The Irish Rugby Football Union is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Liam Hennessy as National Director of Fitness. Dr. Hennessy is a Clinical and Exercise Physiologist and Sports and Fitness Consultant and will be responsible for the entire fitness programme in Irish rugby. A native of Cappawhite, Co. Tipperary, Dublin-based Dr. Hennessy joins the IRFU having been Head of the Cardiopulmonary and Human Performance Department at the Blackrock Clinic, Co. Dublin and following a distinguished career as a fitness consultant throughout Europe. His wide ranging experience includes association in soccer at top level clubs in Germany, Italy and England; in GAA; Rugby and with the Irish teams at the Olympic Games in Barcelona (1992) and Atlanta (1996). A former National pole vault record holder, who represented Ireland on 55 occasions, Dr. Hennessy has also worked with individual competitors across a wide-ranging number of professional and amateur sports. One-time fitness consultant to the crack Bayern Munich football club and also to the Tipperary hurling team, Dr. Liam Hennessy says: “I am delighted to be joining the Irish Rugby Football Union with the brief to oversee and develop a fitness programme for the whole of Irish rugby and to co-ordinate and direct the preparation of the National and representative squads. I am very impressed with the structures that have been put in place by the IRFU to deal with the professional era and as the National Director of Fitness I am looking forward to my new role.” He will head a team comprising Craig White, who has signed a new contract as National Fitness Advisor as well as Provincial fitness advisors, Fergal O’Callaghan (Munster), Mike Bull (Ulster), Jason Cowman (Leinster) and John Glynn (Connacht). Philip Browne, Chief Executive, IRFU says: “The IRFU is very happy to have the services of such an eminent fitness consultant as Dr. Liam Hennessy. His appointment represents a huge boost to Irish rugby and is another indicator of the determination by the Union to have the best possible professional services available to the game in this country.” Dr. Liam Hennessy (BA, MSc, PhD, FRAMI) Clinical and Exercise Physiologist Sports and Fitness Consultant Recent positions: Performance and Development advisor to: 1. Professional soccer (Germany, Italy and England) 1996 – 1999 2. Football Association of Ireland Coach Education Programme 1997 – 2000 3. Gaelic Athletic Association Leinster Coaching Development 1998 – 2000 4. Sports Science Director BLE (Irish Athletics Association) 1985 – 2000 5. IRFU Academy 1996 – 2000 Previous positions: Head of Cardiopulmonary and Human Performance Dept. Blackrock Clinic, Blackrock, Co. Dublin 1994 – 1998 Exercise Physiologist to Irish Olympic team (Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996) Director Total Fitness Health and Sports Rehabilitation Centre 1998 – 1999 Further Study and Research National Institute of Sport and Physical Education (NSEP), Paris, France Wolfe Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany Alterberg, Dresden, Germany – Centre for Rehabilitation Other Sporting Associations GAA Tipperary Hurling 1990 – 95, Dublin Football 1997 – 98 Rugby Bective Rangers RFC 1989 – 94; Old Wesley RFC 1990 – 93; Lansdowne RFC 1998; Leinster 1995 – 98 Soccer Bayern Munich FC; Liverpool FC; Irish Youth Academy; Watford FC Individual competitors (Professional and Amateur) from: Golf, Boxing, Equestrian, Rowing, Cycling, Triathlon, Athletics, Tennis, and Hockey For further information please contact Slattery PR: Tel: +353 1 661 4055