29 May Navan RFC Takes to the Airwaves on LMFM’s Late Lunch Show
The Friday afternoon of the June Bank Holiday weekend brought a fantastic boost for Navan RFC as the club took to the local airwaves. Recently appointed Men’s Head Coach Dan Van Zyl and Club Honorary Secretary Gerry Sweeney dropped into the LMFM Radio studios for an engaging live interview.
The Navan duo joined well-known host Gerry Kelly on the popular Late Lunch Show to discuss an exciting new era at Balreask Old.
Over the course of a wide-ranging and lively discussion, Dan Van Zyl shared insights into his illustrious sporting background and what drew him to the head coach role at Navan. Listeners were treated to stories from his elite playing days as a specialist scrum-half capped for the Springboks, captain of the Springbok A team, and his time playing professional Super Rugby and Currie Cup in South Africa before making his mark in the All-Ireland League (AIL).
Dan also delved into his expansive coaching career in Ireland, which includes his roles as a former Leinster Coach Development Officer, coach to international underage and student sides, and his ongoing work developing the next generation of players as the Director of Rugby at Rugby Academy Ireland.
Club Honorary Secretary Gerry Sweeney spoke passionately about the thriving structures at Navan RFC, emphasizing the pride the club takes in its mini, youth, and rapidly expanding women’s sections.
The conversation wasn’t just limited to local club affairs. Dan and Gerry Kelly shared an in-depth chat regarding the overall state of rugby in Ireland today, charting its phenomenal growth across all tiers, from grassroots community clubs right up to the elite provincial setups and the dizzying heights of the Men’s and Women’s test arenas.
Proving himself to be a man of many talents, Dan also chatted about his deep passion for cricket. Beyond his rugby credentials, Dan is a rare dual-sport professional who currently captains the Ireland Over-50s Cricket Team, as well as the benefits of a varied sporting experience, topics that made for brilliant bank holiday weekend listening.
The interview provided a perfect platform to welcome Dan to the community and showcase the ambitious, winning mindset being instilled at Balreask Old ahead of the 2026/27 campaign with pre-season beginning in mid-July.
You can Listen back to the lads chat with Gerry Kelly Here:
A massive thank you to Gerry Kelly and all the team at LMFM for hosting the club and providing excellent coverage of Meath grassroots sport!