School Classroom to USA Fitness to Researcher: Shane Scanlon IRIS Rugby Researcher Profile – Professor ian kenny & shane scanlon.

Shane Scanlon made the move earlier in 2025 from USA private health & fitness, to Australia, to join the Irish Rugby Injury Surveillance (IRIS) project team when he was awarded a PhD scholarship. I caught up with Shane to ask him a bit more about his previous roles and what he has planned for his PhD…

Where did you move from and where is home originally?

I returned to Ireland from Perth in mid-August. I spent the previous five months travelling and working in Sydney and Perth and the year before that living and working in New York. But I am originally a proud West Kerryman.

Where and what did you study at university?

The majority of my third level education has taken place in UL. I achieved a Bachelors of Technology (Education) in Materials and Architectural Technology in 2017 and a Master of Science in Sports Performance in 2023, both here. In between those courses I also completed a Higher Diploma in Computer Science in 2019 from the Atlantic Technological University. You could say I have a unique educational background!

You undertook a research dissertation a few years ago at UL with Munster Rugby Development Squads, how did that come about?

My Masters research dissertation was a built-in component of the summer development programme thanks to my supervisor, Catherine Norton. I always had a keen interest in fuelling for performance and found it fascinating how athletes approached this aspect in different ways. When I saw the opportunity to complete this research with Catherine I jumped at it. For this project, I examined nutrition and hydration knowledge and practices within the under 18’s schools squad that year. This involved testing the squad’s knowledge through online questionnaires and monitoring their everyday fuelling strategies via food diaries and their hydration practices via urinalysis. Data collection occurred over a two weeks during the summer programme. The findings highlighted suboptimal nutrition and hydration knowledge and practices in this cohort of youth athletes, suggesting the need for tailored support and educational interventions to enhance their overall health and performance.

What was it like preparing and publishing your masters dissertation work in a top ranked journal?

I really enjoyed this process, even though it was unexpected. In September 2023, I presented preliminary findings at the National Sports and Human Performance Conference, which opened my eyes up to the world of academia and I gained a lot of confidence from this experience. Following the conference and a lot of support and encouragement from Catherine a plan to get my dissertation published was put in place. I submitted my dissertation to Nutrients on the 21^st of January 2024, and after minor revisions, the paper was accepted and published on the 14^th of February 2024. The publication turnaround was very quick, but I had been working on the project since May of the previous year. The title of the project was; Investigating Nutrition and Hydration Knowledge and Practice among a Cohort of Age-Grade Rugby Union Players and can be found here; Nutrients 2024, 16(4), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16040533.

Why the change in direction now to study for a PhD?

I’ve always loved learning, that’s why I became a teacher in the first place. I taught Graphics and Computer Science at Mercy Mounthawk in Tralee for five years before taking a career break in 2022. I then spent a few months working at a ski resort in Vancouver before completing my Master’s in 2023. During the 2023/24 season, I also undertook S&C work with the Kerry GAA Development Squads and Garvey’s Tralee Warriors basketball team.

In March 2024, I moved to New York to take up a role as a Human Performance Specialist at Continuum Club, Manhattan’s premium wellness facility. Once my visa ended in the US, I travelled to Australia. While there, the opportunity to join the IRIS project arose, and I saw it as a way to bring all my previous experiences together: teaching, working with schools and youth athletes, applied performance, and research.

What attracted you to UL, and the IRIS research group?

As I said, I have a passion for teaching and learning, and UL has always been a home for me academically. So, Limerick and the university have always had a draw. The IRIS project is internationally recognised for its impact on player welfare. What really drew me into the project was the chance to contribute to research that doesn’t just sit in journals but directly shapes policy and practice in Irish rugby. IRIS sits at the crossroads of science and applied sport, which is where I hope I can add real value like everyone who has been involved in IRIS to date. Being a big rugby fan is also a plus!

Tell me a bit about your PhD topic.

My PhD is focused on the tackle event in schoolboy rugby. Using IRIS data, I’ll be profiling tackle-related injuries, examining how law changes influence injury patterns, and exploring coach, referee, and player perspectives on the tackle. The aim is to generate practical insights that can inform both injury prevention strategies and education in the youth game.

What do you think are some of the key player welfare areas of the rugby game that we should be addressing as researchers? Anything unique to the underage game?

At underage level, there is a need to balance development and safety. The tackle is consistently the most injurious event, but there is also a need to consider growth, physical mismatches, and education of coaches, players, and referees also needs attention. In schools’ rugby, players are still learning the game while growing physically, so welfare measures must account for that. It’s not only about reducing injury rates but also ensuring young players enjoy long, positive, health rugby experiences that keep them in the game into adulthood.

Contact Shane: shane.scanlon@ul.ie  Research Profiles: ORCID, Linked-In