EX-IRELAND RUGBY coach Eddie O’Sullivan has agreed to become the High Performance Advisor for the Irish Olympic handball team, it has been announced.

The move is part of the Irish Olympic Handball Association’s attempts to professionalise their approach to the sport.

In addition, the IOHA have also appointed Toni Gerona Salaet (FC Barcelona) as national team coach, David Matthews (800M dual Olympian and Cork hurling fitness coach) as Fitness Coach and Stephen McIvor (former Irish rugby international) as Sports Psychologist.

Speaking following the announcement, O’Sullivan said:

“It is a very exciting time for Olympic Handball in Ireland. The growth of the game nationwide and the structures being put in place around the National Team gives the sport a tremendous opportunity to advance within the European rankings in the near future.”

IOHA President, Fintan Lyons, added:

“We are delighted to have Eddie on board in this advisory capacity. Eddie is a talented sport’s professional with a great track record of success. We are a small sport but we hope that Eddie can impart some of his knowledge and experience to the organisation to help bring us to the next level.”

The sport’s popularity in Ireland has increased in recent years – it currently has over 5000 participants at schools level.

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