Lions Tour Calling for UCC’s Falvey

UCC Medicine alumni and Senior Lecturer in Sports & Exercise Medicine Éanna Falvey has been announced as Head of Medical Staff for the British & Irish Lions 2017 Tour of New Zealand.The British & Irish Lions announced the appointment last Wednesday as part of three major additions to Warren Gatland’s backroom team.As well as Dr Falvey, Warren Gatland also captured the signatures of Rhodri Bown as Head Analyst, and Paul Stridgeon as Head of Strength & Conditioning for the upcoming 10-match tour.Wales and Lions head coach Warren Gatland was very content with additions to his backroom team commenting that "Rhodri (Bown), Paul (Stridgeon) and Éanna (Falvey) have a lot of Lions experience, including being part of a winning team in 2013 and they know what is required for us to be successful in New Zealand. They will bring a wealth of knowledge and skill to their roles and I know they will fit well into the environment we are trying to create."This is a major step in the career of Dr Éanna Falvey who is already Director of Sports Medicine at the Sports Surgery Clinic UCC, Dublin and Senior Lecturer in Sports & Exercise Medicine, UCC. Away from rugby, Dr Falvey also has experience working in rugby, football, boxing and Australian Rules football.As part of the medical team during the Lions victorious Australian Tour in 2013, he also served as team doctor to the Irish rugby team from 2009 to 2015 in a run which saw three Six Nations Championships, as well as the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup campaigns, and doctor for Munster Rugby for four years from 2003 to 2007, which included the Red Men’s maiden Heineken Cup win in 2006.Dr Falvey also served as the Irish Amateur Boxing Association high performance unit physician from 2009 to 2015 during a period of huge international success for Irish boxing, continuing his own person successes at the sport which included a National Amateur Heavyweight and Super Heavyweight boxing championship titles, while also representing Ireland at the 2001 AIBA World Senior Boxing Championships. Dr Falvey also serves as a member of the World Rugby Concussion working group.