'Football lecturer' gets Ireland's call-up

Well known Southern Cross University Sport Management lecturer Rudi Meir has received a call-up from another international sporting team, this time the Belfast-based Ulster Rugby Union, which requires his services to help prepare its squad of professional players for the forthcoming Irish and European Championship seasons.

Headquartered at Belfast's famous Ravenhill Park ground, the club has engaged Rudi Meir for two weeks from June 15. The call-up resulted from Rudi's past work with Head Coach, Alan Solomons, who was the head of South Africa's Super 12 side, the Stormers.

"My background in terms of coaching and training is predominantly in Rugby League but Alan recognises that Union players have a lot to learn from a sport that has been professional for far longer," Rudi Meir said.

" As a result, my brief is to work exclusively with the players during this period on individual and team skills. This will involve offensive and defensive drills designed to improve their understanding of their roles in particular game situations.

"Decision making is a key area identified by the game's top coaches but poorly understood by many players and even coaches. I have developed a range of drills that work to enhance this ability in players."

He explained that Ulster was one of three Irish provincial teams. The squad he will work with contains a number of current Irish internationals along with players from various other nations. They compete in the Irish national competition and the European Championship played each year by the top teams from Ireland, Wales, England, France and Italy.

"This will be my first time Ireland and I'm looking forward to spreading the word about SCVU and in particular our highly regarded School of Exercise Science and Sport Management," Rudi said.

Previously the strength and conditioning coach with the Gold Coast Seagulls before they pulled out of the ARL competition, Rudi meir has worked with some of the best coaches and players in Rugby League, including Wayne Bennett and the Brisbane Broncos, English club Wigan Warriors and Challenge Cup champs, Leeds Rhinos.

* Digital photos of Rudi Meir are available on request.

For further information, please contact:
Mr. Rudi Meir on 6620 3911
Or Mr Robin Osborne, Media Liaison,
Marketing & External Relations,
6620 3039 Mobile: 0418 431 484
Email: rosborne@scu.edu.au