Richard Cassidy (aka General Zod)
Favourite Food? Braai!
Favourite Beverage? Whisky, or Sparking Water (I’m easy!)
Favourite Rugby Player? Currently - Jonny May: All Time - Richie McCaw
Rugby Highlight? All Ireland U12’s School Finals at Croagh Park Stadium 1992
Profession: Cyber Security Consultant, Martial Arts Instructor & NHS Ambulance
Years’ Experience as a (Your Profession): Cyber Security 20, Martial Arts 24, NHS Ambulance 9.
Best part of the job: Defeating Hackers, Teaching Weapons in Self Defence & Saving lives on the front-line
How the coronavirus has changed your work and personal life: Much more working from home in my Cyber Security profession, lot less travel, but work has actually become busier. Martial Arts has moved to online classes (for the most part) and in the NHS it’s actually getting quieter on the roads in terms of jobs, then pre-Covid19, so mixed across all sectors really!
Thing you miss most with your busy schedule: Nothing, less busy is good - miss teaching Martial Arts and coaching Rugby!
Top tip to stay safe through these uncertain times: Simply put, wear protection in public until such time the world has a handle on this virus - you may think you don’t need it, but you’re protecting others also (elderly, at risk groups and those highly susceptible to the contagion).
Have you been provided with the suitable amount of PPE: Yes thankfully!
Do you think things will ever get back to normal or will we create new normal: I think we’re at least 18 - 24 months away from returning to the levels of social interaction normality we enjoyed pre Covid-19. Humans are social creatures, so distancing will only work for so long, before we’re high diving at dawn and hugging each other when Ireland win the RWC and Six Nations :-)
Do you think rugby will stay again in September (and if not when): It’s too early to say; if history has taught us anything, it’s that 2nd waves hurt the most - if we done enough to contain the 1st wave, we’re in good shape and if we maintain social distancing between now and then, we may well just get through it, so that lockdowns don’t return. My view is that we’ll see RFU mandate an initial period of Tag/Touch Rugby rules until things are under control globally (vaccine and or proof of antibodies and immunity), slowly allowing return to more close contact as we progress out of the Pandemic.
A Big thank you to Richard for giving us an insight into the covid-19 from a key workers perspective.
Up next, we hear from Craig McGee
If you would like to get something up on the website, just send any content, with an image, to: carl@douglasrufc.com
