Leinster Rugby v Dragons
Leinster Rugby v Dragons, Guinness Pro14 Rainbow Cup | Issue 13 Leinster Rugby Official Matchday Programme Friday 11th June, 2021 | Kick-off: 20:15
Leinster Rugby v Dragons, Guinness Pro14 Rainbow Cup | Issue 13
Leinster Rugby Official Matchday Programme
Friday 11th June, 2021 | Kick-off: 20:15
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ISSUE 13 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME<br />
MICHAEL<br />
MILNE<br />
VAKH<br />
ABDALADZE<br />
ROSS<br />
BYRNE<br />
Ryan<br />
James<br />
JUN<br />
11<br />
20<br />
21<br />
KICK OFF 20:15
READY<br />
FOR<br />
ACTION<br />
A sea of blue<br />
rising since 1879.
#LEIVDRA<br />
Newstead Building A, UCD,<br />
Belfield, Dublin 4<br />
Telephone:<br />
012693224<br />
Fax:<br />
012693142<br />
E-mail:<br />
information@leinsterrugby.ie<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie<br />
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT<br />
President: John Walsh<br />
Chief Executive: Michael Dawson<br />
Honorary Secretary: Stuart Bayley<br />
Honorary Treasurer: Michael McGrail<br />
RUGBY MANAGEMENT<br />
Head Coach: Leo Cullen<br />
Senior Coach: Stuart Lancaster<br />
Head of <strong>Rugby</strong> Operations:<br />
Guy Easterby<br />
Assistant Coach: Robin McBryde<br />
Backs Coach: Felipe Contepomi<br />
Kicking Coach: Emmet Farrell<br />
Contact Skills Coach: Hugh Hogan<br />
PROGRAMME CREDITS<br />
Editorial Team: Marcus Ó Buachalla<br />
& Ryan Corry<br />
Advertising: Gary Nolan<br />
Design: Julian Tredinnick,<br />
Ignition Sports Media<br />
Photography: Sportsfile<br />
Chief Steward: Sword Security<br />
Ambulance: St. John’s Ambulance<br />
Medilink<br />
Event Control & Safety Services:<br />
Eamonn O’Boyle & Associates<br />
7 20<br />
12<br />
62<br />
22 84<br />
STAY<br />
CONNECTED<br />
& KEEP<br />
UP-TO-DATE<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 3 | From The Ground Up
JOHN WALSHWEL COME<br />
We extend a warm welcome to<br />
rugby fans joining us at the RDS<br />
Arena for our final game in the<br />
Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup<br />
against Welsh visitors <strong>Dragons</strong>.<br />
Our recent clashes with <strong>Dragons</strong> have<br />
resulted in <strong>Leinster</strong> victories with a 35-<br />
29 win in their historic Rodney Parade<br />
grounds in February of this year and a<br />
35-5 win at the RDS in October 2020.<br />
The ‘local derbies’ element to the<br />
competition has provided some<br />
outstanding games with very close<br />
outcomes. The excellent coverage of<br />
these games has been a major bonus<br />
for us fans who have been unable to<br />
attend to give our players our passionate<br />
support.<br />
Thank you to eir Sport for all you have<br />
done for the coverage of the games.<br />
This is the last <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> game to<br />
be shown on your channel and we wish<br />
your staff and team the very best of<br />
luck for the future with eir Sport winding<br />
down. We have enjoyed immensely the<br />
coverage and the professionalism that<br />
you have brought to the Guinness PRO14<br />
and you will be missed.<br />
On behalf of <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> we welcome<br />
the <strong>Dragons</strong> Management team of David<br />
Buttress (Chair), Dean Ryan (Director of<br />
<strong>Rugby</strong>) and Rhodri Williams (Captain)<br />
and travelling squad to the RDS.<br />
The restructured 2020/21 season has<br />
been a difficult one for <strong>Dragons</strong> but with<br />
Dean Ryan at the helm and young Welsh<br />
talent coming through better days are<br />
only around the corner.<br />
As we bring the curtain down on the<br />
2020/21 season, I’m sure that Dean<br />
Ryan and Williams will be motivating<br />
their players to avail of the opportunity<br />
to deliver a fitting performance against<br />
the reigning Guinness PRO14 Champions<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> in our home here at the RDS.<br />
“Oh hard times come again no more”<br />
I am doubtful that since <strong>Leinster</strong>’s<br />
foundation in 1879 if we have ever<br />
encountered a 15-month period that<br />
has decimated our domestic rugby<br />
programmes to the extent that it has<br />
during this Covid pandemic.<br />
As the nationwide vaccination<br />
programme is making significant progress<br />
we are more optimistic than ever that<br />
there is a possibility that we can get<br />
back playing soon. We have effectively<br />
lost two playing seasons that involved in<br />
excess of 10,000 club and school fixtures<br />
that have impacted on our 73 clubs,<br />
120 schools and 13 third level colleges/<br />
universities.<br />
The pandemic also brought into focus the<br />
important role that sport plays in our lives<br />
and communities both in terms of physical<br />
and mental wellness.<br />
All involved in <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> are very<br />
appreciative of the Irish Government’s<br />
support for sporting organisations during<br />
this pandemic period and in particular<br />
to the financial support that they have<br />
allocated to the sector (€85 million to 42<br />
sporting organisations which included a<br />
sum of €18 million for distribution to the<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong>, Munster, Connacht and Ulster<br />
provinces).<br />
A total of 59 <strong>Leinster</strong> based clubs have<br />
availed of approximately €2 million in<br />
grants and this is most appreciated by all<br />
as we face the challenge of re-energising<br />
and re-financing our domestic game,<br />
which serves as the bedrock from where<br />
our success has been achieved.<br />
During 20 seasons of representing my<br />
club, Naas RFC, on the various <strong>Leinster</strong>,<br />
IRFU and Area Committees I have to state<br />
that <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> has always strived to<br />
be an inclusive and progressive outward<br />
looking sporting organisation.<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> have had considerable success<br />
in developing the game of rugby in its<br />
many formats throughout our 12-county<br />
province. “From The Ground Up” is<br />
not a clever marketing statement that<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> has adopted but it outlines<br />
our total belief that in order to have<br />
a progressive and sustainable rugby<br />
game in place we must establish a solid<br />
foundation from which to build on.<br />
Success is not a destination but a<br />
continuous journey and <strong>Leinster</strong>’s success<br />
record is the envy of many as we have<br />
developed and continue to expand our<br />
mini, youths, schools, U-20, third level<br />
colleges and mixed-ability programmes<br />
for boys and girls, men and women.<br />
To accomplish these progressive<br />
programmes <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> has in excess<br />
of 300 elected individuals who serve on<br />
our 21 <strong>Leinster</strong> Committees and on the<br />
five Area Committees. These volunteers<br />
are so generous with their time and<br />
expertise in giving back to our sport the<br />
benefit of their knowledge and I wish to<br />
acknowledge and thank them on behalf<br />
of <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> for their support during<br />
the past two seasons.<br />
A special word of thanks to <strong>Leinster</strong>’s<br />
Inclusivity Committee Members (Chaired<br />
by Moira Flahive) for the outstanding<br />
work that they have undertaken against<br />
the background of the pandemic in<br />
engaging with all our stakeholders in<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> and in bringing forward several<br />
key amendments to our bye-laws for<br />
consideration at our recent Annual<br />
General Meeting.<br />
I am pleased to report that these changes<br />
received overwhelming acceptance by<br />
all our delegates. This will result in three<br />
additional <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> clubs gaining<br />
direct representation on the Executive<br />
Committee for 2021/22.<br />
We extend a welcome to Railway Union<br />
(Founded 1905), Suttonians (1924)<br />
and Wicklow (1963) as they join the<br />
18 existing Energia All-Ireland League<br />
club delegates, as well as additional<br />
club, schools, youths, women’s rugby<br />
delegates that will see our Executive<br />
Committee expanded to 45 members,<br />
who serve all the stakeholders of <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
<strong>Rugby</strong>.<br />
Wishing you and all associated with<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> and <strong>Dragons</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> the very best<br />
for the future.<br />
John Walsh<br />
PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2020/21<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 5 | From The Ground Up
Leo Cullen<br />
HEAD COACH WELCOME<br />
THE DAY HAS<br />
FINALLY COME!<br />
IT’S BEEN A<br />
LONG WAIT<br />
BUT TODAY WE<br />
ARE OVERJOYED<br />
TO HAVE OUR<br />
SUPPORTERS<br />
BACK AT THE<br />
RDS ARENA.<br />
YOU ARE ALL<br />
SO WELCOME<br />
AND THANK<br />
YOU FOR YOUR<br />
PATIENCE AND<br />
SUPPORT THESE<br />
PAST LONG<br />
MONTHS.<br />
WE’D ESPECIALLY<br />
LIKE TO<br />
WELCOME OUR<br />
SPECIAL GUESTS,<br />
100 FRONTLINE<br />
WORKERS FROM<br />
ST VINCENT’S<br />
UNIVERSITY<br />
HOSPITAL, WHO<br />
HAVE RISKED<br />
SO MUCH<br />
TO KEEP OUR<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
SAFE AND WELL.<br />
A warm welcome also to Dean Ryan<br />
and his <strong>Dragons</strong> team for this, the final<br />
game of the season. Every club has<br />
had to battle through adversity this<br />
season and we feel a lot of solidarity<br />
with our fellow players and coaches,<br />
understanding more than ever how<br />
much we all rely on one another to<br />
keep the wheels turning.<br />
It’s almost a year now (22 June 2020)<br />
since we returned to training after the initial<br />
lockdown. So much work has gone into getting<br />
us to where we are today, and so many people<br />
have played a part in that journey. Thanks<br />
to everyone at the IRFU for helping us get so<br />
many games played, and to all the tournament<br />
organisers who had to juggle with scenarios<br />
none of us could ever have anticipated.<br />
Thanks to all the media for keeping the<br />
spotlight on our sport and helping to maintain<br />
awareness and interest among the rugby<br />
public. And thanks to our sponsors, especially<br />
our premium partners, Bank of Ireland, for their<br />
wonderful backing.<br />
Most importantly, thanks to our loyal supporters<br />
who stuck with the team throughout the dark<br />
days, keeping our spirits up with messages<br />
of support, and whose return to action this<br />
evening is the reward we’ve all been waiting<br />
for. It’s really gratifying how many of you<br />
have signed up as Season Ticket Holders for<br />
the year ahead and we are beyond grateful<br />
to have some of you here in the flesh with us<br />
today.<br />
In that sense, even though it’s the final game of<br />
the season, tonight feels like a new beginning.<br />
However, it also marks the end for a few<br />
players, most notably Michael Bent and Scott<br />
Fardy who have both decided to retire after<br />
this evening’s game.<br />
Benty and Fards, on behalf of the entire<br />
group, we wish you and your respective<br />
families health, happiness, and every success<br />
in the future. You have both been exceptional<br />
servants to the club and it’s been a pleasure<br />
having you around. I’m sure the fans who are<br />
here this evening will give the boys a proper<br />
send-off.<br />
To other players who are moving on to new<br />
challenges such as Rowan Osborne, Hugh<br />
O’Sullivan, Cian Kelleher and Greg McGrath,<br />
we wish you the very best and thank you for<br />
everything you have done for the club. Every<br />
player has contributed in their own way to the<br />
legacy of the team.<br />
Since we restarted last summer, we’ve had<br />
16 players make their <strong>Leinster</strong> debuts which is<br />
a brilliant reflection of the work that goes on<br />
all around the province. Our game has faced<br />
significant challenges at all levels, but we hope<br />
that the future will be bright and we can get out<br />
and about among clubs and communities to<br />
continue promoting and growing the game that<br />
we love so much.<br />
We would like to wish our Lions trio the best of<br />
luck on tour this summer. We were all gutted<br />
to hear that Andrew Porter will miss the tour<br />
through injury and I’m sure you join me in<br />
wishing him a speedy recovery. Good luck also<br />
to the Irish squad who will meet up soon to<br />
take on Japan and the United States at the start<br />
of next month.<br />
We also have a number of staff that will be<br />
departing and taking on new challenges and<br />
we would like to wish every one of them the<br />
very best for the next steps in their careers.<br />
There is one person who has contributed<br />
perhaps more than anyone else, our esteemed<br />
baggage master, the great John O’Hagan.<br />
Hago has been taking care of me since 1996<br />
when I was a player for the <strong>Leinster</strong> U-20s and<br />
he has been there every step of the way in<br />
my <strong>Leinster</strong> career, cleaning up many messes<br />
along the way! Johnny, we love you dearly and<br />
thank you for the most amazing memories over<br />
the last 25 years.<br />
This evening marks the end of a strange and<br />
unforgettable 2020/21 season. In spite of the<br />
difficulties, the group has managed to share<br />
some great experiences and we look forward<br />
to starting afresh after the summer break.<br />
Thank you all so much for your support, your<br />
kind messages, your interest and your love of<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong>.<br />
We can’t wait to see you at a packed RDS next<br />
season as we go in search of a fifth European<br />
star and a fifth consecutive PRO rugby title!<br />
Enjoy the game.<br />
Leo<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 7 | From The Ground Up
JOANN<br />
HOSEY<br />
PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR<br />
BANK OF IRELAND DUBLIN<br />
A VERY WARM WELCOME TO THE 1,200 OF YOU LUCKY ENOUGH TO<br />
BE IN THE RDS ARENA THIS EVENING FOR THIS GUINNESS<br />
PRO14 RAINBOW CUP GAME AGAINST DRAGONS.<br />
This match is a huge step forward<br />
for <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> and everyone<br />
associated with the club, as it<br />
welcomes supporters into the RDS<br />
Arena for the first time since the<br />
onset of the pandemic.<br />
The game is the first of the test sporting<br />
events announced by the Government,<br />
and everyone hopes that these test events<br />
go well in the coming weeks and that all<br />
the organisations charged with hosting<br />
them will have safe outcomes.<br />
I would like to express a sincere thank<br />
you to Mick Dawson, Kevin Quinn and<br />
the wider Commercial and Marketing<br />
team. They have put in a huge amount of<br />
time and effort over the last 15 months<br />
to keep <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> on track and<br />
ensuring the games went ahead behind<br />
closed doors.<br />
The whole team showed great foresight<br />
in submitting a plan to Government for<br />
a test event like this evening’s, and it’s<br />
brilliant to see such a return on all that<br />
effort.<br />
Credit also must go to the frontline<br />
workers from St. Vincent’s University<br />
Hospital who are at the RDS Arena this<br />
evening as guests of <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong>.<br />
Their tireless efforts kept us all safe over<br />
the last 15 months, which has not gone<br />
unnoticed, and it is a wonderful gesture<br />
from <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> to have them present<br />
at the first game back.<br />
Thank you to Leo Cullen and his staff,<br />
and to Johnny Sexton and all the players<br />
for their performances over the season to<br />
lift our spirits.<br />
There were ups and downs throughout<br />
the campaign, always providing<br />
compelling entertainment no matter<br />
which way the ball bounced. I hope that<br />
all the players enjoy their summer break,<br />
and I want to wish the best of luck to<br />
the players touring South Africa with the<br />
British and Irish Lions this summer and<br />
in the two Tests with Ireland for those<br />
selected by Andy Farrell.<br />
As for the <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> Women’s team,<br />
Covid-19 put paid to their chances of<br />
getting out on the pitch, but we must<br />
recognise all the <strong>Leinster</strong> players and<br />
in particular Sene Naoupu and Linda<br />
Djougang who played so well for Ireland<br />
in the recent Women’s Six Nations.<br />
To the players and coaches leaving<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> this summer, thank you<br />
for all that you have done. We would<br />
love to say farewell in person in front of<br />
a packed RDS, but rest assured we will<br />
all catch up in the future when it is safe<br />
to do so.<br />
Finally to the boys and girls all over<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> getting ready to put their school<br />
books down and take part in the Bank of<br />
Ireland <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> Summer Camps<br />
and School of Excellence programmes.<br />
We are delighted to play our part in<br />
bringing these camps to life and we hope<br />
you enjoy every minute of them!<br />
Good luck to <strong>Leinster</strong> tonight and<br />
hopefully see you all at the RDS Arena<br />
next season!<br />
JH<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 9 | From The Ground Up
Did you<br />
know?<br />
• <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> have<br />
lost three of their last five<br />
matches in all competitions<br />
and have been overturned<br />
at the RDS Arena on<br />
three occasions in 2021,<br />
by Connacht in January,<br />
Ospreys in March, and<br />
Munster in April.<br />
• <strong>Dragons</strong> have lost their<br />
last three matches in the<br />
Guinness PRO14 Rainbow<br />
Cup since beating Scarlets<br />
52-32 at Rodney Parade in<br />
Round 1.<br />
• The Welshmen have<br />
won three times on the road<br />
this season, on trip to Treviso<br />
in November, Glasgow in<br />
December, and Ospreys in<br />
March.<br />
• <strong>Dragons</strong> have not<br />
beaten an Irish province<br />
since a 21-8 victory against<br />
Connacht in September<br />
2017.<br />
• <strong>Leinster</strong> have won their<br />
last nine encounters with<br />
<strong>Dragons</strong> since the Men from<br />
Gwent’s 23-13 victory at<br />
Rodney Parade in January<br />
2016 whilst <strong>Dragons</strong> most<br />
recent success visiting an<br />
Irish province was 16-14<br />
against <strong>Leinster</strong> at the RDS<br />
Arena in February 2015.<br />
#LEIVdra<br />
Overall Guinness<br />
PRO14 head to head<br />
record:<br />
35 26 9 0<br />
PLAYED <strong>Leinster</strong> won <strong>Leinster</strong> lost DRAWs<br />
COMPARISON<br />
Last 3 PRO14 results:<br />
LEINSTER<br />
8 May - Connacht (A)<br />
W 50-21<br />
14 May - Ulster (H)<br />
W 21-17<br />
4 Jun - Glasgow (A)<br />
L 12-15<br />
Pool N:<br />
7th - W2 D0 L2 - 10pts<br />
WLLWWL<br />
(16pts)<br />
Hugo Keenan 3<br />
Hugo Keenan 15<br />
PRO14<br />
2020/21<br />
PRO14<br />
form<br />
Top try<br />
scorer<br />
Top points<br />
scorer<br />
DRAGONS<br />
9 May - Cardiff Blues (A)<br />
L 16-17<br />
16 May - Ospreys (H)<br />
L 26-42<br />
29 May - Glasgow (H)<br />
L 16-27<br />
Pool N:<br />
10th - W1 D0 L3 - 7pts<br />
WWWLLL<br />
(15pts)<br />
4 Jonah Holmes<br />
45 Sam Davies<br />
Date Venue L D <strong>Leinster</strong> scorers <strong>Dragons</strong> scorers<br />
Fri 24 Nov 17 RDS Arena 54 10 Ross Byrne(5C) Max Deegan(T) Cathal<br />
Marsh(C) Jamison Gibson-Park(T) Josh<br />
Murphy(T) Jordan Larmour(T) Rory<br />
O'Loughlin(T) Penalty Try(T) Isa Nacewa(2T)<br />
Sat 15 Sep 18 RDS Arena 52 10 Noel Reid(C) Tadhg Furlong(T) Scott Fardy(T)<br />
Sean Cronin(T) Jamison Gibson-Park(2T) Jordan<br />
Larmour(T) Johnny Sexton(6C/P) Josh van der<br />
Flier(T)<br />
Sat 1 Dec 18 Rodney Parade 59 10 Ross Byrne(5C) Ciaran Frawley(2C) Scott<br />
Penny(T) Scott Fardy(T) Bryan Byrne(T) Dave<br />
Kearney(2T) Caelan Doris(T) Hugo Keenan(T)<br />
Jimmy O'Brien(2T)<br />
Fri 1 Nov 19 RDS Arena 50 15 Michael Bent(T) James Lowe(2T) Harry<br />
Byrne(T/5C) Dave Kearney(2T) Ronan<br />
Kelleher(T) Hugh O'Sullivan(T)<br />
Fri 2 Oct 20 RDS Arena 35 5 James Lowe(2T) Ross Byrne(3C) Ryan Baird(T)<br />
Garry Ringrose(T/C) Jordan Larmour(T) Johnny<br />
Sexton(C)<br />
Fri 19 Feb 21 Rodney Parade 35 29 Ross Byrne(4C) Peter Dooley(T) Scott Penny(T)<br />
Josh Murphy(T) Penalty Try(T) Dan Sheehan(T)<br />
James Benjamin(T) Gavin Henson(C/D)<br />
Jordan Williams(T) Arwel Robson(C) Josh<br />
Lewis(P)<br />
Rhodri Williams(T) Jason Tovey(C/P)<br />
Jordan Williams(T) Sam Davies(C/P) Owen<br />
Jenkins(T)<br />
Ashton Hewitt(T)<br />
Luke Baldwin(T) Sam Davies(2C/5P) Josh<br />
Lewis(T)<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 11 | From The Ground Up
Ryan<br />
james<br />
IT IS HARD TO KNOW<br />
WHAT TO MAKE OF<br />
THE SEASON JUST<br />
GONE WITH NO<br />
SUPPORTERS AND<br />
THE SHADOW OF<br />
COVID-19 NEVER TOO<br />
FAR AWAY FROM ANY<br />
FIXTURE.<br />
AND YET, HERE<br />
WE ARE.<br />
EIGHTY MINUTES<br />
AWAY FROM ITS<br />
CONCLUSION.<br />
From The Ground Up | 12 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 13 | From The Ground Up
For the 59 players that pulled on<br />
a <strong>Leinster</strong> jersey to date, they<br />
know that they contributed<br />
to a record fourth Guinness<br />
PRO14 title in a row. It is a<br />
remarkable achievement.<br />
There have been highs and there<br />
have been lows.<br />
European delight, to European despair.<br />
It’s all been there. And while it has<br />
been a season of huge change and<br />
uncertainty, there is one thing that hasn’t<br />
changed.<br />
By the end of this evening, this band of<br />
brothers, the 2020/21 band, will never<br />
be in a dressing room together again.<br />
As sure as night follows day, every<br />
season has that same sense of finality.<br />
“It really is one of the tough things about<br />
being a professional rugby player,”<br />
reflects James Ryan, the young <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
and Ireland lock forward.<br />
“These players, they become like your<br />
family. You spend so much time with them<br />
and so much of your energy and your<br />
day is with them, ups and downs with<br />
them and then it’s over. Players move on<br />
and you have to get used to life without<br />
them.<br />
“Look at Ferg and Rob, they are gone a<br />
year now but again you still miss them<br />
because they were such key figures<br />
in there. I still miss them around the<br />
changing rooms.<br />
“It is quite a brutal reality like that, once<br />
next week finishes up and the last training<br />
session is done, that’s it. Lockers will be<br />
cleared out and your mates move on.”<br />
Ryan, may only be 24-years-old but<br />
he has been around this set-up and the<br />
environment long enough now to know<br />
good eggs when he sees them.<br />
Fergus McFadden and Rob Kearney<br />
were good ‘uns.<br />
And he knows that in Scott Fardy and<br />
Michael Bent, <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> are saying<br />
goodbye to two of the finest.<br />
Only this week, Stuart Lancaster when<br />
discussing Fardy’s legacy referred to<br />
him as the ‘forwards Isa Nacewa’, while<br />
last week, Robin McBryde was equally<br />
effusive in his praise of the quiet and<br />
unassuming Bent and the lasting legacy<br />
From The Ground Up | 14 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
he will have left on the young crop of<br />
props in particular.<br />
Ryan isn’t of a mind to disagree with<br />
either evaluation.<br />
“I think you know you have a pretty<br />
special player when they add as much<br />
value off the pitch as they do on it and<br />
that’s the way Fards is. He’s such a big<br />
character around the place and that<br />
again is one of the worst things about<br />
being a pro.<br />
“What is he? 36? Going on 37? And yet<br />
I’d consider him a mate and that’s again<br />
what’s so special about Fards.<br />
“Culturally he gets it and he did from<br />
day one. Regardless of your place here,<br />
young or old, you could be new into<br />
the Academy, or a member of staff, or<br />
having played hundreds of times, he<br />
treats everyone the same. It’s a great trait<br />
to have.<br />
“Fards has just had such an influence<br />
on all of us in here, and on my career<br />
as well. So it is gutting to lose people<br />
like that but it’s why it is such a driver for<br />
us this week to give them that send-off<br />
in front of the 1,200 supporters we will<br />
have at the RDS on Friday.”<br />
What is it about the former Australian<br />
forward that makes him stand out from<br />
the rest though?<br />
“One thing I like about him is that he is<br />
quite old school.<br />
“The modern game is really detail<br />
orientated and patterns, calls, plays and<br />
it has to be like that, of course, but there<br />
is also another element to the game and<br />
he had this ability to just strip all that<br />
back and just narrow the focus for us as<br />
a group.<br />
“That might sound quite basic but it’s then<br />
how you do it. And when. You do it with<br />
your actions, yes, but Fards also had the<br />
ability to choose his moments and his<br />
words and you listen.<br />
“So he’d say, ‘Look you know all of<br />
that, all of the detail, but now let’s focus<br />
on this, let’s get aggressive, let’s get<br />
physical’ or whatever, so his messaging<br />
was always good but his emotional<br />
intelligence too.<br />
“Knew when the group needed a kick<br />
up the ass, or when maybe the group<br />
or individual needed a lift, or a lighter<br />
moment.<br />
“That leadership piece just came naturally<br />
to him and the rest of us just tried to learn<br />
as much as we could from him and how<br />
he went about his business.”<br />
Of course, Ryan owes his European<br />
debut to Fardy, or should that be the<br />
Fardys!<br />
On the morning of the Montpellier match<br />
in the RDS Arena in 2017, Penelope<br />
Fardy went into labour and later that day<br />
August Fardy was born.<br />
But with Fardy ruled out, Ryan went from<br />
travelling extra, to starting lock.<br />
“He actually reminded me about that<br />
for a good two to three years after that<br />
game! He enjoyed that. His role in my<br />
debut. Where would I be without him?<br />
“But yeah, massive game for me at the<br />
time and all I had to eat before that game<br />
was some porridge because I went from<br />
24th man to starting in Europe for the first<br />
time. I didn’t have time to prep maybe<br />
as I would now and there was definitely<br />
a bit of panic that morning when Leo<br />
told me.<br />
“So yeah, Fards enjoyed that one. His<br />
role in catapulting my career forward!<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 15 | From The Ground Up
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He kick started it all and then I was lucky<br />
enough to play in plenty of games and<br />
European games with him.<br />
“He’s someone you just loved to play<br />
with. Loved to go into battle with.”<br />
You get the sense that Fardy will be a<br />
tough act to follow, but with nearly 160<br />
games for the club, Michael Bent’s status<br />
within the club is also nailed on.<br />
Ryan, as a lock forward, has spent plenty<br />
of time up close and personal with his<br />
tighthead prop in training and during<br />
games so again is well placed to assess<br />
Bent’s impact on the club.<br />
“Benty has given so much to the club and<br />
I know he has been here nearly 10 years<br />
but I suppose I can only talk about what<br />
I have seen in my time here and he has<br />
been brilliant.<br />
“He is definitely different in character<br />
to Fards but over the last few years in<br />
particular he has become a real strong<br />
but quiet influence in the pack.<br />
“He has become an anchor in our team<br />
and in our scrum now for so long that it<br />
is hard to think of a dressing room or a<br />
training session without him there.”<br />
The public perception of Bent is very<br />
different to the man that Ryan has<br />
soldiered with.<br />
“He’s become a real influence as I<br />
mentioned and a pillar of our forward<br />
pack but also on the art of scrummaging!<br />
He loves the scrum! Like nobody that I<br />
have ever come across!<br />
“So it is great to have a character like<br />
that in the team. Someone who absolutely<br />
loves what he does, is passionate about it,<br />
and is not shy in telling you what’s what.<br />
“He has such a wealth of knowledge and<br />
experience that he is comfortable holding<br />
people to account and he does that really<br />
well. If you’re not pushing hard enough<br />
behind him, he’ll let you know pretty<br />
quickly!<br />
“So like Fards and talking about traits,<br />
it’s a great trait to have. Direct, let’s you<br />
know what he’s thinking and gives it to<br />
you straight.<br />
“BENTY HAS GIVEN SO MUCH TO<br />
THE CLUB AND I KNOW HE HAS<br />
BEEN HERE NEARLY 10 YEARS BUT<br />
I SUPPOSE I CAN ONLY TALK ABOUT<br />
WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN MY TIME HERE<br />
AND HE HAS BEEN BRILLIANT.”<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 17 | From The Ground Up
“A big character on the pitch but also in<br />
the changing room. Well able to have<br />
some craic and to give and take the<br />
slagging that goes on.”<br />
You get the sense that Ryan could talk<br />
about the two retirees for quite some time<br />
if you let him and no doubt there is more<br />
than a story or two there to be told also.<br />
It is also then easy to understand why<br />
motivation for this evening’s game against<br />
the <strong>Dragons</strong> won’t be difficult either.<br />
The loss against Glasgow Warriors and<br />
the lost opportunity to maybe compete<br />
for another trophy hurt, but not giving a<br />
proper send-off to those teammates would<br />
hurt even more.<br />
“Last week was disappointing for us.<br />
We just weren’t accurate enough. We<br />
did plenty of stuff well in terms of the<br />
breakdown and our tackles, our carries, it<br />
was all very positive but the flip of that is<br />
we had four, five, six entries into their 22<br />
when we came away with nothing.<br />
“So when you come up against a good<br />
team, that are motivated, and you don’t<br />
take those chances, more often that not,<br />
you’ll regret it and that was the case last<br />
week.<br />
“Obviously the loss then took away any<br />
chance of being in the running this week<br />
but that doesn’t diminish the motivation.<br />
“For a start there will be 1,200<br />
supporters there! Which is huge!<br />
“Then there are players wanting to put<br />
their hand up for Ireland selection or<br />
look at Vakh (Abdaladze) making his<br />
first appearance of the season off the<br />
bench after all the injuries he has had,<br />
it’s brilliant.<br />
“And then as a wider group we want<br />
to send the players that are leaving<br />
off in the right way and with a positive<br />
experience from their last game at the<br />
RDS. Fards, Benty but also CK (Cian<br />
Kelleher), Rowan (Osborne), Hughie<br />
(O’Sullivan) and Greg McGrath who<br />
are leaving at the end of the season.<br />
Everyone wants to make sure that the day<br />
or the evening is as enjoyable as possible<br />
for them.<br />
“So there may be nothing tangible in<br />
terms of the Rainbow Cup at stake but<br />
that won’t diminish our drive and focus<br />
this week.”<br />
Not for the first time, he mentions the<br />
supporters being back.<br />
As well as Official Members, there<br />
will also be 100 frontline workers from<br />
St. Vincent’s University Hospital in<br />
attendance as guests of <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong>.<br />
There will also be, for the first time since<br />
February 2020, family members at the<br />
game.<br />
“I was only talking to Hugo Keenan<br />
about this last week. He has played 11<br />
games for Ireland and his family have yet<br />
to see him play live! Nuts!<br />
“Lads that have made debuts this season<br />
or like Dev and celebrating his milestone<br />
or winnng the PRO14, all special days<br />
that we have tried to make as special as<br />
possible as a group but you want to also<br />
celebrate those moments with your family<br />
and close friends.<br />
From The Ground Up | 18 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
“I WAS ONLY<br />
TALKING TO HUGO<br />
KEENAN ABOUT THIS<br />
LAST WEEK. HE HAS<br />
PLAYED 11 GAMES<br />
FOR IRELAND AND<br />
HIS FAMILY HAVE<br />
YET TO SEE HIM<br />
PLAY LIVE!”<br />
“It will be great to have that back again<br />
and hopefully then for the two Ireland<br />
games during the summer as well. Small<br />
steps towards bigger things next season<br />
hopefully and even more people in at the<br />
RDS and the Aviva.”<br />
There has been a lot of talk, naturally and<br />
understandably, about the lack of crowds<br />
and the impact on teams and home teams<br />
in particular.<br />
What has he missed the most?<br />
“A few things really.<br />
“The warm up and just that build up of<br />
noise that starts slowly but just you feel it<br />
rising with you. Walking out of the tunnel<br />
and again seeing that wall of blue in the<br />
RDS or in the Aviva Stadium for the big<br />
European games.<br />
“Walking out and 50,000 supporters<br />
there in blue. Those are the moments you<br />
play for and that the supporters make.<br />
“Covid has tested us in different ways<br />
and challenged us to find our energy<br />
source from different sources, but getting<br />
them back, will be brilliant, we’ve missed<br />
them.”<br />
With all the talk about others, there has<br />
been little time to talk about his own<br />
mini-milestone of 50 caps which he will<br />
win tonight against the <strong>Dragons</strong> to add<br />
to his 35 Ireland caps since his debut in<br />
September 2017.<br />
He has collected a Champions Cup,<br />
a Grand Slam, four PRO14 titles and<br />
countless other accolades in that time.<br />
Not a bad haul for a player just getting<br />
going.<br />
He will hope too to have a fruitful<br />
summer with Ireland - “I think the Japan<br />
game is important in the context of<br />
what happened in 2019” - and if an<br />
opportunity knocks with the British and<br />
Irish Lions, he’d more than happily take<br />
that too.<br />
But right now, like the rest of the 23 that<br />
will face <strong>Dragons</strong> this evening, what’s<br />
ahead and down the line, can wait its<br />
turn.<br />
Instead, it’s about one more game, one<br />
more performance for the team, and if he<br />
can do that for them, he’ll be more than<br />
happy.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 19 | From The Ground Up
GUINNESS PRO14 RAINBOW CUP<br />
SCOTSTOUN STADIUM<br />
4 JUNE 2021<br />
REF: FRANK MURPHY<br />
15<br />
12<br />
Adam Hastings; Kyle Steyn,<br />
Nick Grigg, Sam Johnson<br />
(Stafford McDowall 23), Cole<br />
Forbes (Nikola Matawalu<br />
63); Ross Thompson, George<br />
Horne; Aki Seiuli (Tom<br />
Lambert 57), Fraser Brown<br />
(George Turner 53), Enrique<br />
Pieretto (D’arcy Rae 69); Rob<br />
Harley (Kiran McDonald 46),<br />
Scott Cummings; Ryan Wilson,<br />
Rory Darge, Matt Fagerson<br />
(Tom Gordon 51).<br />
SCORERS:<br />
TRIES: Matt Fagerson,<br />
Kyle Steyn.<br />
CON: Ross Thompson.<br />
PEN: Ross Thompson.<br />
Hugo Keenan; Cian Kelleher<br />
(Jordan Larmour 64), Garry<br />
Ringrose, Rory O’Loughlin,<br />
Jimmy O’Brien; Ross Byrne,<br />
Luke McGrath; Ed Byrne<br />
(Peter Dooley 54), Rónan<br />
Kelleher (Dan Sheehan 68),<br />
Michael Bent (Andrew Porter<br />
45); Ross Molony, James<br />
Ryan; Josh Murphy (Ryan<br />
Baird 55), Josh van der Flier<br />
(Scott Penny 74), Caelan<br />
Doris.<br />
SCORERS:<br />
TRIES: Luke McGrath,<br />
Cian Kelleher.<br />
CON: Ross Byrne.<br />
From The Ground Up | 20 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
“WE’RE<br />
A LITTLE<br />
FRUSTRATED<br />
ALL AROUND.<br />
THERE WAS<br />
PLENTY<br />
OF GOOD<br />
INTENT BUT<br />
WE WEREN’T<br />
GOOD ENOUGH<br />
IN LOTS OF<br />
AREAS.”<br />
Leo Cullen<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 21 | From The Ground Up
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE YOUR STORY, PLEASE CONTACT<br />
WOMENSPRO@LEINSTERRUGBY.IE OR CHECK OUR SOCIAL<br />
MEDIA CHANNELS...<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Women’s <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
<strong>Leinster</strong>Womens<strong>Rugby</strong><br />
@<strong>Leinster</strong>Women<br />
womenspro@leinsterrugby.ie<br />
LEINSTER RUGBY<br />
U-18 Girls Squad Announced<br />
The <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> U-18 Girls<br />
squad has been announced for the<br />
coming season following a series<br />
of trials.<br />
Over the course of three Sundays in May,<br />
close to 120 players from schools and<br />
clubs right across the province, whom<br />
were identified and put forward by their<br />
area development coaches, took part in<br />
three on-pitch screening sessions.<br />
These sessions were all held in Cill<br />
Dara RFC in compliance with IRFU and<br />
Government COVID guidelines and were<br />
supported by <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> domestic<br />
staff.<br />
Congratulations to all the girls who took<br />
part and best of luck to those selected to<br />
participate and represent their clubs at<br />
provincial level.<br />
COACHING<br />
TEAM:<br />
Michael Bolger<br />
(Head Coach)<br />
Emily McKeown<br />
(Assistant Coach)<br />
Niall Kane<br />
(Assistant Coach)<br />
Padraig Mahon<br />
(Assistant Coach)<br />
Samantha Wafer<br />
(Manager)<br />
From The Ground Up | 22 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
LEINSTER RUGBY U-18 GIRLS SQUAD:<br />
Katie Whelan<br />
(Enniscorthy RFC)<br />
Dannah Kearney<br />
(Tullow RFC)<br />
Jen Madden<br />
(Wicklow RFC)<br />
Vicky Kinlan<br />
(Wicklow RFC)<br />
Ciara Boland<br />
(Enniscorthy RFC)<br />
Mia Kelly<br />
(Enniscorthy RFC)<br />
Robyn Johnston<br />
(Wicklow RFC)<br />
Grainne Flynn<br />
(Arklow RFC)<br />
Leah Murphy<br />
(Wicklow RFC)<br />
Ava Kavanagh<br />
(Arklow RFC)<br />
Aoife Wafer<br />
(Enniscorthy RFC)<br />
Alice Brennan<br />
(Kilkenny RFC)<br />
Jane Neill<br />
(Arklow RFC)<br />
Aoife Dalton<br />
(Tullamore RFC)<br />
Gemma Faulkner<br />
(Mullingar RFC)<br />
Isobel Clerk<br />
(Mullingar RFC)<br />
Caoimhe Guinan<br />
(Tullamore RFC)<br />
Leah Tarpey<br />
(Tullamore RFC)<br />
Sophie Treanor<br />
(Mullingar RFC)<br />
Emma Larkin<br />
(Portlaoise RFC)<br />
Ava Gleeson<br />
(Port Dara RFC)<br />
Taragh Kirwan<br />
(Port Dara RFC)<br />
Alanna Fitzpatrick<br />
(Port Dara RFC)<br />
Sarah Delaney<br />
(Port Dara RFC)<br />
Erin King<br />
(Naas RFC)<br />
Ruth Campbell<br />
(Naas RFC)<br />
Hannah Wilson<br />
(Port Dara RFC)<br />
Koren Dunne<br />
(Portlaoise RFC)<br />
Alison Kelly<br />
(Portlaoise RFC)<br />
Eadaoin Murtagh<br />
(Port Dara RFC)<br />
Jade Gaffney<br />
(Navan RFC)<br />
Abby Moyles<br />
(Navan RFC)<br />
Cara Martin<br />
(Navan RFC)<br />
Aoife Purcell<br />
(Dundalk RFC)<br />
Caoimhe Coleman<br />
(Balbriggan RFC)<br />
Caoimhe Stewart<br />
(Ardee RFC)<br />
Ava Govern<br />
(Ardee RFC)<br />
Eva Sterritt<br />
(Greystones RFC)<br />
Grace Adams<br />
(King’s Hospital)<br />
Emma Tilly<br />
(MU Barnhall RFC)<br />
Brooke Fagan Merrigan<br />
(Clontarf FC)<br />
Maebh Keegan<br />
(Clontarf FC)<br />
Anna Brennock<br />
(Bisto)<br />
Amy O'Mahoney<br />
(Greystones RFC)<br />
Kate Edgehill<br />
(King’s Hospital)<br />
Laoise Devlin<br />
(Bisto)<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 23 | From The Ground Up
FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION ON<br />
PRO14.RUGBY<br />
YOUR GUINNESS<br />
PRO14 HOME<br />
LATEST NEWS, LIVE MATCH<br />
CENTRES, STATS & MORE<br />
VISIT NOW<br />
WWW.PRO14.RUGBY
Tallaght Rfc<br />
BY EMMA LOUISE DOYLE<br />
TALLAGHT RUGBY CLUB WAS SET UP IN 2002<br />
AS PART OF THE ‘TALLAGHT PROJECT’, AN IRFU<br />
INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO INTRODUCE RUGBY<br />
IN NON-TRADITIONAL AREAS.<br />
The club has been going from<br />
strength to strength in recent<br />
years despite the adversity they<br />
face having no home ground or<br />
clubhouse facilities.<br />
Initially starting with the running of<br />
underage teams and focusing on the<br />
introduction of the game into schools in<br />
the area, Tallaght then set up their first<br />
Senior men’s team in 2006.<br />
In Tallaght’s first season in 2006/07<br />
they only played a few cup games but<br />
in 2007/08 they entered the J4 Metro<br />
League. Aside from a couple of seasons<br />
of Sunday rugby in the <strong>Leinster</strong> League,<br />
Tallaght then competed in the Metro<br />
League.<br />
They had some success winning the John<br />
Madden plate in 2011 and 2015 but<br />
they had endured a winless season in<br />
the league before Tom Leigh took over<br />
as head coach at the beginning of the<br />
2015/16 season.<br />
Missing out on league victories in<br />
2017/18 spurred the Tallaght men on to<br />
consecutively win league titles in Division<br />
6/7 of the <strong>Leinster</strong> Metro League in<br />
2019/20 under the wings of Leigh and<br />
new backs coach Gary Brennan.<br />
With numbers in continuous growth in<br />
the men’s division of the club, Tallaght<br />
now have two Senior men’s teams who<br />
compete in Division 3 of the <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
League and Division 9 of the <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
Metro league respectively.<br />
In 2013, Tallaght started an U-12 joint<br />
boys and girls team which has since<br />
expanded to include minis teams which<br />
cater for both boys and girls from ages<br />
five through to 12.<br />
This was started by Philip (Bisto) Preston,<br />
Tallaght Person of the Year 2015, who<br />
sadly passed away in 2016. Most<br />
recently the youth division has further<br />
expanded to accommodate an U-16<br />
girls team. This team was established by<br />
retired Senior women’s player and coach<br />
Aileen McGovern following the success<br />
of the girls ‘Give It A Try’ initiative.<br />
Tallaght also have U-16/18 boys and a<br />
number of U-18 girls who have joined<br />
forces with local clubs (St Mary’s, Old<br />
Belvedere) to form the ‘Bistos’. Along<br />
with the fantastic guidance provided<br />
by <strong>Leinster</strong> Community <strong>Rugby</strong> Officers<br />
Robert Mullen and Glenn Predy, the<br />
youth division of the club is only set to<br />
grow and their continued support is<br />
greatly appreciated.<br />
Tallaght women’s rugby team started<br />
out as a development social team in<br />
2011 made up of wives and girlfriends<br />
of Senior men players (and of course<br />
ladies encouraged to play by Women’s<br />
Development officer Martina Fitzpatrick).<br />
With the level of competitiveness and<br />
passion the team gave to each game,<br />
they soon progressed and now compete<br />
in Division 4 of the <strong>Leinster</strong> Metro<br />
Division. Tallaght RFC strives to provide<br />
a fun, diverse and inclusive environment<br />
throughout and testament to this is the<br />
fact that the women’s rugby team were<br />
invited to participate in the Union Cup<br />
held in DCU in 2019.<br />
The Union Cup is Europe’s biggest LGBT+<br />
inclusive rugby tournament and in 2019<br />
for the first time ever women’s teams were<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 25 | From The Ground Up
EVERY FIXTURE<br />
EVERY TRY<br />
EVERY TACKLE<br />
ALL IN<br />
ONE APP
invited to compete in the inaugural Anne<br />
Louise Gilligan Cup.<br />
It was such a pleasure for the team to be<br />
part of the tournament’s history and even<br />
had the opportunity to have one of their<br />
games televised.<br />
From one side of the whistle to the other,<br />
Tallaght RFC has also encouraged<br />
members and players alike to become<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> and IRFU affiliate referees.<br />
Most notably Audrey Fulham transitioned<br />
from the second row to become a widely<br />
respected <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> Referee.<br />
From refereeing tag rugby tournaments,<br />
youth matches to Senior level and even<br />
rubbing shoulders as a touch judge for<br />
Nigel Owens, her career is flourishing<br />
and the club is immensely proud of her<br />
achievements.<br />
Not having ‘dream’ facilities such as<br />
a clubhouse or the simple pleasure of<br />
having grounds to call their own doesn’t<br />
dampen the spirit of the club.<br />
Tallaght are allocated two pitches from<br />
local council authorities for which they<br />
are very grateful as it allows them to<br />
function as a club and provide a muchneeded<br />
outlet for youths and adults alike<br />
in the area.<br />
Equipment and changing facilities are<br />
housed in two shipping containers which<br />
run alongside four makeshift lampposts<br />
that run off a generator. The lighting<br />
for the pitch doesn’t cover a full pitch,<br />
meaning training is focused inside a<br />
smaller area during winter months. A<br />
second container houses a few benches<br />
where Tallaght’s players get changed<br />
before and after sessions.<br />
There are no showers and no heating.<br />
Instead on matchdays, Tallaght hire out<br />
the use of a local community centre in<br />
Firhouse and Tallaght Community School<br />
to facilitate visiting teams.<br />
Unfortunately, in recent times the club has<br />
suffered consecutive bouts of vandalism<br />
including one of the pitches being<br />
callously destroyed and rendered useless.<br />
Seeking more secure grounds for their<br />
players, members and supporters Tallaght<br />
have launched a fundraising campaign<br />
for their ‘Forever Home’ which has<br />
garnered massive support from both the<br />
rugby and wider community.<br />
They have also received backing from a<br />
few familiar faces in rugby along the way<br />
with their #TforTallaghtRFC campaign to<br />
help raise awareness of the fundraiser.<br />
Supporters such as Mike McCarthy,<br />
Lindsay Peat, Reggie Corrigan and<br />
even Ellis Genge formed the letter “T” in<br />
solidarity with the club as they embark<br />
on their ambitious journey to obtain their<br />
own grounds.<br />
Head to the link below to see how<br />
you can support them or pop over<br />
to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to<br />
follow their journey.<br />
https://gofund.me/1caf79fa<br />
Facebook:<br />
Tallaght RFC<br />
Instagram:<br />
Tallaght_<strong>Rugby</strong><br />
Twitter:<br />
@TallaghtRFC<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 27 | From The Ground Up
Leo<br />
Kids<br />
the Lion's<br />
Corner<br />
spot the<br />
differences<br />
ANAGRAMS<br />
Can you un-jumble<br />
the names of these<br />
academy players?<br />
COLA OF<br />
MERCY<br />
EEL SHIM<br />
VERTICALS<br />
GUESS<br />
WHO?<br />
Can you name these<br />
three academy<br />
players?<br />
ANSWERS<br />
ANAGRAMS<br />
Cormac Foley<br />
Michael Silvester<br />
GUESS WHO?<br />
Patrick Patterson<br />
Michael Milne<br />
Liam Turner<br />
From The Ground Up | 28 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
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QUEST10NS<br />
with...<br />
Adam Byrne<br />
1. What do you remember about your<br />
first day at <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong>?<br />
My first experience with the Senior<br />
team was surreal! Walking out to<br />
the pitch with Brian O’Driscoll and<br />
Gordon D’Arcy... I’ll never forget<br />
it! And everyone just being very<br />
welcoming and friendly but still<br />
expecting me to do my job in the<br />
training and letting me know if I<br />
messed up! A good balance for any<br />
young pro!<br />
2. What has been your most<br />
memorable moment playing with<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong>?<br />
I think my first start at the RDS. I’d<br />
made my debut at a young age but<br />
had a tough run with injury after<br />
that. So when Leo gave me my<br />
‘second debut’ a year or two later<br />
I was even more nervous! There’s<br />
a great photo of me and Josh (van<br />
der Flier) hugging after I scored and<br />
he’s just as happy as I am because<br />
he knew how much it meant to me.<br />
3. If you had to pick a teammate to<br />
be CEO of <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong>, who would<br />
it be?<br />
Rob Kearney has just moved on<br />
but it would have been him. James<br />
Tracy would do a great job too<br />
I reckon.<br />
4. What piece of advice would you give<br />
to your 18-year-old self now?<br />
Don’t take anything for granted and<br />
enjoy every moment as much as<br />
you can!<br />
5. What is a clever life-hack that<br />
you use?<br />
I try to always find a positive in<br />
every situation. Sometimes it can be<br />
hard but I’ve found it keeps me in a<br />
good mood!<br />
6. Who were your top five artists on<br />
Spotify Wrapped 2020?<br />
Drake, Dermot Kennedy, The<br />
Weeknd, Dave, Ed Sheeran<br />
7. What's the best nickname you've<br />
heard? And what's the origin?<br />
Rory O’Loughlin has a few<br />
nicknames but ‘Beans’ is one my<br />
personal favourites.<br />
It started on an Ireland Sevens trip<br />
where he ate all the beans in the<br />
canteen for breakfast and there was<br />
none left for the rest of the team!<br />
8. What fictional TV/book character<br />
would you most like to meet in<br />
real life?<br />
David Brent from the Office.<br />
9. If you could know the absolute<br />
truth to any question, what would<br />
you want to know?<br />
Jeez that’s a tough question... leave<br />
it with me!<br />
10. What have you been watching on<br />
Netflix/TV lately?<br />
Not a big TV person but the the<br />
Michael Jordan documentary was<br />
brilliant and then The Undoing and<br />
Top Boy!<br />
From The Ground Up | 30 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 31 | From The Ground Up
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Enjoy Responsibly
Inclusive rugby<br />
starts in Wexford Wanderers RFC<br />
BY DEBORAH CARTY<br />
On a beautiful sunny morning<br />
on Saturday, May 1, minis rugby<br />
returned to Wexford Wanderers<br />
– but this time for Return to <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
there was an extra team starting<br />
– Wexford had an inclusive team<br />
on the pitch.<br />
The idea came from Tony Connolly, the<br />
club chairman, and Colin Mernagh,<br />
minis co-ordinator, himself a parent of a<br />
special needs child, who believed that<br />
the club had plenty to offer the children<br />
of Wexford by starting an inclusivity<br />
programme about 18 months ago.<br />
However, with Covid the idea was on<br />
hold, but after sport started to reopen<br />
and Colin could see his children Jack<br />
and Izzie back to playing sport while<br />
his daughter Annie (a huge rugby and<br />
Johnny Sexton fan) was left sitting at<br />
home with nothing to do, he decided to<br />
take action.<br />
With the full backing of the club, and a<br />
meeting with Stephen Gore, the Spirit<br />
Officer with <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong>, they decided<br />
to do a six-week introduction course to<br />
see if there would be much interest from<br />
players and volunteers/coaches for it.<br />
Any worries or fears that there wouldn’t<br />
be much interest were soon allayed on<br />
that Saturday morning when a whopping<br />
25 children from ages 7-14 years<br />
showed up for the training session and<br />
almost as many volunteers to help coach<br />
with Corey Carty, <strong>Leinster</strong> CRO, Graham<br />
Barry, Club CCRO and Stephen Gore<br />
also in attendance to give their support<br />
and help the new coaches and volunteers<br />
to prepare for the training session.<br />
Speaking about the initiative, Colin<br />
said: “We have kids of every ability and<br />
different needs but we have exceptional<br />
volunteers to help with the team and<br />
a special mention must go out to Des<br />
Dempsey, Colm Ó Corcora and Bronagh<br />
Hogan for all their help.<br />
“We train on Saturday mornings with the<br />
rest of the minis so the team feels included<br />
in the club. We feel it is important that<br />
the parents and kids feel part of the<br />
club and not an add-on and I hope we<br />
achieved that.<br />
“It is important to remember that most<br />
kids with special needs don’t take part<br />
in team field sports so to give kids that<br />
access and hopefully develop into a<br />
tag rugby team that will travel as part of<br />
Wexford Wanderers to play other teams<br />
is a massive sense of achievement for the<br />
kids and the parents.”<br />
Stephen Gore commented: “The <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
<strong>Rugby</strong> Inclusion program each year<br />
is growing, with Wexford Wanderers<br />
starting this month the program is now at<br />
23 clubs.<br />
“Wexford’s couldn’t have gotten off to<br />
a better start with 25 players showing<br />
up for the first session and loads of<br />
volunteers to help with delivering the<br />
session. It was fantastic to see the energy<br />
the coaches brought to make sure<br />
that each player took part and more<br />
importantly had fun and enjoyed the<br />
session.<br />
“Wexford have taken another massive<br />
step to show that they are a fully inclusive<br />
club.”<br />
If your club is interested in setting up an<br />
inclusion section, please contact your<br />
provincial Spirit Officer Stephen Gore<br />
at stephen.gore@leinsterrugby.ie who<br />
can explain the guidelines to setting up<br />
a section and also what supports such<br />
as coach education, clinic session and<br />
equipment could be available to you to<br />
aid with setting up the program.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 35 | From The Ground Up
2020/21 squad<br />
VAKH ABDALADZE - #1263<br />
DOB 6 FEBRUARY 1996<br />
From KUTAISI, GEORGIA<br />
Height 1.85M (6’ 1”)<br />
Weight 117KG (18st 6lbs)<br />
Position PROP<br />
Club CLONTARF FC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 2 DECEMBER 2017<br />
Honours IRELAND U20S (2 caps)<br />
MICHAEL BENT - #1212<br />
DOB 25 APRIL 1986<br />
From HAWERA, NEW ZEALAND<br />
Height 1.85M (6’ 1”)<br />
Weight 118KG (18st 8lbs)<br />
Position PROP<br />
Club DUBLIN UNIVERSITY FC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 1 DECEMBER 2012<br />
Honours IRELAND (4 caps)<br />
ED BYRNE - #1222<br />
DOB 9 SEPTEMBER 1993<br />
From CARLOW<br />
Height 1.80M (5’ 11”)<br />
Weight 114KG (17st 13lbs)<br />
Position PROP<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 9 FEBRUARY 2014<br />
Honours IRELAND (4 caps)<br />
ROSS BYRNE - #1236<br />
DOB 8 APRIL 1995<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.88M (6’ 3”)<br />
Weight 90KG (14st 2lbs)<br />
Position OUTHALF<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 4 SEPTEMBER 2015<br />
Honours IRELAND (13 caps)<br />
WILL CONNORS - #1264<br />
DOB 4 APRIL 1996<br />
From DONADEA, KILDARE<br />
Height 1.94 (6’ 4”)<br />
Weight 102KG (16st 1lbs)<br />
Position BACK ROW<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 9 FEBRUARY 2018<br />
Honours IRELAND (9 caps)<br />
RYAN BAIRD - #1278<br />
DOB 26 JULY 1999<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.98M (6’ 6”)<br />
Weight 112KG (17st 8lbs)<br />
Position SECOND ROW<br />
Club DUBLIN UNIVERSITY FC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 27 APRIL 2019<br />
Honours IRELAND (3 caps)<br />
ADAM BYRNE - #1213<br />
DOB 10 APRIL 1994<br />
From KILDARE<br />
Height 1.93M (6’ 4”)<br />
Weight 101KG (15st 12lbs)<br />
Position WING / FULL BACK<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 29 DECEMBER 2012<br />
Honours IRELAND (1 cap)<br />
HARRY BYRNE - #1280<br />
DOB 22 APRIL 1999<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.88M (6’ 2”)<br />
Weight 92KG (14st 6lbs)<br />
Position OUTHALF<br />
Club LANSDOWNE<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 28 SEPTEMBER 2019<br />
Honours IRELAND U20S (13 caps)<br />
JACK CONAN - #1223<br />
DOB 29 JULY 1992<br />
From BRAY, WICKLOW<br />
Height 1.93M (6’ 4”)<br />
Weight 111KG (17st 6lbs)<br />
Position NO. 8<br />
Club OLD BELVEDERE RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 20 FEBRUARY 2014<br />
Honours IRELAND (20 caps)<br />
SEÁN CRONIN - #1202<br />
DOB 6 MAY 1986<br />
From LIMERICK<br />
Height 1.80M (5’ 11”)<br />
Weight 103KG (16st 3lbs)<br />
Position HOOKER<br />
Club ST. MARY’S COLLEGE RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 28 OCTOBER 2011<br />
Honours IRELAND (72 caps)<br />
From The Ground Up | 36 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
MAX DEEGAN - #1256<br />
DOB 1 OCTOBER 1996<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.93M (6’ 3”)<br />
Weight 109KG (17st 1lbs)<br />
Position NO. 8<br />
Club LANSDOWNE FC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 3 DECEMBER 2016<br />
Honours IRELAND (1 cap)<br />
CAELAN DORIS - #1268<br />
DOB 2 APRIL 1998<br />
From MAYO<br />
Height 1.94M (6’ 4”)<br />
Weight 106KG (16st 10lbs)<br />
Position BACK ROW<br />
Club ST. MARY’S COLLEGE RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 28 APRIL 2018<br />
Honours IRELAND (7 caps)<br />
SCOTT FARDY - #1257<br />
DOB 5 JULY 1984<br />
From SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA<br />
Height 1.98 M (6’ 6”)<br />
Weight 111 KG (17st 7lbs)<br />
Position SECOND ROW<br />
Club UNASSIGNED<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 2 SEPTEMBER 2017<br />
Honours AUSTRALIA (39 caps)<br />
TADHG FURLONG - #1220<br />
DOB 14 NOVEMBER 1992<br />
From WEXFORD<br />
Height 1.85M (6’ 1”)<br />
Weight 123KG (19st 5lbs)<br />
Position PROP<br />
Club NEW ROSS RFC / CLONTARF FC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 1 NOVEMBER 2013<br />
Honours IRELAND (49 caps)<br />
AND BRITISH & IRISH LIONS (6 caps)<br />
CIAN HEALY - #1142<br />
DOB 7 OCTOBER 1987<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.85M (6’ 1”)<br />
Weight 112KG (17st 8lbs)<br />
Position PROP<br />
Club CLONTARF FC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 5 MAY 2007<br />
Honours IRELAND (109 caps)<br />
AND BRITISH & IRISH LIONS (2 caps)<br />
DAVE KEARNEY - #1158<br />
DOB 19 JUNE 1989<br />
From LOUTH<br />
Height 1.81M (5’ 11”)<br />
Weight 90KG (14st 2lbs)<br />
Position WING / FULL BACK<br />
Club LANSDOWNE FC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 16 MAY 2009<br />
Honours IRELAND (19 caps)<br />
CIAN KELLEHER - #1234<br />
DOB 7 AUGUST 1994<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.85M (6’ 0”)<br />
Weight 90KG (14st 2lbs)<br />
Position WINGER/FULL BACK<br />
Club LANSDOWNE FC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 16 MAY 2015<br />
Honours IRELAND U20S (9 caps)<br />
PETER DOOLEY - #1230<br />
DOB 4 AUGUST 1994<br />
Birthplace OFFALY<br />
Height 1.85M (6’ 1”)<br />
Weight 116KG (18st 4lbs)<br />
Position PROP<br />
Club LANSDOWNE FC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 31 OCTOBER 2014<br />
Honours IRELAND U20S (18 caps)<br />
JACK DUNNE - #1276<br />
DOB 21 NOVEMBER 1998<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 2.02M (6’ 7”)<br />
Weight 112KG (17st 9lbs)<br />
Position SECOND ROW<br />
School ST. MICHAEL’S COLLEGE<br />
Club DUBLIN UNIVERSITY FC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 16 FEBRUARY 2019<br />
Honours IRELAND U20S (10 caps)<br />
CIARÁN FRAWLEY - #1265<br />
DOB 4 DECEMBER 1997<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.92M (6’ 3”)<br />
Weight 95.6KG (15st 1lbs)<br />
Position OUTHALF<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 17 FEBRUARY 2018<br />
Honours IRELAND U20S (10 caps)<br />
JAMISON GIBSON-PARK - #1247<br />
DOB 23 FEBRUARY 1992<br />
From GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, NEW<br />
ZEALAND<br />
Height 1.76M (5’ 9”)<br />
Weight 80KG (12st 8lbs)<br />
Position SCRUM HALF<br />
Club UNASSIGNED<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 2 SEPTEMBER 2016<br />
Honours IRELAND (9 caps)<br />
ROBBIE HENSHAW - #1251<br />
DOB 12 JUNE 1993<br />
From ATHLONE<br />
Height 1.91M (6’ 3”)<br />
Weight 99KG (15st 8lbs)<br />
Position CENTRE / FULL BACK<br />
Club BUCCANEERS RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 8 OCTOBER 2016<br />
Honours IRELAND (52 caps)<br />
AND BRITISH & IRISH LIONS (4 caps)<br />
HUGO KEENAN - #1253<br />
DOB 18 JUNE 1996<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.85M (6’ 1”)<br />
Weight 92KG (14st 4lbs)<br />
Position FULL BACK<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 5 NOVEMBER 2016<br />
Honours IRELAND (11 caps)<br />
RÓNAN KELLEHER - #1277<br />
DOB 24 JANUARY 1998<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.85M (6’ 0”)<br />
Weight 106KG (16st 7lbs)<br />
Position HOOKER<br />
Club LANSDOWNE FC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 22 FEBRUARY 2019<br />
Honours IRELAND (11 caps)<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 37 | From The Ground Up
JORDAN LARMOUR - #1258<br />
DOB 10 JUNE 1997<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.78M (5’ 10”)<br />
Weight 90KG (14st 1lbs)<br />
Position WING<br />
Club ST. MARY’S COLLEGE RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 2 SEPTEMBER 2017<br />
Honours IRELAND (29 caps)<br />
JAMES LOWE - #1262<br />
DOB 8 JULY 1992<br />
From NELSON, NEW ZEALAND<br />
Height 1.88M (6’ 2”)<br />
Weight 105KG (16st 7lbs)<br />
Position WING / FULL BACK<br />
Club CLONDALKIN RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 2 DECEMBER 2017<br />
Honours IRELAND (6 caps)<br />
ROSS MOLONY - #1233<br />
DOB 11 MAY 1994<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 2.00M (6’ 6”)<br />
Weight 113KG (17st 11lbs)<br />
Position SECOND ROW<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 20 FEBRUARY 2015<br />
Honours IRELAND U20S (10 caps)<br />
ROWAN OSBORNE - #1281<br />
DOB 3 NOVEMBER 1996<br />
From EADESTOWN, KILDARE<br />
Height 1.71M (5’ 7”)<br />
Weight 77KG (12st 1lbs)<br />
Position SCRUM HALF<br />
Club DUBLIN UNIVERSITY FC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 4 OCTOBER 2019<br />
Honours IRELAND SCHOOLS<br />
JIMMY O'BRIEN - #1272<br />
DOB 27 NOVEMBER 1996<br />
From KILDARE<br />
Height 1.84M (6’ 0”)<br />
Weight 89KG (14st 0lbs)<br />
Position CENTRE<br />
Club NAAS RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 23 NOVEMBER 2018<br />
Honours IRELAND U20S (8 caps)<br />
RORY O'LOUGHLIN - #1248<br />
DOB 21 JANUARY1994<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.88M (6’ 2”)<br />
Weight 94KG (14st 6lbs)<br />
Position CENTRE<br />
Club OLD BELVEDERE RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 2 SEPTEMBER 2016<br />
Honours IRELAND (1 cap)<br />
CIARAN PARKER* - #1288<br />
DOB: 5 OCTOBER 1995<br />
From: STOCKPORT, ENGLAND<br />
Height: 1.88M (6’ 2”)<br />
Weight: 120KG (18st 10lbs)<br />
Position: PROP<br />
Club: UNASSIGNED<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut: 23 OCTOBER 2020<br />
Honours: ENGLAND U20S<br />
*on loan from Jersey Reds September – December 2020<br />
DAN LEAVY - #1231<br />
DOB 23 MAY 1994<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.91M (6’ 3”)<br />
Weight 106KG (16st 9lbs)<br />
Position FLANKER<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 31 OCTOBER 2014<br />
Honours IRELAND (11 caps)<br />
LUKE McGRATH - #1206<br />
DOB 3 FEBRUARY 1993<br />
From ONTARIO, CANADA<br />
Height 1.75M (5’ 9”)<br />
Weight 82KG (12st 12lbs)<br />
Position SCRUM HALF<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 5 MAY 2012<br />
Honours IRELAND (19 caps)<br />
JOSH MURPHY - #1261<br />
DOB 17 FEBRUARY 1995<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.96M (6’ 5”)<br />
Weight 110KG (17st 4lbs)<br />
Position FLANKER<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 3 NOVEMBER 2017<br />
Honours IRELAND U20S (13 caps)<br />
CONOR O'BRIEN - #1260<br />
DOB 6 FEBRUARY 1996<br />
From WESTMEATH<br />
Height 1.90M (6’ 3”)<br />
Weight 101KG (16st 0lbs)<br />
Position CENTRE<br />
Club CLONTARF FC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 3 NOVEMBER 2017<br />
Honours IRELAND U20S (9 caps)<br />
TOMMY O'BRIEN - #1283<br />
DOB 28 MAY 1998<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.83M (6’ 0”)<br />
Weight 95KG (14st 3lbs)<br />
Position CENTRE<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 20 DECEMBER 2019<br />
Honours IRELAND U20S (15 caps)<br />
HUGH O'SULLIVAN - #1270<br />
DOB 24 FEBRUARY 1998<br />
From MEATH<br />
Height 1.79M (5’ 9”)<br />
Weight 80KG (12st 8lbs)<br />
Position SCRUM HALF<br />
Club CLONTARF FC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 15 SEPTEMBER 2018<br />
Honours IRELAND U20S (10 caps)<br />
SCOTT PENNY - #1271<br />
DOB 22 SEPTEMBER 1999<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.85M (6’ 0”)<br />
Weight 103KG (16st 3lbs)<br />
Position FLANKER<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 23 NOVEMBER 2018<br />
Honours IRELAND U20S (5 caps)<br />
From The Ground Up | 38 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
ANDREW PORTER - #1246<br />
DOB 16 JANUARY 1996<br />
Birthplace DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.84M (6’ 1”)<br />
Weight 114KG (17st 13lbs)<br />
Position PROP<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 2 SEPTEMBER 2016<br />
Honours IRELAND (37 caps)<br />
RHYS RUDDOCK - #1167<br />
DOB 13 NOVEMBER 1990<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.91M (6’ 3”)<br />
Weight 111KG (17st 6lbs)<br />
Position BACK ROW<br />
Club ST. MARY’S COLLEGE RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 6 DECEMBER 2009<br />
Honours IRELAND (27 caps)<br />
JOHNNY SEXTON - #1127<br />
DOB 11 JULY 1985<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.88M (6’ 2”)<br />
Weight 92KG (14st 6lbs)<br />
Position OUTHALF<br />
Club ST. MARY’S COLLEGE RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 27 JANUARY 2006<br />
Honours IRELAND (99 caps)<br />
AND BRITISH & IRISH LIONS (14 caps)<br />
DEVIN TONER - #1128<br />
DOB 29 JUNE 1986<br />
From MEATH<br />
Height 2.08M (6’ 10”)<br />
Weight 126KG (19st 11lbs)<br />
Position SECOND ROW<br />
Club LANSDOWNE FC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 27 JANUARY 2006<br />
Honours IRELAND (70 caps)<br />
JOSH VAN DER FLIER - #1228<br />
DOB 25 APRIL 1993<br />
From WICKLOW<br />
Height 1.87M (6’ 2”)<br />
Weight 102KG (16st 1lbs)<br />
Position FLANKER<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 11 OCTOBER 2014<br />
Honours IRELAND (31 caps)<br />
GARRY RINGROSE - #1237<br />
DOB 26 JANUARY 1995<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.87M (6’ 2”)<br />
Weight 95KG (14st 11lbs)<br />
Position CENTRE<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 12 SEPTEMBER 2015<br />
Honours IRELAND (34 caps)<br />
JAMES RYAN - #1259<br />
DOB 24 JULY 1996<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 2.04M (6’ 7”)<br />
Weight 116KG (18st 3lbs)<br />
Position SECOND ROW<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 2 SEPTEMBER 2017<br />
Honours IRELAND (35 caps)<br />
DAN SHEEHAN - #1286<br />
DOB 17 SEPTEMBER 1998<br />
From DUBLIN<br />
Height 1.91 M (6’ 3”)<br />
Weight 111KG (17st 5lbs)<br />
Position HOOKER<br />
Club LANSDOWNE FC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 23 OCTOBER 2020<br />
Honours IRELAND U20S (5 caps)<br />
JAMES TRACY - #1211<br />
DOB 2 APRIL 1991<br />
From KILDARE<br />
Height 1.85M (6’ 1”)<br />
Weight 106KG (16st 9lbs)<br />
Position HOOKER<br />
Club UCD RFC<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Debut 4 NOVEMBER 2012<br />
Honours IRELAND (6 caps)<br />
Coaching Staff<br />
LEO CULLEN<br />
HEAD COACH<br />
STUART LANCASTER<br />
SENIOR COACH<br />
ROBIN MCBRYDE<br />
ASSISTANT COACH<br />
FELIPE CONTEPOMI<br />
BACKS COACH<br />
EMMET FARRELL<br />
KICKING COACH AND<br />
LEAD PERFORMANCE ANALYST<br />
GUY EASTERBY<br />
HEAD OF RUGBY OPERATIONS<br />
HUGH HOGAN<br />
CONTACT SKILLS COACH<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 39 | From The Ground Up
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Michael Costello, Managing Partner,<br />
on 01 470 0130 or email mcostello@bdo.ie<br />
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Official Health and Wellbeing Partner<br />
to <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong>
Limited Places Remain On<br />
Bank Of Ireland Inclusion Camps<br />
LIMITED PLACES STILL REMAIN ON FIVE OF THE BANK<br />
OF IRELAND LEINSTER RUGBY INCLUSION CAMPS,<br />
WITH ALL 32 SUMMER CAMPS ALREADY SOLD OUT.<br />
The five inclusion camps will<br />
take place in Greystones RFC,<br />
Mullingar RFC, Navan RFC,<br />
Coolmine RFC and Newbridge RFC<br />
in July and August.<br />
The Bank of Ireland <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
Inclusion Camps provide children with<br />
disabilities aged between eight and<br />
12 with a fun-filled three days of rugby<br />
during the summer holidays.<br />
The camps are focused on adapting<br />
rugby to meet the needs of camp-goers to<br />
maximise enjoyment and learning to play<br />
the <strong>Leinster</strong> Way.<br />
Thursdays, and are open to all children<br />
with additional needs aged between<br />
eight to 12.<br />
A daily COVID-19 health sign-off will also<br />
be required.<br />
The inclusion camps will be held from<br />
10.30am-12.30pm and run over three<br />
days, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and<br />
For a full list of Inclusion Camp venues and dates and to book your place, click here.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 43 | From The Ground Up
<strong>Leinster</strong> Player Statistics<br />
SQUAD<br />
CAP<br />
NO<br />
DEBUT<br />
2020/21 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER<br />
ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR<br />
App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts<br />
SINCE LAST TRY<br />
CAPS<br />
VAKH ABDALADZE 1263 2 DEC 17 - - - - - - - - - 0+11 1 5 0+11 1 5 - - - 10 -<br />
RYAN BAIRD 1278 27 APR 19 8+8 2 10 5+3 2 10 1+3 - - 11+15 5 25 8+9 5 25 1+4 - - 10 IR 3<br />
MICHAEL BENT 1212 1 DEC 12 13+5 3 15 11+2 3 15 1+1 - - 92+66 7 35 86+41 7 35 5+23 - - 6 IR 4<br />
ADAM BYRNE 1213 29 DEC 12 - - - - - - - - - 49+8 20 100 39+8 14 70 10 6 30 5 IR 1<br />
ED BYRNE 1222 9 FEB 14 5+8 2 10 3+5 2 10 0+2 - - 19+51 10 50 17+39 9 45 0+11 1 5 7 IR 4<br />
HARRY BYRNE 1280 28 SEP 19 11+2 3 96 10+1 3 91 0+1 - 5 14+9 6 154 13+8 6 149 0+1 - 5 2 -<br />
ROSS BYRNE 1236 4 SEP 15 11+3 1 124 5+2 - 57 3+1 1 55 69+34 6 642 54+18 2 451 12+16 4 179 4 IR 13<br />
THOMAS<br />
1285 29 AUG 20 2+7 - - 2+7 - - - - - 2+8 - - 2+8 - - - - - - -<br />
CLARKSON<br />
JACK CONAN 1223 20 FEB 14 8+4 2 10 5+3 1 5 2 - - 80+25 23 115 58+14 15 75 21+10 7 35 1 IR 20<br />
WILL CONNORS 1264 9 FEB 18 2+1 - - 2+1 - - - - - 17+6 2 10 16+6 2 10 1 - - 10 IR 9<br />
TIM CORKERY 1298 12 MAR 21 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - -<br />
SEAN CRONIN 1202 28 OCT 11 5+5 1 5 4+4 1 5 - - - 120+75 42 210 75+53 25 125 43+19 16 80 7 IR 72<br />
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<br />
PETER DOOLEY 1230 31 OCT 14 12+5 3 15 10+2 3 15 1+1 - - 40+53 5 25 37+45 5 25 2+6 - - 8 -<br />
CAELAN DORIS 1268 28 APR 18 6 - - 3 - - 1 - - 31+8 5 25 23+6 3 15 6+2 2 10 8 IR 7<br />
JACK DUNNE 1276 16 FEB 19 1+7 - - 1+7 - - - - - 2+13 - - 2+13 - - - - - - -<br />
SCOTT FARDY 1257 2 SEP 17 12+6 1 5 9+4 - - 2+1 - - 62+17 11 55 45+10 6 30 16+6 4 20 1 AU 39<br />
CORMAC FOLEY 1299 24 APR 21 0+1 - - - - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - -<br />
CIARAN FRAWLEY 1265 17 FEB 18 8+1 1 19 6 - 14 1+1 1 5 17+18 4 143 15+14 3 132 1+4 1 11 5 -<br />
TADHG FURLONG 1220 1 NOV 13 4+2 1 5 1+1 - - 2 1 5 73+41 8 40 41+32 3 15 31+8 5 25 3 IR 49<br />
JAMISON GIBSON-<br />
1247 2 SEP 16 4+3 1 5 3+2 - - 1+1 1 5 48+52 17 85 43+28 14 70 5+24 3 15 4 IR 9<br />
PARK<br />
MARCUS HANAN 1295 19 FEB 21 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - - -<br />
DAVID HAWKSHAW 1290 2 NOV 20 0+8 1 14 0+7 1 11 - - - 0+8 1 14 0+7 1 11 - - - 4 -<br />
CIAN HEALY 1142 5 MAY 07 7+3 2 10 3+2 - - 3+1 1 5 155+75 27 135 88+48 12 60 64+26 13 65 1 IR 109<br />
ROBBIE HENSHAW 1251 8 OCT 16 9 2 10 4 1 5 4 - - 56+1 11 55 24 4 20 31+1 6 30 1 IR 52<br />
DAVE KEARNEY 1158 16 MAY 09 19+1 10 50 14 8 40 2+1 2 10 147+22 51 255 118+15 44 220 25+6 7 35 7 IR 19<br />
HUGO KEENAN 1253 5 NOV 16 11 3 15 5 - - 4 - - 26+3 4 20 19+3 1 5 5 - - 2 IR 11<br />
CIAN KELLEHER 1234 16 MAY 15 11+1 8 40 9 6 30 0+1 - - 17+10 13 65 15+9 11 55 0+1 - - 1 -<br />
RONAN KELLEHER 1277 22 FEB 19 6+3 - - 2+1 - - 3+1 - - 19+5 9 45 12+2 8 40 6+2 1 5 12 IR 11<br />
JORDAN LARMOUR 1258 2 SEP 17 9+2 4 20 5 2 10 2 2 10 51+10 17 85 28+5 12 60 21+3 5 25 6 IR 29<br />
DAN LEAVY 1231 31 OCT 14 4+5 3 15 4+3 2 10 0+2 1 5 43+29 17 85 35+19 13 65 8+10 4 20 1 IR 11<br />
JAMES LOWE 1262 2 DEC 17 5 4 20 2 3 15 2 1 5 52 34 170 33 25 125 18 9 45 3 IR 6<br />
GREG MCGRATH 1293 2 JAN 21 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - - -<br />
LUKE MCGRATH 1206 5 MAY 12 19+4 8 40 13+3 7 35 3+1 - - 102+48 39 195 66+42 30 150 33+6 8 40 1 IR 19<br />
MICHAEL MILNE 1279 28 SEP 19 1+5 - - 1+4 - - - - - 1+14 2 10 1+13 2 10 - - - 13 -<br />
From The Ground Up | 44 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
SQUAD<br />
CAP<br />
NO<br />
DEBUT<br />
2020/21 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER<br />
ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR<br />
App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts<br />
SINCE LAST TRY<br />
CAPS<br />
MARTIN MOLONEY 1300 24 APR 21 0+1 - - - - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - -<br />
ROSS MOLONY 1233 20 FEB 15 12+8 1 5 9+6 - - 0+2 - - 64+52 4 20 59+37 3 15 2+15 - - 2 -<br />
JOSH MURPHY 1261 3 NOV 17 14+2 3 15 9+2 2 10 1 1 5 42+7 5 25 37+6 4 20 1+1 1 5 9 -<br />
JAMIE OSBORNE 1294 30 JAN 21 2+4 1 5 2+4 1 5 - - - 2+4 1 5 2+4 1 5 - - - 1 -<br />
ROWAN OSBORNE 1281 4 OCT 19 1+5 - - 1+4 - - - - - 2+9 1 5 2+8 1 5 - - - 10 -<br />
CONOR O'BRIEN 1260 3 NOV 17 - - - - - - - - - 16+7 6 30 16+6 6 30 0+1 - - 9 -<br />
JIMMY O'BRIEN 1272 23 NOV 18 14+2 3 17 10+2 2 12 2 1 5 25+9 6 32 21+9 5 27 2 1 5 10 -<br />
SEAN O'BRIEN 1297 12 MAR 21 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - -<br />
TOMMY O'BRIEN 1283 20 DEC 19 3+3 2 10 3+1 2 10 - - - 4+5 3 15 4+3 3 15 - - - 5 -<br />
RORY O'LOUGHLIN 1248 2 SEP 16 12+3 - - 9 - - 1+1 - - 63+23 21 105 54+13 18 90 7+8 3 15 29 IR 1<br />
MAX O'REILLY 1291 2 JAN 21 6+1 1 5 6+1 1 5 - - - 6+1 1 5 6+1 1 5 - - - 6 -<br />
HUGH O'SULLIVAN 1270 15 SEP 18 1+9 - 2 0+8 - 2 0+1 - - 3+27 1 7 2+24 1 7 0+3 - - 14 -<br />
CIARAN PARKER 1288 23 OCT 20 0+3 1 5 0+3 1 5 - - - 0+3 1 5 0+3 1 5 - - - 3 -<br />
SCOTT PENNY 1271 23 NOV 18 12+2 9 45 10+1 9 45 - - - 22+6 15 75 20+5 15 75 - - - 7 -<br />
ANDREW PORTER 1246 2 SEP 16 6+5 1 5 3+1 - - 1+3 - - 28+49 11 55 21+29 7 35 5+19 3 15 2 IR 37<br />
GARRY RINGROSE 1237 12 SEP 15 9 1 13 3 1 7 2 - - 83+2 26 138 47+1 15 77 32+1 11 55 9 IR 34<br />
RHYS RUDDOCK 1167 6 DEC 09 14+1 1 5 10+1 1 5 4 - - 143+45 11 55 106+31 9 45 36+12 2 10 4 IR 27<br />
JAMES RYAN 1259 2 SEP 17 9+1 1 5 4 1 5 2+1 - - 43+6 3 15 18+1 1 5 22+5 2 10 9 IR 35<br />
JOHNNY SEXTON 1127 27 JAN 06 5+1 - 12 4+1 - 10 1 - 2 148+25 26 1507 87+19 13 833 59+6 12 643 13 IR 99<br />
DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 3+10 6 30 2+8 6 30 - - - 3+10 6 30 2+8 6 30 - - - 5 -<br />
MICHAEL SILVESTER 1289 23 OCT 20 0+2 1 5 0+2 1 5 - - - 0+2 1 5 0+2 1 5 - - - 1 -<br />
ANDREW SMITH 1292 2 JAN 21 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - - -<br />
ALEX SOROKA 1296 28 FEB 21 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - - -<br />
DEVIN TONER 1128 27 JAN 06 11+5 - - 8+4 - - 3 - - 206+59 4 20 140+40 4 20 63+18 - - 48 IR 70<br />
JAMES TRACY 1211 4 NOV 12 11+7 6 30 9+4 5 25 1+3 - - 57+71 14 70 49+43 12 60 7+28 1 5 1 IR 6<br />
LIAM TURNER 1287 23 OCT 20 4+2 - - 4+2 - - - - - 4+2 - - 4+2 - - - - - - -<br />
JOSH VAN DER FLIER 1228 11 OCT 14 11+2 2 10 5+1 1 5 4 1 5 75+22 11 55 43+15 7 35 30+6 4 20 7 IR 31<br />
2020/21 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER<br />
ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR OVERALL<br />
KICKING<br />
SUCCESS<br />
RATE<br />
C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG ATT Career<br />
%<br />
- - - HARRY BYRNE 84.44% 33 5 - 32 4 - 1 1 - 53 6 52 5 1 1 74 79.73%<br />
ROSS BYRNE 86.21% 31 19 - 18 7 - 7 12 - 192 75 1 144 50 1 42 25 - 348 76.72%<br />
CIARAN FRAWLEY 63.64% 7 - - 7 - - - - - 51 7 - 48 7 - 3 - - 72 80.56%<br />
DAVID HAWKSHAW 66.67% 3 1 - 3 - - - - - 3 1 - 3 - - - - - 6 66.67%<br />
LUKE MCGRATH 0.00% - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 0.00%<br />
JIMMY O'BRIEN 33.33% 1 - - 1 - - - - - 1 - - 1 - - - - - 3 33.33%<br />
HUGH O'SULLIVAN 50.00% 1 - - 1 - - - - - 1 - - 1 - - - - - 2 50.00%<br />
GARRY RINGROSE 66.67% 4 - - 1 - - - - - 4 - - 1 - - - - - 6 66.67%<br />
JOHNNY SEXTON 62.50% 3 2 - 2 2 - 1 - - 234 292 11 120 169 7 107 119 4 660 79.70%<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 45 | From The Ground Up
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They say a week is a long time in anything, and sport is no exception.<br />
However when it has been<br />
almost 15 months since the<br />
RDS last heard the roar of the<br />
faithful <strong>Leinster</strong> Blue – well<br />
that’s practically a lifetime for<br />
some! We have been extremely<br />
privileged and lucky over the<br />
last number of years that the<br />
end of the season has been one<br />
of celebration of a job well done<br />
and another trophy added to the<br />
cabinet.<br />
The end of this season is slightly different<br />
in that although there won’t be a<br />
Rainbow Cup title to challenge for, there<br />
is equal joy in <strong>Leinster</strong> being able to take<br />
to the field for the final game in front of<br />
fans. Actual fans, 1,200 of them to be<br />
exact and what an occasion this will be!<br />
Covid-19 has (and continues) to be a<br />
trying time on us all but from a sporting<br />
point of view, we have seen the impact<br />
this has had on stadia and players.<br />
Players play for the love of the game<br />
as well as the adoration and joy they<br />
bring to supporters and not having them<br />
at fixtures has been telling where you<br />
can see the atmosphere just isn’t what it<br />
should be.<br />
Friday, 28 February, 2020 was the last<br />
time we crossed through the turnstiles<br />
of the RDS and on that evening we<br />
defeated last week’s opponents<br />
Glasgow. A trip to South Africa and then<br />
back to the RDS against Zebre was how<br />
the season was planned, but we all know<br />
what happened next in terms of, well just<br />
about everything.<br />
Now after what has been a long road<br />
for all concerned (<strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> and<br />
fans alike) this evening’s fixture against<br />
<strong>Dragons</strong> is akin to a final! Fans are<br />
returning to the RDS and get to roar out<br />
both teams to the pitch.<br />
Both teams will be looking to end what<br />
has been a very long season on a high<br />
before some players look to summer<br />
tours with the British and Irish Lions as<br />
well as their respective international<br />
sides whilst others look to just take a<br />
well-deserved break and relax with<br />
friends and family.<br />
In the 2020/21 Guinness PRO14, we<br />
faced off against tonight’s opponents<br />
twice and both times secured victory.<br />
Round 1 in October saw us secure a<br />
35-5 victory at home in the RDS while<br />
the return fixture in Round 12 of the<br />
competition in February of this year, saw<br />
us again secure victory over in Rodney<br />
Parade but on a much tighter score-line<br />
of 35-29.<br />
The Rainbow Cup has seen both of us<br />
play four times with <strong>Leinster</strong> winning two<br />
and losing two while <strong>Dragons</strong> are one<br />
win and four losses. Form should never<br />
be taken for granted and you can be<br />
sure that for the last game of the season<br />
and especially one in front of a crowd,<br />
both will be looking to end on a high so<br />
we’re expecting some top notch end-toend<br />
action here.<br />
The end of the season whilst a welcome<br />
relief for some is also tinged with<br />
sadness for others and this season is<br />
no exception as we bid farewell to two<br />
generals of the <strong>Leinster</strong> game. Scott<br />
Fardy and Michael Bent announced<br />
their retirement earlier in the season<br />
and we do hope that the fans can show<br />
them the respect and appreciation both<br />
deserve. While other players were off<br />
on international duty, Scott and Michael<br />
carried many a team performance and<br />
ground out vital wins where necessary<br />
and this is often a hard feat to achieve<br />
and for this we can only say ‘Thank You’.<br />
The current OLSC Committee will also<br />
be wrapping up at the end of this season<br />
as, with brighter lights ahead of us, and<br />
the beginning of the return to games,<br />
it’s time for a new committee to take the<br />
reins and work with both supporters and<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> alike to continue to grow<br />
the OLSC both at home and abroad.<br />
We would like to take the opportunity<br />
to thank all at <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> for their<br />
support and guidance throughout the<br />
last two seasons. You know who you<br />
are and it’s unfair to name individuals<br />
as all continue to work tirelessly to bring<br />
supporters the game we love so well.<br />
None of us ever imagined it would be<br />
so long before we returned to the RDS<br />
but the clouds have lifted, the rain has<br />
cleared and the sky is once again BLUE!!<br />
If you’re in attendance tonight, please<br />
adhere to all guidelines and be mindful<br />
of others also, this is a big step for us all<br />
but it’s a step in the right direction. The<br />
OLSC will be on-hand to assist around<br />
the stadium and we, and all the staff at<br />
the RDS, ask for your patience as we all<br />
learn to navigate in these circumstances.<br />
We do ask though that once the teams<br />
take to the pitch, scream yourself hoarse<br />
as the boost the players will get will be<br />
like nothing we have seen before!!<br />
Be loud, be true, be BLUE.<br />
OLSC Committee<br />
From The Ground Up | 54 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
OFFICIAL<br />
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SUPPORTERS<br />
CLUB<br />
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The Official <strong>Leinster</strong> Supporters Club are delighted to announce that we have<br />
now launched our online shop. Our range of supporter items include:<br />
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ONE FROM<br />
The Vaults<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> 35 <strong>Dragons</strong> 5<br />
Guinness PRO14 | RDS Arena | 2 October 2020 | Ref: Andrea Piardi<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> opened their defence<br />
of the Guinness PRO14 title earlier<br />
this season with a five-try defeat of<br />
<strong>Dragons</strong> at the RDS Arena.<br />
First half-tries from Garry Ringrose, Jordan<br />
Larmour and James Lowe as well as successful<br />
conversions from three different kickers helped<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> to a 21-0 lead at the break.<br />
They followed that up with two further efforts,<br />
a Lowe second as well as another from<br />
replacement Ryan Baird, just minutes after his<br />
introduction.<br />
The Irish province nearly opened the scoring<br />
with Johnny Sexton’s grubber giving Hugo<br />
Keenan an outside chance at winning the race<br />
to the line, the full-back beating Jonah Holmes<br />
to the pounce, only to lose control of the ball.<br />
The combined work of No 8 Ross Moriarty<br />
from the base of the scrum and Rhodri Williams<br />
from the boot took play up towards halfway.<br />
When Michael Bent could not hold onto<br />
Jamison Gibson-Park’s fizzing service, <strong>Dragons</strong><br />
had field position. But, <strong>Leinster</strong>’s linespeed<br />
forced <strong>Dragons</strong> backwards and their out-half<br />
Sam Davies into kicking in behind.<br />
Then, the Welsh club outfoxed <strong>Leinster</strong>, refusing<br />
to engage in a maul to swindle a turnover<br />
scrum for accidental obstruction. They were<br />
hunting points when hooker Rónan Kelleher’s<br />
counter-ruck led to a relieving penalty.<br />
A burst from Kelleher and a touch of creativity<br />
from Lowe down the left was eventually undone<br />
by Lowe’s inaccurate follow-up pass to Tommy<br />
O’Brien.<br />
Then, Lowe popped up to take Sexton’s nolook<br />
pass up the middle, the speed of the ball<br />
causing consternation. Jamie Roberts took<br />
O’Brien too high, for what was soon deemed<br />
to be a yellow card, and Garry Ringrose<br />
strolled over for the first try, Sexton converting<br />
for 7-0 in the 18th minute.<br />
LEINSTER:<br />
Hugo Keenan; Jordan<br />
Larmour, Garry<br />
Ringrose, Ciarán<br />
Frawley (Tommy O’Brien<br />
9), James Lowe; Johnny<br />
Sexton (Ross Byrne 23),<br />
Jamison Gibson-Park<br />
(Luke McGrath 67); Ed<br />
Byrne (Cian Healy 49),<br />
Rónan Kelleher (Seán<br />
Cronin 49), Michael<br />
Bent (Andrew Porter<br />
49); Scott Fardy, James<br />
Ryan; Rhys Ruddock,<br />
Josh van der Flier,<br />
Jack Conan (Max<br />
Deegan 49).<br />
DRAGONS:<br />
Will Talbot-Davies;<br />
Jonah Holmes, Nick<br />
Tompkins, Jamie Roberts<br />
(Adam Warren 71),<br />
Ashton Hewitt; Sam<br />
Davies, Rhodri Williams<br />
(Travis Knoyle 67); Brok<br />
Harris (Conor Maguire<br />
62), Elliot Dee (Richard<br />
Hibbard 70), Aaron<br />
Jarvis (Lloyd Fairbrother<br />
41); Joseph Davies, Joe<br />
Maksymiw (Matthew<br />
Screech 49); Aaron<br />
Wainwright, Harrison<br />
Keddie (Taine Basham<br />
63), Ross Moriarty.<br />
From the restart, <strong>Leinster</strong> went into overdrive,<br />
moving the ball from touchline to touchline,<br />
punching through 23 rapid-fire phases with<br />
Sexton’s long, looping pass enabling Larmour<br />
to touch down in the 23rd minute. Ringrose<br />
added the sideline conversion as Sexton was<br />
replaced by Ross Byrne.<br />
The pressure from James Ryan was enough to<br />
cause Joseph Davies to spill a lineout before<br />
Kelleher’s nuisance value hampered Rhodri<br />
Williams and Josh van der Flier seized on<br />
a loose ball. Ross Byrne’s punt forward and<br />
Keenan’s chase was just about foiled by the<br />
work-rate of Aaron Wainwright.<br />
The tide of possession was washing over the<br />
<strong>Dragons</strong>, a rare van der Flier mistake releasing<br />
the pressure. Lowe’s footwork, Ringrose’s mazy<br />
run and blurring hands created the overlap for<br />
Lowe to snap up the third try, Byrne converting<br />
from the left touchline for 21-0 on 33 minutes.<br />
Second row Ryan made up for conceding a<br />
penalty when snatching a five-metre lineout<br />
away from Wainwright. At last, it looked like<br />
Sam Davies was about to hit back from Jonah<br />
Holmes’ set-up until he lost his feet and the ball<br />
from O’Brien’s super-flexible poach.<br />
The <strong>Dragons</strong> had to make something happen<br />
or risk becoming completely detached on the<br />
scoreboard. They scrapped away for almost<br />
the length of the third quarter, making a better<br />
fist of gaining territory.<br />
Nick Tompkins took on Ringrose in contact<br />
and Cian Healy was penalised for <strong>Dragons</strong> to<br />
apply lineout pressure which Ryan shut down.<br />
At the other end, <strong>Leinster</strong> went up the guts of a<br />
maul from Sean Cronin’s throw to Scott Fardy,<br />
the ball transferred left for Lowe to hold-off<br />
Holmes into the left corner to seal the bonuspoint,<br />
Byrne stitching on the conversion in the<br />
57th minute.<br />
Before long, the penetration of Roberts and<br />
hooker Elliot Dee provided the space on the<br />
From The Ground Up | 58 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
left for wing Ashton Hewitt to complete an<br />
acrobatic finish under pressure from van der<br />
Flier on the hour.<br />
Out of nothing, Ryan ripped the ball away<br />
from Wainwright and took off for what looked<br />
like a certain try until Williams clipped his heels<br />
with a tap tackle.<br />
Straight away, Baird was onto a botched<br />
lineout to bowl over two tacklers on his way<br />
to a stunning try for Byrne to tag on a fifth<br />
conversion.<br />
advantages and Keenan having to turn quickly<br />
to prevent further damage.<br />
Two more infringements meant yellow for<br />
Ruddock, a challenge they responded to, in<br />
holding their line intact.<br />
They kept enough in store to hammer out one<br />
more attack, Luke McGrath hailed down short<br />
of glory and Keenan denied by a foot in touch<br />
in what was a satisfactory night’s work.<br />
Hooker Cronin blasted his way out of defence,<br />
Ryan was the link man and Rhys Ruddock the<br />
chaser in the next attack. Ringrose was the<br />
chief creator for Larmour to go close.<br />
The <strong>Dragons</strong> were not quite done, the<br />
dancing feet of Hewitt leading to two penalty<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 59 | From The Ground Up
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www.leinsterrugby.ie | 61 | From The Ground Up
Where are<br />
they now?<br />
By Des Berry<br />
PAUL<br />
O'DONOHOE<br />
THEN: THE CLONTARF SCRUM-HALF<br />
MADE 18 APPEARANCES FOR LEINSTER<br />
IN THREE SEASONS FROM 2009 TO 2011.<br />
NOW: PAUL LIVES AND WORKS IN<br />
LONDON AS THE EXECUTIVE VICE-<br />
CHAIRMAN AT JOE MEDIA.<br />
The greatest day in the history of<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> didn’t turn out too<br />
great for Paul O’Donohoe.<br />
The Leicester Tigers had just been<br />
declawed, the ‘Holy Grail’ that was the<br />
Heineken Cup captured for the first time<br />
in 2009.<br />
The 21-year-old had spent the whole<br />
occasion in his suit, taking in more than<br />
the sun.<br />
Nigel Owens’ final whistle was the<br />
signal for a riotous celebration, part<br />
outpouring of buttoned-up emotion, part<br />
relief to have finally turned promise into<br />
achievement.<br />
There in the middle of the party was<br />
O’Donohoe, the rookie scrum-half behind<br />
Chris Whittaker and Chris Keane.<br />
Two years later, he was on his way west<br />
to Connacht after just three seasons,<br />
seven starts and 18 caps.<br />
The seeds for his migration were sown, in<br />
some part, later into that ground-breaking<br />
evening when the entertainer inside of<br />
O’Donohoe landed him on the wrong<br />
side of coach Michael Cheika.<br />
He takes up the story: “Everyone was<br />
on cloud nine. I thought I was Floyd<br />
Mayweather walking around Edinburgh<br />
in the suit.<br />
From The Ground Up | 62 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
“I HAD A GREAT BUNCH<br />
OF MATES IN A WINNING<br />
ENVIRONMENT. IT WAS A HARD<br />
DECISION TO LEAVE.”<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 63 | From The Ground Up
“We went from the stadium to the bus<br />
to the airport. By the time we got on the<br />
plane, we were all flying,” he laughs.<br />
“I was down the back in 39F. I had been<br />
doing an impression of Cheiks in the<br />
dressing room all year. The lads at the<br />
front of the plane started chanting ‘Paulie<br />
for Cheika! Paulie for Cheika!.’<br />
“I was afraid of my life of Cheiks, so<br />
I kept my head down. There was no<br />
chance of me getting up to do it,” he<br />
adds.<br />
“Next thing, another chorus goes up<br />
‘Paulie for Cheika!’ I keep quiet. Then,<br />
Felipe Contepomi comes down: “Paulie,<br />
come on! Get up there!”<br />
“It was getting to the point where it would<br />
look worse if I wasn’t to do it. I got up<br />
and got on the mic.<br />
“How are ya? How f**kin’ good was<br />
that today, aye! They thought we were a<br />
pack of soft clowns. Well, we went hard<br />
enough today, aye!”<br />
It all built up to a crescendo, nailing<br />
down the in-your-face monologue.<br />
O’Donohoe was greeted with uproarious<br />
cheers. He was high-fiving everyone as<br />
he started back down the aisle.<br />
“On the way, I see Cheika sitting in Row<br />
5. He looks up and just says, ‘You’re<br />
going to regret that, you little s**t!”<br />
“I went grey, completely grey. And the<br />
lads were all doubled-over laughing,<br />
chanting ‘Cheerio! Cheerio! Cheerio!’<br />
followed by ‘Paulie to Connacht! Paulie<br />
to Connacht!’”<br />
“I sat back down, my tail between my<br />
legs, quiet as a mouse for the rest of the<br />
flight.”<br />
O’Donohoe’s perspective on <strong>Leinster</strong> is<br />
framed around coming into the province<br />
in the middle of Cheika’s drive to turn the<br />
province into European champions.<br />
“It was a funny time. I, literally, just got<br />
into the senior squad when there was<br />
the star trio of (Denis) Hickie, (Shane)<br />
Horgan and (Brian) O’Driscoll and the<br />
perceived under-performers underneath<br />
them.<br />
“It was the ‘Ladyboys’ time in the words<br />
of Neil Francis, you know, ‘these boys<br />
don’t count’. They don’t matter.<br />
“To be fair, culturally, it wasn’t that<br />
professional. There was midweek<br />
drinking, all sorts going on.<br />
“Cheiks wasn’t technically the best coach.<br />
What he was very strong at was getting<br />
good people around him and, culturally,<br />
you needed his abrasive character to<br />
really turn the tide.<br />
“It was ugly at times. There were some<br />
tricky days and weeks and months of<br />
tension as change brought with it a<br />
cantankerous vibe around the place. It<br />
was key. It had to happen.”<br />
“There was definitely an element of ‘he<br />
had his favourites’ and they were treated<br />
a certain way. It was a smart play by him<br />
because he needed allies to drive the<br />
seismic change that was needed.<br />
“He wasn’t going to take on the whole<br />
squad by himself. He needed strong<br />
support from players of international ilk.”<br />
O’Donohoe was not long for a life in<br />
Blue, even though his three seasons did<br />
bridge the handover from Cheika to Joe<br />
Schmidt.<br />
“Joe couldn’t have done the job he did<br />
without Cheiks doing the job he had in<br />
cleaning up the stable.<br />
“This left Joe to sprinkle on the fairy-dust<br />
and detail,” says Paul.<br />
“Joe was phenomenal. I remember the<br />
technical detail he went into around<br />
video review.”<br />
The tone was set for a remarkable reign<br />
in the first pre-season, doing a generic<br />
review of one of the backs’ sessions.”<br />
Out of the blue, Schmidt zeroed in on<br />
the one man everyone thought was<br />
untouchable.<br />
“It went something like this: ‘Drico, what<br />
are you thinking here mate?’<br />
“’How do you mean, Joe?” replies<br />
Brian.’”<br />
The temperature of the room changed.<br />
This just didn’t happen.<br />
From The Ground Up | 64 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
“’Look, it is clearly never a drift (in<br />
defence). You’ve left your shoulder open<br />
on the inside.’<br />
“’I see what you mean. Yeah, that is a<br />
completely fair point.’”<br />
In one short exchange, Schmidt had set<br />
the table for what was to come.<br />
“Sometimes you see someone make a<br />
conscious effort to take down the big<br />
dog. It wasn’t like that. It was just a super<br />
fair, technical point you couldn’t argue<br />
with.<br />
“It was this shift into everyone seen<br />
as equally accountable that changed<br />
everything,” notes Paul.<br />
O’Donohoe would move on to Connacht<br />
to continue and, ultimately, conclude<br />
his career, not before taking important<br />
experiences that are central to his<br />
working life today.<br />
“I had a great bunch of mates in a<br />
winning environment. It was a hard<br />
decision to leave,” he shares.<br />
“But, Ireland’s scrum-halves, Eoin Reddan<br />
and Isaac Boss were ahead of me. I was<br />
conscious of getting game time to break<br />
into the Ireland squad or let rugby go.”<br />
O’Donohoe was never going to stay on<br />
and test the path of the journeyman.<br />
“I had one really distinct memory from my<br />
first year at <strong>Leinster</strong>. Mal O’Kelly was one<br />
of the Harlem Globetrotters in the club.<br />
I could barely talk to the lad when I first<br />
graduated to the senior dressing-room. I<br />
was so nervous.<br />
“We ended up being great friends, so<br />
much so that we ended up going on<br />
holiday to South America at the end of<br />
the 2009 season, a 20-year-old and a<br />
35-year-old.<br />
“It was the end of his contract and, just<br />
like that, that was it for him, after all he<br />
had done. It really struck a chord with<br />
me.<br />
“By the way, Mal had a very different<br />
career trajectory to mine. I was never<br />
going to stay in the game that long.”<br />
A back issue may have accelerated the<br />
process. He finished with rugby at 26.<br />
There was no master plan in place. There<br />
was just the intuition that I knew it was<br />
time for something different.<br />
“I never identified myself as a rugby nut.<br />
That it was all I had. Yet, when you leave,<br />
it is all people know you for.”<br />
There was a period of recalibration,<br />
finding a new way forward. It took one<br />
or two years for O’Donohoe to navigate<br />
that course.<br />
“Along the way, there were many<br />
mistakes and moments in offices I<br />
prefer not to recount, from struggling<br />
to put memory sticks into computers to<br />
misunderstanding corporate-speak.<br />
“It was very difficult at times. You had to<br />
find out who you were, what made you<br />
tick away from rugby.<br />
“Your currency plummets. You go from<br />
being in a job where you are valued -<br />
people respect your opinion and work<br />
ethic - to nothing.”<br />
What he did have was two older<br />
brothers, Matthew and Damien, who<br />
worked in the media entertainment<br />
industry.<br />
He had access to a network of contacts<br />
and moved to London to begin to climb<br />
that ladder, eventually working his way<br />
into the sports media rights space with<br />
acquisition and distribution company<br />
Pitch International for three years.<br />
“It was a very aggressive learning curve<br />
in a small, agile business,” he states.<br />
“What I took with me from my days<br />
at <strong>Leinster</strong> was that culture shift from<br />
2007 to 2011, what it took to develop a<br />
winning culture from something that was<br />
not where it should have been.<br />
“I still carry that special journey and<br />
experience with me every day. It is a real<br />
advantage in understanding what elite<br />
professionalism requires.<br />
“You do have to look after your<br />
own house, police yourself, have the<br />
emotional control, try to find the one per<br />
cent progress.”<br />
O’Donohoe moved into a new venture<br />
with four partners, raising funds to set<br />
up Greencastle Capital, the fund and<br />
holding company for publishers JOE.ie,<br />
HER.ie, HerFamily.ie, Lovin Media, The<br />
London Economic.<br />
“We had a specific investment remit<br />
around digital media brands and<br />
ancillary opportunities around them from<br />
live events to development of new IP and<br />
consumer products.”<br />
In a fast-moving industry, O’Donohoe still<br />
cherishes those experiences at <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
and uses many of them to chart his career<br />
course.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 65 | From The Ground Up
BY DAN WALLACE<br />
Welcome to the final Referees<br />
Corner of the season. What a<br />
strange season it has been with<br />
little or no refereeing on the<br />
pitch but plenty of action and<br />
education off the pitch. It is great<br />
to hear that 1200 supporters will<br />
be allowed into the RDS for this<br />
game. We’re also delighted that<br />
IRFU and <strong>Leinster</strong> are getting to<br />
introduce rugby back to clubs.<br />
We, unfortunately, said goodbye to two<br />
former Presidents of the <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
Referees in the last couple of weeks. It is<br />
with great sadness that we learned of the<br />
news of the passing of Jerome Counihan<br />
(2009/10), on May 26.<br />
Many of you will have been acquainted<br />
with Jerome throughout his time with the<br />
organisation and Monkstown FC and will<br />
have many fond memories of him. Our<br />
sympathies go to his wife Lorna and sons<br />
Jerome D. and Shane.<br />
We then learned of the passing of our<br />
oldest member, David Bell (1966/67)<br />
on May 31 in his 102nd year. David will<br />
be fondly remembered by all who knew<br />
him, especially those in Lansdowne FC<br />
and The Association of Referees (<strong>Leinster</strong><br />
Branch).<br />
Our sympathies go to his family Paul,<br />
David and Cathy Anne.<br />
May they both Rest in Peace.<br />
Keeping the Show on the Road<br />
A massive shout out must go<br />
to our area representatives<br />
Tom Colton, John Dunne, Joe<br />
McDermott, Paddy Curran and<br />
Kevin McDermott for the great<br />
work that they have done in<br />
keeping the show on the road.<br />
Coupled with Seán Gallagher and<br />
Sam Holt they delivered every monthly<br />
meeting this year and helped educate<br />
and keep our referees focused during the<br />
season. In the background our Referees<br />
Committee and various management<br />
teams led by President David Robb<br />
and David MacDonald have helped<br />
tremendously with facilitating these<br />
meetings. Massive thanks must also go to<br />
Hayley Whyte in the office for her hard<br />
work.<br />
We are delighted to see the return of<br />
rugby across the country and with it<br />
the importance of our roles as a match<br />
official of the game. In order to ensure<br />
that everyone is up to speed and ready to<br />
embark on a new season the IRFU have<br />
sent a ‘Return to Refereeing’ course to all<br />
match officials.<br />
Completing this course is compulsory<br />
for all match officials (including referees,<br />
touch judges, evaluators, referee coaches<br />
and mentors) in order to re-commence<br />
officiating post-COVID-restriction times.<br />
It is a superb course, broken into eight<br />
modules that you can work through at<br />
your own pace. Each module contains<br />
interactive elements, ‘Knowledge Checks’<br />
and videos, culminating in a final Course<br />
Quiz which you must pass in order to<br />
complete the course and achieve the<br />
IRFU Return to Refereeing certificate.<br />
Thankfully I passed mine and I’m ready<br />
From The Ground Up | 66 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
for the Annual Seminar in August and the<br />
new season!!!<br />
Have you just finished playing and find<br />
yourself wondering how you can stay<br />
involved in rugby? Or maybe the recent<br />
pandemic has opened your eyes to<br />
your free time and flexibility and has<br />
you looking for a new challenge. Then<br />
perhaps refereeing is the next step for<br />
you. Increasingly, more and more players<br />
who have decided to hang up the boots<br />
are continuing their rugby journey by<br />
taking up the whistle.<br />
Why? Refereeing is an excellent way to<br />
maintain your fitness level after you retire.<br />
You are still getting out on the pitch and<br />
enjoying the game from the best seat<br />
in the house. Your playing experience<br />
will certainly also stand to you in terms<br />
of your ability to read the game and in<br />
understanding what the players are trying<br />
to achieve.<br />
All of the provincial associations/<br />
societies have members who are former<br />
players, and they referee at all levels<br />
from underage right up to the Energia<br />
All-Ireland League. Some have even<br />
progressed into High Performance and<br />
officiate at the highest level. Andrew<br />
Brace, Frank Murphy, Alain Rolland and<br />
Joy Neville all enjoyed distinguished<br />
playing careers before taking up the<br />
whistle.<br />
If you only wish to referee in<br />
your own club or school then<br />
the Affiliate Referee Scheme is<br />
for you. The Affiliate Referee<br />
course can be done online and is<br />
available on the IRFU website.<br />
We will have details of upcoming<br />
courses over the summer.<br />
Want to get involved?<br />
Feel free to make contact with the <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
Referees at hayley.whyte@leinsterrugby.ie.<br />
If you are interested in becoming a referee get in<br />
contact with us through our Facebook and Google +<br />
pages, our website www.arlb.ie or through twitter<br />
@leinsterreferee.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 67 | From The Ground Up
LEINSTER RUGBY CHARITY PARTNER<br />
The Gavin Glynn Foundation<br />
IN IRELAND, EVERY WEEK, FOUR<br />
FAMILIES ARE TOLD ‘YOUR<br />
CHILD HAS CANCER’.<br />
Each year in Ireland,<br />
approximately 220 children are<br />
newly diagnosed with cancer in<br />
Ireland. Whilst cancer in young<br />
people is rare, it is still a major<br />
health issue in Ireland and<br />
worldwide.<br />
Despite improving survival rates, cancer is<br />
still the leading cause of death by disease<br />
beyond one year of age in the EU.<br />
One in five children will lose their battle<br />
to cancer.<br />
Cancers in children differ from cancers<br />
in adults. The most frequent childhood<br />
cancers are leukaemias, tumours of the<br />
central nervous system (CNS), brain<br />
tumours and neuroblastomas.<br />
Childhood cancer generally cannot be<br />
prevented or screened.<br />
Unfortunately, this means that most<br />
children are diagnosed after the disease<br />
has spread, making the disease more<br />
difficult to treat and requiring more<br />
intensive and therefore more toxic<br />
treatments.<br />
Improving outcomes for children with<br />
cancer requires early and accurate<br />
diagnosis, followed by effective treatment.<br />
ABOUT THE GAVIN<br />
GLYNN FOUNDATION<br />
The Gavin Glynn Foundation was set<br />
up by John and Jayne Glynn - parents<br />
of Gavin Glynn who passed away from<br />
cancer aged just four and a half years<br />
old, on October 21, 2014.<br />
During Gavin’s battle with cancer the<br />
Glynn family travelled to a number of<br />
different countries for specialist cancer<br />
treatment for their youngest son.<br />
Through this experience, they learnt<br />
exactly what is involved in organising<br />
transport, accommodation and most<br />
importantly - seeking out the best<br />
specialist care available for their son’s<br />
cancer.<br />
The Foundation understand the strain that<br />
this logistical organisation puts on families<br />
who are already dealing with huge<br />
anxiety and sadness.<br />
The Gavin Glynn Foundation believes<br />
that all children with cancer deserve the<br />
best care, wherever in the world that<br />
might be.<br />
Keeping the whole family together,<br />
during travel for a child’s cancer<br />
treatment, is essential for the wellbeing<br />
of the patient, as well as the parents<br />
and siblings and by taking the financial<br />
burden and stress of arranging travel<br />
from these families, it allows parents focus<br />
all their time on their child and family.<br />
The Gavin Glynn Foundation arrange all<br />
logistics and cover all costs associated<br />
with:<br />
• Transportation (e.g. Flights, Car Hire).<br />
• Transportation to and from the<br />
designated Airports.<br />
• Accommodation within, or close to,<br />
the designated medical centre.<br />
• Food and living expenses for the<br />
duration of the child’s treatment while<br />
abroad.<br />
The Foundation also funds independent<br />
second opinions so that patients can<br />
be matched with appropriately focused<br />
physicians and scientists worldwide and<br />
next generation molecular testing which<br />
uses genetic information to determine the<br />
right treatment, for the right patient, at the<br />
right time.<br />
The Gavin Glynn Foundation is the only<br />
registered charity in Ireland providing this<br />
support for families battling childhood<br />
cancer.<br />
To date, with the support of the<br />
Foundation’s amazing supporters, The<br />
Gavin Glynn Foundation has been able<br />
to help 150 families from all over Ireland.<br />
The foundation currently does not receive<br />
any government funding so rely on public<br />
donations and many fundraising events<br />
like triathlons, runs and sea swims.<br />
From The Ground Up | 68 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Stories from Families The Gavin<br />
Glynn Foundation have helped:<br />
Michelle<br />
Michelle is our youngest<br />
daughter, she has always been<br />
a happy active child, she is a big<br />
fan of GAA, she has always been<br />
involved in all activities.<br />
Suddenly we noticed some slight<br />
pulsation (nerve spasm) in her left arm.<br />
On November 11, 2020, we celebrated<br />
Michelle’s 10th birthday. The next day,<br />
she had her MRI and a few hours later<br />
the doctor rang, to meet us. We drove<br />
back to Tullamore hospital where he was<br />
waiting for us. He showed us the MRI and<br />
explained what was there and referred us<br />
to Temple Street Hospital straight away.<br />
Michelle had been diagnosed with a<br />
rare tumour in her spinal cord called<br />
‘Ganglioglioma’.<br />
The neurosurgeons were giving us very<br />
small chances because the tumour started<br />
from the second vertebrae until the<br />
seventh vertebrae. It was too close to the<br />
brain they were saying after surgery and<br />
she might never walk again or may have<br />
issues with breathing and she will need<br />
lung ventilation for the rest of her life.<br />
Our world had fallen apart.<br />
On November 24, in Temple Street<br />
Children’s hospital, Michelle had her<br />
surgery on her spine. She made great<br />
progress in four months of recovery. She<br />
had to learn how to walk again.<br />
We were advised to do Proton therapy<br />
together with oral chemotherapy in<br />
Germany. On April 12, 2021 we flew to<br />
Essen in Germany and just arrived back<br />
to Ireland this week.<br />
We cannot express how grateful we are<br />
to The Gavin Glynn Foundation, for all<br />
the help and advice. There was a time<br />
when we were so lost, but when we<br />
spoke with them it was the bright light<br />
at the end of the tunnel, they made our<br />
journey so easy and calm - organised<br />
flights/accommodation living expenses<br />
and transport for our stay in Germany.<br />
The Gavin Glynn Foundation – the job<br />
they are doing is absolutely brilliant and<br />
amazing, thank you from the bottom of<br />
our hearts!<br />
Lenars (Michelle’s Dad)<br />
Roisín<br />
Our whole world was turned<br />
upside down in February 2015<br />
when Roisín was 3 years old and<br />
her health took a turn.<br />
After constant visits to the GP over<br />
a number of weeks with no signs of<br />
improvement I took Roisín to Clonmel<br />
Hospital where they knew straight<br />
away how unwell she was and within<br />
an hour we had her diagnosis of Acute<br />
Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL).<br />
That night she was immediately<br />
transported to Crumlin and the next<br />
day began a combination of different<br />
chemotherapy drugs for a duration of two<br />
and a half years.<br />
In August 2017, Roisín was finally able<br />
to begin her childhood once again<br />
by starting Junior Infants. She had a<br />
fantastic year, making great progress<br />
educationally and socially.<br />
Just one year later in August 2018, we<br />
discovered that Roisín relapsed.<br />
The cancer had returned, and the fight<br />
began once again.<br />
Roisín, now nine, had a fairly steady road<br />
up until November 2020, with just three<br />
months of treatment left, when she had a<br />
sudden onset of pain in her shoulder.<br />
She was being treated for suspected<br />
Septic Arthritis which when further<br />
investigation took place it was discovered<br />
that she had actually relapsed again.<br />
Roisín has spent six of her nine years on<br />
this earth fighting.<br />
After a second relapse, her treatment<br />
options became limited. Together with<br />
international specialists from all different<br />
countries, Roisín’s consultants decided to<br />
put her forward to CAR T-cell therapy in<br />
the United Kingdom<br />
Thanks to The Gavin Glynn Foundation,<br />
Roisín travelled to the Royal Children’s<br />
Hospital in Manchester in November<br />
2020 to receive this amazing treatment<br />
that is not yet available in Ireland.<br />
We spent eight weeks in an isolation<br />
room in Manchester hospital where Roisín<br />
received the CAR T-cell treatment, and in<br />
April this year received the news that she<br />
is now cancer free.<br />
We are forever thankful to The Gavin<br />
Glynn Foundation for helping us every<br />
step of the way and is only ever a text<br />
message or a call away.<br />
Cora (Roisín’s Mammy)<br />
Caden<br />
Caden is a seven-year-old boy<br />
from Dublin who was diagnosed<br />
on December 4, 2019, following<br />
weeks of intermittent vomiting<br />
and headaches and persistent<br />
misdiagnosis with a brain tumour<br />
(medulloblastoma).<br />
Caden underwent two brain surgeries<br />
in Temple Street hospital to remove the<br />
tumour but then also needed specialist<br />
Proton radiation treatment in Germany.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 69 | From The Ground Up
Survival mode really kicks in when<br />
cancer enters your life, you become<br />
consumed with it and this is where The<br />
Gavin Glynn Foundation have lifted a lot<br />
of the burden.<br />
Despite it being over the Christmas<br />
period, The Gavin Glynn Foundation<br />
organised flights, accommodation,<br />
transfers and living expenses for the six<br />
weeks stay in Germany.<br />
We didn’t have to think about the<br />
practicalities of such a trip at a time when<br />
we could not think straight. For this we<br />
will be eternally grateful to the Gavin<br />
Glynn Foundation.<br />
(Christine – Caden’s Mum)<br />
Eoin<br />
This is our little boy Eoin,<br />
who was diagnosed with<br />
a rare brain tumour called<br />
Craniopharyngioma on March<br />
9, 2017, shortly after his second<br />
birthday.<br />
In the few months prior to his diagnosis,<br />
we had noticed an issue with his vision.<br />
We took him to an ophthalmologist who,<br />
after finding no anatomical abnormality,<br />
ordered an MRI scan which revealed this<br />
horrible mass right in the centre of his<br />
brain, and pressing on his optic nerve.<br />
The decision was then made to partially<br />
remove the tumour surgically. The<br />
surgeon was quite pleased with the result<br />
as he had managed to remove 95 per<br />
cent of the tumour.<br />
Unfortunately, the remaining part of<br />
the tumour had grown again and the<br />
Oncology team in Crumlin Hospital have<br />
decided that Proton therapy is necessary<br />
at this stage.<br />
This type of treatment is not available in<br />
Ireland and therefore we find ourselves<br />
having to travel to Germany.<br />
And this is where The Gavin Glynn<br />
Foundation stepped in. From initial<br />
contact with the Foundation, they had<br />
shown nothing but kindness and immense<br />
support toward us.<br />
Receiving the news about Eoin has been<br />
extremely hard and it has been a very<br />
emotional year. John and his team have<br />
taken the stress of travel arrangements<br />
so that we could focus on our little boy<br />
and the tough journey that lies ahead.<br />
We are so humbled by the kindness and<br />
generosity that this organization have<br />
bestowed upon us and we could not<br />
thank them enough.<br />
(Bahia – Eoin’s Mum)<br />
Kiril<br />
Kiril is a four-year-old boy from<br />
Dublin. Kiril was growing up<br />
normally just like any other child.<br />
He never had any health issues<br />
at all, he was a very active and<br />
chatty boy until February 2021 he<br />
started to vomit.<br />
The symptoms lasted for two weeks and<br />
he started to complain with headaches<br />
and became very weak at the same time.<br />
Natali (Kiril’s Mum) brought him to<br />
University Hospital Tallaght where he had<br />
a CT scan.<br />
We then received the news about a<br />
silently growing brain tumour called<br />
Apendimoma.<br />
The same day Kiril was transferred to<br />
Temple Street Hospital and a few days<br />
later he went through a long surgery<br />
where the surgeons were able to remove<br />
the tumour.<br />
We all were so relieved as the tumour<br />
was removed.<br />
A few days later, Kiril had to have a<br />
second surgery after which he was<br />
brought into induced coma for six days<br />
and two days after that he had his third<br />
surgery.<br />
Kiril spent nine weeks in hospital working<br />
hard by learning to speak and walk<br />
again.<br />
It took a bit longer because of<br />
complications but we are so thankful to<br />
all the staff in Temple Street Hospital.<br />
The next stage of recommended<br />
treatment for Kiril was Proton therapy in<br />
Essen, Germany.<br />
Our social worker gave us the details of<br />
The Gavin Glynn Foundation to help with<br />
our trip.<br />
We arrived in Essen on May 10 and will<br />
be here for eight weeks.<br />
We are so grateful to The Gavin Glynn<br />
Foundation for taking all the stress and<br />
worry away from this trip. They arranged<br />
our flights, transfers, apartment and living<br />
expenses for the eight weeks’ stay in<br />
Germany for Kiril’s Proton Therapy.<br />
(Natalia – Kiril’s Mum).<br />
For more information about The<br />
Gavin Glynn Foundation and the<br />
families they are helping please visit<br />
www.tggf.ie<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 71 | From The Ground Up
KNOWING WHAT ADVICE TO TAKE<br />
IS ESSENTIAL IN THIS GAME.<br />
beauchamps.ie<br />
OFFICIAL LEGAL ADVISOR<br />
Beauchamps LLP | Riverside Two | Sir John Rogerson’s Quay | Dublin 2 | D02 KV60
TO MAXIMISE YOUR SPORTS AND EXERCISE<br />
PERFORMANCE THROUGH NUTRITION<br />
Optimum Nutrition and <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> have partnered to help share good nutrition tips throughout<br />
the season to help you achieve your performance goals. Here are some simple tips and things to<br />
remember to help maximise your performance and help you recover quickly to come back stronger.<br />
Protein Rich.<br />
Protein provides your muscles with<br />
the building blocks to repair & grow.<br />
Carb-Up.<br />
Carbohydrate foods are king as they<br />
power high intensity play.<br />
Fuel-Up.<br />
Consume the majority of your<br />
carbohydrates around training to<br />
support fuelling and recovery.<br />
Recover.<br />
Quality rest & nutrition between<br />
training sessions is the key to<br />
recovery. Remember to:<br />
Repair with protein,<br />
Refuel with carbohydrate,<br />
Rehydrate with fluid.<br />
Hydrate.<br />
Dehydration can lead to a drop in<br />
exercise intensity & can impact your<br />
decision making. Drink 2-3 litres of<br />
fluid each day to ensure hydration.<br />
Game Day.<br />
To fuel performance on the field,<br />
consume a large carbohydrate rich<br />
meal 2-3 hours before kick-off, i.e.<br />
chicken & pasta, turkey bolognaise<br />
wraps.<br />
Get 20% off all Optimum Nutrition products<br />
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IN OPPOSITION<br />
<strong>Dragons</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
Last Time Out<br />
<strong>Dragons</strong> 16 Glasgow Warriors 27<br />
Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup | Cardiff City Stadium | 29 May 2021<br />
COUNTRY<br />
DRAGONS SUFFERED A 27-16 DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF THE<br />
GLASGOW WARRIORS IN A HIGHLY PHYSICAL CONTEST<br />
AT THE CARDIFF CITY STADIUM IN ROUND FOUR OF THE<br />
GUINNESS PRO14 RAINBOW CUP.<br />
WALES<br />
HOME GROUND(S)<br />
RODNEY PARADE<br />
FOUNDED<br />
2003<br />
Eleven points from the boot of Sam<br />
Davies plus a try from Aneurin Owen<br />
wasn’t enough for the home side as<br />
they suffered a third defeat of the<br />
tournament.<br />
Glasgow managed tries from Kyle Steyn,<br />
George Turner, Kiran McDonald and Ross<br />
Thompson scored one himself as well as adding<br />
seven points with the boot to give the away side<br />
revenge after suffering two losses to <strong>Dragons</strong> in<br />
the Guinness PRO14 regular season.<br />
The away side started the better and they tried<br />
to set the tempo early with some quick phase<br />
play, but a couple of unforced errors allowed<br />
the <strong>Dragons</strong> to escape unscathed.<br />
The away side thought they had the opening<br />
score with Nick Grigg bundling his way over<br />
just 10 minutes in after some good hands from<br />
the Glasgow backline but it was brought back<br />
for a penalty against recently announced Lion<br />
Zander Ferguson for a forearm to the neck.<br />
The Warriors clearly went to Wales to be<br />
physical after being dominated in that area at<br />
the Principality Stadium in April.<br />
But after all Glasgow’s dominance in the<br />
opening minutes it was the home side who<br />
scored first with Owen bursting through a<br />
gap in midfield and crossing the whitewash<br />
after a strong lineout move. Davies added the<br />
conversion and the home side led 7-0 after 13<br />
minutes.<br />
The next few minutes were more of the same<br />
with Glasgow dominating territory but finding<br />
no way past the <strong>Dragons</strong> defence with the<br />
DRAGONS:<br />
Ioan Davies; Jonah<br />
Holmes, Jack Dixon,<br />
Aneurin Owen, Rio<br />
Dyer; Sam Davies,<br />
Gonzalo Bertranou; Brok<br />
Harris (Josh Reynolds<br />
65), Richard Hibbard<br />
(Elliot Dee 46), Lloyd<br />
Fairbrother (Aaron Jarvis<br />
60); Matthew Screech,<br />
Ben Carter (Joe Davies<br />
54), Ross Moriarty, Ollie<br />
Griffiths (Taine Basham<br />
60), Aaron Wainwright<br />
GLASGOW WARRIORS:<br />
Adam Hastings; Kyle Steyn,<br />
Nick Grigg (Rufus McLean<br />
60), Sam Johnson (Stafford<br />
McDowall 70), Cole<br />
Forbes; Ross Thompson, Ali<br />
Price (George Horne 64);<br />
Aki Seiuli (Tom Lambert<br />
64), George Turner<br />
(Fraser Brown 55), Zander<br />
Fagerson (Enrique Pieretto<br />
69); Rob Harley, Scott<br />
Cummings; Ryan Wilson<br />
(Kiran McDonald 60),<br />
Rory Darge (Fotu Lokotui<br />
78), Matt Fagerson.<br />
Words: dragonsrugby.wales<br />
Photos: inpho.ie<br />
away side’s only opportunity in the opening<br />
quarter coming from an ambitious Adam<br />
Hastings drop goal which was way off the<br />
mark.<br />
Out-half Davies extended the home side’s<br />
lead with a penalty off the tee, as <strong>Dragons</strong><br />
continued their efficiency when entering the<br />
away side’s half by coming away with points.<br />
Glasgow did manage to get their first points on<br />
the board thanks to the boot of Thompson who<br />
slotted home a penalty off the tee to narrow the<br />
score to seven points.<br />
But that didn’t last long as some strong<br />
Glasgow defence forced Davies into a drop<br />
goal and he made no mistake as he restored<br />
the lead to 10 points on the half-hour mark,<br />
making it 13-3 with 10 to go before half-time.<br />
Glasgow finally got the try that their first half<br />
performance deserved, after some sustained<br />
pressure on the <strong>Dragons</strong> try line, they<br />
eventually got it out wide with winger Steyn<br />
scoring untouched in the corner.<br />
Thompson missed the extras, but moments later<br />
finished off a beautiful Glasgow team try after<br />
some fantastic hands by the forwards following<br />
a George Turner break around half-way.<br />
The Glasgow fly half converted his own try<br />
giving his side a 15-13 lead heading into<br />
half-time, and <strong>Dragons</strong> were down to 14 with<br />
captain Ross Moriarty sin-binned for a foul<br />
in the build-up, in a very physical contest in<br />
Cardiff.<br />
Glasgow thought they started the second half<br />
From The Ground Up | 74 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
as they ended the first with another try after<br />
once again some brilliant hands from the<br />
Warriors but a successful captain’s challenge<br />
from the <strong>Dragons</strong> showed a knock on in the<br />
build-up.<br />
Moments later they did get their try with hooker<br />
Turner powering his way over from the back of<br />
a dominant driving maul, to extend the away<br />
side’s lead. Thompson added the conversion to<br />
give Glasgow a 22-13 lead.<br />
Glasgow thought they secured their bonus<br />
point try with Ali Price crossing after another<br />
neat backline move before the scrum half<br />
sniped from the ruck to get over - but it was<br />
again brought back for crossing in midfield.<br />
A nervy 10 minutes followed with <strong>Dragons</strong><br />
desperately needing the next score and<br />
Warriors trying to keep their intensity and<br />
pressure on the home side.<br />
The home side started to up the tempo heading<br />
into the final quarter, but they couldn’t find a<br />
way through the Warriors defence, despite<br />
some heavy and hard carrying.<br />
The boot of Davies brought <strong>Dragons</strong> within<br />
six points after another penalty making it a<br />
nervous final five minutes for the Warriors.<br />
But Glasgow sealed a well-earned bonus point<br />
win with replacement McDonald putting the<br />
final nail in the coffin for the away side in the<br />
final play of the game.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 75 | From The Ground Up
Welcome Back!<br />
Windsor Motors are excited to welcome supporters<br />
back into the stadium and our showrooms!<br />
We are also proud to continue our partnership<br />
with <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> as Official Vehicle Supplier.<br />
Experience<br />
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Visit windsor.ie for more info.
Squad | Positions 2020/21<br />
Director of <strong>Rugby</strong> | Dean Ryan<br />
Dean Ryan was appointed<br />
Director of <strong>Dragons</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> in<br />
May 2019, joining from the RFU<br />
where he had been working as<br />
England’s Head of International<br />
Player Development.<br />
Ryan’s coaching career began at Bristol<br />
<strong>Rugby</strong>, the last club he played for in a<br />
career that included stints at Saracens,<br />
Wasps and Newcastle Falcons as well as<br />
making six appearances for England.<br />
From Bristol, he moved to Gloucester<br />
where he worked under Nigel Melville.<br />
He eventually graduated to Director of<br />
<strong>Rugby</strong> at Gloucester in 2005 and the<br />
Cherry and Whites lifted the European<br />
Challenge Cup in 2006 before reaching<br />
the Premiership Final in 2007.<br />
He also guided Worcester Warriors back<br />
to the top tier of English rugby in 2014.<br />
Captain | Rhodri Williams<br />
Wales international scrum<br />
half Rhodri Williams moved to<br />
<strong>Dragons</strong> in the summer of 2018<br />
from Bristol Bears.<br />
Born in Swansea, Williams started his<br />
rugby career with Llandovery before<br />
winning selection for Scarlets where he<br />
would play between 2011 and 2016.<br />
Williams won Wales Under-20 honours<br />
in the 2013 Six Nations. He went on to<br />
make his full senior Wales debut against<br />
Tonga on November 2013.<br />
Williams represented the Barbarians<br />
against England at Twickenham in<br />
May 2018 and again in the summer of<br />
2019, scoring a second half try as a<br />
replacement.<br />
FORWARDS<br />
DYLAN BARTLETT<br />
PROP<br />
TAINE BASHAM<br />
FLANKER<br />
JAMES BENJAMIN<br />
NO. 8<br />
RYAN BEVINGTON<br />
PROP<br />
LEON BROWN<br />
PROP<br />
CHRIS COLEMAN<br />
PROP<br />
JOSEPH DAVIES<br />
LOCK<br />
ELLIOT DEE<br />
HOOKER<br />
TOM DEVINE<br />
PROP<br />
LEWIS EVANS<br />
BACK ROW<br />
LLOYD FAIRBROTHER<br />
PROP<br />
BEN FRY<br />
BACK ROW<br />
LENNON GREGGAINS<br />
BACK ROW<br />
OLLIE GRIFFITHS<br />
BACK ROW<br />
BROK HARRIS<br />
PROP<br />
RICHARD HIBBARD<br />
HOOKER<br />
AARON JARVIS<br />
PROP<br />
HARRISON KEDDIE<br />
NO. 8<br />
CONOR MAGUIRE<br />
PROP<br />
JOE MAKSYMIW<br />
LOCK<br />
ROSS MORIARTY<br />
BACK ROW<br />
BRANDON NANSEN<br />
LOCK<br />
JOSH REYNOLDS<br />
PROP<br />
MATTHEW SCREECH<br />
LOCK<br />
ELLIS SHIPP<br />
HOOKER<br />
HUW TAYLOR<br />
LOCK<br />
AARON<br />
WAINWRIGHT<br />
BACK ROW<br />
MAX WILLIAMS<br />
LOCK<br />
LUKE YENDLE<br />
PROP<br />
BACKS<br />
DAN BABOS<br />
SCRUM HALF<br />
LUKE BALDWIN<br />
SCRUM HALF<br />
SAM DAVIES<br />
FLY HALF<br />
JACK DIXON<br />
CENTRE<br />
RIO DYER<br />
WINGER<br />
CONNOR EDWARDS<br />
CENTRE<br />
JOE GOODCHILD<br />
WINGER<br />
THOMAS GRIFFITHS<br />
CENTRE<br />
ASHTON HEWITT<br />
WINGER<br />
JONAH HOLMES<br />
WINGER<br />
DAFYDD HOWELLS<br />
WINGER<br />
OWEN JENKINS<br />
WINGER<br />
WILL KELLY<br />
FLY HALF<br />
TAVIS KNOYLE<br />
SCRUM HALF<br />
JOSH LEWIS<br />
FLY HALF<br />
EVAN LLOYD<br />
CENTRE<br />
ANEURIN OWEN<br />
CENTRE<br />
CARWYN PENNY<br />
FLY HALF<br />
JAMIE ROBERTS<br />
CENTRE<br />
ARWEL ROBSON<br />
FLY HALF<br />
JARED ROSSER<br />
WINGER<br />
DEON SMITH<br />
WINGER<br />
WILL TALBOT-DAVIES<br />
FULL BACK<br />
NICK TOMPKINS<br />
CENTRE<br />
ADAM WARREN<br />
CENTRE<br />
JORDAN WILLIAMS<br />
FLY HALF<br />
RHODRI WILLIAMS<br />
SCRUM HALF<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 77 | From The Ground Up
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Blackrock<br />
College RFC<br />
Blackrock College is thinking longterm<br />
when it comes to putting<br />
in place a programme to lift the<br />
participation of women at their<br />
club.<br />
Whereas many clubs are looking<br />
at building from the top down, the<br />
volunteers out in Stradbrook are most<br />
interested in opening their arms to the<br />
younger girls in the community.<br />
The long-term process grew out of one of<br />
the Irish <strong>Rugby</strong> Football Union’s initiatives<br />
to attract more girls to play the sport.<br />
“This was all triggered by the Give It A<br />
Try (GIAT) Programme,” says Blackrock<br />
College Youths Co-ordinator Killian<br />
O’Sullivan.<br />
“We were encouraged to submit<br />
an application and members of the<br />
Blackrock senior squad got involved with<br />
the view of hosting the programme last<br />
summer.<br />
“When we received the go-ahead, it was<br />
mostly run by the senior squad and it<br />
became a roaring success.<br />
“When the programme ended, the squad<br />
wanted to continue the good work by<br />
holding sessions on a Sunday morning<br />
for the young girls who wanted to keep<br />
playing rugby.<br />
“That is where it all started from,” he<br />
adds.<br />
“As the weeks went on, of course<br />
allowing for the pandemic and all the<br />
stoppages, the number of girls steadily<br />
grew as they went back to school to tell<br />
their friends.”<br />
In the meantime, the <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
Women’s Development Officer Emily<br />
McKeown was going into nearby schools<br />
and hosting fun, non-contact sessions.<br />
This provided a double-whammy effect<br />
of <strong>Leinster</strong> promoting the game within the<br />
schools allied to those who made their<br />
way to Blackrock through GIAT and,<br />
subsequently, word-of-mouth.<br />
Before long, there was a considerable<br />
cohort of players returning to the club<br />
week-on-week. It didn’t go unnoticed.<br />
O’Sullivan and committed members<br />
Gavin Hegarty and Mike Conn, as well<br />
as Transition Year student Caoimhe<br />
McWilliams, turned serious thought into a<br />
practical proposal to seize the moment.<br />
“The club threw its weight behind<br />
supporting the girls in the form of<br />
providing equipment and a nice slot<br />
on the new all-weather pitch,” shares<br />
O’Sullivan.<br />
“It gathered momentum from there as<br />
parents showed the same enthusiasm as<br />
the girls. It was perfect as we had been<br />
trying to get a girls section going at the<br />
club for a long time.<br />
“We have a very successful senior team.<br />
But, we don’t have a youths team and we<br />
didn’t have a minis section, specifically<br />
for girls.”<br />
For years, there had been no joinedup<br />
thinking around how to make it<br />
worthwhile to build the ladies section<br />
top-to-bottom.<br />
“We struggled to envision how we could<br />
form a youths team from nothing because<br />
girls had made their sporting decisions<br />
long before they reach 18.”<br />
The GIAT opened their eyes to doing<br />
it another way, targeting the six to 12<br />
age groups, building from the groundup,<br />
rather than the top down, as part of<br />
a longer-term commitment to making it<br />
sustainable.<br />
In time, this can lead to a flow of players<br />
from minis into youths teams with the<br />
ultimate goal of filling up a feeder system<br />
into the Blackrock College senior squad,<br />
making a clear pathway from minis to<br />
adult rugby.<br />
“The club has been trying to reach<br />
out to the community for quite some<br />
time. Getting the girls in is such a good<br />
opportunity because the parents bring<br />
their daughters down and there is no<br />
shortage of volunteers to help out in any<br />
capacity,” says O’Sullivan.<br />
“Also, we have a large boys section,<br />
numbering into the 100s, and a lot of<br />
them have sisters.<br />
From The Ground Up | 80 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
“You find the parents are bringing the<br />
sisters down with the brothers because<br />
they can’t leave them at home. Sometimes<br />
it is an opportunity to put the girls out on<br />
the field.<br />
“All of these elements have come<br />
together to give us quite a successful<br />
start to our minis girls section,” continues<br />
O’Sullivan.<br />
“While I have been involved in the<br />
set-up, the success is really down to the<br />
Women’s senior squad and how they<br />
have taken on the responsibility to turn it<br />
into something that can last.<br />
“The idea is to get the girls having fun,<br />
making friends and learning the skills of<br />
the game at a really young age, rather<br />
than picking it up later down the line.”<br />
Ireland international Hannah O’Connor<br />
is one of those leading the involvement<br />
of the senior players in giving back to<br />
the club.<br />
“It all stemmed from having some girls<br />
float in and out with their brothers a<br />
couple of years ago at very young ages,”<br />
she says.<br />
“We tried to knit that together with the<br />
IRFU’s Give It A Try Programme. The idea<br />
was to link it together in order to have<br />
strong stand alone girls teams, building<br />
into the underage teams from U-13s up.<br />
“We had the GIAT Programme as an<br />
eight-week introduction to the game<br />
where they go from no experience to<br />
actually tackling by week six, seven and<br />
eight which they love.<br />
“The first year, we had less than 10.<br />
The second year, we had a few more<br />
between 10 and 15. We found it hard to<br />
compete in the summer with other sports,<br />
like GAA and hockey.<br />
“This year, it has been different. The<br />
girls have their slot on the astro pitch at<br />
Blackrock on a Sunday morning. We<br />
have everyone from three-and-a-half to<br />
13 year-olds. The numbers are growing.<br />
There are now 30-plus girls there each<br />
week having a ball from 10.15am to<br />
11.15am.<br />
“We want to provide the support to get<br />
girls into rugby and keep them in it,” says<br />
O’Connor.<br />
“There is a five-year plan to prevent the<br />
fall off of girls leaving sport when they<br />
move into those early teenage years.<br />
“We want to build up from that base<br />
to have teams from U-13 up that travel<br />
around to take part in blitzes and minitournaments.<br />
The dream is to eventually<br />
have a feeder team into the senior squad.<br />
“We try to make sure that the girls<br />
from the Blackrock senior team, our<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> interprovincials and our Ireland<br />
internationals come down and take<br />
sessions.<br />
“Hopefully, the girls will see the seniors<br />
and recognise a pathway in the club, see<br />
that they too can progress in the game, if<br />
that is what they want to do.”<br />
There is also the factor of showing young<br />
girls what adult friendship looks like and<br />
how it can be fostered through sharing<br />
experiences on and off the pitch.<br />
“They can see the fun we, the senior<br />
players, have together and how it is a<br />
great way of making friends.<br />
“We have adopted a rota system and<br />
the girls are great at throwing their hands<br />
up to take a session. The nature of the<br />
Women’s AIL is that we are from all over<br />
the place. I am living in Clane in Kildare.<br />
Some of them are coming from Meath or<br />
Wicklow to help out.<br />
“The minis see the craic we have with<br />
each other, how we are really good<br />
friends, how it is possible to make friends<br />
for life when you have in common a love<br />
of the same thing, in this case rugby.”<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 81 | From The Ground Up
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RAINBOW LACES<br />
CRAIG<br />
Maxwell-Keys<br />
AS PART OF<br />
OUR PRIDE<br />
MONTH<br />
CELEBRATIONS,<br />
LEINSTER<br />
RUGBY<br />
CAUGHT UP<br />
WITH CRAIG<br />
MAXWELL-<br />
KEYS, RUGBY<br />
REFEREE, ABOUT<br />
THE RAINBOW<br />
LACES<br />
CAMPAIGN<br />
AND HIS OWN<br />
EXPERIENCES<br />
OF SHARING<br />
HIS SEXUALITY.<br />
The process of opening up, ‘coming out<br />
of the closet’ was not straight-forward<br />
for a quiet, introverted and younger<br />
Craig Maxwell-Keys.<br />
It was to his closest friends, Vanessa<br />
and Stephen, he turned to when the<br />
time came, quite simply, to be himself.<br />
“It was a huge conversation to have with my<br />
best friends,” he says.<br />
“I tried to have it two or three times, but always<br />
pulled out. With any valued relationship the<br />
constant fear was: ‘How will they react?’<br />
“Looking back on it, my biggest regret or<br />
embarrassment is that I could have ever<br />
doubted how they would react.<br />
“If I’m honest, I knew deep down the<br />
reaction was always going to be positive and<br />
supportive. Yet, I still doubted them.”<br />
Ultimately, the support was unwavering, the<br />
loyalty and love of Vanessa and Stephen<br />
sealed by a secret shared.<br />
Until then, a mile-a-minute pace of life didn’t<br />
leave much time to sit and stew over the<br />
complexities of his personal life.<br />
Slowly, surely, Maxwell-Keys had grown to<br />
appreciate how an issue unresolved could<br />
fester into something more sinister.<br />
“There were certainly hard times when no one<br />
else knew. It was just you with your thoughts. It<br />
was quite dark,” he says.<br />
“You do question how you are going to<br />
navigate through it. Those thoughts can spiral<br />
quite quickly.<br />
“You do need that soundboard, that support<br />
system, to think it through.”<br />
Back then, in an overall context, he was<br />
experiencing life fully for the first time, seeing<br />
the sort of future he could have all around him.<br />
“It was at Leicester University where I accepted<br />
I was gay and I had two years working in the<br />
pharmaceutical sector, a field I had spent four<br />
years getting a degree in.<br />
“I was in a really positive place. I was loving<br />
life,” he shares.<br />
“To me, coming out would put me in an even<br />
more positive place simply because all the<br />
energy you spend monitoring and censoring<br />
your every interaction could be reinvested in<br />
me being more authentically me.<br />
“I just went from a good place to an even<br />
better place,” he says.<br />
From The Ground Up | 84 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
WORDS: RYAN CORRY<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 85 | From The Ground Up
Find your escape<br />
this weekend
“The thing that prompted me to come out was<br />
slowly being surrounded with (heterosexual)<br />
people who had boyfriends or girlfriends,<br />
making their lives together.<br />
“They were sharing their successes together.<br />
But, also, when they were low, they had<br />
someone to turn to.<br />
“That is what was missing from my life. I didn’t<br />
want to do that on the down-low, behind closed<br />
doors, hiding that part of me away.<br />
“If I wanted to fully embrace life, I had to come<br />
out.”<br />
Eight years later, the 31-year-old has climbed<br />
to the upper-echelons of the rugby refereeing<br />
circuit in England, taking charge of last year’s<br />
Premiership final between Exeter and Wasps.<br />
He has been the perfect role model for driving<br />
Rainbow Laces, an initiative where participants<br />
wear multi-coloured laces in their boots or<br />
trainers, to show their support for LGBT equality.<br />
It has transformed from a campaign originally<br />
focused on homophobia in football to<br />
something acknowledging the challenges of the<br />
LGBT community across all sports.<br />
“I knew about Rainbow Laces from TV as a kid<br />
growing up, the profile coming from the Premier<br />
League,” states Maxwell-Keys.<br />
“I never wore them, even initially, when I came<br />
out to friends and family because I didn’t want<br />
that focus and that attention.<br />
“For me, it didn’t start a conversation with my<br />
family. But, it did make me more aware. That is<br />
where the campaign has its value.”<br />
It was not the trigger for Maxwell-Keys to come<br />
out. But, it was one more brick removed from<br />
the wall of silence he had built up around his<br />
sexuality.<br />
“It definitely played a part in the sense that I<br />
knew what Rainbow Laces was, what it was<br />
trying to do in the community.<br />
“You start to be more aware when you see<br />
different Pride initiatives pop up around the<br />
Rainbow Laces.<br />
“I suppose it was that slow step towards seeing<br />
there is a lot going on across society to raise<br />
the profile of the LGBT community.<br />
“It took me from not knowing anything,<br />
being oblivious and naive to what the LGBT+<br />
community was, to opening the door into the<br />
community.<br />
“I NEVER<br />
WORE<br />
THEM, EVEN<br />
INITIALLY,<br />
WHEN I<br />
CAME OUT<br />
TO FRIENDS<br />
AND FAMILY<br />
BECAUSE I<br />
DIDN’T WANT<br />
THAT FOCUS<br />
AND THAT<br />
ATTENTION.”<br />
“I know the ‘Lace-Up With Pride’ campaign in<br />
Ireland is looking to make matters better too.”<br />
This month, AVIVA Ireland launched ‘Lace-Up<br />
With Pride’ in collaboration with Intersport<br />
Elverys to raise vital funds for the LGBTQ+<br />
youth services.<br />
It aims to raise vital funds for BeLonG To,<br />
by selling rainbow shoelaces for €4 with all<br />
proceeds donated to the cause.<br />
Three years ago, the admission of his<br />
homosexuality to Vanessa and Stephen led to<br />
a release from the psychological prison he had<br />
been bound by.<br />
Two years ago, he took the advice of his boss<br />
Tony Spreadbury, met with fellow referee and<br />
LGBT+ proponent Nigel Owens before making<br />
his private life public.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 87 | From The Ground Up
The Rainbow Laces were a symbol of his newfound<br />
freedom of expression and a sign of his<br />
support for those who have not yet completed<br />
their journey into the light.<br />
“As soon as I came out, I started wearing them.<br />
I wear them all the time. I don’t take them out,”<br />
he says.<br />
“As much as I talk about awareness, as much<br />
as it is Pride month, wearing them all the time<br />
is a constant awareness prompt for me and for<br />
anyone who sees them.”<br />
He has been lifted up by the numerous players<br />
who have expressed their support for his<br />
openness.<br />
“After I did my first piece for Rainbow Laces,<br />
two years ago, the biggest surprise was the<br />
number of players who went out of their way,<br />
pre or post-game, to come and find me for<br />
a one-to-one chat, just to say ‘well done’, or<br />
‘great work’.<br />
“It was quite eye-opening how honest they<br />
were when they came to chat to me, sharing<br />
stories how their friends had come out and<br />
how my story shed more light for them on the<br />
journey their friends had gone through.”<br />
This is not to suggest that rugby has reached a<br />
state of equilibrium, a place where competing<br />
views are accepted with complete grace and<br />
decency.<br />
“The game has come a long way. But, there is<br />
clearly more to be done,” he notes.<br />
“My focus with Rainbow Laces is to be a<br />
catalyst for conversation,” adds Maxwell-Keys.<br />
“On a wider scale, it is about how you engage<br />
with communities, what programmes you run.<br />
That is where you will see more substantial<br />
change over time.<br />
“In rugby, you often hear the result will take<br />
care of itself. More gay players choosing to<br />
come out will happen if the game has its culture<br />
right, driving and representing the whole of<br />
society that clubs are part of.<br />
“The moment a top-flight player comes out, the<br />
attention they would receive would be way<br />
more than I or even Nigel (Owens) gets. That<br />
must be pretty daunting.<br />
“However, there will come a tipping point<br />
where the media focus they will have to deal<br />
with will not be as great as the freedom they<br />
will gain from coming out.”<br />
This he knows from personal experience.<br />
From The Ground Up | 88 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 89 | From The Ground Up<br />
“… THE<br />
BIGGEST<br />
SURPRISE WAS<br />
THE NUMBER<br />
OF PLAYERS<br />
WHO WENT<br />
OUT OF THEIR<br />
WAY, PRE OR<br />
POST-GAME, TO<br />
COME AND FIND<br />
ME FOR A ONE-<br />
TO-ONE CHAT,<br />
JUST TO SAY<br />
‘WELL DONE’,<br />
OR ‘GREAT<br />
WORK’.”
Academy squad<br />
2020|21<br />
DOB: 15 December 1999<br />
From: Hampshire, England<br />
Height: 1.88m (6’ 2”)<br />
Weight: 92kg (14st 5lbs)<br />
Position: Back Three<br />
School: Henley College<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (1 cap)<br />
AARON O’SULLIVAN<br />
Did You Know: Aaron was signed from Wasps where<br />
he made two appearances for the Senior team in the<br />
2017/18 Anglo Welsh Cup. Aaron’s dad, Barry, had trials at<br />
Newcastle and his grandad, at the age of 80, completed<br />
five stages of the Tour de France in 2011.<br />
Instagram: aaron_sullivan11<br />
DOB: 02 March 2000<br />
From: Wexford<br />
Height: 1.99m (6’ 6”)<br />
Weight: 107kg (16st 8lbs)<br />
Position: Second Row<br />
School: St Peter’s College<br />
Club: Clontarf FC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (8 caps)<br />
BRIAN DEENY<br />
Did You Know: Brian played youth rugby with Wexford<br />
Wanderers RFC. He got his first Irish cap playing for<br />
Ireland Under-18 Sevens. Brian played midfield for his<br />
school St Peter’s College in Gaelic football and reached the<br />
All-Ireland Colleges Final in 2017. He is currently studying<br />
Science in Trinity and lives in Abbey House B&B, Wexford...<br />
if you are looking for a room?! Instagram: brian_deeny<br />
DOB: 03 July 1999<br />
From: Dublin<br />
Height: 1.77m (5’ 10”)<br />
Weight: 86kg (13st 4lbs)<br />
Position: Centre/Outhalf<br />
School: Belvedere College<br />
Club: Clontarf RFC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (3 caps)<br />
& <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> (8 caps)<br />
DAVID HAWKSHAW #1290<br />
Did You Know: David started playing rugby at Coolmine RFC before<br />
joining Belvedere College and won two Schools Senior Cup titles. He has<br />
represented Ireland U18 Schools and was selected as Ireland U20s captain<br />
for the 2019 Grand Slam winning campaign only to have his season cut<br />
short after three games. He played hurling and Gaelic football for St Brigid’s<br />
GAA club and also represented Dublin minors, winning a <strong>Leinster</strong> hurling<br />
title. Currently studying humanities in DCU. Instagram: davidhawkshaw99<br />
DOB: 30 November 1998<br />
From: Dublin<br />
Height: 1.72m (5’ 8”)<br />
Weight: 76kg (11st 9lbs)<br />
Position: Scrum Half<br />
School: Blackrock College<br />
Club: UCD RFC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (1 cap)<br />
& <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> (3 caps)<br />
PATRICK PATTERSON #1274<br />
Did You Know: Paddy made his debut for <strong>Leinster</strong> during<br />
the 2018/19 season when only in the first year of the<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Academy. He also scored his first Senior try for<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> off the bench against Southern Kings during that<br />
maiden campaign.<br />
Instagram: paddypatterson<br />
Academy squad<br />
2020|21<br />
DOB: 24 October 1999<br />
From: Newtownmountkennedy, Wicklow<br />
Height: 1.81m (5’ 9”)<br />
Weight: 87kg (13st 10lbs)<br />
Position: Scrum Half<br />
School: St. Gerard’s School<br />
Club: Lansdowne FC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (9 caps)<br />
& <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> (1 cap)<br />
CORMAC FOLEY #1299<br />
Did You Know: Started playing rugby with Greystones<br />
RFC when he was nine. Growing up, Cormac did a lot of<br />
show jumping and he is now studying Economics and<br />
Finance in UCD.<br />
Instagram: cormacfoley6<br />
DOB: 05 February 1999<br />
From: Birr, Offaly<br />
Height: 1.82m (6’ 0”)<br />
Weight: 112kg (17st 8lbs)<br />
Position: Prop<br />
School: Cistercian College, Roscrea<br />
Club: Birr RFC/UCD RFC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (8 caps)<br />
& <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> (15 caps)<br />
MICHAEL MILNE #1279<br />
Did You Know: Michael has won two All-Ireland hurling<br />
titles, one with his school in Roscrea and another with<br />
Offaly Under-17s.<br />
Instagram: michael_milne<br />
DOB: 04 June 1998<br />
From: Dublin<br />
Height: 1.83m (6’ 0”)<br />
Weight: 88kg (13st 12lbs)<br />
Position: Back Three<br />
School: Clongowes Wood College<br />
Club: Dublin University FC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (12 caps)<br />
& <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> (2 caps)<br />
MICHAEL SILVESTER #1289<br />
Did You Know: Started playing rugby with Wanderers<br />
RFC before playing in school with St. Michaels and then<br />
Clongowes. Played competitive tennis from the age of nine,<br />
winning a national championship at age 12, before focusing<br />
on rugby after moving to Clongowes. Graduated from<br />
Trinity with a BESS degree.<br />
Instagram: msilvester98<br />
DOB: 22 February 2000<br />
From: Dublin<br />
Height: 1.85m (6’ 1”)<br />
Weight: 111kg (17st 7lbs)<br />
Position: Prop<br />
School: Blackrock College<br />
Club: Dublin University FC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (13 caps)<br />
& <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> (10 caps)<br />
THOMAS CLARKSON #1285<br />
Did You Know: Thomas studies Human Health and Disease<br />
in Trinity College. He played underage rugby for Wicklow<br />
RFC before moving to Dublin to attend Willow Park<br />
primary school.<br />
Instagram: tclarkson37<br />
DOB: 19 October 1999<br />
From: Athy, Kildare<br />
Height: 1.88m (6’ 2”)<br />
Weight: 99kg (15st 8lbs)<br />
Position: Back Row<br />
School: Clontarf FC<br />
Club: Old Belvedere RFC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (5<br />
caps)& <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> (1 cap)<br />
MARTIN MOLONEY #1300<br />
Did You Know: Martin played hurling for Kildare and played<br />
GAA and basketball for his secondary school, Knockbeg<br />
College, and local GAA club, St Laurence’s. He played his<br />
youth rugby with Athy RFC. He is now studying Business<br />
and Law in UCD, He also enjoys working on the family farm.<br />
Instagram: martin_moloney<br />
From The Ground Up | 90 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
DOB: 03 February 1999<br />
From: Dublin<br />
Height: 2.01m (6’ 7”)<br />
Weight: 108kg (17st)<br />
Position: Second Row<br />
School: Blackrock College<br />
Club: UCD RFC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (15 caps)<br />
CHARLIE RYAN<br />
Did You Know: Charlie played youth rugby at Blackrock<br />
College RFC while also attending the school since Senior<br />
Infants. He captained Ireland to the U20 Grand Slam in<br />
2019 and again for the U20s World Cup. His friends call<br />
him Chuck! He is currently studying Business and Legal<br />
Studies in UCD.<br />
Instagram: chuck_ryan5<br />
Academy squad<br />
2020|21<br />
DOB: 15 February 2000<br />
From: Belfast<br />
Height: 1.82m (6’ 0”)<br />
Weight: 103kg (16st 2lbs)<br />
Position: Hooker<br />
School: Campbell College<br />
Club: Old Belvedere RFC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (12 caps)<br />
JOHN McKEE<br />
Did You Know: John grew up in Belfast going to school<br />
at Campbell College where he won a Senior Cup. He was<br />
involved with Ulster at age grade level until moving to<br />
Dublin after school. He also has multiple medals from<br />
Northern Irish Schools Judo competitions.<br />
Instagram: johnmckee_<br />
DOB: 21 July 2000<br />
From: Dublin<br />
Height: 1.83m (6’ 0”)<br />
Weight: 91kg (14st 3lbs)<br />
Position: Back Three<br />
School: St Michael’s College<br />
Club: Clontarf FC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (3 caps)<br />
& <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> (2 caps)<br />
ANDREW SMITH #1292<br />
Did You Know: Andrew is currently studying Quantity<br />
Surveying and Construction Economics in TUD. In 2019,<br />
he won the <strong>Leinster</strong> Schools Senior Cup with St Michael’s<br />
College. Andrew also played Gaelic football with his local<br />
club - Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA Club.<br />
Instagram: andrew.sm1th<br />
DOB: 14 July 1999<br />
From: Dublin<br />
Height: 173cm (5’ 9”)<br />
Weight: 91kg (14st 5lbs)<br />
Position: Centre<br />
School: Blackrock College<br />
Club: Dublin University FC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (10 caps)<br />
& <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> (6 caps)<br />
LIAM TURNER #1287<br />
Did You Know: Liam started to play rugby at the age<br />
of six at Blackrock College RFC. He later joined Blackrock<br />
College and was part of the 2018 Senior Cup winning team.<br />
He was also part of the Ireland U20 team that went on to<br />
win the 2019 Grand Slam. Liam currently studys BESS in<br />
Trinity College.<br />
Instagram: liamtn123<br />
DOB: 06 April 2000<br />
From: Dublin<br />
Height: 1.83m (6’ 0”)<br />
Weight: 86kg (13st 8lbs)<br />
Position: Wing<br />
School: Blackrock College<br />
Club: UCD RFC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20<br />
NIALL COMERFORD<br />
Did You Know: Niall played both hurling and Gaelic<br />
football with Kilmacud Crokes for 14 years. He also<br />
represented Dublin in Gaelic football in the U17 <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
Championship. He is currently studying Commerce in UCD.<br />
Instagram: niall_c123<br />
DOB: 31 July 2000<br />
From: Pittsburgh, USA<br />
Height: 1.90m (6’ 3”)<br />
Weight: 102kg (16st 1lb)<br />
Position: Back Row<br />
School: Blackrock College<br />
Club: UCD RFC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (3 caps)<br />
& <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> (2 caps)<br />
SEÁN O’BRIEN #1297<br />
Did You Know: Seán started playing rugby at age six<br />
with Greystones RFC where he played up until Under-13.<br />
He then played on the Junior and Senior Cup teams in<br />
Blackrock College. He is currently studying Economics and<br />
Finance in UCD<br />
Instagram: seanobrien456<br />
DOB: 19 February 2001<br />
From: Pearse St, Dublin<br />
Height: 1.95m (6’ 5”)<br />
Weight: 104.5kg (16st 6lbs)<br />
Position: Back Row<br />
School: Belvedere College<br />
Club: Dublin University FC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (2 caps)<br />
& <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> (2 caps)<br />
ALEX SOROKA #1296<br />
Did You Know: Alex’s family moved to Ireland from<br />
Ukraine shortly before his birth. He was born in Cork<br />
before moving to Dublin.<br />
Instagram: alex._.soroka<br />
DOB: 26 March 2001<br />
From: Manhattan, NY<br />
Height: 1.95m (6’ 5”)<br />
Weight: 113kg (17st 11lbs)<br />
Position: Second Row<br />
School: Blackrock College<br />
Club: Dublin University FC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (3 caps)<br />
JOE McCARTHY<br />
Did You Know: Joe started playing rugby with Blackrock<br />
College RFC at the age of six before moving to Willow Park<br />
and then Blackrock College. He was also on the Blackrock<br />
swim team for five years. He’s currently studying Global<br />
Business in Trinity College Dublin.<br />
Instagram: joetmmcc<br />
DOB: 26 February 2000<br />
From: Enniskerry, Wicklow<br />
Height: 1.85m (6’ 1”)<br />
Weight: 86kg (13st 8lbs)<br />
Position: Full Back<br />
School: St Gerard’s School<br />
Club: Dublin University FC<br />
Honours: Ireland U20 (3 caps)<br />
& <strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong> (7 caps)<br />
MAX O’REILLY #1291<br />
Did You Know: Max is currently in his third year of Business<br />
and Management in DIT. His preferred sport was soccer<br />
until about the age of 15, which he had played at centre<br />
midfield with Enniskerry FC for over 10 years and also<br />
for Wicklow.<br />
Instagram: max_oreilly<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 91 | From The Ground Up
© 2020 adidas AG<br />
READY<br />
FOR<br />
ACTION<br />
LEINSTER RUGBY<br />
TRAINING 20/21
Fixtures &<br />
results<br />
2020/21<br />
Fri 2 Oct 20:15<br />
Guinness PRO14<br />
W 35-5<br />
Sat 10 Oct 18:15<br />
Guinness PRO14<br />
W 37-25<br />
FRI 23 Oct 19:35<br />
Guinness PRO14<br />
W 63-8<br />
MON 2 Nov 20:15<br />
Guinness PRO14<br />
W 32-19<br />
KEENAN<br />
LARMOUR 1T<br />
RINGROSE 1T 2C<br />
FRAWLEY (T O'BRIEN 9)<br />
LOWE 2T<br />
SEXTON 1C (R BYRNE 23 3C)<br />
GIBSON-PARK (MCGRATH 67)<br />
E BYRNE (HEALY 49)<br />
R KELLEHER (CRONIN 49)<br />
BENT (PORTER 49)<br />
FARDY<br />
RYAN<br />
RUDDOCK<br />
VAN DER FLIER<br />
CONAN (DEEGAN 49 (BAIRD 62 1T))<br />
KEENAN<br />
LARMOUR (J O'BRIEN 48)<br />
RINGROSE<br />
HENSHAW<br />
LOWE 1T<br />
R BYRNE 3C 3P (H BYRNE 79)<br />
GIBSON-PARK (MCGRATH 56)<br />
E BYRNE (HEALY 52)<br />
TRACY 1T (CRONIN 53)<br />
BENT (CLARKSON 63)<br />
BAIRD (MOLONY 64)<br />
RYAN 1T<br />
DORIS<br />
CONNORS<br />
CONAN<br />
J O'BRIEN<br />
T O'BRIEN 2T<br />
TURNER<br />
FRAWLEY (SILVESTER 64)<br />
KEARNEY 1T<br />
H BYRNE 9C<br />
MCGRATH (H O'SULLIVAN 56)<br />
DOOLEY (MILNE 52)<br />
SHEEHAN 2T (TRACY 51)<br />
BENT 1T (PARKER 51 1T)<br />
MOLONY<br />
TONER (DUNNE 56)<br />
MURPHY 1T (FARDY 69)<br />
PENNY 1T<br />
RUDDOCK (LEAVY 51)<br />
J O'BRIEN 1T (HAWKSHAW 71)<br />
C KELLEHER<br />
O'LOUGHLIN<br />
T O'BRIEN<br />
D KEARNEY<br />
H BYRNE 3C 2P<br />
MCGRATH 1T (H O'SULLIVAN 76)<br />
DOOLEY (MILNE 54)<br />
TRACY (SHEEHAN 54)<br />
BENT 1T (CLARKSON 60)<br />
MOLONY (FARDY 60)<br />
TONER<br />
MURPHY (DUNNE 71)<br />
PENNY 1T<br />
RUDDOCK (LEAVY 60)<br />
SUN 8 Nov 15:00<br />
Guinness PRO14<br />
W 26-7<br />
J O'BRIEN<br />
C KELLEHER<br />
O'LOUGHLIN (TURNER 59)<br />
T O'BRIEN (H O'SULLIVAN 65)<br />
KEARNEY 1T<br />
H BYRNE 3C (HAWKSHAW 61)<br />
MCGRATH<br />
MILNE (DOOLEY 51 1T)<br />
TRACY 1T (SHEEHAN 51)<br />
BENT (PARKER 51)<br />
MOLONY<br />
FARDY (TONER 72)<br />
MURPHY (LEAVY 54)<br />
PENNY 1T<br />
RUDDOCK<br />
MON 16 NOV 20:15<br />
Guinness PRO14<br />
W 50-10<br />
J O'BRIEN<br />
C KELLEHER 3T<br />
TURNER<br />
FRAWLEY 5C<br />
KEARNEY 1T<br />
H BYRNE (HAWKSHAW 54)<br />
MCGRATH 2T (H O'SULLIVAN 57)<br />
RUDDOCK (MURPHY 50)<br />
PENNY<br />
LEAVY 1T (BAIRD 58)<br />
FARDY<br />
TONER (MOLONY 68)<br />
BENT (PARKER 50)<br />
TRACY (SHEEHAN 50)<br />
DOOLEY 1T (MILNE 50)<br />
Sun 22 Nov 17:15<br />
Guinness PRO14<br />
W 40-5<br />
J O'BRIEN 1T (SILVESTER 41 1T)<br />
C KELLEHER<br />
TURNER<br />
FRAWLEY<br />
KEARNEY 1T<br />
H BYRNE 5C<br />
MCGRATH (OSBORNE 67)<br />
DOOLEY (MILNE 58)<br />
TRACY 1T (SHEEHAN 58)<br />
BENT (CLARKSON 52)<br />
MOLONY (TONER 62)<br />
BAIRD<br />
MURPHY (PENNY 52 2T)<br />
LEAVY (DUNNE 70)<br />
RUDDOCK<br />
Sat 12 Dec 17:30<br />
Champions Cup<br />
W 35-14<br />
J O'BRIEN 1T<br />
KEENAN<br />
HENSHAW<br />
FRAWLEY 1T<br />
KEARNEY 1T<br />
R BYRNE 1C 1P (H BYRNE 61 1C 1P)<br />
MCGRATH (GIBSON-PARK 69)<br />
DOOLEY (HEALY 46)<br />
TRACY (KELLEHER 46)<br />
BENT (PORTER 46)<br />
TONER (BAIRD 69)<br />
FARDY (RYAN 52)<br />
RUDDOCK<br />
VAN DER FLIER 1T<br />
DORIS (LEAVY 59 1T)<br />
From The Ground Up | 94 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Sat 19 Dec 13:00<br />
Champions Cup<br />
W 35-19<br />
Sat 2 Jan 19:35<br />
Guinness PRO14<br />
L 24-35<br />
Fri 8 Jan 19:35<br />
Guinness PRO14<br />
W 24-12<br />
J O'BRIEN (C KELLEHER 8)<br />
KEENAN<br />
RINGROSE (FRAWLEY 75)<br />
HENSHAW<br />
KEARNEY 1T<br />
R BYRNE 3C 3P<br />
GIBSON-PARK 1T (MCGRATH 56)<br />
HEALY 1T (DOOLEY 56)<br />
R KELLEHER (TRACY 56)<br />
PORTER (BENT 56)<br />
BAIRD<br />
RYAN<br />
MURPHY 1T (MOLONY 66)<br />
VAN DER FLIER<br />
RUDDOCK (LEAVY 60)<br />
O'REILLY<br />
SMITH<br />
J O'BRIEN 1C (O'SULLIVAN 62)<br />
O'LOUGHLIN (HAWKSHAW 56 1C)<br />
KEARNEY<br />
SEXTON (TURNER 23)<br />
L MCGRATH 1T<br />
DOOLEY (E BYRNE 51 1T)<br />
TRACY (CRONIN 51)<br />
BENT (G MCGRATH 69)<br />
MOLONY<br />
TONER (CONAN 51 (CONNORS 57))<br />
BAIRD 1T<br />
PENNY 1T<br />
LEAVY (CONAN 61)<br />
KEENAN<br />
LARMOUR<br />
R BYRNE 1C<br />
R HENSHAW 1T<br />
KEARNEY 1T (J O'BRIEN 80)<br />
SEXTON 1C<br />
GIBSON-PARK (L MCGRATH 60)<br />
HEALY (E BYRNE 56)<br />
CRONIN 1T (TRACY 56 1T)<br />
PORTER (BENT 66)<br />
FARDY (MOLONY 66)<br />
J RYAN<br />
RUDDOCK (CONAN 62)<br />
VAN DER FLIER<br />
DORIS<br />
Northampton<br />
Saints v<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
Friday<br />
January 15<br />
Franklin's Gardens<br />
postponed<br />
Sat 23 Jan 19:35<br />
Guinness PRO14<br />
W 10-13<br />
Sat 30 Jan 19:35<br />
Guinness PRO14<br />
W 25-52<br />
Fri 19 Feb 19:35<br />
Guinness PRO14<br />
W 29-35<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
v Montpellier<br />
Friday<br />
January22<br />
RDS Arena<br />
postponed<br />
KEENAN<br />
LARMOUR 1T<br />
RINGROSE<br />
HENSHAW<br />
J O'BRIEN (GIBSON-PARK 58)<br />
SEXTON 2P (R BYRNE 53 1C)<br />
L MCGRATH<br />
HEALY (E BYRNE 50)<br />
CRONIN (R KELLEHER 50)<br />
PORTER<br />
FARDY (MOLONY 64)<br />
J RYAN<br />
RUDDOCK (CONAN 68)<br />
CONNORS (VAN DER FLIER 59)<br />
DORIS<br />
O'REILLY 1T<br />
C KELLEHER 1T<br />
TURNER (J OSBORNE 46)<br />
FRAWLEY (HAWKSHAW 71 1T)<br />
KEARNEY<br />
H BYRNE (6C 1P)<br />
L MCGRATH 1T (H O'SULLIVAN 67)<br />
DOOLEY (E BYRNE 54)<br />
TRACY 1T (CRONIN 54)<br />
FURLONG (CLARKSON H-T)<br />
MOLONY<br />
BAIRD<br />
MURPHY<br />
LEAVY 1T (FARDY 77)<br />
CONAN (DUNNE 60)<br />
O'REILLY<br />
C KELLEHER<br />
O'LOUGHLIN<br />
R BYRNE 4C (HAWKSHAW 77)<br />
KEARNEY<br />
H BYRNE (J OSBORNE 63)<br />
L MCGRATH (R OSBORNE 67)<br />
DOOLEY 1T (HANAN 65)<br />
TRACY (SHEEHAN 57 1T)<br />
CLARKSON (G MCGRATH 65)<br />
MOLONY (TONER 57)<br />
BAIRD<br />
MURPHY 1T (FARDY 67)<br />
PENNY 1T<br />
CONAN<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 95 | From The Ground Up
Fixtures &<br />
results<br />
2020/21<br />
Sun 28 Feb 17:30<br />
Guinness PRO14<br />
W 40-21<br />
Sat 6 Mar 19:35<br />
Guinness PRO14<br />
W 19-38<br />
Fri 12 Mar 17:45<br />
Guinness PRO14<br />
W 31-48<br />
Fri 19 Mar 20:15<br />
Guinness PRO14<br />
L 19-24<br />
J O'BRIEN<br />
C KELLEHER 1T (O'REILLY)<br />
J OSBORNE<br />
O'LOUGHLIN<br />
KEARNEY<br />
H BYRNE 1T 2C (HAWKSHAW 33 2C)<br />
L MCGRATH 1T (R OSBORNE 75)<br />
DOOLEY (G MCGRATH 74)<br />
CRONIN (SHEEHAN 59 1T)<br />
BENT (CLARKSON 57)<br />
TONER<br />
FARDY<br />
MURPHY (SOROKA 57)<br />
VAN DER FLIER<br />
PENNY 2T (DUNNE 74)<br />
O'REILLY<br />
C KELLEHER<br />
J O'BRIEN (J OSBORNE 73)<br />
O'LOUGHLIN<br />
KEARNEY<br />
R BYRNE 5C 1P<br />
L MCGRATH (R OSBORNE 76)<br />
E BYRNE 1T (DOOLEY 57)<br />
TRACY (SHEEHAN 57 1T)<br />
BENT 1T (CLARKSON 57)<br />
TONER (DUNNE 73)<br />
FARDY (MOLONY 62)<br />
RUDDOCK 1T<br />
VAN DER FLIER 1T<br />
PENNY<br />
O'REILLY<br />
C KELLEHER 1T<br />
J O'BRIEN (J OSBORNE 52)<br />
O'LOUGHLIN<br />
KEARNEY 3T<br />
H BYRNE 4C 1P (CORKERY 65)<br />
L MCGRATH 1T (H O'SULLIVAN HT 1C)<br />
DOOLEY<br />
SHEEHAN 2T (TRACY 55)<br />
CLARKSON (BENT 55)<br />
MOLONY<br />
DUNNE<br />
MURPHY<br />
PENNY (TONER 65)<br />
SOROKA (S O'BRIEN 48)<br />
O'REILLY<br />
O'LOUGHLIN<br />
J OSBORNE 1T<br />
FRAWLEY 2C (CORKERY 79)<br />
KEARNEY (SMITH 64)<br />
H BYRNE 2T<br />
R OSBORNE (O'SULLIVAN HT)<br />
DOOLEY (HANAN 62)<br />
CRONIN (PENNY 74)<br />
BENT (CLARKSON 51)<br />
MOLONY<br />
TONER<br />
FARDY (SHEEHAN 46)<br />
PENNY (DUNNE 63)<br />
MURPHY (O'BRIEN 19)<br />
Sat 2 Mar 17:00<br />
Guinness PRO14 final<br />
W 16-6<br />
sat 10 apr 17:30<br />
Heineken Champions Cup<br />
W 22-34<br />
Sun 2 May 15:00<br />
Heineken Champions Cup<br />
L 32-23<br />
KEENAN<br />
LARMOUR<br />
O'LOUGHLIN<br />
HENSHAW<br />
KEARNEY<br />
R BYRNE 3P 1C (SEXTON 60)<br />
L MCGRATH (GIBSON-PARK 76)<br />
HEALY (E BYRNE 53)<br />
R KELLEHER (TRACY 70)<br />
PORTER (FURLONG 53)<br />
TONER<br />
FARDY (BAIRD 60)<br />
RUDDOCK (MOLONY 74)<br />
VAN DER FLIER<br />
CONAN 1T<br />
round of 16<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> <strong>Rugby</strong><br />
v RC Toulon<br />
friday<br />
2 april<br />
RDS Arena<br />
cancelled<br />
KEENAN<br />
LARMOUR 2T<br />
O'LOUGHLIN<br />
HENSHAW<br />
LOWE 1T (KEARNEY 79)<br />
SEXTON 1C (BYRNE 27 1C 5P)<br />
L MCGRATH (H O'SULLIVAN 79)<br />
HEALY (E BYRNE 50)<br />
R KELLEHER (TRACY 70)<br />
FURLONG (PORTER 55)<br />
FARDY (BAIRD 50)<br />
TONER (MOLONY 70)<br />
RUDDOCK<br />
VAN DER FLIER<br />
CONAN<br />
KEENAN<br />
LARMOUR (O'LOUGHLIN 75)<br />
RINGROSE<br />
HENSHAW<br />
LOWE<br />
R BYRNE 1T 2C 3P<br />
L MCGRATH<br />
HEALY (E BYRNE 56)<br />
R KELLEHER (TRACY 71)<br />
FURLONG 1T (PORTER 56)<br />
TONER (FARDY 71)<br />
RYAN<br />
RUDDOCK (BAIRD 28)<br />
VAN DER FLIER<br />
CONAN<br />
From The Ground Up | 96 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Sat 24 Apr 19:35<br />
Rainbow Cup<br />
L 3-27<br />
LARMOUR<br />
KEARNEY<br />
RINGROSE (T O'BRIEN 58)<br />
O'LOUGHLIN<br />
LOWE<br />
H BYRNE (HAWKSHAW 5 1P)<br />
H O'SULLIVAN (FOLEY 65)<br />
E BYRNE (DOOLEY 57)<br />
SHEEHAN (CRONIN 57)<br />
PORTER (BENT 57)<br />
MOLONY<br />
RYAN (FARDY 60)<br />
BAIRD (MOLONEY 71)<br />
PENNY<br />
MURPHY<br />
Sat 8 May 19:35<br />
Rainbow Cup<br />
W 50-21<br />
KEENAN 3T<br />
C KELLEHER 1T<br />
RINGROSE<br />
FRAWLEY (O'LOUGHLIN 36)<br />
KEARNEY<br />
R BYRNE 5C (LARMOUR 55)<br />
L MCGRATH (R OSBORNE 61)<br />
DOOLEY (E BYRNE 54)<br />
TRACY 1T (SHEEHAN 54)<br />
PORTER 1T (FURLONG 54)<br />
MOLONY 1T<br />
FARDY 1T<br />
MURPHY (BAIRD 63)<br />
PENNY<br />
CONAN (VAN DER FLIER 24)<br />
Fri, 14 May 20:15<br />
Rainbow Cup<br />
W 21-17<br />
J O'BRIEN (O'LOUGHLIN 42)<br />
LARMOUR<br />
RINGROSE 3C<br />
HENSHAW 1T<br />
KEARNEY (T O'BRIEN 31)<br />
R BYRNE<br />
L MCGRATH<br />
HEALY 1T (MILNE 51)<br />
CRONIN (R KELLEHER 48)<br />
FURLONG (BENT 64)<br />
BAIRD (TONER 66)<br />
RYAN<br />
MURPHY (CONAN 48 1T)<br />
VAN DER FLIER<br />
DORIS<br />
Fri, 4 Jun 20:15<br />
Rainbow Cup<br />
L 15-12<br />
KEENAN<br />
C KELLEHER 1T (LARMOUR 64)<br />
RINGROSE<br />
O'LOUGHLIN<br />
J O'BRIEN<br />
R BYRNE 1C<br />
L MCGRATH 1T<br />
E BYRNE (DOOLEY 54)<br />
R KELLEHER (SHEEHAN 68)<br />
BENT (PORTER 45)<br />
MOLONY<br />
RYAN<br />
MURPHY (BAIRD 55)<br />
VAN DER FLIER (PENNY 74)<br />
DORIS<br />
ROUND<br />
06<br />
LEINSTER V<br />
DRAGONS<br />
friday<br />
june 11, 2021<br />
RDS Arena<br />
ko 20:15<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 97 | From The Ground Up
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Cover<br />
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Hugo Keenan<br />
Jordan Larmour<br />
Garry Ringrose [C]<br />
Rory O’Loughlin<br />
Jimmy O’Brien<br />
Ross Byrne<br />
Jamison Gibson-Park<br />
15<br />
14<br />
13<br />
12<br />
11<br />
10<br />
9<br />
FULL BACK<br />
RIGHT WING<br />
OUTSIDE CENTRE<br />
INSIDE CENTRE<br />
LEFT WING<br />
FLY HALF<br />
SCRUM HALF<br />
Josh Lewis<br />
Owen Jenkins<br />
Aneurin Owen<br />
Jamie Roberts<br />
Rio Dyer<br />
Sam Davies<br />
Rhodri Williams [C]<br />
Cian Healy<br />
Rónan Kelleher<br />
Michael Bent<br />
Ryan Baird<br />
James Ryan<br />
Scott Fardy<br />
Scott Penny<br />
Caelan Doris<br />
James Tracy<br />
Michael Milne<br />
Vakh Abdaladze<br />
Devin Toner<br />
Josh van der Flier<br />
Luke McGrath<br />
Harry Byrne<br />
Cian Kelleher<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
6<br />
7<br />
8<br />
LOOSE HEAD PROP<br />
HOOKER<br />
TIGHT HEAD PROP<br />
SECOND ROW<br />
SECOND ROW<br />
BLINDSIDE FLANKER<br />
OPENSIDE FLANKER<br />
NUMBER 8<br />
16<br />
17<br />
18<br />
19<br />
20<br />
21<br />
22<br />
23<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
Brok Harris<br />
Elliot Dee<br />
Aaron Jarvis<br />
Joe Davies<br />
Ben Carter<br />
Harrison Keddie<br />
Ollie Griffiths<br />
Ross Moriarty<br />
Richard Hibbard<br />
Josh Reynolds<br />
Chris Coleman<br />
Joe Maksymiw<br />
Taine Basham<br />
Gonzalo Bertranou<br />
Jack Dixon<br />
Ioan Davies<br />
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 54rd competition game)<br />
Assistant Referees 1: Chris Busby (IRFU)<br />
Assistant Referees 2: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)<br />
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)<br />
From The Ground Up | 100 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
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