The aspiring -young players at Cowbridge Rugby Club and Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg in the Vale of Glamorgan on the outskirts of Cardiff will be particularly interested in the six Nations of England with Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
It does not take much for those of Welshe conviction to support someone other than England, but on this occasion there is more why their support will be firm for men in green than just historical rivalry. The head coach of Ireland for this championship is Simon Easterby, who has been promoted from his assistant role with the usual boss Andy Farrell now about Lions Duty.
Although Easterby has worked with the attackers of Ireland and on their defense for the past 11 years and therefore spends long periods in Dublin, his family house remains in Wales. The 49-year-old former flanker is married to TNT Sports broadcaster Sarra Elgan. The couple has two children – Soffia and Ffredi.
In his downtime away from the tasks of Ireland, Easterby helped to play a part -time role in coaching his son Ffredi at both Cowbridge and Bro Morgannwg.
Last March, Easterby Senior abolished the title of Six Nations for a second consecutive year in the same week that his son tasted the success of the Junior School in the principle stage for the second time.
It was a special seven days for the eastern family.
Not many coaches who work in the Six Nations can also say that they take advantage of the basic level, but Easterby is certainly one.
“My boy plays for Cowbridge Rugby Club, but I also helped with his school,” he told Mail Sport, prior to his first Six Nations match as Ireland Baas.
'I love it and I was lucky to get the chance to do that. They have participated in the Principality Stage and have won a few trophies there over the years.
“However, I really can't take honor for that. His year group at school won the year 10 Welsh Schools Cup, which was very nice, really special. I turned up and am in Waterboy!
“My role has been very minimal, but I kept the chance. I was lucky to be invited by the school and the head of the rugby.
'I enjoy spending time with the children and see them develop.
'I did one session this year. I did about four last year. They had already done the hard work to come to the semi -final and the final and I just took the glory! '
Easterby dampens its basic role of the base, but his mere presence in The Vale of Glamorgan is an inspiration for those involved.
Cowbridge Rugby Club was also a regular ghost of former Wales head coach Wayne Pivac, who lived in the neighborhood during his time in the most talked about Welsh Rugby Union.
On Saturday afternoon, Easterby's coaching references will certainly be tested if he takes on Steve Borthwick's England in Dublin. Under Farrell, Ireland has won the last two championships, so there is busy on Easterby to turn it into a hat trick.
But his transition to the chief should be seamless, since he has been part of the Irish setup for more than a decade and has learned from both Farrell and his predecessor Joe Schmidt.
Ireland also has a phenomenal team of players to call, even as First-Cheice Tadhg Furlong and Joe McCarthy, are injured for their opener with England.
Furthermore, in the past, Easterby has also led the coaching staff of emerging Ireland – the country is a kind of team. It is not as if he has no experience.
'It is another dynamic when you lead the group. You think about being somewhat different in contrast to assistant, “said Easterby.
'As a head coach you have to look at the game a little holistic. We are really lucky in Ireland, we have a great management group that has no management, if that makes sense. I am really lucky that I have been in the team in the team for so long.
'This is, I think, a natural progression and I evolve my role a bit. I am lucky that the trade union has seen faith in me to do that. I am just very happy that I have the chance, but I want to embrace it and enjoy it.
'I was lucky to be in this group for 11 years now and I have loved my time as an assistant. I worked under two great head coaches in Joe and Faz.
“I will certainly do a lot of what they have delivered to the team over the years in the next six or eight weeks, but also try to put my mark on things.”
Easterby has certainly done that in the past two weeks, so Ireland leave strong favorites to start their 2025 campaign with the victory over England.
If they do that, the Emerald Island will be more than happy and also a small part of Zuid -Wales -the Easterby area still calls home.
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