Latest news with #Nucifora
RTÉ News
21-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
David Nucifora hits out at 'nonsense' IRFU decision on Sevens programme
Former IRFU high performance director David Nucifora has hit out at the union's decision to axe the men's Sevens programme, calling it "short sighted nonsense". Australian Nucifora, who was at the IRFU between 2014 and last summer, and is now working with the British and Irish Lions and Scottish Rugby Union, was the driver of the Sevens programme while in Ireland. In 2024 both the men's and women's squad qualified for the Olympics. Last week the union cited financial challenges as a reason to discontinue the men's programme, highlighting the fact that the province's academies serve as player pathways, while the women's game does not have the same feeder lines. "The financial situation we face is challenging, and it's crucial that we take decisive action to secure the long-term success of Irish rugby," said high performance director David Humphreys. Nucifora made his comments under a Facebook post by David Barry, who was a main financial backer of the Sevens programme. Barry, who owns MLR side New England Freejacks, says he was not consulted before the decision, which has come under severe criticism from many high-profile former players, was made. Barry wrote on Facebook: "To find out this week that a decision (following an apparent in-depth consultation) was taken to axe the men's 7s programme without even the courtesy of a phone call to me is super disappointing. "I feel I would have been able to provide the committee and decision makers with some valuable perspectives and ideas. "It's hard to accept that this decision was taken solely on financial grounds as I cannot see any tangible effort expended during the so called consultation period to solve the purported funding challenge. A sad demise to a wonderful programme!". Replying under the post, Nucifora (above) wrote: "Firstly a huge thanks to you David Barry who had the vision and the generosity to back our plan. "Without you it wouldn't have happened. "To now see this short sighted nonsense decision is gut-wrenching. Your vision helped create Irish Olympians and change peoples' lives," he wrote. "The lack of vision and leadership being shown is also a major concern for Irish rugby. "World Rugby and some unions do not deserve the right to own the game of 7s. "The sooner someone takes it from them the sooner it will meet its potential." The IRFU has told the players their contracts would not be renewed at the end of the season but they would be paid until the end of this year. Speaking on RTÉ's Against the Head, former Ireland captain Donal Lenihan said: "It's my understanding is that none of the players were consulted about this. "The manner of which it was handled has been really poor."
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Russell a Lions starter? What is Nucifora doing for Scotland?
BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your Scottish rugby asked: Do the Lions need Finn Russell more than he needs the Lions?Tom answered: Er, no. I'd imagine that Russell would be achieving a dream if he was starting 10 for the Lions, as he should be, in my doesn't need the Lions but he deserves this tour and his brilliance warrants a Test team spot, assuming his form stays as it whole business with Johnny Sexton has caused a bit of confusion. Given the silly things he has said about Russell, and his obvious issue with him, Sexton should now be picking up the phone and arranging a face-to-face chat with him to clear the air. This is something he absolutely needs to asked: David Nucifora arrived with huge expectations, I really thought we needed someone with his background and skills. But so far I have seen nothing in terms of change. And now he is off with the Lions for the summer. Am I missing something - have you heard or seen anything he is doing?Tom answered: Scotland's pathway issues go back many years and there's no way Nucifora was going to come in, wave a magic wand and fix things in a matter of is a serious piece of work that needs doing. It's failure at all levels at underage rugby and the entire pathway department in the SRU needs an overhaul. I'm told Nucifora is working away on that. Don't expect a grand unveiling of the masterplan any time going away with the Lions is a very bad look. He shouldn't be going on that tour. He should be with Scotland on their tour, getting to know people, picking some brains.I can completely understand why some are asking about Nucifora and what on earth he's actually doing, given his Lions in the area of pathway development he's one of the best in the world, so let's hold fire a while longer to see what he can come up with the SRU for two years. Personally, I think he's going to need every day of those two years to try to fix the shambles of Scotland's pathway asked: How concerning it is to see Scotland U18s lose comprehensively to Spain?Tom answered: It's the continuation of what we've been saying at underage. It's very, very concerning. They lost all three of their games. It's why David Nucifora has been brought in, See above answer for more on that. I think the SRU have got the best pathway planner in Nucifora, but it's going to take time.
BBC News
27-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Edinburgh woes and where is Nucifora?
BBC Scotland rugby reporter Andy Burke has been answering some of your asked: When is someone going to read the riot act to these Edinburgh players? Time for coaching/player overhaul to sort this shambles. Slash the wage bill and give more Under-20s a chance??Andy answered: If I had a pound for every time we have had to discuss Edinburgh's infuriating inconsistency, either online or on air, I would be a very wealthy man.I have no idea what it will take to get these Edinburgh players to perform to their potential on a weekly basis. Crucially, Sean Everitt does not, after almost two years in the job, seem any closer to solving the puzzle Richard Cockerill first arrived in 2017, reading the riot act was exactly what he did and exactly what was required. I always recall Simon Bergan telling us how Cockerill had toughened him up a Englishman's combative style was only ever going to have a limited shelf life, but it seems the current squad are once again at that point that they need an authoritative figure to come in and sort them your point about fielding more U20s, I think Edinburgh should – and will – move on some older players whose best days are behind them, but the youngsters replacing them need to be of the required standard or else you are simply putting out lambs to the Douglas looks ready now, he's a special talent and should play a prominent role between now and the end of the asked: In December the SRU announced the appointment of David Nucifora with great fanfare given by the media yet we've heard nothing since other than his impending absence with the Lions. Known as a man of action, and in light of Edinburgh's dire form, Franco Smith's uncertain future and Scotland's poor Six Nations, when will we see the first signs of his influence?Andy answered: The Nucifora situation is an interesting one. When we spoke to new SRU chief executive Alex Williamson on the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast at the end of January, he said he could not see any downsides to Nucifora going off on tour with the Lions. I'm not so sure about we are with Scotland coming off an underwhelming Six Nations and many people questioning whether Gregor Townsend is still the right man to take the national team forward, Sean Everitt looking more and more like a lame duck at Edinburgh, and Franco Smith seemingly itching for his next is uncertainty surrounding the three top jobs in Scottish rugby right now and the man tasked with overseeing it all presumably has his head in all things Lions.A post-tournament review is standard after every Six Nations and it will be interesting to see what, if anything, comes from this it is radio silence and business as normal, there will be a sense that Nucifora's priorities are not where they need to be from a Scottish rugby perspective.
The Independent
28-01-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Andy Farrell appoints first members of British and Irish Lions coaching staff
The British and Irish Lions have confirmed David Nucifora and Aled Walters as the first appointments to Andy Farrell 's backroom staff for this summer's tour to Australia. Nucifora has been seconded from Scottish Rugby and will perform the role of general manager of performance, while head of athletic performance Walters joins from the Irish Rugby Football Union. Completing the trio of recruits for the 10-fixture tour is Ireland's Vinny Hammond, who will travel Down Under as head of analysis. Nucifora is Australian, won two caps in the early 1990s and worked closely with current Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt when they were both employed by the IRFU, while Walters helped South Africa win the 2019 World Cup. "In David, Aled and Vinny we have three of the absolute best joining us for the tour to Australia this summer, culminating in the highly anticipated Test series against the Wallabies," Farrell said. "David's unrivalled experience will help us shape and deliver such a challenging and exciting rugby programme, whilst also bringing essential insight into Australian rugby and the country as a whole. "Aled is a World Cup winner who has worked with players across England and Ireland and has also coached in Australia and Super Rugby with the Brumbies. "And Vinny's Lions pedigree from touring New Zealand and South Africa brings continuity and Lions experience, which will be crucial to success down under."
