If you visit a Rugby4All session in New York City, you will hear sneakers pounding across the turf, plenty of laughter, and what Coach Kieran Joyce accurately describes as “a bit of organized chaos.”
For Kieran, that organized chaos is right where the magic happens.
Originally from Solihull, just outside Birmingham, England, Kieran grew up in a family with deep Irish roots and a shared love for rugby. What began as an afternoon game with childhood mates became a seven-year professional career in Ireland. The sport eventually brought him across the Atlantic to Seattle, then to New York, where he competes locally with Old Blue.
In May 2026, Rugby4All Program Manager Chris Matina called Kieran with a simple invitation: come, coach the next generation. Kieran jumped at the chance.
“Having played rugby for so many years, I really wanted to give something back to a sport that’s given me so much,” Kieran says. “What I love about Rugby4All is that we’re introducing the game to kids who might otherwise never have had the opportunity to experience it.”
Building Confidence in the “Organized Chaos”
A typical Rugby4All clinic is designed around one core rule: make it fun. Many of the young athletes stepping onto the pitch have never seen an oval ball, let alone passed one.
Kieran keeps the atmosphere light and supportive, so players feel comfortable trying new things. The real transformation happens quietly.
“One of the things I enjoy most is watching the quieter kids gradually come out of their shells,” Kieran explains. “You might have someone who starts a session a little nervous, doesn’t want the ball, or isn’t particularly confident joining in. Then, as the session goes on, they’ll make a good pass, score a try, or get encouragement from their teammates. Suddenly, you can see their whole attitude change. They’re smiling, calling for the ball, and getting involved.”
Those moments prove that the sport serves as a bridge for personal growth. On the pitch, players pick up essential habits without even realizing it. They learn to communicate across diverse backgrounds, back up a teammate who dropped a pass, and bounce back when a drill doesn’t go as planned.
What Lasts Beyond the Final Whistle
When practice wraps up, the cones are stacked, and the balls are packed into the kit bags, Kieran takes the train home with a clear head.
“You can have a long day, turn up to coaching feeling a little tired, and within five minutes their energy completely changes your mood,” he says. “Seeing kids enjoying themselves, making friends, and getting better each week is a great feeling.”
His advice to new players picking up a ball for the first time is straightforward: do not worry about getting everything right. Rugby is a game of continuous adjustments, and making mistakes is simply part of how everyone learns.
As Rugby4All looks ahead to the upcoming season, Kieran is focused on expanding our teams across New York City and watching our players grow both on and off the field.
“Rugby has opened so many doors for me personally,” Kieran says. “If we can help provide even a fraction of those opportunities to the next generation, that’s something pretty special.”
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