Darin Claasen
Athlone,Westmeath
Summary
Experienced rugby leader and performance-driven professional with a strong background in coaching, pathway development, and strategic programme delivery. Proven ability to design and implement structured player development systems that connect domestic rugby to performance pathways. Skilled in stakeholder engagement, cross-functional collaboration, and building high-performance environments that prioritise athlete progression, coach development, and sustainable growth.
Brings extensive experience in team leadership, talent identification, performance analysis, and mentoring across age-grade and senior levels. Combines strategic thinking with operational delivery, ensuring alignment between long-term vision and day-to-day execution. Passionate about advancing women’s rugby through inclusive leadership, strong communication, and a commitment to building cohesive provincial structures that support player, coach, and club development.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work history
Buccaneers 1st team Head Coach
Buccaneers Rugby Football Club
Athlone
2025.05 - Current
- Reviewed match footage for identifying areas of improvement in game strategy.
- Secured their 1st win in 33 AIL league games and are continuing to develop and improve.
- Fostered a positive environment, resulting in higher morale amongst the team.
- Changed the mindset and drove standards within the senior set up
- Facilitated open lines of communication between players, staff and management improving overall coordination.
- Delivered motivational speeches to inspire peak performance from athletes.
- Established strong relationships with sporting bodies and clubs for enhancing networking opportunities.
- Streamlined coaching programmes, making them more effective and productive.
- Enhanced player skills with rigorous practice drills.
- Scouted talent at youth level bringing promising athletes into the fold.
- Monitored player fitness levels with regular physical assessments, ensuring optimal health and performance.
- Provided guidance to players, leading to increased confidence.
Digital marketing manager
Madcraft
Athlone
2024.09 - Current
- Provided excellent customer service leading to repeat business and customer loyalty.
- Delegated tasks to team members efficiently improving overall productivity.
- Inspired creativity within the team which resulted in innovative campaign ideas.
- Facilitated successful online campaigns by leveraging social media platforms.
- Monitored KPIs regularly, ensuring constant improvement in digital strategies.
- Devised social media ad campaigns, leading to increased engagement levels.
- Oversaw content strategy, improving brand consistency across all platforms.
- Coordinated with sales team, facilitating revenue growth via online channels.
Buccaneers Rugby Under 20 Head coach
Buccaneers Rugby Footbal club
Athlone, County Westmeath
2024.07 - 2025.05
- Fostered a positive environment, resulting in higher morale amongst the team.
- We won the JP Fanagan Prem league 2 for the 1st time in history.
- Devised individual plans for players catering their specific needs and strengths.
- Delivered motivational speeches to inspire peak performance from athletes.
- Reviewed match footage for identifying areas of improvement in game strategy.
Connacht CRDO
Connacht Rugby
Athlone
2023.10 - 2024.06
- Increased rugby numbers across the mini and Youth section for Buccaneers RFC with coaching workshops in National Schools
- Started girls under 14 rugby in the Athlone Community College
- Coach the girls under 16s and under 18s girls in Athlone Community College
- Coach the girls under 16s and under 18s girls in The Bower Girls schools in Athlone
- Coach the boys under 16s and under 18s in Athlone Community College
- Run Tag Blitzes for National Schools once a term for National Schools.
Connacht Under 18s
Connacht Rugby
Galway
2024.01 - 2024.10
- Selected as 1 of 2 coaches in the IRFU Path Finder Program in a mentorship program with Connacht.
- Working with the East Connacht under 17s Regional Development Squad, assisting Conor Galvin
- As part of the Path Finder Program, working with the Provincial Talent Squad, both Under 18 and under 19 groups.
- Head Coach for the Connacht Under 18s for the 2024 Summer Inter Pro series.
- Connacht Juniors Assistant Coach
Rugby Coach
Tullamore Rugby Club
Tullamore, Offaly
2019.07 - 2024.05
- Head coach for Tullamore 1st Team, creating and implementing game plan
- Have reached the top 4 every year ( except covid year ) since I started with Tullamore, just missing out out promotion.
- Implemented an attack minded playing style, took their winning % from 30% in 2018 to 75%. Increased the tries scored from an average 30 per season to 64 per season
- Ran coaching workshops all the other coaches in the rugby club to promote similar playing styles throughout the club and to up skill coaches.
- Designed a season plan including pre-season, in season and mid season break with on field and off field season.
- Implemented a training plan specializing in Attack structures , defence structures, skills, rucking and set piece plays.
- Consistently applied effective, innovative coaching methods to meet and exceed team needs.
- Focused on mindset and mindfulness to help player growth
- Run weekly video analysis sessions with player feedback and stats.
- Design and implement strength and conditioning program for players to follow throughout the season.
Chief Operating Officer
Fireboks
Galway, Galway
2020.09 - 2024.07
- Created innovative business solutions to build the Fireboks brand mainly through social media channels. Built 100% of the the business in the 1st year through online channels.
- Drove a culture of high performance and continuous improvement by establishing KPI metrics across sales and marketing. Focusing on sales, ROAS and conversions.
- Successfully grew B2B and B2C sales revenues.
- Headed the sales division and Increased revenue by 72% from year 1 to year 2.
- Spearheaded expansion strategies to increase business market share by securing new product ranges from South Africa, Germany and the UK with exclusivity agreements in place to drive growth and increase our customer base in Ireland and the UK.
- Effectively handled daily customer meetings, sales calls and account management tasks, improving sales team efficiency.
- Proactively brought in new business accounts, growing existing sales territories to maximize profits.
- Developed and implemented marketing strategies through social media and email marketing channels.
Director of Sales
Liss Ard Estate
2022.09 - 2023.05
- Developed successful B2B and B2C sales strategies to facilitate corporate bookings .
- Created the Recharge & Reconnect campaign with different wellness packages and a turn over of 40k in the last 4 months
- Developed the digital voucher platform which saw an increase of 800% on the previous year.
- Oversaw marketing strategy outputs from social media, email campaigns and google ads to ensure consistent digital growth.
- Produced detailed weekly and monthly reports on KPI achievements to establish areas of improvement.
- Analyzed hospitality trends on a monthly basis to perform accurate business forecasting.
- Fostered positive relationships with customers to enhance loyalty and retention.
- Effectively handled daily customer meetings, sales calls and account management tasks, improving sales team efficiency.
- Established positive relationship with Luxury travel advisors and DMCs.
Online Personal Training
Business Owner
Athlone
2015.01 - 2020.09
- Designed my first online training website called www.dconlinefitness.com in 2015
- Created a variety of progressive training plans through my website and signed up members from all over the world
- Wrote and distributed a fitness book and DVD combo called the 28 Fat Shredder plan. I sold the book which included a 28 day menu plan, shopping list, recipes and also a periodised 28 day , daily exercise plan. The book also included 3 workout DVDs with the full video workouts for clients to train to. The 28 Day Fat Shredder book/DVD combo was sold by Intersport Elverys, a sports retailer, in all 56 of there stores.
- I also sold the virtual copy of the book as an Ebook with links to the video workouts.
- April 2019, I launched my 1st App, called PowerUp. A interactive app with a 10 Phase PowerUp periodised program, for home and gym training. Included in the app, is a workout builder, Nutrition tracking, progress tracking, mindfulness programs and also over 1000 video on demand workouts from 3rd party trainers from around the world. More info about the app can be found at www.poweruplifetsyle.com
- I also offered the app to member of my gym called Unique Health and Fitness which was based in Monksland, Athlone.
Manager / Gym Owner
Unique Health and Fitness
Athlone, Westmeath
2013.10 - 2020.09
- Supervised and trained staff to provide exceptional service throughout entire experience.
- Managed day-to-day management operations, including supervision and assignment delegation for trainers with incentives in place.
- Built up membership numbers from 0 to 400 active members.
- Presented corporate wellness presentations as well as corporate fitness classes
- Designed and assigned menu plans for clients to help achieve results.
- Screened clients and performed client assessments.
- Trained clients using strength training, cardio vascular exercise, HIIT and stretching.
- Designed the PowerUp workout system for clients . This is a progressive 10 phase workout program hosted within an App.
- Designed and executed individual and small group exercise fitness classes.
- Grew customer base through social media advertising campaigns.
Rugby Coach
Cistercian College Roscrea
Roscrea
2018.08 - 2020.04
- Assistant coach, specializing in team back line play
- Planned, monitored and supervised high-quality coaching activities, such as defence skills activities
- Performed video analysis to assess and and highlight positive involvement and also areas where we as a team and individuals need to improve
- Delivered lessons with enthusiasm and positivity to inspire students to consistently achieve goals.
- Implemented the 1-3-3-1 playing structure
- Provide player feedback to help players improve
Rugby Coach
Buccaneers Rugby Football club
Athlone, Westmeath
2014.07 - 2018.05
- Assistant coach from July 2014- May 2017 specializing in Backline, Skills and Attack
- Head coach from July 2018 -May 2019
- Strength and Conditioning coach for all senior players
- Gained promotion from Division 1b to Division 1a in 2017
- Connacht Senior Cup and League winner 2 years in a row
Personal Trainer
Unique Personal Training
Galway, Galway
2008.09 - 2013.08
- Started my own business offering one to one personal training as well as group training
- Assessed and designed training plans for clients of varying fitness levels.
- Built up my client base from 0 to 110 clients
- Managed day to day running of the business
- Created and managed all marketing campaigns through social media
- Educated customers on preventative care, nutrition, fitness, stress management and ergonomics.
- Designed and executed individual and small group exercise fitness classes and regimens.
Car Sales Executive
Auto Xchange
Galway, Galway
2005.01 - 2008.08
- Delivered an exceptional level of service to each customer by listening to concerns and answering questions.
- Worked with financial agencies to offer finance deals for customers.
- Handled part-exchange appraisals, using persuasive negotiation skills for mutually beneficial outcomes.
- Provided first-class service from arrival to sale, communicating attentively to continuously meet customer needs.
- Exceeded monthly sales targets through exceptional customer service and excellent deal-closing abilities.
Education
Higher National Diploma - IRFU Stage 4 Head Coach Course
IRFU
DublinHigher National Diploma - Mental Performance Mastery
Brian Cain Mental Performance Coach
OnlineHigher National Diploma - Personal Trainer
Sport Science Institute Of South Africa
Cape TownDiploma of Higher Education - SARFU Level 2 coaching course
SARFU
Port Elizabeth - South AfricaRugby Student / Player - Rugby Fundementals
South African Rugby Football Academy
Port ElizabethSkills
- Project management
- Self-motivated
- Video analysis
- Microsoft Office
- Sport Specific Conditioning
- Coaching and mentoring
- Mental Performance Coach
- Offensive and defensive strategy
- Team player
- Powerful negotiator
- Performance tracking
- Financial planning and strategy
- Effective leadership skills
- Planning and execution
- Operations oversight
- Customer acquisition and retention
- Social media savvy
- National account management
- Energetic
- Lead generation
- Sales and market development
Timeline
Buccaneers 1st team Head Coach
Buccaneers Rugby Football Club
2025.05 - Current
Digital marketing manager
Madcraft
2024.09 - Current
Buccaneers Rugby Under 20 Head coach
Buccaneers Rugby Footbal club
2024.07 - 2025.05
Connacht Under 18s
Connacht Rugby
2024.01 - 2024.10
Connacht CRDO
Connacht Rugby
2023.10 - 2024.06
Director of Sales
Liss Ard Estate
2022.09 - 2023.05
Chief Operating Officer
Fireboks
2020.09 - 2024.07
Rugby Coach
Tullamore Rugby Club
2019.07 - 2024.05
Rugby Coach
Cistercian College Roscrea
2018.08 - 2020.04
Online Personal Training
Business Owner
2015.01 - 2020.09
Rugby Coach
Buccaneers Rugby Football club
2014.07 - 2018.05
Manager / Gym Owner
Unique Health and Fitness
2013.10 - 2020.09
Personal Trainer
Unique Personal Training
2008.09 - 2013.08
Car Sales Executive
Auto Xchange
2005.01 - 2008.08
Higher National Diploma - Mental Performance Mastery
Brian Cain Mental Performance Coach
Higher National Diploma - Personal Trainer
Sport Science Institute Of South Africa
Diploma of Higher Education - SARFU Level 2 coaching course
SARFU
Rugby Student / Player - Rugby Fundementals
South African Rugby Football Academy
Higher National Diploma - IRFU Stage 4 Head Coach Course
IRFU