Bann welcome Soper back to Rifle Park Share
Banbridge Rugby Club are pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Soper as Club Coach for the 2010-11 season. The New Zealander is of course no stranger to Rifle Park, having previously played and acted as Player-Coach at Rifle Park. Soper first appeared in Bann colours in 1998, at the start of the club's first season in the All-Ireland League. He subsequently played in the European Cup with Italian side Padova before returning to Rifle Park to take on the role of Player-Coach from 2000-02. After a spell back in New Zealand he returned to Ulster where he was appointed Assistant Coach at Ballynahinch in 2006. Initially he featured at out-half for the Ballymacarn Park side before retiring from active pitch duty to concentrate on coaching the backs, a role he fulfilled during ‘Hinch's unforgettably successful league and cup run last season. Currently Director of Rugby at Ballyclare High School, where he steered the First XV to the quarter-final of this season's Schools' Cup, Soper will go into the new season hoping to realise the potential of a young Bann squad which finished the 2009-10 Division Three season in fourth place.