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13th September 2016
02:27pm BST

"Coaching is one of the most rewarding careers that exists. You get to facilitate the improvement of hundreds of players throughout your career, and watch them enjoy every moment of it. "That’s why I coach, because there is nothing I value more, than having those 40 or 50 lads around me that I get to develop into better athletes, and better people."The teenager spent three weeks at Grenoble, shadowing director of rugby Bernard Jackman and his coaching team. He was particularly impressed with how each day, and session, is timed to the minute to give each coach and player the maximum advantage of the resources at hand.
Walsh raves about Jackman and former Munster scrumhalf Mike Prendergast, Grenoble's backs coach, and about their generosity of spirit and time. He says:
"Seeing the unbelievable hours that they put in behind the scenes and combining that effortlessly with endless hands-on coaching, really solidified my decision to pursue a career as a professional coach."Not long after he returned to Dublin, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen arranged it for Walsh to have a half hour chat with New Zealand rugby legend Graham Henry. "Graham gave me half an hour to ask about his coaching pathway, his advice on coaching as a career, which he highly recommended, and an insight into his life," he said. Walsh is learning every day and says he has already developed a thick skin. He knows he won't be able to progress without making mistakes and getting criticism but sees each speed-bump as a learning opportunity. He says, "For anyone who has ever thought about coaching, do it, and don't look back." The GAA Hour took their show on the road to Castlebar to preview the All-Ireland final with Colm Parkinson, James Horan and some very special guests. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes.
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