We caught up with Ulster Women’s back coach Jarrett Truscott at their training camp last Sunday. Jarrett is working alongside former Ireland Women’s coach Philip “Goose” Doyle as part of an exciting new coaching ticket for the Province.

Background.

Jarrett started playing rugby at 5 for local club Epping Rams, Sydney and continued at Newington College, a big rugby school whose past pupils include former Wallaby World Cup Winning Captains Nick Farr-Jones and Phil Kearns.

Breaking his leg at sixteen Jarrett switched to coaching and ended up coaching the school’s Under 12’s the following year. Further coaching experience followed at Sydney University and at Eastwood Rugby Club, the stamping ground of former Ulster Rugby favourites Rod Moore and Justin Harrison.

Jarrett moved to Northern Ireland after meeting his wife, Helen, when on holiday. He started with Ulster Rugby as a development officer and has had coaching experience with Ulster U19’s and Instonians Rugby Club.

Despite living in Northern Ireland for 12 years he still has an Aussie accent which he puts down to watching too much Neighbours!

Ulster Women.

FRU: How did you get involved with Ulster Women’s Rugby?

JT: The Branch contacted me to see where I was with my coaching and suggested this [Ulster Women] as a possible role. I thought it was a great opportunity. The women’s game is really on the up, all around the world, but particularly in Ireland following the success they had in the Six Nations and World Cup recently with Goose.

I thought, yeah, it’s a young squad, it’s a great representative role, there is a lot of opportunity to build from where they have been in the past. That’s what I like as a coach, a bit of a challenge, I saw the challenge here and I grabbed the opportunity.

FRU: How do you feel about working alongside Irish legend Philip Doyle?

JT: It’s great. There was a fair bit of work to get him on board. As soon as I heard he was joining the team I was delighted. Goose brings with him a truck load of experience. He’s the sort of guy that demands that things are in place and demands respect from the players.

We’re very much on the same page, I can’t remember the last time I worked with a coach where we agreed with so many things. He’s got great standards in professionalism, communication and structure, as would I, so it’s worked very well.  I’m looking forward to getting into the season.

FRU: What are your aspirations for Ulster Women?

JT: There is a lot of pride with this group. Ulster women really have a lot of ticker [Aussie for heart/courage/guts] and they are very proud of where they come from. It’s a very young skilful group so if we can put them in a position where they can express their skills and pride out on the field then progress will follow from that.

Our main goals are to win matches and to be a presence in Ireland – maybe some of the other Provinces look at us as a week option. We want to stop that and, as well as winning matches, we want to increase our Irish representation, more Girls in Green  and representative honours.

FRU: What are your personal goals?

JT: I want to maximise the players potential both here and at my new role, as Head Coach at Malone Rugby Club.

These two positions will keep me very busy and I’ll be working on them as hard as I can. What develops after that will take care of itself.

We’d like to wish Jarrett and Ulster Women all the best for the upcoming Inter-provincials which start on Saturday 22nd August. Fixtures below:

Saturday 22 August: Ulster v Leinster, Chambers Park, Portadown. KO 15:00
Saturday 29 August: Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, Limerick. KO 14:30
Saturday 5 September: Ulster v Connacht, Chambers Park, Portadown. KO 15:00