SKILLS

LEADERSHIP

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Qualifier Final, Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong 7/4/2019
Ireland vs Hong Kong
Ireland's Billy Dardis lifts the trophy and celebrates winning the final with teammates
Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Yu Chun Christopher Wong

Billy has demonstrated an unwavering drive for excellence and success which has allowed him to lead by example in many facets of his life. While captaining the Irish Rugby 7’s Team for 6 years, his ability to lead on and off the pitch was one of his key attributes.

His ability to lead projects and take initiative in any given situation inspires all those that follow, and his persistent positivity and optimism are contagious. His extraordinary emotional intelligence allows him to connect and understand what drives those around him and enables teammates to flourish and perform.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Billy from a young age, and I can truthfully say that he has always naturally lead from the front by setting high standards for his peers to emulate. He’s incredibly meticulous and hard working in all facets of life, but he admirably balances that with compassion for others and an ability to enjoy the moment.​
Greg O'Shea
Irish Rugby 7's Player

communication

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Communication is the key ingredient for success in any organisation. Billy’s ability to communicate with all around him remains the cornerstone his constantly evolving and challenging lifestyle.

His professional and articulate communication skills have seen him speak on a number of occasions and represent Irish Rugby at corporate and sporting events. Not only this, but the manner in which Billy carries out all media obligations and newspaper interviews has established him as a leading role model in Ireland.

In his role as Ireland Men’s Sevens captain, Billy shows peerless leadership qualities both on and off the pitch, no more so than in the way he communicates with the media and relevant stakeholders. A brilliant spokesperson for the team, Billy fulfils his media obligations with national and international press with professionalism, patience and respect, and is an excellent ambassador for Irish Rugby through his public speaking duties at community and supporter events around the world.
Ryan Bailey
Media & Communications Manager, IRFU

Adaptability

Billy’s balance and flexibility has enabled him to excel in the many aspects of his life. Balancing a career in professional sport with a job in TritonLake, as well as as his studies, demonstrates his drive and ambition for success. He has done it all whilst also maintaining a healthy and exciting relationship with all his family and friends.

mental strength & resilience

Life presents all sorts of challenges. Billy has shown extraordinary resilience and mental strength to learn from his mistakes, to bounce back from lows, and succeed in a remarkable and outstanding fashion. It is these life changing challenges that have made him the leader and world class person that his today.

Billy has many skills such as leadership and teamwork, however, it is his time management and organisational skills that have been most impressive to me. Although Billy has an extremely busy schedule travelling the world to play international rugby for his country, he still strives for excellence off the pitch. His commitment to balance his Master's degree in Management Consultancy in UCD is an example to all athletes that balancing studies with high level sport is an achievable goal. However, this requires flexibility, dedication and hard work which Billy demonstrates with abundance as he balances his dual career.
Dr. Vincent O’Flaherty
Player Development Manager, Rugby Players Ireland