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Conor O'Shea: "It would be pretty rude and arrogant of me to start pontificating about what needs to happen"

Conor O'Shea is relishing his new challenge as he takes on the Italy head coach job. The 45-year-...



Conor O'Shea: "It woul...
Rugby

Conor O'Shea: "It would be pretty rude and arrogant of me to start pontificating about what needs to happen"

Conor O'Shea is relishing his new challenge as he takes on the Italy head coach job.

The 45-year-old took the Azzurri international position after six years as the Director of Rugby at English Premiership side Harlequins.

The 35-time Ireland cap is looking forward to a return to as close as you can get to frontline action as a former player can, as he told Off The Ball.

"Nothing beats being in a dressing room. You'll never replace being a player, you'll never get that feeling but to be right in the mix, watching the ups and downs, going through the ups and downs, it gives you that emotional attachment to a sport that you love," he said, also explaining that the importance of moving abroad for aspiring coaches is seen in the sense of learning things in different environments.

He also spoke about "not impersonating" other coaches but taking learnings from the best around and applying that as suitable.

"I would never try and impersonate someone. You read, you beg, borrow and steal," he said, also emphasising the importance of working well with the team of people around a coach.

As for how he will lay down his ideas as he takes charge of the Italy setup, he said, "I think it would be pretty rude and arrogant and egotistical of me to start pontificating about what needs to happen when I haven't spent a day talking or working with me that know a lot more about it than I do at the moment." 

Conor was launching Irish Life’s latest campaign Get Comfortable Investing. Irish Life MAPS is a range of investment funds to suit investors from the conservative to the more adventurous.

Through the Get Comfortable Investing campaign, Irish Life is encouraging people to take their 3 easy steps to exploring options that could get them more comfortable with investing and what options could suit them best.

For more information on Irish Life MAPS, visit: www.irishlife.ie

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