained a career-ending injury.

It is envisaged that Anthony will coach senior rugby at HDL whilst supporting the club off the field by developing the business of rugby, helping to strengthen our ties to local and national businesses and education institutions.

We are blessed at the club in having strength in depth in our coaching resources, with other key coaches (including other level 3 senior coaches), team managers and medical support staff already working hard to support the continued progress the club is making on and off the field.

Our more social and development mens teams will continue to benefit from the excellent & enthusiastic coaching and oversight of Duncan John who has recently completed is England Rugby Coaching Award, ex-1st XV and National League player Adam Pickering as well as other club coaches and experienced players.

Ipswich Rugby Club is building towards even greater success on the field and would welcome players of all experiences and abilities to join the club and the journey we are on. As well as a fabulously resourced coaching team, players benefit from excellent medical and physio support from Dynamic Recoveries (www.dynamicrecoveries.co.uk) and enjoy a vibrant social scene as part of our family club environment.

Any players looking to join the club are welcome to contact Marcus Tobin via marcus.tobin61@gmail.com or on 07935 438807. Alternatively come down to the club on Wednesday evenings to meet the coaches and some of the players and enjoy some Social Touch Rugby from 7pm, ahead of the planned start of pre-season on 14th June.

In addition to our mens teams, we are growing all other sections of the club, including our fabulous and ever-growing women’s “Scorpions” squad, led by coaches Adam Miles and EJ Stearn, as well as boys and girls age grade groups from U6s through to U18s. Next year our girls section will be bigger and better than ever with four age groups: U12s, U14s, U16s & U18s. Keep an eye on our website and social media for all information about the club at large.

The future is bright. The future is Black and Gold!