bound Grugan looking to spread GAA gospel

Looking ahead to 2026 and a tilt at reclaiming Sam Maguire will soon come into focus for Armagh's Rory Grugan, but this winter is going to have a particularly different feel for the 34-year-old forward.

The Ballymacnab man will undergo a small keyhole procedure on a lingering injury tomorrow before embarking on a coaching journey in France.

In a new pilot programme led by Gaelic Games Europe, he will spend 10 weeks in France where he’ll coach Gaelic football in their native tongue.

Currently on a year’s career break from his job as a French teacher in St. McCartan’s College in Monaghan, he starts the new project in on 14 October.

He’ll be based in Brittany, where there is significant GAA activity, but will also work in Paris, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lyon, Lille, and Strasbourg coaching players and coaches – all through the medium of French.

"I’m really excited by it," he says. "I love the GAA and I love teaching French and now I get the chance to coach kids in schools and also help coach development."

His services will be gratefully received.

Gaelic games are already played in six schools over there and Grugan has lined up a further seven to visit.

There are 34 GAA clubs currently in France now with over 1,300 players. Interestingly, 90% of them are French natives.

"We're going across to Luxembourg as well. I didn't realise the scale of it, but that's the excitement of it now - to go and to kind of build those relationships and meet these people.

"The idea of integrating in the community on that level, but also the linguistic challenge that, you know, like as a French teacher, it's exciting to think that you're going to deliver sessions, maybe, like a bit of a coaching seminar or a tactical session with a senior team through the French language."

"So a different sort of winter. But a challenging and enjoyable one," he concludes.

This Saturday sees the Football Rules Committee’s (FRC) suite of rules up for permanent adaptation.

After 11 seasons playing under the 'old rules' of Gaelic football, Grugan has relished the increased space and long-range kicking that lit up the 2025 season.

Grugan, who made his championship debut in 2013, says that while the game is in a far better place, there is still room for improvement.

"I'm a sort of total geek for watching all football and you see brilliant highlights on Instagram and social media of club championships every weekend where you just see so many two pointers with the ball carrying in the wind from 50 metres.

"You're kind of asking yourself, is that exactly the best thing that we're looking for all the time? Especially with the longer frees, two pointers from a placed ball feel like such a big swing and maybe there's something about it that doesn't sit 100% right there for me.

"Another thing I found at club level is communication around the breaches and being aware of the three up top - that can be just a bit more of a challenge too.

"So overall, it’s not yet perfect, but I really like the new rules, I enjoy them, and I think we have a better game."

Grugan was also delighted to see his Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney recently ratified for a 12th season.

"It's just better for Armagh that he's there and that's the long and short of it," Grugan states.

"What he's done for us as a team to take us from a place where we were to. Challenging for provincial and national honours and eventually winning the All-Ireland – it’s a huge journey.

"I've spoken many times how glad I was for him on a personal level that he got that recognition of us winning an All-Ireland title and it’s the nature of the man that he just wants to drive us on. He’ll be looking for fresh blood through these club championships and trying to build the squad again because he just wants us to win, he wants Armagh to be better."

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