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Leinster vs Ulster | PRO14 Final 2020

The official matchday programme of the Guiness Pro14 Final 2020, between Leinster vs Ulster. 12th September 2020 | Aviva Stadium

The official matchday programme of the Guiness Pro14 Final 2020, between Leinster vs Ulster.
12th September 2020 | Aviva Stadium

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FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

THE LINEUP<br />

CEO<br />

Martin Anayi<br />

Chairman<br />

Dominic McKay<br />

Tournament Director<br />

David Jordan<br />

Commercial Director<br />

Dermot Rigley<br />

Marketing Director<br />

Tom Lister<br />

Finance Director<br />

Dermot O’Sullivan<br />

Head of Operations<br />

Charl Crous<br />

Head of Broadcast &<br />

Communications<br />

Adam Redmond<br />

Head of Marketing<br />

Marc Fernandez<br />

Head of Insight<br />

Rob Balmer<br />

Tournament Manager<br />

Amy Monaghan<br />

Elite Referee Manager<br />

Greg Garner<br />

Events & Commercial<br />

Operations Manager<br />

Laura Ruhan<br />

Commercial Partnerships<br />

Manager<br />

Elma Beirne<br />

Social Media Channels<br />

Manager<br />

Matthew Thoma<br />

Brand Partnership Lead<br />

Christopher Best<br />

Communications<br />

Executive<br />

Anna Egan<br />

Marketing Executive<br />

Alex Patel<br />

Finance Executive<br />

Alba Sarrias<br />

Office Management<br />

Aine O’Malley<br />

<strong>PRO14</strong> Editors: Adam Redmond & Anna Egan<br />

6<br />

Match Preview<br />

10<br />

Head to Head Statistics<br />

13<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Season Statistics<br />

14<br />

Andrew Porter<br />

20<br />

Leo Cullen<br />

24<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Squad Profiles<br />

32<br />

Today’s Teams<br />

38<br />

Munster Squad Profiles<br />

44<br />

Dan McFarland<br />

48<br />

Ian Madigan<br />

41<br />

<strong>Ulster</strong> Season Statistics<br />

56<br />

Awards Winners<br />

60<br />

Chamionship<br />

<strong>Final</strong> Trivia<br />

66<br />

Man in the Middle<br />

Photos: INPHO | Marketing: Mark Fernandez | Content: Beatmedia<br />

Special thanks: Marcus O’Buachalla (<strong>Leinster</strong>) and Robyn McMurray (<strong>Ulster</strong>).<br />

This programme was designed and on behalf of<br />

Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> by Ignition Sports Media.<br />

www.ignitionsportsmedia.com<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 3


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

4<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

GUINNESS<br />

WELCOME<br />

As another thrilling season of epic<br />

tackles, running rugby and historymaking<br />

tries comes to its delayed<br />

climax, it is with huge pleasure that<br />

I welcome <strong>Leinster</strong> and <strong>Ulster</strong> to the<br />

hotly anticipated GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong><br />

<strong>Final</strong> at AVIVA Stadium. This game<br />

is predicted to be a fantastic display<br />

of rugby, full of Irish passion, with<br />

both teams vying for a chance<br />

to become GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong><br />

Champions.<br />

It goes without saying that <strong>2020</strong> has<br />

been a year unlike any other, one<br />

that none of us could have predicted<br />

and one that continues to challenge<br />

us all daily. Over the last number<br />

of months, the absence of sport<br />

left a gap in so many people’s lives.<br />

The return of rugby has been so<br />

welcome, as we reignite our passion<br />

and a hope for the future when we<br />

will all be able to be together again<br />

in the stands.<br />

This clash between interprovincial<br />

rivals <strong>Leinster</strong> and <strong>Ulster</strong> looks to<br />

have all the ingredients of a classic.<br />

Leo Cullen’s <strong>Leinster</strong> side come to<br />

the AVIVA looking to retain their<br />

GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> title. Over the<br />

last three weekends, <strong>Leinster</strong> have<br />

picked up right where they left off in<br />

February, continuing their unbeaten<br />

record with impressive victories over<br />

<strong>Ulster</strong> and Munster to book their<br />

THE RETURN<br />

OF RUGBY<br />

HAS BEEN SO<br />

WELCOME, AS<br />

WE REIGNITE<br />

OUR PASSION<br />

AND A HOPE<br />

FOR THE<br />

FUTURE WHEN<br />

WE WILL ALL<br />

BE ABLE TO<br />

BE TOGETHER<br />

AGAIN IN THE<br />

STANDS.<br />

place in the GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> final.<br />

<strong>Ulster</strong> found their form on Saturday<br />

to claim an impressive comeback<br />

victory against Edinburgh. We were<br />

all at the edge of our seats as Ian<br />

Madigan lined up that last second<br />

kick in BT Murrayfield last weekend.<br />

A thrilling conclusion to another<br />

epic display of rugby in this year’s<br />

GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong>.<br />

Wherever you may be viewing the<br />

action, we hope you enjoy what<br />

promises to be a fantastic <strong>Final</strong>.<br />

Good luck to both teams and thank<br />

you for the spirit-lifting performance<br />

you bring to every game.<br />

Hilary Quinn<br />

Marketing Director | DIAGEO IRELAND<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 5


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

MATCH PREVIEW<br />

LEINSTER<br />

FOURTEEN<br />

TEAMS SET OUT<br />

IN PURSUIT<br />

OF GUINNESS<br />

<strong>PRO14</strong> GLORY<br />

IN 2019/20 –<br />

AND JUST TWO<br />

REMAIN.<br />

[ By Paul Martin ]<br />

Will it be <strong>Leinster</strong>, seeking to finish an invincible<br />

season and in search of a remarkable hat-trick of<br />

titles? Or can their Irish rivals <strong>Ulster</strong>, appearing<br />

in their first <strong>Final</strong> since 2012/13, manage what<br />

no other side has done this season and stop the<br />

juggernaut in its tracks?<br />

Recent history sits with <strong>Leinster</strong>. Leo Cullen’s men<br />

have become a relentless winning machine and have<br />

beaten <strong>Ulster</strong> twice this season, including a 28-10<br />

triumph just a fortnight ago.<br />

A 13-3 victory over Munster in the last four booked<br />

their place in a third straight <strong>Final</strong> and <strong>Leinster</strong>’s<br />

6<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

V ULSTER<br />

trophy-winning knowhow marks them out as<br />

favourites going into this showpiece occasion.<br />

Standing in their way, however, are an <strong>Ulster</strong> side<br />

whose never-say-die attitude came to the fore in<br />

their Semi-<strong>Final</strong> at BT Murrayfield.<br />

Trailing 12-0 and 19-7 against an Edinburgh outfit<br />

who had topped Conference B in the regular season,<br />

Dan McFarland’s men surged back to claim victory<br />

in the most dramatic of circumstances.<br />

Ian Madigan’s penalty with the last kick of the game<br />

kept <strong>Ulster</strong>’s dreams of a first title since 2006 alive<br />

and they will be determined to upset the odds on<br />

the big stage.<br />

Both sides love to attack. No-one has scored more<br />

tries than <strong>Leinster</strong>’s 75 this season, with <strong>Ulster</strong>’s<br />

tally of 53 putting them joint-second – December’s<br />

match between the two, which ended 54-42 in<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong>’s favour, was evidence of the threat carried<br />

by both line-ups.<br />

The battle of the back-rows will be crucial to<br />

deciding the outcome. <strong>Ulster</strong>’s Marcell Coetzee has<br />

made 63 successful carries this season and will be<br />

up against <strong>Leinster</strong>’s dynamic duo Caelan Doris,<br />

fresh from a man of the match performance in<br />

the Semi-<strong>Final</strong>, and the Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong>’s leading<br />

tackler Will Connors.<br />

Strap yourselves in – this should be a belter.<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 7


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

<strong>PRO14</strong><br />

WELCOME<br />

TONIGHT’S GAME ARRIVES AT A TIME AND FASHION<br />

THAT WASN’T WHAT ANY OF US EXPECTED,<br />

BUT SIX MONTHS ON FROM WHEN THE WORLD<br />

CHANGED I HOPE THE GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL IS<br />

A VERY WELCOME SIGN OF BETTER DAYS AHEAD.<br />

I hope you have the best<br />

spot on the sofa picked out,<br />

refreshments are at arms’<br />

length and that family members<br />

have been warned not to<br />

obstruct the TV. After some<br />

great drama in our Semi-<strong>Final</strong>s<br />

we’re confident that <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

and <strong>Ulster</strong> can serve up another<br />

helping of excitement and<br />

cutting-edge rugby.<br />

Certainly, <strong>Ulster</strong> will need to<br />

be at their very best to inflict a<br />

first defeat on <strong>Leinster</strong> in over<br />

a calendar year. Leo Cullen’s<br />

squad – emphasis on the wider<br />

group – is full of eye-watering<br />

talent while the former <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

captain has shrewdly assembled<br />

a coaching team that draws from<br />

all walks of rugby life.<br />

Comparisons have been made<br />

by some with the Ajax team<br />

of the 1970s and 80s where<br />

their dominance was built by<br />

a conveyor-belt academy that<br />

delivered top-class players to<br />

the first team year after year.<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> are arguably one of the<br />

best club sides in the world and<br />

that sets a high bar for everyone<br />

in the Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong>.<br />

We see our league as one where<br />

youth is given a chance to<br />

flourish around the established<br />

stars of the world game as<br />

dozens of new internationals<br />

emerge each year. Our clubs<br />

invest smartly in sharp coaching<br />

talent to produce attractive<br />

rugby that so often sees our<br />

teams outperform the others on<br />

the European battlefields.<br />

Dan McFarland is such a great<br />

example of this. <strong>Ulster</strong> haven’t<br />

reached the final by accident,<br />

their incredible second-half<br />

display against Edinburgh saw<br />

them become only the second<br />

team to win away from home in<br />

the Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> Semi-<strong>Final</strong>s.<br />

His team are so well coached<br />

which is evidenced by their<br />

great link play between forwards<br />

and backs and their good record<br />

when it comes to discipline –<br />

I’m told they’re one of the least<br />

penalised teams in the league.<br />

They also have a differencemaker<br />

in Marcell Coetzee and<br />

his combination with Stuart<br />

McCloskey last week created<br />

that incredible score by Rob<br />

Lyttle. Just like <strong>Leinster</strong> they<br />

have bright young talent,<br />

established international players<br />

and a couple of overseas gems<br />

– not to mention their ice-cold<br />

kicker Ian Madigan waiting to<br />

strike from the bench.<br />

This game has all the aspects<br />

of a classic although it will<br />

not be played out in front of<br />

a familiar backdrop. Over the<br />

past four years we have set new<br />

attendance records at our <strong>Final</strong>s<br />

and now due to the pandemic<br />

the stadium doors must be shut.<br />

So, we put you in the very<br />

capable hands of our<br />

broadcasters, eir Sport, Premier<br />

Sports, TG4, DAZN, S4C and<br />

Super Sport. They will give you<br />

the best insights, draw out the<br />

emotion of the magic moments<br />

and hard-earned yards while<br />

bringing you the thoughts of the<br />

players and coaches in Dublin.<br />

In times where we have all had<br />

to rethink our game plans, I<br />

would like to pay huge thanks to<br />

our title partners Guinness and<br />

our broadcasters who have been<br />

hugely supportive in our drive<br />

to get back on the pitch. I also<br />

wish to thank Ronseal, Big Red<br />

Cloud, Gilbert and Macron for<br />

their commitment as we work<br />

hard to make sure your teams<br />

can emerge from this period in a<br />

good place.<br />

Now, chill the drinks, fill the<br />

snack bowls and turn up<br />

the volume. Let our finalists<br />

entertain you.<br />

Enjoy the game,<br />

Martin Anayi<br />

CEO | Pro Rugby Championship<br />

8<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 9


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

PLAYED WON LOST DRAW<br />

16 16 0 0<br />

POINTS FOR<br />

POINTS AGAINST<br />

544 219<br />

(34 PER GAME) (13.6)<br />

TRIES FOR<br />

TRIES AGAINST<br />

75 28<br />

(4.7) (1.75)<br />

BIGGEST WIN THIS SEASON<br />

BIGGEST LOSS THIS SEASON<br />

53-5<br />

(ROUND 2 v OSPREYS)<br />

0-<br />

MOST POINTS SCORED THIS SEASON<br />

55<br />

(ROUND 13 v GLASGOW)<br />

MOST POINTS AGAINST THIS SEASON<br />

42<br />

(ROUND 8 V ULSTER)<br />

TRY-SCORING<br />

BONUS POINTS<br />

9 LOSING<br />

BONUS POINTS 0<br />

10<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

PLAYED WON LOST DRAW<br />

16 9 6 1<br />

POINTS FOR<br />

POINTS AGAINST<br />

407 325<br />

(25.4 PER GAME) (20.3)<br />

TRIES FOR<br />

TRIES AGAINST<br />

53 43<br />

(3.3) (2.6)<br />

BIGGEST WIN THIS SEASON<br />

BIGGEST LOSS THIS SEASON<br />

35-3 63-26<br />

(ROUND 9 v CONNACHT)<br />

(ROUND 2 v TOYOTA CHEETAHS)<br />

MOST POINTS SCORED THIS SEASON<br />

42<br />

(ROUND 3 V SOUTHERN KINGS AND<br />

ROUND 8 V LEINSTER)<br />

MOST POINTS AGAINST THIS SEASON<br />

63<br />

(ROUND 2 v TOYOTA CHEETAHS)<br />

TRY-SCORING<br />

7 BONUS POINTS LOSING<br />

3<br />

BONUS POINTS<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 11


#ONECONSTANT<br />

WWW.GILBERTRUGBY.COM


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

2019/20<br />

STATISTICS<br />

TACKLE<br />

SUCCESS<br />

88.15<br />

PENALTIES<br />

CONCEDED<br />

150<br />

(9.3 per game)<br />

YELLOW CARDS<br />

[%]<br />

TURNOVERS<br />

WON<br />

6RED<br />

CARDS<br />

0<br />

67<br />

(4.4 per game)<br />

CARRIES<br />

2176<br />

METRES GAINED<br />

6320<br />

(136 per game)<br />

(395 per game)<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 13


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

ANDREW<br />

PORTER<br />

SUCCESS IS OFTEN SAID<br />

TO BREED COMPLACENCY<br />

– BUT THAT’S NOT THE<br />

CASE AT LEINSTER.<br />

[ By Andy Baber ]<br />

14<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

“<br />

IT’S A NEW<br />

GAME AND<br />

EVERYTHING IS<br />

TO PLAY FOR,<br />

SO WE’LL BE<br />

LOOKING AT<br />

THEIR THREATS<br />

AND HOW TO<br />

DEAL WITH<br />

THEM.<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 15


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FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

In fact, as far as Andrew Porter is<br />

concerned, <strong>Leinster</strong>’s unbeaten run<br />

to the Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> <strong>Final</strong> will<br />

mean absolutely nothing unless they<br />

get the job done in Dublin.<br />

A showdown with <strong>Ulster</strong> is all that<br />

stands in the way of the reigning<br />

champions winning their third<br />

consecutive title, having won 22<br />

games in a row in all competitions<br />

this season.<br />

But despite beating their<br />

interprovincial rivals convincingly<br />

in their final game of the regular<br />

season, Porter insists the men in blue<br />

are not taking anything for granted.<br />

“We’re looking at the many threats<br />

that <strong>Ulster</strong> are going to bring and we<br />

know they are definitely not going<br />

to be the same team we played two<br />

weeks ago,” he said.<br />

“We’re not going to be complacent<br />

or benchmark ourselves on that, it’s<br />

a new game and everything is to play<br />

for, so we’ll be looking at their threats<br />

and how to deal with them.<br />

“We will definitely be reflecting on<br />

past experiences playing against<br />

them and what kind of threats they<br />

will bring and I’m sure they’ll also<br />

be looking back at how they’ve<br />

exploited us.”<br />

He added: “It’s sink or swim really.<br />

You know the short space of time<br />

you have to prepare for this but<br />

you still have to do it – and that’s<br />

“ WE’RE<br />

NEVER<br />

GOING TO BE<br />

SATISFIED<br />

NO MATTER<br />

WHAT.<br />

been one of the biggest things to<br />

overcome.<br />

“Now these are the games that mean<br />

something, it’s make-or-break for the<br />

season. All our unbeaten run would<br />

be worthless if this weekend didn’t<br />

result in anything but a win.”<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> finished at the summit of<br />

Conference A at the end of the<br />

regular season, with 15 wins from 15,<br />

before overcoming Munster in the<br />

last four for the third year in a row.<br />

And while Leo Cullen’s men were far<br />

from their best in that 13-3 Semi-<strong>Final</strong><br />

triumph, Porter is confident <strong>Leinster</strong>’s<br />

insatiable appetite for improvement<br />

will right any wrongs.<br />

“It was great for us to win against<br />

Munster. The main thing was we<br />

came into that game ‘win at all costs’<br />

so it didn’t matter who it was, we<br />

only had one outcome in mind,” he<br />

said.<br />

“We felt we could have done better<br />

in some areas, there is always going<br />

to be room for improvement, but<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 17


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

that’s the great thing<br />

about the squad.<br />

“We’re always looking<br />

for those areas to<br />

improve, even if we<br />

had played better<br />

against Munster<br />

we’d be looking for<br />

those extra small<br />

percentages here<br />

and there.<br />

“That’s the great<br />

thing about this<br />

team, we’re never<br />

going to be satisfied no matter<br />

what but we got the result and<br />

we’ll have to step it up coming into<br />

the final this week.”<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> are on the brink of a<br />

second domestic and European<br />

double in three years, with a<br />

Champions Cup quarter-final with<br />

Saracens following the Guinness<br />

<strong>PRO14</strong> <strong>Final</strong>.<br />

But despite the games coming thick<br />

and fast, Porter believes the strength<br />

in depth in the Irish province’s<br />

ranks and competition for<br />

places could prove to be the<br />

difference.<br />

“We’ve used 53 players I<br />

think in the whole course<br />

of the season and that’s<br />

something we’re really big<br />

on, it’s great in driving the<br />

performance in this team,”<br />

added the 24-year-old.<br />

“Competition is so high and<br />

no position is secure really.<br />

Lads are fighting for positions<br />

all week in training and it’s that<br />

matchday 23 who get to represent<br />

the entire squad.<br />

“So for the guys who aren’t selected,<br />

they are still pushing the matchday<br />

23 in terms of preparation and that’s<br />

huge – not just now, but throughout<br />

the season.<br />

“That’s something that has been<br />

really good for us, the competition<br />

driving performance.”<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 19


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

20<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

LEO<br />

CULLEN<br />

AS THE ENGINEER BEHIND THE LEINSTER<br />

RUGBY MACHINE, LEO CULLEN NEVER<br />

SETTLES FOR SECOND BEST.<br />

The club’s relentless march towards<br />

silverware season after season says<br />

all you need to know about the<br />

standards he expects from his players<br />

every time they pull on the jersey.<br />

It’s why the Irish province stand on the<br />

brink of a third consecutive Guinness<br />

<strong>PRO14</strong> title and a perfect season,<br />

having won all 16 of their games in the<br />

2019/20 campaign to date.<br />

Unbeaten in 24 games in all<br />

competitions overall, <strong>Leinster</strong> have not<br />

experienced defeat since losing the<br />

final of the European Champions Cup<br />

to Saracens in May 2019.<br />

Since then, Cullen’s blue army have<br />

conquered every single team in their<br />

path and are on the cusp of going<br />

down in history as ‘The Invincibles’ of<br />

European club rugby.<br />

This all-encompassing drive for<br />

success would not be possible without<br />

the brains of Cullen, though, whose<br />

tendency to avoid the limelight often<br />

belies his influence.<br />

Cullen may possess an unassuming<br />

nature but make no doubt about it, he<br />

is also a winner – a characteristic he<br />

has imbued in the fabric of <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

since taking over the top job.<br />

In fact, you only have to look at his<br />

list of achievements at <strong>Leinster</strong> as a<br />

player, and then head coach, to see<br />

why supporters of the Irish province<br />

worship the ground he walks on.<br />

The 42-year-old was already a threetime<br />

European Champions Cup<br />

winning captain with the club before<br />

he was somewhat thrust into the role<br />

of coach in 2015.<br />

And despite a turbulent start to his<br />

reign, he created history in 2018 by<br />

guiding <strong>Leinster</strong> to an unprecedented<br />

Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> and European double<br />

in just his third season in charge.<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 21


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

By doing so, he also became the first<br />

man to lift the Champions Cup both as<br />

a player and as a coach when <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

edged out Racing 92 in Bilbao for their<br />

fourth European crown.<br />

But while his transition to head coach<br />

has proved to be a masterstroke, Cullen<br />

was initially wary about being suddenly<br />

parachuted into the role following the<br />

sacking of Matt O’Connor.<br />

Cullen was <strong>Leinster</strong>’s forwards coach at<br />

the time O’Connor was shown the door<br />

and it was far from smooth sailing for<br />

the Wicklow native after he was chosen<br />

as the club’s saviour.<br />

In his first season, <strong>Leinster</strong> lost five of<br />

six European pool games – including a<br />

humbling 33-6 defeat by Wasps at the<br />

RDS Arena – and looked unlikely to add<br />

to the three stars on their shirt.<br />

He went on to lead <strong>Leinster</strong> to a<br />

Guinness PRO12 final defeat to<br />

Connacht in that first season, before<br />

turning his attention to transforming<br />

the club in a bid for future success.<br />

Cullen’s impact began to bear fruit in<br />

his second season in charge with two<br />

semi-finals and the selfless decision to<br />

appoint former England head coach<br />

Stuart Lancaster to his coaching staff.<br />

Lancaster’s recruitment, along with<br />

Cullen’s faith in the province’s young<br />

talent, proved to be the final pieces<br />

of the jigsaw as <strong>Leinster</strong> completed a<br />

remarkable double in his third season.<br />

He followed up that success by guiding<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> to back-to-back Guinness<br />

<strong>PRO14</strong> titles – the club’s sixth overall<br />

- last year with victory over Glasgow<br />

Warriors in the <strong>Final</strong>.<br />

And despite missing out on the doubledouble<br />

after losing to Saracens in<br />

Europe’s showpiece, Cullen’s men are<br />

once again knocking on the door in<br />

both competitions this season.<br />

Only <strong>Ulster</strong> stand in their way of a<br />

hat-trick of Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> titles<br />

while a rematch against Saracens in<br />

the Champions Cup quarter-finals also<br />

awaits the Irish province.<br />

Whether or not they achieve a second<br />

double in three years, as long as Cullen<br />

is at the helm keeping the engine<br />

purring, <strong>Leinster</strong> will remain a dominant<br />

force in club rugby.<br />

“<br />

LANCASTER’S<br />

RECRUITMENT,<br />

ALONG WITH<br />

CULLEN’S FAITH IN<br />

THE PROVINCE’S<br />

YOUNG TALENT,<br />

PROVED TO BE<br />

THE FINAL PIECES<br />

OF THE JIGSAW<br />

AS LEINSTER<br />

COMPLETED A<br />

REMARKABLE<br />

DOUBLE IN HIS<br />

THIRD SEASON.<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 23


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

LEINSTER<br />

RUGBY<br />

[ 2019|20 SQUAD PROFILES ]<br />

Please note: appearances and points are <strong>PRO14</strong> only.<br />

24<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

ABDALADZE, VAKH PROP<br />

DOB: 06-Feb-96<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m/6’2”<br />

WEIGHT: 116kg/18st 3lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

4 - 4 120 - - - - -<br />

BAIRD, RYAN LOCK<br />

DOB: 26-Jul-99<br />

HEIGHT: 1.98m/6’6”<br />

WEIGHT: 103kg/16st 3lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

8 3 5 384 3 - - - 15<br />

BENT, MICHAEL PROP<br />

DOB: 25-Apr-86<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m/6’1”<br />

WEIGHT: 120kg/18st 12lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

13 10 3 638 3 - - - 15<br />

HOUNOURS: Ireland [4]<br />

BYRNE, ADAM WING | FULL BACK<br />

DOB: 10-Apr-94<br />

HEIGHT: 1.9m/6’3”<br />

WEIGHT: 98kg/15st 6lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

5 5 - 375 1 - - - 5<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [1]<br />

BYRNE, ED PROP<br />

BYRNE, HARRY FLY HALF<br />

BYRNE, ROSS FLY HALF<br />

CLARKSON, TOM PROP<br />

DOB: 09-Sep-93<br />

HEIGHT: 1.8m/5’11<br />

WEIGHT: 112kg/17st 8lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

4 - 4 95 - - - - -<br />

DOB: 22-Apr-99<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m/6’2”<br />

WEIGHT: 90kg/14st 2lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

10 3 7 335 3 20 1 - 58<br />

DOB: 08-Apr-95<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m/6’4”<br />

WEIGHT: 95kg/14st 13lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

10 8 2 605 1 21 12 - 83<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [6]<br />

DOB: 22-Feb-00<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m/6’0”<br />

WEIGHT: 113kg/17st 11lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

1 - 1 22 - - - - -<br />

CONAN, JACK NO 8<br />

DOB: 29-Jul-92<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m/6’4”<br />

WEIGHT: 114kg/17st 13lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

2 2 - 160 - - - - -<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [17]<br />

CONNORS, WILL BACK ROW<br />

DOB: 04-Apr-96<br />

WEIGHT: 1.95m/6’5”<br />

100kg/5st 10lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

13 11 2 788 2 - - - 10<br />

CRONIN, SÉAN HOOKER<br />

DOB: 06-May-86<br />

HEIGHT: 1.78m/5’10”<br />

WEIGHT: 103kg/16st 3lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

9 4 5 320 - - - - -<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [72]<br />

DEEGAN, MAX NO 8<br />

DOB: 01-Oct-96<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m/6’4”<br />

WEIGHT: 108kg/17st 0lb8<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

12 10 2 812 5 - - - 25<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [1]<br />

DOOLEY, PETER PROP<br />

DOB: 04-Aug-94<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m/6’0”<br />

WEIGHT: 117kg/18st 5lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

12 11 1 642 - - - - -<br />

DORIS, CAELAN BACK ROW<br />

DOB: 02-Apr-98<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m/6’4”<br />

WEIGHT: 106kg/6st 9lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

10 8 2 637 1 - - - 5<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [2]<br />

DUNNE, JACK LOCK<br />

DOB: 1-Nov-98<br />

HEIGHT: 2.03m/6’8”<br />

WEIGHT: 112kg/17st 8lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

2 - 2 16 - - - - -<br />

FARDY, SCOTT LOCK<br />

DOB: 05-Jul-84<br />

HEIGHT: 1.98m/6’6”<br />

WEIGHT: 114kg/17st 13lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

11 11 - 758 1 - - - 5<br />

HONOURS: Australia [39]<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 25


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

FRAWLEY, CIARÁN FLY HALF<br />

DOB: 04-Dec-97<br />

HEIGHT: 1.9m/6’3”<br />

WEIGHT: 91kg/14st 4lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

9 4 5 356 1 14 1 - 36<br />

FURLONG, TADHG PROP<br />

DOB: 14-Nov-92<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m/6’0”<br />

WEIGHT: 122kg/19st 3lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

1 1 - 64 - - - - -<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [44]<br />

GIBSON-PARK, JAMISON SCRUM HALF<br />

DOB: 23-Feb-92<br />

HEIGHT: 1.75m/5’9”<br />

WEIGHT: 83kg/13st 1lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

15 9 6 701 1 - - - 5<br />

HEALY, CIAN PROP<br />

DOB: 07-Oct-87<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m/6’1”<br />

WEIGHT: 117kg/18st 5lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

4 3 1 194 1 - - - 5<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [98]<br />

HENSHAW, ROBBIE CENTRE | FULL BACK<br />

DOB: 12-Jun-93<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m/6’4”<br />

WEIGHT: 105kg/16st 7lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

3 3 - 222 1 - - - 5<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [43]<br />

KEARNEY, DAVE WING | FULL BACK<br />

DOB: 19-Jun-89<br />

HEIGHT: 1.8m/5’11”<br />

WEIGHT: 90kg/14st 2lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

7 7 - 482 9 - - - 45<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [19]<br />

KEARNEY, ROB FULL BACK | WING<br />

DOB: 26-Mar-86<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m/6’1”<br />

WEIGHT: 94kg/14st 11lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

4 3 1 259 1 - - - 5<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [95]<br />

KEENAN, HUGO FULL BACK<br />

DOB: 18-Jun-96<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m/6’1”<br />

WEIGHT: 92kg/14st 6lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

11 10 1 785 - - - - -<br />

KELLEHER, CIAN WING | FULL BACK<br />

DOB: 07-Aug-94<br />

HEIGHT: 1.8m/5’11”<br />

WEIGHT: 92kg/14st 6lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

8 5 3 455 4 - - - 20<br />

KELLEHER, RÓNAN HOOKER<br />

DOB: 24-Jan-98<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m/6’0”<br />

WEIGHT: 105kg/16st 7lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

8 8 - 451 8 - - - 40<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [3]<br />

LARMOUR, JORDAN WING<br />

DOB: 10-Jun-97<br />

HEIGHT: 1.78m/5’10”<br />

WEIGHT: 87kg/13st 9lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

3 3 - 206 - - - - -<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [24]<br />

LEAVY, DAN FLANKER<br />

DOB: 23-May-94<br />

HEIGHT: 1.9m/6’3”<br />

106kg/16st 9lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

- - - - - - - - -<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [11]<br />

LOWE, JAMES WING | FULL BACK<br />

DOB: 08-Jul-92<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m/6’2”<br />

WEIGHT: 101kg/15st 12lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

9 9 - 706 6 - - - 30<br />

McGRATH, LUKE SCRUM HALF<br />

DOB: 03-Feb-93<br />

HEIGHT: 1.75m/5’9”<br />

WEIGHT: 84kg/13st 3lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

6 6 - 370 1 - - - 5<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [19]<br />

MILNE, MICHAEL PROP<br />

DOB: 05-Feb-99<br />

HEIGHT: 1.8m/5’11”<br />

WEIGHT: 114kg/17st 13lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

9 - 9 186 2 - - - 10<br />

MOLONY, ROSS LOCK<br />

DOB: 11-May-94<br />

HEIGHT: 1.98m/6’6”<br />

WEIGHT: 111kg/17st 6lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

12 7 5 624 - - - - -<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 27


2<br />

10 YEAR<br />

WOODSTAIN<br />

1<br />

22 10 50<br />

DECKING<br />

RESCUE PAINT<br />

4<br />

DECKING<br />

PROTECTOR<br />

5<br />

3<br />

SHED & FENCE<br />

PRESERVER<br />

22<br />

HIGH PERFORMANCE<br />

WOOD FILLER<br />

10<br />

50<br />

10<br />

10<br />

6<br />

GARDEN<br />

PAINT<br />

7<br />

DECKING<br />

STAIN<br />

22<br />

8<br />

FENCE LIFE<br />

PLUS+<br />

DOES EXACTLY<br />

WHAT IT SAYS ON<br />

THE TIN<br />

22


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

O’LOUGHLIN, RORY CENTRE<br />

OSBORNE, ROWAN SCRUM HALF<br />

O’SULLIVAN, HUGH SCRUM HALF<br />

PENNY, SCOTT FLANKER<br />

MURPHY, JOSH FLANKER<br />

O’BRIEN, CONOR CENTRE<br />

O’BRIEN, JIMMY CENTRE<br />

O’BRIEN, TOMMY CENTRE<br />

DOB: 17-Feb-95<br />

HEIGHT: 1.98m/6’6”<br />

WEIGHT: 108kg/17st 0lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

11 9 2 596 1 - - - 5<br />

DOB: 06-Feb-96<br />

HEIGHT: 1.9m/6’3”<br />

WEIGHT: 103kg/16st 3lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

6 4 2 247 - - - - -<br />

DOB: 27-Nov-96<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m/6’0”<br />

WEIGHT: 90kg/14st 2lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

11 8 3 678 - - - - -<br />

DOB: 28-May-98<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m/6’0”<br />

WEIGHT: 92kg/14st 6lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

3 1 2 130 1 - - - 5<br />

DOB: 21-Jan-94<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m/6’2”<br />

WEIGHT: 94kg/14st 11lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

7 6 1 482 - - - - -<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [1]<br />

DOB: 03-Nov-96<br />

HEIGHT: 1.68m/5’6”<br />

WEIGHT: 75kg/11st 11lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

5 1 4 123 1 - - - 5<br />

DOB: 4-Feb-98<br />

HEIGHT: 1.78m/5’10”<br />

WEIGHT: 82kg/12st 12lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

6 - 6 92 1 - - - 5<br />

DOB: 22-Sep-99<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m/6’0”<br />

WEIGHT: 102kg/16st 0lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

8 5 3 423 4 - - - 20<br />

PORTER, ANDREW PROP<br />

DOB: 16-Jan-96<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m/6’0”<br />

WEIGHT: 125kg/19st 9lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

5 5 - 306 2 - - - 10<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [26]<br />

RINGROSE, GARRY CENTRE<br />

DOB: 26-Jan-95<br />

HEIGHT: 1.9m/6’3”<br />

WEIGHT: 94kg/14st 11lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

3 3 - 240 3 - - - 15<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [29]<br />

RUDDOCK, RHYS BACK ROW<br />

DOB: 13-Nov-90<br />

HEIGHT: 1.9m/6’3”<br />

WEIGHT: 113kg/17st 11lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

6 3 3 313 1 - - - 5<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [26]<br />

RYAN, JAMES LOCK<br />

DOB: 24-Jul-96<br />

HEIGHT: 2.03m/6’8”<br />

WEIGHT: 107kg/16st 11lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

1 1 - 24 - - - - -<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [26]<br />

SEXTON, JOHNNY FLY HALF<br />

DOB: 11-Jul-85<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m/6’2”<br />

WEIGHT: 90kg/14st 2lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

2 2 - 127 - 4 3 - 17<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [91]<br />

TONER, DEVIN LOCK<br />

DOB: 29-Jun-86<br />

HEIGHT: 2.11m/6’11”<br />

WEIGHT: 127kg19st 13lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

10 9 1 699 - - - - -<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [70]<br />

TRACY, JAMES HOOKER<br />

DOB: 02-Apr-91<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m/6’0”<br />

WEIGHT: 106kg/16st 9lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

11 4 7 414 - - - - -<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [6]<br />

VAN DER FLIER, JOSH FLANKER<br />

DOB: 25-Apr-93<br />

HEIGHT: 1.8m/5’11”<br />

WEIGHT: 107kg/16st 11lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

3 1 2 74 - - - -<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [26]<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 29


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

Friday, Sep 04 <strong>2020</strong><br />

GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> SEMI-FINAL<br />

LEINSTER VS MUNSTER<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong>’s Johnny Sexton converts a penalty<br />

Image ©INPHO | Dan Sheridan<br />

30<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 31


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

LEINSTER<br />

RUGBY<br />

JORDAN<br />

LARMOUR<br />

15<br />

HUGO<br />

KEENAN<br />

14<br />

GARRY<br />

RINGROSE [C]<br />

13<br />

Match Officials<br />

ROBBIE<br />

HENSHAW<br />

12<br />

JAMES<br />

LOWE<br />

11<br />

ROSS<br />

BYRNE<br />

10<br />

REFEREE:<br />

ANDREW BRACE (IRFU)<br />

ASSISTANT REFEREE 1:<br />

FRANK MURPHY (IRFU)<br />

ASSISTANT REFEREE 2:<br />

GEORGE CLANCY (IRFU)<br />

TMO:<br />

BRIAN MACNEICE (IRFU)<br />

JAMISON<br />

GIBSON-PARK<br />

09<br />

CIAN<br />

HEALY<br />

01<br />

RÓNAN<br />

KELLEHER<br />

02<br />

Replacements<br />

16<br />

17<br />

18<br />

19<br />

20<br />

21<br />

22<br />

23<br />

JAMES TRACY<br />

ED BYRNE<br />

MICHAEL BENT<br />

SCOTT FARDY<br />

WILL CONNORS<br />

LUKE McGRATH<br />

JOHNNY SEXTON<br />

RORY O’LOUGHLIN<br />

ANDREW<br />

PORTER<br />

CAELAN<br />

DORIS<br />

03<br />

06<br />

DEVIN<br />

TONER<br />

04<br />

07<br />

JOSH VAN DER<br />

FLIER<br />

JAMES<br />

RYAN<br />

JACK<br />

CONAN<br />

05<br />

08<br />

32<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

MIKE<br />

LOWRY<br />

15<br />

ROB<br />

LYTTLE<br />

14<br />

JAMES<br />

HUME<br />

13<br />

ULSTER<br />

RUGBY<br />

STUART<br />

McCLOSKEY<br />

12<br />

JACOB<br />

STOCKDALE<br />

11<br />

BILLY<br />

BURNS<br />

10<br />

ALBY<br />

MATHEWSON<br />

09<br />

ERIC<br />

O’SULLIVAN<br />

01<br />

ROB<br />

HERRING<br />

02<br />

TOM<br />

O’TOOLE<br />

MATTHEW<br />

REA<br />

03<br />

06<br />

ALAN<br />

O’CONNOR<br />

SEAN<br />

REIDY<br />

04<br />

07<br />

MARCELL<br />

COETZEE<br />

05<br />

IAIN<br />

HENDERSON [C]<br />

08<br />

Replacements<br />

JOHN ANDREW 16<br />

JACK McGRATH 17<br />

MARTY MOORE 18<br />

SAM CARTER 19<br />

JORDI MURPHY 20<br />

JOHN COONEY 21<br />

IAN MADIGAN 22<br />

NICK TIMONEY 23<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 33


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

Saturday, Sep 05 <strong>2020</strong><br />

GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> SEMI-FINAL<br />

EDINBURGH VS ULSTER<br />

<strong>Ulster</strong>’s Ian Madigan celebrates after converting<br />

the final kick of the game to win<br />

Image ©INPHO | Ian Rutherford<br />

34<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 35


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

ULSTER<br />

RUGBY<br />

[ 2019|20 SQUAD PROFILES ]<br />

Please note: appearances and points are <strong>PRO14</strong> only.<br />

38<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

ADDISON, WILL UTILITY BACK<br />

DOB: 20-Aug-92<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m/6’1”<br />

WEIGHT: 93kg/14st 9lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

4 4 - 257 - - - - -<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [4]<br />

ALLISON, AZUR BACK ROW<br />

DOB: 19-Apr-99<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m/6’4”<br />

WEIGHT: 95kg/14st 13lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

1 - 1 28 - - - - -<br />

ANDREW, JOHN HOOKER<br />

DOB: 26-May-93<br />

HEIGHT: 1.8m/5’11”<br />

WEIGHT: 104kg/16st 5lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

10 1 9 219 1 - - - 5<br />

BALOUCOUNE, ROBERT WING<br />

DOB: 19-Aug-97<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m/6’4”<br />

WEIGHT: 90kg/14st 2lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

6 5 1 409 5 - - - 25<br />

BURNS, BILLY FLY HALF<br />

DOB: 13-Jun-94<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m/6’1”<br />

WEIGHT: 86kg/13st 7lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

8 8 - 509 2 3 1 - 19<br />

CARTER, SAM LOCK<br />

DOB: 10-Sep-89<br />

HEIGHT: 2.01m/6’7”<br />

WEIGHT: 116kg/18st 3lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

9 6 3 472 1 - - - 5<br />

HONOURS: Australia [16]<br />

COETZEE, MARCELL BACK ROW<br />

DOB: 08-May-91<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m/6’4”<br />

WEIGHT: 114kg/17st 13lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

10 10 - 669 - - - - -<br />

HONOURS: South Africa [30]<br />

COONEY, JOHN SCRUM HALF<br />

DOB: 01-May-90<br />

HEIGHT: 1.78m/5’10”<br />

WEIGHT: 87kg/13st 9lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

12 11 1 701 4 26 11 - 105<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [11]<br />

CURTIS, ANGUS FLY HALF | CENTRE<br />

DOB: 26-Mar-98<br />

HEIGHT: 1.78m/5’10”<br />

WEIGHT: 92kg/14st 6lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

5 2 3 176 - - - - -<br />

FADDES, MATT CENTRE | WING<br />

DOB: 06-Nov-91<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m/6’1”<br />

WEIGHT: 94kg/14st 11lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

10 9 1 705 6 - - - 30<br />

GILROY, CRAIG WING<br />

DOB: 11-Mar-91<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m/6’0”<br />

WEIGHT: 92kg/14st 6lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

12 7 5 713 4 - - - 20<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [10]<br />

HERRING, ROB HOOKER<br />

HENDERSON, IAIN LOCK<br />

DOB: 21-Feb-92<br />

HEIGHT: 1.98m/6’6”<br />

WEIGHT: 117kg/18st 5lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

1 1 - 80 - - - - -<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [55]<br />

HUME, JAMES CENTRE<br />

JOHNSTON, BILL FLY HALF<br />

JONES, GREG BACK ROW<br />

DOB: 27-Apr-90<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m/6’1”<br />

WEIGHT: 102kg/16st 0lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

10 10 - 627 5 - - - 25<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [11]<br />

DOB: 07-Sep-98<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m/6’2”<br />

WEIGHT: 98kg/15st 6lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

8 7 1 484 1 - - - 5<br />

DOB: 07-Feb-97<br />

HEIGHT: 1.8m/5’11”<br />

WEIGHT: 87kg/13st 9lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

9 5 4 451 - 14 3 - 37<br />

DOB: 13-Jan-96<br />

HEIGHT: 1.95m/6’5”<br />

WEIGHT: 105kg/16st 7lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

5 3 2 254 3 - - - 15<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 39


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

KANE, ROSS PROP<br />

DOB: 14-Oct-94<br />

HEIGHT: 1.8m/5’11”<br />

WEIGHT: 118kg/18st 8lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

6 - 6 114 - - - - -<br />

LOWRY, MICHAEL FLY HALF | FULL BACK<br />

DOB: 20-Aug-98<br />

HEIGHT: 1.7m/5’7”<br />

WEIGHT: 75kg/11st 11lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

5 1 4 169 - - - - -<br />

LUDIK, LOUIS FULL BACK<br />

DOB: 08-Oct-86<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m/6’0”<br />

WEIGHT: 90kg/14st 2lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

12 9 3 632 - - - - -<br />

LYTTLE, ROB WING<br />

DOB: 28-Jan-97<br />

HEIGHT: 1.75m/5’9”<br />

WEIGHT: 85kg/13st 5lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

7 7 - 495 2 - - - 10<br />

MADIGAN, IAN FLY HALF<br />

DOB: 21-Mar-89<br />

HEIGHT: 1.8m/5’11”<br />

WEIGHT: 87kg/13st 9lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

3 1 2 100 - 2 1 - 7<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [30]<br />

MARSHALL, LUKE CENTRE<br />

DOB: 03-Mar-91<br />

HEIGHT: 1.8m/5’11<br />

WEIGHT: 97kg/15st 3lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

10 10 - 766 2 - - - 10<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [11]<br />

MATHEWSON, ALBY SCRUM HALF<br />

DOB: 13-Dec-85<br />

HEIGHT: 1.73m/5’8”<br />

WEIGHT: 93kg/14st 9lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

2 - 2 80 - - - - -<br />

HONOURS: New Zealand [4]<br />

McBURNEY, ADAM HOOKER<br />

DOB: 05-Sep-96<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m/6’0”<br />

WEIGHT: 102kg/16st 0lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

10 4 6 351 - - - - -<br />

McCALL, KYLE PROP<br />

DOB: 02-Jan-92<br />

HEIGHT: 1.75m/5’9”<br />

WEIGHT: 111kg/17st 6lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

7 - 7 142 - - - - -<br />

McCLOSKEY, STUART CENTRE<br />

DOB: 06-Aug-92<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m/6’4”<br />

WEIGHT: 111kg/17st 6lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

9 9 - 680 2 - - - 10<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [3]<br />

McGRATH, JACK PROP<br />

DOB: 11-Oct-89<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m/6’1”<br />

WEIGHT: 118kg/18st 8lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

9 7 2 461 - - - - -<br />

Ireland [56]<br />

MOORE, MARTY PROP<br />

McILROY, ETHAN WING<br />

DOB: 10-Aug-00<br />

HEIGHT:<br />

WEIGHT:<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

1 - 1 56 - - - - -<br />

MOORE, STEWART CENTRE<br />

MURPHY, JORDI BACK ROW<br />

O’CONNOR, ALAN LOCK<br />

DOB: 01-Mar-91<br />

HEIGHT: 1.78m/5’10”<br />

WEIGHT: 121kg/19st 0lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

9 7 2 363 - - - - -<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [10]<br />

DOB: 08-Aug-99<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m/6’0”<br />

WEIGHT: 91kg/14st 4lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

2 - 2 42 - - - - -<br />

DOB: 22-Apr-91<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m/6’2”<br />

WEIGHT: 105kg/16st 7lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

6 5 1 337 - - - - -<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [30]<br />

DOB: 10-Sep-92<br />

HEIGHT: 1.95m/6’5”<br />

WEIGHT: 114kg/17st 13lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

14 12 2 862 1 - - - 5<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 41


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

O’CONNOR, DAVID LOCK | BACK ROW<br />

DOB: 19-May-95<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m/6’4”<br />

110kg/17st 4lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

7 1 6 196 - - - - -<br />

O’SULLIVAN, ERIC PROP<br />

DOB: 30-Nov-95<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m/6’1”<br />

WEIGHT: 115kg/18st 1lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

11 7 4 526 - - - - -<br />

O’TOOLE, TOM PROP<br />

DOB: 23-Sep-98<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m/6’1”<br />

WEIGHT: 120kg/18st 12lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

15 8 7 723 1 - - - 5<br />

REA, MARCUS BACK ROW<br />

DOB: 08-Sep-97<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m/6’2”<br />

WEIGHT: 105kg/16st 7lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

- - - - - - - - -<br />

REA, MATTY NO 8<br />

DOB: 21-Sep-93<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m/6’4”<br />

WEIGHT: 112kg/17st 8lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

14 12 2 960 2 - - - 10<br />

REIDY, SEAN BACK ROW<br />

DOB: 10-May-89<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m/6’0”<br />

WEIGHT: 103kg/16st 3lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

12 9 3 751 1 - - - 5<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [2]<br />

SHANAHAN, DAVE SCRUM HALF<br />

DOB: 20-Jun-93<br />

HEIGHT: 1.75m/5’9”<br />

WEIGHT: 78kg/12st 4lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

12 4 8 410 2 - - - 10<br />

STOCKDALE, JACOB WING<br />

DOB: 03-Apr-96<br />

HEIGHT: 1.9m/6’3”<br />

WEIGHT: 103kg/16st 3lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

5 5 - 375 2 - - - 10<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [28]<br />

TIMONEY, NICK BACK ROW<br />

DOB: 01-Aug-95<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m/6’2”<br />

WEIGHT: 111kg/17st 6lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

10 6 4 575 2 - - - 10<br />

TREADWELL, KIERAN LOCK<br />

DOB: 06-Nov-95<br />

HEIGHT: 1.98m/6’6”<br />

WEIGHT: 118kg/18st 8lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

13 10 3 788 - - - - -<br />

HONOURS: Ireland [3]<br />

WARWICK, ANDREW PROP<br />

DOB: 2-Mar-91<br />

HEIGHT: 1.78m/5’10”<br />

WEIGHT: 113kg/17st 11lb<br />

APPS ST REP MINS T C PG DG PTS<br />

2 1 1 70 - - - - -<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 43


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

DAN<br />

McFARLAND<br />

IN JUST TWO YEARS AT THE HELM,<br />

DAN MCFARLAND HAS BROUGHT GOOD<br />

VIBES BACK TO ULSTER, SO MUCH SO<br />

THAT THEY JUST MIGHT END A<br />

14-YEAR TROPHY DROUGHT.<br />

When the Englishman started his role<br />

as the province’s new head coach in<br />

August 2018, <strong>Ulster</strong> had just come off<br />

a season in which they failed to reach<br />

the Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> <strong>Final</strong> Series,<br />

crashed out of the European Rugby<br />

Champions Cup at the group stage<br />

and off-field issues had clouded any<br />

rugby progress they were making.<br />

“The ‘annus horribilis’ that was the<br />

year before [I arrived] was a lot to<br />

do with off-field stuff,” explained the<br />

48-year-old McFarland this week.<br />

“There was a perception, because of<br />

the context that happened in that<br />

year that (people working for the<br />

club) didn’t care. The perception was<br />

wrong. But the key thing was that<br />

everybody had to perceive.<br />

“They had to look in and say ‘do you<br />

know what, I know that they care.<br />

I know that every inch on the pitch<br />

matters to these guys. That they’re<br />

working non-stop to get there’.”<br />

Now, nobody can accuse McFarland’s<br />

<strong>Ulster</strong> of not caring and they<br />

demonstrated that willingness to<br />

fight for every inch last week as they<br />

overturned a 12-point deficit to beat<br />

Edinburgh thanks to Ian Madigan’s<br />

last-gasp kick in a high-stakes Semi-<br />

<strong>Final</strong>.<br />

In his first season as head coach,<br />

McFarland steered the <strong>Ulster</strong>men<br />

back into the <strong>Final</strong> Series after a<br />

two-year absence, before they lost to<br />

Glasgow Warriors in the last-four, and<br />

this time they have already gone one<br />

better.<br />

Not bad for a man in his first senior<br />

head coaching position.<br />

44<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 45


2019/20<br />

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FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

McFarland was born and raised in<br />

Oxfordshire, yet his rugby loyalties have<br />

always laid with the green of Ireland.<br />

His rugby-playing grandfather was from<br />

Belfast and moved to England to work<br />

as a chief engineer at a nuclear power<br />

station.<br />

As a youngster, McFarland shunned<br />

the opportunity to study for a PGCE in<br />

favour of signing with Richmond, but<br />

the skills he had shown as a prospective<br />

teacher later became evident as he<br />

would go on to establish himself as a<br />

leader in the rugby world.<br />

Following three years in London,<br />

McFarland enjoyed a brief spell at Stade<br />

Francais, before moving to Connacht<br />

where he spent six years as a player<br />

before retiring to take up the forwards<br />

coach role in 2006.<br />

He then became assistant coach at the<br />

Sportsground four years later, working<br />

alongside Michael Bradley and Pat Lam.<br />

During his 15-year association with<br />

Connacht, McFarland also worked with<br />

the Ireland youth teams, assisting Eric<br />

Elwood as they clinched the Under-20s<br />

Six Nations Grand Slam in 2007.<br />

In 2015, he departed for Guinness<br />

<strong>PRO14</strong> rivals Glasgow Warriors – linking<br />

up with Gregor Townsend as forwards<br />

coach – and followed Townsend into the<br />

international game.<br />

He played a pivotal role as Scotland<br />

finished third in the 2018 Six Nations<br />

and reclaimed the Calcutta Cup for the<br />

first time in a decade.<br />

Soon after the competition, McFarland<br />

announced his new role as <strong>Ulster</strong> head<br />

coach and while he may have faced<br />

something of a baptism of fire at the<br />

Kingspan, his sense of challenge and<br />

strong familial ties to Belfast clearly<br />

played their part in persuading him to<br />

take the job.<br />

At the time of hi​s appointment,<br />

McFarland said: “I always wanted to be<br />

a head coach. You have to be ready and<br />

the opportunity has to be right. Those<br />

two things married up in this situation.”<br />

The improvement since his arrival has<br />

been clear for all to see and if he gets<br />

things right today, then <strong>Ulster</strong> could<br />

well be celebrating with the <strong>PRO14</strong><br />

trophy for the first time since 2006.<br />

“<br />

HE PLAYED A<br />

PIVOTAL ROLE<br />

AS SCOTLAND<br />

FINISHED THIRD<br />

IN THE 2018 SIX<br />

NATIONS AND<br />

RECLAIMED<br />

THE CALCUTTA<br />

CUP FOR THE<br />

FIRST TIME IN A<br />

DECADE.<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 47


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

“<br />

I’VE BEEN<br />

TRUE TO<br />

MYSELF IN<br />

HOW I’VE<br />

GONE ABOUT<br />

MY TRAINING<br />

AND GETTING<br />

MY MIND AND<br />

MY BODY<br />

RIGHT TO HIT<br />

THE GROUND<br />

RUNNING<br />

WITH ULSTER.<br />

48<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

IAN<br />

MADIGAN<br />

AS IAN MADIGAN SHAPED UP<br />

FOR ONE OF THE BIGGEST<br />

KICKS OF HIS CAREER,<br />

ULSTER’S CAPTAIN ALAN<br />

O’CONNOR THOUGHT IT WISE<br />

TO OFFER SOME WORDS OF<br />

ENCOURAGEMENT.<br />

[ By Charlie Bennett ]<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 49


EVERY FIXTURE<br />

EVERY TRY<br />

EVERY TACKLE<br />

ALL IN<br />

ONE APP


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

Madigan, a talented fly-half who<br />

has played in Ireland, France and<br />

England, won two Six Nations titles<br />

and 30 international caps, admits<br />

his mouth went dry and his palms a<br />

little sweaty.<br />

There may have been no fans at<br />

BT Murrayfield, but that probably<br />

made it worse. So, stand-in skipper<br />

O’Connor, like all intuitive captains,<br />

stepped in.<br />

“He told me he loved me which was a<br />

nice touch,” Madigan said.<br />

“I’ve only known him a couple of<br />

weeks but for him to be expressing<br />

his love for me, it gave me a boost of<br />

confidence.<br />

“That could have been the<br />

difference.”<br />

Seconds later, Madigan booted<br />

the penalty through the posts to<br />

complete a remarkable comeback<br />

and send <strong>Ulster</strong> to the Guinness<br />

<strong>PRO14</strong> <strong>Final</strong> at Edinburgh’s expense.<br />

For such a big club, it is perhaps<br />

surprising to learn it is their first<br />

<strong>PRO14</strong> final in seven years. They<br />

played <strong>Leinster</strong> that day too, losing<br />

24-18.<br />

“ I’M VERY<br />

LUCKY<br />

BECAUSE I<br />

HAVE GREAT<br />

PEOPLE<br />

AROUND ME.<br />

None of the <strong>Ulster</strong> XV that started<br />

that day are still at the club. However,<br />

Madigan remembers it well. He was in<br />

the No.12 jersey. For <strong>Leinster</strong>.<br />

Then aged 24, things were looking<br />

up. He’d forced his way into the<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> team at inside centre, with<br />

head coach Joe Schmidt recognising<br />

he needed to find a place for such a<br />

talent.<br />

That win was his first of two <strong>PRO14</strong><br />

titles, while he already has two<br />

European Champions Cup medals<br />

– including one from 2012 that also<br />

came against <strong>Ulster</strong>.<br />

Ireland soon made him a key player,<br />

a back-up to Johnny Sexton and the<br />

man they brought on to finish games.<br />

In 2015, he played in all five matches<br />

as Ireland won the title.<br />

However, playing back-up to Sexton<br />

only appealed for so long and in<br />

2016 Madigan packed his bags and<br />

headed east to France for a year at<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 51


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

Bordeaux before Bristol Bears<br />

came calling.<br />

He spent three seasons at<br />

Ashton Gate but his career<br />

fizzled out in the last 18 months,<br />

restricted to a season on the<br />

bench.<br />

Now 31, he’s back in the<br />

Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong>. And<br />

though Billy Burns has a<br />

tight hold on the No.10<br />

jersey, Madigan is <strong>Ulster</strong>’s<br />

not-so-secret weapon<br />

hoping to tear down<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong>’s perfect<br />

campaign.<br />

“I don’t really have any<br />

demons from the last 18<br />

months because I still<br />

think I’ve been true to<br />

myself in how I’ve gone<br />

about my training and<br />

getting my mind and my<br />

body right to hit the ground<br />

running with <strong>Ulster</strong>,” he said.<br />

“At the same time, it was a<br />

period that went quite slowly<br />

for me. I’m very lucky because<br />

I have great people around me<br />

- my fiancée Anna, my parents,<br />

my friends - and just being able to<br />

draw on them and being around<br />

them throughout the last few months<br />

built up my confidence again.<br />

“Even with the club, Dan (McFarland)<br />

is big on the psychological side<br />

and he’s been great at building my<br />

confidence up and ensuring I fit into<br />

the squad really quickly.<br />

“It’s happened thick and fast but I’d<br />

have it no other way.”<br />

<strong>Ulster</strong> are aware of how tall their<br />

task is on Saturday night. <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

are chasing history, attempting<br />

to win every game en route to<br />

the title.<br />

Few expect them to stumble<br />

but then few expected Japan<br />

to beat South Africa, Greece<br />

to win the Euros or the<br />

Giants to beat the Patriots.<br />

<strong>Ulster</strong> have hope. And<br />

they also have Madigan.<br />

“A big part of it is<br />

what is going on in<br />

your head, filling<br />

your head with<br />

positive thoughts.”<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 53


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

2019/20<br />

STATISTICS<br />

TACKLE<br />

SUCCESS<br />

88.92<br />

PENALTIES<br />

CONCEDED<br />

139<br />

(8.7 per game)<br />

YELLOW CARDS<br />

[%]<br />

TURNOVERS<br />

WON<br />

6RED<br />

CARDS<br />

0<br />

79<br />

(4.9 per game)<br />

CARRIES<br />

1980<br />

METRES GAINED<br />

5460<br />

(127.7 per game)<br />

(341 per game)<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 55


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> 2019|20<br />

AWARDS WINNERS<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong>, Munster and <strong>Ulster</strong> are<br />

familiar faces when it comes to<br />

the Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> <strong>Final</strong> Series<br />

but Edinburgh’s arrival as a major<br />

force was one of the stories of<br />

the 2019/20 season.<br />

The Scottish outfit topped<br />

Conference B with 11 wins,<br />

finishing ahead of Munster, and<br />

that success has led Richard<br />

Cockerill to be named the<br />

Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> Coach of the<br />

Season.<br />

Edinburgh’s evolution from<br />

sleeping giant to major players<br />

has been gradual but since<br />

Cockerill’s arrival, they have<br />

travelled in just one direction.<br />

The Englishman joined Edinburgh<br />

in 2017 after a 12-year spell<br />

coaching at Leicester Tigers,<br />

including seven as head coach.<br />

There he won three English<br />

Premiership titles and made<br />

it to the final of the European<br />

Champions Cup, while as a player<br />

he won 27 England caps.<br />

Yet while Cockerill was forging<br />

a reputation as one of English<br />

rugby’s brightest young coaches,<br />

Edinburgh were drifting in the<br />

bottom half of the then-PRO12.<br />

Between 2010-2017, they failed to<br />

finish higher than eighth. When<br />

Cockerill arrived and the 14 clubs<br />

56<br />

COACH OF THE<br />

SEASON<br />

Richard<br />

COCKERILL<br />

(EDINBURGH)<br />

were split into two conferences,<br />

things changed.<br />

In his first season, Cockerill led<br />

Edinburgh to the Quarter-<strong>Final</strong>s,<br />

where they narrowly lost 20-16 to<br />

Munster, before they took a slight<br />

step backwards last season by<br />

finishing fifth in Conference B.<br />

However, under Cockerill’s watch,<br />

Edinburgh have developed some<br />

of the league’s finest players.<br />

Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson,<br />

Magnus Bradbury, Darcy Graham<br />

and Blair Kinghorn are all regulars<br />

in the Scotland squad and so it<br />

is no surprise Edinburgh have<br />

emerged this season.<br />

Head-turning wins against<br />

Scarlets (46-7), Munster (18-16)<br />

and Connacht (41-14) steered<br />

them to the Semi-<strong>Final</strong>s while<br />

they also secured a third<br />

successive 1872 Cup on the way,<br />

with two wins against rivals<br />

Glasgow Warriors.<br />

<strong>Ulster</strong>’s BT Murrayfield miracle<br />

may have denied them a place<br />

in the <strong>Final</strong> but they dominated<br />

their opponents for large portions<br />

of the game.<br />

Edinburgh may have been a<br />

surprise package this season but<br />

everyone is aware of them now.<br />

Richard Cockerill has played a<br />

massive part in that.<br />

DREAM TEAM<br />

They may have narrowly missed<br />

out on a place in the <strong>Final</strong><br />

but Edinburgh can take some<br />

comfort from the fact that six<br />

of their players made it in the<br />

Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> Dream Team.<br />

Richard Cockerill’s side topped<br />

Conference B after winning 11<br />

of their 15 matches and that<br />

impressive campaign has been<br />

recognised in the end-of-season<br />

awards.<br />

Edinburgh fill two of the back<br />

three spots, with winger Duhan<br />

van der Merwe an obvious pick<br />

on the left after he bagged seven<br />

tries and made more metres<br />

(971), more clean breaks (32) and<br />

beat more defenders (80) than<br />

anyone else in the <strong>PRO14</strong>.<br />

Scotland international Blair<br />

Kinghorn fills in at full-back,<br />

while Benetton’s Monty Ioane is<br />

the only player from an Italian<br />

club and gets the nod at No.14.<br />

Pace and power make up the<br />

centre combination of <strong>Ulster</strong>’s<br />

Ireland international Stuart<br />

McCloskey and the electric<br />

Cardiff Blues ace Rey Lee-Lo,<br />

while Jaco van der Walt –<br />

another Edinburgh player – and<br />

<strong>Ulster</strong>’s John Cooney get in at<br />

half-back.<br />

Cooney’s has followed in the<br />

footsteps of predecessor Ruan<br />

Pienaar to become a talismanic<br />

<strong>Ulster</strong> No.9 and he was also the<br />

league’s second-highest points<br />

scorer (105) behind only JJ<br />

Hanrahan.<br />

The pack is jammed full of talent<br />

and the front row combination<br />

of Edinburgh’s Pierre Schoeman,<br />

Toyota Cheetahs’ Joseph Dweba<br />

and Dragons’ Leon Brown is as<br />

fierce as it comes.<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> -who are targeting a<br />

Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> clean sweep<br />

in the <strong>Final</strong> – have their first<br />

player in at No.4, with imperious<br />

Australian Scott Fardy joining<br />

Edinburgh’s Grant Gilchrist in the<br />

engine room.<br />

1<br />

And two of <strong>Leinster</strong>’s glut of<br />

incredibly talented back-row<br />

players – blindside flanker Max<br />

Deegan and openside Will<br />

Connors – make up two thirds of<br />

that unit, alongside the everimpressive<br />

Bill Mata.<br />

6 – EDINBURGH<br />

3 – LEINSTER<br />

2 – ULSTER<br />

1 – DRAGONS<br />

1 – CARDIFF BLUES<br />

1 – BENETTON RUGBY<br />

1 – TOYOTA CHEETAHS<br />

DREAM TEAM 2019|20<br />

2<br />

3<br />

4<br />

5<br />

Pierre<br />

SCHOEMAN<br />

Joseph<br />

DWEBA<br />

Leon<br />

BROWN<br />

Scott<br />

FARDY<br />

Grant<br />

GILCHRIST<br />

6<br />

7<br />

8<br />

9<br />

10<br />

Max<br />

DEEGAN<br />

Will<br />

CONNORS<br />

Bill<br />

MATA<br />

John<br />

COONEY<br />

Jaco van der<br />

WALT<br />

11<br />

12<br />

13<br />

14<br />

15<br />

Duhan van der<br />

MERWE<br />

Stuart<br />

McCLOSKEY<br />

Rey<br />

LEE-LO<br />

Monty<br />

IOANE<br />

Blair<br />

KINGHORN<br />

GILBERT GOLDEN BOOT<br />

JJ HANRAHAN<br />

(MUNSTER)<br />

Munster’s JJ Hanrahan has been a crucial performer<br />

in his team’s path to the Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> Semi-<strong>Final</strong>s<br />

with his place-kicking coming to the fore. Hanrahan’s<br />

accuracy off the tee was 90.91% as he converted 50<br />

kicks from 55 attempts. The Munster out-half has<br />

scored 121 points in 14 appearances this season.<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 57


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

GUINNESS PLAYERS’<br />

PLAYER OF THE<br />

SEASON<br />

Duhan van der<br />

MERWE<br />

(EDINBURGH)<br />

No player has been more<br />

dangerous with the ball in<br />

hand in the 2019/20 Guinness<br />

<strong>PRO14</strong> season than electrifying<br />

Edinburgh winger Duhan van der<br />

Merwe.<br />

The mere sight of the 25-year-old<br />

has struck fear in the opposition<br />

– and he has now been named<br />

the Guinness Players’ Player<br />

of the Season for his standout<br />

campaign.<br />

Earning the recognition of his<br />

fellow players is just reward for<br />

the South African-born flyer, who<br />

carried his regular season form<br />

into Edinburgh’s Semi-<strong>Final</strong> clash<br />

with <strong>Ulster</strong>.<br />

While his efforts ultimately<br />

proved to be in vain as Scotland’s<br />

capital team were beaten 22-19 in<br />

a dramatic finale, Van der Merwe<br />

was once again one of the best<br />

players on the pitch.<br />

He finished the game with eight<br />

successful carries, three clean<br />

breaks and 13 defenders beaten<br />

for a total of 101 metres, with<br />

<strong>Ulster</strong>’s Rob Lyttle his nearest<br />

rival with 78 metres.<br />

It was a performance that<br />

appeared to have guided<br />

Edinburgh to their first Guinness<br />

<strong>PRO14</strong> <strong>Final</strong> before <strong>Ulster</strong><br />

mounted a late comeback, sealing<br />

victory in the 80th minute.<br />

But Van der Merwe’s display at<br />

BT Murrayfield was nothing out of<br />

the ordinary for a player who has<br />

consistently brought his A-game<br />

week-in, week-out throughout<br />

this season.<br />

In fact, he finished the regular<br />

campaign top of the stats charts<br />

in several different categories,<br />

with the most clean breaks (32),<br />

defenders beaten (80) and<br />

metres gained (971).<br />

To hammer home just how good<br />

he has been, you only have to<br />

look at the stats of his nearest<br />

rival in each table, Rhyno Smith,<br />

who is a distant second in all<br />

three categories.<br />

Smith gained 229m less, beat 31<br />

fewer defenders and made 14<br />

fewer clean breaks than his fellow<br />

back-three star.<br />

With such a potent weapon<br />

on the wing, it is no surprise<br />

Edinburgh have enjoyed such a<br />

magnificent season as Richard<br />

Cockerill’s side finished top of<br />

Conference B.<br />

One of the highlights of Van der<br />

Merwe’s campaign came in Round<br />

4 when he scored a hat-trick<br />

in a 46-7 victory over Scarlets,<br />

including two tries in the opening<br />

ten minutes.<br />

That was by no means the end of<br />

his try-scoring exploits though,<br />

with another coming against<br />

Dragons in a 20-7 triumph at BT<br />

Murrayfield in Round 6.<br />

He scored one of eight tries<br />

against Isuzu Southern Kings<br />

when Edinburgh romped to a<br />

61-13 success before also crossing<br />

the whitewash against Scarlets<br />

again and Connacht.<br />

Finishing with seven tries in total,<br />

fifth in the leading try scorer<br />

table, there is no doubt that van<br />

der Merwe will continue to light<br />

up the Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> for many<br />

years to come.<br />

TOP TRY-SCORER<br />

RHYNO SMITH<br />

(TOYOTA CHEETAHS)<br />

Toyota Cheetahs full-back<br />

Rhyno Smith was key to<br />

the South African team’s<br />

remarkable home form where<br />

they scored 196 points across<br />

four games. But it was not just<br />

home comforts that worked for<br />

the Free State speedster, who<br />

scored four of his 10 tries away<br />

from home.<br />

BIG RED CLOUD TURNOVER KING<br />

JOSH MacLEOD<br />

(SCARLETS)<br />

The West Wales region have a strong<br />

pedigree for snaffling the ball away<br />

from the opposition at the breakdown<br />

with James Davies and ex-Scarlet<br />

Tadhg Beirne appearing high in the<br />

turnover charts in the past couple of<br />

seasons. In the absence of Davies during this<br />

campaign, MacLeod has performed strongly<br />

at openside picking 23 turnovers to earn the<br />

Big Red Cloud Turnover King award.<br />

58<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

NEXT-GEN STAR OF<br />

THE SEASON<br />

Caelan<br />

DORIS<br />

(LEINSTER)<br />

A man of the match display<br />

in <strong>Leinster</strong>’s Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong><br />

Semi-<strong>Final</strong> victory over Munster<br />

further cemented Caelan Doris’<br />

status as one of the brightest<br />

young talents in European<br />

rugby.<br />

And the 22-year-old’s superb<br />

performances throughout<br />

2019/20 have not gone<br />

unnoticed, as he has been named<br />

the Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> Next-Gen<br />

Star of the Season.<br />

The back-rower has been a<br />

key part of <strong>Leinster</strong>’s so-far<br />

unbeaten campaign, making 10<br />

appearances for Leo Cullen’s<br />

side – nine of which came in the<br />

regular season as they swept all<br />

before them to top Conference A.<br />

Doris’ tackling has been a<br />

particularly impressive aspect<br />

of his game. The 6ft 4in star has<br />

made 113 tackles in 2019/20 and<br />

has a tackle success rate of 98%,<br />

the fourth highest across the<br />

Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong>.<br />

With his fellow <strong>Leinster</strong> backrow<br />

Will Connors leading the<br />

way for tackles made (191), the<br />

pair have been integral in laying<br />

the foundations on which the<br />

province have built their success.<br />

He has also consistently made<br />

yards with ball in hand –<br />

producing 59 successful carries<br />

this term, joint third most in the<br />

<strong>PRO14</strong>.<br />

Doris has been one to watch<br />

for several years now. He came<br />

through the ranks at Blackrock<br />

College and shone for Ireland<br />

Under-20s while playing a year<br />

up in 2017, captaining the side<br />

the following year at the World<br />

Rugby Under-20 Championship.<br />

He was handed his first <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

start against Cardiff Blues in<br />

August 2018 and has gone from<br />

strength to strength since with<br />

performances that have not<br />

escaped the attention of Ireland<br />

head coach Andy Farrell.<br />

Doris’ displays led to a first senior<br />

Ireland call-up ahead of the <strong>2020</strong><br />

Guinness Six Nations and he was<br />

selected to start against Scotland<br />

on the opening weekend.<br />

Farrell was impressed with what<br />

he had seen from the youngster<br />

in the build-up, saying: “I like the<br />

fact that he is just himself, he is<br />

not fazed by anything. His first<br />

time in an international scene and<br />

he’s himself.<br />

“Training has been competitive<br />

and physical and you can see his<br />

attributes all over that, he doesn’t<br />

want to come second best in<br />

contact.”<br />

Doris announced his arrival on the<br />

international stage by winning a<br />

turnover within 90 seconds but<br />

injury cut short his debut shortly<br />

afterwards. He recovered to come<br />

off the bench against England<br />

later in the Championship and<br />

looks set for a sustained career at<br />

international level.<br />

Lockdown didn’t stop his<br />

momentum as it might have done.<br />

Doris continued to train hard in<br />

rural surroundings back in his<br />

native County Mayo and he has<br />

picked up from where he left off<br />

since the restart.<br />

Now all his focus will be on<br />

helping <strong>Leinster</strong> secure their third<br />

straight Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> title as<br />

Doris looks to add collective glory<br />

to his individual accolades.<br />

RONSEAL TACKLE MACHINE<br />

PAUL BOYLE<br />

(CONNACHT)<br />

Connacht’s young back rower is becoming well<br />

known around the Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> and should be<br />

in contention for the Next-Gen Star of the Season<br />

award. Providing strength and reliability from No<br />

8, Boyle has been fearsome in<br />

defence with a remarkable 98.3%<br />

tackle completion rate from his<br />

179 tackles attempted to earn<br />

him the title of Ronseal Tackle<br />

Machine.<br />

IRONMAN AWARD<br />

MATTHEW SCREECH<br />

(DRAGONS)<br />

Playing in all 15 of Dragons’ Guinness<br />

<strong>PRO14</strong> fixtures wasn’t enough for second<br />

row Matthew Screech who was on the<br />

pitch 1,161 minutes out of a possible<br />

1,200. Director of Rugby Dean Ryan has<br />

brought a feel-good factor to Dragons<br />

who have just had their place in the<br />

Champions Cup confirmed and the<br />

reliability of Screech will add to their<br />

options for the new campaign.<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 59


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

<strong>PRO14</strong><br />

CHAMIONSHIP<br />

FINAL TRIVIA<br />

[ 2003 & 2013 ]<br />

47,128<br />

[ 2019 ]<br />

JOHNNY McNICHOLL<br />

1ST PLAYER TO SCORE<br />

A HAT-TRICK IN FINAL<br />

[ 2018 ]<br />

SEAN CRONIN<br />

FIRST PLAYER<br />

TO SCORE IN<br />

THREE FINALS<br />

[ 2012, 2016 & 2018 ]<br />

JORDAN LARMOUR<br />

YOUNGEST EVER<br />

TRY SCORER<br />

[ 2018 ]<br />

[ 2018 ]<br />

NIGEL OWENS<br />

MOST FINALS<br />

REFEREED<br />

[ 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2019 ]<br />

[ 2013 ]<br />

SHANE<br />

JENNINGS<br />

QUICKEST TRY<br />

3 MINUTES<br />

60<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

JOHNNY SEXTON<br />

MOST TIME PLAYED<br />

ALUN WYN JONES<br />

YOUNGEST<br />

CAPTAIN<br />

[ 2012 ]<br />

HIGHEST SCORE<br />

SCARLETS 46 v MUNSTER 22<br />

[ 2017 ]<br />

76<br />

JOHNNY<br />

SEXTON<br />

MOST<br />

POINTS<br />

CLOSEST MATCH [1]<br />

[ 2012 ]<br />

OSPREYS LEINSTER<br />

31<br />

30<br />

MAN OF THE MATCH<br />

IN THE FINAL<br />

2001/02<br />

SHANE HORGAN<br />

(LEINSTER)<br />

2002/03<br />

ALAN QUINLAN<br />

(MUNSTER)<br />

2009/10<br />

LEE BYRNE<br />

(OSPREYS)<br />

2010/11<br />

DAVID WALLACE<br />

(MUNSTER)<br />

2011/12<br />

ISA NACEWA<br />

(LEINSTER)<br />

2012/13<br />

SHANE JENNINGS<br />

(LEINSTER)<br />

2013/14<br />

SEAN CRONIN<br />

(LEINSTER)<br />

2014/15<br />

LEONE NAKARAWA<br />

(GLASGOW)<br />

2015/16<br />

JOHN MULDOON<br />

(CONNACHT)<br />

2016/17<br />

AARON SHINGLER<br />

(SCARLETS)<br />

2017/18<br />

JOHNNY SEXTON<br />

(LEINSTER)<br />

2018/19<br />

CIAN HEALY<br />

(LEINSTER)<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 61


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

SHANE<br />

WILLIAMS<br />

OLDEST POINTS<br />

& TRY SCORER<br />

[ 2012 ]<br />

35YRS<br />

90 DAYS<br />

FILO TIATIA<br />

OLDEST<br />

FINALIST<br />

38yrs 360days<br />

[ 2012 ]<br />

8<br />

LEE JARVIS<br />

MOST DROP<br />

GOALS<br />

JOHNNY<br />

SEXTON<br />

MOST<br />

CONVERSIONS<br />

[ 2010 ]<br />

MOST POINTS<br />

PER HALF<br />

1ST HALF<br />

2ND HALF<br />

29 22<br />

[ 2017 ] [ 2012 ]<br />

[ 2013 ]<br />

JOHNNY SEXTON<br />

MOST PENALTY<br />

GOALS [20]<br />

LEINSTER 40 + SCARLETS 32<br />

[ 2018 ]<br />

BROTHERS<br />

IN THE FINAL<br />

DAVE & ROB KEARNEY<br />

(LEINSTER 2012 & 2016)<br />

JAMES & JONATHAN DAVIES<br />

(SCARLETS 2017)<br />

RORY & NIALL SCANNELL<br />

(MUNSTER 2017)<br />

GEORGE & PETE HORNE<br />

(GLASGOW 2019)<br />

MATT & ZANDER FAGERSON<br />

(GLASGOW 2019)<br />

ED & BRYAN BYRNE<br />

(TWINS) (LEINSTER 2019)<br />

62<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

JOHNNY SEXTON<br />

MOST PENALTY GOALS<br />

SCARLETS<br />

TEAM TO<br />

SCORE THE<br />

MOST TRIES<br />

IN THE<br />

FINAL<br />

[20]<br />

[ 2017 ] [ 2011 ]<br />

SCARLETS 46, MUNSTER 22<br />

[ 2017 ]<br />

JACK McGRATH<br />

MOST APPEARANCES<br />

AS A REPLACEMENT<br />

MATTHEW MORGAN<br />

YOUNGEST EVER<br />

FINALIST<br />

[ 2012 ]<br />

[ 2017 ]<br />

FINAL FOR TWO<br />

SEPARATE TEAMS<br />

TOMMY BOWE<br />

(OSPREYS 2010* AND ULSTER 2013)<br />

JOHN COONEY<br />

(LEINSTER 2012 & 2013*, AND<br />

CONNACHT 2016*)<br />

DTH VAN DER MERWE<br />

(GLASGOW 2015*<br />

AND SCARLETS 2017*)<br />

ANDREW CONWAY<br />

(LEINSTER 2013* & MUNSTER 2017)<br />

* WINNER<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 63


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

MOMENT IN TIME<br />

64<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


MAY 25, 2013<br />

After losing three finals in a row, Fergus McFadden (centre), Brian O’Driscoll and<br />

Johnny Sexton (centre left) celebrate <strong>Leinster</strong>’s triumph after beating <strong>Ulster</strong> in<br />

Dublin. Seven years later Ian Madigan (behind McFadden) is expected face his<br />

own team by lining out for <strong>Ulster</strong> today. Picture: James Crombie / INPHO.ie<br />

FINAL LEINSTER V ULSTER<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN 65


GUINNESS <strong>PRO14</strong> FINAL<br />

REFEREE:<br />

ANDREW BRACE<br />

(IRFU)<br />

MAN<br />

IN THE<br />

MIDDLE<br />

Andrew Brace has been appointed as the match referee for this<br />

weekend’s Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> <strong>Final</strong> between <strong>Leinster</strong> and <strong>Ulster</strong> at<br />

Aviva Stadium (KO 19:35).<br />

The 32-year-old is in line to make his 55th Championship<br />

appearance and his first in the title decider. It caps an impressive<br />

season for the the Irish official who was chosen as an assistant<br />

referee for the Rugby World Cup in Japan, received his first<br />

Guinness Six Nations appointment in February and follows up his<br />

first knock-out appearance in the <strong>PRO14</strong> Championship with this<br />

selection.<br />

Brace, a full-time professional referee, made his Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong><br />

debut in 2015 and earned further recognition at the Junior World<br />

Championships and Under 20 Six Nations the following year.<br />

Having taken charge of the <strong>Leinster</strong> v Munster semi-final the<br />

Cardiff-born match official is in line to make his ninth appearance<br />

of the season.<br />

Frank Murphy and George Clancy have been appointed as<br />

assistant referees with Brian MacNiece fulfilling the role of<br />

Television Match Official. All of the appointments are IRFU match<br />

officials.<br />

66<br />

IN CASE<br />

OF A TIE<br />

EXTRA TIME AND PLACE<br />

KICKING COMPETITION<br />

(ABBREVIATED RULES)<br />

In the event of a tie at full time<br />

in a Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> Semi-<br />

<strong>Final</strong> Qualifier, Semi-<strong>Final</strong> or<br />

the Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> <strong>Final</strong><br />

then extra-time will be played,<br />

consisting of two periods, each<br />

of 10 minutes. If the score is still<br />

tied after extra-time, the Team<br />

that has scored the most tries<br />

in the match will be deemed<br />

the winner.<br />

If the Teams are still tied on<br />

points and tries at the end of<br />

extra-time then the winner<br />

will be determined by a Place<br />

Kick Competition. In the event<br />

that a Place Kick Competition<br />

is required, each Team will<br />

nominate three goal kickers<br />

who will take six place kicks<br />

between them from different<br />

positions along the 22 metre<br />

and 10 metre lines.<br />

The Team with the most place<br />

kicks scored will be the winner.<br />

If the Teams are tied at the end<br />

of their six kicks, then sudden<br />

death will apply. Only players<br />

in the playing area at the final<br />

whistle of extra-time may be<br />

nominated for the Place Kick<br />

Competition. No substituted<br />

players or players who have<br />

been shown a red card may<br />

take part at any time including<br />

any player who has received a<br />

yellow card and who remains<br />

in the sin bin at the time of the<br />

final whistle of extra-time.<br />

The above sets out a summary<br />

of certain provisions of the<br />

Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong> Rules for<br />

information purposes only.<br />

As such these provisions may<br />

not be relied upon and for a<br />

full and proper understanding<br />

of the provisions and rules of<br />

the Guinness <strong>PRO14</strong>, reference<br />

must be made to the Guinness<br />

<strong>PRO14</strong> Rules in their existing<br />

and entire form.<br />

12|09|20 AVIVA STADIUM | DUBLIN


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