Leinster vs Vodacom Bulls

ISSUE 1 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 

LEINSTER 

VS 

bulls 

SAT 25 TH SEPT 

AVIVA STADIUM 

KO 5.15PM

1938 - 2019 

Newstead Building A, 

UCD, 

Belfield, 

Dublin 4 

#LEIVBUL 

The Line up 

Telephone: 

012693224 

Fax: 

012693142 

E-mail: 

information@leinsterrugby.ie 

www.leinsterrugby.ie 

7 

30 

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT 

President: John Walsh 

Chief Executive: Michael Dawson 

Honorary Secretary: Stuart Bayley 

Honorary Treasurer: Michael McGrail 

RUGBY MANAGEMENT 

Head Coach: Leo Cullen 

Senior Coach: Stuart Lancaster 

Head of Rugby Operations: 

Guy Easterby 

Assistant Coach: Robin McBryde 

Backs Coach: Felipe Contepomi 

Kicking Coach: Emmet Farrell 

14 

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Design: Julian Tredinnick, 

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Ambulance: St. John’s Ambulance 

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Event Control & Safety Services: 

Eamonn O’Boyle & Associates 

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www.leinsterrugby.ie | 3

PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2020/22 

john walsh welcome 

Welcome back all rugby fans to 

a season of new beginnings and 

renewals in what we hope will be 

an exciting season of celebrating 

our sport. 

The United Rugby Championship 

promises to be an exciting and 

competitive tournament that embraces 

both northern and southern hemisphere 

rugby philosophies. 

The United Rugby Championship adds a 

new dimension and challenge for the 16 

participating teams hailing from Ireland 

(Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster), 

Scotland (Edinburgh and Glasgow 

Warriors), Wales (Cardiff, Dragons, 

Ospreys and Scarlets), Italy (Benetton 

and Zebre) and South Africa (Bulls, Lions, 

Sharks and Stormers) and will feature 

some of world rugby’s finest and most 

talented players. 

With qualification for eight teams from the 

United Rugby Championship to play in 

the Heineken Champions Cup and eight 

teams qualifying to participate in the 

European Challenge Cup we will have 

South African rugby playing in European 

competitions for the first time. 

Leinster Rugby wishes to express our 

sincere thanks to our committed fans, 

season ticket holders and loyal sponsors 

for their ongoing support for Leinster 

during this long pandemic period. 

All businesses have suffered major 

financial impacts from the restrictions 

imposed by Covid-19and those 

challenges will be with us for years to 

come. The sport business has not been 

exempt with its vital revenue streams 

suffering major downturns. 

The club game in Leinster which is the 

foundation of our success has lost in 

excess of 11000 club and school fixtures 

during the past 18 months and our focus 

will be to ensure that we can safely return 

to playing the game that is so valued by 

our on our 73 clubs, 120 schools, 13 

third level colleges/universities and our 

communities. 

We also wish to acknowledge and thank 

the Government for their assistance in 

providing valued financial support to 

sport in Ireland as a result of the effect 

of the pandemic. It is much appreciated 

by all as it is an acknowledgement of the 

vital role that sport plays in the wellbeing 

of the nation. 

We extend a warm welcome to this 

evening’s visitors, the Vodacom Bulls, for 

our initial United Rugby Championship 

fixture. 

The Northern Transvaal side are based 

in Pretoria and play at the famed Loftus 

Versfeld Stadium which is based at 4501 

feet above sea level. With four Super 

Rugby titles to their name they are the 

leading South African club side. 

We welcome the players and team coach 

Jake White, who had the distinction of 

coaching South Africa to win the World 

Cup with a victory over England in 2007. 

‘From The Ground Up’ is a phrase that is 

central to the development of the game 

of rugby in the 12-county province of 

Leinster as we increase the pathways for 

all to become involved in the sport at all 

levels. 

We have just completed our provincial 

competitions against Munster, Connacht 

and Ulster at Women’s, Youths (Girls 

and Boys) and Schools level with Leinster 

winning 14 of the 15 fixtures that they 

played. 

Congratulations to all those players who 

wore the Leinster shirt with such success 

and in particular to the team coaches 

and management teams who have 

mentored and developed these players. 

Our Leinster clubs and schools have 

made major investments in recent times 

both in terms of developing facilities and 

coaching for young players and we in 

Leinster Rugby are very appreciative of 

all their efforts and acknowledge the 

commitment, support and enthusiasm 

that our volunteers play in the role of 

achieving success for Leinster Rugby. 

As we commence the defence of our 

league title we wish our squad of 46 

players under the captaincy of Johnny 

Sexton the very best for the season 

ahead. 

Our current squad is very much a blend 

of emerging young talent with 19 players 

with less than 50 appearances, while we 

have 13 players in the 50-100 category 

and 13 with in excess of 100 Leinster 

appearances. 

We also welcome our seven new Leinster 

Academy players, Lee Barron, Jack 

Boyle, Temi Lasisi, Ben Murphy, Chris 

Cosgrave, Rob Russell and Mark Hernan 

and wish them well for the future. 

All these players commenced their 

careers with Leinster clubs and with 

our highly skilled coaching team of 

Leo Cullen, Stuart Lancaster, Felipe 

Contepomi, Emmet Farrell and Robin 

McBryde to mentor them we look 

forward to them progressing into the 

Leinster side. 

Enjoy the day and the season ahead. 

It’s great to be back! 

JOHN WALSH 

PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 

2020/22 


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Leo Cullen 

head Coach Welcome 

Good evening and welcome to 

the start of our United Rugby 

Championship campaign. 

It feels very special to welcome 

our supporters, in particular our 

Season Ticket Holders, back to 

watch the team live and in the 

flesh! 

A very warm Dublin welcome to Jake 

White and his Vodacom Bulls team, who 

are fresh off winning the Currie Cup just 

two weeks ago. 

Jake is a coach with so much experience, 

including guiding South Africa to World 

Cup glory in 2007. We have also met 

while he was coaching Montpellier in the 

Champions Cup a few seasons back. 

The South African teams are finally here 

and we anticipate they will add a new 

dimension to our tournament as we all 

look to grow the competition. 

The Bulls, Sharks, Lions and Stormers are 

four strong teams, each with rich heritage 

and proud traditions, and will test us over 

the course of the coming season and 

beyond. 

There has been plenty going on since the 

end of last season, the highlight of which 

was having a proper crowd to get behind 

the team in our only pre-season game, 

against Harlequins. To have almost 

10,000 turn out for a ‘friendly’ fixture is 

hugely encouraging to us all. 

A big thanks to the IRFU and all at 

the Aviva for hosting the games as 

we waited to get a green light for 

increased capacity at the RDS so we can 

accommodate all 12,000 Season Ticket 

Holders (which is a great number). 

That green light came during the week 

and we can’t wait to get back to the RDS 

Arena in Round 3. 

We also have some new laws to get our 

heads around and many of you will have 

seen the effects of these in games that 

have been played over the last couple 

of weeks. It is important that we are 

continually trying to improve how we 

play the game and ensure it is a game 

that you, the supporters, want to come 

and see. 

It was great to see some Leinster players 

representing Ireland during the 

Summer Series and a particular well 

done to Harry Byrne on making his 

Irish debut. Congratulations also 

to James Ryan who captained 

Ireland during the two games. 

The British and Irish Lions 

Series in South Africa was 

a gripping affair (even though parts of it 

were very much for the purists!). 

It was fantastic that three Leinster players 

managed to start all three Tests so a big 

congratulations to Robbie Henshaw, 

Tadhg Furlong and Jack Conan on how 

they went on an individual basis. 

Even though they will all be disappointed 

at losing a very tight series, they will have 

all greatly benefited from the experience. 

Congratulations also to Robin McBryde 

who represented the club as part of the 

coaching team and of course to Rónan 

Kelleher who joined up with the squad. 

As a young player, Rónan will have 

learned a huge amount from being out 

there. 

Many thanks to all the team’s sponsors, 

in particular Bank of Ireland, who like us 

all have been through a challenging time. 

We are very appreciative of the support 

we receive from our commercial partners 

and we look forward to seeing more of 

you this coming season. 

After what has been a very challenging 

18 months, we now can look forward to 

brighter days ahead for sport in general. 

Many thanks for staying with us, 

especially our Official Members, who 

signed up last season. We are getting 

ever closer to the reality of a packed-out 

RDS or Aviva and a noisy crowd singing 

‘Come on you boys in blue!’ 

Take care and enjoy being back – many 

thanks. 

Leo 


Joann 

Hosey 

PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR 

BANK OF IRELAND DUBLIN 

A very warm welcome back to you all attending a Leinster 

Rugby game in person, the first time in over 20 months I 

have been able to write that! 

Everyone in society has endured 

difficult times during the pandemic 

but over the last few months we 

have seen clear signs of recovery 

as various parts of society 

gradually reopened. Today’s 

match is another step in that 

journey. 

The recent test events hosted by Leinster 

Rugby were very successful and without 

the fans’ cooperation and adherence to 

the Covid-19 guidelines, Leinster Rugby 

wouldn’t be in a position to host the 

game today at the Aviva Stadium with 

up to 75 per cent attendance capacity 

allowed. It will be a wonderful sight to 

witness the Sea of Blue in action again 

amongst the 20,000 supporters, and also 

to hear the Laighin Pit roar! 

Leo Cullen, his coaching team and 

players could hardly have asked for a 

stiffer opening task, as they welcome the 

Vodacom Bulls to Dublin. 

The back-to-back Currie Cup champions 

visit the Aviva Stadium for the first game 

of the new United Rugby Championship 

(URC), starting the new competition off in 

style as the current champions of South 

African rugby face off against the current 

champions of what is now known as the 

URC. 

I’m sure Leinster Rugby and all its 

supporters want to offer a very warm 

welcome to Jake White and his squad, 

and hope they enjoy their stay in the 

northern hemisphere for a few weeks. 

We know that the Leinster Rugby 

supporters will make you feel most 

welcome in Dublin during the week and 

in the Aviva Stadium on match day – but 

only until 5.15pm when the battle on the 

pitch commences! 

I am also delighted to see that the 2021 

Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools 

Junior Cup kicks off next week in Energia 

Park. Players and coaches have had to 

stand by and see so much rugby fall by 

the wayside over the last season and a 

half, and it is a welcome development 

that these players will now get to play 

their cup matches. We wish all the 

competing schools well. 

There is now light at the end of the tunnel, 

and for now, like everyone in attendance 

today I can’t wait to get back to Aviva 

Stadium, and witness Leinster Rugby do 

what they do best. 

Enjoy the game, 

JH 


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Did you 

know? 

• Leinster Rugby lost 

just one of their last 

four fixtures in last 

season’s Rainbow Cup 

12-15 at Glasgow on 4 

June. 

• The Leinstermen have 

played 23 previous 

Championship matches 

at Aviva Stadium 

with their only 

defeat being 23-34 to 

Munster in October 

2014. 

• Leinster’s record 

against South African 

opponents in United 

Rugby Championship 

is played seven, won 

six, lost one with the 

defeat being 19-38 on 

a visit to Cheetahs in 

September 2017. 

• Vodacom Bulls won 

the Currie Cup for 

a second successive 

year on 11 September, 

beating Cell C Sharks 

in the final at Loftus 

Versfeld. Their most 

recent defeat was 

also to the Sharks in 

Durban on 6 August. 

• The Bulls reached 

the Rainbow Cup final 

last season but were 

eclipsed in the final 

by Benetton Rugby. 

• This is the Bulls 

first ever visit to 

Ireland, and their 

first trip to the 

Northern Hemisphere 

since being defeated 

in Treviso. 

• The two sides 

have never met in a 

competitive fixture 

before. 

COMPARISON 

Last 3 URC results 

14 May - Ulster (H) 

W 21-17 

4 Jun - Glasgow (A) 

L 12-15 

11 Jun - Dragons (H) 

W 38-7 

URC 2020/21 

Conf A: 

1st 

W14 D0 L2 

71pts 

URC form 

WWWWWL (26pts) 

Top try scorer 

10 Scott Penny 

Top points scorer 

91 Harry Byrne 

1938 - 2019 

Last 3 URC results 

4 Jun - Stormers (H) 

W 31-27 

12 Jun - Sharks (A) 

W 34-22 

19 Jun - Benetton (N) 

L 8-35 

URC 2020/21 

Rainbow SA: 

1st 

W5 D0 L1 

25pts 

URC form 

WWWLWW (25pts) 

Top try scorer 

4 Madosh Tambwe 

Top points scorer 

53 Morne Steyn 


johhny 

Sexton 

the big interview 

It is probably fair 

to say that if things 

had played out as he 

would have wanted, 

we wouldn’t be 

sitting down this 

afternoon to chat 

with Johnny Sexton. 

And he wouldn’t be leading 

Leinster Rugby in the Aviva 

Stadium in the opening game of 

the United Rugby Championship. 

The Leinster Rugby and Ireland captain, 

should have been on a plane to South 

Africa. 

Blue tinted glasses? Undoubtedly. But 

we’re entitled to wear those surely from 

time to time. 

Instead, Sexton was deemed surplus to 

requirements by Warren Gatland and co. 

Meanwhile Andy Farrell and the Irish 

coaching team made a broader decision 

to leave a few of the more experienced 

players off for the summer programme, 

including the Leinster skipper. 

14 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


It left Sexton, Cian Healy and Keith Earls, 

to kick back and relax. 

While Healy and Earls were on the 

fringes of any Lions conversation, Sexton 

was smack in the middle of it all and 

his omission was nearly as big a talking 

point as any player selected. 

So before we get into all of that, how is 

he? 

“I’m good. The body feels good, I feel 

sharp and I’ve had a really good block 

of training under my belt. 

“It’s probably the longest run of Leinster 

pre-season than I have had in a while 

and I had the run out last week against 

Harlequins so yeah, I feel good and I’m 

just looking forward to the season starting 

now.” 

Where does he sit now on how the 

summer played out? 

“Of course, disappointment is the 

overriding emotion but what can I do? 

“I would have loved to have made the 

Lions but I didn’t and I have to try as best 

I can to put that behind me. 

that is the great thing about the 

old PRO14 or the URC as it is now, 

you have teams from different countries 

and different rugby cultures 

coming together. 

“The good thing for me was when that 

happened and once the plan for the 

season ahead was in front of me, I was 

able to focus on that and I think that’s 

been a really good thing. 

“I was also able to take time off with my 

family, so it was time off on top of time 

off because of Covid, so my body feels 

great because of that and I feel like I’m in 

a really good space now heading into a 

new season.” 

Undoubtedly as we have seen with 

Lions tours in the past and big selection 

decisions (or omissions), the story of his 

omission will follow him around in the 

following months and years and already 

any media event has been dominated 

with questions around Gatland, the Lions, 

the loss, his regret. 

But for Sexton, it’s quite simple. 

It hurt. Of course it did. But what could 

he do? He could either stew on it or he 

could use it to his advantage. 

No prizes for guessing what the 

173-times capped Leinster out-half chose 

to do. 

“Normally at this time of the year with 

a Lions tour or an Ireland tour, there is a 

bunch of lads that come new into Leinster 

Rugby and they do not see the senior 

players for a month or two before the 

integration starts. 

“And it could be another few months 

before they play together. 

“This season it was different with myself 

and Cian (Healy) and a few other lads 

out injured like Rhys (Ruddock) and 

Garry (Ringrose) being around, and 

I think it was good for them having us 


senior players around and I know it was 

good for me. 

“Them seeing what it’s like at that time of 

the year with senior players around and 

internationals. Driving things maybe or 

little chats here and there. 

“I’ve enjoyed being in and around that 

now for the last two or three months, but I 

hope it will stand to them as well. 

“It feels good to be part of the group 

this early in the season and to have 

that three-month block of training 

together this early. I’m excited by 

what’s ahead.” 

Sexton made his Leinster debut 

in January 2006 against Border 

Reivers. Today, in the Aviva 

Stadium, the Leinster captain starts 

his 16th season as a professional 

player when he leads the side out 

against the Vodacom Bulls. 

He has seen most alliterations and 

versions of the domestic league take 

shape in that time. 

The latest version sees the previous two 

South African teams, the Kings and the 

Cheetahs, drop out to be replaced by the 

Cell C Sharks, DHL Stormers, Emirates 

Lions and Vodacom Bulls. 

What does he make of the United Rugby 

Championship? 

“I’m looking forward to getting back out 

there first of all and then excited by what 

the new competition brings. 

“Obviously there are the new South 

African teams and that will challenge 

us all to be better and to improve and 

then there are the new elements to the 

competition and the structures, the gaps 

during international windows and the 

new rules.” 

The big talking point though is 

what can the four new teams 

bring to the table and how 

much will Leinster have to 

adapt? 

“I think whenever you play 

against a team from another 

country you have to adapt 

and that is the great thing about the 

old PRO14 or the URC as it is now, you 

have teams from different countries and 

different rugby cultures coming together. 


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“You definitely need to strike a balance 

between recognising what they will do 

and what they will bring to the table and 

then doing what you do best as a team. 

We don’t have to tear up the playbook 

just because four new teams have come in 

but we certainly are very mindful of what 

challenges we will face. 

“Right now our focus is on the Bulls but in 

time we’ll look towards the other three teams 

and obviously we have games in South 

Africa to play later in the season as well. 

“The over-riding feeling is excitement of the 

new challenge the new teams will bring but 

you can’t discount either the other clubs who 

have also been building during pre-season 

and adding big names in some cases. 

“It’s all to play for ahead of the first few 

rounds and then we will all see where we 

stand.” 

There is also the small matter of new rules 

in the URC like the 50:22 rule and the rule 

around being held up over the try-line. 

“We’ve looked at them over the summer and 

I think it will definitely create opportunities 

for teams but at the same time it will take 

some getting used to. 

“The Bulls, for example, were playing 

without those rules in the Currie Cup so it 

will be new for them too but regardless, 

come Saturday it will be the same for both 

teams and we’ll see if there are opportunities 

to exploit.” 

Sexton has played against the South African 

national team and is energised by what the 

future holds playing against the club teams 

and in particular the history that will be 

created. 

“We haven’t thought too much beyond this 

weekend and the Bulls coming to Dublin. I 

think for a start we will be the first Leinster 

team to play against the Bulls which is pretty 

special. 

“Them coming here and playing their first 

game in Ireland and in our national stadium 

is special. 

“But also they are one of the most famous 

clubs in South Africa, arguably the most 

famous. They have a very proud record in 

Super Rugby and obviously the Currie Cup 

as well and they have won it the last two 

seasons. 


Hopefully though 

this year we will 

have stadiums full 

again and that will 

elevate everything to 

another level having 

supporters, family 

and friends at the 

games again. We have 

all missed that. 


“They’ve a World Cup-winning coach in 

Jake White and have a strong squad of 

players already and have then recruited 

well from the TOP14 and elsewhere in 

Europe to bring that experience of the 

northern hemisphere in-house. 

“Players that have played in Munster 

like Arno Botha or Marcel Coetzee 

who played with Ulster and Bismarck 

du Plessis and his experience with 

Montpellier. 

“They are the form club team in South 

Africa and we can’t wait to test ourselves 

against them.” 

The game two weeks ago against 

Harlequins is the only pre-season game 

that Leinster Rugby will play. 

Does that concern him given that the 

Bulls will be coming off a Currie Cup 

campaign battle-hardened? 

“You could look at it that way but you 

could also say then that we could be 

fresher because we have played less? It’s 

all about how you want to frame things 

and for us we like looking at it as an 

opportunity. 

“A great opportunity for us to test 

ourselves against a completely new 

proposition and a team that we have 

never played before or analysed before. 

“Regardless of what has gone before, 

both teams will be ready for it.” 

For the 10,000 or so supporters in the 

Aviva Stadium for the Quins game, they 

would have enjoyed the game but what 

did the captain make of it all? 

“First of all, I was just delighted for the 

lads playing. 

“Obviously Mike (Ala’alatoa) playing 

in a Leinster jersey for the first time and 

getting to experience the Aviva was 

special for him but then more so the likes 

of Max (Deegan), COB (Conor O’Brien) 

and Brian Deeny. 

“What those lads have been through and 

their injuries has not been easy and it’s 

a massive credit to them that they have 

stuck to the task so brilliantly and I was 

just thrilled for them really. 

“And then the young lads playing at that 

level for the first time. Lads in the first 

year in the Academy and that in itself is 

pleasing because it’s brilliant for them to 

get that exposure this early in the season 

and that will stand to them. 

“And then the result. That was a really 

important one for us.” 

It is not often that a result is spoken about 

in the context of a pre-season friendly 

game. 

It is usually about game-time or building 

a performance but Sexton adds meat to 

the bones. 

“With that game being the only preseason 

we had, plus playing against the 

English champions, and knowing that 

they were a week or two ahead of us 

in terms of prep, we actually put quite a 

focus on the result for this game. 

“Normally for a game like that it’s about 

getting 20, 40, 60, or however many 

minutes into the legs, trying a few things 

and seeing how lads go but for this game 

we wanted to use it as our starting point 

leading into the Bulls game. 

“Quins had already played a pre-season 

game the week before and even now 

have already played a competitive game 

in the Premiership before we have even 

kicked off in the URC so they are just a 

little ahead of us. So why not set a target 

to test ourselves? And that is what we did. 

“It was really pleasing to see the players 

go well as I said but then also for some 

things to come off, some things can be 

better but ultimately we set ourselves that 

test, that target, to get the win against 

Quins and we got that and that was 

really pleasing.” 

He was one of those to get 40 minutes 

under his belt. 

“I really enjoyed it. Good getting out 

there and getting those minutes played 

which was the plan and overall I think we 

can take lots from that game as we head 

into the season ahead.” 

By 5.15pm today another season will be 

underway and for 36-year-old Sexton, 

the year ahead has him just as excited 

as ever. 

Only last weekend Andy Farrell brought 

together a 50-strong Ireland training 

group to meet and plot out the season for 

those in contention in green and the road 

ahead for those in blue is taking shape 

as well. 

“Yeah, it’ll be another jam-packed 

season. 

“Hopefully though this year we will have 

stadiums full again and that will elevate 

everything to another level having 

supporters, family and friends at the 

games again. We have all missed that. 

“We have to focus on the Bulls first, 

but you’re right. The next five weeks for 

Leinster are mapped out in the URC and 

then we have the autumn internationals 

and that is exciting and the games 

coming up there. Then into Europe and 

the beauty of it all is that everyone wants 

to play in those games for Leinster and 

hopefully with Ireland. 

“That competition in all of us is as strong 

as ever but you have to perform for 

Leinster first. Leo can only pick 23 guys 

from the nearly 50 senior players here so 

that is the standard and the competition 

that will drive us all on. 

“There is lots of rugby to come over 

the season and we are all very excited 

now to get going again and what better 

way to get going than against the Bulls 

today.” 

The reigning URC champions. Against the 

reigning Currie Cup champions. 

What better way is right. 


Action 

replay 40 21 

LEINSTER: Chris Cosgrave; Rob 

Russell, Jamie Osborne, Conor 

O’Brien, James Lowe; Johnny 

Sexton, Luke McGrath; Peter 

Dooley, Dan Sheehan, Michael 

Ala’alatoa; Devin Toner, Brian 

Deeny; Rhys Ruddock, Scott Penny, 

Max Deegan. Replacements 

from: Cian Healy, Seán Cronin, 

James Tracy, Vakh Abdaladze, 

Ross Molony, Ryan Baird, Martin 

Moloney, Cormac Foley, Ross 

Byrne, David Hawkshaw, Liam 

Turner, Niall Comerford. 

Tries: Conor O’Brien, Scott Penny, 

Johnny Sexton, Jamie Osborne, 

Ryan Baird, Liam Turner. Cons: 

Johnny Sexton (4), Ross Byrne. 

FRI, 10 SEPTEMBER, 2021 

AVIVA STADIUM 

BANK OF IRELAND 

PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY 

HARLEQUINS: Tyrone Green; Joe 

Marchant, Luke Northmore, Andre 

Esterhuizen, Louis Lynagh; Tommy 

Allan, Danny Care; Santiago 

Garcia Botta, Jack Walker, Simon 

Kerrod; Hugh Tizard, Dino Lamb, 

Tom Lawday, Jack Kenningham, 

Alex Dombrandt. Replacements 

from: Sam Riley, George Head, 

Fin Baxter, Will Collier, Craig 

Trenier, Matas Jurevicius, George 

Hammond, Luke Wallace, Archie 

White, Scott Steele, Will Edwards, 

Ross Chisholm, Lennox Anyanwu, 

Huw Jones, Cadan Murley, Nick 

David. 

Tries: Luke Northmore, Joe 

Marchant, Sam Riley. Cons: Tommy 

Allan (3). 


Pre-season 

games are challenging. 

We came 

through relatively 

ok. It’s 

valuable minutes, 

that’s the 

big thing. 

Leo Cullen 

It was so nice 

to come back and 

play with fans 

in the stadium 

and getting your 

breath back and 

letting it sink 

in, I was very 

nervous. 

Conor O’Brien talks about his first game 

after nearly two years out injured 


U18 Women’s Interprovincial 

Championshipwinners 

winners 



SHOP THE 2021/22 LEINSTER RUGBY RANGE NOW, 

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leo 

the lion’s 

kids 

corner 

IN A BLUR! 

Can you name this 

leinster player? 

spot the difference! 

Can you find all six? 

ANAGRAMS 

Can you un-jumble the names of these players? 

LONER HEEL 

RANK 

RIGGER OR 

YARNS 

how did you do? 

IN A BLUR? 

ROSS MOLONY 

ANAGRAMS 

RONAN KELLEHER 

GARRY RINGROSE 

ZOOMED IN! 

ROBBIE HENSHAW 

zoomed in! 

WHo is this leinster 

player havine an 

extreme close-ip? 


AJ Products provides unique 

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AZTO 

with 

Caelan Doris 

A – Action: If you could be a 

superhero, which would you be? 

Superman 

B – Boyhood: Who was your favourite 

sporting idol growing up? 

CR7 

C – Childhood: What is your favourite 

childhood memory? 

Football at lunch time! 

D – Dish: What’s your go-to pre-match 

meal? 

Spag Bol 

E – Education: What was your 

favourite subject in school? 

Economics 

F – Film buff: What’s your favourite 

film? 

The Shawshank Redemption or 

Notting Hill 

G – Groove: Who is the best dancer in 

the squad? 

Peter Dooley - did breakdancing in 

Birr. 

H – Holiday: What’s your favourite 

holiday destination? 

Greek Islands 

I – Inside: Who is the worst to sit 

beside in the dressing room? 

Frawley - the ginger head on him 

hurts the eyes. 

J – Joker: Who is the funniest in the 

squad? 

Will Connors - weirdest too! 

K – Kick-off: What’s your favourite 

time of the day to play a match? 

5.30 - lots of time for sleeping but 

not too late. 

L – Languages: How many languages 

can you speak? 

Just the one! 


M – Music: Your favourite artist and 

song right now? 

Heart of Gold by Neil Young – 

timeless! 

N – Number: Do you have a lucky 

number? 

3 

O – Others: What’s your favourite sport 

outside of rugby? 

Gaelic or golf. 

P – Pal: Who is your best mate in the 

squad? 

All the lads I came through the 

academy with. 

Q – Quirky: Who has the most 

interesting fashion sense? 

Will Connors - way off! 

R – Red Carpet: Who is the most famous 

contact in your phone? 

Probably Will Connors too. 

S – Superstitions: Do you have any 

matchday routines? 

Lots of sleeping! 

T – Trim: What’s the worst haircut 

you’ve ever had? 

Shaved my head in 2018 - don’t have 

the hairline for it! 

U: Under pressure: Who in the squad 

would be the best in a bad situation? 

Mick Milne - cool, calm and collected 

at all times. 

V – Verified: How often do you use 

social media? 

Everyday 

W – Worst fear: What are you most 

scared of? 

Snakes 

X – X-ray: Have you ever broken any 

bones? 

Right Hand 

Y – Youth: Where did you grow up? 

Lacken, 20 minutes from Ballina, Mayo. 

Z – Zoo: What’s your favourite animal? 

Chimpanzee 


ENERGIA MENS ALL 

IRELAND LEAGUEBY ROBERT DEACON 

Next weekend sees the commencement of 

this season’s Energia Men’s All-Ireland 

League with matches taking place in all 

five divisions across the four provinces. 

In March 2019 as clubs were 

facing into the final stages 

of that season’s league and 

preparing for defining matches 

that would decide their success 

or otherwise, the season came 

to an abrupt halt as a result 

of Covid-19. That campaign 

was declared null and void 

and no one envisaged that last 

season would also be lost to the 

pandemic. 

A year and a half later our Leinster 

senior men’s clubs return to Energia 

All-Ireland League action after a series 

of matches in domestic competitions 

in preparation for what lies ahead. 

There has been a positive response to 

return to play after what has been a 

tough time for the clubs keeping players 

engaged throughout with little or no 

access to their pitches and pavilions 

due to lockdown. 

The 18 Leinster senior men’s clubs are 

spread across all five divisions of this 

season’s league and all will be aiming 

to get off to a good start in round one 

next weekend. 

DIVISION 1A: 

In Division 1A five of the 10 clubs 

competing are from Leinster and 

all will be vying to reach season 

ending play-offs and challenge for 

the title held by Cork Constitution. 

In round one next Saturday, Dublin 

University will play hosts to Lansdowne in 


College Park. Terenure will face UCD at 

home in Lakelands, so two entertaining 

local matches in prospect to whet the 

appetite for those in attendance. 

Clontarf will take to the road north for 

their opening game and will seek to get 

off to a winning start when they play 

Ballynahinch. 

DIVISION 1B: 

Again, Leinster clubs make up 

five of the 10 clubs competing in 

Division 1B. 

Old Belvedere and Naas will kick start 

the Energia All-Ireland League next 

Friday evening when they meet in Ollie 

Campbell Park. 

St Mary’s and Navan both have to travel 

outside the province on Saturday for 

their opening games, St. Mary’s make 

the journey to Cork to take on Highfield, 

while Navan head north to play Malone. 

Old Wesley will have Shannon as visitors 

to Energia Park in Donnybrook. 

DIVISION 2A: 

Only MU Barnhall of the 18 

Leinster senior men’s clubs will 

compete in division 2A this 

season, which as a result means 

plenty of mileage around the 

country will be undertaken by 

the Maynooth club. For their 

opening game ‘it’s a long way 

to Tipperary’ to take on Nenagh 

Ormond. 

DIVISION 2B: 

Blackrock, Greystones, Malahide 

and Wanderers are the four 

Leinster clubs competing in 

division 2B. Blackrock and 

Greystones will face opposition 

from Connaught with Blackrock 

travelling west to Galway to 

take on Corinthians, while the 

Co Wicklow men will have 

Galwegians as visitors to Doctor 

Hickey Park. 

Malahide will undertake the journey 

across the city to face fellow Leinster club 

Wanderers in Merrion Road. 

DIVISION 2C: 

Three Leinster clubs will represent 

the province in division 2C this 

season and all three start their 

league campaign with home 

fixtures. Both Skerries and 

Tullamore will play host to Ulster 

clubs, facing Omagh Academicals 

and City of Derry respectively. 

Enniscorthy look forward to entertaining 

Midleton at their Ross Road grounds. 

After the hiatus of the last 18 months 

a long-awaited Energia Men’s All- 

Ireland League eventually gets up and 

running next weekend and will continue 

throughout the season. 

So, plenty of club action over the coming 

weeks and months across the province 

and beyond to be enjoyed by both 

players and supporters alike, here’s to a 

successful league campaign for all. 

You will find all updates on Energia All- 

Ireland league fixtures and results on the 

IRFU, Leinster Rugby and the participating 

clubs’ websites and social media outlets. 


leinster 

squad 

2021/22 season 

Vakh Abdaladze #1263 

Michael Ala’alatoa 

7 

CAPS 

Ryan Baird #1278 

5 

CAPS 

Adam Byrne #1213 

1 

CAP 

PROP 

DOB: 06/02/1996 

HEIGHT: 1.88m 

WEIGHT: 121kg 

prop 

DOB: 28/08/1991 

HEIGHT: 1.91m 

WEIGHT: 127kg 

LOCK 

DOB: 26/07/1999 

HEIGHT: 1.98m 

WEIGHT: 103.18kg 

WING / FULL BACK 

DOB: 10/04/1994 

HEIGHT: 1.91m 


Ed Byrne #1222 

6 

CAPS 

Harry Byrne #1280 

1 

CAP 

Ross Byrne #1236 

13 

CAPS 

Thomas Clarkson 

PROP 

DOB: 09/09/1993 

HEIGHT: 1.8m 


FLY HALF 

DOB: 22/04/1999 

HEIGHT: 1.9m 

WEIGHT: 95kg 

FLY HALF 

DOB: 08/04/1995 

HEIGHT: 1.9m 

WEIGHT: 92kg 

PROP 

DOB: 22/02/2000 

HEIGHT: 1.85m 

WEIGHT: 118kg 


Jack Conan #1223 

20 

CAPS 

7 

CAPS 

Will Connors #1264 

9 

CAPS 

Sean Cronin #1202 

72 

CAPS 

Max Deegan #1256 

1 

CAP 

NO. 8 

DOB: 29/07/1992 

HEIGHT: 1.93m 


BACK ROW 

DOB: 04/04/1996 

HEIGHT: 1.96m 

WEIGHT: 100kg 

HOOKER 

DOB: 06/05/1986 

HEIGHT: 1.78m 


NO. 8 

DOB: 01/10/1996 

HEIGHT: 1.93m 

WEIGHT: 110kg 

Peter Dooley #1230 

Caelan Doris #1268 

9 

CAPS 

Jack Dunne #1276 

Ciaran Frawley #1265 

PROP 

DOB: 04/08/1994 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 

WEIGHT: 117kg 

BACK ROW 

DOB: 02/04/1998 

HEIGHT: 1.93m 

WEIGHT: 107kg 

LOCK 

DOB: 21/11/1998 

HEIGHT: 2.03m 

WEIGHT: 120kg 

FLY HALF 

DOB: 04/12/1997 

HEIGHT: 1.91m 

WEIGHT: 98kg 

Tadhg Furlong #1220 

PROP 

DOB: 14/11/1992 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 

WEIGHT: 125kg 

49 

CAPS 

13 

CAPS 

Jamison Gibson-Park #1247 

SCRUM HALF 

DOB: 23/02/1992 

HEIGHT: 1.75m 

WEIGHT: 80kg 

10 

CAPS 

David Hawkshaw #1290 

FLY HALF / Centre 

DOB: 03/07/1999 

HEIGHT: 1.75m ) 


Cian Healy #1142 

PROP 

DOB: 07/10/1987 

HEIGHT: 1.85m 


109 

CAPS 

2 

CAPS 

Robbie Henshaw #1251 

52 

CAPS 

9 

CAPS 

Dave Kearney #1158 

19 

CAPS 

Hugo Keenan #1253 

13 

CAPS 

Ronan Kelleher #1277 

13 

CAPS 

CENTRE 

DOB: 12/06/1993 

HEIGHT: 1.9m 



DOB: 19/06/1989 

HEIGHT: 1.8m 

WEIGHT: 90kg 

FULL BACK 

DOB: 18/06/1996 

HEIGHT: 1.85m 


HOOKER 

DOB: 24/01/1998 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 

WEIGHT: 105kg 


Jordan Larmour #1258 

30 

CAPS 

Dan Leavy #1231 

11 

CAPS 

WING 

DOB: 10/06/1997 

HEIGHT: 1.78m 

WEIGHT: 90kg 

FLANKER 

DOB: 23/05/1994 

HEIGHT: 1.91m 


for full squad profiles 

please click here 

James Lowe #1262 

6 

CAPS 

Nick McCarthy 

Luke McGrath #1206 

19 

CAPS 

Michael Milne #1279 


DOB: 08/07/1992 

HEIGHT: 1.88m 

WEIGHT: 105kg 

SCRUM HALF 

DOB: 25/03/1995 

HEIGHT: 1.8m 


SCRUM HALF 

DOB: 03/02/1993 

HEIGHT: 1.75m 


PROP 

DOB: 05/02/1999 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 

WEIGHT: 115kg 

Jimmy O’Brien #1272 

Conor O’Brien #1260 

Josh Murphy #1261 

Ross Molony #1233 

LOCK 

DOB: 11/05/1994 

HEIGHT: 1.96m 

WEIGHT: 113kg 

FLANKER 

DOB: 17/02/1995 

HEIGHT: 1.98m 

WEIGHT: 110kg 

CENTRE 

DOB: 06/02/1996 

HEIGHT: 1.91m 

WEIGHT: 100kg 

CENTRE 

DOB: 27/11/1996 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 

WEIGHT: 88kg 

Tommy O’Brien #1283 

Rory O’Loughlin #1248 

1 

CAP 

Scott Penny #1271 

Andrew Porter #1246 

37 

CAPS 

CENTRE 

DOB: 28/05/1998 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 

WEIGHT: 95kg 

CENTRE 

DOB: 21/01/1994 

HEIGHT: 1.88m 


FLANKER 

DOB: 22/09/1999 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 

WEIGHT: 104kg 

PROP 

DOB: 16/01/1996 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 



Garry Ringrose #1237 

34 

CAPS 

Rhys Ruddock #1167 

27 

CAPS 

James Ryan #1259 

37 

CAPS 

Johnny Sexton #1127 

99 

CAPS 

14 

CAPS 

CENTRE 

DOB: 26/01/1995 

HEIGHT: 1.85m 

WEIGHT: 96kg 

BACK ROW 

DOB: 13/11/1990 

HEIGHT: 1.91m 


LOCK 

DOB: 24/07/1996 

HEIGHT: 2.03m 

WEIGHT: 115kg 

FLY HALF 

DOB: 11/07/1985 

HEIGHT: 1.88m 

WEIGHT: 90kg 

Dan Sheehan #1286 

HOOKER 

DOB: 17/09/1998 

HEIGHT: 1.91m 


Devin Toner #1128 

LOCK 

DOB: 29/06/1986 

HEIGHT: 2.11m 

WEIGHT: 127kg 

70 

CAPS 

James Tracy #1211 

HOOKER 

DOB: 02/04/1991 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 

WEIGHT: 106kg 

6 

CAPS 

Josh van der Flier #1228 

FLANKER 

DOB: 25/04/1993 

HEIGHT: 1.85m 

WEIGHT: 103kg 

32 

CAPS 

Coaching 

Staff 

2021/22 season 

LEO CULLEN 

HEAD COACH 

STUART LANCASTER 

SENIOR COACH 

ROBIN MCBRYDE 

ASSISTANT COACH 

FELIPE CONTEPOMI 

BACKS COACH 

EMMET FARRELL 

KICKING COACH AND 

LEAD PERFORMANCE ANALYST 

GUY EASTERBY 

HEAD OF RUGBY OPERATIONS 


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LEINSTER RUGBY PLAYS 

ROLE IN NEW CONTACT 

TRAINING GUIDELINES 

Rugby is set 

to adopt a 

new approach 

to contact 

training 

following the 

publication of 

new guidelines 

by World 

Rugby and 

International 

Rugby Players 

(IRP) aimed 

at reducing 

injury 

risk and 

supporting 

short and 

long-term 

player 

welfare. 

42 | www.leinsterrugby.ie 

Leinster Rugby is playing a central 

role in the study with coach Stuart 

Lancaster a member of the World 

Rugby Advisory Group on contact 

load, as well as Leinster Rugby 

being on of the 10 teams using 

instrumented mouth guards to 

assess the mechanism, incidence 

and intensity of head impact 

events. 

The guidance is being supported by 

national players’ associations, national 

union Directors of Rugby, coaches and 

clubs. 

Earlier this year, World Rugby unveiled 

a transformational six-point plan aiming 

to cement rugby as the most progressive 

sport on player welfare. These new 

best-practice guidelines on the intensity 

and frequency of contact training 

to which professional rugby players 

should be exposed have been shaped 

by consultation with players, coaches 

and leading medical, strength and 

conditioning, and scientific experts. 

Global study 

The guidelines are based on a global 

study undertaken by IRP of almost 600 

players participating across 18 elite 

men’s and women’s competitions, and a 

comprehensive review of the latest injury 

data. It reveals that training patterns vary 

across competitions, with an average 

of 21 minutes per week of full contact 

training and an average total contact 

load of 118 minutes per week. A more 

measured and consistent approach to 

training will help manage the Contact 

Load for players, especially those moving 

between club and national training 

environments. The research supports the 

minimising of the contact load in training, 

so that players can be prepared to 

perform but not have elevated injury risk. 

The guidelines are an attempt to aid with 

striking that balance. 

New ‘best practice’ 

training contact 

guidelines 

World Rugby and International Rugby 

Player’s new framework sets out clear 

and acceptable contact guidelines 

for training sessions, aiming to further 

inform coaches – and players – of best 

practice for reducing injury risk and 

optimizing match preparation in season. 

The guidance covers the whole spectrum 

of contact training types, considering 

volume, intensity, frequency and

predictability of contact, as well as the 

optimal structure of sessions across the 

typical training week, including crucially 

recovery and rest periods. 

Recommended contact 

training limits for the 

professional game are 

as follows: 

Full contact training: maximum of 15 

minutes per week across a maximum 

of two days per week with Mondays 

and Fridays comprising zero full contact 

training to allow for recovery and 

preparation 

Controlled contact training: maximum of 

40 minutes per week with at least one 

day of zero contact of any type 

Live set piece training: maximum of 30 

minutes set piece training per week is 

advised 

The guidance, which also considers 

reducing the overall load for players of 

particular age, maturity and injury profile 

(in line with the risk factors and load 

guidance published in 2019), will feature 

in the men’s and women’s Rugby World 

Cup player welfare standards and it is 

anticipated that other competitions will 

follow suit. 

Programme of review 

and research 

World Rugby has committed to 

measuring the ‘real life’ effect of these 

recommendations. World Rugby is 

partnering with 10 elite teams (five 

women’s and five men’s) and assess the 

mechanism, incidence and intensity of 

head impact events using instrumented 

mouth guards and video analysis. 

Four clubs – Leinster, ASM Clermont 

Auvergne, the Southland Stags and 

Benetton Treviso – have signed up to an 

innovative monitoring programme using 

instrumented mouthguards which will 

monitor implementation and measure 

outcomes in partnership with World 

Rugby. 

Leinster Rugby have worked with Impact 

Gumshields to customize each players 

gumshield. 

World Rugby Chief Executive Alan 

Gilpin said: “This important body of work 

reflects our ambition to advance welfare 

for players at all levels of the game. 

Evidence-based, this guidance is based 

on the largest study of contact training 

in the sport, developed by some of the 

best rugby, performance and medical 

minds in the game. We believe that by 

moderating overall training load on an 

individualised basis, including contact 

in season, it is possible to enhance both 

injury-prevention and performance 

outcomes which are good for players, 

coaches and fans.” 

World Rugby Director of Rugby and 

High Performance and former Ireland 

coach Joe Schmidt added: “Training has 

increasingly played an important role in 

injury-prevention as well as performance 

over the last decade. While there is 

significantly less full contact training 

than many people might imagine, it is 

our hope that having a central set of 

guidelines will further inform players 

and coaches of the progression, key 

considerations and volume/intensity of 

any contact that is done during training. 

“These new guidelines, developed by 

leading experts and, backed by elite 

players, union directors of rugby and 

leading competitions, will aid coaches 

in identifying performance gains through 

best-practice training and contact limit 

guidance. It is by necessity a work in 

progress and will be monitored and 

further researched to understand the 

positive impact on player welfare. 

“We recognise that community level 

rugby can be an almost entirely different 

sport in terms of fitness levels, resources 

and how players can be expected to 

train. World Rugby continue to invest 

in research and as well as trialling law 

adaptations, focused specifically on the 

community game for men, women and 

children, to complement our commitments 

to player welfare in the professional 

game.” 

World Rugby is also progressing a 

wide-ranging study of the impact of 

replacements on injury risk in the sport, a 

ground-breaking study into the frequency 

and nature of head impacts in community 

rugby in partnership with the University 

of Otago, and further research specific 

to the professional women’s game. All 

of these priority activities will inform the 

decisions the sport makes to advance 

welfare for players at all levels and 

stages. 


Johnny O'Hagan 

a tribute 

As the 2021/22 

United Rugby 

Championship 

kicks off 

today in Aviva 

Stadium, it 

will do so 

without one 

of the most 

recognisable 

characters in 

Leinster Rugby 

patrolling the 

touchline. 

For as long as anyone can 

remember, Johnny O’Hagan, 

has been a constant feature of 

Leinster Rugby games at home 

and away but this season they 

will have to negotiate those trips 

without the Bective Rangers 

legend. 

At the end of last season, O’Hagan hung 

up the keys to the kit-van and handed the 

keys to the shed at the Rosemount pitch in 

UCD to the next man in, Jim Bastick. 

O’Hagan will continue as kitman to the 

Leinster Rugby ‘A’ team but it is most 

definitely the end of an era. 

And it is a difficult job for anyone to put 

into words O’Hagan’s impact on the club 

over so many years. 

But Leo Cullen, who knows O’Hagan 

from his very early days in a Leinster age 

grade jersey, did his best. 

“Yeah, Hago is probably the big one for 

me from last season as Hago has been 

there every step of the way for me in 

Leinster and in the professional era. 

“It’s an incredible period of time and he’s 

a unique character I think it’s fair to say. 

I haven’t come across anyone quite like 

him and he’ll leave probably the biggest 

hole to fill. 

“I remember Mike Ruddock was the first 

professional coach of Leinster and Johnny 

was around then and that was 1997. 

Then he was doing kitman for the Leinster 

U-20s when I was with them leaving 

school in 1996. 

“It’s been some shift.” 

What were his first impressions of Hago?. 

“My first impressions of Johnny 

O’Hagan? Probably the same as they 

are now! 

“He actually looks better now than he 

did back then! Looking back on some of 

his photos he has some kind of Benjamin 

Button trick going on at 

the moment! 

“He looked older 

25 years ago than 

he does now! But 

amazing times really. 

“Back in 1997 with Mike Ruddock, then 

Matt Williams - who incidentally wrote 

a glowing piece in The Irish Times there 

a few months ago about Hago and that 

was great to see because Hago would 

hate that! – and then Gary Ella, Declan 

Kidney, then Michael Cheika, then Joe 

(Schmidt), Matt (O’Connor) and now 

myself. 

“Cheiks and Hago were an odd 

combination, but they were thick as 

thieves the two of them, very very close. 

Cheiks was and is hugely fond of Hago 

and that was great to see in a video 

tribute that Cheiks sent us. 

“And not just head coaches, Jono Gibbes 

and Kurt McQuilkin, and many others too 

and then the players, the great players. 

“Trev Brennan, who would have been 

very close to Johnny because of his 

affiliation with the premier club, Bective 

Rangers, but then Brian O’Driscoll, to 

Gordon D’Arcy, and all the greats that 

have put on the Leinster jersey. 

“Literally every player that has pulled 

on a Leinster jersey it has been put on 

the hook by Johnny. I am genuinely 

struggling to think of a game that he has 

missed too in that time. 

“An incredible servant to Leinster Rugby, 

he is very much loved and he’ll be sorely 

missed.” 

A fitting tribute to one of the true greats 

of the club. 



compiled by stuart farmer 

media services limited 

Leinster Player 

Statistics 

SQUAD 

CAP 

NO 

DEBUT 

2021/22 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER 

ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR 

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

SINCE LAST TRY 

CAPS 

VAKH ABDALADZE 1263 2 DEC 17 - - - - - - - - - 0+12 1 5 0+12 1 5 - - - 11 - 

MICHAEL ALA'ALATOA - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - WS 7 

RYAN BAIRD 1278 27 APR 19 - - - - - - - - - 12+15 6 30 11+11 6 30 1+4 - - 1 IR 5 

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

ED BYRNE 1222 9 FEB 14 - - - - - - - - - 19+51 10 50 19+40 9 45 0+11 1 5 7 IR 6 

HARRY BYRNE 1280 28 SEP 19 - - - - - - - - - 14+10 6 154 14+9 6 149 0+1 - 5 3 IR 1 

ROSS BYRNE 1236 4 SEP 15 - - - - - - - - - 70+34 6 650 58+18 2 471 12+16 4 179 5 IR 13 

THOMAS CLARK- 

1285 29 AUG 20 - - - - - - - - - 2+8 - - 2+8 - - - - - - - 

SON 

JACK CONAN 1223 20 FEB 14 - - - - - - - - - 80+25 23 115 59+15 16 80 21+10 7 35 1 IR 20 

WILL CONNORS 1264 9 FEB 18 - - - - - - - - - 17+6 2 10 16+6 2 10 1 - - 10 IR 9 

TIM CORKERY 1298 12 MAR 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - - 

SEAN CRONIN 1202 28 OCT 11 - - - - - - - - - 120+75 42 210 76+54 25 125 43+19 16 80 7 IR 72 

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

PETER DOOLEY 1230 31 OCT 14 - - - - - - - - - 40+53 5 25 38+47 5 25 2+6 - - 8 - 

CAELAN DORIS 1268 28 APR 18 - - - - - - - - - 32+8 5 25 26+6 3 15 6+2 2 10 9 IR 9 

JACK DUNNE 1276 16 FEB 19 - - - - - - - - - 2+13 - - 2+13 - - - - - - - 

CORMAC FOLEY 1299 24 APR 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - - 

CIARAN FRAWLEY 1265 17 FEB 18 - - - - - - - - - 17+18 4 143 16+14 3 132 1+4 1 11 5 - 

TADHG FURLONG 1220 1 NOV 13 - - - - - - - - - 73+41 8 40 42+33 3 15 31+8 5 25 3 IR 49 

JAMISON GIBSON-PARK 1247 2 SEP 16 - - - - - - - - - 49+52 17 85 44+28 14 70 5+24 3 15 5 IR 10 

MARCUS HANAN 1295 19 FEB 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - - - 

DAVID HAWKSHAW 1290 2 NOV 20 - - - - - - - - - 0+8 1 14 0+8 1 14 - - - 4 - 

CIAN HEALY 1142 5 MAY 07 - - - - - - - - - 156+75 27 135 90+48 13 65 64+26 13 65 2 IR 109 

ROBBIE HENSHAW 1251 8 OCT 16 - - - - - - - - - 56+1 11 55 25 5 25 31+1 6 30 1 IR 52 

DAVE KEARNEY 1158 16 MAY 09 - - - - - - - - - 147+22 51 255 121+15 44 220 25+6 7 35 7 IR 19 

HUGO KEENAN 1253 5 NOV 16 - - - - - - - - - 27+3 4 20 22+3 4 20 5 - - 3 IR 13 

RONAN KELLEHER 1277 22 FEB 19 - - - - - - - - - 20+5 9 45 14+3 8 40 6+2 1 5 13 IR 13 

JORDAN LARMOUR 1258 2 SEP 17 - - - - - - - - - 52+10 19 95 31+7 14 70 21+3 5 25 1 IR 30 

DAN LEAVY 1231 31 OCT 14 - - - - - - - - - 43+29 17 85 35+19 13 65 8+10 4 20 1 IR 11 


SQUAD 

CAP 

NO 

DEBUT 


ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR 

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

SINCE LAST TRY 

CAPS 

JAMES LOWE 1262 2 DEC 17 - - - - - - - - - 52 34 170 34 25 125 18 9 45 3 IR 6 

NICK MCCARTHY 1241 19 DEC 15 - - - - - - - - - 6+30 4 20 6+24 4 20 0+6 - - 5 - 

LUKE MCGRATH 1206 5 MAY 12 - - - - - - - - - 102+49 39 195 69+43 31 155 33+6 8 40 2 IR 19 

MICHAEL MILNE 1279 28 SEP 19 - - - - - - - - - 1+15 2 10 1+15 2 10 - - - 14 - 

MARTIN MOLONEY 1300 24 APR 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - - 

ROSS MOLONY 1233 20 FEB 15 - - - - - - - - - 64+52 4 20 62+37 4 20 2+15 - - 2 - 

JOSH MURPHY 1261 3 NOV 17 - - - - - - - - - 42+7 5 25 41+6 4 20 1+1 1 5 9 - 

JAMIE OSBORNE 1294 30 JAN 21 - - - - - - - - - 2+4 1 5 2+4 1 5 - - - 1 - 

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

JIMMY O'BRIEN 1272 23 NOV 18 - - - - - - - - - 26+9 7 37 24+9 6 32 2 1 5 1 - 

SEAN O'BRIEN 1297 12 MAR 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - - 

TOMMY O'BRIEN 1283 20 DEC 19 - - - - - - - - - 4+5 3 15 4+5 3 15 - - - 5 - 

RORY O'LOUGHLIN 1248 2 SEP 16 - - - - - - - - - 64+23 21 105 57+15 18 90 7+8 3 15 30 IR 1 

MAX O'REILLY 1291 2 JAN 21 - - - - - - - - - 6+1 1 5 6+1 1 5 - - - 6 - 

SCOTT PENNY 1271 23 NOV 18 - - - - - - - - - 23+6 16 80 23+6 16 80 - - - 1 - 

ANDREW PORTER 1246 2 SEP 16 - - - - - - - - - 28+49 11 55 23+30 8 40 5+19 3 15 2 IR 37 

GARRY RINGROSE 1237 12 SEP 15 - - - - - - - - - 84+2 27 143 52+1 16 88 32+1 11 55 1 IR 34 

RHYS RUDDOCK 1167 6 DEC 09 - - - - - - - - - 143+45 11 55 106+31 9 45 36+12 2 10 4 IR 27 

JAMES RYAN 1259 2 SEP 17 - - - - - - - - - 44+6 3 15 22+1 1 5 22+5 2 10 10 IR 37 

JOHNNY SEXTON 1127 27 JAN 06 - - - - - - - - - 148+25 26 1507 87+19 13 833 59+6 12 643 13 IR 99 

DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 - - - - - - - - - 3+10 6 30 3+10 6 30 - - - 5 - 

ANDREW SMITH 1292 2 JAN 21 - - - - - - - - - 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - - - 

ALEX SOROKA 1296 28 FEB 21 - - - - - - - - - 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - - - 

DEVIN TONER 1128 27 JAN 06 - - - - - - - - - 206+60 4 20 140+42 4 20 63+18 - - 49 IR 70 

JAMES TRACY 1211 4 NOV 12 - - - - - - - - - 57+72 14 70 50+44 13 65 7+28 1 5 2 IR 6 

LIAM TURNER 1287 23 OCT 20 - - - - - - - - - 4+2 - - 4+2 - - - - - - - 

JOSH VAN DER FLIER 1228 11 OCT 14 - - - - - - - - - 75+23 11 55 45+17 7 35 30+6 4 20 8 IR 32 


ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR OVERALL 

KICKING 

SUCCESS 

RATE 

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

% 

- - - HARRY BYRNE - - - - - - - - - - 53 6 52 5 1 1 74 79.73% 

ROSS BYRNE - - - - - - - - - - 196 75 1 154 50 1 42 25 - 354 76.55% 

CIARAN FRAWLEY - - - - - - - - - - 51 7 - 48 7 - 3 - - 72 80.56% 

DAVID HAWKSHAW - - - - - - - - - - 3 1 - 3 1 - - - - 6 66.67% 

JIMMY O'BRIEN - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - 1 - - - - - 3 33.33% 

GARRY RINGROSE - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - 4 - - - - - 6 66.67% 

JOHNNY SEXTON - - - - - - - - - - 234 292 11 120 169 7 107 119 4 660 79.70% 


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10 September 2021 

Jonathan Sexton lines up a 

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during the Bank of Ireland Pre- 

Season Friendly match between 

Leinster and Harlequins at Aviva 

Stadium. 



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U18 Men’s Schools Interprovincial 

Championship winners 


offical leinster 

supporters club 

The start of 

the 2021/22 

United Rugby 

Championship 

is upon us and 

we for one 

could not be 

more excited 

as we finally 

get to ring 

in the start 

of another 

season of 

rugby and 

what a season 

it promises 

to be!! 

The United Rugby Championship 

sees 16 teams in total going 

to battle over the course of 

18 regular rounds, before the 

knock-out stages sometime next 

summer but let’s not get ahead of 

ourselves. All we want to see for 

now is regularly scheduled games 

and things are looking bright for 

the coming months ahead so let’s 

get down to business. 

Last season saw a split competition due 

to COVID restrictions however this season 

sees all 16 teams pooled together for 

what is sure to be some mouth-watering 

games of rugby. Rugby fans for the most 

part last season were unfortunately 

unable to enjoy in person the spectacle 

of games against our South African 

counterparts, but this is not to be the 

case this season and we look forward to 

welcoming the Lions, Bulls, Stormers and 

Sharks to either the RDS or the Aviva for 

our scheduled games. 

For this fixture, we’re temporarily 

relocating up the road from the RDS to 

Aviva stadium as restrictions continue 

to ease, but given the pre-season fixture 

against Harlequins, those in attendance 

were able to see, feel and experience 

the atmosphere and joy that a live fixture 

brings and we know that this game will 

be no exception. We know from previous 

seasons that wherever the faithful Leinster 

blue rock up to support the team, the 

colour, noise and spectacle of it all is 

never far behind. 

Unlike last season when there were 

unknowns around fixtures, restrictions and 

everyday life in some parts, this season 

is the pure focus of down to business 

and rugby action and we know that all 

at Leinster Rugby are looking forward 

to this. Players, coaches, backroom and 

admin staff have all worked tirelessly to 

allow us get to this point and we ask that 

we continue as we did in the pre-season 

game and work with all parties to ensure 

the participation at games goes on and 

in time, increases in capacity until we hit 

100 per cent and we’re back in the RDS. 

By the time of this going to post, the 

OLSC AGM will have taken place and 

a new committee will be in place. The 

previous committee worked tirelessly over 

the past two seasons and rest assured 

the new one will continue in the same 

manner of working with Leinster Rugby in 

the best interest of all supporters. There 

was a break for the past short while on 

social media but with the new season 

upon us, this will ramp back up to its 

usual levels and we ask that you connect 

on as many platforms as you can in order 

to ensure you’re up to date with all things 

OLSC and Leinster Rugby. 

For now though, enjoy the first scheduled 

fixture of the season and make sure to 

make some noise when the Boys in Blue 

take to the field. 

Yours in Rugby, 

OLSC Committee 


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GETTING 

We check social media 

for the latest views 

and thoughts across 

SOCIAL 

the 12 counties 



Virtual Mascot 

Aaron 

Kelly 

Age: 11 

School: Willow Park 

Class: Sixth class 

Hobbies: Rugby, tennis and PlayStation 

Favourite Player: Johnny Sexton 


WHERE ARE 

THEY NOW? 

GAVIN HICKIE 

THEN: The St 

Mary's College 

hooker played 

43 times for 


between 2001 

and 2005. 

NOW: Gavin 

lives with his 

American wife 

Jess and two 

sons, Fionn 

and Cian, in 

Annapolis, 

Maryland, 

working as 

Director of 

Rugby for the 

United States 

Naval Academy. 


“The rugby pitch is a very honest 

place. You'll get your rewards 

if you put in the work.” - Shane 

Jennings. 

When Gavin Hickie left Leinster Rugby 

in 2005, this pearl of wisdom from his 

teammate stayed there in his head, 

through the rest of his playing journey 

and on into his passion for coaching. 

Deep down, he knew he had not made 

the most of his time at Leinster. More of 

that anon. 

In 1999, there was a comical introduction 

to life at Leinster when Hickie was caught 

off-guard by a phone call from head 

coach Mike Ruddock. 

“It was a Welsh voice. I thought Mike 

was a Kiwi. So, I thought it was a hoax,” 

he admits. 

“I rang my cousin Denis (Hickie) after it 

and asked him, 'What's going on here? 

Who's pulling my leg?'” 

Cousin Denis set him straight and the 

progress from St Mary's College, school 

and club, to Leinster and Ireland Age 

Grades was reinforced by his Leinster 

debut against Ebbw Vale in the Celtic 

League in 2001. 

At the time, Peter Smyth was dealing with 

a serious health problem. Shane Byrne 

moved up to play for Ireland, leaving 

Hickie to compete with David Blaney for 

the number two shirt. 

“It was a funny old time at Leinster. I had 

four coaches between 2000 and 2005. 

It was Ruddock, Matt Williams, Gary Ella 

and Declan Kidney,” he says. 

The revolving door of coaches did 

not make for a consistent message as 

different playing philosophies came and 

went. 

Even so, in hindsight, Hickie eventually 

came to the realisation that the main fault 

for being cut in 2005 lay with the man in 

the mirror. 

“When I look back at my rugby career, 

I think I was very immature. I didn't 

realise the opportunity I had in front of 

me, the chance to impress so many new 

coaches,” he says. 

“That is probably why I admire the 

maturity of the younger players these 

days.” 

The last experience left a bitter taste that 

took years to fade from his palate. 

“Declan Kidney came in, in my final year. 

He had made me captain of the Irish 

U-19s a few years earlier. For whatever 

reason, we didn't see eye-to-eye. 

“By the end of his first year, I was out and 

he left. There were a lot of up-and-coming 

players trying to make their names in the 

game. 

“Declan was always big on reminding 

us that Leinster was our home, the 

importance of being home. That 

resonated with us. It was where we 

came from, you know, Des Dillon, Brian 

O'Riordan, Niall Treston, James Norton, 

myself and others. 

“In less than a year, he decided none 

of us would have our contracts renewed 


and, the same week, he said: 'By the 

way, I am going back to my home in 

Munster.' 

“It didn't sit well with me. I made that 

known to the team, as a whole, to Paul 

McNaughton, the Team Manager, to 

Mick Dawson, the Chief Executive. 

“In hindsight, it was my fault. I wasn't 

mature enough to realise the opportunity 

I had. I look at the likes of Denis (Hickie), 

Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy, oneteam 

players for their careers. 

“It doesn't work out that way for 

everyone, for most people. I don't want to 

sound bitter. I am at peace with it now. I 

have been for years,” he adds. 

“I was just too immature to understand 

the significance of a good opportunity. I 

certainly understand it now.” 

That desire to prove Kidney wrong, to 

stay in the game, led to a barrage of 

emails – he didn't want an agent – to 

“every club in Europe” and subsequent 

stints at Wasps, London Irish, Worcester 

Warriors and Leicester Tigers, winning a 

Premiership title in 2007. 

The main life lesson learned from eight 

years in the professional game is based 

on what he did not do when he was back 

home at Leinster. 

“Seize the opportunity,” I would say, 

“you are not guaranteed anything in this 

game. I am thrilled I have learned that 

lesson. It means the world to me. 

“I still carry a quote from my good friend 

Shane Jennings, who always said: 'The 

rugby pitch is a very honest place. You'll 

get your rewards if you put in the work.'” 

Jason Robinson effectively ended Hickie's 

playing career, tearing his shoulder trying 

to make a tackle on the England wing 

legend in a Premiership game. 

Advice from good friend Mike 

McDonald, the US Eagles prop, led to an 

opportunity to play in America. 

In 2008, Hickie went to California to 

play for three months with Belmont Shore 

and has never really come home. 

He fell in love with the place. He fell in 

love with 'grassroots rugby' again and he 

fell in love with his wife-to-be Jess. 

It has been a very steep learning 

curve coming from Ireland to 

California, then to an Ivy League 

Liberal Arts college and now to 

a military academy. 

In 2012, he moved from the west coast 

to become head coach at Dartmouth 

College in New Hampshire for five years. 

Thereafter, the move to become the 

Director of Rugby at the United States 

Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland 

has changed Hickie's perspective as a 

coach and as a man. 

“Genuinely, it is the greatest job in the 

whole world. I love it so much,” he said. 

“It has been a very steep learning curve 

coming from Ireland to California, then 

to an Ivy League Liberal Arts college and 

now to a military academy. 

“It is a place where we educate future 

officers of the US Navy or the Marine 

Corps. The whole school is about 

developing leaders, morally, mentally 

and physically. It's about developing 

leaders who can ultimately win wars.” 

The three main military academies 

West Point in New York, the Air Force 

Academy in Colorado and the Naval 

Academy in Maryland are foundation 

pieces of the United States military 

machine. 

“It is very difficult to get into all three 

Academies. You have to be an incredibly 

high academic achiever coming out of 

high school,” notes Hickie. 

“You need a nomination from your 

congressional representative or a 

Vice-Presidential nomination. If you 

get in which is about an eight per cent 

acceptance rate, you get a very highly 

regarded education. 

“The education is free education which, 

by American standards, is something very 

valuable, but in return, you owe at least 

five years to military service after you 

commission into the Fleet.” 


From a pure rugby sense, this is the 

perfect breeding ground for players. The 

mindset is built around a dedication to 

discipline, physical fitness, taking orders 

and committing to a cause. 

“There is a thing called the PRT, Physical 

Readiness Test. There are 4,500 

Midshipmen here - that is what the 

students of the Naval Academy are 

called. 

“Every semester, the Midshipmen have 

to run one-and-a-half miles in under 

10-and-a-half minutes, they have to do a 

minimum number of push-ups and timed 

plank holds. Failing a PRT could see you 

separated from the Naval Academy. 

“The basis of life at the Academy is 

physical fitness and expecting to win, two 

important things here.” 

Training to be officers, the Midshipmen 

are contained within the walls of the 

Naval Academy, except for the few times 

per week they are granted liberty to 

leave the grounds of the "Yard". 

Their Commandant of the Midshipmen 

must know where they are at all times. 

Everyone within the Brigade must be 

accounted for. 

“I loved my five years at Dartmouth. But, 

I would go to bed worrying about what 

was happening at the 'frat house’,” says 

Gavin. 

“Here, there is none of that at all. The 

attitude is 'Yes, sir! No, sir! How much 

more can I do, sir?' From a coach's 

perspective, it is a dream.” 

Right now, Hickie has 60 players on the 

men's squad, cut down from the 130 tryouts. 

There are currently 85 women vying 

for 63 places on the main roster. 

“On a personal level, it wasn't that long 

ago, I had massive aspirations to coach 

at the highest level possible,” he states. 

“I have been involved in almost all levels 

of US Rugby, Collegiate All-Americans, 

United States U-20s, U-23s and the 

Select (A) Side. I had a passion to create 

professional rugby players, get them to 

the international stage and, one day, 

work on that stage. 

“I have changed in the last few years. I 

believe I have a higher calling, without 

sounding too cheesy, to try and create 

better leaders through rugby at the 

United States Naval Academy. 

“These men and women are preparing 

to protect the United States of America,” 

he says. 

“It is not about creating good players. It 

is about creating great leaders. That is the 

greatest challenge and greatest reward 

of my job. 

“These men and women will go on 

to become Navy SEALs, Navy and 

Marine Corps pilots, Nuclear Submarine 

Specialists, Explosive Ordnance Disposal 

(bomb disposal experts), the best of the 

best.” 

The desire to create a stable home 

environment for Jess and their two sons 

Fionn (three this month) and Cian (four 

months) has also led to Hickie embracing 

the long-term view in Annapolis. 

“I am blessed to be in the position I am in 

now. If I am still here in 20 years, I will be 

the happiest person in the world. 

“I certainly see the significance of 

every day. It is a unique challenge and 

opportunity I have.” 

And he is seizing it. 


Referees 

Corner 

BY DAN WALLACE 

Welcome to another season. Hopefully 

this year will be a lot different to last. 

Our referees are delighted to be back out 

on the pitch refereeing, as I am sure the 

players are to be playing. 

We were delighted to see 13 of 

our referees in this season’s IRFU 

National Panel. Our Leinster 

Rugby Referee Development 

Officer Seán Gallagher has 

retired from refereeing and we 

wish him continued success in his 

role with the IRFU. 

Leinster Rugby Referees are immensely 

proud of the contribution that Seán 

has made to our organisation and 

refereeing as a whole. 

The referees included are: Dermot 

Blake, Andrew Cole, Nigel Correll, Paul 

Haycock, Cillian Hogan, John Carvill, 

Glenn Sheridan, John Flynn, Michael 

Forrestal, Sam Holt, Paul O’Connor, 

Padraic Reidy and Colm Roche. 

The IPAS referees for this season are 

Robbie Jenkinson, Kevin Beakey and 

Katie Byrne. IPAS allows referees 

from all the provinces to officiate at a 

selected number of games across the 

country. Collated assessments from 

these games will determine who will be 

promoted from the provincial ranks to 

referee at national league level. 

We had an excellent annual seminar 

in August, held online and facilitated 

by Sean Gallagher and Sam Holt. The 

main discussion point for the season 

was the new World Rugby Global Trial 

Laws. There was a lot to take in, and 

you will notice these coming into play at 

tonight’s game. 

Want to get 

involved? 

Feel free to make contact with the Leinster Rugby Referees 

at hayley.whyte@leinsterrugby.ie. If you are interested 

in becoming a referee get in contact with us through our 

Facebook and Google + pages, our website www.arlb.ie 

or through twitter @leinsterreferee. 


So what are they? 

Well, the following global law 

trials apply to competitions 

beginning on or after 1 August 

2021. 

50:22 

If the team in possession kicks 

the ball from inside their own 

half indirectly into touch inside 

their opponents’ 22, they will 

throw into the resultant lineout. 

The ball cannot be passed or 

carried back into the defensive 

half for the 50:22 to be played. 

The phase must originate inside 

the defensive half. 

This is designed to encourage the 

defensive team to put more players in 

the backfield, thereby creating more 

attacking space and reducing defensive 

line speed. 

Goal line drop-out 

If the ball is held up in-goal, there 

is a knock-on from an attacking 

player in-goal or an attacking 

kick is grounded by the 

defenders in their own in-goal, 

then play restarts with a goal 

line drop-out anywhere along 

the goal line. 

The idea here is to encourage variety 

in attacking play close to the goal line 

and to increase ball in-play time by 

replacing a scrum with a kick that must 

be taken without delay. An opportunity 

for counterattack is also created. 

Flying wedge 

To sanction the three person prebound 

mini-scrum by redefining 

the flying wedge 

The intention is to reduce the number 

of events where the ball carrier and 

multiple support players are in contact 

(latched) prior to contact, and to protect 

the tackler who can be faced with 

the combined force of three opposing 

players. 

One-player pre-latched 

To recognise the potential for 

one-player pre-latching prior 

to contact, but this player must 

observe all of the requirements 

for a first arriving player, 

particularly the need to stay on 

their feet. 

The intention here is to be more 

consistent in the management of the oneperson 

pre-latched player. 

Cleanout and the safety of the jackler 

To introduce a sanction for clean outs 

which target or drop weight onto the 

lower limbs. The idea here it to reduce 

injury risk to the player being cleaned 

out. 

Want to know more? There are some 

great videos on the World Rugby 

website which cover all these new trials. 


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TO MAXIMISE YOUR SPORTS AND EXERCISE 

PERFORMANCE THROUGH NUTRITION 

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

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

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

Protein Rich. 

Protein provides your muscles with 

the building blocks to repair & grow. 

Carb-Up. 

Carbohydrate foods are king as they 

power high intensity play. 

Fuel-Up. 

Consume the majority of your 

carbohydrates around training to 

support fuelling and recovery. 

Recover. 

Quality rest & nutrition between 

training sessions is the key to 

recovery. Remember to: 

Repair with protein, 

Refuel with carbohydrate, 

Rehydrate with fluid. 

Hydrate. 

Dehydration can lead to a drop in 

exercise intensity & can impact your 

decision making. Drink 2-3 litres of 

fluid each day to ensure hydration. 

Game Day. 

To fuel performance on the field, 

consume a large carbohydrate rich 

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

chicken & pasta, turkey bolognaise 

wraps. 

Get 20% off all Optimum Nutrition products 

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KNOWING WHAT ADVICE TO TAKE 

IS ESSENTIAL IN THIS GAME. 

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@cry.ireland 

CRY Ireland is an autonomous charitable legal entity, entirely separate 

from Tallaght University Hospital. Registered Charity No. 14506 

Proudly supported by BearingPoint

CRY 

Cardiac Risk 

in 

the Young 

KEVIN O’Flynn was a fit, healthy 34-year-old. 

He enjoyed running and playing soccer, playing fivea-side 

with friends and work colleagues at least once 

a week. 

And like many young men who lead active lives, the 

subtle signs that something could be wrong gave no 

immediate cause for worry. When he started to feel 

more tired than usual during the weekly kick-about, 

he put it down to getting older. The palpitations he 

was having at night, the ones that sometimes kept 

him awake, were cast aside as a side effect of drinking 

too much coffee. 

Then, on July 27th, 2015, half way through a soccer 

game in his hometown of Fermoy, Kevin collapsed 

on the pitch. Ten days later, surrounded by his family, 

he passed away in Cork University Hospital. Kevin 

died from a Sudden Cardiac death as a result of an 

undiagnosed heart condition called Hypertrophic 

Cardiomyopathy. 

“There was absolutely no history of this in the 

family,” said his brother Shane. 

“It came as such as shock because he was 

extremely active and very healthy. We could not 

believe this had happened to our family.” 

In trying to understand what had happened to his 

younger brother, Shane’s internet search brought him 

to CRY Ireland. The charity offers cardiac assessment, 

counselling and bereavement support services to 

those affected by cardiac conditions or to those that 

have lost a loved one to sudden cardiac death. 

“When this happens to someone you love it’s just 

absolute disbelief,” said Shane. 

“You are trying to figure out, ‘Why did this happen? 

how could this happen to such a fit guy?’ You are 

searching for information and answers its only now, 

through CRY that I can understand exactly how it can 

happen. It happens to so many people. There are 

people out there now and people who will be reading 

this that possibly have a heart condition and they 

don’t even know it.” 

In June last year, Danish footballer Christian Eriksen 

collapsed during Denmark’s opening Euro 2020 

game with Finland and needed to be resuscitated 

on the pitch. Erikson made a full recovery and had 

a cardioverter defibrillator implanted. Shane said the 

incident bore striking similarities to what happened 

to Kevin. 

Shane O’ Flynn (left) with his brother Kevin. 

“It was exactly the same situation,” he said. 

“The difference was that that Erikson had doctors, 

paramedics, defibrillators and everyone around him. 

It was amazing to see. With Kevin, unfortunately those 

people were not around him and the lads that were 

with him were in total shock. It took about 10 to 15 

minutes to get a defibrillator to him from a nearby 

leisure centre. He was able to keep going for ten days 

in hospital and we take solace from having that time 

with him. We were able to say goodbye.” 

CRY Ireland strongly recommends that cardiac 

assessments are carried out for those families who 

are affected by Sudden Cardiac Death. 

“At the time we weren’t aware that CRY offered the 

screening service, so we got ours done privately,” said 

Shane. 

“Thankfully the screening didn’t show anything 

unusual, and it gave us piece of mind. I know that the 

screening service CRY runs in Tallaght has provided 

the same piece of mind for other families.” 

Since contacting Kevin’s death, the O ‘Flynn family 

have raised thousands of euros through fundraising 

in his name. The money was used to purchase the 

first defibrillator for the town of Fermoy, where Kevin 

grew up. 

“It’s charities like CRY that help raise awareness of 

sudden cardiac death,” said Shane. 

“Kevin was young, fit and healthy but he had a 

condition he didn’t know about. For us as a family, 

we want to do all we can to prevent another death 

like Kevin’s. It’s the way we honour his memory.” 


1938 - 2019 

COUNTRY 

SOUTH AFRICA 

HOME GROUND 

LOFTUS VERSFELD 

FOUNDED 

1938 

Bulls News 

Currie Cup Final 

Vodacom Bulls 44 

Cell C Sharks 10 

WORDS: BULLSRUGBY.CO.ZA 

A dominant performance by the Vodacom Bulls ensured 

that they successfully defended the Carling Currie Cup 

with an emphatic 44-10 victory over the Cell C Sharks 

at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, 11 September. 

The Vodacom Bulls, who went into 

the 2021 Carling Currie Cup final 

as defending champions, showed 

their intentions in the early stages 

of the match when they went 

ahead 19-3 at half-time after 

a good attack, which resulted 

in three tries in the opening 40 

minutes, and solid defensive sets. 

The home side accelerated their efforts in 

the second half by scoring a further three 

tries and two penalties to put the game 

out of the visitors’ reach. 

POINTS SCORERS 

VODACOM BULLS (19) 44 

TRIES: Harold Vorster, Lionel Mapoe, 

Marcell Coetzee, Janko Swanepoel, Zak 

Burger, Cornal Hendricks 

CONVERSIONS: Chris Smith (4) 

PENALTIES: Smith (2) 

CELL C SHARKS (3) 10 

TRY: Thomas du Toit 

CONVERSION: Curwin Bosch 

PENALTY: Bosch 

The victory for the Vodacom Bulls was 

the first back-to-back title win in 17 years, 

with the Tshwane-based side also adding 

their name to the history books with 

the largest winning margin in a Carling 

Currie Cup final. 

Vodacom Bulls director of rugby, Jake 

White, expressed his satisfaction after the 

game: “I am very happy with the result. 

I’m quite happy with the performances 

in the last two weeks, and the definite 

progression in our game. 

“We were spot on with our conditioning 

and play. We have to give credit to the 

coaches, the conditioning team, the 

players and everyone involved. We are 

really happy to finish on a high note. 


Vodacom 

Bulls Name 

Touring 

Squad 

The Vodacom 

Bulls begin 

a fourweek 

tour 

in Ireland, 

continue to 

Wales and end 

in Scotland 

for their 

opening 

fixtures of 

the Vodacom 

United Rugby 

Championship. 

Vodacom Bulls director of rugby, 

Jake White, has announced a 37- 

man squad for the overseas trip. 

Springbok hooker, Bismarck du Plessis, 

who joined the side earlier this month, 

will be a noticeable inclusion to the 

squad that will also see the return 

of Johan Goosen, who missed the 

final of the domestic Carling Currie 

Cup. Also in the travelling party, 

following a full recovery from 

injury, is scrum half Embrose 

Papier and Sintu Manjezi. 

“We have a long and tough 

URC season ahead, and it will 

be important how we manage 

our squad going forward. 

Equally, it is important that we 

continue building on the winning 

culture we are creating at the 

Vodacom Bulls, so it is imperative that 

we utilize our experienced workhorses 

and our exciting youngsters,” said 

White. 

“We are looking forward to a highly 

competitive opening four fixtures 

against Leinster, Connacht, Cardiff and 

Edinburgh – all quality opposition. All 

participating teams will be looking to 

start the season on a high note, and it is 

no different for us.” 

Check page 77 for full squad 

details… 


Welcome Back! 

Windsor Motors are excited to welcome supporters 

back into the stadium and our showrooms! 

We are also proud to continue our partnership 

with Leinster Rugby as Official Vehicle Supplier. 

Experience 

the all-new 

Nissan Qashqai, 

coming soon 

to Windsor 

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Visit windsor.ie for more info.

Director of Rugby 

Jake 

White 

Jake White is a well-known face 

in the coaching box having guided 

the Springboks to Rugby World 

Cup success in 2007, defeating 

England 15-6 in the final in Paris. 

Following that win, he took up a position 

on the technical committee of the IRB 

before returning to coaching with 

Brumbies in 2012. 

He has also had spells with Sharks, 

Tonga, Montpellier and Toyota Verblitz 

before returning to South Africa to take 

the Bulls hotseat in 2020. 

Captain 

Marcell 

Coetzee 

The Vodacom Bulls captain is no 

stranger to these shores having 

spent five years in the north with 

Ulster Rugby from 2016 until 

earlier this year. 

Capped 30 times by the Springboks, 

Coetzee returned home to South Africa, 

signing with the Bulls in June after 

finishing as joint top try-scorer in the 

PRO14 and winner of the Players’ Player 

of the Season award. 

Originally from Potchefstroom in the 

North West Province, he has also 

represented Sharks and Honda Heat. 

The Vodacom Bulls touring 

group, by position: 

PROPS: 

1. Lizo Gqoboka 

(ABE Midas Naka Bulle) 

2. Simphiwe Matanzima 


3. Gerhard Steenekamp 


4. Mornay Smith 

Betway Centurion) 

5. Jacques van Rooyen 

(Tuine) 

6. Robert Hunt 

(Harlequins) 

HOOKERS: 

7. Bismarck du Plessis 

(Betway Centurion) 

8. Jan-Hendrik Wessels 

(U20) 

9. Joe van Zyl 

(Harlequins) 

10. Sidney Tobias 

(Northam) 

11. Schalk Erasmus 

(Tuine) 

LOCKS: 

12. Walt Steenkamp 


13. Sintu Manjezi 

(Harlequins) 

14. Reinhardt Ludwig 

(U20) 

15. Ruan Nortje 


16. Janko Swanepoel 

(Pretoria) 

LOOSE-FORWARDS: 

17. Arno Botha 


18. Marcell Coetzee 


19. Jacques du Plessis 

(FNB Tuks) 

20. Muller Uys 

(FNB Tuks) 

21. Elrigh Louw 

(FNB Tuks) 

22. WJ Steenkamp 

(Tuine) 

SCRUMHALVES: 

23. Zak Burger 

(Tuine) 

24. Embrose Papier 

(FNB Tuks) 

25. Marco Jansen van Vuren 

(Pretoria) 

26. Keagan Johannes 

(FNB Tuks) 

FLYHALVES: 

27. Johan Goosen 


28. Chris Smith 

(Harlequins) 

CENTRES: 

29. Cornal Hendricks 

(Northam) 

30. Harold Vorster 

(Northam) 

31. Lionel Mapoe 

(Pretoria) 

32. Stedman Gans 

(Northam) 

OUTSIDE BACKS: 

33. Kurt-Lee Arendse 


34. Madosh Tambwe 

(Pretoria) 

35. Stravino Jacobs 

(Harlequins) 

36. Ruan Combrinck 

(Tuine) 

37. David Kriel 



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Club in Focus 

MU Barnhall 

Location! Location! Location! 

The mantra of the property pundits among us 

is as true today as it ever has been. There are 

those who would move heaven and, especially, 

earth to build in the right place. 

MU Barnhall has always realised 

that its location, situated in a 

burgeoning area, would lend 

itself to establishing a thriving 

rugby club where the many 

local, rapidly growing towns are 

serviced by the sport. 

The venue is readily accessible, close 

to the M50, M4 and N7 motorways. It 

means a reasonable commute even for 

those in other provinces. Most notably 

though is the carpet-like playing facilities, 

which have been maintained by long 

term club legend Christy Dunne. 

“You look at Barnhall as a club with 

the great car and bus parking facilities, 

one of the best-kept, best-playing grass 

surfaces in Ireland,” says club stalwart 

Peter Black. 

“We didn't go with astro. We stayed 

with the natural grass pitch and it is 

unbelievable. Beside that, we've got 

the second pitch which is great for 

Interprovincial warm-ups. 

“There are great views for supporters. 

There is a nice clubhouse, an all-purpose 

gym, eight changing rooms, two first-class 

AIL standards.” 

The fruitful partnership with Maynooth 

University only further enhances this 

prospect and the future ambitions 

to continue building towards a club 

competing at the highest levels of 

both the male and female games are 

attainable. 

Recently, the Age Grade Interprovincials 

came to a conclusion at MU Barnhall’s 

grounds at Parsonstown. It didn't happen 

by accident. 

“We have always tried to be a 

progressive community club, building 

steadily,” stresses Peter. 

“We have made ourselves open to the 

Leinster Branch and the IRFU to come to 

us at relatively short notice to host Age 

Grade, U-20s and senior representative 

rugby because we have the ability to 

move club games to wonderful facilities 

under lights at Maynooth University.” 

It is about visibility, winning and keeping 

the trust of the Leinster Branch and the 

IRFU, putting on a good show for the 

provinces and the guests that come to 

the club. 

“From a player point of view, we have 

Interprovincials at many different levels,” 

he says. 

“If you are playing Interpro rugby, but 

not at the RDS or the Aviva, wouldn't you 

want to run out at your home club playing 

for your province? We've got that now. 

“There is no point in locals coming to 

MU Barnhall rugby club if no one on the 

Leinster squad is from the club. 

“When people found out the U-18 Girls 

were playing in Barnhall, there was a 


huge interest in seeing Emma Tilly, just 

one girl. It is a real community club and 

the local support is unbelievable. 

“As a club, we are seen in a really good 

light by Leinster and the other provinces 

when we host. It is the ultimate stamp of 

approval as a well-organised, well-run 

club. 

“It is also to give back to our players, 

who are making those squads. They can 

run out from their home club onto the first 

pitch in MU Barnhall in the blue shirt of 

Leinster.” 

The long-term plan for the club and the 

rugby programme, linked to Maynooth 

University, is to attract players in. Then, 

the position of the club in the men’s and 

women’s AIL can make it appealing for 

them to stay. 

The emergence of women’s rugby has 

been a major catalyst for growth. 

When Ireland international Eve Higgins 

came down to the club to play rugby, 

there were no girls minis at that stage, so 

she played with the boys. 

The latent talent Eve showed prompted 

the club to set up a girls youths team to 

provide an outlet for her and to see what 

others were out there. 

When Eve moved away to play with 

Railway Union, the club realised it had 

to put the pillars in place to do what they 

could to prevent it from happening again. 

The work has been put in to develop Girls 

squads at U-18, U-16 and U-14, some 

senior players being drawn back into 

coaching. 


Then, of course, Tom McKeown has 

spearheaded the addition of women 

to the rugby programme between 

Maynooth and Barnhall, thus MU 

Barnhall. 

The women have delivered on the time 

invested in them, moving up from Division 

3 to qualify for Division 1 of the Leinster 

League just before Covid struck in 2019. 

There will be no entry into the All-Ireland 

League until 2022, at the earliest, and, 

at the moment, that is awarded through 

an application to play rather than the 

desired promotion-relegation system. 

Barnhall prides itself on being a 

‘University Rugby Club’, belonging to its 

communities. This is brought to life by the 

extensive local schools and community 

engagements through larger than life 

Club Community Rugby Officer Luke 

Ingleton, operating on behalf of the 

club and Leinster Rugby in a strategic 

way to bring rugby to those who maybe 

wouldn’t get to experience it. 

AIL status would grant MU Barnhall the 

profile to hold onto their best women 


We have worked 

hard to produce 

all these 

Interprovincial 

players and 

the club took 

the opinion 

of pushing 

to host the 

Interprovincials. 

players and attract even more quality to 

the scholarship programme in Maynooth. 

The same goes for the youths and the 

adult men’s teams with MU Barnhall 

located in Division 2A of the AIL. 

“At Age Grade levels, we started to see 

more boys and girls being selected for 

trials and extended squads,” says Black. 

“In 2018, we saw Holly Leach making 

the Leinster Women's U-18 squad, the 

first Age Grade interpro from the club. 

This year, you had Emma Tilly playing 

for them. 

“At senior level this year, we had three 

girls for the Leinster squad, Holly, 

Katelynn Doran and Ciara Faulkner, one 

for Connacht, Orlaith Murray, and one 

for Ulster, Ava Fannin. 

“For the boys, Keith Farrell made the 

Leinster U-18 Clubs this season. David 

Dooley was at inside centre for the 

Leinster U-19s. At U-16s, we had nine 

boys screened and involved in the Metro 

U-17 squad, namely Gavin Keane, Dylan 

Hewitt, Ethan Fennell, Sean Kearney, 

Ruaidhri Smith, Edgar Kucinskas, Hugh 

Donegan, Adam Gray and Mar Cleary. 

There has been a steady, consistent 

growth that has suddenly exploded. 

“We have worked hard to produce all 

these Interprovincial players and the club 

took the opinion of pushing to host the 

Interprovincials.” 

In addition, the club is working with 

Kildare County Council to further develop 

Lough na Mona, an eight-acre site, on 

which they trained during the lockdown. 

The University rugby programme 

produced its first Ireland U-20 player 

since the club-university partnership’s 

inception with Will Reilly playing at 

scrum-half during the belated U-20 Six 

Nations campaign. 

He has built on this honour by earning 

a place in the Connacht Academy. He 

Left: Peter Black; Middle: Barry Smith; Right: Tom McKeown. 

joined the University programme from 

Portlaoise RFC and his trajectory is 

certainly a success story many school 

leavers are taking note of. 

“The way the IRFU structures AIL rugby 

and national players, the players coming 

out of Age Grade rugby, they have to 

play in the top tier of AIL rugby, the likes 

of Lansdowne, Clontarf.” 

The plan is to make it to that elite tier of 

AIL rugby. 

“The development of the women’s game, 

our increase in Age Grade Interpros, 

both boys and girls, and our partnership 

with Maynooth University puts the club in 

a strong position to build towards the top 

tier in the AIL, thus enabling us to keep 

the players we develop. 

“We don't want to lose the Eve Higgins’, 

the Holly Leeches, the Emma Tillys, the 

Will Reillys, the David Dooleys.” 

They are doing all they can to make that 

happen. 


IRFU U19 Men’s Interprovincial 

Championship 



Brian 

Deeny 

THE ACADEMY 

INTERVIEW 

BY RYAN CORRY 

It was a 

quiet summer 

for Leinster 

Rugby Academy 

second row 

Brian Deeny, 

two weeks of 

holidays, time 

spent back 

at home in 

Wexford with 

family. 

During that time, he dug in around 

the house, helping his parents 

with work, something he’s no 

stranger to having grown up in 

a BnB in the middle of Wexford 

town. 

But, all the while he was helping out at 

home, there was a solitary mindset to 

him, as he counted down the days before 

he could get back to UCD where the 

province’s Academy are based training 

alongside the senior team. 

It had been 19 months since his last game 

of rugby, Ireland’s third round of the 

2020 U-20 Six Nations Championship, 

a 39-21 win for Ireland over England at 

Northampton Saints’ Franklin’s Gardens, 

a third win on the bounce and a good 

shot at back-to-back Grand Slams for 

Noel McNamara’s men. 

First, there was Covid, and then an ACL 

injury that would take his 2020/21 

campaign away from him. It’s been a 

difficult journey but one that reached 

a happy ending in Aviva Stadium on 

Friday, 10 September. 

Deeny lined out in the second row as 

Leinster took on Gallagher Premiership 

champions Harlequins in a Bank of 

Ireland pre-season friendly, his first 

taste of senior action with the 

province. 

“Even though it was a friendly game, 

I was so nervous. I was just trying to 

visualise to make sure that the feelings 

I would be having on the day, that it 

wouldn’t be the first time that I would 

have those in the stadium,” Deeny 

explains. 


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BECAUSE YOU GET 

Official Media Partner of Leinster Rugby

“I did sort of let the emotion get the best 

of me for the first five minutes when I 

walked out into the Aviva. I think once 

I made the first tackle, got the first hit, I 

kind of got to grips with things.” 

On the night, he was joined by both Max 

Deegan and Conor O’Brien, also making 

returns from serious injuries that had seen 

them absent from the action throughout 

the majority of the previous campaign. 

A shared experience for the three of 

them – one none of them wanted to have 

but were the better for having it together. 

Deeny emphasises the input of those 

teammates and the support system within 

the backroom team as being a major 

boost. 

“I think all of us did our ACLs in the 

space of like a month so we were going 

through the same journey. You’d never 

wish it on anyone but it made it easier for 

each of us because we could bounce off 

each other and let each other know how 

the knees were feeling on a day-to-day 

basis,” he adds. 

“And then when we were playing in the 

game, the fact that all three of us were 

playing our first game, it made things a 

lot easier. I was so happy to play with 

them and have the three of us come back 

together at the same time. It was a really 

special moment for myself. 

“Darragh (Curley) was my physio. There’s 

such a great staff in Leinster Rugby, and 

then in terms of physios and S&Cs, they 

just make it so much easier when you’re 

coming in every day. They can probably 

recognise when you’re having a shit day 

and they’ll have the laugh with you. 

“It makes the whole thing more 

enjoyable, Darragh definitely made 

my process as easy as possible. I was 

working with Joe (McGinley) then for 

S&C to strengthen up my quad and my 

hamstrings to help come back as fast 

as possible. I had Gordon (Brett) then 

towards the end and I thought both of 

them equally helped me as much as 

possible.” 

The ‘shit days’. 

Post-op, no light at the end of the tunnel, 

just crutches or knee braces, and 

watching your teammates go out and do 

what you wish you still could. 

How does a young player trying to eke 

out a career in the professional game 

overcome that obstacle? 

“I didn’t really come to terms with it. The 

first three months, you’re so pro-active, 

getting better and focusing on the injury 

and until you experience a long-term 

injury, you don’t fully understand how 

dark it can get,” Deeny says. 

“It’s very lonely when you’re coming in 

and doing rehab by yourself, you’re not 

actually training with the lads. It can get 

quite lonely. That lasted for about two 

months in the middle while you come to 

terms with it then. 

“But after that when I could see the light 

at the end of the tunnel, close to coming 


ack running and training, everything fell 

into place then and I was really happy 

with how things went.” 

“Usually when you have a long-term 

injury like that, they encourage you to 

focus on something outside of rugby. I 

deferred my second year in college so 

I did half a semester the year of my Six 

Nations, and deferred the second half. 

“The first six months of my injury, I didn’t 

have any college so I couldn’t focus on 

that and then with Covid and the social 

distancing, I couldn’t see anyone except 

for the lads I was living with which was 

hard as well. I couldn’t go home and see 

my family.” 

Once his own inner will made the 

first steps, from there it was family, the 

physios, the teammates, the rehabilitators 

and the coaches who made sure that the 

extra yards would follow. 

“I couldn’t have had a better experience 

through that. I’ve had friends who have 

done ACLs in other sports and I’m so 

lucky that I’ve had the help I had in 

Leinster, coming in doing physio and 

S&C. I’m very grateful and understand 

how lucky I am to be in this situation.” 

So what’s next? Deeny is now in his third 

year in the Academy, and will be looking 

to continue building on his recovery from 

injury, taking every step possible away 

from that nightmare few months. 

“It’s tough for anyone to try and impress. 

Training is so competitive and so hard, if 

everyone is going to impress, it’d be hard 

but I think the coaches see the amount of 

effort that goes in. 

“I’m just hoping to stay as available as I 

can and get as much gametime as I can 

whether that’s with the seniors or the ‘A’s 

or in the AIL. I’ve missed a lot of matches 

so coming back and playing as much as I 

can is the goal for this year.” 

And for a young second row, you could 

do far worse than to be working under 

the tutelage of Leinster head coach Leo 

Cullen, a decorated lock in his own 

career, captaining the province to three 

Heineken Cup titles before later winning 

it as a head coach. He also racked up 

32 Ireland caps and won a Premiership 

medal in his time with Leicester Tigers. 

Sharing a dressing room, there’s also 

Devin Toner, Leinster’s most-capped 

player after overtaking Gordon D’Arcy’s 

record on the day the province won a 

fourth PRO14 title in a row in April 2021. 

“If you’re looking for advice or have any 

questions from a second row point of 

view, or at the set-piece, lineout or scrum, 

their answers are the best ones you’re 

going to get. It’s very helpful to have 

the likes of them to help along the way,” 

Deeny states. 

“A lot of the lads are Ireland 

internationals but I’m just focusing on 

learning as much as I can from the lads 

that are there and trying to train to the 

best of my abilities. The competition 

brings out the best in everyone because 

there’s such an amount of talent in 

Leinster. It is hard but it’s very enjoyable.” 

Off the field, he’s returned to his studies 

after the deferral. Previously doing 

Biomedical Science in Trinity College, 

Deeny has now transferred to UCD 

where he will specialise in Physiology, 

something that goes hand-in-hand with 

the life of a modern athlete. 

“Because we’re training and working 

in UCD, I transferred there this year 

so I’m doing Biomedical Science but 

specialising in Physiology this year. When 

you’re coming out of school, nobody 

really knows what they want to do. I was 

interested in science in school, from a 

young age, I was interested in how the 

body works and how the systems interact 

with each other. 

“It was either Physiology or Zoology and 

then Physiology won out. For the first two 

years of college, I enjoyed those modules 

the most.” 

So, back fit and back in the books. Deeny 

will be hoping that this season is a busier 

one for him both on and off the field. 

However, he still doesn’t view the last 


season as a year lost. It’s simply one 

that happened. The next one is always 

the most important – and this time the 

motivation is greater than ever. 

“I was more just frustrated because I 

couldn’t play. I don’t know was it a year 

lost but I was just trying to focus on the 

positives throughout the whole thing and 

just try to get back as quickly as possible. 

“Because there weren’t that many games, 

I didn’t miss as much as I would have if 

Covid wasn’t there, the other Academy 

lads, they weren’t playing ‘A’ games, 

weren’t playing AIL. It made things worse 

but made me miss less. It was a long, 

heavy process but it’s doable. 

“It made things harder but, I suppose, 

going through that rocky road, and with 

every restriction that’s lifted, I appreciate 

it so much, my friends and family, college, 

all that. I probably have a bit more drive 

now because I know what it’s like when 

it’s taken away from you.” 


Leinster Rugby Academy 

Year Three 2021/22: 


Year two 2021/22: 

Second Row 

Brian Deeny 

DOB: 02/03/2000 

HEIGHT: 1.99m WEIGHT: 121kg 

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (8 caps) 

Did You Know: Brian played youth rugby with Wexford 

Wanderers RFC. He got his first Irish cap playing for 

Ireland Under-18 Sevens. Brian played midfield for 

his school St Peter’s College in Gaelic football and 

reached the All-Ireland Colleges Final in 2017. He is 

currently studying Science in Trinity and lives in Abbey 

House B&B, Wexford...if you are looking for a room?! 

Instagram: brian_deeny 

wing 

Niall Comerford 

DOB: 06/04/2000 


HONOURS: Ireland U20 

Did You Know: Niall played both hurling and Gaelic 

football with Kilmacud Crokes for 14 years. He also 

represented Dublin in Gaelic football in the U17 

Leinster Championship. He is currently studying 

Commerce in UCD. 

Instagram: niall_c123 

Cormac Foley #1299 

DOB: 24/10/1999 



& Leinster Rugby (1 cap) 

Marcus Hanan #1295 

DOB: 03/10/2000 

HEIGHT:1.8m WEIGHT:110.91kg 

HONOURS: Leinster Rugby (3 caps) 

Scrum Half 

Did You Know: Started playing rugby with Greystones 

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

of show jumping and he is now studying Economics and 

Finance in UCD. 

Instagram: cormacfoley6 

prop 

Back Row 

Martin Moloney #1300 

DOB: 19/10/1999 


HONOURS: Ireland U20 (5 caps) & 

Leinster Rugby (1 cap) 

Did You Know: Martin played hurling for Kildare and 

played GAA and basketball for his secondary school, 

Knockbeg College, and local GAA club, St Laurence’s. 

He played his youth rugby with Athy RFC. He is now 

studying Business and Law in UCD, He also enjoys 

working on the family farm. Instagram: martin_moloney 

Second Row 

Joe McCarthy 

DOB: 26/03/2001 



Did You Know: Joe started playing rugby with Blackrock 

College RFC at the age of six before moving to 

Willow Park and then Blackrock College. He was also 

on the Blackrock swim team for five years. He’s currently 

studying Global Business in Trinity College Dublin. 

Instagram: joetmmcc 

Second Row 

Charlie Ryan 

DOB: 03/02/1999 



Did You Know: Charlie played youth rugby at Blackrock 

College RFC while also attending the school since 

Senior Infants. He captained Ireland to the U20 Grand 

Slam in 2019 and again for the U20s World Cup. His 

friends call him Chuck! He is currently studying Business 

and Legal Studies in UCD. 

Instagram: chuck_ryan5 

hooker 

John McKee 

DOB: 15/02/2000 



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

at Campbell College where he won a Senior Cup. He 

was involved with Ulster at age grade level until moving 

to Dublin after school. He also has multiple medals 

from Northern Irish Schools Judo competitions. 

Instagram: johnmckee_ 

Centre 

Liam Turner #1287 

DOB: 14/07/1999 



& Leinster Rugby (6 caps) 

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

of six at Blackrock College RFC. He later joined 

Blackrock College and was part of the 2018 Senior Cup 

winning team. He was also part of the Ireland U20 team 

that went on to win the 2019 Grand Slam. Liam currently 

studys BESS in Trinity College. Instagram: liamtn123 

Centre / Full Back 

Jamie Osborne #1294 

DOB: 16/11/2001 

HEIGHT:1.93m WEIGHT:96.82kg 

HONOURS: Leinster Rugby (6 caps) 


Seán O’Brien #1297 

Lee Barron 

DOB: 31/07/2000 




DOB: 15/02/2001 


Back Row 

Did You Know: Seán started playing rugby at age 

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

He then played on the Junior and Senior Cup 

teams in Blackrock College. He is currently studying 

Economics and Finance in UCD 

Instagram: seanobrien456 

Hooker 

Did You Know: Lee played golf growing up in the 

Castle Golf Club and in the end was playing off a 

handicap of eight. He has family roots in Carlow but 

went to school in Dublin and attended St Michael’s College. 

As well as rugby with his school, he also played 

GAA and even lined out in Croke Park. 

Max O’Reilly #1291 

Chris Cosgrave 

Full Back 

DOB: 26/02/2000 



Leinster Rugby (7 caps) 

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

Business and Management in DIT. His preferred sport 

was soccer until about the age of 15, which he had 

played at centre midfield with Enniskerry FC for over 10 

years and also for Wicklow. 

Instagram: max_oreilly 

full back 

DOB: 24/07/2001 

HEIGHT:1.83m WEIGHT:85kg 

Did You Know: Chris is a member of UCD RFC, where 

he is also an Ad Astra scholar studying Agricultural 

Science. His athleticism is best highlighted by his feats 

in the field of Athletics with All-Ireland honours to his 

name in both the 4x100m relay and the Discus. Before 

the UCD and St Michael’s College days, he played at 

a young age with Old Belvedere RFC. 

Andrew Smith #1292 

Mark Hernan 

DOB: 21/07/2000 



Leinster Rugby (2 caps) 

DOB: 04/07/2000 


Back Three 

Did You Know: Andrew is currently studying Quantity 

Surveying and Construction Economics in TUD. In 

2019, he won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup with St 

Michael’s College. Andrew also played Gaelic football 

with his local club - Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA Club. 

Instagram: andrew.sm1th 

Flanker 

Did You Know: Mark was coached by Ross Molony, 

Josh Murphy, Ross Byrne and Nick McCarthy when in 

St. Michael’s College. His grandfather Fergus O’Brien 

was Lord Mayor of Dublin and his father, Ray, played 

for Connacht seniors and Ireland u25s. 

Alex Soroka #1296 

Temi Lasisi 

Back Row 

DOB: 19/02/2001 

HEIGHT: 1.95m WEIGHT: 104.5kg 



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

Ukraine shortly before his birth. He was born in Cork 

before moving to Dublin. 

Instagram: alex._.soroka 

prop 

DOB: 09/05/2001 

HEIGHT: 1.78m WEIGHT: 115.8kg 

Did You Know: The TUD Mechanical Engineering 

student originally picked up the oval ball in Enniscorthy 

before later moving to Lansdowne FC. Temi rose 

through the ranks in the Youths system, his first outing 

with the province came at U-18 level against Northampton. 

He also describes himself as a ‘competent 

pianist’. 

Ben Murphy 

DOB: 23/04/2001 



Year one 2021/22: 

Scrum half 

Did You Know: Ben played all different sports growing 

up including football, GAA and golf and won an 800m 

gold in the U-14 East Leinsters. He is studying economics 

in UCD. Ben’s father Richie played for Leinster 

Rugby and has coached at all levels of the game and is 

the current Ireland U-20s head coach. 

Jack Boyle 

DOB: 10/03/2002 


Rob Russell 

DOB: 13/01/1999 


Prop 

Did You Know: UCD Commerce student Jack is also 

one of the college’s Ad Astra Scholars. Outside of rugby, 

he’s also accomplished in Athletics, winning bronze 

in both the hammer throw and long jump at Leinster 

Schools level. His first memory of rugby is walking out 

at the RDS Arena as team mascot beside then captain 

Leo Cullen for the clash with Scarlets in 2008. 

Full Back / Wing 

Did You Know: Rob is currently in his final year of 

Business and Management in DIT. He started playing 

rugby at the age of five with Wanderers RFC. He also 

played football up to minor level with Kilmacud Crokes 

and it took priority over rugby until he left school. 


Date 

KO/ 

Result 

25/09 17:15 URC VODACOM 

BULLS 

03/10 14:00 URC DRAGONS 

Opposiotion Venue 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 1 2 

Aviva 

Stadium 

Rodney 

Parade 

09/10 13:00 URC ZEBRE RDS Arena 

fixtures and 

results 2021/22 

16/10 17:15 URC SCARLETS RDS Arena 

22/10 19:35 URC GLASGOW Scotstoun 

Stadium 

27/11 20:00 URC ULSTER RDS Arena 

03/12 19:45 URC CONNACHT RDS Arena 

10/11/12 

Dec 

17/18/19 

Dec 

TBC 

HCC BATH 

TBC HCC MONTPELLIER 

26/12 19:35 URC MUNSTER 

01/01 19:35 URC ULSTER 

Aviva 

Stadium 

GGL (Altrad) 

Stadium 

Thomond 

Park 

Kingspan 

Stadium 

07/01 19:35 URC SIGMA LIONS RDS Arena 

14/15/16 

Jan 

21/22/23 

Jan 

28/29/30 

Jan 

18/19/20 

Feb 

04/05/06 

Mar 

25/26/27 

Mar 

01/02/03 

Apr 

22/23/24 

Apr 

29/30/01 

Apr 

20/21/22 

May 

TBC HCC MONTPELLIER RDS Arena 

TBC 

TBC 

HCC BATH 

URC CARDIFF 

RUGBY 

Recreation 

Ground 

Cardiff Arms 

Park 

TBC URC OSPREYS RDS Arena 

TBC 

URC BENETTON 

tadio 

Monigo 

TBC URC CONNACHT Sportsground 

TBC URC MUNSTER RDS Arena 

TBC 

TBC 

URC CELL C 

SHARKS 

URC DHL 

STORMERS 

Jonsson 

Kings Park 

Green Point 

Stagium 

TBC URC EDINBURGH RDS Arena 


3 4 5 6 7 8 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 


matchday 

Squads 

Hugo Keenan 

Rory O’Loughlin 

Garry Ringrose 

Ciarán Frawley 

James Lowe 

Johnny Sexton [C] 

Luke McGrath 

15 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

FULL BACK 

RIGHT WING 

OUTSIDE CENTRE 

INSIDE CENTRE 

LEFT WING 

FLY HALF 

SCRUM HALF 

David Kriel 

Cornal Hendricks 

Lionel Mapoe 

Harold Vorster 

Madosh Tambwe 

Johan Goosen 

Zak Burger 

officials 

REFEREE: 

MIKE ADAMSON 

(SRU, 55th competition game) 

ASSISTANT REFEREES: 

AJ JACOBS (SARU), 

DANIEL CARSON (IRFU) 

TMO: 

NEIL PATERSON (SRU) 

Andrew Porter 

Dan Sheehan 

Michael Ala’alatoa 

Ross Molony 

James Ryan 

Rhys Ruddock 

Josh van der Flier 

Caelan Doris 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

LOOSE HEAD PROP 

HOOKER 

TIGHT HEAD PROP 

SECOND ROW 

SECOND ROW 

BLINDSIDE FLANKER 

OPENSIDE FLANKER 

NUMBER 8 

Gerhard Steenekamp 

Bismarck du Plessis 

Mornay Smith 

Walt Steenkamp 

Ruan Nortje 

Marcell Coetzee [C] 

Arno Botha 

Elrigh Louw 

James Tracy 

Ed Byrne 

Cian Healy 

Ryan Baird 

Max Deegan 

Jamison Gibson-Park 

Ross Byrne 

Jamie Osborne 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

Joe van Zyl 

Simphiwe Matanzima 

Jacques van Rooyen 

Janko Swanepoel 

Jacques du Plessis 

Keagan Johannes 

Chris Smith 

Stedman Gans

At Sword we know how important the Game is. 

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

and enjoy yourself, you're in safe hands. 

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

Dublin: 01-6688220 

info@swordsecurity.com 

www.swordsecurity.com 

Securing Sports Fans around the World.

Parting Shot 

10 September 2021 

Supporters during the Bank of 

Ireland Pre-Season Friendly match 

between Leinster and Harlequins at 

Aviva Stadium.

Leinster vs Vodacom Bulls

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