FRANK HOPKINS TO SKIPPER PIRATES
East Galway native Frank Hopkins has been named as Buccaneers Senior Captain for season 2023-24. He commenced playing rugby with Ballinasloe U-11’s and continued the sport when he attended Garbally College where he captained the Junior team while in third year. Hopkins played in three Connacht Senior Schools Cup finals being on the victorious side when operating at scrumhalf but on the losing team when fly-half the following year.
As Ballinasloe had no U-20 team, Charlie Couper invited him to join Buccaneers where he swiftly broke into the senior panel and was on the team that won the Energia All-Ireland League Division 2A title in dramatic circumstances. The unassuming man from Kiltormer, for whom he played hurling, modestly claims that he “was just happy to be involved” in the promotion winning squad!
He also enjoyed success while studying Mechanical Engineering at University of Limerick with the UL team winning the Colleges Division 2 All-Ireland title. He now works for Dutch company ASML based on the Intel campus in Leixlip.
Hopkins says “it is a privilege to captain Buccaneers” and he “is excited for the challenge ahead. We are a relatively young side but we also have a lot of experience in a few key positions that will really help to develop the younger players. The coaching team has been incredible so far and that is reflected in the numbers we are consistently getting down to training. There is a great atmosphere around the club since day one of pre-season and hopefully that will be reflected in our performances on the pitch for the year ahead.”
