WHAT do you get when you combine a young, exuberant squad with a French coach who loves attacking rugby? The answer is simple: entertainment.

Prop Padraig Galvin is in his second year as Bandon rugby captain and is content with how the side is progressing. Regis Sonnes’ team may sit seventh in the Munster Junior League with two wins from five, but the evolving style of rugby they’re embracing is seen as a long-term building block. They face second-placed Mallow at home this Sunday (2.30pm) in what promises to be a serious test.

Cup competitions, meanwhile, have offered encouragement. The West Cork outfit have reached the Cork County Cup final, where they’ll take on Old Christians on Sunday, December 14th. It’s something to look forward to, and the squad is clearly enjoying its rugby.

‘It’s been a bit of a slow start but it’s a young team. It’s a hungry team as well. Regis is trying to bring the French flair to the club. We’re a quick team, we want to play fast rugby. A few disappointing losses, but I have no doubt the lads will pick it up and drive on,’ Galvin told The Southern Star.

‘The lads are getting to really enjoy this style of play. It takes away the one-dimensional, carrying-around-the-corner type of stuff. You’d like to switch it up, and that involves good kicking gameplay.’

Sonnes, well known for his work in Bandon Grammar and previously in France with Toulouse in particular, is now in his second year back in the Bandon RFC hotseat. The players adore him, enjoy the way he challenges them, and hope results will begin to mirror the progress of this young crop.

‘He has just so much knowledge about the game and he is trying to implement his style. His vast knowledge of rugby is excellent. He thinks of so many things, the key details. There are some plays this year that we wouldn’t have dreamt of doing before. He’s brilliant and great to work alongside. He has adapted the play to suit us.

‘We’re a young team, the average age is about 22 or 23. You still have Tom Ferguson, Scott Kingston and Gearoid O’Leary knocking around too. Regis tries to bring that French aspect to it, which is great for us,’ Galvin added.

Bandon head coach Régis Sonnes.

Youth has indeed been a major feature this year. Bandon’s half-back pairing of Niall Burke and Dylan Barr are relatively new recruits, while other emerging talents are already catching the eye.

‘We have guys coming up from U18, the likes of Jack McNamara who is after a successful underage season. He and the other young fellas are mostly college students and it’s a commitment. In fairness, the lads have really bought into it. It’s just about getting to know the system better,’ Galvin explained.

‘When it works, it’s lovely rugby to see – free-flowing, quick ball. With inconsistency, that comes with time and maturity. With myself captaining this year, and the support from the older lads, that gives confidence to the younger lads to push it on.’

The 25-year-old prop has learned plenty about leadership, including from his predecessor Scott Kingston, who captained the club before him.

‘I’m enjoying the challenge of it. It’s been busy, a lot of phone calls here and there, but it’s enjoyable. I get to know the lads individually on a more personal level as well,’ the captain said.

‘When you talk about the whole Irish rugby scene with Andy Farrell, there’s emotional intelligence there too. You have to get to know fellas more personally. It’s not just about rugby. It’s a voluntary game, fellas are in it for the love of the club and the community. You get more involved with the club as well.’

‘Scott is always at the end of the phone if you need any advice. I was under him for the two years previous and learned a lot from him. His ball knowledge and smarts for the game have been really helpful. I suppose when times get tough on the pitch and games are tight, there are the likes of him who you need on the team to keep a cool head.’

And so, attention now turns to the next assignment. Bandon will be desperate for a win to kickstart their league campaign, but fellow Cork side Mallow, riding a run of three consecutive victories, won’t make life easy.

‘Unfortunately, Tom Ferguson is out with injury at the moment. Enda Phelan has come back into the scene as well. Tadhg Galvin is coming back from injury at second-row, too. We had the week off last week and, despite the hard weather, we went out and trained three times.

‘We are ready to push it on. We have our minds set on the Mallow game. We want to get that win to ease the blows and take a bit of pressure off ourselves. I have no doubt we’ll be ready for that,’ Galvin concluded.