Former Connacht and IRFU physiotherapist joins Mayo GAA medical team

Mayo GAA has announced that former Connacht Rugby lead physiotherapist Garrett Coughlan will be part of the Mayo GAA medical team for the 2022 season.

Coughlan brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the backroom medical team having worked with some of Ireland’s most elite athletes, the Ireland Under 20 rugby team and the Irish men’s and women’s rugby sevens teams.

Welcoming the news, Mayo GAA chairperson Seamus Touhy said he was looking forward to working with Coughlan and wished him well in his new role with Mayo GAA.

“Garrett will oversee the physiotherapy requirements for all of our county teams in the coming year. It is important that we have a consistent and coordinated approach to injury prevention and injury treatment, and Garrett and his team have the expertise to deliver this service. I want to wish him and all our medical team all the best for the year ahead,” commented Touhy.

Coughlan has already worked with the Mayo senior football team and was part of the backroom medical team for both the Donegal and Monaghan Allianz National Football League games.

Commenting on his new role, the Westport-based physiotherapist said he was delighted to take up this unique opportunity to work with Mayo GAA.

“I have spent a fantastic 11 years with the IRFU and Connacht Rugby, and now I hope that my experience will further assist Mayo GAA and the local community,” he stated.

In 2015 Coughlan was awarded Specialist Membership of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (SMISCP) in the area of sports medicine. He has over 30 journal articles published in the areas of athlete profiling, concussion, lower limb rehabilitation and assessment. He has also launched a private practice called CORE Health and Performance that will operate from the new high performance centre at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar.