Michael Bradley returns to coaching as UCC director of rugby

Michael Bradley is set to return to coaching as the new director of rugby at UCC Rugby Football Club.

The former Cork Constitution and Ireland scrum-half has accepted the full-time role at the Mardyke and will oversee the College as they readjust to life in the Energia All-Ireland League men’s Division 1B following relegation from 1A in the season just passed.

Bradley, who has coached Connacht and Edinburgh in addition to stints with Scotland A and Georgia, had returned to his hometown of Cork following his dismissal as Zebre Parma head coach last January after five years at the helm following a run of defeats for the Italian franchise in the United Rugby Championship.

The 1985 Triple Crown winner takes over as the club is set to celebrate its 150th anniversary season in 2022-23, starting on Friday, September 23 with a game between UCC and Oxford University at the Mardyke.

Meanwhile, exciting young full back Patrick Campbell has inked a new deal with Munster.

The former Cork underage football star has signed a contract with the province which will see him continue as an Academy player next season before moving up to the senior squad on a two-year agreement.

The Young Munster man and former PBC student - who won a Grand Slam with the Ireland U20 side this spring - made two appearances for Munster in the Champions Cup this season.

Munster have also confirmed that six players will join the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy this summer.

Evan O’Connell, Jack Oliver, Ruadhan Quinn, Kieran Ryan and Ireland U20 Grand Slam winners Fionn Gibbons and Darragh McSweeney have all committed to the province.

Former Academy players Scott Buckley, Paddy Kelly, Alex Kendellen, Eoin O’Connor and Paddy Patterson will join the senior squad next season with Jonathan Wren retiring from the game on medical grounds.

Elsewhere, Youghal man and former Ireland head coach Eddie O’Sullivan has been appointed Head Coach at AIL club Buccaneers RFC.

The Athlone club recently gained promotion to Division 1B of the Energia All-Ireland League following a play-off final victory over Queen’s University in Belfast.

O’Sullivan returns to the club he steered to Division One in 1997/98. The Cork native helped the side to a top four finish the following season before he departed to take up a role with Ireland under Warren Gatland.

He has signed a two-year contract with the midlanders and succeeds the outgoing Kolo Kiripati at the Athlone side.

The Samoan left his role earlier this month.

O’Sullivan said he is delighted to be back and involved again at Buccaneers. 

"I enjoyed my time there previously and I believe there is a young but highly talented group with rich potential at Buccs to further develop”.

In a statement the club said they believe O'Sullivan is, “a coach who can get the most out of their promising squad of eager and willing players”.

The former Connacht coach will also oversee the club's U-20’s and Juniors.

The 63-year-old has been out of the professional game since he coached Biarritz in 2014/15.