Nigel Carolan

Nigel Carolan (born 27 December 1974) is a rugby union coach from Ireland. He is currently the backs coach to Irish Pro14 side Connacht, having previously been head of the province's academy. Before becoming a coach Carolan represented Connacht as a player, but was forced to retire due to injury in 2000.

Nigel Carolan
Date of birth (1974-12-27) 27 December 1974
Place of birthGalway, Ireland
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
SchoolSt. Joseph's Patrician College
UniversityNUI Galway
Rugby union career
Position(s) Backs Coach
Current team Connacht
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Galway Corinthians ()
Galwegians ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1996–2000 Connacht ()
Teams coached
Years Team
2004–2017 Connacht Academy
2008–2010 Ireland U20 (Assistant)
2012–2014 Connacht Eagles
2014–2017 Ireland U20
2017– Connacht (Backs)

During his term as Connacht academy head, Carolan also took on a number of other coaching roles in tandem with his existing responsibilities. He coached the province's second tier side the Connacht Eagles, before serving as head coach to the Ireland under-20 team. He had previously been an assistant coach to the team and a technical analyst to the under-21 side.

Early life

Carolan is a native of Galway and was a student in St. Joseph's Patrician College in the city.[1] After finishing school, he attended Galway-Mayo IT studying marketing. He later studied systems analysis at NUI Galway.[2]

Playing career

Carolan played primarily as a wing, but was also used at centre during his career.[3] He represented both Galway Corinthians and Galwegians at amateur level.[4] In 1996, at the outset of the professional era Carolan was a part of Warren Gatland's Connacht side. He played for the side in the Interprovincial Championship and the European Challenge Cup until 2000, when a neck injury forced him to retire at the age of 26.[1]

Coaching career

Carolan was appointed as head of Connacht's academy in 2004, overseeing the development pathways of youth players, coaching under-age sides and scouting youth prospects from outside the province.[5] For the first year of his career, he also served as a technical analyst to the Irish under-21 team.[1] Carolan was later appointed as assistant coach to the Irish under-20s under Allen Clarke in 2008, staying in the role until 2010.[6]

In the 2012–13 season Connacht's second tier side, the Connacht Eagles began competing in the British and Irish Cup, with Carolan serving as the team's head coach. He performed this role for two seasons, before being appointed to succeed Mike Ruddock as head coach of the Ireland under-20 team in October 2014.[5] Carolan coached the side in three Six Nations and two World Championships, with the team's runner-up finish in the 2016 World Championship their best ever performance in the tournament.[1]

In March 2017, it was announced that Carolan would be part of the new senior backroom team under Kieran Keane for the 2017–18 season. Following this announcement, he left his role with the Irish under-20s with immediate effect, with Peter Malone replacing him for the upcoming World Championship.[7] The promotion brought an end to Carolan's 13-year stewardship of the province's academy, with former Connacht head coach Eric Elwood named as his replacement in May 2017.[8]

References
  1. "Ireland U-20s to keep it brilliantly simple in England showdown". Irish Times. 25 June 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  2. "Nigel Carolan: Professional Profile". LinkedIn. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  3. "'Minimalist' ensuring a tidy supply of talent to the coal face". Irish Independent. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  4. "Crossing the Floor". Galway Corinthians RFC. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  5. "Connacht's Carolan appointed Ireland U20s coach after Ruddock steps down". The42. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  6. "Carolan named Ireland U20 assistant coach". Connacht Rugby. 14 October 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  7. "Nigel Carolan and Jimmy Duffy join Connacht coaching set-up". Irish Independent. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  8. "Connacht legend Eric Elwood succeeds Carolan as academy manager". The42. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
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