Mike Pope, who has been our Head Coach for the past three seasons, will be stepping down from his role as Head coach due to new work commitments outside of the club. While we are sad to see Mike leave the position of Head Coach, we are delighted that he will remain involved in coaching within the senior teams and then and as our Coaching Co-ordinator. Mike’s knowledge and experience are extremely valuable to us, and we are grateful that he will continue to share his expertise with the team.
On behalf of the entire club, we would like to thank Mike for his hard work and dedication over the past three seasons. He has been an outstanding Head Coach, and we wish him all the best in his new role. We are thrilled that he will continue to contribute to the club in a coaching role and as Coaching Co-ordinator.
Bournemouth Rugby Club is pleased to announce that Dan Connolly Head Coach for the senior teams. Dan has been with the club for several years, and we are thrilled to have him take on this new leadership position.
“We are delighted to welcome Dan Connolly as our new Head Coach. Dan has been an integral part of our coaching staff for several years, and his appointment reflects our commitment to developing talent from within the club. We are confident that Dan has the experience, knowledge, and passion to lead the team to new heights,” said Chairman Simon Carkeet.
Dan’s playing career has provided him with valuable insights into different levels and styles of rugby. He has played for various teams around the world, including East’s in Canberra, Pietermaritzburg in South Africa, London Welsh in the Championship, Bridgend and Pontypool in the Welsh Premiership, and Wasps in the English Premier League. During his time as a player, Daniel had the privilege of being coached by some esteemed figures in the rugby world, including Warren Gatland, Shaun Edwards, and Sean Holley. These experiences have greatly influenced his coaching style and deepened his understanding of the game.
Dan was a key member of the 2011/12 Bournemouth Rugby team that achieved a significant milestone in the club’s history by winning promotion to National 2 for the first time.
Dan’s coaching journey at Bournemouth Rugby Club began after the promotion into National 2 in 2012. Despite the challenging transition to semi-professional rugby and facing strong opposition, Dan played an instrumental role in guiding the team to a respectable 13th-place finish in the league. Following that season, he temporarily retired from rugby due to a shoulder operation. However, in January 2015, he returned to coaching alongside Craig White to help the team reverse a run of poor performances until the end of the season.
In addition to his involvement with the senior team, Dan has been actively coaching the U13’s, who recently achieved success by winning the Dorset and Wiltshire cup. He also leads the U16’s at the Bath Dorset and Wiltshire developing player programme. Furthermore, Dan is no stranger to the elite sevens circuit, where he coaches with Apache and Samurai.
Notably, Dan’s passion for rugby extends beyond a single variation of the sport. He has the rare distinction of having played international rugby in two variations. He represented Wales in 7’s at the Hong Kong 7’s and England in the 2019 Touch Rugby World Cup.
The club is confident that Dan’s extensive experience, both as a player and a coach, will bring a fresh perspective and elevate the team to new heights. We extend our warmest congratulations to Dan on his appointment as Head Coach and look forward to witnessing the positive impact he will have on Bournemouth Rugby Club.
Please join us in welcoming Dan Connolly to his new role as Head Coach and wishing him the very best in this exciting chapter of his coaching career.
