Cricket Ireland and Dublin City University have announced a new partnership which will see DCU become an Official Partner to the organisation. As part of the two-year agreement, Cricket Ireland will receive support for training and development of its players, coaches and managers through access to the university’s specialist sporting facilities, staff and resources.
The collaboration will provide academic opportunities for elite cricket players who would otherwise have emigrated to the United Kingdom, thus retaining and developing a strong, indigenous talent pool. DCU will also extend its Elite Athlete Programme to include elite cricket athletes and work with Cricket Ireland in developing sports scholarships for players entering DCU programmes.
Warren Deutrom, CEO of Cricket Ireland said, “In DCU, we are delighted to have found a partner that shares our desire, indeed whose purpose is, to refine future talent. DCU is a world-class institute of learning that has the experience and flexibility to nurture talented athletes so that academic and performance sport are complementary rather than competing forces. In return, we are looking forward to helping DCU attract overseas students from countries that have a passion for our sport, particularly India.”
Infrastructural plans include the development of a cricket training area, with turf and artificial nets, at DCU Sports Campus and access to elite sports training facilities at DCU for the Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s teams, Academy and Leinster Lightning players. This will be complemented by mentor schemes for senior and provincial cricket players undertaking academic studies in DCU.
Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU said, “This is an exciting opportunity for DCU to promote a sporting tradition firmly rooted in the North Dublin region. We recognise that balancing academic achievement, sporting excellence and personal development remains a challenge for our young talented sports people, and we are pleased to extend our extensive range of supports to Ireland’s promising young cricket players. Cricket is certainly putting Ireland on the map, both nationally and internationally and we look forward to collaborating with Cricket Ireland as it implements its ambitious development programme.”