Leinster Rugby v Edinburgh

ISSUE 03 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 

SCOTT 

PENNY 

CIARÁN 

FRAWLEY 

ROSS 

MOLONY 

Kelleher 

Cian 

NOV 

16 

20 

20 

KICK OFF 20:15

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A sea of blue 

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#LEIVEDI 

Newstead Building A, UCD, 

Belfield, Dublin 4 

Telephone: 

012693224 

Fax: 

012693142 

E-mail: 

information@leinsterrugby.ie 

www.leinsterrugby.ie 

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT 

President: John Walsh 

Chief Executive: Michael Dawson 

Honorary Secretary: Stuart Bayley 

Honorary Treasurer: Michael McGrail 

7 22 

RUGBY MANAGEMENT 

Head Coach: Leo Cullen 

Senior Coach: Stuart Lancaster 

Head of Rugby Operations: 

Guy Easterby 

Assistant Coach: Robin McBryde 

Backs Coach: Felipe Contepomi 

Kicking Coach: Emmet Farrell 

Contact Skills Coach: Hugh Hogan 

PROGRAMME CREDITS 

Editorial Team: Marcus Ó Buachalla 

& Ryan Corry 

Advertising: Gary Nolan 

Design: Julian Tredinnick, 

Ignition Sports Media 

Photography: Sportsfile 

Chief Steward: Sword Security 

Ambulance: St. John’s Ambulance 

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Event Control & Safety Services: 

Eamonn O’Boyle & Associates 

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www.leinsterrugby.ie | 3 | From The Ground Up

JOHN WALSH 

WEL COME 

We extend a warm welcome to 

our guests from Edinburgh for this 

evening’s fixture in Round 6 of the 

Guinness PRO14. 

As reigning champions, we have to 

defend our crown and will be fully aware 

that we will face stern challenges both 

on and off the field this season and that 

teams will be highly motivated to bring 

our current winning sequence of games in 

the Guinness PRO14 to an end. 

Unfortunately we are currently unable 

to have rugby fans attend our home 

fixtures at the RDS Arena and to add to 

the unique atmosphere that the venue 

has and we fully understand that this is 

essential in order to minimise the spread 

of Covid-19 in our communities. All 

Leinster Rugby fans have always enjoyed 

the hospitality and atmosphere of a 

visit to Edinburgh especially as Scottish 

supporters are so knowledgeable and 

passionate about the game. 

We welcome Edinburgh Chairperson John 

Davidson, CEO Douglas Struth, Head 

Coach Richard Cockerill and co-captains 

Stuart McInally and Grant Gilchrist. 

Edinburgh are a club with a proud rugby 

tradition and are approaching their 150th 

year anniversary in 2022 having been 

founded in 1872, seven years prior to the 

establishment of Leinster. Following the 

advent of professional rugby in 1995, 

Edinburgh were established in 1996 by 

the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) as one of 

the two professional teams in Scotland. 

On behalf of all involved in Leinster 

Rugby, we wish to acknowledge with 

our sincere thanks to the Government, 

Ministers Catherine Martin, Jack 

Chambers and Sport Ireland for their 

support for our sport from the Covid-19 

Emergency Fund for Sport. The role that 

sport plays in our communities and in our 

daily lives is significant and we are very 

grateful for the ongoing support that the 

Government has provided to our nation’s 

sporting organisations as this pandemic 

continues to impact on our finances. 

Congratulations to Cian Healy on his 

100th cap for Ireland and he now joins a 

very exclusive list of six Irish players who 

have achieved this remarkable milestone 

and only the second Leinster player 

following Brian O’Driscoll. 

Congratulations to Devin Toner on making 

his 250th Leinster appearance and he 

is now approaching Gordon D’Arcy’s 

record. The North Kildare RFC and 

Lansdowne man has a remarkable medal 

collection that comprises of four European 

Cups, six league titles, a European 

Challenge Cup as well as a Grand 

Slam and three Guinness Six Nations 

championships to go along with his 70 

Irish caps. 

Congratulations to the five Leinster players 

who made their International debut for 

Ireland against Italy and against Wales. 

A marvellous achievement for them 

personally, their families and to their 

clubs, schools and colleges. This brings 

the current total of Irish Internationals in 

the Leinster squad to 29. Congratulations 

Ed, Will, Hugo, Jamison and James. 

All rugby fans, no matter what teams 

they support, will be overjoyed to see the 

return to the pitch of Irish international 

Dan Leavy following a horrific knee injury 

in March 2019 in the Champions Cup 

quarter-final. It requires a sportsman of 

unique quality in terms of mental and 

physical dedication, fortitude and focus 

to recover from such a potentially career 

ending injury. Special thanks to all his 

medical support team and all the Leinster 

back room staff and players for all their 

amazing efforts in support of Dan. 

We have recently introduced a new 

structure to our programme that allows 

us to expand significantly our support of 

charitable causes. In association with our 

players, the Official Leinster Supporters 

Club and our seven premium partners 

we will partner 12 individual charities 

per season and focus on a charity for 

each month. Commencing in November 

we are delighted to announce Women’s 

Aid as our first charity affiliate and we 

look forward to supporting them as they 

highlight the significant and serious issue 

of domestic violence in our society. 

This is a significant Leinster Rugby social 

citizenship initiative and we look forward 

to confirming a new partner every month 

for the year ahead. Thanks in particular 

are due to Marcus Ó Buachalla and Pat 

Crawford who spearheaded this project. 

Finally I would appeal to all players, 

members and supporters of our clubs and 

schools to strictly comply with the advice 

given to us by our Government health 

officials. 

On behalf of Leinster Rugby, I wish all 

involved an enjoyable and a safe game. 

Keep the faith. 

JOHN WALSH 

PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2020/21 

From The Ground Up | 4 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

CIAL APPEAL 

n RFC & Andrea Port ''Andy'' Dara Broughan Falcons 

rlington Portarlington and a member RFC & Port Dara of Falcons the 

e of 30 has been irreparably 

Andrea was a player and a coach with 

Portarlington and a member of the Port 

Dara Falcons team. Her life at the age 

of 30 has been irreparably altered due 

to the effects of meningitis. Her family 

including partner Adam, and children, 

Elena (4) and Evan (5), need your 

support and I would appeal to all rugby 

followers to assist in any way that they 

can to this cause. 

Fund raising efforts are being undertaken 

jointly by Portarlington and Cill Dara 

clubs to raise €60,000 funds for the 

“Build it for Andy” project. They are 

literally going the ‘length and breadth’ of 

Ireland to raise much needed funds for 

the family. 

In particular I would life to acknowledge 

the efforts of Clive Doody who has 

undertaken to walk the length of Ireland 

(476Km) to raise funds by ‘Slog in 

the Bog’ while Andrea’s team mates 

will undertake to do the Belmullet to 

Balbriggan leg for a combined total of 

766km. 

Details are available from Barry Lambkin 

(086-8206776) and on https://www. 

gofundme.com/build-it-for-andy. 

A SPECIAL APPEAL 

rugby people, players, supporters and fans to contribute 

following Go Fund Me fundraising appeals for our players. 

erous and supportive collective and have a strong tradition 

we know you will not be found wanting on this occasion. 

matter how small. 

LEINSTER RUGBY ARE NOW APPEALING TO ALL RUGBY PEOPLE, PLAYERS, SUPPORTERS AND FANS 

TO CONTRIBUTE GENEROUSLY IN WHATEVER WAY THEY CAN TO THE FOLLOWING FUNDRAISING 

APPEALS FOR THREE OF OUR CLUB PLAYERS. THE LEINSTER RUGBY FAMILY IS A STRONG, 

GENEROUS AND SUPPORTIVE COLLECTIVE AND HAVE A STRONG TRADITION OF GENEROUSLY 

SUPPORTING THESE APPEALS AND WE KNOW YOU WILL NOT BE FOUND WANTING ON THIS 

OCCASION. ALL CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE VERY WELCOME, NO MATTER HOW SMALL. 

en Elena (4), Evan (5) need 

followers to assist in any 

intly by Portarlington and 

the “Build it for Andy” 

and breath of 

family. 

e efforts of Clive Doody 

(476Km) to raise funds 

orters and fans to contribute 

mates will undertake to 

aising appeals for our players. 

bined total of 766km. 

ve and have a strong tradition 

(Mob 086-8206776) and on 

und wanting on this occasion. 

y. 

ll s Club 

sulted in very serious spinal 

e treatment at the National 

back row team that won 3 

2, 1993, 1994 and a Leinster 

ying he became involved in 

d is a committed member of 

Martin Dunphy 

County Carlow Football Club 

Martin suffered a very simple fall that 

resulted in very serious spinal injuries and 

he is now receiving extensive treatment 

at the National Rehabilitation Hospital. 

Martin was a member of the Co. 

Carlow team that won three consecutive 

Provincial Towns Cups in 1992, 1993, 

1994 and a Leinster League. Following 

his retirement from playing he became 

involved in coaching Co. Carlow’s 

underage section and is a committed 

member of the club. 

Martin is married to Deirdre Carbery (a 

member of the well-known rugby family) 

and they are parents to three children. 

The target for the appeal is €300,000 

and to date €170,000 has been raised 

so there is a major effort now required to 

get to the finishing line. 

Along with IRFU President Des Kavanagh, 

Stuart Bayley, Honorary Secretary 

Leinster Rugby, and myself as Leinster 

President, I ask you to make a positive 

contribution that can assist Martin and 

his family. 

https://gofundme.com/f/support-formartin-dunphy 

Philip ''Philly/Flipper'' Caldwell 

MU Barnhall RFC 

Philip, 38, has always been known for his 

love of rugby which started at his home 

club in Barnhall. He then played for the 

King’s Hospital in school and then for 

clubs like Darfield (New Zealand), St. 

Mary’s, Blackrock, Lansdowne, Cottesloe 

and UWA (both Australia) and Clinchers 

(Japan). 

Unfortunately Philly suffered a severe 

spinal injury which left him with temporary 

paralysis from the neck down. The 

incident occurred during a tag rugby 

match in July 2020. 

He is now undergoing his slow but steady 

recovery in the National Rehabilitation 

Hospital in Dún Laoghaire and this is 

where over the coming months the brilliant 

staff there will work with Philly to deal 

with his life changing experience. 

To help Philly, his friends and the wider 

rugby community have set up the Philip 

Caldwell Trust and this trust will be used 

to help Philly in his rehab and his journey 

to getting back to living again. Any 

excess funds will then be donated to the 

IRFU Charitable Trust which supports 

other injured sports people in the rugby 

community. 

The first such fundraising event is the Fill 

The Aviva 4 Philly (#FTA4Philly) event 

in December which aims to sell 51,700 

virtual tickets for an Ireland game at the 

Aviva. Further details can be found at 

www.fta4philly.com 

member of the well-known 

en. The target for the appeal 

raised so there is a major 


Leo Cullen 

HEAD COACH WELCOME 

AFTER TWO 

WEEKS ON 

THE ROAD, IT’S 

GREAT TO BE 

BACK AT THE 

RDS ARENA 

FOR SOME 

MONDAY 

NIGHT RUGBY! 

A very warm welcome to Richard 

Cockerill and his Edinburgh team. I 

was lucky enough to have had the 

opportunity to work under Richard 

during my playing days, so I know 

how well he will have prepared his 

team for tonight’s clash. 

The last few weeks have seen lots of Leinster 

‘firsts’ which is a really positive endorsement 

of all the great coaching and development 

work that goes on around the province. We 

invest so much time trying to deepen our pool 

of player talent and the rewards can be seen 

on the pitch. 

Firstly, we had Edward Byrne, Hugo Keenan, 

Will Connors and Jamison Gibson-Park all 

making their Ireland debuts in the Guinness Six 

Nations game against Italy. By the time you 

read this, James Lowe should have joined those 

guys with a first cap against Wales. All five 

players have different and unique stories about 

how they got there, but it is a special day for 

everyone involved with the club. 

Congratulations to Cian Healy on achieving 

100 caps for Ireland against France in Paris. 

Cian truly is one of the great characters that we 

have at the club and he has been integral to so 

much of the success Leinster and Ireland have 

built over the past decade. He has also shown 

great mental strength to battle his way back 

from injuries which makes this milestone an 

even greater achievement. Well done, Cian. 

Closer to home, we’ve had a number of 

Leinster debuts which is always brilliant for the 

players themselves, for their families and of 

course for us coaches. A big congratulations 

to Liam Turner, David Hawkshaw, Michael 

Silvester, Dan Sheehan and Ciaran Parker who 

have all won their first Leinster caps. Four of the 

lads have come through the Academy (three 

of them are still in the Academy) which is a 

great reflection of all the work that goes on 

under the guidance of Noel McNamara 

and his staff. 

Elsewhere, we got to see Devin Toner 

notch up 250 Leinster caps in the game 

against Zebre while Ross Molony hit the 100- 

cap milestone in our win over Ospreys. The 

only downside to all of these achievements is 

that we haven’t been able to celebrate them 

with our supporters and the players’ friends 

and families, but hopefully the turnstiles will be 

back open soon. 

Many thanks to Bank of Ireland and all the 

team’s sponsors for their continued support in 

these particularly challenging times. We are 

very fortunate to have such consistent backing 

from all our partners. 

With news of a vaccine hopefully on the way, 

there has been a general uplift in spirits. We 

are cautiously optimistic that normality will 

soon return, and we can get back to playing 

rugby the way it should be played – in front 

of a noisy, passionate crowd. That day cannot 

come quick enough. With the Champions Cup 

just around the corner, there is lots to look 

forward to. 

For now though, enjoy the game and thanks 

again for your continued loyalty. 

Stay safe. 

Leo 


JOANN 

HOSEY 

PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR 

BANK OF IRELAND DUBLIN 

A warm welcome to all Leinster 

fans for Round 6 of the Guinness 

PRO14 and a home tie against 

Edinburgh, a side that has been 

improving steadily over the last 

number of years under Richard 

Cockerill. 

With a 100 per cent PRO14 record to 

date, coming with five bonus points and 

five debuts handed out, it has been a 

very strong start to the season for Leo 

Cullen and his squad. In particular, Bank 

of Ireland would like to congratulate Dan 

Sheehan, Liam Turner, Ciaran Parker, 

Michael Silvester and David Hawkshaw 

for recently making their full Leinster 

debuts. 

And it was also especially pleasing 

to see Ross Molony make his 100th 

appearance for the province in the 

away win over the Ospreys. Our 

congratulations go to Ross on reaching 

this milestone in his Leinster career. 

Over the past two weeks Bank of Ireland 

has been championing one of the stars 

of the Leinster and Ireland Women’s 

teams, Lyndsey Peat. Lyndsey is an 

accomplished sportswoman in many 

fields, and has achieved representative 

honours in basketball, Gaelic football 

and rugby, as well as overcoming 

prejudice and numerous obstacles 

placed in her way. 

Our #NeverStopCompeting series of 

short videos celebrates Lyndsey and all 

that she has achieved, to date, and while 

her sporting exploits are currently on 

hold, we look forward to supporting her 

further as her sporting career progresses. 

Rhys Ruddock is the Bank of Ireland 

Player of the Month for October, and is 

richly deserving of the accolade which 

is voted on by Leinster Rugby Official 

Members. We are also delighted to say 

that the voucher normally presented to 

the Player of the Month will now instead 

be donated as cash to Women’s Aid, 

as the nominated Leinster Rugby charity 

affiliate for this month. We are delighted 

to support Women’s Aid and to raise 

awareness for their ongoing work in 

striving to reduce the scourge of domestic 

violence. 

To finish, I want to wish Leo and all the 

players the very best of luck this evening 

and welcome them home for their first 

match at the RDS Arena in almost four 

weeks. 

JH 


FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION ON 

PRO14.RUGBY 

YOUR GUINNESS 

PRO14 HOME 

LATEST NEWS, LIVE MATCH 

CENTRES, STATS & MORE 

VISIT NOW 

WWW.PRO14.RUGBY

WHY IT 

MATTERS 

LLOYD ASHLEY | OSPREYS 

“The most important action we can take when we recognise that 

someone is feeling down or struggling is to create a safe space to talk.” 

Think about this. One in four people 

suffer from mental illness. That’s not a 

bad day or a rough patch, that’s a real 

condition that needs to be treated and 

requires backing from friends, family and 

specialist support. 

Although many of them will not 

suffer from an illness, almost everyone 

experiences challenges with their mental 

health at some point. So what if you knew 

not only how to look after yourself, but 

how to recognise the signs when someone 

you care about is struggling or having a 

hard time? Those are some pretty good 

life skills that can make a difference and 

prevent someone from having some 

serious struggles. 

Promoting good mental health is 

important to me. I’m the Mental Health 

and Wellbeing Lead for the Welsh Rugby 

Players Association where we’ve started 

a Resilience for Rugby programme. I’ve 

also started my own business Living Well 

with Lloyd Ashley that you can find on 

Instagram at @LivingWellwithLloydAshley. 

It launched in March and, well, with the 

pandemic its purpose became even more 

meaningful. 

Uncertainty has the potential to 

be a killer when it comes to individuals 

mental health and eight months ago none 

of us knew what was coming or what to 

expect. The unknown creates anxiety for 

everyone. As rugby players, we suddenly 

had our routines taken away. Our safe 

space of the training ground that we rely 

on for social interaction and friendship 

also removed from our day-to-day lives. 

Clearly, everyone else was dealing with 

their own situations – people were worried 

about getting sick, their jobs and possibly 

losing loved ones. 

Speaking from a rugby perspective, 

early new year up to March can bring quite 

a lot of anxiety when guys are looking 

to renew contracts, especially when you 

hear about other players being signed up 

to the club. Often, stories appear in the 

media about players’ futures that are not 

true or are based on rumours. It’s safe to 

say that Covid-19 made that even worse, 

and players were left to worry what they 

would do when their contracts expired in 

just three months’ time. 

These are some very obvious serious 

concerns around the pandemic, but you 

can’t dismiss the small things either. As 

rugby players we are used to having 

breakfast with 50 or 60 people each day 

and overnight it changed into just myself 

and my wife or I could be on my own. 

That’s a small part of the day, but a major 

change in daily interactions and support 

networks for any individual. 

One of the keys to coping from a 

mental health perspective was keeping 

everyone in contact and getting the right 

information out. I have to give so much 

credit to the WRPA, the Ospreys and the 

Welsh Rugby Union for looking after us. 

My wife was pregnant with twins and there 

were many others with partners who were 

expecting. They gave us great information 

throughout lockdown and when we 

returned to training so we could make the 

right decisions for our families. 

Technology helped us a lot, too. I 

don’t think there is anyone who didn’t 

do a Zoom quiz at some point! Fair play 

to Tim Jones at the WRPA for creating a 

sense of community among the players. 

At Ospreys, our S&C coach Simon Church 

would put on extra sessions via Zoom, 

which also created another sense of 

togetherness. But when you’re not around 

each other it’s hard to know how people 

are feeling away from the screens. 

When you see someone in the flesh 

you can read body language, mood and 

humour – that’s difficult to do over a video 

call or in a WhatsApp message. 

I was inspired to get my introduction 

to counselling qualifications from the 

experiences I had with former team-mates. 

Guys would be retiring and they’d say how 

much they were looking forward to it - 

when you knew they weren’t. Or injuries 

would be occurring that could affect 

players careers but instead of speaking 

they’d brush it off. As a friend you knew 

that these guys weren’t expressing how 

they really felt. You could tell it was a 

mask, but at the time I didn’t understand 

how to support breaking this barrier down. 

We all know the clichés around rugby 

and the macho image that is portrayed. 

We are trained to be impervious on the 

pitch and that expectation subconsciously 

transfers off the pitch, too. ‘Be bulletproof, 

don’t show weakness’. Thankfully, that 

image is changing and now the most 

important action we can take when we 

recognise that someone is feeling down or 

struggling is to create a safe space to talk. 

We need to move on from the ‘It’s 

okay to not be okay’ conversation to proactively 

creating environments and spaces 

where we can express ourselves or share 

the weight of anything that’s troubling us. 

In rugby, we’re learning to put the person 

before the player and I believe that should 

be a learning for any profession. 

Our sport exposes us to the learning 

of so many core values around team 

work and supporting each other, it’s vital 

that we ensure players leave rugby with 

skillsets not only to look after themselves, 

but to help support and educate others 

about addressing mental health as a 

positive action. 

Each player leaves the professional 

arena at a different stage. You might 

not get out of an academy, you may 

retire early, you may not become an 

international player or the next superstar, 

but we need to send these guys back to 

their communities with the information to 

ensure they can support themselves and 

those around them, not just to play rugby 

but to cope with the strains sport and life 

can place on our mental health. 

I was really impressed with Ashton 

Hewitt’s message about everyone 

educating themselves on how to combat 

racism so they can share their learnings 

with less understanding people. I read how 

Kelly Brown overcame his stammering 

problem to be captain of his country. Their 

messages show how just learning about 

an issue can make a difference. Their 

experiences also show how rugby is not 

just a game for all shapes and sizes, but for 

all walks of life no matter what challenges 

you face. 

With the right knowledge we can 

make life easier for ourselves and those we 

care about. Don’t be afraid to talk about 

your mental health and don’t be afraid to 

help someone who is struggling either. 

Sometimes, all it takes is a safe space, a 

cup of coffee and a chat. 

If we carry on this conversation, the 

stigma can’t last much longer. 

Be part of the solution and feel better, 

follow: @LivingWellwithLloydAshley 

- Lloyd Ashley

Did you know? 

• Defending Guinness PRO14 

champions Leinster have 

made a perfect start to their 

defence having won all five 

games with maximum points 

– the Championship record 

for successive try bonus points 

is seven on four previous 

occasions, the last of which 

was Glasgow in 2019. 

• The only time that Leinster 

have been defeated at the 

RDS Arena in any competition 

since April 2018 was when 

Glasgow were the visitors in 

the PRO14 in April 2019 

• Edinburgh Rugby have won 

their last two Guinness PRO14 

matches, at Scarlets and at 

home to the Cardiff Blues, 

whilst they have not won 

successive away games since 

March 2018. 

• Edinburgh’s last two visits 

to an Irish province have both 

been to face Munster, beating 

them in Cork in November 

2019 and losing in Limerick in 

October 2020. 

• The last five fixtures 

between the two sides have 

been won by the home side 

on the day, however the 

Scotsmen have not beaten 

Leinster on their own soil 

since a trip to Donnybrook in 

November 2005. 

#LEIVedi 

Overall Guinness 

PRO14 head to head 

record: 

33 21 12 0 

PLAYED Leinster won Leinster lost DRAWs 

COMPARISON 

Last 3 PRO14 results: 

LEINSTER 

23 Oct - Zebre (H) 

W 63-8 

2 Nov - Glasgow (A) 

W 32-19 

8 Nov - Ospreys (A) 

W 26-7 

Conf A: 

1st - W5 D0 L0 - 25pts 

WWWWW 

(25pts) 

Scott Penny, James Lowe 3 

Harry Byrne 36 

PRO14 

2019/20 

PRO14 

form 

Top try 

scorer 

Top points 

scorer 

EDINBURGH 

25 Oct - Connacht (H) 

L 26-37 

1 Nov - Scarlets (A) 

W 6-3 

9 Nov - Cardiff Blues (H) 

W 18-0 

Conf B: 

3rd - W2 D0 L3 - 10pts 

LlLwW 

(10pts) 

2 Mike Willemse 

25 Jaco van der Walt 

Date Venue L E Leinster scorers Edinburgh scorers 

17/02/2017 RDS Arena 39 10 Ross Byrne(3C) Barry Daly(2T) Bryan Byrne(T) 

Joey Carbery(2T/P) Dan Leavy(T) 

09/02/2018 Myreside 24 29 Ross Byrne(2C) Max Deegan(T) Barry Daly(2T) 

Scott Fardy(T) 

22/09/2018 RDS Arena 31 7 Fergus McFadden(T) James Lowe(T) Garry 

Ringrose(T) Jordan Larmour(T) Johnny 

Sexton(T/3C) 

Duncan Weir(T/C/P) 29/09/2017 RDS Arena 

21 13 Ross Byrne(C) Jordi Murphy(T) Joey 

Carbery(T) Jamison Gibson-Park(T) Johnny 

Sexton(2C) Jason Tovey(T/C/2P) 

Nathan Fowles(T) Duhan van der Merwe(T) 

Jaco van der Walt(C) Mark Bennett(T) Sam 

Hidalgo-Clyne(C) Murray McCallum(T) Luke 

Crosbie(T) 

Jaco van der Walt(C) Magnus Bradbury(T) 

22/03/2019 BT Murrayfield 11 28 Ciaran Frawley(2P) Sean Cronin(T) Jaco van der Walt(2C) Viliame Mata(T) Willem 

Nel(T) Ross Ford(T) Simon Hickey(C) Penalty 

Try(T) 

11/10/2019 RDS Arena 40 14 Jamison Gibson-Park(T) Rowan Osborne(T) 

Michael Bent(T) Ross Byrne(4C) Harry Byrne(C) 

Scott Penny(T) Caelan Doris(T) Michael Milne(T) 

Jaco van der Walt(C) Jamie Farndale(T) Simon 

Hickey(C) Charlie Shiel(T) 


Kelleher 

Cian 

AFTER TWO 

WEEKS ON THE 

ROAD FOR LEO 

CULLEN AND HIS 

MEN, IT’S TIME 

TO COME HOME 

THIS EVENING AS 

THEY WELCOME 

EDINBURGH 

RUGBY TO THE 

RDS ARENA. 



Having accounted for Glasgow 

Warriors and Ospreys with impressive 

bonus point wins, it has gone well on 

paper but in particular in a Covid-19 

landscape, managing away trips has 

never been trickier so the comforts of 

a home game in Ballsbridge are to be 

embraced. 

And that notion of coming home to what you 

know best is certainly not lost on Leinster Rugby 

back Cian Kelleher. 

A product of the Leinster Rugby Academy and 

with seven senior appearances to his name, he 

decided to leave in 2016 to forge a new path 

out west with Connacht. 

A hugely successful three seasons in Galway 

where he played 54 times scoring 14 tries set 

him up for a return back home, where he is 

now into his second season back at Leinster 

Rugby. 

Back to his roots and back with familiar faces. 

“It’s been brilliant. Obviously, I know a lot 

of the boys from school and the Academy 

so it’s been great being back and I am now 

living with Ross (Molony) and Locko (Rory 

O’Loughlin) so yeah it’s been great being back 

in Dublin. 

“I probably see more of those two lads than 

anyone else with Covid-19 and the Level 5 so 

it helps that we know each other so well and 

get on. I think people worry about us to be 

honest…worried that we spend far too much 

time together. They’re probably not wrong!” 

Stuart and Leo roll out. So I had to learn the 

system and become comfortable with both 

sides of the ball and I am far more comfortable 

now with the system and what is expected of 

me. 

“But I also know the players more and I think 

that’s a massive part of it too. 

“This season I was all geared up to start 

strongly and then I got caught with a hamstring 

so that wasn’t ideal but it comes with the 

territory.” 

Not that his first season didn’t have its highlightreel 

moments. 

There was the stunning two-try performance 

away to Glasgow Warriors on a frozen pitch 

that went a long way to securing a memorable 

and all too rare away win in Scotstoun. 

As was the performance against Ulster during 

the Christmas interpros, again dotting down for 

a well taken five-pointer. 

Indeed he was beginning to build 

up momentum in February 

and playing regularly when 

Covid-19 struck. 

This new season should have 

been set for a return to that 

form but as he mentioned a 

hamstring issue has played 

havoc with those plans. 

Until now. 

The enjoyment of being back in Dublin is no 

reflection on his time with Connacht which 

he has looked back very fondly on before 

and does so again here, but it hasn’t all been 

smooth sailing since his move back east. 

He reflected last season on needing to be 

patient as he caught up with a new structure 

of play in Leinster and then this season, he has 

had to deal with the frustrations that come with 

injury. 

“It’s a pretty simple equation isn’t it? 

“It’s 50 per cent attack and 50 per cent 

defence! Good maths! So there is no point 

having one half going well if you don’t also 

look to address the other bits and I had spent 

three great years with Connacht but again that 

was a completely different system and shape. 

“What I came back to in Leinster was very 

different to what I left and the training that 


“I’ve been really good I think – touch wood – 

at knowing my body and working on that side 

of things over the last few years and I have had 

no soft tissue injuries in maybe three years up 

until this one. 

“And it came completely out of the blue which 

was annoying. This was a good window to 

build up minutes and experience and get 

the games under the belt. We all know the 

opportunity that is there to own the jersey while 

the lads are away with Ireland and I wanted to 

do that like everyone else. 

“So it was massively frustrating and I probably 

wasn’t in a great place when it happened. 

“But I feel great again now. Have two games 

played and have a few weeks of solid training 

and speed work under my belt as well with no 

setbacks so I feel good again.” 

The attacking endeavour has been there for 

all to see in the two games as Kelleher, who 

“HERE I AM 

BEING PAID TO DO 

SOMETHING I LOVE, 

WHEN OTHERS HAVE 

FALLEN ON MUCH 

HARDER TIMES SO 

I JUST FOCUS ON 

THE ENERGY AND 

THE POSITIVITY 

OF THAT AND 

HOPEFULLY WE AS 

A TEAM CAN BRING 

SOME JOY AND 

SOME MOMENTS 

OF RELIEF FOR ALL 

THOSE BACK HOME 

WATCHING AND 

SUPPORTING.” 

turned 26 in August, has been busy as ever 

and looking for work and gaps to exploit. 

But it’s maybe the defensive side to his game 

and a new found edge that has also stood out. 

“Again, that is about time and especially with 

the way we play the game and the system that 

Stuart likes us to play, that comes over time and 

I definitely feel far more comfortable. 

“With the system we have in Leinster and two 

in the back-field, the wingers have a far greater 

role too than maybe other defensive systems 

and how we man the edge but also how we 

communicate. I’m really enjoying that side to 

it.” 

What he isn’t enjoying as much is the empty 

stadiums but he has taken his focus away from 

that in an effort to channel his emotions in 

another way. 


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This weekend just gone for example his family 

would typically be supporting younger brother 

Rónan in the Aviva Stadium against Wales 

and would be in the RDS Arena this evening 

supporting the elder sibling. 

But Covid has done away with that and many 

other match day traditions. 

“My Mum and Dad would normally be there at 

the game, at all our games really. My younger 

brother Caelan would be there as well usually. 

I’d say there are a few Leinster fans not too 

unhappy that they don’t have to put up with 

their constant shouting and support of me and 

Rónan! But that’s good to see from your folks 

I suppose! 

“There would be mates there at the 

game making a night of it as well. Finish 

work at half five, head into Ballsbridge, 

few drinks, then head to the game. That’s 

a really great night out for them. 

a 

“Then often you’d be off sorting tickets 

out for cousins who would come up to 

Dublin to watch a game so there is a great 

buzz to the build-up and you feel that support 

from all around you. 

“Obviously that’s now not possible so rather 

than getting too hung up on who is not there and 

maybe lose that positivity, I am looking at it with 

a different perspective. 

“I just feel incredibly lucky to be playing at all, 

to be working in a job that I love, with my mates 

and that I can still continue to do it day in, day 

out. 

“I have other friends working from home, so 

at least they are still in a job but they are now 

working without that interaction, without that 

connection you get from colleagues and seeing 

other people. Zoom calls are great but it’s not 

the same. 

“Here I am being paid to do something I love, 

when others have fallen on much harder times 

so I just focus on the energy and the positivity of 

that and hopefully we as a team can bring some 

joy and some moments of relief for all those back 

home watching and supporting.” 

The fact he gets to do all of that with his mates 

is a point he has made on a few occasions and 

one of his best friends led Leinster Rugby onto the 

field last weekend for his 100th cap. 

Ross Molony – or ‘Space’ to those who know 

him – is the same age as Kelleher and it is that 

milestone that sticks out immediately. 

“I FEEL GOOD 

ABOUT MY GAME, 

FEEL GOOD ABOUT 

MY KNOWLEDGE 

OF THE SYSTEM 

AND WHAT WE 

ARE TRYING TO DO 

HERE AND I CAN’T 

WAIT FOR WHAT 

THE REST OF THE 

SEASON HAS IN 

STORE.” 


READY 

FOR 

TOMORROW 

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“To have played over 100 times for Leinster 

at 26 is just huge and not just to have played 

that amount of times but to have captained 

the side, to have played in finals for Leinster 

and all that he has achieved is brilliant. 

“I’ve known Ross years at this stage and I 

see what he has invested off the field and 

there is so much that goes into that 80-minute 

performance for Ross and he is one of the 

most diligent players I know. 

“If I’m honest sharing a pitch with him last 

Sunday afternoon in the Liberty Stadium was 

one of my career highlights, never mind his. 

Just so special to be there and sharing that 

moment with him and to acknowledge that 

for him, especially with none of his family and 

friends around because I know how proud 

they all are of him.” 

What are his first memories of the big lock? 

“Good question. I dunno…he was big 

anyway! We go back a long way to maybe 

first class in Star of the Sea primary school 

and then obviously we came through St. 

Michael’s together and now here we are in 

Leinster together. 

“So many good times, holidays, school, 

rugby teams and good memories but I’m just 

delighted for him that he has that milestone 

now to his name and hope he can kick on 

further from here.” 

Supporters on the field only see 

‘captain Ross’ or ‘game face Ross’. 

As someone who knows him very 

well, lives with him and who even 

coined his nickname ‘Space’, 

what is the real Ross Molony like? 

“He’s great craic. Loves a good 

rendition of ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ 

and there’s plenty of messing going on 

in the house. But as for Space… 

“No comment! I have been behind a few 

of the nicknames in Leinster now but I think 

now that I am 26 and I have matured, I 

need to move away from that stuff…!” 

He says the last sentence with a laugh firm 

in the knowledge that he has paid his good 

mate enough praise while keeping Space 

and the story of same close to the group for 

another while. 

For him and for his team mates, the focus now 

is very firmly on Richard Cockerill and his 

Edinburgh side and keeping the winning run 

going. 

“They’ve been playing well. They are tough 

and very physical and we saw that last 

season where we had to be patient to get the 

opportunities we were after. 

“They started the season poorly in terms of 

results but they were playing well and could 

have won in Thomond Park and took a losing 

bonus away from there and then the last two 

games they have gotten into their rhythm a 

lot more. 

“Two games and only to concede three 

points also tells you all you need to know 

about their defensive efforts. So we have to 

be ready to roll the sleeves up and dig in and 

then hopefully when the chances come we 

have to take them.” 

In many ways very similar to the game 

they just played against the Ospreys so it 

should stand to them? 

“Yeah I suppose. Ospreys really came 

at us hard but we did well to weather 

that opening 20 minutes that they 

had and then our first chance in their 

22, we managed to come away with 

points and that gave us the confidence 

to build from there.” 

So another big weekend for the Kelleher 

family in green and in blue and for Cian a 

hope that this is the start of a long run in the 

Leinster jersey. 

“Look I can only focus on the Edinburgh 

game for now but I’m happy with where I 

am at. 

“The hamstring injury this season was a blow 

and I was quite low with it and the timing and 

all of that but as I said, I am back now, I feel 

good about my game, feel good about my 

knowledge of the system and what we are 

trying to do here and I can’t wait for what the 

rest of the season has in store.” 

With Europe and interpro challenges only 

around the corner, like all good wingers, he is 

hopefully timing his run to perfection. 


GUINNESS PRO14 

8 NOVEMBER 2020 

LIBERTY STADIUM 

REFEREE: SAM GROVE-WHITE 

7 26 

Cai Evans; Matt Protheroe, 

Scott Williams, Joe Hawkins 

(Hanno Dirksen 64), Luke 

Morgan; Josh Thomas (Callum 

Carson 64), Reuben Morgan- 

William (Shaun Venter 50); 

Rhodri Jones (Gareth Thomas 

h-t), Dewi Lake (Ifan Phillips 

h-t), Ma’afu Fia (Tom Botha 

50); Adam Beard (Rhys 

Davies 61), Bradley Davies; 

Will Griffiths (Olly Cracknell 

61), Dan Lydiate, Gareth 

Evans. 

SCORERS: Penalty Try 

Jimmy O’Brien; Cian 

Kelleher, Rory O’Loughlin 

(Liam Turner 59), Tommy 

O’Brien (Hugh O’Sullivan 

65), Dave Kearney; Harry 

Byrne (David Hawkshaw 

61), Luke McGrath; Michael 

Milne (Peter Dooley 51), 

James Tracy (Dan Sheehan 

51), Michael Bent (Ciaran 

Parker 51); Ross Molony, 

Scott Fardy (Devin Toner 72); 

Josh Murphy (Dan Leavy 54), 

Scott Penny, Rhys Ruddock. 

SCORERS: Tries: James Tracy, 

Dave Kearney, Scott Penny, 

Peter Dooley. Cons: Harry 

Byrne (3). 

“IT’S ALL ABOUT 

BUILDING 

EXPERIENCE. 

LEO (CULLEN) 

ALWAYS SAYS 

TO BE PATIENT 

SO THAT’S WHAT 

I’M DOING AND 

WAITING ON MY 

CHANCES.” 

Michael Milne, after his first 

start for Leinster Rugby 


“WE’RE 

DELIGHTED TO 

COME AWAY 

FROM HOME, 

GET A WIN AND 

A BONUS POINT. 

IN TERMS OF 

PERFORMANCE, 

THERE WAS 

GOOD BITS BUT 

PATCHY BITS AS 

WELL.” 

Leo Cullen 



Music Overload: 

WILL CONNORS ATTEMPTS TO TACKLE OUR MUSIC Q&A 

BLUNT 

FORCE 

WILL 

CONNORS 

IS THE LATEST 

PLAYER TO TAKE 

ON OUR MUSIC 

Q&A, WITH THE 

KILDARE MAN 

SHOWING A 

LOT OF LOVE 

FOR IRISH 

ARTISTS, AND A 

SOFT SPOT FOR 

JAMES BLUNT. 

1. What was the last song you listened to? 

Kings of Tomorrow – “Fall For You (Sandy Rivera’s Classic 

Mix) – Moodymann Edit” 

2. Tell us a song you’re currently obsessed with. 

The Dubliners – “The Rising of the Moon” 

3. You’re booking your dream festival line-up: who are 

the main stage headliners for the Friday, Saturday and 

Sunday? 

Gerry Cinnamon on the Friday night to set the tone, 

Beatles on the Saturday and Kings of Leon on the Sunday. 

4. Earliest music memory? 

My dad was a big U2 man so we would always have a 

CD playing in the car. 

5. Your guilty pleasure? 

James Blunt has been with me through thick and thin and 

I have gone to see him twice (was meant to go again this 

summer in the Iveagh Gardens). 

6. You can only listen to one album for the rest of your 

life, what is it? 

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ Greatest Hits – has a bit 

of everything. 

7. What was the first concert you ever went to? 

Mickey Joe Harte in North Kildare. 

8. Favourite Irish band/artist? 

Christy Moore would have to be my favourite and I would 

be listening to him the whole time. The fact he’s also a 

Kildare man makes it all the better. 

9. What two songs do you want to add to the Leinster 

Rugby Workout Mix on Spotify? 

Christy Moore – “Viva la Quinte Brigada” 

Luke Kelly – “Paddy On The Railway” 

10. And what one song do you want to remove? 

Ciara – “Level Up” 

YOU CAN LISTEN TO LEINSTER RUGBY’S HOME WORKOUT MIX 

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST HERE, WITH TRACKS SELECTED BY PLAYERS 

FROM LEINSTER RUGBY’S MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TEAMS. 


BY: RACHAEL O’BRIEN 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE YOUR STORY, PLEASE CONTACT 

WOMENSPRO@LEINSTERRUGBY.IE OR CHECK OUR SOCIAL 

MEDIA CHANNELS... 

Leinster Women’s Rugby 

LeinsterWomensRugby 

@LeinsterWomen 

womenspro@leinsterrugby.ie 

GUINNESS LAUNCH FIRST EVER WOMEN'S PLAYER 

OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP AWARD 

Guinness have launched the first 

ever Player of the Championship 

award for the Women’s Six 

Nations with England’s Emily 

Scarratt claiming the honour. 

The head coach and team captain 

for each participating Women’s Six 

Nations team submitted their top three 

players with Scarratt receiving the 

greatest number of votes. 

The centre became her country’s 

highest ever points scorer and gained 

her 90th cap during the tournament. 

The Ireland Women won all three of 

their home games in this year’s Six 

Nations, defeating Scotland (18-14), 

Wales (31-12) and Italy (21-7). They 

lost 27-0 away to eventual Grand Slam 

champions England. 

With last week’s final round clash with 

France postponed, Adam Griggs’ side 

focused their energy on training at the 

IRFU’s High Performance Centre at the 

weekend. 

Commenting on the award Ben Morel, 

CEO of Six Nations Rugby, said: “She 

is an amazing player who beat tough 

competition to win this accolade.” 

Mark Sandys, Global Head of Beer at 

Diageo, said: “2020 has been a year 

like no other, so being able to conclude 

both the Guinness Six Nations and 

Women’s Six Nations Championships 

has been a great triumph. 

“We’ve seen both friendly rivalry and 

challenges both on and off the pitch, 

but throughout, rugby fans have been 

united in their shared love of the game. 

“We’re delighted that the talent in 

the Women’s Six Nations teams is 

recognised in the inaugural Player 

of the Championship award, in 

particular. 


NEW ROSS WOMEN'S TEAM UP TO TRAIN VIRTUALLY 

Having just won the Leinster 

Division 4 title a few weeks 

before entering lockdown in 

March, the New Ross Ladies 

rugby team felt like they’d 

been deprived of carrying their 

league momentum into the Paul 

Cusack Cup too. 

That momentum however has not 

waivered since then, and when the 

season kicked off New Ross brought 

every effort to a tight win against regular 

rivals Longford. 

Momentum has been a real truth to this 

team, so much so that a full individual 

training programme has been devised 

and partaken by the squad since entering 

Level 5 a few weeks ago. 

From early morning sprints to home 

weights and plyometrics, this energetic 

group are showing why they became 

champions last season and aspire for the 

same this season. 

Split into mini teams, they work hard 

via WhatsApp in virtual groups of five 

each week, before a cumulative virtual 

challenge scores points for their teams 

each weekend. 

Even apart the New Ross Ladies are 

‘shoulder to shoulder’. 

New Ross Ladies Lockdown Training: 

20X20 THE LONG ROAD DOCUMENTARY 

Over the past two years records 

have been broken, hearts have 

been reached, people have 

been inspired…and now it’s 

time to look to the future. 

Women’s and girls’ achievements have 

rightly attained a valued status within 

sport. This needs to be harnessed and 

developed, providing a blueprint for the 

next generation of Irish women in sport, 

because they are worthy of it. 

The documentary can be viewed on the www.20x20.ie website and on YouTube: 

The 20×20 Original documentary, ‘The 

Long Road’, celebrates where we’ve 

come from in the women in sport journey 

and, as the final chapter in the campaign, 

leaves Irish society with the message that 

we can all play a role in what happens 

next. 

#CANTSEECANTBE 

#SHOWYOURSTRIPES 


Leo 

Kids 

the Lion's 

Corner 

spot the 

differences 

ANAGRAMS 

Can you un-jumble the 

names of these players? 

CABINET 

HELM 

EVEN DYE A 

ARK 

GUESS 

WHO? 

Can you name these 

three players? 

ANSWERS 

ANAGRAMS 

Michael Bent 

Dave Kearney 

GUESS WHO? 

Jamison Gibson-Park 

Ross Molony 

Josh Murphy 


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QUEST10NS 

with... 

Penny 

Scott 

1. What is currently on your playlist? 

A lot of rap. Mainly 50 Cent 

and Eminem. 

2. What did you want to be growing up? 

An engineer. 

3. Best advice you ever got? 

Don’t drink water after eating a chilli! 

4. Worst advice you ever got? 

Eat yellow snow, it’s lemon flavoured! 

5. What is your phone screensaver 

at the moment? 

Picture of me, Martin Moloney and 

John Hodnett (Munster) after winning 

the U-20 Grand Slam with Ireland. 

6. What are your last three 

Google searches? 

F1 Fantasy, how to make a poached 

egg and Google Translate. 

7. You can be another sportsperson for one 

event...who and what is the event? 

Tom Brady winning the Super Bowl. 

8. Favourite piece of rugby 

memorabilia and why? 

My jersey from my Leinster debut 

against Ospreys. It was a special day 

for me and my family. 

9. What is one staple item all men 

should own and why? 

Cologne, so you always smell good. 

10. Which young rugby player should fans 

be looking out for this season and why? 

Dan Sheehan. Very big lad and has 

a great dart. 



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Malahide Girls Rugby 

From a small seed to a new beginning 

Girls’ & women’s Rugby has been 

experiencing unprecedented 

growth throughout the world 

over the last few years and this 

is also very evident around the 

province of Leinster. Malahide RFC 

are at the beginning of something 

very exciting for the club, the 

community and all women and 

girls locally. 

So, from a side-line conversation between 

newly appointed Malahide CCRO Peter 

Kerr and the club’s Youth Co-ordinator, 

Rob Ingham, club officials and coaches, 

it was decided to instigate a girls only 

set up. 

It was something that had been on the 

club’s agenda for a while. For the very 

first training session over 20 girls turned 

up on the wettest Sunday morning so far 

this season. 

We had very little idea of exactly how 

many girls were going to turn up and 

were very pleasantly surprised on that 

morning. 

With the help of coaches Paul Dever, 

Ciara Kenny and Clíodhna Ní 

Chonchobhair (North East U-18 Girls 

squad), along with many new volunteers 

and local female players, this has now 

gone from strength to strength with both 

male and female coaches very much 

involved. 

Since its beginning in early October, over 

36 girls have been turning up regularly 

and these numbers grow week on week. 

The long-term plan is to develop a 

sustainable girls age grade rugby section 

within the club and provide a different 

alternative in the local surrounding area. 

This planning is in full swing and the 

opportunity to shape the future of this 

section of the club is for all to contribute 

to. 

It has been astonishing to watch this 

grow, there is still a lot to do going 

forward but with the excellent support of 

the Club Executive and volunteers we are 

very sure the club can build on this. 

Stephen Costelloe, Leinster Rugby CRO, 

added, “It has been a fantastic addition 

to the club, it’s brilliant to see girls of all 

ages playing rugby with smiles on their 

faces. The environment that the club and 

Peter have created is one of fun and 

learning with the girls building on the 

skills needed through games”. 

Training is on every Sunday morning from 

10.15 and all ages are welcome in the 

Estuary Road Club. 

For further details on this or any 

information on Rugby in Malahide 

please feel free to contact 

malahideccro@leinsterrugby.ie 


2020/21 squad 

VAKH ABDALADZE - #1263 

DOB 6 FEBRUARY 1996 

From KUTAISI, GEORGIA 

Height 1.85M (6’ 1”) 

Weight 117KG (18st 6lbs) 

Position PROP 

Club CLONTARF FC 

Leinster Debut 2 DECEMBER 2017 

Honours IRELAND U20S (2 caps) 

MICHAEL BENT - #1212 

DOB 25 APRIL 1986 

From HAWERA, NEW ZEALAND 

Height 1.85M (6’ 1”) 


Position PROP 

Club DUBLIN UNIVERSITY FC 


Honours IRELAND (4 caps) 

ED BYRNE - #1222 

DOB 9 SEPTEMBER 1993 

From CARLOW 

Height 1.80M (5’ 11”) 


Position PROP 

Club UCD RFC 

Leinster Debut 9 FEBRUARY 2014 


ROSS BYRNE - #1236 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.88M (6’ 3”) 


Position OUTHALF 

Club UCD RFC 

Leinster Debut 4 SEPTEMBER 2015 


WILL CONNORS - #1264 


From DONADEA, KILDARE 

Height 1.94 (6’ 4”) 


Position BACK ROW 

Club UCD RFC 



RYAN BAIRD - #1278 

DOB 26 JULY 1999 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.98M (6’ 6”) 


Position SECOND ROW 


Leinster Debut 27 APRIL 2019 


ADAM BYRNE - #1213 


From KILDARE 

Height 1.93M (6’ 4”) 


Position WING / FULL BACK 

Club UCD RFC 


Honours IRELAND (1 cap) 

HARRY BYRNE - #1280 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.88M (6’ 2”) 



Club LANSDOWNE 



JACK CONAN - #1223 


From BRAY, WICKLOW 

Height 1.93M (6’ 4”) 


Position NO. 8 

Club OLD BELVEDERE RFC 



SEÁN CRONIN - #1202 

DOB 6 MAY 1986 

From LIMERICK 

Height 1.80M (5’ 11”) 


Position HOOKER 

Club ST. MARY’S COLLEGE RFC 

Leinster Debut 28 OCTOBER 2011 



MAX DEEGAN - #1256 

DOB 1 OCTOBER 1996 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.93M (6’ 3”) 


Position NO. 8 

Club LANSDOWNE FC 



CAELAN DORIS - #1268 


From MAYO 

Height 1.94M (6’ 4”) 




Leinster Debut 28 APRIL 2018 


SCOTT FARDY - #1257 


From SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 

Height 1.98 M (6’ 6”) 

Weight 111 KG (17st 7lbs) 


Club UNASSIGNED 


Honours AUSTRALIA (39 caps) 

TADHG FURLONG - #1220 

DOB 14 NOVEMBER 1992 

From WEXFORD 

Height 1.85M (6’ 1”) 


Position PROP 

Club NEW ROSS RFC / CLONTARF FC 

Leinster Debut 1 NOVEMBER 2013 

Honours IRELAND (44 caps) AND 

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS (6 caps) 

CIAN HEALY - #1142 

DOB 7 OCTOBER 1987 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.85M (6’ 1”) 


Position PROP 


Leinster Debut 5 MAY 2007 



DAVE KEARNEY - #1158 

DOB 19 JUNE 1989 

From LOUTH 

Height 1.81M (5’ 11”) 






CIAN KELLEHER - #1234 

DOB 7 AUGUST 1994 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.85M (6’ 0”) 


Position WINGER/FULL BACK 




PETER DOOLEY - #1230 

DOB 4 AUGUST 1994 

Birthplace OFFALY 

Height 1.85M (6’ 1”) 


Position PROP 




JACK DUNNE - #1276 


From DUBLIN 

Height 2.02M (6’ 7”) 



School ST. MICHAEL’S COLLEGE 




CIARÁN FRAWLEY - #1265 

DOB 4 DECEMBER 1997 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.92M (6’ 3”) 

Weight 95.6KG (15st 1lbs) 


Club UCD RFC 



JAMISON GIBSON-PARK - #1247 


From GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, NEW 

ZEALAND 

Height 1.76M (5’ 9”) 


Position SCRUM HALF 

Club UNASSIGNED 



ROBBIE HENSHAW - #1251 


From ATHLONE 

Height 1.91M (6’ 3”) 


Position CENTRE / FULL BACK 

Club BUCCANEERS RFC 




HUGO KEENAN - #1253 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.85M (6’ 1”) 


Position FULL BACK 

Club UCD RFC 



RÓNAN KELLEHER - #1277 

DOB 24 JANUARY 1998 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.85M (6’ 0”) 







JORDAN LARMOUR - #1258 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.78M (5’ 10”) 


Position WING 




JAMES LOWE - #1262 


From NELSON, NEW ZEALAND 

Height 1.88M (6’ 2”) 



Club CLONDALKIN RFC 



ROSS MOLONY - #1233 

DOB 11 MAY 1994 

From DUBLIN 

Height 2.00M (6’ 6”) 



Club UCD RFC 



ROWAN OSBORNE - #1281 


From EADESTOWN, KILDARE 

Height 1.71M (5’ 7”) 





Honours IRELAND SCHOOLS 

JIMMY O'BRIEN - #1272 


From KILDARE 

Height 1.84M (6’ 0”) 


Position CENTRE 

Club NAAS RFC 



RORY O'LOUGHLIN - #1248 

DOB 21 JANUARY1994 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.88M (6’ 2”) 



Club OLD BELVEDERE RFC 



CIARAN PARKER - #1288 

DOB: 5 OCTOBER 1995 

From: STOCKPORT, ENGLAND 

Height: 1.88M (6’ 2”) 

Weight: 120KG (18st 10lbs) 

Position: PROP 

Club: UNASSIGNED 

Leinster Debut: 23 OCTOBER 2020 

Honours: ENGLAND U20S 

DAN LEAVY - #1231 

DOB 23 MAY 1994 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.91M (6’ 3”) 


Position FLANKER 

Club UCD RFC 



LUKE McGRATH - #1206 


From ONTARIO, CANADA 

Height 1.75M (5’ 9”) 



Club UCD RFC 



JOSH MURPHY - #1261 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.96M (6’ 5”) 



Club UCD RFC 



CONOR O'BRIEN - #1260 


From WESTMEATH 

Height 1.90M (6’ 3”) 






TOMMY O'BRIEN - #1283 

DOB 28 MAY 1998 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.83M (6’ 0”) 



Club UCD RFC 



HUGH O'SULLIVAN - #1270 


From MEATH 

Height 1.79M (5’ 9”) 






SCOTT PENNY - #1271 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.85M (6’ 0”) 



Club UCD RFC 




ANDREW PORTER - #1246 


Birthplace DUBLIN 

Height 1.84M (6’ 1”) 


Position PROP 

Club UCD RFC 



RHYS RUDDOCK - #1167 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.91M (6’ 3”) 






JOHNNY SEXTON - #1127 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.88M (6’ 2”) 




Leinster Debut 27 JANUARY 2006 

Honours IRELAND (94 caps) AND BRITISH & 

IRISH LIONS (14 caps) 

DEVIN TONER - #1128 


From MEATH 

Height 2.08M (6’ 10”) 




Leinster Debut 27 JANUARY 2006 


GARRY RINGROSE - #1237 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.87M (6’ 2”) 



Club UCD RFC 



JAMES RYAN - #1259 


From DUBLIN 

Height 2.04M (6’ 7”) 



Club UCD RFC 



DAN SHEEHAN - #1286 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.91 M (6’ 3”) 






JAMES TRACY - #1211 


From KILDARE 

Height 1.85M (6’ 1”) 



Club UCD RFC 



JOSH VAN DER FLIER - #1228 


From WICKLOW 

Height 1.87M (6’ 2”) 



Club UCD RFC 



Coaching Staff 

LEO CULLEN 

HEAD COACH 

STUART LANCASTER 

SENIOR COACH 

ROBIN MCBRYDE 

ASSISTANT COACH 

FELIPE CONTEPOMI 

BACKS COACH 

EMMET FARRELL 

KICKING COACH AND 

LEAD PERFORMANCE ANALYST 

GUY EASTERBY 

HEAD OF RUGBY OPERATIONS 

HUGH HOGAN 

CONTACT SKILLS COACH 


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CLONDALKIN RFC 

Begin Four-Week Inclusive 

Tag Rugby Programme 

SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY SPORTS PARTNERSHIP 

TEAMED UP WITH LEINSTER RUGBY AND CLONDALKIN 

RFC TO BRING A FOUR-WEEK PILOT PROGRAMME OF 

INCLUSIVE TAG RUGBY TO THE CLUB. 

The programme is targeting 

children aged 6-16 years old, 

with ASD and/or an intellectual 

disability. 

Throughout the four-week programme, 

participants will take part in the sessions 

at Clondalkin RFC in line with Covid-19 

guidelines. 

The first training session got underway 

over the weekend and 33 players turned 

up to take part. 

Alongside the players, Leinster Rugby 

provided eight coaches to lead the 

session and Clondalkin RFC had up to 

15 volunteers available to help with the 

running of the programme. 

Rob Mullen, Leinster Rugby Community 

Rugby Officer said, “We are delighted 

to work alongside the club and the local 

council to make rugby accessible and 

inclusive for all kids in the area. I think 

the most important thing is to recognise 

the opportunity we have now to build 

the relationship between South Dublin 


County Council, the club and governing 

bodies to make sure that this has 

longevity and is something we include in 

plans going forward.” 

“Identifying the common goal which is 

making rugby accessible for everyone, 

and coming together to achieve this 

would be hugely beneficial for everyone 

taking part over the next four weeks”, 

added Mullen. 

The Inclusive Tag Rugby pilot programme 

will continue for another three weeks 

in Clondalkin RFC, taking place on the 

next three Saturdays, 14, 21 and 28 of 

November, from 10am to 11am. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER 

YOUR FREE PLACE, PLEASE EMAIL LUCY CUSH, 

SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY SPORTS PARTNERSHIP. 

SEE THE FULL GALLERY 

FROM THE FIRST TAG 

RUGBY SESSION 


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tax 

advisory 

consulting 

For further information contact: 

Michael Costello, Managing Partner, 

on 01 470 0130 or email mcostello@bdo.ie 

Mark Hamilton, Head of Business Development, 

on 01 470 0541 or email mhamilton@bdo.ie 

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North East Area 

Player Development Programme 

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT AND PLAYERS ENJOYING RUGBY IS 

THE CORE PHILOSOPHY CENTRAL TO HOW WE GO ABOUT 

OUR WORK IN CLUBS AND SCHOOLS. 

Whilst understanding that players are naturally 

competitive, we need to focus on, and understand, 

the importance of player development versus simply 

winning matches. 

Winning at all costs inhibits player development and can lead to 

a sense of frustration and failure. The results are secondary to the 

quality of play and the enjoyment of playing. 

It is essential that young players are free from the constant 

pressure of winning and are allowed freedom of expression on 

the pitch. 

As players get older, the process will become increasingly more 

team-efficient, with a greater onus on performance. We 

have worked and continue to introduce a uniform playing 

style and coaching style in order to develop skilful and 

creative players. 

An attacking style of play is the best guarantee of 

learning and development. To develop creative players, 

freedom of expression is key. Players need to learn 

from their mistakes and should always be encouraged 

to try again. 

If young players are criticised for turning over the ball, 

or discouraged from trying something new, they will 

not learn. Our philosophy sees the inclusion of all to 

play as long as possible as the best format in which to 

develop young players. 

Within this formation, roles can be clearly outlined 

and there is a greater set of options for running into 

space, passing into space or kicking into space which 

facilitates learning and provides flexibility in attacking 

and defending. 

This system of play is recognized from the senior side 

down as the best approach for player development. Our 

Coaches encourage young players to play out from the 

22, look for space play what you see, keep ball in play for 

as long as you can!! 

Fun is also a major fuel that drives these players with a focus and 

goal of being the best they can be! 

Many thanks to all the club coaches and parents who work 

tirelessly behind the scenes with players 

Some of the players who have progressed into the professional 

ranks include our own Ciarán Frawley, Alan O’Connor (Ulster), 

Conor Oliver (Connacht) and Conor Maguire (Dragons). 


Leinster Player Statistics 

SQUAD 

CAP 

NO 

DEBUT 

2020/21 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER 

ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR 

App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts 

SINCE LAST TRY 

CAPS 

VAKH ABDALADZE 1263 2 DEC 17 - - - - - - - - - 0+11 1 5 0+11 1 5 - - - 10 - 

RYAN BAIRD 1278 27 APR 19 1+1 1 5 1+1 1 5 - - - 4+8 4 20 4+7 4 20 0+1 - - 2 - 

MICHAEL BENT 1212 1 DEC 12 5 2 10 5 2 10 - - - 84+61 6 30 80+39 6 30 4+22 - - 2 IR 4 

ADAM BYRNE 1213 29 DEC 12 - - - - - - - - - 49+8 20 100 39+8 14 70 10 6 30 5 IR 1 

ED BYRNE 1222 9 FEB 14 2 - - 2 - - - - - 16+43 8 40 16+34 7 35 0+9 1 5 6 IR 2 

HARRY BYRNE 1280 28 SEP 19 3+1 - 36 3+1 - 36 - - - 6+8 3 94 6+8 3 94 - - - 5 - 

ROSS BYRNE 1236 4 SEP 15 1+1 - 21 1+1 - 21 - - - 59+32 5 539 50+17 2 415 9+15 3 124 12 IR 8 

TOM CLARKSON 1285 29 AUG 20 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - - - 

JACK CONAN 1223 20 FEB 14 2 - - 2 - - - - - 74+21 21 105 55+11 14 70 19+10 7 35 12 IR 17 

WILL CONNORS 1264 9 FEB 18 1 - - 1 - - - - - 16+5 2 10 15+5 2 10 1 - - 8 IR 2 

SEAN CRONIN 1202 28 OCT 11 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 115+72 41 205 71+51 24 120 43+19 16 80 11 IR 72 

MAX DEEGAN 1256 3 DEC 16 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 35+30 18 90 32+22 16 80 3+8 2 10 7 IR 1 

PETER DOOLEY 1230 31 OCT 14 2+1 1 5 2+1 1 5 - - - 30+49 3 15 29+44 3 15 1+5 - - 1 - 

CAELAN DORIS 1268 28 APR 18 1 - - 1 - - - - - 26+8 5 25 21+6 3 15 5+2 2 10 3 IR 4 

JACK DUNNE 1276 16 FEB 19 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 1+8 - - 1+8 - - - - - - - 

SCOTT FARDY 1257 2 SEP 17 2+2 - - 2+2 - - - - - 52+13 10 50 38+8 6 30 14+5 4 20 8 AU 39 

CIARAN FRAWLEY 1265 17 FEB 18 2 - - 2 - - - - - 11+17 3 124 11+14 3 118 0+3 - 6 9 - 

TADHG FURLONG 1220 1 NOV 13 - - - - - - - - - 69+39 7 35 40+31 3 15 29+8 4 20 4 IR 44 

JAMISON GIBSON-PARK 1247 2 SEP 16 2 - - 2 - - - - - 46+49 16 80 42+26 14 70 4+23 2 10 23 IR 2 

DAVID HAWKSHAW 1290 2 NOV 20 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - - 

CIAN HEALY 1142 5 MAY 07 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 148+74 25 125 85+48 12 60 61+25 12 60 6 IR 100 

ROBBIE HENSHAW 1251 8 OCT 16 1 - - 1 - - - - - 48+1 9 45 21 3 15 27+1 6 30 3 IR 45 

DAVE KEARNEY 1158 16 MAY 09 3 2 10 3 2 10 - - - 131+21 43 215 107+15 38 190 23+5 5 25 1 IR 19 

HUGO KEENAN 1253 5 NOV 16 2 - - 2 - - - - - 17+3 1 5 16+3 1 5 1 - - 17 IR 2 

CIAN KELLEHER 1234 16 MAY 15 2 - - 2 - - - - - 8+9 5 25 8+9 5 25 - - - 4 - 

RONAN KELLEHER 1277 22 FEB 19 1 - - 1 - - - - - 14+2 9 45 11+1 8 40 3+1 1 5 4 IR 3 

JORDAN LARMOUR 1258 2 SEP 17 2 1 5 2 1 5 - - - 44+8 14 70 25+5 11 55 19+3 3 15 2 IR 24 

DAN LEAVY 1231 31 OCT 14 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - 39+27 14 70 31+19 11 55 8+8 3 15 6 IR 11 

JAMES LOWE 1262 2 DEC 17 2 3 15 2 3 15 - - - 49 33 165 33 25 125 16 8 40 1 - 

LUKE MCGRATH 1206 5 MAY 12 3+2 1 5 3+2 1 5 - - - 86+46 32 160 56+41 24 120 30+5 8 40 2 IR 19 

MICHAEL MILNE 1279 28 SEP 19 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - 1+11 2 10 1+11 2 10 - - - 10 - 

ROSS MOLONY 1233 20 FEB 15 3+1 - - 3+1 - - - - - 55+45 3 15 53+32 3 15 2+13 - - 62 - 

JOSH MURPHY 1261 3 NOV 17 3 1 5 3 1 5 - - - 31+5 3 15 31+4 3 15 0+1 - - 3 - 

ROWAN OSBORNE 1281 4 OCT 19 - - - - - - - - - 1+4 1 5 1+4 1 5 - - - 4 - 


SQUAD 

CAP 

NO 

DEBUT 


ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR 

App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts 

SINCE LAST TRY 

CAPS 

CONOR O'BRIEN 1260 3 NOV 17 - - - - - - - - - 16+7 6 30 16+6 6 30 0+1 - - 9 - 

JIMMY O'BRIEN 1272 23 NOV 18 3+1 1 5 3+1 1 5 - - - 14+8 4 20 14+8 4 20 - - - 2 - 

TOMMY O'BRIEN 1283 20 DEC 19 3+1 2 10 3+1 2 10 - - - 4+3 3 15 4+3 3 15 - - - 3 - 

RORY O'LOUGHLIN 1248 2 SEP 16 2 - - 2 - - - - - 53+20 21 105 47+13 18 90 6+7 3 15 16 IR 1 

HUGH O'SULLIVAN 1270 15 SEP 18 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - 2+21 1 5 2+19 1 5 0+2 - - 7 - 

CIARAN PARKER 1289 23 OCT 20 0+2 1 5 0+2 1 5 - - - 0+2 1 5 0+2 1 5 - - - 2 - 

SCOTT PENNY 1271 23 NOV 18 3 3 15 3 3 15 - - - 13+4 9 45 13+4 9 45 - - - 1 - 

ANDREW PORTER 1246 2 SEP 16 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 22+45 10 50 18+29 7 35 4+16 3 15 2 IR 28 

GARRY RINGROSE 1237 12 SEP 15 2 1 7 2 1 7 - - - 76+2 26 132 46+1 15 77 30+1 11 55 2 IR 30 

RHYS RUDDOCK 1167 6 DEC 09 4+1 - - 4+1 - - - - - 133+45 10 50 100+31 8 40 32+12 2 10 9 IR 26 

JAMES RYAN 1259 2 SEP 17 2 1 5 2 1 5 - - - 36+5 3 15 16+1 1 5 20+4 2 10 1 IR 28 

JOHNNY SEXTON 1127 27 JAN 06 1 - 2 1 - 2 - - - 144+24 26 1497 84+18 13 825 58+6 12 641 8 IR 93 

DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 1+2 2 10 1+2 2 10 - - - 1+2 2 10 1+2 2 10 - - - 3 - 

MICHAEL SILVESTER 1288 23 Oct 20 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - - 

DEVIN TONER 1128 27 Jan 06 2+1 - - 2+1 - - - - - 197+55 4 20 134+37 4 20 60+18 - - 35 IR 70 

JAMES TRACY 1211 4 Nov 12 3+1 2 10 3+1 2 10 - - - 49+65 10 50 43+40 9 45 6+25 1 5 1 IR 6 

LIAM TURNER 1287 23 Oct 20 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - - - 

JOSH VAN DER FLIER 1228 11 Oct 14 1 - - 1 - - - - - 65+20 9 45 39+14 6 30 26+6 3 15 7 IR 26 

KICKING 


ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR OVERALL 

SUCCESS 

RATE 

C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG ATT Career 

% 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - HARRY BYRNE - 20 1 20 1 29 72.41% 

ROSS BYRNE 100.00% 6 3 - 6 3 - - - - 167 59 1 132 46 1 35 13 - 299 75.59% 

CIARAN FRAWLEY - - - - - - - - - - 44 7 - 41 7 - 3 - - 61 83.61% 

GARRY RINGROSE 100.00% 1 - - 1 - - - - - 1 - - 1 - - - - - 1 100.00% 

JOHNNY SEXTON 100.00% 1 - - 1 - - - - - 232 290 11 119 167 7 106 119 4 653 79.94% 

JOHNNY SEXTON 72.73% 6 2 - - - - 6 2 - 224 286 11 113 164 7 104 118 4 640 79.69% 


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And for the second time in almost relatively quick 

succession for us, it's the return of Monday night 

rugby, this time to the RDS Arena. 

We don’t know about you but is 

there something pleasant about 

the thoughts of having some 

more rugby to sink our teeth 

into over what is effectively a 

long weekend of fixtures, split 

between the Guinness PRO14 and 

the Autumn Nations Cup. 

Having started on Friday with Ireland 

v Wales, rolling through Saturday 

and Sunday with fixtures across both 

competitions and then to the final fixture 

of Round 6 which sees us welcoming 

visitors Edinburgh here to the RDS. 

Last season saw four tries in a dominant 

23-minute spell in the second half saw 

us complete a 40-14 victory. That was 

our third successive bonus victory of that 

campaign thanks to those scores in the 

second half from Michael Bent, Caelan 

Doris, Scott Penny and Michael Milne as 

well as Rowan Osborne who all ensured 

they were added to the list with the one 

in first half one from Player of the Match 

Jamison Gibson-Park. 

Fast forward and what a year it has been 

for so many of the players listed above. 

Caelan Doris and Jamison Gibson-Park 

have moved on leaps and bounds to 

begin to put their stamp on their positions 

in the national jersey, while Bent, Penny 

and Milne are just some of those amongst 

the wider Leinster squad who we have 

seen week-on-week doing the same with 

the Blue jersey. 

It’s been spoken about numerous times 

in the past both within the Leinster Rugby 

coaching circle as well as the wider 

Leinster Supporters family, but what a 

struggle (and delight) it must be to be in a 

position where despite 15 Leinster players 

being called to the Ireland team, you can 

still work from your squad size (to date) 

of 47 as well as 18 Academy players! 

Our record in the PRO14 this season 

continues as we ended last, and thanks to 

the squad rotation and the quality of the 

players on offer, we hope that long may 

this trend continue. 

Edinburgh currently sit third in Conference 

B (at the time of writing) and their current 

form for this campaign reads LLLWW 

so this is the statistic that would cause a 

team to look twice as you welcome them 

to your venue. 

Those last 2 wins occurred away and 

then home so Edinburgh would now have 

a spring in their step knowing that they 

can secure victories both in Murrayfield 

and on the road. While their victory 

away was a cagey 6-3 win over Scarlets, 

their home victory was an 18-0 shut-out 

of Cardiff and they are the only team 

across both Conferences to have held 

their opponents scoreless throughout the 

first five rounds. 

SOME QUICK STATS 

Leinster 

Edinburgh 

193 POINTS SCORED 83 

26 TRIES SCORED 9 

2,455 METRES GAINED 1,304 

64 POINTS CONCEDED 90 

9 TRIES CONCEDED 9 

751 TACKLES MADE 572 

90% TACKLE SUCCESS 91% 

All of us on the OLSC committee are 

mindful of the fact that we are all still 

unable to attend games and, therefore, 

by putting together some material for 

you to peruse over, we hope it keeps you 

in the rugby mind frame as the season 

slowly but surely rolls along. 

As always we’re thankful for the support 

we get from Leinster Rugby as a whole 

as well as yourselves and we encourage 

you to continue to show your support for 

the team through social media and the 

posts on our pages. 

For now though, as always, stay safe! 

Yours in Rugby, 

OLSC Committee 


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ONE FROM 

The Vaults 

Leinster Rugby 40 Edinburgh Rugby 14 

11 October 2019 | RDS Arena | Ref: Ben Whitehouse | Attendance: 12,712 

Stringing together four second 

half tries, Leinster Rugby handed 

Edinburgh a 40-14 defeat at the RDS 

to end the Scots’ winning start to the 

2019/20 Guinness PRO14 season. 

It was a third successive bonus point victory 

for the reigning champions, who had a spread 

of scores from Caelan Doris, Scott Penny and 

replacements Michael Milne and Rowan 

Osborne during a dominant 23-minute second 

half spell. It was Osborne’s first senior score 

for Leinster. 

They had to bounce back from the sin-binnings 

of Michael Bent and Joe Tomane, in quick 

succession, to lead 12-7 at half-time. Windbacked 

Edinburgh briefly led through Jamie 

Farndale’s 31st-minute try, but Bent burrowed 

over with 44 minutes on the clock to add to 

man-of-the-match Jamison-Gibson Park’s earlier 

unconverted effort. 

Edinburgh, who had a late consolation try 

from lively replacement Charlie Shiel, emerged 

unscathed from a series of early penalties. Ross 

Byrne pulled a difficult place-kick wide, and a 

possible try from a maul, which saw fit-again 

flanker Penny held up in the end, was chalked 

off for obstruction. 

The wind foiled a Byrne penalty again in the 

11th minute but the deadlock was broken soon 

LEINSTER: Hugo Keenan; 

Dave Kearney (Vakh 

Abdaladze 29), Rory 

O’Loughlin (Jimmy O’Brien 

63), Joe Tomane, James 

Lowe; Ross Byrne (Harry 

Byrne 63), Jamison Gibson- 

Park (Rowan Osborne 63); 

Peter Dooley (Michael 

Milne 55), Rónan Kelleher 

(James Tracy 55), Michael 

Bent (Abdaladze 55); Devin 

Toner, Scott Fardy (Ross 

Molony 65), Max Deegan, 

Scott Penny, Caelan Doris 

(Josh Murphy 44). 

EDINBURGH: Damien 

Hoyland; Jamie Farndale, 

Mark Bennett, George Taylor 

(James Johnstone 53), Duhan 

van der Merwe; Jaco van 

der Walt (Simon Hickey 53), 

Nic Groom (Charlie Shiel 

59); Pierre Schoeman (Jamie 

Bhatti 61), Michael Willemse 

(Cameron Fenton 61), 

Pietro Ceccarelli (Murray 

McCallum 61); Jamie 

Hodgson (Sam Thomson 64), 

Murray Douglas; Mesulame 

Kunavula (Ally Miller 49), 

Luke Crosbie, Nick Haining. 

after, the home backs clicking to release Dave 

Kearney on the right and his offload bounced 

loose but was expertly dotted down by the 

supporting Gibson-Park past the try-line. 

Byrne was unable to convert following the 

TMO review, and Edinburgh’s front row led 

their response, forcing three scrum penalties 

in front of the home posts. Tighthead Bent 

saw yellow and despite the Leinster scrum 

subsequently holding firm, the Scots worked the 

ball wide for winger Farndale to finish off and 

Jaco van der Walt converted. 

It was a double blow for Leinster who lost 

Tomane to the bin, referee Ben Whitehouse 

carding him for sliding in with his knees just as 

Farndale touched down. 

Inspired by their own scrum penalty, the 

province’s decision to turn down a kickable 

penalty paid off, Bent driving over from close 

range with Rónan Kelleher and Doris on the 

latch. 

Doris crossed within two minutes of the restart, 

Leinster showing all the early aggression and 

the young No 8 ran hard off Gibson-Park’s 

pass to bounce off two tackles and crash 

over. They then went through the phases off a 

five-metre scrum, Penny’s low drive for the line 

making it 26-7. 

The game broke up further for the final half 


an hour, James Lowe and Nick Haining 

exchanging lung-busting breaks and Edinburgh 

blowing a chance with an overthrown lineout. 

Duhan van der Merwe prevented a certain 

try for Rory O’Loughlin near the right corner, 

following a Tomane interception. 

20-year-old prop Milne scored for the second 

week running, with Devin Toner’s tip-on pass 

a key moment in the build-up, and Osborne 

grabbed the try of the night, getting on the end 

of Lowe’s superb offload after Jimmy O’Brien’s 

initial eye-catching break and pass. Both scores 

were converted by the Byrne brothers. 

Shiel’s clever 71st-minute dummy from a scrum 

pulled back seven points, and the remaining 

minutes were played out deep in Leinster 

territory. 


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“AT TRAINING, YOU ARE TRYING TO 

ESTABLISH YOURSELF, PROVE TO 

YOUR TEAMMATES THAT YOU ARE 

GOOD ENOUGH TO BE THERE AND 

PROVE TO THE COACH THAT YOU 

DESERVE A CHANCE TO PLAY.” 


Where are 

they now? 

By Des Berry 

David 

Hewitt 

THE FIRST TIME DAVID HEWITT PULLED ON 

A LEINSTER RUGBY SHIRT IN COMPETITION 

WAS ON HIS DEBUT AGAINST SCARLETS IN 

THE CELTIC LEAGUE AT THE RACECOURSE 

GROUND IN NOVEMBER OF 2004. 

There was no lead-in to the 

experience through the Leinster 

Schools or the provincial agegrade 

system. 

Hewitt had to take a more scenic route to 

one season at his home province. There 

was no place on the Belvedere College 

Senior Cup team in 1998, playing on 

the bench behind his great friend Andy 

Dunne, and there was no place in the 

Leinster Academy, thereafter. 

Instead, he opted for a different path, 

playing for his club Skerries in a 

successful season, Old Belvedere for 

two seasons before making the move to 

Clontarf in 2002/2003. 

“That is when it kicked off for me. I 

wanted to be a professional rugby player 

and I received an offer from Connacht 

off the back of my form for ‘Tarf. A group 

from the club moved out West, Bernard 

Jackman, Adrian Clarke. Warren O’Kelly 

moved from Munster to Connacht, 

Michael Walls was already there. “ 

“I went there and sat on the bench 

behind Eric Elwood for most of the year, 

and started about nine or 10 league 

games, as well as some European 

Challenge Cup matches including the 

semi-final against Harlequins. 

“At the end of the 2003/04 season, 

Michael Bradley didn’t offer me a new 

contract. I went on trial to Wasps, which 

didn’t work out, and was eventually 

invited to train with Leinster by Declan 

Kidney, making a good enough 

impression to be offered a one-year 

contract.” 

This was back in the day when the 

players got changed out of the boot of 

the car at Anglesea Road, a far cry from 

the current state of the art facilities in 

UCD. 

“I really enjoyed the year. I would have 

watched many of these guys playing for 

Ireland growing up, so to join the Leinster 

squad was huge for me.” he said. 

“There was an aura about Leinster at the 

time. There were cliques. I was coming in 

from somewhere like Skerries, considered 

less glamorous, whereas it is welcomed 

now when you come in from off the 

beaten track.” 


He formed a bond with the likes of Brian 

Blaney, Shane Jennings, Brian O’Riordan, 

Jimmy Norton, Niall Ronan, more of the 

new generation on the way up. 

“I was thankful for the opportunity from 

Declan. I was determined to give it a 

good shot, get stuck in,” he stated. 

“I am probably more of an introvert by 

nature. I wouldn’t have been outspoken in 

a group setting. I would have just kept my 

head down, got on with the work, trying 

to make a good impression. 

“I won’t lie. It was daunting. I didn’t find it 

easy to fit in initially. But I guess I always 

backed myself to compete,” he added. 

“There is the whole camaraderie between 

the guys that have been there through 

the age-grades and the familiarity that 

brings. When you are comfortable with 

the players around you, you tend to have 

more confidence, play better. I didn’t 

have that from the start but worked hard 

to get there.” 

“At training, you are trying to establish 

yourself, prove to your teammates that 

you are good enough to be there and 

prove to the coach that you deserve a 

chance to play.” 

By November 2014, Hewitt had earned 

the right to his first cap, starting against 

Scarlets. The season in Connacht had 

removed much of the awe around making 

his debut. 

He already knew he could survive at the 

professional level, despite not adding 

to his third cap against Edinburgh in 

February 2005. 

There were three pre-season friendlies 

where Hewitt started against Worcester 

(twice) and Coventry to go with the three 

caps in the Celtic League. 

There was also Ireland 7s duty in Dubai 

and South Africa in December and the 7s 

World Cup in Hong Kong in March, a sixweek 

block preventing him from adding 

to his Leinster appearances. 

It was enough to garner the offer of 

another one-year deal from Leinster. 

In a rare move, Hewitt decided to take a 

two-year deal at French PRO club Racing 

Metro. 


“I liked the idea of moving somewhere 

else. I don’t regret moving because I had 

a great experience in Paris, loved my time 

in France,” said the 40-year-old. 

“I don’t mind admitting I am a bit of a 

rugby geek. I was aware of the image 

of Racing, the pink dickie bows and 

drinking champagne at half-time. I knew 

of the club history, the tradition, the 

legacy. 

“I played 50-odd games over two 

seasons at full-back and out-half mainly. I 

loved it. We travelled around France. The 

likes of Toulon, La Rochelle, Lyon were in 

the same division.” 

It was tough rugby in PRO Div 2, heavy 

men moving on heavy ground, without 

the structure Hewitt was used to back 

home. 

“Jacky Lorenzetti took over the club in 

2005, at the end of my first season, and 

you could see the change in mentality, 

the coaches, facilities, the level of player 

he was bringing in. 

“He began to clear out some of the 

deadwood and, maybe, you could 

consider me some of the deadwood,” he 

laughed. 

“There was a pretty good trail of outhalves 

that followed me. They got in 

Wisniewski, Andrew Mehrtens, Juan 

Martin Hernandez, Johnny Sexton, Dan 

Carter. Anyway, that was the end of my 

journey there.” 

There was a possibility of a move to Sale 

that never materialised and six months 

playing at English club Esher with none 

other than Rob Henderson. 

Hewitt had come to a point in his career 

where he didn’t envisage it getting any 

better. 

“I didn’t want to move around smaller 

clubs to just hold onto being a 

professional rugby player. I didn’t want to 

flog the arse out of it and end up playing 

for a second division club in Poland as a 

35-year-old. I had to get back to the real 

world.” 

That was it. Real life beckoned back 

home. The good sense to complete a 

degree in Marketing and Business at 

Dublin Institute of Technology just before 

moving to Connacht was a solid platform 

to work from. 

“My mother wouldn’t have had it any 

other way. I still didn’t know what I 

wanted to do when I got the degree. I 

just wanted to chase sport and rugby. I 

guess I managed to do that for those five 

years.” 

It was 2008. Hewitt was 28. And still far 

from sure about what he wanted to do 

with his life. 

Aidan McCullen convinced Hewitt to 

move to Lansdowne for three years 

and the last two seasons (2011-13) 

were spent back where it all started at 

Skerries, playing with his brother Marc 

and old friends like Chris Keane, winning 

promotion back to the All-Ireland League. 

In terms of his work, he moved into the 

media space as brand manager with 

98FM, then onto advertising in the startup 

Joe.ie. 

Along the way, he married the love of 

his life Lia, settling down in Churchtown 

where his girls Amelia (7) and Izzy (3) 

keep him on his toes. 

“For the last three years, I have been 

working for Salesforce in tech-sales, 

specifically in the South Africa market, 

travelling there every six weeks or so until 

the pandemic outbreak.” 

He has mostly been restricted to home 

and that is alright by his girls. 


WE ARE STARTING ON A SAD NOTE THIS WEEK. WE WERE 

DEEPLY SADDENED TO SEE THE PASSING OF ANOTHER OF OUR 

REFEREEING COLLEAGUES. 

Ronnie Maher passed away on 

3 November. He was a member 

of the Leinster Rugby Referees 

for many, many years and also 

a proud Suttonians man, serving 

as a player, coach, referee, 

administrator, photographer, 

Director of Rugby and 

President. 

He was a great friend to many referees 

in both Leinster and across Ireland 

and always gave a warm welcome 

to referees visiting Suttonians and of 

course, with camera in hand, happily 

furnished referees with some great 

photos of their game. 

He will be deeply missed by all in the 

Leinster Rugby Referees family. 

We extend our deepest sympathies to 

Ronnie’s wife and family. 

May he rest in peace. 

We also learned this week of the 

passing of Blackrock stalwart 

Audrey Fulham Q&A 

Given there is, sadly, not a lot 

of refereeing going on at the 

moment, I took the time to catch 

up with one of our up and coming 

referees, Audrey Fulham, during 

the week. We talked through 

Audrey’s decision to take up 

refereeing and what she loves 

about it. 

How long are you refereeing and what 

made you decide to take up the 

whistle? 

This is my third season, although 

not much happening right now with 

Covid! I did manage to get a few games 

in before games ceased and hopefully 

2021 will see many more! 

When I finished college I wanted to 

start up some new hobbies and began 

playing tag rugby, which turned into full 

contact rugby, then refereeing tag rugby 

Joe McDonnell or ‘Joe Mac’ to 

the rugby community. Joe was 

a coach, groundsman and 

member of Blackrock for 65 

years. 

Joe will be remembered by all for his 

total commitment to the Blackrock club, 

his welcome to referees and the advice 

he offered. 

Our sincere condolences go out to Joe’s 

family. 

and ultimately led to refereeing rugby 

union. 

What was the process like to become 

a referee and what is the biggest thing 

you have learned since you started out? 

I saw an event on Facebook for an allfemale 

referee workshop and decided 

to attend. It was the first step for me 

and within a week or so I was given 

my first match which was U-13s boy 

in Donnybrook. I think my confidence 

in myself and my abilities have grown 

considerably since I started refereeing. 

What is your training regime like? 

I train twice a week in Terenure with a 

few other referees. We work on speed, 

movement and endurance in these 

training sessions. Then I would have a 

match each weekend, and some weeks I 

would also have a youth game. 

What is your favourite thing about 

refereeing and what is your most 

memorable game so far? 


I think it’s learning the laws and applying 

them in matches. It sounds silly but 

when I was in Maynooth University I 

studied law and one main aspect of the 

degree was recognising infringements, 

applying the appropriate law and 

advising appropriately. So I feel that 

what I enjoyed about college applies to 

refereeing too! 

Definitely a Metro 2 Clontarf v Old 

Wesley game in Clontarf was my 

favourite. It was the day of Storm Dennis 

and it was on the all-weather pitch. It was 

the coldest and wettest match I’ve ever 

experienced, myself and the teams could 

barely see through the rain at times but 

spirits were so high and the game was 

very enjoyable. It was 0-3 until about 65 

minutes in when Old Wesley scored two 

late tries. I’ve never felt cold like that and 

was never so happy to see a hot shower 

after! 

What is your pre-match routine like? 

I always have my kit bag prepared the 

night before. I wake up and try and 

start drinking loads of water and eat 

something hearty. I arrive at the match 

venue about one hour before kick-off and 

greet the coaches, gather team sheets 

and do my warm up. 

I don’t really have a favourite but 

I love watching Nigel Owens, Joy 

Neville, George Clancy, Luke Pearce, 

Angus Gardner and Wayne Barnes. 

I would love to work on a few things 

and hopefully within the next couple of 

seasons get on IPAS with the hopes of 

getting onto the National Panel. 

What will make you improve as a 

referee and how do you deal with any 

off field criticism that comes your way? 

I think reffing as many games as possible, 

and being open minded as to what 

I need to improve on, take criticism 

positively and trust those who have more 

experience to give valuable feedback. I 

think it’s dangerous to assume you’re the 

best at anything and don’t need help or 

feedback. Take all the support you can 

get if being offered. 

I think every referee has to deal with a 

bit of stick during games at some point, I 

certainly have, and I think the way I deal 

with it is having the confidence in myself 

and my decisions to look past it but also 

understanding the frustrations. I found 

that explaining decisions effectively will 

usually lessen people’s frustrations. 

What advice would you give to 

someone thinking about taking up 

refereeing? 

I think to work past any nerves you might 

have at the beginning. Taking the first 

step for me was the hardest part, after 

that you take each match as it comes 

and make improvements week to week. 

It’s extremely enjoyable and surprisingly 

a great way to meet new people and 

make some friends. It’s not as lonely as I 

thought it would be in the beginning. 

Do you any self-analysis after games? 

Yes, I do! I have a notebook 

where I write down everything 

I hope to achieve in my next 

game followed by notes after 

the game of everything that went 

well and things to think about. 

We’re hoping to see Audrey 

back on the pitch as soon as 

possible and wish her well with 

her aspirations. 

Who is your refereeing idol and what 

are your refereeing aspirations? 

Want to get involved? 

Feel free to make contact with the Leinster Rugby 

Referees at hayley.whyte@leinsterrugby.ie. 

If you are interested in becoming a referee get in 

contact with us through our Facebook and Google + 

pages, our website www.arlb.ie or through twitter 

@leinsterreferee. 


Leinster Branch 

Covid-19 Response Commit tee 

MARCH 12, 2020 WILL ALWAYS REMAIN IN OUR MINDS, BUT 

NOT BECAUSE OF SCINTILLATING RUGBY BEING PLAYED AT THE 

BUSINESS END OF A BUSY SEASON, WITH MANY LEAGUE AND 

CUP FINALS AT THE TIME YET TO BE DECIDED ACROSS ALL OF 

THE VARIOUS LEVELS SPANNING PROFESSIONAL TO MINIS. 

That was the day all of our club 

and team activity came to a 

shuddering halt due to Covid-19, 

a virus many of us were unaware 

of its existence until weeks before 

the IRFU, on Government advice, 

notified all clubs to suspend 

operations for a three-week 

period of time. 

In an average year, the Leinster branch 

will host over 5,500 fixtures throughout 

the season and you can imagine the new 

challenges arising with this participation 

suspension. 

When the frustration had subsided and 

we assessed the new landscape, we 

thought of this temporary suspension 

as best a severe inconvenience to our 

schedules and operations and thought 

by end of March or early April we would 

be back in business albeit delayed and 

behind with our season plans. 

Little did we know at this point the 

shutdown was to be extended, effectively 

ending the 2019/2020 season abruptly 

with the unfortunate consequence 

of many teams unable to progress in 

competitions and for some who could not 

avail of the opportunity to appear in the 

closing stages of competitions denying 

them a chance to lift cups, win honours 

and medals. 

The lockdown as it was known extended 

into early Summer. Post-lockdown rugby 

was going to be played in a different 

environment if we were to commence 

competitive rugby again in 2020. 

Leinster Rugby strongly faced these 

challenges and introduced a wide range 

of measures and support systems for 

clubs as we faced these testing times. 

We immediately established a Covid-19 

focused advisory committee with the aim 

of ensuring that an effective committee 

composing of both informative andwell 

experienced committee members 

understanding club rugby joined by 

Philip Lawlor and Carol Maybury from 

the Community Department of Leinster 

Rugby ensuring that all clubs had 

available the best advice and practice as 

we navigated the new environment and 

demanding landscape. 

The specific role of this Committee is to 

function as a trusted source or mechanism 

in terms of acting as a communication 

conduit for all relevant Covid-19 

response, protocols, and documentation 

emanating from primarily Irish Sports 

Council, IRFU and Leinster Branch 

for dissemination to clubs on how we 

collectively align all clubs to the new 

normality. 

The key goal and priority objective are 

to ensure we protect the health and 

wellbeing of all our players and nonplaying 

participants within our game 

and club facilities. This is continually the 

priority and will remain so until we are 

able to fully return to a new phase of 

normality. 

This Committee under the auspices of 

the Leinster Domestic Rugby Committee 

is chaired by Pat Carolan currently 

Chairperson of the Leinster Branch Junior 

Committee. 

We commenced our work in late May 

and met regularly and frequently 

reviewing the tasks and our progress. 

The guidelines/recommendations 

have been based on the advice of 

Governments in both parts of Ireland, 

National Public Health Emergency Team 

(NPHET), Health Services Executive 

(HSE), National Health Service (NHS), 


World Health Organisation (WHO), and 

European Centre for Disease Control 

(ECDC). 

The Return to Rugby Guidelines are 

created to be implemented by clubs in 

response to Covid-19. The main objective 

is the safe return to rugby for all members 

and our communities. 

The immediate task was to firstly assess the 

preparedness of where clubs were at and 

to immediately recommend appointing 

Covid-19 Safety Officers which now was 

going to be the most important point of 

contact within clubs to ensure we could 

respond appropriately. 

This was no easy task as it meant that all 

Leinster branch-affiliated Clubs now had 

to prepare a detailed Covid-19 Return 

To Play Strategy specific for their club 

which meant that they had to harness the 

skills and abilities of their club resources 

in developing the necessary plans now 

required before we could recommence 

training and game participation. 

Within a relatively short period of time, 

and supported by IRFU education 

webinars, all of our clubs had complied 

in introducing specific plans based on the 

established guidelines to ensure when 

rugby could fully resume and be played 

within the best and safest environment 

possible. 

In early autumn we were able to 

commence actual playing of some fixtures, 

but unfortunately this is now suspended 

until early December. Rugby, we hope 

can commence again with the aim of recommencing 

competitions and leagues 

Regrettably, it appears that Covid-19 will 

be here in our midst for a further timespan 

until at least we can fully return to a norm 

that we enjoyed in the past. 

Great credit and tribute are due to all 

of our clubs and their members who 

vigorously worked hard to implement a 

safe environment within their facilities. 

The Leinster branch are grateful to 

this incredibly positive attitude and 

determination expressed by our clubs 

for playing their part in ensuring we 

can create and operate within a safe 

environment for when we can resume our 

season. 

May this day be reached soon. 

Shane Delaney and Robert Deacon 


TO MAXIMISE YOUR SPORTS AND EXERCISE 

PERFORMANCE THROUGH NUTRITION 

Optimum Nutrition and Leinster Rugby have partnered to help share good nutrition tips throughout 

the season to help you achieve your performance goals. Here are some simple tips and things to 

remember to help maximise your performance and help you recover quickly to come back stronger. 

Protein Rich. 

Protein provides your muscles with 

the building blocks to repair & grow. 

Carb-Up. 

Carbohydrate foods are king as they 

power high intensity play. 

Fuel-Up. 

Consume the majority of your 

carbohydrates around training to 

support fuelling and recovery. 

Recover. 

Quality rest & nutrition between 

training sessions is the key to 

recovery. Remember to: 

Repair with protein, 

Refuel with carbohydrate, 

Rehydrate with fluid. 

Hydrate. 

Dehydration can lead to a drop in 

exercise intensity & can impact your 

decision making. Drink 2-3 litres of 

fluid each day to ensure hydration. 

Game Day. 

To fuel performance on the field, 

consume a large carbohydrate rich 

meal 2-3 hours before kick-off, i.e. 

chicken & pasta, turkey bolognaise 

wraps. 

Get 20% off all Optimum Nutrition products 

using code Leinster20 on optimumnutrition.ie

Knowing what advice to take 

is essential in this game. 

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LEINSTER RUGBY CHARITY AFFILIATE 

Women's Aid 

LEINSTER RUGBY LAST WEEK ANNOUNCED WOMEN’S 

AID AS ITS FIRST CHARITY AFFILIATE AS PART OF ITS 

NEWLY ESTABLISHED CHARITY PARTNER PROGRAMME. 

The new charity affiliate 

programme was launched last 

month and replaces the twoseason 

long charity partner 

programme which was no 

longer possible due to Covid-19 

restrictions. 

Instead the charity affiliate programme 

will see Leinster Rugby adding its 

considerable online support to a new 

charity each month for the next year, 

starting with Women’s Aid for November. 

Women’s Aid is a leading national 

organisation that has been working in 

Ireland to stop domestic violence against 

women and children since 1974. 

Speaking this morning to leinsterrugby. 

ie, Sarah Benson, Chief Executive of 

Women’s Aid said, “The Covid-19 

national emergency has shone a light 

on the crisis of domestic violence in 

homes across Ireland. There is a greater 

awareness that home is not always a safe 

place for everyone. 

“We are delighted to partner with 

Leinster Rugby for the month of 

November to help raise awareness 

of the very serious issue of domestic 

violence. Many women and children are 

living in suffocating circumstances with 

their abusers because of the renewed 

measures to combat Covid-19 this 

November. We are receiving about 

1,000 more calls a month than usual. 

“Women’s Aid is committed to listening, 

believing and supporting women 

experiencing domestic abuse, especially 

at this time of increased need. With the 

support of Leinster Rugby we are urging 

communities to be vigilant and responsive 

to anyone whom they feel may be in an 

abusive, dangerous situation. People can 

seek their own support and information 

through our website, National Freephone 

Helpline or other resources if they need, 

in order to help to others.” 

On behalf of Leinster Rugby, Marcus Ó 

Buachalla, who manages the charity 

programme, said, “We are delighted to 

have Women’s Aid as our first charity 

affiliate and we are looking forward to 

supporting their work over the coming 

month culminating in a campaign 

launch that they have planned for late 

November. 

“Domestic violence and its seriousness 

was brought home to us all when An 

Taoiseach Mícheál Martin, TD called it 

out in his address to the nation recently 

so it is timely that we bring attention to 

this issue and also the great work that 

Women’s Aid are doing to help women 

and children living under the cloud of 

domestic abuse.” 

Women’s Aid work to make women and 

children safe from domestic violence. 

They offer support and provide hope to 

women affected by abuse and work for 

justice and social change in our society. 

The Women’s Aid National Freephone 

Helpline (1800 341 900) operates 

24 hours a day, seven days a week, 

and provides support and information 

to callers experiencing abuse from 

intimate partners. It is the only free, 

national, domestic violence helpline with 

specialised trained staff, fully-accredited 

by The Helplines Association and with a 

Telephone Interpretation Service facility 

covering 170 languages for callers 

needing interpreting services. 

In addition, the Helpline acts as a 

gateway to local services and refuges 

across Ireland. The national helpline 

team also operate a confidential instant 

messaging support service on www. 

womensaid.ie. 

Women’s Aid also offers a Dublin-based 

One to One Support Service in six 

locations throughout Dublin. In addition 

to their direct services, Women’s Aid 


acts for justice and social change by 

engaging in policy, representation and 

communications and campaigns activity 

at a national level. 

All of the charity affiliates will be selected 

by Leinster Rugby after a consultation 

process involving the leadership group 

of the men, women’s and Academy 

teams and consultation with our premium 

sponsors and partners and the Official 

Leinster Supporters Club. Women’s Aid is 

the first charity announced and a further 

11 will be confirmed and supported over 

the coming year. 

Bank of Ireland has also confirmed that 

their Player of the Month Award donation 

will now be made to the monthly charity 

affiliate, rather than the player in 

question, a move that is also supported 

by the Leinster Rugby players. 

The first vote for the new season sees 

Michael Bent, Luke McGrath and Rhys 

Ruddock nominated for the Bank of 

Ireland Player of the Month Award for 

October and the Official Members will 

decide the winner. 


© 2020 adidas AG 

READY 

FOR 

ACTION 

LEINSTER RUGBY 

TRAINING 20/21

IN OPPOSITION 

Edinburgh 

Last Time Out 

COUNTRY 

SCOTLAND 

HOME GROUND 

MURRAYFIELD STADIUM 

FOUNDED 

1872 

Edinburgh Rugby 18 Cardiff Blues 0 

EDINBURGH OVERCAME BOTH THE FOG AND CARDIFF 

BLUES TO NOTCH THEIR SECOND WIN OF THE YOUNG 

GUINNESS PRO14 SEASON LAST MONDAY EVENING. 

Having lost their opening three 

games of the campaign, Edinburgh 

followed up last week’s 6-3 victory 

over Scarlets with an 18-0 win thanks 

to tries from debutant Lee-Roy Atalifo 

and fellow front-rower Dave Cherry. 

Conditions deteriorated as the match wore 

on, with fog descending on BT Murrayfield 

and making visibility almost impossible in the 

second half, but the Scots still successfully 

ended a four-game home losing streak. 

Blues went close to scoring on a number of 

occasions but their road woes continued, with 

a 16-6 success against Zebre on the opening 

day still their only away win of 2020. 

An early Nathan Chamberlain penalty put 

Edinburgh in front and while they largely 

dominated possession, it took until 24 minutes 

to extend that advantage. 

Patient build-up play saw them camped in the 

Blues 22 and after numerous surges from the 

forwards, debutant prop Atalifo burrowed into 

the foot of the posts from close-range, with 

Chamberlain’s conversion making it 10-0. 

EDINBURGH: 

Jack Blain; Eroni Sau, 

Mark Bennett, Chris 

Dean (James Johnstone 

73), Jamie Farndale; 

Nathan Chamberlain, 

Henry Pyrgos (Nic Groom 

77); Pierre Schoeman 

(Sam Grahamslaw 76), 

Dave Cherry (Michael 

Willemse 54-63, 73), Lee 

Roy Atalifo (Dan Gamble 

52); Andries Ferreira 

(Marshall Sykes 64), 

Jamie Hodgson; Magnus 

Bradbury, Luke Crosbie 

(Connor Boyle 67), 

Ally Miller. 

CARDIFF BLUES: 

Hallam Amos; Owen 

Lane, Garyn Smith, Max 

Llewellyn, Aled Summerhill 

(Matthew Morgan 54); 

Jason Tovey (Ben Thomas 

48), Lewis Jones (Jamie 

Hill 48); Bradley Thyer 

(Corey Domachowski 43), 

Kristian Dacey (Ethan 

Lewis 64), Dmitri Arhip 

(Scott Andrews 54); 

James Ratti (Ben Murphy 

54), Rory Thornton; Josh 

Turnbull, Olly Robinson, 

Will Boyde (Sam 

Moore 17). 

That try inspired the Blues to their first 

sustained spell of possession, which ended 

with a Jason Tovey penalty hitting the post, 

and while they pushed forward again just 

before half-time, a knock-on at the crucial 

moment meant they trailed by 10 points at 

the break. 

As the mist and fog descended on BT 

Murrayfield during the second half, Edinburgh 

produced a brave defensive stand on their 

own try-line to deny the visitors before 

adding a second try themselves on 54 

minutes. 

A well-executed lineout set up the driving 

maul and Cherry guided the ball over the 

whitewash in the corner to extend the lead 

to 15-0. 

Some brilliant Blues defence stopped the 

deficit being increased and Hallam Amos 

looked to set to break their duck but was 

stopped just short. 

And Chamberlain completed the scoring 

right on the final whistle by slotting another 

penalty, as the contest ended 18-0. 

Words: pro14.rugby 

Imagery: Inpho 


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Squad | Positions 2020/21 

Head Coach | Richard Cockerill 

Richard Cockerill was appointed 

Head Coach of Edinburgh ahead 

of the 2017/18 season proving an 

immediate success as he led the 

club to its first ever appearance in 

the Guinness PRO14 Final Series 

which also brought qualification 

for the Heineken Champions Cup 

the following season. 

Cockerill spent the majority of his 

playing career with his home club, 

Leicester Tigers, either side of a stint with 

Montferrand. Upon retiring in 2005, 

he joined the Tigers’ coaching staff, 

eventually becoming head coach in 

2009. 

He guided them to back to back 

Premiership titles in 2009 and 2010 with 

a subsequent title in 2013, while also 

suffering defeat to Leinster in the 2009 

Heineken Cup Final. 

FORWARDS 

LEE ROY ATALIFO 

PROP 

SIMON BERGHAN 

PROP 

JAMIE BHATTI 

PROP 

CONNOR BOYLE 

BACK ROW 

MAGNUS BRADBURY 

NO. 8 

LEWIS CARMICHAEL 

LOCK 

DAVID CHERRY 

HOOKER 

LUKE CROSBIE 

LOCK 

MESULAME 

KUNAVULA 

BACK ROW 

VILIAME MATA 

NO. 8 

MURRAY MCCALLUM 

PROP 

STUART MCINALLY 

HOOKER 

FRASER MCKENZIE 

LOCK 

WP NEL 

PROP 

JAMIE RITCHIE 

BACK ROW 

PIERRE SCHOEMAN 

PROP 

CHRIS DEAN 

CENTRE 

JAMIE FARNDALE 

WINGER 

ROAN FROSTWICK 

SCRUM HALF 

MATT GORDON 

CENTRE 

DARCY GRAHAM 

WINGER 

NIC GROOM 

SCRUM HALF 

DAMIEN HOYLAND 

WINGER 

JAMES 

JOHNSTONE 

CENTRE 

RORY DARGE 

BACK ROW 

RORY SUTHERLAND 

PROP 

BLAIR KINGHORN 

FULL BACK 

Co-Captains | Stuart McInally/ 

Grant Gilchrist 

Both Stuart McInally and Grant 

Gilchrist are Edinburgh centurions 

and Scotland internationals. 

ANDREW DAVIDSON 

LOCK 

ANDRIES FERREIRA 

LOCK 

DAN GAMBLE 

PROP 

MARSHALL SYKES 

LOCK 

BEN TOOLIS 

LOCK 

HAMISH WATSON 

BACK ROW 

DAN NUTTON 

SCRUM HALF 

HENRY PYRGOS 

SCRUM HALF 

ERONI SAU 

WINGER 

McInally captained the side alone from 

2018-2020 with Gilchrist joining him in 

sharing the armband off the back of an 

impressive 2019/20 campaign. 

It’s the second time the duo – who have 

299 Edinburgh Rugby appearances 

between them – have co-captained the 

club, having been handed join-custody of 

the position previously in 2016. 

The pair are two of Edinburgh Rugby’s 

longest tenured stars, with McInally 

entering his 10th season with the club 

and Gilchrist his ninth, while both 

players came through the ranks of the 

club’s academy system to represent their 

boyhood team. 

GRANT GILCHRIST 

LOCK 

SAM GRAHAMSLAW 

PROP 

NICK HAINING 

BACK ROW 

JAMIE HODGSON 

LOCK 

SAM KITCHEN 

HOOKER 

MICHAEL WILLEMSE 

HOOKER 

BACKS 

MARK BENNETT 

CENTRE 

JACK BLAIN 

WINGER 

NATHAN 

CHAMBERLAIN 

FLY HALF 

CHARLIE SHIEL 

SCRUM HALF 

GEORGE TAYLOR 

CENTRE 

DUHAN VAN DER 

MERWE 

WINGER 

JACO VAN DER 

WALT 

UTILITY BACK 


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MU Barnhall 

There aren’t too many good news 

stories knocking around at the 

moment. 

The mental and physical positives 

to be taken from the game have, 

understandably, been overridden by the 

long-term health of the nation. 

During this unprecedented time, MU 

Barnhall has managed to make further 

strides in their plan to keep on growing. 

In 2010, Barnhall RFC entered into an 

arrangement with the nearby Maynooth 

University that has been an unqualified 

success. 

“It has done a couple of things. It has 

built the profile of the club and it has 

brought new blood into the club through 

the scholarship programme offered in 

partnership with the University,” said 

current President Gerry Niland. 

This has been affirmed by the selection 

of Brendan McSorley for the Irish 

Universities and the club’s capture of 

the Dudley (Universities) Cup when 

beating Queen’s University in Belfast last 

November. 

“It came on the back of going unbeaten 

and winning Division 2B of the All-Ireland 

League in 2018/2019,” said Niland. 

“The backbone of the senior team would 

be made up from scholarship or university 

players. Many of them end up working in 

Dublin or somewhere else in the country 

and we have found that they have stayed 

loyal to the club. 

“For instance, our full-back Eoghan Quinn 

moved down to Limerick to further his 

studies. He did his own training down 

there, traveled up every Thursday and 

played on the Saturday for the last two 

seasons. 

“We are good at holding onto players. 

The names don’t really change all that 

much. 

“Obviously, we can’t pay players in 

the AIL. We try to help in other ways, 

beginning with the scholarships and 

helping them when their time at university 

is over. 

“We work hard at trying to help them find 

work. We have a committee in the club 

which is responsible for assisting players 

in finding a job or furthering their careers 

by tapping into our network of contacts at 

the club. Generally, you find the players 

are very loyal in return.” 

The club has been keen to play on a 

unique selling point when it comes to 

attracting players in the surrounding area. 

“We are actually unique because we 

are a university club in the community, 

the only one with a youth programme,” 

continued Niland. 

Our playing catchment area runs out from 

Maynooth, Straffan, Ardclogh, around to 

Leixlip, over to Lucan and Adamstown. 

We cover a huge area in the players that 

we attract into the club. 

“We would have about 300 minis and, 

on a Saturday morning, the three pitches 

in the club are filled with minis. 

“We are one of the few clubs in the 

country that field at every level, U-13s, 

U-14s, U-15s, U-16s, U-17s, U-18s. Our 

U-20s have been competing in the 

Premier Division for the last two years. 

“We had 50 U-20 players training this 

season and we were in a play-off with 

St Mary’s to win the right to compete in 

Premier this season until it all came to a 

halt. 

“There are five adult teams from the 

Seniors in the All-Ireland League to the 

socially ambitious fourths and fifths. 

“We have a growing girls Youth section, 

playing U-14s, U-16s and U-18s and two 

Ladies senior teams, the first team winning 

promotion to Division 1 last year. 


“We also were the first club in the 

country to put together a mixed-ability 

team, set up by our own James Jones and 

it has become the model for mixed ability 

around the country.” 

That is where the community comes in. 

The club has a strong connection with St 

Raphael’s Special School in Celbridge, 

catering for pupils aged 5-18 years 

with moderate, severe and profound 

Intellectual Disability. 

“For the first time, we had a big mixedability 

blitz in September 2019 when 

clubs from all over the country came to 

Barnhall,” added Niland. 

“It was actually astonishing. I have to say, 

you would want to have had a heart of 

stone not to be moved by it. You had all 

these children and adults coming with 

their parents and families. Our seniors, 

our ladies and some of our youths 

came down to play with them. It was a 

testament to the work that goes on within 

the club.” 

All the activity led to pressure on 

pitch space, even though there are 

three pitches in their home ground at 

Parsonstown, another at Maynooth 

University with plans to put down an 

all-weather artificial pitch also in the 

pipeline. 

Even so, there are more than 1,000 

active playing members, a footfall that 

places an unsustainable wear-and-tear 

factor on the pitches. 

“The club started looking for more space 

four years ago. We used to play on a 

space owned by Hewlett-Packard. They 

kindly allowed us to use it as an overflow 

for training. 

“When that was bought out, the space 

was no longer available. That put us 

under pressure. 

“We looked at a number of options and 

Kildare County Council came up with a 

green space of seven-and-a-half acres at 

Lough Na Mona, which was sitting in a 

housing estate and not being utilised. 

“We took their hand off. It met exactly 

what we were looking for because it fed 

into our roots as a university club in the 

community. 

“You can’t get much more in the 

community than a housing estate in 

Leixlip. It is an area that would be better 

known for GAA and soccer, giving us 

a base to reach out to new players as 

well as provide extra space for existing 

members.” 

The keys to their new kingdom were 

handed over on Saturday, October 3. 

“It literally is located in the heart of the 

community and this partnership with the 

council provides an exciting departure 

for the club in a rapidly growing part of 

Leixlip, which is easily accessible and 

blessed with ample parking, adjacent to 

Leixlip Louisa Bridge Railway Station and 

local employer Intel. 

“It is three kilometres, or a five minute 

spin, from the club grounds. At the 

moment, it is an undeveloped site. There 

is a lot of work to be done. The posts 

aren’t even up yet. 

“The Council has done trojan work there, 

cleaned up the car park, made it very 

presentable and we have also received a 

commitment to put in lights, a real priority 

as the winter nights close in,” stated 

Niland 

“Over the last four years, we have spent 

€500,000 on the upkeep of them. 

We couldn’t have continued to put that 

amount of pressure on the pitches.” 

This has relieved the pressure for space 

on a club that is truly thriving. 


These clubs have chosen Macron 

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Portarlington's Minis 

Movember Morning Raises More Than Just Smiles 

With Covid restrictions meaning 

that Minis blitzes are not able to 

go ahead at the moment, clubs 

are looking for ways to keep a 

sense of freshness around Minis 

training and Portarlington RFC 

came up with a real eye catching 

way to do just that while helping 

to raise awareness around 

men’s mental health. 

On Saturday morning kids were asked 

to bring a small donation to training 

and once they had checked in with their 

pod’s Covid Co-ordinator they were 

given a novelty moustache to wear 

during training. 

Some coaches and parents joined in the 

fun and the occasion seemed to really 

inject some extra zest into the morning’s 

session. 

Portarlington’s Minis Co-ordinator 

Barry Lambkin explained the inspiration 

behind the concept, “Tragically, we lost 

a member of our rugby family recently. 

Pete McLaughlin was much loved by 

everyone who knew him and his three 

children Devlin, Luca and Lola all play 

with club teams. 

“Pete’s wife Jack Clarke has decided to 

walk 500,000 steps during November 

to raise money and awareness for the 

Movember campaign and she will be 

using the walking track around our 

pitches to clock up much of that total 

during Minis training. 

“We wanted to show our support for 

her efforts as well as for the family. We 

know how important the rugby club is 

for them right now but we also want 

them to know how important they are 

to us.” 

Director of Rugby, Paul Mannion, who 

has played for the club since he was 

a mini himself, says that the event has 

reached right across the community in 

Portarlington. 

“The Facebook post with the photos of 

the kids was really popular. Its great for 

people in the community to see the fun 

being had and it might encourage a 

few more families to come out and get 

involved,” he said. 

“But it also helps to raise awareness 

in Portarlington and show men that 

their issues are taken seriously. Sport 

is a wonderful outlet for people and 

we hope that when the restrictions 

are eased we will see more men and 

women joining our senior teams and 

enjoying the benefits of activity and 

comradery.” 

This simple event raised a lot of smiles 

but it also raised funds for Jack Clarke’s 

‘500,000 steps for Movember Ireland’ 

Facebook fundraiser on the day as 

well as encouraging people to donate 

online. 

It’s wonderful how our clubs are finding 

so many ways to make the most of the 

restrictions. Leinster Rugby would like to 

thank all of the club volunteers who are 

ensuring that their gates are kept open 

for families at such an important time. 

Well done to each and every one of you. 


Foley 

Cormac 

WORDS: RYAN CORRY 


ON FEBRUARY 

18, 2018, 

BLACKROCK 

COLLEGE TOOK 

ON ST GERARD’S 

SCHOOL IN 

THE BANK 

OF IRELAND 

LEINSTER 

SCHOOLS 

SENIOR CUP AT 

ENERGIA PARK. 

The south Dublin school would 

eventually squeak to a 19-17 win over 

their Wicklow counterparts, booking 

their spot in the last four of the 

competition. 

However, the game’s moment of magic came 

from the St Gerard’s School centre, Cormac 

Foley. Taking the ball just 10 metres from the 

Blackrock line, Foley lofted a little chip over the 

onrushing wave of blue and white, latched on 

to the dropping ball himself and dotted down. 

On the day, the commentary team for eir Sport 

remarked on the opportunism and composure 

shown by the young centre in what was such 

an enclosed area of the pitch. 

It’s no surprise then that Foley, now in his 

second year of the Leinster Rugby Academy, 

has undergone a change of position, getting 

stuck right into the thick of every phase at 

scrum half where that opportunism and 

composure is as vital as ever. 

“I’d mainly be a nine now but I’ve done a lot 

of moving around so far. I’ve played 12 at the 

Junior World Cup so I guess I have some sort 

of versatility but nine would be the focus,” he 

explains. 

Foley earned his place in the province’s 

Academy after some stunning performances in 

last season’s Celtic Cup, most notable among 

those a hat-trick scoring performance against 

Cardiff Blues in a 47-28 win at the Arms Park. 

With the competition now seeing all teams 

allowing a flurry of senior players to take part 

whether to regain fitness or form, it’s become 

a tough hunting ground for new faces making 

their first inroads into Academy or professional 

rugby life. 

For Foley, he feels he’s in the best environment, 

and learning from the best, to help with making 

those steps from school and age-grade rugby 

into Energia AIL, ‘A’, and, hopefully one day, 

professional competition. 

Standing at 5’ 11”, he isn’t your traditionally 

built scrum half, with a lot of similarities to 

the Ireland number nine jersey’s most regular 

incumbent over the past decade. 

“Obviously you’re playing with a lot of good 

players, lads coming down from the senior 

team, but it’s the way Leinster play, quick pace 

and you get used to it and the way they train. 

“It’s not as much of a shock because you’re 

training at that pace all of the time. 


“We do kicking sessions with all the nines, so 

Lukey is obviously around at the moment and 

I’m definitely learning a lot from those lads, him 

and Jamo. 

“I’m not even always talking to them but 

watching how they’re training and how they go 

about their business. 

“In terms of the way Leinster want to play, 

speed of ball is a huge thing for nines, and their 

running lines and getting in and out of the ruck 

quickly, and moving the ball. That’s the main 

thing from the coaches and it’s something that 

they’re very good at.” 

“(Conor) Murray would have been there (a 

role model) when I was younger, he’s been 

playing for Ireland for the last 10 years or so. 

He’s one that you’d look up to, he’s a big nine, 

I’m not big now but I’m not small!” 

While it’s easy now for the focus to remain on 

rugby for Foley, there’s an hint of an all-rounder 

about the Newtownmountkennedy man. 

Before the Leinster Academy, before joining 

Lansdowne FC, before playing for his country 

at underage level, he competed across any 

code that he could find. 

“I have two brothers (Ciarán and Tom) and a 

sister (Claire), and sport was probably always 

a big part of our lives. Gaelic, hurling, did a lot 

of showjumping when I was younger, soccer, 

everything, rugby obviously. 

“Showjumping and rugby would have been the 

ones I was weaned on to. When I was younger 

I did everything but those two were the main 

ones. 

“I did it to a relatively high level I guess, 

going to the Junior European Championships 

underage,” he says coyly. 

In August 2017, he jetted off to the FEI 

European Show Jumping Championships in 

Samorin, Slovakia, as part of an Irish team 

of four competing at Junior (U-18) level 

accompanied by gelding Ballylynch Wizard. 

While not many people have the honour of 

representing their country in a sport, Foley 

has managed to do it in two different codes, 

something that has become increasingly 

difficult as each sport has grown and 

developed to the current landscape. 

No small achievement and still a lot to come. 

More recently, while he has largely 

maintained a positive outlook through 

lockdown, both parts one and two, 

there are elements to the day-today 

student experience that he is 

beginning to crave once again. 

Studying Economics and 

Finance in UCD and balancing 

that with life in a professional 

rugby academy is never 

something considered easy, 

but a full transition to online 

lecturing has helped Foley and 

his fellow student athletes this 

semester. 


“IT’S FRUSTRATING 

NOT TO BE ABLE TO 

PLAY BUT WE’RE VERY 

LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO 

TRAIN AND CONTINUE AS 

SOMEWHAT NORMAL.” 


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However, he admits, there’s no substitute for 

the experience of being on-campus and the 

freedom that comes with student life. 

“I just moved club this year to Lansdowne but 

I haven’t been able to step foot in the place 

because of Covid restrictions and the bubble. 

It’s frustrating not to be able to play but we’re 

very lucky to be able to train and continue as 

somewhat normal. 

“It’s good for us in rugby. It’s fairly mundane 

studying at home but the fact that everything 

is online, it allows us to watch things that we 

would have missed. Most of it is recorded so I 

can catch up. 

“The social interaction part of it, sitting at home 

studying just doesn’t do it for me, meeting 

friends just for coffee or studying together in 

group projects, things like that, I’d definitely 

miss that side of it.” 

So, when a student athlete gets some spare 

time, what do they do with it? There’s 

always extras to be done to get 

the edge, Foley has started yoga, 

following the advice 

of the S&C coaches who also reinforce the 

importance of mindfulness, now more than 

ever. 

That variety in sporting activity shown in his 

youth, prior to turning attention fully to rugby 

during his days in St. Gerard’s, is a recurring 

theme in Foley’s personality. 

“Reading and listening to podcasts, I’d listen to 

a good few podcasts. Wide-ranging, the lads 

would say ‘nerd stuff’. Some sort of business 

and economics stuff, and then just general 

sports stuff. 

“I read a book recently ‘Why We Sleep’ by 

Matthew Walker. That was good. ‘Shoe Dog’, 

the founder of Nike. It’s definitely something 

I would have an interest in, innovation. It’s a 

good book and, in the long term, I may have 

an interest in doing something like that.” 

While Nike founder Phil Knight was making his 

way around the world searching for inspiration 

during his mid-20s, Foley, who marked his 

21st birthday with a small family dinner 

last month, will be hoping that he’ll 

have made a home for himself in 

Leinster Rugby HQ in UCD by then. 


Academy squad 

2020|21 

DOB: 15 December 1999 

From: Hampshire, England 

Height: 1.88m (6’ 2”) 

Weight: 92kg (14st 5lbs) 

Position: Back Three 

School: Henley College 

Honours: Ireland U20 (1 cap) 

AARON O’SULLIVAN 

Did You Know: Aaron was signed from Wasps where 

he made two appearances for the Senior team in the 

2017/18 Anglo Welsh Cup. Aaron’s dad, Barry, had trials at 

Newcastle and his grandad, at the age of 80, completed 

five stages of the Tour de France in 2011. 

Instagram: aaron_sullivan11 

DOB: 02 March 2000 

From: Wexford 

Height: 1.99m (6’ 6”) 


Position: Second Row 

School: St Peter’s College 

Club: Clontarf FC 

Honours: Ireland U20 (8 caps) 

BRIAN DEENY 

Did You Know: Brian played youth rugby with Wexford 

Wanderers RFC. He got his first Irish cap playing for 

Ireland Under-18 Sevens. Brian played midfield for his 

school St Peter’s College in Gaelic football and reached the 

All-Ireland Colleges Final in 2017. He is currently studying 

Science in Trinity and lives in Abbey House B&B, Wexford... 

if you are looking for a room?! Instagram: brian_deeny 

DOB: 03 July 1999 

From: Dublin 

Height: 1.77m (5’ 10”) 


Position: Centre/Outhalf 

School: Belvedere College 

Club: Clontarf RFC 


& Leinster Rugby (2 caps) 

DAVID HAWKSHAW #1290 

Did You Know: David started playing rugby at Coolmine RFC before 

joining Belvedere College and won two Schools Senior Cup titles. He has 

represented Ireland U18 Schools and was selected as Ireland U20s captain 

for the 2019 Grand Slam winning campaign only to have his season cut 

short after three games. He played hurling and Gaelic football for St Brigid’s 

GAA club and also represented Dublin minors, winning a Leinster hurling 

title. Currently studying humanities in DCU. Instagram: davidhawkshaw99 

DOB: 30 December 1998 

From: Dublin 

Height: 1.72m (5’ 8”) 


Position: Scrum Half 

School: Blackrock College 

Club: UCD RFC 

Honours: Ireland U20 (1 cap) 


PATRICK PATTERSON #1274 

Did You Know: Paddy made his debut for Leinster during 

the 2018/19 season when only in the first year of the 

Leinster Academy. He also scored his first Senior try for 

Leinster off the bench against Southern Kings during that 

maiden campaign. 

Instagram: paddypatterson 

Academy squad 

2020|21 

DOB: 24 October 1999 

From: Newtownmountkennedy, Wicklow 

Height: 1.81m (5’ 9”) 


Position: Scrum Half 

School: St. Gerard’s School 

Club: Lansdowne FC 


CORMAC FOLEY 

Did You Know: Started playing rugby with Greystones 

RFC when he was nine. Growing up, Cormac did a lot of 

show jumping and he is now studying Economics and 

Finance in UCD. 

Instagram: cormacfoley6 

DOB: 05 February 1999 

From: Birr, Offaly 

Height: 1.82m (6’ 0”) 


Position: Prop 

School: Cistercian College, Roscrea 

Club: Birr RFC/UCD RFC 



MICHAEL MILNE #1279 

Did You Know: Michael has won two All-Ireland hurling 

titles, one with his school in Roscrea and another with 

Offaly Under-17s. 

Instagram: michael_milne 

DOB: 04 June 1998 

From: Dublin 

Height: 1.83m (6’ 0”) 



School: Clongowes Wood College 

Club: Dublin University FC 


& Leinster Rugby (1 cap) 

MICHAEL SILVESTER #1289 

Did You Know: Started playing rugby with Wanderers 

RFC before playing in school with St. Michaels and then 

Clongowes. Played competitive tennis from the age of nine, 

winning a national championship at age 12, before focusing 

on rugby after moving to Clongowes. Graduated from 

Trinity with a BESS degree. 

Instagram: msilvester98 


From: Dublin 

Height: 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Position: Prop 





TOM CLARKSON #1285 

Did You Know: Tom studies Human Health and Disease 

in Trinity College. He played underage rugby for Wicklow 

RFC before moving to Dublin to attend Willow Park 

primary school. 

Instagram: tclarkson37 

DOB: 19 October 1999 

From: Athy, Kildare 

Height: 1.88m (6’ 2”) 


Position: Back Row 

School: Clontarf FC 

Club: Old Belvedere RFC 


MARTIN MOLONEY 

Did You Know: Martin played hurling for Kildare and played 

GAA and basketball for his secondary school, Knockbeg 

College, and local GAA club, St Laurence’s. He played his 

youth rugby with Athy RFC. He is now studying Business 

and Law in UCD, He also enjoys working on the family farm. 

Instagram: martin_moloney 



From: Dublin 

Height: 2.01m (6’ 7”) 

Weight: 108kg (17st) 



Club: UCD RFC 


CHARLIE RYAN 

Did You Know: Charlie played youth rugby at Blackrock 

College RFC while also attending the school since Senior 

Infants. He captained Ireland to the U20 Grand Slam in 

2019 and again for the U20s World Cup. His friends call 

him Chuck! He is currently studying Business and Legal 

Studies in UCD. 

Instagram: chuck_ryan5 

Academy squad 

2020|21 


From: Belfast 

Height: 1.82m (6’ 0”) 


Position: Hooker 

School: Campbell College 

Club: Old Belvedere RFC 


JOHN McKEE 

Did You Know: John grew up in Belfast going to school 

at Campbell College where he won a Senior Cup. He was 

involved with Ulster at age grade level until moving to 

Dublin after school. He also has multiple medals from 

Northern Irish Schools Judo competitions. 

Instagram: johnmckee_ 

DOB: 21 July 2000 

From: Dublin 

Height: 1.83m (6’ 0”) 



School: St Michael’s College 



ANDREW SMITH 

Did You Know: Andrew is currently studying Quantity 

Surveying and Construction Economics in TUD. In 2019, 

he won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup with St Michael’s 

College. Andrew also played Gaelic football with his local 

club - Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA Club. 

Instagram: andrew.sm1th 

DOB: 14 July 1999 

From: Dublin 

Height: 173cm (5’ 9”) 


Position: Centre 





LIAM TURNER #1287 

Did You Know: Liam started to play rugby at the age 

of six at Blackrock College RFC. He later joined Blackrock 

College and was part of the 2018 Senior Cup winning team. 

He was also part of the Ireland U20 team that went on to 

win the 2019 Grand Slam. Liam currently studys BESS in 

Trinity College. 

Instagram: liamtn123 

DOB: 06 April 2000 

From: Dublin 

Height: 1.83m (6’ 0”) 


Position: Wing 


Club: UCD RFC 

Honours: Ireland U20 

NIALL COMERFORD 

Did You Know: Niall played both hurling and Gaelic 

football with Kilmacud Crokes for 14 years. He also 

represented Dublin in Gaelic football in the U17 Leinster 

Championship. He is currently studying Commerce in UCD. 

Instagram: niall_c123 

DOB: 31 July 2000 

From: Pittsburgh, USA 

Height: 1.90m (6’ 3”) 

Weight: 102kg (16st 1lb) 



Club: UCD RFC 


SEÁN O’BRIEN 

Did You Know: Seán started playing rugby at age six 

with Greystones RFC where he played up until Under-13. 

He then played on the Junior and Senior Cup teams in 

Blackrock College. He is currently studying Economics and 

Finance in UCD 

Instagram: seanobrien456 


From: Pearse St, Dublin 

Height: 1.95m (6’ 5”) 

Weight: 104.5kg (16st 6lbs) 


School: Belvedere College 



ALEX SOROKA 

Did You Know: Alex’s family moved to Ireland from 

Ukraine shortly before his birth. He was born in Cork 

before moving to Dublin. 

Instagram: alex._.soroka 

DOB: 26 March 2001 

From: Manhattan, NY 

Height: 1.95m (6’ 5”) 






JOE McCARTHY 

Did You Know: Joe started playing rugby with Blackrock 

College RFC at the age of six before moving to Willow Park 

and then Blackrock College. He was also on the Blackrock 

swim team for five years. He’s currently studying Global 

Business in Trinity College Dublin. 

Instagram: joetmmcc 


From: Enniskerry, Wicklow 

Height: 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Position: Full Back 

School: St Gerard’s School 



& Ireland Mens 7s (1 cap) 

MAX O’REILLY 

Did You Know: Max is currently in his third year of Business 

and Management in DIT. His preferred sport was soccer 

until about the age of 15, which he had played at centre 

midfield with Enniskerry FC for over 10 years and also 

for Wicklow. 

Instagram: max_oreilly 


Fixtures & 

results 

2020/21 

Fri 2 Oct 20:15 

Guinness PRO14 

W 35-5 

Sat 10 Oct 18:15 


W 37-25 

FRI 23 Oct 19:35 


W 63-8 

MON 2 Nov 20:15 


W 32-19 

KEENAN 

LARMOUR 1T 

RINGROSE 1T 2C 

FRAWLEY (T O'BRIEN 9) 

LOWE 2T 

SEXTON 1C (R BYRNE 23 3C) 

GIBSON-PARK (MCGRATH 67) 

E BYRNE (HEALY 49) 

R KELLEHER (CRONIN 49) 

BENT (PORTER 49) 

FARDY 

RYAN 

RUDDOCK 

VAN DER FLIER 

CONAN (DEEGAN 49 (BAIRD 62 1T)) 

KEENAN 

LARMOUR (J O'BRIEN 48) 

RINGROSE 

HENSHAW 

LOWE 1T 

R BYRNE 3C 3P (H BYRNE 79) 

GIBSON-PARK (MCGRATH 56) 

E BYRNE (HEALY 52) 

TRACY 1T (CRONIN 53) 

BENT (CLARKSON 63) 

BAIRD (MOLONY 64) 

RYAN 1T 

DORIS 

CONNORS 

CONAN 

J O'BRIEN 

T O'BRIEN 2T 

TURNER 

FRAWLEY (SILVESTER 64) 

KEARNEY 1T 

H BYRNE 9C 

MCGRATH (H O'SULLIVAN 56) 

DOOLEY (MILNE 52) 

SHEEHAN 2T (TRACY 51) 

BENT 1T (PARKER 1T) 

MOLONY 

TONER (DUNNE 56) 

MURPHY 1T (FARDY 69) 

PENNY 1T 

RUDDOCK (LEAVY 51) 

J O'BRIEN 1T (HAWKSHAW 71) 

C KELLEHER 

O'LOUGHLIN 

T O'BRIEN 

D KEARNEY 

H BYRNE 3C 2P 

MCGRATH 1T (H O'SULLIVAN 76) 

DOOLEY (MILNE 54) 

TRACY (SHEEHAN 54) 

BENT 1T (CLARKSON 60) 

MOLONY (FARDY 60) 

TONER 

MURPHY (DUNNE 71) 

PENNY 1T 

RUDDOCK (LEAVY 60) 

SUN 8 Nov 15:00 


W 26-7 

J O'BRIEN 

C KELLEHER 

O'LOUGHLIN (TURNER 59) 

T O'BRIEN (H O'SULLIVAN 65) 

KEARNEY 1T 

H BYRNE 3C (HAWKSHAW 61) 

MCGRATH 

MILNE (DOOLEY 51 1T) 

TRACY 1T (SHEEHAN 51) 

BENT (PARKER 51) 

MOLONY 

FARDY (TONER 72) 

MURPHY (LEAVY 54) 

PENNY 1T 

RUDDOCK 

ROUND 

06 


v Edinburgh 

Monday 

November 16 

RDS Arena 

KO 8.15pm 

ROUND 

07 


v Cardiff 

Sunday 

November 22 

RDS Arena 

KO 5.15pm 

ROUND 

08 

Scarlets v 


Sunday 

November 29 

Parc y Scarlets 

KO 5.15pm 


Donnacha Rocky 

Conway 

Age: 10 

School: 

Scoil Ide Naofa 

(Kilmead, Athy) 

Hobbies: 

Rugby, soccer, GAA 

and golf 

Favourite Player: 

Garry Ringrose 

virtual match mascots 

Jack 

Bagot 

Age: 7 

School: 

Willow Park School 

Hobbies: 

Rugby 

Favourite Player: 

Johnny Sexton… but he 

also likes Paul Wallace, 

it was a toss up! 

Montepellier v 


Saturday 

December 12 

CGL Stadium 

KO 5.30pm Irish time 


v Northampton 

Saints 

Saturday 

december 19 

RDS Arena 

KO 1pm 

Northampton 

Saints v 


Friday 

January 15 

Franklin's Gardens 

KO 5.30pm 


v Montpellier 

Friday 

January22 

RDS Arena 

KO 5.30pm 


At Sword we know how important the Game is. 

We know how important your memories are ....so relax 

and enjoy yourself, you're in safe hands. 

LEINSTER RUGBY FANS .... Secured by the team at Sword 

Dublin: 01-6688220 

info@swordsecurity.com 

www.swordsecurity.com 

Securing Sports Fans around the World.

Coronavirus 

COVID-19 

Coronavirus 

COVID-19 

Public Health 

Advice 

Stay safe. 

Protect each other. 

Continue to: 

Wash 

your hands well 

and often to avoid 

contamination. 

Cover 

your mouth and nose 

with a tissue or sleeve 

when coughing or 

sneezing and discard 

used tissue safely 

Distance 

yourself at least 

2 metres (6 feet) away 

from other people, 

especially those who 

might be unwell 

Avoid 

crowds and 

crowded places 

Know 

the symptoms. If you 

have them self isolate 

and contact your GP 

immediately 

COVID-19 symptoms include 

> high temperature 

> cough 

> breathing difficulty 

> sudden loss of sense of smell or taste 

> flu-like symptoms 

If you have any symptoms, self-isolate to 

protect others and call your GP for a 

COVID-19 test. 

#holdfirm 

For more information 

www.gov.ie/health-covid-19 

www.hse.ie 

Ireland’s public health advice is guided by WHO and ECDC advice

Jimmy O’Brien 

Cian Kelleher 

Liam Turner 

Ciarán Frawley 

Dave Kearney 

Harry Byrne 

Luke McGrath 

15 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

FULL BACK 

RIGHT WING 

OUTSIDE CENTRE 

INSIDE CENTRE 

LEFT WING 

FLY HALF 

SCRUM HALF 

Jack Blain 

Eroni Sau 

Mark Bennett 

Chris Dean 

Jamie Farndale 

Nathan Chamberlain 

Henry Pyrgos [C] 

Peter Dooley 

James Tracy 

Michael Bent 

Devin Toner 

Scott Fardy 

Dan Leavy 

Scott Penny 

Rhys Ruddock [C] 

Dan Sheehan 

Michael Milne 

Ciarán Parker 

Ross Molony 

Josh Murphy 

Hugh O’Sullivan 

David Hawkshaw 

Ryan Baird 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

LOOSE HEAD PROP 

HOOKER 

TIGHT HEAD PROP 

SECOND ROW 

SECOND ROW 

BLINDSIDE FLANKER 

OPENSIDE FLANKER 

NUMBER 8 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

Pierre Schoeman 

Dave Cherry 

Lee-Roy Atalifo 

Andries Ferreira 

Andrew Davidson 

Magnus Bradbury 

Luke Crosbie 

Ally Miller 

Mike Willemse 

Sam Grahamslaw 

Dan Gamble 

Jamie Hodgson 

Rory Darge 

Nic Groom 

Charlie Shiel 

James Johnstone 

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 13th competition game) 

Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace and Eoghan Cross (both IRFU) 

TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU) 


MAKE IT A GAME 

YOU’LL REMEMBER. 

MODERATE YOUR DRINKING. 

MAKE YOUR NEXT PINT TAP WATER. 

SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE 

#GUINNESSCLEAR

Leinster Rugby v Edinburgh

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