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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>
http://www.ulsterrugby.com/10388.php
Ulster Rugby today announced that a new Team Management Structure has been put in place for the Professional Game in the Province. In the new structure David Humphreys will take control of Rugby Operations, with responsibility for the Ulster Senior Team, the Ulster Ravens (formerly Ulster A), the Ulster U20s and the High Performance/Academy structure, reporting to the Chief Executive Michael Reid. Brian McLaughlin has been appointed as a new Head Coach with responsibility for training and team selection and will be assisted by Jeremy Davidson, Neil Doak and Peter Sharp.
Humphreys will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Team Management and preparation, ensuring Ulster are prepared to a world class level, and will work closely with the Head Coach on all aspects of training.
The new structure will, for the first time, allow McLaughlin and his Assistant Coaches to focus on the on-field issues relating to the senior team, while Humphreys will drive Ulster’s attempts to produce a squad largely made up of home-grown players, supported by a small number of high profile players from overseas.
“Having played at the very highest level and having worked with a number of top coaches, David’s knowledge of the Professional Game will be invaluable in ensuring Ulster are properly and professionally prepared for Magners League and Heineken Cup action†said Chief Executive Michael Reid. “The development of our young players, succession planning and the provision of appropriate playing facilities are key to Ulster’s future success.â€
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to welcome Brian to the team. A proud Ulsterman himself, and with his knowledge of our players and the skills he has gained throughout his coaching career to date, I am confident that we have the right man to lead us forward on the field.â€
Biographical detail on the Ulster Rugby Management Team
David Humphreys MBE: Operations Director
David Humphreys’ (38) 16 year rugby career began in 1992, and the former Ulster out-half, won 162 caps for his province, and 72 international caps for Ireland. David also captained Ulster to European Cup glory in 1999.
Having retired as a professional rugby player at the end of the 07/08 season, David went onto take up the role as Operations Director, with Ulster Rugby with a responsibility for the off-field activity of the professional team and Academy.
While David retains the same ***le, his new role within the management structure means that he will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Team Management and preparation, ensuring Ulster are prepared to a world class level. He will work closely with the Head Coach on all aspects of training and team preparation and he will drive Ulster’s attempts to produce a squad largely made up of home-grown players, supported by a small number of high profile players from overseas.
David was educated at Ballymena Academy, the Queen's University, Belfast where he qualified as a solicitor, and Oxford University. He has represented Ireland at all levels including; Senior, A, U21 and Schools, and also captained the Barbarians touring squad.
David received an honorary doctorate from the University of Ulster in 2003 for Services to Sport and an MBE in the Queens New Year’s Honours List in January 2004.
Brian McLaughlin: Head Coach
Brain McLaughlin (50) was previously the Head of Rugby at Royal Belfast Academical Institution, where he coached the senior team to five Ulster Schools Cup victories. He has over 15 years experience of coaching at; Schools, Under 21 level where he guided an Ulster side to an inter-provincial ***le, and senior level.
Brian was part of the successful Irish U21 coaching team that won two triple crowns in 1996 and 1998 and in September 2005 he took up the role of specialist skills coach with Ireland, a position he held until April 2008 helping the team to win the Triple Crown in both 2006 and 2007.
Having had previous spells coaching Malone and Instonians, Brian returned to coaching club rugby with Ballyahinch at the start of the 08/09 season. He was a key member of the coaching staff that guided the Co Down club to a historic season in which they won the First Trust Senior Cup, the First Trust Senior League, the AIB Cup and gained promotion to AIB Division 1.
A former Ards back-row forward, McLaughlin played alongside internationals Phil Matthews and Nigel Carr in the Eighties until injury brought a premature halt to his career.
Jeremy Davidson: Assistant Coach (Forwards)
Jeremy Davidson (35) is a former Ulster, Irish and British & Irish Lion’s lock. Davidson returns to Ulster after two seasons in a coaching role with French side Castres Olympique.
Jeremy’s playing career came to an unfortunate end after an accident on a fishing trip which saw him aggravate an old knee injury in May 2003. After that he moved into coaching, first with Dungannon RFC in 2003, before returning to Castres in 2007 as forwards coach under former French full-back Ugo Mola.
Davidson's commanding line-out displays helped carve out his big international reputation. Educated at Methodist College Belfast and the University of Ulster, he represented Ireland at Schools and Under 21 Level before winning his first full International cap against Fiji in November 1995.
He played in all of Ireland's seven internationals in 1996/97 and in the summer of 1997 played with the Lions on their successful tour of South Africa, and was voted players' player of the 1997 tour.
Davidson, who also had a stint in the early part of his career with London Irish, made his last Test appearance against Scotland in the 2001 Six Nations and in all, won 32 caps for Ireland.
Peter Sharp: Assistant Coach (Forwards)
Peter Sharp (54) is a professional rugby league coach, who worked with Ulster as a specialist defence consultant during the 08/09 season and now formally joins the coaching staff. The Australian boasts an impressive rugby CV having coached at the top level in Australia's National Rugby League with the Newcastle Knights, the Manly Sea Eagles, Melbourne Storm and Parramatta Eels.
Sharp left his native Australia in 2006 when he took up a position with Hull FC Rugby League where he helped the side get reach the finals of the Super League in 2006.
Neil Doak: Assistant Coach (Backs)
Neil Doak (37) broke through to the Ulster senior squad at an early age and the scrum-half played 76 times for Ulster, before retiring from representative rugby in April 2005.
Neil boasts a wealth of sporting talent having represented Ireland at cricket on 32 occasions as well as playing professional rugby for Ulster. Since retiring from professional rugby, the former Wallace High School pupil has coached the Ulster U19 side, has been assistant coach to the Ulster U20 and A squads and was a specialist skills coach with the Ulster team last season.
His role within the senior squad will focus on working closely with the backs, however he will also retain his key role with the Phoenix Ulster Academy as Academy Coach.[/b]
