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Nucifora with incoming head coach Andy Farrell. Dan Sheridan/INPHO

David Nucifora signs new deal to stay with IRFU until 2022

The Australian has made landmark changes in Irish rugby since arriving in 2014.

IRFU PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR David Nucifora has signed a three-year extension to his contract, keeping him with the union until the end of the 2021/22 season.

Five years on from his initial appointment, the Australian has proven successful in his role at the top tier of Irish rugby with increased movement of Irish players between provinces and the emergence of serious Sevens teams signalling progress.

The42 reported last week that the 57-year-old was set to re-commit to the IRFU for the period beyond Joe Schmidt’s tenure as head coach.

Today’s statement from the IRFU also credits Nucifora with progress in the player development pathway and talent identification in overseas-based Irish-qualified talent.

IRFU CEO Philip Browne said: “David has delivered across a huge number of areas in that regard and Irish Rugby is in a better place for the experience, leadership and passion he has brought to the role.  We are delighted that he has agreed to continue this important work over the coming years.”

Nucifora made time in the statement to outline future projects.

David Nucifora Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

“Over the coming months we will see the culmination of a number of years work on a couple of very  important projects,” said the Australian.

“Irish Rugby’s High Performance Centre in Abbottstown will come on stream during the summer and another significant piece of infrastructure – a centralised player data management platform that ties together all of the disciplines that support Irish Rugby from the start of the Elite Player Pathway through to the National Team will be in place ahead of the new season. “ 

He added: “One of the next big challenges will be to ensure that the IRFU’s competition and development structures support the ambitions of young players wishing to pursue an elite pathway in the game. This will involve greater alignment of the programmes in both the performance and participation pathways.”

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    Mute Hardly Normal
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 7:36 PM

    Vincent Debaty, unreal support running from the prop, amazing run as well Nakaitaci ..

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    Mute Phil O' Meara
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 8:22 PM

    100% best try. I reckon the effort probably took a year off his life.

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    Mute Peter Slattery
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 8:38 PM

    Love that he immediately had to go off. He literally gave everything for the try. And was forced back on. Unbelievable. What a day.

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    Mute @Aoifs2707
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 9:14 PM

    Agree 100% Vincent ran at some pace, and scored a crucial try. What a fecking legend the next time he is in Limerick the pints are on me!!!

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    Mute Deirdre Murphy
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 9:14 PM

    Magic stuff. Is that Nigel Owens in the background saying “every game should be like this”? And they were singing a cracking rendition of Swing low when the move started. Love the six nations.

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    Mute Paul McNevin
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 7:27 PM

    I’m still dancing at the crossroads, the wifi isn’t great.

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    Mute Gibson O Driscoll
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 8:38 PM

    Great tries great day. But a try saving tackle by Jammy won it for us. Never been a Heaslip fan but he earned his corn yesterday.

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    Mute Peter Slattery
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 8:37 PM

    Great article. We’ll done on compiling the list!

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    Mute Niall B.
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 9:20 PM

    Great line from Owens after the Debaty try ‘Every game should be like this’

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    Mute Séamus Ó Lochlainn
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 11:23 PM

    Leonardo Sarto for Italy in the last minute! Went from needing 28 points to 21, which was massive psychologically. Bravo sir!

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    Mute Cormac
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 3:43 AM

    Thanks for sharing. Live in USA for last 5 years but still a huge fan. Was following text commentary on Saturday. These are great times for Irish Rugby. We should cherish them.

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    Mute Mark O'Donohoe
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    Mar 22nd 2015, 9:10 PM

    And then this

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    Mute Mark O'Hagan
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 12:01 AM

    The Irish, French and Italian ones.

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