Leinster Rugby v Cardiff Blues

The cancelled Bank of Ireland Leinster
Rugby Schools Senior and Junior Cup
Finals.
Newbridge College were going for
a double until Covid-19 interrupted
everyone’s plans.
“Reaching finals doesn’t happen easily
for any school but certainly in Newbridge
we have had to fight harder to reach that
point so to do both in the one year was
a special achievement and I think that is
important for those players to remember.
“I AM FOCUSED ON THE TWO POSITIONS
THAT I PROBABLY ENJOY THE MOST
BUT LOOK, LIKE ALL THE LADS, WHEN
LEO OFFERS YOU A ROLE YOU TAKE IT
WITH BOTH HANDS BUT I’M DEFINITELY
ENJOYING IT AT THE MOMENT.”
“It was an achievement to get to the final
and they should be very proud of that.
“I suppose it will go down as a double,
of sorts, in that both titles are shared but I
know they would have loved the chance
to have won it outright.”
So when he was in their shoes and
tearing it up in Newbridge colours who
was he looking up to?
“I played in a few different positions in
Newbridge and particularly at outhalf I
suppose but also nine and in the centre.
“But that’s what I liked. You weren’t
pigeon-holed into one and then left to
it. They wanted to try lads in different
positions on the pitch. Develop them and
their skills. Challenge them in different
ways. Try to make you into a complete
footballer that can play in any number of
positions. It was great.
“So because of that I would have
enjoyed watching a load of different
players growing up. Felipe (Contepomi) I
remember watching him and enjoying him
and his style of play. Gordon D’Arcy as
well. Rob obviously in terms of full back
play. I remember seeing him on that Lions
series in South Africa in 2009. He was
just class.
“And even players like Geordan Murphy
who built his career in Leicester Tigers but
he was obviously a Kildare man, a Naas
man as well. So I’d have an eye on him
and what he was doing. Such a quality
player. He was always talked about when
I was growing up.
“You would be keeping an eye on them
all and how they played and how they
ran. Little things.”
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