The aspiring young players at Cowbridge Rugby Club and Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Morgannwg in the Vale of Glamorgan on the outskirts of Cardiff will be particularly interested observers of England’s Six Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
It doesn’t take much for those of Welsh persuasion to support anyone but England, but on this occasion there is more to why their backing will be firmly for the men in green than just historical rivalry. Ireland’s head coach for this Championship is Simon Easterby, who has been promoted from his assistant role with usual boss Andy Farrell now on Lions duty.
While Easterby has worked for the last 11 years with Ireland’s forwards and on their defence and spends long periods in Dublin as a result, his family home remains in Wales. The 49-year-old former flanker is married to TNT Sports broadcaster Sarra Elgan. The pair have two children – Soffia and Ffredi.
In his down time away from Ireland duties, Easterby has helped play a part-time role in coaching his son Ffredi at both Cowbridge and Bro Morgannwg.
Last March, Easterby senior lifted the Six Nations title for a second straight year in the same week his son tasted junior school success at Principality Stadium for the second time.
It was a special seven days for the Easterby family.
Simon Easterby is stepping up to serve as Ireland’s head coach during the Six Nations
Easterby has been placed in interim charge of Ireland with Andy Farrell, right, on Lions duty
Aside from his role with Ireland, Easterby has played a part-time role in coaching his son Ffredi
Not many coaches working in the Six Nations can also say they do their bit at grassroots level, but Easterby is certainly one.
‘My boy plays for Cowbridge Rugby Club, but I’ve also helped out with his school a little bit,’ he told Mail Sport, ahead of his first Six Nations game as Ireland boss.
‘I’ve loved it and I’ve been very fortunate to get the chance to do that. They’ve competed in the Principality Stadium and won a couple of trophies there over the years.
‘I really can’t take any credit for that though. His year group in school won the Year 10 Welsh Schools Cup which was really nice, really special. I’ve turned up and been waterboy!
‘My role has been very minimal, but I’ve loved the opportunity. I’ve been very fortunate to be invited in by the school and the head of rugby.
‘I enjoy spending time with the children and seeing them develop.
‘I’ve done one session this year. I did about four last year. They’d done all the hard work of getting to the semis and the final and I just took the glory!’
Easterby downplays his grassroots coaching role, but his mere presence in the Vale of Glamorgan is an inspiration to those involved.
Easterby will be tasked with leading Ireland to a third successive triumph in the Six Nations
His transition into the role should be seamless having served for over a decade in the set-up
Easterby has worked alongside former head coach Joe Schmidt, right, and Farrell with Ireland
Cowbridge Rugby Club was also a regular haunt of former Wales head coach Wayne Pivac, who lived nearby during his time in the Welsh Rugby Union’s most high-profile job.
On Saturday afternoon, Easterby’s coaching credentials will certainly be tested as he takes on Steve Borthwick’s England in Dublin. Under Farrell, Ireland have won the last two Championships, so there is pressure on Easterby to make it a hat-trick.
But his transition to main man should be seamless given he has been part of the Irish set-up for more than a decade and has learned from both Farrell and his predecessor Joe Schmidt.
Ireland also have a phenomenal squad of players to call on, even if first-choice forwards Tadhg Furlong and Joe McCarthy are out injured for their opener with England.
Further, Easterby has also previously headed up the coaching staff of Emerging Ireland in the past – the country’s A team of sorts. It is not as if he lacks experience.
‘It is a different dynamic when you are leading the group. You are thinking about things slightly differently as opposed to being an assistant,’ Easterby said.
‘As a head coach you’ve got to look at the game a little bit more holistically. We are really fortunate in Ireland we’ve got a great management group who take no managing, if that makes sense. I’m really lucky to have been in my role in the team for as long as I have.
‘This is, I guess, a natural progression and me evolving my role a little bit. I’m fortunate that the union have seen trust in me to do that. I’m just delighted to have the opportunity, but I want to embrace it and enjoy it.
Easterby and Ireland will be put to the test in their Six Nations opener against England
Ireland also have a phenomenal squad of players to call on and are the Six Nations favourites
Easterby admits he has been trying to put his own stamp on things and is embracing the role
‘I’ve been fortunate enough to be in this group for 11 years now and I’ve loved my time as an assistant. I’ve worked under two great head coaches in Joe and Faz.
‘I’ll certainly be taking a lot of what they delivered to the team over the years into the next six or eight weeks, but also trying to put my stamp on things as well.’
Easterby has certainly done that in the last fortnight, leaving Ireland strong favourites to start their 2025 campaign with victory over England.
Should they do so, the Emerald Isle will be more than happy and so too will a small portion of south Wales – the area Easterby still calls home.
