The RLEF’s three-year project to implement a standardised technical strategy, which will produce accredited coach educators throughout the regions, continued in Dublin this week with the Western European candidates completing the second of the three phase programme.

Two Irish, three Dutch, three Norwegian and three Swedish delegates, plus Roderick Attard from Malta Rugby League who was unable to partake in the Central Europe course in August 2011, all attended the four-day gathering at Dublin City University. The delegates from the Irish, Dutch and Norwegian rugby leagues were participating through the Leonardo da Vinci funded Technical Foundation Project.

“Hosting events like this gives Rugby League Ireland the opportunity to interact with development staff from different countries around Europe and share knowledge to improve the growth of rugby league in our own nations,” said Brendan Guilfoyle. “RLI can now take another step forward in our development plan and offer enthusiastic volunteers the opportunity to participate in coaching courses in Ireland for the first time.”

RLI, Rugby League Norge, Sweden Rugby League and the Nederland Rugby League Bond now join their colleagues from the five Central Europe and three MENA (Middle East North Africa) governing bodies – encompassing a total of 31 delegates - to have completed Phase Two.

“We had a hard-working four days at an excellent facility,” said project leader Martin Crick, the RLEF’s Coaching Manager. “Another eclectic bunch of characters, all highly motivated, participated; we’ve seen massive strides made by those coaches who attended the London launch in March.”

Dutch representative Jason Bruygoms labelled the course, “Extremely important...to the goals of the NRLB,” and noted how, “Everyone grew in understanding and personal development as the course progressed.” His colleague Timo Meinders, a performance analyst with the Dutch rugby union, admitted, “I’ve learnt a lot in Dublin. This will help rugby league become bigger and of better quality in Holland.”

Phase Two in the Atlantic region will take place in Spanish Town, Jamaica, in April.

The first Phase Three course will now go ahead in Germany, next month.