PAUL O’Connell has added highly-rated sports psychologist Caroline Currid to his Ireland coaching staff for this summer’s tour.
O’Connell is leading a youthful Irish squad in two tests against Georgia and Portugal on July 5 and 12 respectively.
Per the Irish Examiner, the 45-year-old has a long working relationship with Currid that traces back to his own playing days when he would consult her for advice.
Currid’s CV would suggest she is a vital asset to any team she aligns herself with.
In Gaelic football she’s worked with the Dublin and Tyrone panels when they both wound up lifting Sam Maguire.
But it’s in inter-county hurling she seems to really have the Midas touch. The former junior Sligo ladies footballer aided Tipperary’s players on their road to hoisting Liam MacCarthy in 2019.
But it’s with the Limerick hurlers that she’s most synonymous as it became an almost annual part of captain Declan Hannon’s triumphant All-Ireland speech that he’d give her a special shout-out.
It may only be a coincidence but the only three years she hasn’t been part of John Kiely’s staff in recent years just so happen to be this year, 2024 and 2019.
The Treaty failed to attain their ultimate goal of winning the All-Ireland title in each of those years.
O’Connell’s squad includes 11 uncapped players, although Tom Ahern, Michael Milne, Shayne Bolton, Nathan Doak, Ben Murphy and Tommy O’Brien have previously been in camp.
Alex Kendellen, Darragh Murray, Paddy McCarthy, Stephen Smyth and Hugh Gavin all win their first call-ups whilst Ulster trio James McNabney, Jude Postlethwaite and Zac Ward will train with the squad in Dublin before it leaves for the matches in Tbilisi and Lisbon.
Robbie Henshaw was ruled out through injury whilst Iain Henderson and Rob Herring were not considered following recent lay-offs.
But O’Connell can still call on established stars such as captain Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Ryan Baird, Calvin Nash, Stuart McCloskey and Jacob Stockdale.
Brothers Cian and Sam Prendergast are both included whilst Paddy McCarthy will hope to follow in the footsteps of his older sibling Joe by pulling on the green jersey.
Speaking at the squad’s announcement earlier this month O’Connell said: “I believe we have a strong blend of youth and experience for what will be a trip into relatively uncharted territories this July.
“Georgia have made great strides in recent years, and they have made significant investment in their rugby programme which has established them amongst the leading emerging sides in international rugby.
“Under the experience of Richard Cockerill they have built on a traditionally strong forward unit with a talented backline and they will provide a tough test for us.
“Portugal showcased their attacking prowess during the Rugby World Cup 2023 and Simon Mannix is a coach I know having worked with him previously.
‘TOUGH TEST’
“They play with confidence and we’re expecting another tough test.
“With 15 players away with The British & Irish Lions, this tour presents an opportunity for those on the fringes to impress the coaching team.
“A number of players have been really close to selection in recent times and it’s important that everyone grasps the challenge that’s ahead of them.
“Every moment on the training field and across the two-match Series will count and there’s a great opportunity for players to step up and impress.
“I would like to congratulate Craig on his selection as captain.
“He is a real leader with a strong personality and it is a huge personal honour for him and an opportunity that I know he will relish over the coming weeks.”
Ireland play in the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi on July 5 with a 6pm Irish time start and it’s a 7pm kick-off a week later when they take on Portugal in Lisbon’s Estádio Nacional do Jamor.
