Rugby Management Committee

This committee is responsible for all adult rugby related matters. This includes the recruitment, development and management of players and coaches at the club and the achievement of the playing goals of the club.

It is chaired by the Director of Rugby. Its members include Head Coach, Assistant Coach, 1st XV Manager, 2nd XV Manager, 1st XV Captain, 2nd XV Captain, and the Club Kit Manager. This committee will meet as required by the Director of Rugby, Head Coach or 1st XV Manager.

 

Francis Roche – President
 


  Francis Roche is the President of Railway Union RFC and is responsible for the successful running of the club.  Francis joined Railway in 2001 where he developed, captained and managed the successful Railway Union RFC 3rdXV team in 2002-2004.  This team provided an opportunity for players who were learning rugby for the first time to experience the game and enjoy the social life in a club like Railway.Francis had worked on the fundraising for the club over the past number of years before taking on the role of President.  Outside of the club, Francis runs Marathon Sports Travel, one ofIrelandleading sports travel companies.

 

Alan Horgan – Club Secretary
 

 

  Alan is our Club Secretary and has overall responsibility for the day to day business and administration of the club. He is also the point of contact with the Leinster Branch. Alan chairs both the Executive Management Committee and the Finance & Administration Committee for Railway Union RFC. Alan joined Railway Union in 2004 and is a playing member of the 1stXV. Alan’s former clubs include Monkstown RFC and Waterpark RFC.Outside of Railway, Alan is an Associate Director with Warren Private Clients. His interests include business, tag rugby, travelling and skiing.

 

John Cronin – Director of Rugby
   John is the Director of Rugby and has overall responsibility for all rugby-related matters at Railway Union, including the recruitment, development and management of players and coaches at the club.  John joined Railway Union in 1997 and was 1stXV captain for a number of years.  ALimerick man, John’s former clubs include Thomond RFC, Sligo RFC and theUniversity ofLimerick RFC.  John is a member of the Executive Committee at Railway Union RFC and chairs the Rugby Committee.Outside of Railway, John works with PricewaterhouseCoopers, is interested in politics, business and reading, and enjoys tag rugby, skiing and surfing.
   

Keith Sothern – Player/Coach
 

 

  Keith was educated at The King’s Hospital playing with the SCT team for 3 years. He studied Animation inDun LaoghaireCollegeand played A.I.L. with Old Wesley RFC during those years. After college, he returned to native Carlow and played with Co. Carlow RFC, while also having a brief stint with Portlaoise RFC. Keith started coaching 3 years ago, leading the J3s in Carlow to a league title, along with coaching Carlow U-17s and U-19s for the last couple of seasons.Keith works in a family owned Auctioneers and Letting service and is now delighted to be Player/Coach of Railway Union RFC. In his spare time, he likes to relax by reading, playing chess and walking his dog.

 

Jack Hanratty – Coach
 Jack is Railway’s other half of the coaching staff, although to limit his role to that would be a mistake as there doesn’t seem to be any area in the club where Jack doesn’t have some involvement. Whether he is shouting words of encouragement from the sidelines, hogging the microphone as quizmaster or conducting the Railway choir, Jack is renowned for the enthusiasm and humour he brings to everything he does. Jack spent his playing years with Skerries Rugby Club and then progressed to coaching local rivals Balbriggan before moving to his current position in Railway. 

Jack works as a Community Rugby Officer for Leinster Rugby, meaning rugby is most definitely his life. He also presents a segment on 98FM called Jack in the Pack where he is 98FM’s man on the inside. Little known fact about Jack is that he has a secret interest in fashion and regularly contributes to his online blog Jack on the Rack.

 

Jack Walsh – 1st XV Team Manager
 Jack is 1st XV Team Manager and has responsibility for all aspects of player management at training and match day.  Jack joined Railway in 1992 and is a former 1st team captain of the club. AWaterfordman Jack also played for Waterford City RFC.Outside of Railway Jack works in the IT services industry and is a keen runner, adventure racing enthusiast andMunsterrugby fan.

 

Michael-Eoin O’Gruagain – 2nd XV Team Manager
 Michael is the 2ndXV Team manager, so like Jack Walsh, has responsibility for all aspects of player management at training and during matches. Michael joined Railway in 2004 having previously played with Ashbourne RFC as a youth. Whilst attending college in National College of Ireland, he set up the collegeRugby club with fellow Railway member Cian Greally.A fluent Irish speaker, Michael-Eoin managed to fulfil the life goal of many a 90’s kid and was actually the voice of the Black Power Ranger on the dubbed Irish version of the TV Show that was shown on TG4.  He still has the costume and he wears it on ‘special occasions’.

 

Ciaran O’Brien – Former Club President / Legends Committee
 Ciaran has been a member of Railway since 1977 when he joined on a free transfer from Kilmacud Crokes. Ciaran played until 1994 with brief spells with Sunday’s Well and Barnhall. As a member of the Leinster Junior Committee and Rugby Committee, Ciaran has always fought the corner on behalf of junior rugby and player welfare. Ciaran is currently President of the Leinster Rugby Referees. Ciaran was honoured to serve as Centenary President in 2004.Outside Railway, Ciaran is MD of Cleaning Contractors, is a keen but bad golfer and an avidLeinsterrugby fan. Ciaran also has a continuing interest in dieting.

 

Kirstin Smith – Head of PR and Marketing
   With an English teacher for a mother and a father in PR, Kirstin was proofreading menus by the age of 7. It’s not surprising then that she rules the website with an iron fist.As her pain threshold is lower than the average human’s, there’s no chance she will ever play ladies’ rugby, but that does not prevent her from being a devout Railway,LeinsterandIrelandrugby supporter!

As some of the club members have found out, she can be a bit of a drama queen, though she tries to keep this to stage, where she is a regular performer with various drama and musical theatre groups.

Kirstin wishes there were 8 days in every week so she could fit in more of her extra curricular activities. Her goals in life are to be Leo the Lion for one match and to do something we can’t really describe with Tommy Bowe (as his lawyers and her parents are both reading this).