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Leinster vs Bath

Leinster | Official Matchday Programme of Leinster Rugby | Issue 06 Leinster vs Bath | EPCR Heineken Champions Cup Friday 3rd December, 2021 | KO 3:15 | Aviva Stadium

Leinster | Official Matchday Programme of Leinster Rugby | Issue 06
Leinster vs Bath | EPCR Heineken Champions Cup
Friday 3rd December, 2021 | KO 3:15 | Aviva Stadium

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ISSUE 6 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME<br />

LEINSTER<br />

VS<br />

bath<br />

SAT 11 th DEC<br />

AVIVA STADIUM<br />

KO 3.15PM<br />

FRONT PAGE


POWERED BY NATURE<br />

CRAFTED FOR YOU<br />

TISSOTWATCHES.COM<br />

TISSOT, INNOVATORS BY TRADITION


Newstead Building A,<br />

UCD,<br />

Belfield,<br />

Dublin 4<br />

#LEIVBAT<br />

The Line up<br />

Telephone:<br />

012693224<br />

Fax:<br />

012693142<br />

E-mail:<br />

information@leinsterrugby.ie<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie<br />

10<br />

24<br />

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT<br />

President: John Walsh<br />

Chief Executive: Michael Dawson<br />

Honorary Secretary: Stuart Bayley<br />

Honorary Treasurer: Michael McGrail<br />

RUGBY MANAGEMENT<br />

Head Coach: Leo Cullen<br />

Senior Coach: Stuart Lancaster<br />

Head of Rugby Operations:<br />

Guy Easterby<br />

Assistant Coach: Robin McBryde<br />

Backs Coach: Felipe Contepomi<br />

Kicking Coach: Emmet Farrell<br />

Contact Skills Coach: Denis Leamy<br />

14<br />

PROGRAMME CREDITS<br />

Editorial Team: Marcus Ó Buachalla,<br />

Ryan Corry & Paul Cahill<br />

Advertising: Gary Nolan<br />

Design: Julian Tredinnick,<br />

Ignition Sports Media<br />

Photography: Sportsfile<br />

Chief Steward: Sword Security<br />

Ambulance: St. John’s Ambulance<br />

Medilink<br />

Event Control & Safety Services:<br />

Eamonn O’Boyle & Associates<br />

60<br />

92<br />

STAY<br />

CONNECTED<br />

& KEEP<br />

UP-TO-DATE<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 3


EPCR WELCOME<br />

MESSAGE<br />

A warm welcome to this<br />

match in the 2021/22 Heineken<br />

Champions Cup season as we<br />

look forward once again to<br />

elite clubs and top players<br />

producing the brilliance and<br />

drama which have for long<br />

been the trademarks of our<br />

truly world-class tournament.<br />

Following the new EPCR<br />

agreement which was concluded<br />

last April, we are now entering<br />

an exciting era for Heineken<br />

Champions Cup rugby and with<br />

stadiums across Europe opening<br />

up to fans once again, we will<br />

see a return to the traditional<br />

passion and colour which have<br />

characterised the competition<br />

since its inception in 1995.<br />

The 24-club format with two pools of 12<br />

has been retained, and following two<br />

rounds of matches this month, and two in<br />

January, the eight highest-ranked clubs<br />

in each pool will qualify for the knockout<br />

stage.<br />

An innovative Round of 16 with home<br />

and away legs, and then traditional<br />

quarter-finals and semi-finals, will<br />

guarantee a further series of compelling<br />

fixtures culminating in the 2022 final at<br />

the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille on<br />

Saturday, 28 May. In addition, three<br />

clubs from each pool will qualify for the<br />

Round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup.<br />

A special mention must go to Stade<br />

Toulousain who made history last season<br />

when they lifted the trophy in such fine<br />

style for a record fifth time, and to the<br />

supremely-talented Antoine Dupont who<br />

became the first French player to be<br />

awarded the Anthony Foley Memorial<br />

Trophy as EPCR European Player of the<br />

Year.<br />

We are delighted to be joined on the<br />

journey to the Marseille finals by our<br />

long-standing title partner, Heineken, and<br />

we also extend the hand of welcome to<br />

our newest official partner, DHL, who will<br />

provide customised logistics solutions for<br />

both the Heineken Champions Cup and<br />

the EPCR Challenge Cup. We would also<br />

like to thank Tissot, the Financial Times,<br />

Gilbert and Kappa for their continuing<br />

support.<br />

We recognise the superb coverage<br />

provided by our TV partners BT Sport,<br />

beIN SPORTS, France Télévisions,<br />

Channel 4 and Virgin Media whose<br />

output is complemented by the wide<br />

range of linear and OTT platforms which<br />

broadcast the Heineken Champions Cup<br />

globally.<br />

The elite clubs in this season’s tournament<br />

have a total of 38 European titles<br />

between them so we are certain of topquality<br />

entertainment from the kick-off to<br />

the final whistle.<br />

On behalf of everyone at EPCR, enjoy<br />

the match and best wishes to you, the<br />

fans, as well as to your club’s players<br />

and staff for what promises to be another<br />

memorable Heineken Champions Cup<br />

season.<br />

Yours in rugby,<br />

Dominic McKay<br />

EPCR Chairman (interim)


Every great match<br />

starts with 0.0


Welcome to Round 1 of the<br />

Heineken® Champions Cup<br />

2021/2022.<br />

The start of a new season of<br />

Heineken® Champions Cup rugby<br />

always brings great excitement<br />

and anticipation for what awaits<br />

between now and the end of<br />

May. All teams start out with<br />

hopes and dreams of making<br />

the final in Marseilles and what<br />

promises to be a fantastic festival<br />

of rugby. We at HEINEKEN Ireland<br />

are immensely proud to be title<br />

sponsor of Europe’s leading club<br />

rugby competition, a tournament<br />

that conjures up so many truly<br />

memorable sporting occasions,<br />

forever etched in the folklore of<br />

Irish sport and I have no doubt,<br />

more memories will be made in<br />

this new season.<br />

What makes this season even more<br />

special is that it truly marks the return of<br />

the big match day occasion that we have<br />

all missed so much over the past couple<br />

of seasons. It was testament to the<br />

great work of EPCR and the players and<br />

officials of all the participating teams,<br />

that the past two Heineken® Champions<br />

Cup seasons were completed, albeit in<br />

a truncated manner. However, what<br />

was abundantly clear is that matchday<br />

is nothing without fans in stadia. It really<br />

is fantastic that all fans will again get to<br />

enjoy rugby around Europe this season;<br />

be it live in stadia or in their local bar<br />

over a refreshing Heineken® with friends.<br />

The pandemic has impacted us all in<br />

so many ways, but sport has been a<br />

real beacon of hope, a source of great<br />

enjoyment and comfort to so many. Long<br />

may it continue to be.<br />

I wish all teams participating in this<br />

season’s competition good luck and<br />

success. It goes without saying that<br />

we in HEINEKEN Ireland will keep a<br />

particularly close eye on the results of<br />

Connacht, <strong>Leinster</strong>, Munster and Ulster.<br />

I wish them all well in Round 1 & 2 as<br />

they take on quality English and French<br />

opposition.<br />

Enjoy the games and as always please<br />

do socialise responsibly.<br />

Maarten Schuurman<br />

Managing Director, HEINEKEN Ireland.


PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2020/22<br />

john walsh welcome<br />

At this time of the rugby playing<br />

season the thoughts of rugby fans<br />

across Europe turn to the stars but<br />

not skywards.<br />

It’s the desire that your cherished club<br />

will have their jersey emblazoned by<br />

a golden star signifying that they have<br />

won a Heineken Champions Cup in the<br />

2021/22 season.<br />

The competition which commenced in<br />

1995/96 (won by Toulouse) has brought<br />

excitement and drama to European club<br />

rugby and attracted sports fans from<br />

all over the rugby world (128 affiliated<br />

countries to World Rugby) to follow<br />

the tournament and the fortunes of the<br />

international players and their clubs as<br />

the competition progresses.<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> are the proud winners of four<br />

titles, just one behind Toulouse who went<br />

ahead of them by winning last season’s<br />

final. To date just 12 of Europe’s leading<br />

clubs have won the European Cup. Three<br />

from Ireland with seven wins, three from<br />

France with nine wins and six clubs from<br />

England with 10 wins between them.<br />

After seven rounds of the United Rugby<br />

Championship, <strong>Leinster</strong> top the league<br />

table narrowly with 29 points closely<br />

pursued by Edinburgh on 28 points and<br />

followed by Ulster in third position on 25<br />

points.<br />

In the process of achieving this position<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> have won six of their seven<br />

fixtures in the league and have scored<br />

219 points (the highest number in the<br />

16-team league) and conceded 85 points<br />

(the lowest of all the sides who have<br />

played their seven league fixtures).<br />

So we head into our European campaign<br />

in solid form with the ambition and desire<br />

to add a fifth star to our club shirt that<br />

has currently four stars on it signifying<br />

our hard earned victories in 2008/09<br />

(beating Leicester), 2010/11 (beating<br />

Northampton), 2011/12 (beating Ulster)<br />

and in 2017/18 (beating Racing).<br />

We are however mindful that these stars<br />

are not easily captured having lost the<br />

2018/19 final to Saracens, losing out<br />

again to Saracens in the quarter-final in<br />

2019/20 and exiting at the semi-final last<br />

season to La Rochelle.<br />

The 24 elite European clubs taking part<br />

in this season’s tournament all have the<br />

ambition and desire to make the final in<br />

Stade de Velodrome in Marseille next<br />

May.<br />

This season <strong>Leinster</strong>’s Pool stage<br />

opposition consists of <strong>Bath</strong> (Heineken<br />

Cup winners in 1997/98, beating Brive<br />

and European Challenge Cup winners<br />

in 2007/08 beating Worcester) and<br />

Montpellier (winners of the European<br />

Challenge Cup in 2021 beating Leicester<br />

18-17 and in 2016 beating Harlequins,<br />

and also winners of the European Shield<br />

in 2004, beating Viadana).<br />

<strong>Bath</strong>’s season to date has been one of<br />

ill-fortune and their Gallagher Premiership<br />

campaign sees them rooted to the<br />

dreaded number 13 position at the<br />

bottom of the league with no wins to<br />

date.<br />

The pendulum of good fortune that all<br />

teams need for success has gone in the<br />

wrong direction for what undoubtedly<br />

has been one of England’s most<br />

successful clubs.<br />

However their European campaign last<br />

season was good and they reached the<br />

semi-final of the European Challenge<br />

Cup losing narrowly to the eventual<br />

winners Montpellier. They know that this<br />

competition offers them a great chance to<br />

focus on something else and rejuvenate<br />

their season.<br />

In the professional era, <strong>Leinster</strong> have<br />

played <strong>Bath</strong> on 11 occasions for nine<br />

victories and two defeats and while<br />

these stats may impress I can assure you<br />

that they were all very hard and closely<br />

fought wins.<br />

The Rec is one of the most historic playing<br />

fields in the history of the game and has<br />

been home to <strong>Bath</strong> since 1894. It can be<br />

a hot cauldron for visiting teams and the<br />

atmosphere of the fans creates a unique<br />

theatre for rugby. Just like the mighty<br />

River Avon that flows beside the grounds,<br />

visiting sides can become embroiled in<br />

turbulent times at The Rec.<br />

Next weekend it’s a trip to France for<br />

Leo Cullen’s men but that can wait for<br />

next week. For now all eyes are on Stuart<br />

Hooper’s <strong>Bath</strong> and the challenge they<br />

pose.<br />

Regrettably the dark clouds of the<br />

Covid-19 pandemic are still with us and<br />

some of the positive role that fans play<br />

for both sides in European fixtures may<br />

well be reduced due to travel regulations.<br />

However, on behalf of all involved in<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby I extend a warm welcome<br />

to all the fans who join us for our<br />

European fixtures at home and abroad<br />

and I wish a safe trip to any <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

supporters heading to France next<br />

weekend.<br />

Enjoy the games and stay safe.<br />

JOHN WALSH<br />

President <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby 2020/22<br />

8 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


10 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Leo Cullen<br />

head Coach Welcome<br />

A very warm welcome to you all, and in particular to<br />

Stuart Hooper and his <strong>Bath</strong> team for the much-anticipated<br />

start of this year’s Heineken Champions Cup. Both clubs<br />

have a rich history in the competition, and we have gone<br />

head-to-head on no less than 11 previous occasions. I’m<br />

sure today will be another keenly contested affair.<br />

It’s hard to believe this is our last<br />

home game of 2021. What a year<br />

it has been!<br />

It’s really great to be signing off with our<br />

largest attendance of the year and we<br />

are all so grateful to you for turning out<br />

and giving us your backing. We hope<br />

today is another positive step on the way<br />

to <strong>Leinster</strong> playing in front of a full Aviva<br />

Stadium.<br />

We also hope you get to spend some<br />

quality time with loved ones over the<br />

Christmas period as we look forward to<br />

brighter days ahead.<br />

For the team, the festivities will be short<br />

as we are on the road for three straight<br />

weeks: Montpellier away next week,<br />

followed by Munster on St Stephen’s Day<br />

and then Ulster on New Year’s Day. It all<br />

adds up to a big and exciting challenge<br />

for the group.<br />

Our sympathies are very much with all<br />

the players and staff who were caught<br />

up in South Africa over the last couple of<br />

weeks. It was really bad luck and could<br />

have happened to any of us, so we wish<br />

those who were unlucky enough to fall ill<br />

a speedy recovery.<br />

I am also thinking of Ifan Phillips, the<br />

Ospreys hooker, who was involved in<br />

a very serious road traffic accident last<br />

week. Ifan, his family, friends and all of<br />

his colleagues at the Ospreys are in our<br />

thoughts at a very difficult time for them<br />

all.<br />

To all the team’s sponsors, we would<br />

normally enjoy a Christmas get-together<br />

of some description, but with recent<br />

guidelines this has not been possible.<br />

As a group, we are very appreciative<br />

of all that you do for the team, and we<br />

hope those of you who have made it<br />

here today have an excellent day out. A<br />

special shout out to Best Menswear for<br />

kitting us out in our smart new suits! And<br />

also to Beauchamps who have recently<br />

renewed their sponsorship.<br />

We have some special guests<br />

with us today. I hope you all<br />

give Fergus McFadden a warm<br />

welcome back as I believe he<br />

will be introduced before the<br />

game to the crowd at Aviva<br />

Stadium. Ferg was a great<br />

competitor for <strong>Leinster</strong> over many years<br />

and unfortunately had to finish in an<br />

empty stadium so we are delighted that<br />

he can join us today along with his wife<br />

Rebecca and other members of his family.<br />

We also have the team of 2001 here to<br />

celebrate <strong>Leinster</strong>’s Celtic League win<br />

which (hard to believe I know) was 20<br />

years ago!<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> were very early in the journey<br />

of professional rugby at the time but it<br />

was an important first step in delivering<br />

silverware. The team also had to dig-in to<br />

pull out an against-the-odds performance<br />

after going down to 14 men early in the<br />

game.<br />

December gives us the opportunity to<br />

work with the Peter McVerry Trust as our<br />

latest charity partner and we would like<br />

to thank Life Style Sports and adidas for<br />

donating cold weather kit at a time when<br />

it is most needed.<br />

Finally, to our wonderful supporters,<br />

it was really special to have had you<br />

back at the RDS Arena for the two<br />

interprovincial derbies. Everyone<br />

involved was hugely disappointed with<br />

our performance against Ulster where<br />

we felt we let you down, but last week’s<br />

effort against Connacht was much more<br />

like it from us. We hope we can build on<br />

that over the coming weeks, and we’re<br />

counting on your support as always.<br />

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy<br />

Christmas and here’s to 2022!<br />

Enjoy the game,<br />

Leo.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 11


Joann<br />

Hosey<br />

PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR<br />

BANK OF IRELAND DUBLIN<br />

Welcome to the<br />

Aviva Stadium<br />

for <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby’s first<br />

Heineken<br />

Champions Cup<br />

tie of the season<br />

against <strong>Bath</strong>.<br />

This match comes hot on the heels<br />

of two recent Interpro matches<br />

against Ulster and Connacht,<br />

which provided some stern<br />

challenges for Leo Cullen and his<br />

squad. No doubt they are looking<br />

forward to facing the different<br />

kind of challenge <strong>Bath</strong> will pose<br />

today.<br />

Before going any further I must<br />

mention Munster Rugby as they battle<br />

to overcome their own recent Covid<br />

challenges. We hope that the players<br />

and staff who remained behind in South<br />

Africa all the best upon returning home –<br />

and that they enjoy a speedy recovery.<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby has a long history of<br />

playing <strong>Bath</strong> both in the pool and the<br />

knockout stages of European rugby.<br />

There is huge respect between both clubs<br />

and we are all looking forward to what<br />

I’m sure will be two keenly contested<br />

clashes, both this weekend in Dublin and<br />

again in January 2022 when <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

visit the Rec.<br />

Bank of Ireland was delighted to host<br />

a presentation night at the RDS for the<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Women’s team on Friday,<br />

3 December. Special congratulations<br />

should go to all the players presented<br />

with their <strong>Leinster</strong> debut caps - and<br />

indeed to all the players given their<br />

representative jerseys on the night. It<br />

was a special occasion to celebrate<br />

their journey to that point and we were<br />

delighted to host this event.<br />

Elsewhere in this match day programme,<br />

Mick Dawson, <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby CEO, is<br />

being celebrated for over 20 years at<br />

the helm.<br />

Bank of Ireland would like to extend<br />

its thanks and good wishes to Mick,<br />

someone we have enjoyed an excellent<br />

relationship with over many years. We<br />

congratulate him on reaching this major<br />

milestone and wish him many more years<br />

of success leading the organisation.<br />

A massive amount has been achieved<br />

under his watch over the past two<br />

decades, and I’m sure that he’ll only add<br />

further to his legacy in the years to come<br />

from his UCD base.<br />

Finally, it was wonderful to see the Bank<br />

of Ireland half-time minis return over the<br />

last two weekends, and we look forward<br />

to witnessing more mini action today at<br />

the Aviva Stadium.<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> rugby clubs are the foundation<br />

stones of the ‘From The Ground Up’<br />

model, and it is great to be able to<br />

support this wonderful initiative once<br />

again.<br />

JH<br />

Enjoy the game,<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 13


14 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


andrew<br />

porter<br />

the big interview<br />

BY RYAN CORRY<br />

It was hard not to feel<br />

sympathetic towards<br />

how Andrew Porter’s<br />

2020/21 campaign<br />

finished.<br />

From the highest of<br />

highs with his British<br />

and Irish Lions callup<br />

to a crushing low<br />

when he obtained a foot<br />

injury in the Guinness<br />

PRO14 Rainbow Cup<br />

clash with Glasgow<br />

that would rule him<br />

out of the summer<br />

tour to South Africa.<br />

It was professional<br />

sport at its cruellest.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 15


So, while the tour went ahead<br />

despite various difficulties and<br />

obstacles that it endured in<br />

getting played, Porter turned<br />

back to the drawing board<br />

and set to work under the<br />

watchful eye of <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby<br />

rehabilitation physiotherapist,<br />

Fearghal Kerin.<br />

“Ah yeah, it was a proud moment for<br />

me getting named in the squad, for my<br />

family, for my girlfriend and myself, it was<br />

incredible just being named in the squad.<br />

Then you had the disappointment, the<br />

bad timing of the injury with my foot. It<br />

was a summer of ups and downs.<br />

“I think I watched maybe the last half of<br />

the last game and that was it. I switched<br />

off from rugby a small bit so that I could<br />

focus on myself over the summer,” Porter<br />

says of the Lions tour.<br />

“I just wanted to get the best out<br />

of my training and my rehab. I<br />

distanced myself from rugby a<br />

bit over the time off and I think<br />

that kind of refreshed my mind<br />

and helped me to get over that<br />

disappointment.<br />

16 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


“The amount of work put in, in particular<br />

from the physios, I was working with<br />

Fearghal, he was great with me in terms<br />

of getting my body right over the summer<br />

and getting my training into me. It helped<br />

me prepare really well for the season.”<br />

And prepare well he has, Porter has<br />

started the new campaign in the same<br />

vein that led to his initial call to join<br />

Warren Gatland and Co but with the<br />

blue and green jerseys on his mind.<br />

The former St Andrew’s College man has<br />

played four games for <strong>Leinster</strong> with two<br />

tries under his belt, on top of his three<br />

starts for Ireland in the November series<br />

which also featured his name on the<br />

score sheet against Argentina.<br />

Could it be that the anti-climactic end<br />

to the previous season is driving on the<br />

prop now?<br />

In a word: Maybe.<br />

He confesses that the driving factor is<br />

and always has been the desire to do<br />

his best for his teammates, his family and<br />

the supporters every time he pulls on that<br />

jersey but maybe, just maybe, it’s in the<br />

back of his mind.<br />

There’s so much different<br />

opposition in terms of the<br />

European Cup and there’ll be big<br />

challenges ahead but it’s been<br />

very enjoyable for the most<br />

part of it.<br />

“Even if it wasn’t at the forefront of my<br />

mind, I’d say subconsciously I was like<br />

‘Ok, I didn’t get what I wanted out of the<br />

summer so I’m just going to make the best<br />

of what I have got’”, he admits.<br />

“I did a lot of training in my time over the<br />

summer, especially while I was injured to<br />

give myself the best possible chance for<br />

pre-season.”<br />

Part of ‘making the best of it’ has seen<br />

the once loosehead turned tighthead,<br />

return back across the scrum to where he<br />

initially made a name for himself coming<br />

from school into the Ireland U-20 side<br />

and then, finally, with <strong>Leinster</strong>.<br />

It was a move that many in Irish rugby<br />

circles had been angling for in the media,<br />

an end to the timeshare of the tighthead<br />

slot between himself and Tadhg Furlong,<br />

a way to get both of them into the same<br />

pack.<br />

That wish has been granted and so far,<br />

it’s returned on its promise with both club<br />

and country enjoying good runs of form.<br />

In reverse, we’ve seen Cian Healy this<br />

season turn in performances on the side<br />

of the scrum he has been less familiar<br />

with throughout his career, something<br />

Porter jokes took him years to come<br />

around to.<br />

“It’s been great. It’s where I’ve started out<br />

in terms of school and Irish U-20s, and<br />

where I started out with <strong>Leinster</strong> as well.<br />

It’s been a lot smoother than I thought it<br />

would be but there’s still a lot of learning<br />

there for me.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 17


“There’s so much different opposition in<br />

terms of the European Cup and there’ll be<br />

big challenges ahead but it’s been very<br />

enjoyable for the most part of it.<br />

“He (Healy) made the switch look a lot<br />

easier than I made it look. It took me a<br />

few years to get the hang of it, it took him<br />

maybe two games,” he laughs.<br />

“It just shows what an incredible player<br />

he is and continues to be for <strong>Leinster</strong> and<br />

for Ireland as well. It’s a testament to the<br />

amount of work he puts in off the pitch as<br />

well as on it.<br />

“He’s a bit of a freak athlete, one of those<br />

you come across. An incredible player and<br />

an incredible bloke.”<br />

The <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby scrum sessions are<br />

not a place for the faint-hearted. On top<br />

of the experience of Porter and Healy,<br />

you have Samoan international Michael<br />

Ala’alatoa now in the mix, as well as Vakh<br />

Abdaladze, Ed Byrne, Michael Milne, Peter<br />

Dooley, Thomas Clarkson, four international<br />

hookers, thanks to Dan Sheehan’s recent<br />

capping, and the newly-crowned best<br />

tighthead in the world, Furlong.<br />

The latter being named in this week’s World<br />

Rugby Men’s Dream Team of the Year in<br />

that number three slot, according to Porter,<br />

is not a surprise to anyone.<br />

“There’s no doubt about that. He’s worked<br />

hard to have that title really so it just shows<br />

how much he puts in and how he performs<br />

on a weekly basis.”<br />

But, he still fancies himself against anyone<br />

when it comes to the training pitch.<br />

“Ah, we’ll call it 50-50 most of the time.<br />

He’s got a lot of experience and he’s a very<br />

smart player in terms of the scrum so we’ll<br />

say 50-50 for the most part,” Porter says of<br />

the battles with Furlong.<br />

“He has me on some days and it’s one of<br />

the best ways to learn. Like I said, with the<br />

players we have, you’re learning from some<br />

of the best players in the world and it’s a<br />

privilege to be a part of.”<br />

That kind of experience will be needed<br />

today as <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby open their<br />

Heineken Champions Cup campaign<br />

against Gallagher Premiership side, <strong>Bath</strong>.<br />

This season hasn’t gone to plan for Stuart<br />

Hooper’s squad so far as they sit rooted to<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 19


the bottom of the table without a win in<br />

their nine games to date.<br />

However, the calibre of player at their<br />

disposal as well as the raucous and<br />

intimidating nature of their home ground,<br />

The Rec, means that there is no certainty<br />

that their league form will impede their<br />

European ambitions this year.<br />

“They might not have had the best start<br />

in the Premiership but we won’t be taking<br />

them for granted. They could be using the<br />

Champions Cup as a clean slate and be<br />

looking to put in a huge performance.<br />

“So, we’re expecting a big game this<br />

weekend and when we go away to them<br />

in January. We certainly won’t be taking<br />

them lightly, we’ll be bringing our best<br />

performance to the Aviva.”<br />

However, Porter and <strong>Leinster</strong> will have<br />

ambitions of their own in the Heineken<br />

Champions Cup this year following<br />

a disappointing semi-final loss to La<br />

Rochelle in France earlier in 2021.<br />

When your goal coming into a<br />

competition is to bring home silverware,<br />

each year that passes without doing that<br />

is viewed as a failure.<br />

The goal once more this year is to reach<br />

that decider in Marseille, but that journey<br />

starts today in Ballsbridge at Aviva<br />

Stadium.<br />

“There’s a lot of lads in <strong>Leinster</strong> that have<br />

had the chance of getting their hands<br />

on a European Cup winners medal<br />

and the trophy. It’s an incredible<br />

feeling, it’s so hard to describe<br />

the pride and the amazing<br />

feeling of being able<br />

to call yourselves the<br />

Champions of Europe.<br />

“That’s what we want,<br />

we want that feeling<br />

again, and we want that for everyone<br />

in <strong>Leinster</strong> supporting us too. That starts<br />

by going out there and giving our best<br />

performances to get that silverware.<br />

20 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


“It’s about making our fans excited,<br />

especially after not having them for so<br />

long. We want to give them special days,<br />

days to remember, and that comes by<br />

putting out performances that we can be<br />

proud of, playing for them. It’s about that,<br />

especially at home and we have another<br />

job to do this week in the Aviva.”<br />

Being in the Aviva also means that crowd<br />

will be larger than your typical home<br />

match week, and with Christmas just<br />

around the corner, the festive mood has<br />

already started to creep in around the<br />

country, and particularly among rugby<br />

fans who can look forward to the start of<br />

the European campaigns as well as the<br />

action-packed interprovincial calendar.<br />

With clashes against Ulster and<br />

Connacht at the RDS already played in<br />

the past two weeks, this represents the<br />

last opportunity for supporters to come<br />

out and support the lads at home in<br />

2021, something Porter remembers doing<br />

from his own childhood.<br />

That’s what<br />

we want, we<br />

want that<br />

feeling again,<br />

and we want<br />

that for<br />

everyone<br />

in <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

supporting<br />

us too. That<br />

starts<br />

by going<br />

out there<br />

and giving<br />

our best<br />

performances<br />

to get that<br />

silverware.<br />

“I remember when I was younger having<br />

so much fun at the Christmas games in<br />

particular. I think Santa dropped in at<br />

half-time at one of the games, I can’t<br />

remember which one, but I remember I<br />

loved it.<br />

“And even playing in our second home<br />

at the Aviva, it’s a class venue to be in to<br />

kick off the European campaign.<br />

“Being out there in front of your home<br />

fans and hearing the noise they create,<br />

it’s something that we’ve really missed<br />

over the last two years with everything<br />

that’s been going on. The difference in<br />

terms of the atmosphere, it’s like playing<br />

in front of a crowd for the first time again.<br />

It’s really special. It’s hard to describe but<br />

it’s bloody incredible.”<br />

As well as his playing career, there’s a<br />

lot going on off the field, studying for<br />

his final year of an Economics degree<br />

and working alongside the Irish Cancer<br />

Society as an ambassador.<br />

One of his recent collaborations with the<br />

charity saw him design a facemask which<br />

is a regular feature in the stands at the<br />

RDS Arena and Aviva Stadium where<br />

face coverings are still required at games.<br />

“I’m not involved in anything personally<br />

with them at the moment but the Irish<br />

Cancer Society always have great<br />

campaigns.<br />

“This year they have this great Christmas<br />

ornament so it’s a good campaign in the<br />

run-up to Christmas and it’s also a lovely<br />

gift for a great cause as well.”<br />

Two weeks of European rugby starts<br />

today at Aviva Stadium before a trip to<br />

Thomond Park on St Stephen’s Day.<br />

In between, there’ll be a quiet Christmas<br />

spent with some family and his girlfriend,<br />

Elaine, a time of year he always enjoys<br />

both at home and at work.<br />

“In normal circumstances, it’s great being<br />

able to see a lot of people, family and<br />

everything, then have the day off for<br />

Christmas Day,” he says.<br />

“It’s a nice time of the year. It’s also a<br />

good time to be playing rugby.”<br />

Once that’s out of the way, we’ll be into<br />

a new year and the hunt for silverware<br />

heats up once again.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 21


Action<br />

replay 47 19<br />

LEINSTER:<br />

Hugo Keenan; Jordan Larmour, Garry<br />

Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw (Tommy<br />

O’Brien 54), James Lowe; Harry Byrne<br />

(Ross Byrne 61), Luke McGrath (Nick<br />

McCarthy 61); Cian Healy (Andrew<br />

Porter 41), Dan Sheehan (Rónan<br />

Kelleher 49), Michael Ala’alatoa (Vakh<br />

Abdaladze 65); Ryan Baird, Devin Toner<br />

(Josh Murphy 58); Rhys Ruddock, Josh<br />

van der Flier, Caelan Doris<br />

(Max Deegan 56).<br />

SCORERS:<br />

Tries: Rhys Ruddock, Garry Ringrose, Dan<br />

Sheehan, Jordan Larmour, Caelan Doris,<br />

Ryan Baird, Max Deegan.<br />

Cons: Harry Byrne (5), Ross Byrne.<br />

SATURDAY, 3 DECEMBER<br />

RDS ARENA<br />

ATTENDANCE: 14,127<br />

UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP<br />

CONNACHT:<br />

Oran McNulty; Alex Wootton, Sammy<br />

Arnold (Tom Farrell 54), Peter Robb,<br />

Mack Hansen; Jack Carty (Conor<br />

Fitzgerald 70), Kieran Marmion (Caolin<br />

Blade 58); Matthew Burke (Jordan<br />

Duggan 58), Heffernan (Shane Delahunt<br />

49), Finlay Bealham (Jack Auniger<br />

45); Leva Fifita, Ultan Dillane (Cian<br />

Prendergast 49); Eoghan Masterson,<br />

Conor Oliver (Sean Masterson 68),<br />

Jarrad Butler.<br />

SCORERS:<br />

Tries: Mack Hansen, Sammy Arnold,<br />

Conor Oliver.<br />

Cons: Jack Carty (2).<br />

22 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


We looked a bit<br />

scrappy, lacking<br />

some cohesion<br />

at the start.<br />

Connacht a good<br />

attacking team.<br />

We got better<br />

control as the<br />

first half went<br />

on. The tries<br />

either side of<br />

half-time were<br />

important for<br />

us.<br />

Leo Cullen<br />

Connacht are<br />

a brilliant<br />

side but we<br />

weren’t happy<br />

with last<br />

week so this<br />

week was<br />

about getting<br />

the basics<br />

right and<br />

putting in a<br />

performance.<br />

Josh van der Flier<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 23


<strong>Leinster</strong> Senior<br />

Women’s Squad<br />

Honoured at Bank<br />

of Ireland Event<br />

Prior to kick-off in the <strong>Leinster</strong> v<br />

Connacht game on December 3 the<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Senior Women’s squad<br />

were presented with jerseys at an<br />

event in the RDS Library.<br />

MC for the evening, Sene Naoupu<br />

welcomed the players and their family<br />

members. Thirty-four players from eight<br />

clubs formed the squad captained by<br />

Christy Haney which defeated Connacht<br />

in The Sportsgrounds, Ulster in the RDS<br />

and lost to Munster in Energia Park in a<br />

thrilling series decider.<br />

Also on the night, five players from four<br />

clubs were presented with their first cap<br />

by <strong>Leinster</strong> Branch president John Walsh.<br />

Emily McKeown (Naas RFC) Mary Healy<br />

(Naas RFC), Emma Murphy (Railway<br />

Union RFC), Ella Roberts (Wicklow RFC),<br />

Alice O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC).<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Branch President, John Walsh,<br />

congratulated those receiving jerseys and<br />

their first caps.<br />

In speaking about girls and women’s<br />

rugby in the province, John said,<br />

“We currently have 70 Girls teams<br />

competing in 15 <strong>Leinster</strong> competitions<br />

and further supported by additional Area<br />

competitions.<br />

“There are significant benefits and<br />

opportunities for our clubs to develop this<br />

sector of the sport. We currently have 32<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Clubs fielding women’s teams<br />

that compete in nine <strong>Leinster</strong> women’s<br />

competitions.”<br />

John acknowledged the hard work<br />

and dedication of the coaching and<br />

management team.<br />

Phil De Barra (Head Coach)<br />

Tom McKeown (Forwards Coach)<br />

Stephen Maher (Backs Coach)<br />

Maz Reilly (Lineout Coach)<br />

Charl Malherb (Defence Coach)<br />

Ben Watson (Skills and Kicking Coach)<br />

Aaron O’Connor (Strength and<br />

Conditioning Coach)<br />

Martin Quinn (Video Analyst)<br />

Lorna Quinn (Manager)<br />

Shane Martens (Assistant Manager)<br />

Paula Murphy, Head of Strategic<br />

Sponsorship and Corporate and<br />

Social Responsibility at Bank of Ireland<br />

presented jerseys to the squad.<br />

Aine Donnelly<br />

Old Belvedere RFC<br />

Ali Coleman<br />

Blackrock RFC<br />

Alice O'Dowd *<br />

Old Belvedere RFC<br />

Chloe Blackmore<br />

Railway Union RFC<br />

Christy Haney<br />

Blackrock RFC<br />

Clodagh Dunne<br />

Old Belvedere RFC<br />

Caoimhe Molloy<br />

Blackrock RFC<br />

Elaine Anthony<br />

Old Belvedere RFC<br />

Elise O'Byrne-White<br />

Old Belvedere RFC<br />

Ella Roberts *<br />

Wicklow RFC<br />

Emily Mckeown *<br />

Naas RFC<br />

Emma Murphy *<br />

Railway Union RFC<br />

Grace Miller<br />

Old Belvedere RFC<br />

Jennie Finlay<br />

Old Belvedere RFC<br />

Jenny Murphy<br />

Old Belvedere RFC<br />

Lauren Farrell McCabe<br />

Suttonians RFC<br />

Lisa Callan<br />

Railway Union RFC<br />

Mairead Holohan<br />

Blackrock RFC<br />

Meabh O'Brien<br />

Suttonians RFC<br />

Michelle Claffey<br />

Blackrock RFC<br />

24 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Molly Scuffil McCabe<br />

Railway Union RFC<br />

Niamh Byrne<br />

Railway Union RFC<br />

Nikki Caughey<br />

Railway Union RFC<br />

Rachel Horan<br />

CYM RFC<br />

Vic O Mahony<br />

Old Belvedere RFC<br />

Mary Healy*<br />

Naas RFC<br />

Judy Bobbett<br />

Blackrock RFC<br />

Ailbhe Dowling<br />

Old Belvedere RFC<br />

Ciara Faulkner<br />

MU Barnhall RFC<br />

Grace Tutty<br />

CYM RFC<br />

Holly Leach<br />

MU Barnhall RFC<br />

Katelynn Doran<br />

MU Barnhall RFC<br />

*Denotes first cap<br />

Old Belvedere RFC’s Jenny Murphy was<br />

presented with the <strong>Leinster</strong> Women’s<br />

Committee Player of the Series award by<br />

Women’s Chairperson, Eugene Noble.<br />

Speaking about the event Eugene said,<br />

“The <strong>Leinster</strong> Cap and Jersey Presentation<br />

event held in the beautiful surroundings<br />

of the RDS Library on December 3 was a<br />

great celebration of all that is good with<br />

rugby in <strong>Leinster</strong> - celebrating the players<br />

and the journey that they have taken to<br />

play interprovincial rugby for <strong>Leinster</strong>.<br />

“It is also an important milestone on the<br />

journey that lies ahead of them. Each of<br />

the players bring honour to themselves,<br />

their families and their clubs but perhaps<br />

more importantly they are the role models<br />

for those young players that look to play<br />

as they play, they see them and they want<br />

to be them, so that some will fill those<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby jerseys in years to come.”<br />

Thanks to Bank of Ireland for their<br />

continued support of women’s rugby.<br />

A full gallery of photos from the event can<br />

be found now on leinsterrugby.ie<br />

CONNACHT 12 LEINSTER 17<br />

The Sportsgrounds<br />

Saturday, 28 August, 2021<br />

LEINSTER 57 ULSTER 12<br />

Energia Park<br />

Saturday, 4 September, 2021<br />

LEINSTER 7 MUNSTER 19<br />

Energia Park<br />

Saturday, 11 September, 2021<br />

If you are<br />

interested in<br />

taking up rugby<br />

or you would like<br />

to follow our<br />

updates, check out<br />

our social media<br />

channels:<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Women’s Rugby<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong>WomensRugby<br />

@<strong>Leinster</strong>Women<br />

womenspro@leinsterrugby.ie<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 25


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www.leinsterrugby.ie | 27


leo<br />

the lion’s<br />

kids<br />

corner<br />

IN A BLUR!<br />

Can you name this<br />

leinster player?<br />

spot the difference!<br />

Can you find all six?<br />

ANAGRAMS<br />

Can you un-jumble the names of these players?<br />

NEVER AD<br />

A KEY<br />

AD A HEN<br />

HENS<br />

how did you do?<br />

IN A BLUR?<br />

ANDREW PORTER<br />

ANAGRAMS<br />

DAVE KEARNEY<br />

DAN SHEEHAN<br />

ZOOMED IN!<br />

JAMES RYAN<br />

zoomed in!<br />

WHo is this leinster<br />

player having an<br />

extreme close-up?<br />

28 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


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AZTO<br />

with<br />

Jordan Larmour<br />

A – Action: If you could be a<br />

superhero, which would you be?<br />

Flash - because he’s fast!<br />

B – Boyhood: Who was your favourite<br />

sporting idol growing up?<br />

Brian O’Driscoll<br />

C – Childhood: What is your favourite<br />

childhood memory?<br />

Family holidays<br />

D – Dish: What’s your go-to pre-match<br />

meal?<br />

Overnight oats<br />

E – Education: What was your<br />

favourite subject in school?<br />

Business<br />

F – Film buff: What’s your favourite<br />

film?<br />

The Big Short<br />

G – Groove: Who is the best dancer in<br />

the squad?<br />

Ed Byrne<br />

H – Holiday: What’s your favourite<br />

holiday destination?<br />

Portugal<br />

I – Inside: Who is the worst to sit<br />

beside in the dressing room?<br />

Ciarán Frawley<br />

J – Joker: Who is the funniest in the<br />

squad?<br />

Dan Leavy<br />

K – Kick-off: What’s your favourite<br />

time of the day to play a match?<br />

Three o’clock<br />

L – Languages: How many languages<br />

can you speak?<br />

One<br />

M – Music: Your favourite artist and<br />

song right now?<br />

Dermot Kennedy - Better Days<br />

N – Number: Do you have a lucky<br />

number?<br />

No lucky number!<br />

30 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


O – Others: What’s your favourite<br />

sport outside of rugby?<br />

Golf<br />

P – Pal: Who is your best mate in<br />

the squad?<br />

Everyone<br />

Q – Quirky: Who has the most<br />

interesting fashion sense?<br />

Jack Dunne<br />

R – Red Carpet: Who is the most<br />

famous contact in your phone?<br />

Johnny Sexton<br />

S – Superstitions: Do you have any<br />

matchday routines?<br />

Nope<br />

T – Trim: What’s the worst haircut<br />

you’ve ever had?<br />

Dying my hair blonde and it<br />

turning orange!<br />

U: Under pressure: Who in the<br />

squad would be the best in a bad<br />

situation?<br />

Garry Ringrose<br />

V – Verified: How often do you use<br />

social media?<br />

Every day<br />

W – Worst fear: What are<br />

you most scared of?<br />

Rats<br />

X – X-ray: Have you ever<br />

broken any bones?<br />

No - touch wood!<br />

Y – Youth: Where did you<br />

grow up?<br />

Dublin<br />

Z – Zoo: What’s your<br />

favourite animal?<br />

Dogs<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 31


Did you<br />

know?<br />

• <strong>Leinster</strong> and <strong>Bath</strong> have<br />

met 11 times previously<br />

in the Heineken Champions<br />

Cup, the Irish province<br />

winning nine of those<br />

encounters (L2).<br />

• At home <strong>Leinster</strong> have<br />

won five of their six<br />

Heineken Champions Cup<br />

games against <strong>Bath</strong>, the<br />

Premiership side’s sole<br />

victory coming in<br />

October 2005, a narrow<br />

22-19 win at the RDS.<br />

• <strong>Bath</strong>’s next defeat in the<br />

Heineken Champions Cup<br />

will be their 50th, the<br />

4th Premiership club to<br />

notch up as many defeats<br />

in the competition<br />

(Leicester, Northampton,<br />

Harlequins).<br />

COMPARISON<br />

head-to-head record:<br />

Played 11, <strong>Leinster</strong> won 9, bath won 2, no draws.<br />

LEINSTER RUGBY LAST 3 MEETINGS BATH RUGBY<br />

42 15/12/2018 LEINSTER RUGBY VS BATH RUGBY 15<br />

17 08/12/2018 BATH RUGBY VS LEINSTER RUGBY 10<br />

25 16/01/2016 LEINSTER RUGBY VS BATH RUGBY 11<br />

PLAYED<br />

179<br />

(93 home, 86 away)<br />

PLAYED<br />

105<br />

(52 home, 53 away)<br />

• Josh van der Flier was<br />

the top tackler in the<br />

Heineken Champions Cup<br />

last season, making 65<br />

tackles across his four<br />

appearances, with only<br />

three players winning<br />

more turnovers than the<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong>man (4).<br />

• Johnny Sexton (<strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby) needs one more<br />

point to become the<br />

fourth player to score<br />

700 points in the<br />

history of the Heineken<br />

Champions Cup (Ronan<br />

O’Gara, Stephen Jones,<br />

Owen Farrell).<br />

WINS<br />

122<br />

(75 home, 47 away)<br />

LOSSES<br />

52<br />

(17 home, 35 away)<br />

DRAWS<br />

5<br />

(1 home, 4 away)<br />

AVERAGE POINTS<br />

26<br />

BIGGEST WIN<br />

92 - 17<br />

HEAVIEST DEFEAT<br />

10 - 51<br />

WINS<br />

54<br />

(32 home, 22 away)<br />

LOSSES<br />

49<br />

(19 home, 30 away)<br />

DRAWS<br />

2<br />

(1 home, 1 away)<br />

AVERAGE POINTS<br />

22<br />

BIGGEST WIN<br />

56 - 15<br />

HEAVIEST DEFEAT<br />

0 - 28<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 35


leinster<br />

squad<br />

2021/22 season<br />

Vakh Abdaladze #1263<br />

PROP<br />

DOB: 06/02/1996<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m<br />

WEIGHT: 121kg<br />

Michael Ala’alatoa #1301<br />

prop<br />

DOB: 28/08/1991<br />

HEIGHT: 1.91m<br />

WEIGHT: 127kg<br />

7<br />

CAPS<br />

Ryan Baird #1278<br />

LOCK<br />

DOB: 26/07/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.98m<br />

WEIGHT: 103.18kg<br />

6<br />

CAPS<br />

Adam Byrne #1213<br />

WING / FULL BACK<br />

DOB: 10/04/1994<br />

HEIGHT: 1.91m<br />

WEIGHT: 98.18kg<br />

1<br />

CAP<br />

Ed Byrne #1222<br />

6<br />

CAPS<br />

Harry Byrne #1280<br />

2<br />

CAPS<br />

Ross Byrne #1236<br />

13<br />

CAPS<br />

Thomas Clarkson<br />

PROP<br />

DOB: 09/09/1993<br />

HEIGHT: 1.8m<br />

WEIGHT: 114.09kg<br />

FLY HALF<br />

DOB: 22/04/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.9m<br />

WEIGHT: 95kg<br />

FLY HALF<br />

DOB: 08/04/1995<br />

HEIGHT: 1.9m<br />

WEIGHT: 92kg<br />

PROP<br />

DOB: 22/02/2000<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m<br />

WEIGHT: 118kg<br />

36 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Jack Conan #1223<br />

22<br />

CAPS<br />

7<br />

CAPS<br />

Will Connors #1264<br />

9<br />

CAPS<br />

Sean Cronin #1202<br />

72<br />

CAPS<br />

Max Deegan #1256<br />

1<br />

CAP<br />

NO. 8<br />

DOB: 29/07/1992<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m<br />

WEIGHT: 114.09kg<br />

BACK ROW<br />

DOB: 04/04/1996<br />

HEIGHT: 1.96m<br />

WEIGHT: 100kg<br />

HOOKER<br />

DOB: 06/05/1986<br />

HEIGHT: 1.78m<br />

WEIGHT: 103.18kg<br />

NO. 8<br />

DOB: 01/10/1996<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m<br />

WEIGHT: 110kg<br />

Peter Dooley #1230<br />

Caelan Doris #1268<br />

12<br />

CAPS<br />

Jack Dunne #1276<br />

Ciaran Frawley #1265<br />

PROP<br />

DOB: 04/08/1994<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 117kg<br />

BACK ROW<br />

DOB: 02/04/1998<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m<br />

WEIGHT: 107kg<br />

LOCK<br />

DOB: 21/11/1998<br />

HEIGHT: 2.03m<br />

WEIGHT: 120kg<br />

FLY HALF<br />

DOB: 04/12/1997<br />

HEIGHT: 1.91m<br />

WEIGHT: 98kg<br />

Tadhg Furlong #1220<br />

PROP<br />

DOB: 14/11/1992<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 125kg<br />

52<br />

CAPS<br />

13<br />

CAPS<br />

Jamison Gibson-Park #1247<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

DOB: 23/02/1992<br />

HEIGHT: 1.75m<br />

WEIGHT: 80kg<br />

12<br />

CAPS<br />

David Hawkshaw #1290<br />

FLY HALF / Centre<br />

DOB: 03/07/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.75m )<br />

WEIGHT: 85.91kg<br />

Cian Healy #1142<br />

PROP<br />

DOB: 07/10/1987<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m<br />

WEIGHT: 116.82kg<br />

112<br />

CAPS<br />

2<br />

CAPS<br />

Robbie Henshaw #1251<br />

53<br />

CAPS<br />

9<br />

CAPS<br />

Dave Kearney #1158<br />

19<br />

CAPS<br />

Hugo Keenan #1253<br />

16<br />

CAPS<br />

Ronan Kelleher #1277<br />

16<br />

CAPS<br />

CENTRE<br />

DOB: 12/06/1993<br />

HEIGHT: 1.9m<br />

WEIGHT: 99.09kg<br />

WING / FULL BACK<br />

DOB: 19/06/1989<br />

HEIGHT: 1.8m<br />

WEIGHT: 90kg<br />

FULL BACK<br />

DOB: 18/06/1996<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m<br />

WEIGHT: 91.82kg<br />

HOOKER<br />

DOB: 24/01/1998<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 105kg<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 37


Jordan Larmour #1258<br />

30<br />

CAPS<br />

Dan Leavy #1231<br />

11<br />

CAPS<br />

WING<br />

DOB: 10/06/1997<br />

HEIGHT: 1.78m<br />

WEIGHT: 90kg<br />

FLANKER<br />

DOB: 23/05/1994<br />

HEIGHT: 1.91m<br />

WEIGHT: 105.91kg<br />

for full squad profiles<br />

please click here<br />

James Lowe #1262<br />

9<br />

CAPS<br />

Nick McCarthy #1241<br />

Luke McGrath #1206<br />

19<br />

CAPS<br />

Michael Milne #1279<br />

WING / FULL BACK<br />

DOB: 08/07/1992<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m<br />

WEIGHT: 105kg<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

DOB: 25/03/1995<br />

HEIGHT: 1.8m<br />

WEIGHT: 84.09kg<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

DOB: 03/02/1993<br />

HEIGHT: 1.75m<br />

WEIGHT: 84.09kg<br />

PROP<br />

DOB: 05/02/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 115kg<br />

Jimmy O’Brien #1272<br />

Conor O’Brien #1260<br />

Josh Murphy #1261<br />

Ross Molony #1233<br />

LOCK<br />

DOB: 11/05/1994<br />

HEIGHT: 1.96m<br />

WEIGHT: 113kg<br />

FLANKER<br />

DOB: 17/02/1995<br />

HEIGHT: 1.98m<br />

WEIGHT: 110kg<br />

CENTRE<br />

DOB: 06/02/1996<br />

HEIGHT: 1.91m<br />

WEIGHT: 100kg<br />

CENTRE<br />

DOB: 27/11/1996<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 88kg<br />

Tommy O’Brien #1283<br />

Rory O’Loughlin #1248<br />

1<br />

CAP<br />

Scott Penny #1271<br />

Andrew Porter #1246<br />

40<br />

CAPS<br />

CENTRE<br />

DOB: 28/05/1998<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 95kg<br />

CENTRE<br />

DOB: 21/01/1994<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m<br />

WEIGHT: 94.09kg<br />

FLANKER<br />

DOB: 22/09/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 104kg<br />

PROP<br />

DOB: 16/01/1996<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 114.09kg<br />

38 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Garry Ringrose #1237<br />

37<br />

CAPS<br />

Rhys Ruddock #1167<br />

27<br />

CAPS<br />

James Ryan #1259<br />

40<br />

CAPS<br />

Johnny Sexton #1127<br />

101<br />

CAPS<br />

14<br />

CAPS<br />

CENTRE<br />

DOB: 26/01/1995<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m<br />

WEIGHT: 96kg<br />

BACK ROW<br />

DOB: 13/11/1990<br />

HEIGHT: 1.91m<br />

WEIGHT: 113.18kg<br />

LOCK<br />

DOB: 24/07/1996<br />

HEIGHT: 2.03m<br />

WEIGHT: 115kg<br />

FLY HALF<br />

DOB: 11/07/1985<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m<br />

WEIGHT: 90kg<br />

Dan Sheehan #1286<br />

HOOKER<br />

DOB: 17/09/1998<br />

HEIGHT: 1.91m<br />

WEIGHT: 110.91kg<br />

2<br />

CAPS<br />

Devin Toner #1128<br />

LOCK<br />

DOB: 29/06/1986<br />

HEIGHT: 2.11m<br />

WEIGHT: 127kg<br />

70<br />

CAPS<br />

James Tracy #1211<br />

HOOKER<br />

DOB: 02/04/1991<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 106kg<br />

6<br />

CAPS<br />

Josh van der Flier #1228<br />

FLANKER<br />

DOB: 25/04/1993<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m<br />

WEIGHT: 103kg<br />

35<br />

CAPS<br />

Coaching<br />

Staff<br />

2021/22 season<br />

LEO CULLEN<br />

HEAD COACH<br />

STUART LANCASTER<br />

SENIOR COACH<br />

ROBIN MCBRYDE<br />

ASSISTANT COACH<br />

FELIPE CONTEPOMI<br />

BACKS COACH<br />

EMMET FARRELL<br />

KICKING COACH AND<br />

LEAD PERFORMANCE ANALYST<br />

GUY EASTERBY<br />

HEAD OF RUGBY OPERATIONS<br />

DENIS LEAMY<br />

CONTACT SKILLS COACH<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 39


looking after you always<br />

The Official Health<br />

and Wellbeing<br />

Partner to<br />

Leinser Rugby<br />

Always a beat ahead<br />

layahealthcare.ie


Your best support every season<br />

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Delivering bespoke IT services from concept, delivery and support<br />

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Girls rugby numbers thriving at<br />

St Mary’s<br />

College RFC<br />

St Mary’s<br />

College, over<br />

the past<br />

number of<br />

years, have<br />

focused on the<br />

redevelopment<br />

and growth<br />

of the female<br />

rugby-playing<br />

community in<br />

the club. This<br />

is a key focus<br />

for the club<br />

as they aim to<br />

ensure female<br />

involvement<br />

at all levels<br />

throughout<br />

the club.<br />

In the past eight months St Mary’s<br />

started a recruitment process<br />

for the Give it a Try Programme,<br />

noticing a huge uptake for girls<br />

rugby in the area.<br />

Over the summer months of the<br />

programme, they were able to teach<br />

the fundamental skills of rugby, all while<br />

watching numbers grow session by<br />

session.<br />

Within a few months, the club have been<br />

able to field teams at U-8, U-10 and<br />

U-12.<br />

The girls marked their first match of the<br />

season at home to Seapoint RFC in<br />

October.<br />

This was the first match ever for almost<br />

all of the girls and all in attendance<br />

were very impressed by the skills and<br />

capabilities shown by both teams.<br />

In early November, they travelled to<br />

Greystones RFC for another great game<br />

where the girls continued to develop and<br />

grow a deep love for the sport.<br />

The club have found a key part of the<br />

recruitment process is to consistently add<br />

elements of ‘fun’ to the training while still<br />

gaining key skills.<br />

As well as fun on the training pitch, it’s<br />

important that they are having fun off<br />

the pitch too. So far this year, they have<br />

already had a team day out to Energia<br />

Park to watch the women’s interprovincial<br />

matches, as well as supporting the Irish<br />

women in the RDS in their fantastic<br />

Autumn Series performances.<br />

The support and encouragement that<br />

the girls have received so far has been<br />

incredible and has only motivated the<br />

team and coaches even further.<br />

St Mary’s have been incredibly lucky<br />

with amazing volunteers coming from explayers<br />

at senior and youths levels as well<br />

as locals and parents – all turning out on<br />

a weekly basis to help guide this growing<br />

bunch of players.<br />

The goal as a club is to continue to build<br />

each team from here - welcoming female<br />

players from seven years of age right<br />

through to 18 and over as they hope to<br />

build a senior women’s team in 2022.<br />

As it stands, in 2021 alone, they have<br />

increased the female playing population<br />

by over 200 per cent and have no<br />

plans to stop there as they welcome new<br />

players on a weekly basis.<br />

They see the growth being reflective<br />

of the positive campaign around the<br />

participation of girls and women in sport<br />

generally as well as the trojan work<br />

being done on the ground by the players,<br />

parents, coaches and media volunteers.<br />

More information about training is<br />

available by emailing girlsrugby@<br />

smcrfc.com or contacting the club<br />

through any of the social media pages.<br />

42 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


THE GREATEST WEEKEND IN RUGBY<br />

27-28 MAY, STADE VÉLODROME


Mother and daughter duo make<br />

history for Tallaght Women<br />

Tallaght Rugby Club was set up<br />

in 2002 as part of the ‘Tallaght<br />

Project’, an IRFU initiative<br />

designed to introduce rugby in<br />

non-traditional areas. The teams<br />

at the time were a mixture of boy<br />

and girl youth teams and a male<br />

senior team.<br />

Not to be left out of the action, Tallaght<br />

women’s rugby team started out as a<br />

development social team in 2011. A team<br />

of women culminating of friends, family,<br />

even wives and girlfriends of senior men<br />

players, the level of competitiveness and<br />

passion saw the team grow from a social<br />

league to Division 5 of the <strong>Leinster</strong> Metro<br />

League.<br />

Long time player and Women’s<br />

Development Officer/Captain Martina<br />

Fitzpatrick has been part of the women’s<br />

setup for the last 10 years. Player, coach,<br />

mammy and head of women’s recruitment<br />

for the team, it was no surprise to see her<br />

love and passion for the game rub off on<br />

her eldest daughter Abbie Keeley.<br />

A keen out-half, Abbie grew from<br />

the Tallaght RFC youth division and<br />

flourished to play U-18 with the Bistos<br />

(a team combined with Tallaght RFC,<br />

Old Belvedere and St Mary’s College<br />

RFC). Martina and Abbie both adore the<br />

sport for it is a fantastic way to keep fit,<br />

make friends, gain new skills and for its<br />

inclusivity.<br />

Something which is very important to<br />

Abbie: “I have been playing rugby for<br />

the last 10 years so it is a big part of<br />

my life. I’ve always felt at home with my<br />

rugby team, always felt welcome on the<br />

pitch. Everyone has always been so kind<br />

so welcoming and supportive of me, it’s<br />

just really uplifting. Rugby really helped<br />

me with my confidence, with my diversity,<br />

and my identity as well, there really is no<br />

sport like it for me”<br />

On October 10, 2021, in the first league<br />

game of the season, club history was<br />

made. For the first time ever, Tallaght<br />

RFC proudly welcomed their first parent<br />

and child pairing on field in mother and<br />

daughter duo, Martina and Abbie.<br />

In an incredibly emotional and inspiring<br />

performance Tallaght RFC Women<br />

secured their first win of the season at<br />

home and the icing on the cake? Abbie<br />

playing full-back, scored her first try as a<br />

senior women’s player for the club on the<br />

pitch with her mam watching on.<br />

Skipper Martina is a firm believer that<br />

rugby is for everyone and welcomes<br />

anyone thinking of taking up the sport to<br />

go for it as soon as they feel the interest.<br />

“As a woman and mother of two girls,<br />

taking part in sport has always been<br />

important to me. I firmly believe that no<br />

matter what body type or experience that<br />

you have, there is a place for you on the<br />

pitch. I had watched rugby for years but<br />

never thought of taking it up but a chance<br />

meeting led to me starting rugby in my<br />

mid-30s and I have loved every minute<br />

of it since. My only regret is not starting<br />

sooner. I’m so glad that I did and to say<br />

that I’ve played rugby with my daughter<br />

by my side is just incredible”<br />

Tallaght RFC Women are so grateful to<br />

their wonderful sponsors in PeachyLean<br />

and Inivo Medical. Their support on and<br />

off the field is massively important to the<br />

ladies as looking and feeling part of a<br />

team means everything to them.<br />

Tallaght Senior Women always welcome<br />

players to their team. If you are new and<br />

eager to take up the sport, or simply<br />

looking to pull your boots back on, look<br />

no further come and join the team today<br />

by contacting Martina on 086 842<br />

5657. Check them out on social media<br />

and follow their journey.<br />

F<br />

I<br />

T<br />

Facebook:<br />

Tallaght RFC<br />

Instagram:<br />

Tallaght_Rugby<br />

Twitter:<br />

@TallaghtRFC<br />

44 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Cheslin Kolbe last season, Juan Imhoff in 2019/20<br />

and Maxime Médard in 2018/19. Consider the<br />

star quality of the last three overall winners of<br />

the Champions Try of the Round and you know<br />

that the competition to find the best try of this<br />

Heineken Champions Cup season will feature<br />

some of the biggest names in the world game.<br />

Kolbe’s was awarded the accolade in 2020/21<br />

for a breathtaking score against Ulster Rugby in<br />

Round 1. Taking a pass from Thomas Ramos, the<br />

former Stade Toulousain wing beat two Ulster<br />

defenders, kicked over another and collected<br />

after two bounces to slide over the whitewash in<br />

remarkable fashion.<br />

Fans were given the opportunity to vote for<br />

the best tries selected from Rounds 1 and 2,<br />

the Round of 16, the quarter-finals, as well as<br />

Juan Cruz Mallia’s score during the final at<br />

Twickenham, before Kolbe emerged as the<br />

overall winner.<br />

Last season, the Champions Try of the Round<br />

competition was largely dominated by players<br />

from TOP 14 clubs. What will happen this<br />

season? Which outstanding players will make<br />

the difference? Which tries will get the fans’ vote<br />

along with the verdict of a panel of renowned<br />

rugby experts.<br />

Each Monday following match weekends, a<br />

shortlist of five tries will be selected by EPCR<br />

and opened to public vote with fans having the<br />

chance to win some great prizes.<br />

This will be the perfect opportunity to watch the<br />

best Heineken Champions Cup tries over and<br />

over again and to vote for The One to Win.<br />

CHAMPIONS TRY OF THE ROUND<br />

WINNERS 2020/21<br />

Round 1/Champions Try of the Season:<br />

Cheslin Kolbe<br />

Stade Toulousain v Ulster Rugby<br />

Round 2: Alivereti Raka<br />

ASM Clermont Auvergne v Munster Rugby<br />

Round of 16: Antoine Dupont<br />

Stade Toulousain v Munster Rugby<br />

Quarter-Final: Grégory Alldritt<br />

Stade Rochelais v Sale Sharks<br />

EPCRUGBY.COM/TOTR


compiled by stuart farmer<br />

media services limited<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Player<br />

Statistics<br />

SQUAD<br />

CAP<br />

NO<br />

DEBUT<br />

2021/22 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER<br />

ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR<br />

App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts<br />

SINCE LAST TRY<br />

CAPS<br />

VAKH ABDALADZE 1263 2 DEC 17 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 0+14 1 5 0+14 1 5 - - - 13 -<br />

MICHAEL ALA'ALATOA 1301 25 SEP 21 4+2 - - 4+2 - - - - - 4+2 - - 4+2 - - - - - - WS 7<br />

RYAN BAIRD 1278 27 APR 19 3+3 1 5 3+3 1 5 - - - 15+18 7 35 14+14 7 35 1+4 - - 1 IR 6<br />

ADAM BYRNE 1213 29 DEC 12 3 3 15 3 3 15 - - - 52+8 23 115 42+8 17 85 10 6 30 2 IR 1<br />

ED BYRNE 1222 9 FEB 14 2+3 1 5 2+3 1 5 - - - 21+54 11 55 21+43 10 50 0+11 1 5 3 IR 6<br />

HARRY BYRNE 1280 28 SEP 19 2+1 - 10 2+1 - 10 - - - 16+11 6 164 16+10 6 159 0+1 - 5 6 IR 2<br />

ROSS BYRNE 1236 4 SEP 15 3+3 1 33 3+3 1 33 - - - 73+37 7 683 61+21 3 504 12+16 4 179 6 IR 13<br />

THOMAS CLARK-<br />

1285 29 AUG 20 - - - - - - - - - 2+8 - - 2+8 - - - - - - -<br />

SON<br />

JACK CONAN 1223 20 FEB 14 2 - - 2 - - - - - 82+25 23 115 61+15 16 80 21+10 7 35 3 IR 22<br />

WILL CONNORS 1264 9 FEB 18 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 17+7 2 10 16+7 2 10 1 - - 11 IR 9<br />

TIM CORKERY 1298 12 MAR 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - -<br />

SEAN CRONIN 1202 28 OCT 11 1+1 1 5 1+1 1 5 - - - 121+76 43 215 77+55 26 130 43+19 16 80 2 IR 72<br />

MAX DEEGAN 1256 3 DEC 16 1+4 2 10 1+4 2 10 - - - 36+34 20 100 33+26 18 90 3+8 2 10 1 IR 1<br />

PETER DOOLEY 1230 31 OCT 14 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 40+55 5 25 38+49 5 25 2+6 - - 10 -<br />

CAELAN DORIS 1268 28 APR 18 4 2 10 4 2 10 - - - 36+8 7 35 30+6 5 25 6+2 2 10 1 IR 12<br />

JACK DUNNE 1276 16 FEB 19 - - - - - - - - - 2+13 - - 2+13 - - - - - - -<br />

CORMAC FOLEY 1299 24 APR 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - -<br />

CIARAN FRAWLEY 1265 17 FEB 18 5+1 - 2 5+1 - 2 - - - 22+19 4 145 21+15 3 134 1+4 1 11 11 -<br />

TADHG FURLONG 1220 1 NOV 13 3 - - 3 - - - - - 76+41 8 40 45+33 3 15 31+8 5 25 6 IR 52<br />

JAMISON GIBSON-PARK 1247 2 SEP 16 2+2 - - 2+2 - - - - - 51+54 17 85 46+30 14 70 5+24 3 15 9 IR 12<br />

MARCUS HANAN 1295 19 FEB 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - - -<br />

DAVID HAWKSHAW 1290 2 NOV 20 - - - - - - - - - 0+8 1 14 0+8 1 14 - - - 4 -<br />

CIAN HEALY 1142 5 MAY 07 2+4 1 5 2+4 1 5 - - - 158+79 28 140 92+52 14 70 64+26 13 65 3 IR 112<br />

ROBBIE HENSHAW 1251 8 OCT 16 2 1 5 2 1 5 - - - 58+1 12 60 27 6 30 31+1 6 30 2 IR 53<br />

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

HUGO KEENAN 1253 5 NOV 16 5 1 5 5 1 5 - - - 32+3 5 25 27+3 5 25 5 - - 2 IR 16<br />

RONAN KELLEHER 1277 22 FEB 19 2+2 3 15 2+2 3 15 - - - 22+7 12 60 16+5 11 55 6+2 1 5 2 IR 16<br />

JORDAN LARMOUR 1258 2 SEP 17 4 2 10 4 2 10 - - - 56+10 21 105 35+7 16 80 21+3 5 25 1 IR 30<br />

DAN LEAVY 1231 31 OCT 14 3+1 - - 3+1 - - - - - 46+30 17 85 38+20 13 65 8+10 4 20 5 IR 11<br />

46 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


SQUAD<br />

CAP<br />

NO<br />

DEBUT<br />

2021/22 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER<br />

ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR<br />

App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts<br />

SINCE LAST TRY<br />

CAPS<br />

JAMES LOWE 1262 2 DEC 17 4 - - 4 - - - - - 56 34 170 38 25 125 18 9 45 7 IR 9<br />

NICK MCCARTHY 1241 19 DEC 15 0+4 - - 0+4 - - - - - 6+34 4 20 6+28 4 20 0+6 - - 9 -<br />

LUKE MCGRATH 1206 5 MAY 12 5+1 - - 5+1 - - - - - 107+50 39 195 74+44 31 155 33+6 8 40 8 IR 19<br />

MICHAEL MILNE 1279 28 SEP 19 - - - - - - - - - 1+15 2 10 1+15 2 10 - - - 14 -<br />

MARTIN MOLONEY 1300 24 APR 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - -<br />

ROSS MOLONY 1233 20 FEB 15 5+1 - - 5+1 - - - - - 69+53 4 20 67+38 4 20 2+15 - - 8 -<br />

JOSH MURPHY 1261 3 NOV 17 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 42+8 5 25 41+7 4 20 1+1 1 5 10 -<br />

JAMIE OSBORNE 1294 30 JAN 21 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - 3+6 1 5 3+6 1 5 - - - 4 -<br />

CONOR O'BRIEN 1260 3 NOV 17 1 - - 1 - - - - - 17+7 6 30 17+6 6 30 0+1 - - 10 -<br />

JIMMY O'BRIEN 1272 23 NOV 18 2 - - 2 - - - - - 28+9 7 37 26+9 6 32 2 1 5 3 -<br />

SEAN O'BRIEN 1297 12 MAR 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - -<br />

TOMMY O'BRIEN 1283 20 DEC 19 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - 4+8 3 15 4+8 3 15 - - - 8 -<br />

RORY O'LOUGHLIN 1248 2 SEP 16 2 - - 2 - - - - - 66+23 21 105 59+15 18 90 7+8 3 15 32 IR 1<br />

MAX O'REILLY 1291 2 JAN 21 - - - - - - - - - 6+1 1 5 6+1 1 5 - - - 6 -<br />

SCOTT PENNY 1271 23 NOV 18 2 1 5 2 1 5 - - - 25+6 17 85 25+6 17 85 - - - 2 -<br />

ANDREW PORTER 1246 2 SEP 16 3+1 2 10 3+1 2 10 - - - 31+50 13 65 26+31 10 50 5+19 3 15 2 IR 40<br />

GARRY RINGROSE 1237 12 SEP 15 5 1 5 5 1 5 - - - 89+2 28 148 57+1 17 93 32+1 11 55 1 IR 37<br />

RHYS RUDDOCK 1167 6 DEC 09 5+2 1 5 5+2 1 5 - - - 148+47 12 60 111+33 10 50 36+12 2 10 1 IR 27<br />

ROB RUSSELL 1302 3 OCT 21 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - - -<br />

JAMES RYAN 1259 2 SEP 17 3 - - 3 - - - - - 47+6 3 15 25+1 1 5 22+5 2 10 13 IR 40<br />

JOHNNY SEXTON 1127 27 JAN 06 2+1 - 22 2+1 - 22 - - - 150+26 26 1529 89+20 13 855 59+6 12 643 16 IR 101<br />

DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 3+2 4 20 3+2 4 20 - - - 6+12 10 50 6+12 10 50 - - - 1 IR 2<br />

ANDREW SMITH 1292 2 JAN 21 - - - - - - - - - 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - - -<br />

ALEX SOROKA 1296 28 FEB 21 - - - - - - - - - 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - - -<br />

DEVIN TONER 1128 27 JAN 06 3+1 - - 3+1 - - - - - 209+61 4 20 143+43 4 20 63+18 - - 53 IR 70<br />

JAMES TRACY 1211 4 NOV 12 1+2 1 5 1+2 1 5 - - - 58+74 15 75 51+46 14 70 7+28 1 5 3 IR 6<br />

LIAM TURNER 1287 23 OCT 20 - - - - - - - - - 4+2 - - 4+2 - - - - - - -<br />

JOSH VAN DER FLIER 1228 11 OCT 14 4+1 1 5 4+1 1 5 - - - 79+24 12 60 49+18 8 40 30+6 4 20 5 IR 35<br />

2021/22 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER<br />

ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR OVERALL<br />

KICKING<br />

SUCCESS<br />

RATE<br />

C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG ATT Career<br />

%<br />

- - - HARRY BYRNE 62.50% 5 - - 5 - - - - - 58 6 57 5 1 1 82 78.05%<br />

ROSS BYRNE 100.00% 11 2 - 11 2 - - - - 207 77 1 165 52 1 42 25 - 367 77.38%<br />

CIARAN FRAWLEY 100.00% 1 - - 1 - - - - - 52 7 - 49 7 - 3 - - 73 80.82%<br />

DAVID HAWKSHAW - - - - - - - - - - 3 1 - 3 1 - - - - 6 66.67%<br />

JIMMY O'BRIEN - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - 1 - - - - - 3 33.33%<br />

GARRY RINGROSE - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - 4 - - - - - 6 66.67%<br />

JOHNNY SEXTON 83.33% 8 2 - 8 2 - - - - 242 294 11 128 171 7 107 119 4 672 79.76%<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 47


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ig picture<br />

3 December 2021<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby President John Walsh, far right, and Paula Murphy, Head of<br />

Strategic Sponsorship and Corporate & Social Responsibility at Bank of Ireland,<br />

second from right, with <strong>Leinster</strong> players and coaching staff after the players were<br />

presented with their jerseys during the <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Womens Cap and Jersey<br />

Presentation at the RDS Library in Dublin.<br />

50 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 51


ENERGIA AIL<br />

A 30 YEAR RUGBY LEGACY<br />

Watch now at<br />

energia.ie/energia-ail-30


Progressive Suttonians<br />

keen to kick on<br />

This season, Suttonians RFC<br />

Women’s squad has taken on a<br />

new coaching team with Stephen<br />

Costelloe coming in as the new<br />

head coach and being joined by<br />

Christy O’Shea and Rob Ingham.<br />

The team has been developing a new<br />

way of playing and the season to date<br />

has been progressive. The squad have<br />

adapted well and are embracing the<br />

opportunity to play an expansive brand<br />

of rugby and putting their core skills to<br />

the test.<br />

Five Suttonians player were involved in<br />

interprovincial action and a further four<br />

have joined via the dual-status route<br />

including one who went onto to represent<br />

Ireland in the international sevens squad.<br />

The aim is to get more women involved<br />

in the provinces and hopefully progress<br />

to the next step of full representative<br />

honours with Ireland.<br />

The club has done exceptional work in<br />

building a new gym which is state of the<br />

art along with getting their S&C coach to<br />

design specific programs for each of the<br />

women, this facility has been a fantastic<br />

addition.<br />

The club organize food for the squads<br />

on a Thursday night after training and<br />

this has reinforced the bond between the<br />

squads. All these things have provided<br />

Suttonians with a great platform on which<br />

to build from and gives the club a great<br />

opportunity to develop and create top<br />

class women’s players for the Energia AIL<br />

league, <strong>Leinster</strong> Women’s rugby and the<br />

provinces.<br />

Coach Stephen Costelloe said: “The<br />

squad is a very talented group who are<br />

keen to learn and work hard. Whilst<br />

the results have been mixed so far this<br />

season, they are not far away from<br />

everything clicking. The aim was to be as<br />

competitive as possible up to Christmas<br />

and then really attack the second half of<br />

the season.<br />

“I expect great things from this team and<br />

am encouraged by their commitment<br />

and work rate. We have worked hard on<br />

recruitment this season. Suttonians are<br />

always open to new players joining us,<br />

whether they are experienced or not, the<br />

group is a welcoming group who want to<br />

get the best out of each other.<br />

“We have built great connections with<br />

Naas RFC and Tullamore RFC, which<br />

has resulted in getting some fantastic<br />

dual-status players. It is important to<br />

acknowledge these clubs who have got<br />

the players to the level they are currently<br />

at, and we look forward to facilitating<br />

other players in Dublin for college or<br />

work reasons. They will always find a<br />

warm welcome into the Suttonians rugby<br />

family.”<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 53


offical leinster<br />

supporters club<br />

Round 1 of the 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup is finally<br />

upon and follows what has been a bumper last few weeks and<br />

months of action both provincially and internationally.<br />

Saturday rugby is always a fun<br />

occasion and you can be sure<br />

that the first round of any new<br />

competition is no exception as<br />

we welcome <strong>Bath</strong> Rugby to the<br />

Aviva Stadium for this afternoon’s<br />

fixture (KO 3.15pm).<br />

Last season as we know saw us fall at<br />

the second last hurdle, defeated 32-23<br />

in the semi-final by La Rochelle after<br />

finishing top of Pool A initially after our<br />

two fixtures, whilst our visitors for today<br />

finished outside the initial top eight of<br />

the same pool after losing both of their<br />

fixtures.<br />

Previous form though should never be<br />

taken for granted as you simply never<br />

know who is going to turn up on the day<br />

and given how up and down everything<br />

has been of late, nothing is a given when<br />

it comes to sport and especially rugby.<br />

A greasy surface, an awkward bounce of<br />

a ball, a missed clearance and suddenly<br />

a comfortable foothold you had on a<br />

game could come back to haunt you and<br />

leave your supporters with sweaty palms<br />

and nervous glances at the clock! Sure<br />

what else would you rather be doing I<br />

hear you ask!!<br />

We hope there will be another raucous<br />

crowd in the Aviva who will be looking<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong><br />

<strong>Bath</strong><br />

9 wins Head-to-Head 2 wins<br />

179 (93 home, 86 away) Played 105 (52 home, 53 away)<br />

122 (75 home, 47 away) Wins 54 (32 home, 22 away)<br />

52 (17 home, 35 away) Losses 49 (19 home, 30 away)<br />

5 (1 home, 4 away) Draws 2 (1 home, 1 away)<br />

26 Average Points 22<br />

92-17 Biggest Win 56-15<br />

10-51 Heaviest defeat 0-28<br />

forward to seeing these two go head-tohead<br />

once again for what is sure to be a<br />

highly entertaining fixture of rugby.<br />

We’re all well aware there is another<br />

fixture next weekend also and whilst it is<br />

away in France, we must not and cannot<br />

let the focus shift to what is next week<br />

before the final whistle has blown on this<br />

fixture. We know too many times, teams<br />

can easily shift their focus but we have<br />

also seen what this can do to a team and<br />

so we can rest assured that Leo, Stuart<br />

and the rest of the <strong>Leinster</strong> contingent will<br />

be working to ensure the focus is 100 per<br />

cent on <strong>Bath</strong> this afternoon and the task<br />

in hand there. Then and only then can we<br />

look to next week.<br />

A reminder also to all fans to please<br />

continue to ensure you follow all<br />

directions of Aviva staff and let’s keep<br />

each other safe. For now though, here’s<br />

to a fantastic afternoon of rugby and<br />

don’t forget that when the boys do take to<br />

the field this afternoon, that you welcome<br />

them back with that familiar <strong>Leinster</strong> roar.<br />

After all, it’s the Heineken Champions<br />

Cup and it starts now, our Drive for Five!<br />

For those of you who will be travelling<br />

over to France next weekend, do keep an<br />

eye out for our next ‘Supporters Guide<br />

To…’ which we’ll hopefully get issued<br />

during the week for you to take with you<br />

in a handy PDF format on your mobile<br />

device.<br />

Be loud, Be proud, Be blue!<br />

Your OLSC Committee<br />

54 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


OFFICIAL<br />

LEINSTER<br />

SUPPORTERS<br />

CLUB<br />

Suort Suort Suort Suort Suort us by<br />

visiting r r r r r<br />

ONLINE<br />

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NEWS<br />

Ctact Ctact Ctact Ctact Ctact us<br />

olsc@leinsterrugby.ie<br />

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#seaofblue P D E Q


GETTING<br />

We check social media<br />

for the latest views<br />

and thoughts across<br />

SOCIAL<br />

the 12 counties<br />

56 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Virtual Mascot<br />

Tristan<br />

Moynagh<br />

Age: 6<br />

School: St Mary’s and St Gerard’s National<br />

School, Enniskerry<br />

Class: Senior Infants<br />

Hobbies: Loves Lego!<br />

Favourite Player: Johnny Sexton!<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 59


WHERE ARE<br />

THEY NOW?<br />

DES DILLON<br />

THEN: Des<br />

Dillon earned<br />

56 caps over<br />

four seasons<br />

from 2002/03<br />

to 2005/06.<br />

NOW: He is<br />

married to<br />

Stephanie<br />

with three<br />

children James<br />

(7), Henry<br />

(5) and Holly<br />

(3), living in<br />

Monkstown,<br />

working as a<br />

Director of ‘Le<br />

Cheile’, a Life<br />

and Pensions<br />

company.<br />

60 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


When I<br />

look back on<br />

it, I could<br />

have easily<br />

gone away,<br />

played with<br />

another club<br />

and returned<br />

home a few<br />

years later.<br />

I just always<br />

wanted to<br />

play for<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong>. It<br />

was my club.<br />

In March of 2003, Des Dillon had<br />

to feel good about himself when<br />

looking around the dressing room<br />

at Donnybrook, now known as<br />

Energia Park.<br />

The 22-year-old had just been part of<br />

an Ireland ‘A’ side that had thwarted<br />

England with a 50-metre penalty from<br />

Mark McHugh deep into injury time.<br />

So many of the exhausted, smiling faces<br />

in the room would go on to represent<br />

their country at the highest level,<br />

stalwarts like Simon Easterby, Donncha<br />

O’Callaghan and Tyrone Howe. In fact,<br />

just two of the 15, Barry Everitt and Dillon<br />

would end their playing days without a<br />

full senior cap.<br />

Out-half Everitt chose a different path in a<br />

fine career that involved Munster, <strong>Leinster</strong>,<br />

London Irish and Northampton Saints.<br />

Three years later, Dillon, the very<br />

promising No 8, was out of favour and<br />

out of the game due to a combination of<br />

injury and post-playing considerations.<br />

“When I got selected to play in my first<br />

Ireland ‘A’ international, I could see the<br />

road ahead to an Ireland cap. It became<br />

more of a reality to me,” he says.<br />

“I did my knee in that match which,<br />

subsequently, prevented me from playing<br />

in the next two matches.”<br />

It is a familiar theme to Dillon’s career,<br />

injury intervening when the next step<br />

looked within reach in a professional<br />

career that was relatively short and not<br />

always sweet.<br />

Coming out of Clongowes Wood<br />

College, coached by the late, great Vinny<br />

Murray, the 6’ 6” back-five forward held<br />

a huge reputation as a natural leader<br />

from lifting the 1998 <strong>Leinster</strong> Senior<br />

Schools Cup as the captain.<br />

The story of the schoolboy hero has been<br />

told many times over. Usually, it goes one<br />

of two ways.<br />

The practical reality is that Des was still a<br />

teenager when he came into contact with<br />

mature, grizzled veterans of the game<br />

that had seen it all.<br />

“I didn’t see myself as someone with a<br />

big reputation,” he says.<br />

“At the time, professional rugby was just<br />

taking off. I was looking at Victor Costello<br />

and Eric Miller ahead of me in the back<br />

row. Really, they were the ones with the<br />

big reputations.<br />

“When I came out of school, I was<br />

involved in the first <strong>Leinster</strong> Academy.<br />

There were five or six that came out every<br />

year. I was one of those.<br />

“Around then, you are talking about the<br />

likes of Brian O’Driscoll, Andy Dunne,<br />

Shane Moore, Shane Horgan and Dave<br />

Blaney.”<br />

Sitting above them, his Clongowes<br />

classmate Gordon D’Arcy went straight<br />

into the senior squad.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 61


It took three years from leaving school for<br />

Dillon to make his <strong>Leinster</strong> breakthrough,<br />

after a loan arrangement to Connacht<br />

in 2001.<br />

“I had a great year at Connacht. I played<br />

No 8 for the entire season. Steph Nel<br />

was the coach; Eric Elwood the captain,”<br />

he recalls.<br />

“It was my first experience of training fulltime,<br />

being in the gym full-time, playing<br />

full-time. The seasons were shorter back<br />

then. From there, I returned to play for<br />

UCD for the rest of the season.<br />

“In fact, I played for UCD for three or<br />

four great years, moving from Division 3<br />

up to Division 1 in the All-Ireland League.<br />

It was a good starting point for me, in<br />

terms of training and getting used to<br />

senior rugby.”<br />

Connacht followed up with a tempting<br />

contract offer which, ultimately, he turned<br />

down when <strong>Leinster</strong> coach Matt Williams<br />

made his pitch.<br />

“I was coming into a set-up where Trevor<br />

Brennan had just left. It seemed like the<br />

right move at the time. Looking back on<br />

it, it probably wasn’t because I ended up<br />

sitting on the bench behind Victor and<br />

Eric for the next couple of seasons.<br />

“It is well-documented how we had a<br />

new coach every year. Matt Williams<br />

left. Gary Ella came in. I played well<br />

that season, starting at No 8 the whole<br />

season.”<br />

When Declan Kidney was the Ireland<br />

U-19 coach in 1999, Des was his<br />

captain. A strong connection had been<br />

made before Kidney became <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

coach in 2004.<br />

It was the basis for a four-year contract<br />

that spoke to Kidney’s opinion on Dillon<br />

and the importance of the versatile<br />

forward to <strong>Leinster</strong>’s future.<br />

“A four-year deal was very rare back<br />

then. In hindsight, that was part of my<br />

downfall,” he shares.<br />

62 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


“By year two, Michael Cheika had come<br />

in and I wasn’t getting selected. I wasn’t<br />

part of his plans. It was pretty frustrating<br />

to know you had two years left on your<br />

contract and you weren’t playing.”<br />

Costello kept signing one-year contracts<br />

which kept Dillon attached to the idea<br />

that ‘next year could be my year’. He had<br />

his sights set on moving Costello out of<br />

the jersey. It just never happened.<br />

All along, there were offers coming in<br />

from Harlequins and London Irish in<br />

England and Perpignan in France. But,<br />

there was enough reason to believe his<br />

chance was just around the corner.<br />

In his last season, Cheika came<br />

in, installed a rigorous pre-season<br />

programme to have the <strong>Leinster</strong> players in<br />

great shape. However, in the first match<br />

of 2005/06, a back injury effectively<br />

accounted for six months out of the game.<br />

In the meantime, along came Jamie<br />

Heaslip. And that was it. Mr Indestructible<br />

went on to win almost every honour<br />

in the game, while Dillon was out of<br />

professional rugby by the end of the<br />

season.<br />

“When I look back on it, I could have<br />

easily gone away, played with another<br />

club and returned home a few years later.<br />

I just always wanted to play for <strong>Leinster</strong>. It<br />

was my club.”<br />

He could never let go of the dream of<br />

becoming a centrepiece of <strong>Leinster</strong>’s<br />

future and fell between two stools as a<br />

multi-position player, a jack of all trades.<br />

“The frustration was in not starting for<br />

Cheika. You can’t make a case if you’re<br />

not playing. When I was on the bench,<br />

I was covering a number of positions<br />

and, maybe, caught in between being a<br />

second row and back row.”<br />

In December 2005, he chose to move to<br />

Ospreys because Ryan Jones had been<br />

hampered by injury, playing well enough<br />

to be offered a multi-year contract by the<br />

Welsh club. He decided not to take it.<br />

“My back was always at me. I was never<br />

able to train fully, to take on the workload<br />

I needed to be at my peak physically,”<br />

he says.<br />

At one point, he sat down with <strong>Leinster</strong>’s<br />

doctors Arthur Tanner and Jim McShane<br />

to be told how it was not a good idea to<br />

play on. The scans suggested arthritis in<br />

the lower spine which could have been<br />

remedied by a spinal fusion.<br />

The support of his parents, Leo, a County<br />

Carlow club man, and Mary, at his<br />

games and for their advice eased the<br />

burden of decision-making.<br />

“I didn’t want to go ahead with the<br />

operation because of the long-term life<br />

implications,” he admits.<br />

Thankfully, he had embraced education,<br />

starting with a BA in Sports Management<br />

at UCD, following up with an Information<br />

Technology course, a stockbroking<br />

course, and a property management<br />

course at Dublin Business School. He<br />

is a Qualified Financial Advisor and<br />

Specialist in Alternative Investments now.<br />

“I was frustrated. I wasn’t getting<br />

selected. I was offered a job at Davy<br />

Stockbrokers. And I took it,” he adds.<br />

“Looking back, I am glad I made that<br />

choice. I have been working away for<br />

more than 15 years since I retired.”<br />

He took a lot from what he had learned<br />

in rugby and used it as the basis for<br />

moving into a new area.<br />

“Rugby definitely helped in my transition.<br />

You bring a team mentality, a lot of<br />

confidence and discipline.<br />

“I am in the Life and Pensions industry as<br />

a Director of ‘Le Cheile’ Group Financial<br />

Services. It is going really well. I am out<br />

and about meeting people, working on<br />

business development, bringing clients to<br />

matches, using sport as an ice-breaker to<br />

discuss business.<br />

“I made lifelong friends in my time<br />

playing, in particular guys like Niall<br />

Treston, Brian O’Riordan, Gavin Hickie,<br />

Dave Blaney and Darce (Gordon<br />

D’Arcy). We still meet up regularly at<br />

different events, like those organised by<br />

the Rugby Players of Ireland Past Players<br />

Union.<br />

The benefit of time has enabled Dillon to<br />

recount his experience at <strong>Leinster</strong> as a<br />

positive part of his life.<br />

“I look back at it with great fondness.<br />

Sure, there was frustration. But, I took a<br />

lot from all the teams I played for and I<br />

still use those tools today.”<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 63


Referees<br />

Corner<br />

BY DAN WALLACE<br />

Welcome to the first Heineken Champions<br />

Cup Referees Corner of the season.<br />

A warm welcome to the man<br />

in the middle, Pierre Brousset.<br />

Pierre was the man in the middle<br />

when we took on Northampton<br />

Saints last season.<br />

The Top 14 referee was promoted to the<br />

World Rugby panel for the rugby sevens<br />

season in 2017 and was chosen by the<br />

World Rugby match officials selection<br />

panel to represent France during the<br />

2016/17 season of the seven-a-side<br />

world circuit.<br />

In 2019, he was promoted to the<br />

French National Panel. After Romain<br />

Poite, Jérôme Garcès, Pascal Gaüzère,<br />

Mathieu Raynal and Alexandre Ruiz, the<br />

FFR now has six referees at the highest<br />

level with Brousset. Best of luck to him<br />

today.<br />

ANNUAL AWARDS<br />

Every year during our annual<br />

dinner we hand out our annual<br />

awards. Sadly, this event has not<br />

taken place in recent times.<br />

There are five main awards, one for<br />

lifetime achievement – the Ham Lambert<br />

Award (2018/19 Pierce Fitzpatrick),<br />

one for referee of the year – the<br />

Harold Ardill Award (2018/19 Robbie<br />

O’Flynn), one for Referee Performance<br />

of the Year – the Alain Rolland<br />

Award which was introduced in 2015<br />

(2018/19 Colm Roche ) - one for club<br />

of the year – the Terry Doyle Memorial<br />

Award (2018/19 Old Wesley RFC)<br />

and the Denis Collins Perpetual Award<br />

for Progressive Referee which has been<br />

recently added.<br />

Want to get<br />

involved?<br />

Feel free to make contact with the <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Referees<br />

at hayley.whyte@leinsterrugby.ie If you are interested<br />

in becoming a referee get in contact with us through our<br />

Facebook, our website www.leinsterrugbyreferees.ie or<br />

through twitter @leinsterreferee.<br />

64 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


The club of the year award is voted by<br />

the active referees of the association.<br />

Due to Covid restrictions a small<br />

ceremony took place before the <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

v Ulster game and we are delighted to<br />

announce and congratulate this year’s<br />

winners:<br />

Terry Doyle Memorial Award for Club<br />

of the Year: Greystones RFC. A super<br />

club and a clear winner in the voting<br />

process from the active referees.<br />

Ham Lambert Lifetime Achievement<br />

Award: Bryan O’Neill (Lansdowne<br />

FC) Bryan is a long time member of<br />

the <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Referees and former<br />

president who has given great service to<br />

the association.<br />

Harry Ardil Referee of the Year: Simon<br />

‘Nigel’ Owens (Old Wesley RFC) Simon<br />

has held multiple roles in the association<br />

and has given a huge amount of free<br />

time to refereeing at all levels.<br />

Alain Rolland Award for Refereeing<br />

Performance of the Year: Andrew Cole<br />

(Old Wesley RFC) Andrew is one of<br />

Ireland’s up and coming referees. He<br />

had a superb season in 2019/20 and<br />

continues to improve.<br />

Denis Collins Perpetual Award for<br />

Progressive Referee: Katie Byrne<br />

(Tullamore RFC) Katie has shown huge<br />

potential since becoming a referee and<br />

continues to shine and rise through the<br />

ranks.<br />

Well done to all the deserving winners.<br />

NEW RECRUITS<br />

The <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Referees<br />

have been working hard over<br />

the opening months of this<br />

season to recruit, educate and<br />

develop new match officials. To<br />

date this season, 17 new match<br />

officials have graduated through<br />

the trainee referee process to<br />

become full members of the<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Referees.<br />

The <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Referees held<br />

their latest New Referees Course on<br />

Saturday, 30 October, in St Michael’s<br />

College in Dublin. It was great to have<br />

25 new trainee referees in attendance,<br />

representing schools and clubs from<br />

every corner of the province.<br />

Seán Gallagher (Referee Development<br />

Manager) facilitated the course, where<br />

the trainee referees learned about the<br />

basic principles of refereeing. There<br />

were several guest speakers too –<br />

Hayley Whyte (Referee Administrator)<br />

presented on planning and preparation<br />

for referees, Sam Holt (National Panel<br />

Referee) presented on working as part<br />

of a match official team and Michael<br />

Kirk (<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Referee) shared his<br />

experience of becoming a referee over<br />

the past year.<br />

The New Referees Course is just the<br />

first step for these new trainee referees.<br />

Over the coming weekends they will<br />

be appointed to referee and touch<br />

judge age-grade matches in their area.<br />

A group of experienced mentors will<br />

attend these matches to support them as<br />

they take to the pitch for the first time.<br />

The trainee referees will also attend<br />

follow up workshops as they learn about<br />

the more technical areas of the game.<br />

In November they will learn about<br />

scrum and lineout, in January the topic<br />

will be refereeing the breakdown and<br />

in February they will explore game<br />

management.<br />

Once these new match officials have<br />

completed the trainee referee process,<br />

they will become full members of the<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Referees and begin their<br />

journey on the IRFU Referee Pathway.<br />

Seán Gallagher (Referee Development<br />

Manager) said, “It is very important<br />

that we consistently recruit, educate<br />

and develop new match officials each<br />

season. Our aim is to ensure that we<br />

have enough referees to cover all the<br />

age-grade and adult games each week<br />

and to develop quality match officials<br />

who will progress through the IRFU<br />

Referee Pathway.”<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 65


<strong>Leinster</strong> Men’s Metro<br />

Leagues<br />

Round-up<br />

Along with other domestic<br />

league competitions run by the<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Branch, the 10 divisions<br />

in the Metro League provides<br />

competitive rugby for 75 teams<br />

from a cross section of clubs<br />

spread across the province.<br />

Depending on the strength and playing<br />

numbers within a club the current system<br />

allows clubs the opportunity to play<br />

against teams of a similar standard but<br />

who could be from a bigger club who<br />

field more teams. With promotion and<br />

relegation at stake the leagues allow for<br />

all teams competing to find a level to suit<br />

their standard.<br />

In Metro League Division 1, the nine<br />

teams competing are the J1 sides of clubs<br />

competing in the Energia All-Ireland<br />

League. As we approach the mid-season<br />

break Terenure are top having only<br />

tasted defeat once this season, they are<br />

eight points ahead of second-placed Old<br />

Wesley. Dublin University and UCD fill<br />

third and fourth positions respectively.<br />

Division 2 is comprised of a mix between<br />

All-Ireland League clubs J1 and J2 two<br />

sides. MU Barnhall have opened up a<br />

nine-point lead over Old Wesley and<br />

Naas although the Donnybrook men<br />

have a game in hand. Greystones lie in<br />

fourth place, a point behind, but have<br />

two games in hand over the leaders, so<br />

still plenty to play for at the top of this<br />

division.<br />

Division 3 - Skerries lead the way and<br />

they hold a three-point lead at the top<br />

over second-placed Navan. The two<br />

clubs played against each other last time<br />

out with Skerries winning what was a try<br />

scoring fest by 41-38. Enniscorthy lie five<br />

points behind in third position.<br />

Division 4 - Naas remain unbeaten<br />

having won all six matches played to<br />

date and have a two-point lead and a<br />

game in hand over second-placed Old<br />

Wesley. The students of UCD sit in third<br />

place. This division sees the first of the<br />

Metro and Area clubs involved with both<br />

Rathdrum and Stillorgan/Rathfarnham<br />

competing.<br />

In Division 5, Terenure are the club very<br />

much in command as the Lakelands<br />

team remain unbeaten with six from<br />

six successes to date. Lansdowne sit in<br />

second place followed by Coolmine in<br />

third position.<br />

Old Wesley who sit top in Division 6<br />

having only lost one game so far in<br />

the campaign and that was against<br />

Clontarf who are in second place, two<br />

points behind. Dublin University are in<br />

third position ahead of Terenure and<br />

Clondalkin who both have a game in<br />

hand.<br />

Division 7 - Old Belvedere are the<br />

leaders as they also have only lost one<br />

game to date, they hold a four-point lead<br />

with a game in hand over second-placed<br />

Blackrock. Stillorgan/Rathfarnham lie in<br />

third place ahead of BGF Ravens who<br />

are followed by Swords and the Emerald<br />

Warriors in mid-division.<br />

Division 8 is topped by Greystones, four<br />

points clear of Railway Union. Bective<br />

Rangers and De La Salle Palmerston are<br />

on the same points in third and fourth<br />

place respectively but the ‘Rangers’ have<br />

a game in hand over the other sides.<br />

Division 9 is tight at the top of the table<br />

where St Mary’s hold a one-point lead<br />

over second-placed Malahide who are<br />

on the same points as Clondalkin who<br />

have played one game more. Dogos/<br />

AIB, Newbridge and Tallaght also<br />

compete in this division.<br />

In Division 10, Portarlington are in<br />

first place by virtue of a better points<br />

difference than Midland Warriors, each<br />

team having won six of their eight games<br />

played to date. Coolmine are four points<br />

behind in third place but with a game in<br />

hand. Athy lie in fourth position, unbeaten<br />

having only played four games so far in<br />

the campaign after being placed in this<br />

division late. So, again all to play for at<br />

the top of the table.<br />

As we head into the Christmas break and<br />

all involved in the 10 divisions that make<br />

up our Metro Leagues get an opportunity<br />

to recharge the batteries over the festive<br />

season, there is plenty of great domestic<br />

rugby to look forward to when matches<br />

resume in the New Year.<br />

All our Metro League clubs across the<br />

province, their players, coaches and<br />

volunteers are to be commended for their<br />

dedication and commitment in getting<br />

matches played especially during these<br />

difficult times.<br />

66 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


YOUR ACCESS TO THE HEART OF EUROPEAN<br />

RUGBY HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER<br />

HEINEKENCHAMPIONSCUP.COM<br />

#HeinekenChampionsCup


ank of ireland<br />

MATCHDAY MINIS<br />

MU Barnhall RFC<br />

Squad: Isaac Gunn, Elwood McGreal, Arán Uhlemann,<br />

Max Ellerker, Max Kinsella, Conor Horan, Joe Cribben,<br />

Conor Nealon, Ryan Fenton, Charlie Kinsella Phillips,<br />

Michéal Walsh, Simon Hearns, Matthew Tyrrell, Lucia Mc<br />

Cracken, Luke Carthy, Tadhg Friscic, Eoin Roche, Rhys<br />

Henry, Cillian Burke, Leo Nolan<br />

Coaches: Jonathan Fenton, Gavin Carthy<br />

Portlaoise RFC<br />

Back Row (Left to Right): John Lynch (coach), Harry<br />

Redmond, David Peters, Simon Shirley, Charlie Peavoy,<br />

Joseph Kelly, Ben Heffernan, Daragh Hooban, Billy Lawless,<br />

Jack Downey, Alan O’Connell (coach).<br />

Front Row (Left to Right): Owen Harding, Dylan Clear,<br />

Freddie Walshe, Jerry O’Connell, Harry Shore, Luke<br />

Delaney, Jake Murray, Oscar O’Connell, Alex O’Brien<br />

McCormack, Tadhg Lowry, Matthew Lynch<br />

Tullamore RFC<br />

Squad: Tom Brennan, Daniel Bourke, Timothy Cunningham,<br />

Cillian Daly, Oisín Dolan, Harry Dumpleton, Callum<br />

Grehan, Ríain Guinan, Tomás McFadden, Fionn McGrath,<br />

Eoin Minnock, Liam O’Connor, Harry O’Meara, Keith<br />

O’Rourke, Sean Ryan, Conor Sullivan, Mattia Toselli, Oisín<br />

Whelan<br />

Navan RFC<br />

Squad: Ryan Escobar, Sam Friel, Sean Duffy, Ted Duffy,<br />

Killian Welsh, Keelan Power, Chris Barry, Sean Masterson,<br />

Simon Hobbs, Erik Hannukka, Peter Higgins, Tom Moran,<br />

Adam Kohistani, Evin Spillane, Danny Farrell, Asanka<br />

Varney, Killian Faggan, Jimmy Shorten, James Mallon, Ryan<br />

Carter<br />

Coaches: Cyril Escobar, John Duffy<br />

Coaching Team: Michael Whelan, Seán O’Rourke<br />

68 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


20 years as CEO for<br />

Mick Dawson<br />

70 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


On a cold<br />

November morning<br />

in 2001, Mick<br />

Dawson packed<br />

his bag, left<br />

home, got into his<br />

car and drove the<br />

short distance<br />

to the <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby head office<br />

for his first day<br />

as CEO.<br />

We call it a head office but it was<br />

really just a portacabin where the<br />

Ken Wall Centre of Excellence now<br />

sits in Energia Park.<br />

A lot has changed since then for <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby but one thing that has remained<br />

constant is the man at the helm.<br />

Twenty years later, Mick Dawson is still in<br />

charge and has overseen huge change<br />

both on and off the field.<br />

The <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby professional team<br />

have been changed from also-rans to<br />

four-time Champions Cup winners and<br />

record-winners in the URC.<br />

There is now a women’s rugby<br />

programme with dedicated staff that<br />

have grown numbers in the province from<br />

seven girls teams in 2009 to over 70 girls<br />

teams at the last count.<br />

The <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby player pathway now<br />

develops and nurtures homegrown talent<br />

from the clubs and the schools through<br />

the Shane Horgan Cup, the Sarah<br />

Robinson Cup, the schools competitions<br />

into the <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby blue jersey that<br />

run out at Energia Park or the RDS Arena.<br />

Those portacabins in Donnybrook,<br />

were soon changed into an office over<br />

what is now the O’Brien’s off-license<br />

in Donnybrook, then to another facility<br />

above MAO restaurant again in<br />

Donnybrook, and then finally, thanks to<br />

David and Cathy Shubotham, to UCD,<br />

where the <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby head office has<br />

been since 2012.<br />

But the change wasn’t confined to the<br />

head office as Donnybrook, now Energia<br />

Park of course, also took on many<br />

facelifts and in that time a new stand<br />

was built, two state-of-the-art artificial<br />

pitches installed and of course the Ken<br />

Wall Centre of Excellence was opened in<br />

September 2019.<br />

Nor is Energia Park the only home of<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby anymore, with the RDS<br />

Arena and the Aviva Stadium now also<br />

sharing the considerable load of catering<br />

for the <strong>Leinster</strong> men’s and women’s teams.<br />

Dawson would be the first to deflect<br />

attention away from his own impact so<br />

better to seek opinion from those that<br />

have seen him at close quarters in that<br />

time.<br />

Former <strong>Leinster</strong> and Ireland player<br />

Philip Lawlor, was working with <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby when Dawson first arrived and is<br />

still there today as Head of the Rugby<br />

Department, overseeing every aspect of<br />

the game below professional level.<br />

“In his time at the helm of <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby,<br />

Mick has always understood the role<br />

clubs and schools play in <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby’s<br />

success.<br />

“His encouragement and support for<br />

the innovation and drive that exists in<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong>’s clubs and schools along with<br />

its rugby department staff and committee<br />

structures has ensured we stay at the<br />

forefront of player, coach, volunteer and<br />

referee development across the men’s<br />

and the women’s game in Ireland.<br />

“From a personnel point of view Mick is<br />

a man of huge integrity, who has always<br />

had my back, a good and insightful<br />

counsel whose encouragement and<br />

support in pushing boundaries and<br />

driving development has ensured that<br />

being part of <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby has always<br />

been interesting, rewarding and very<br />

enjoyable.”<br />

Dawson has had to work with many head<br />

coaches during those 20 years from Matt<br />

Williams right the way through to Leo<br />

Cullen.<br />

He did of course know Cullen very well,<br />

Cullen having skippered <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby<br />

to an unprecedented three Heineken Cup<br />

trophies and a European Challenge Cup<br />

as a player.<br />

And his appointment in the summer<br />

of 2015 has turned into another huge<br />

success.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 71


As newly announced Official Clean Air Partner of<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby, we are delighted to support the<br />

team in their pursuit of excellence, by adding<br />

Novaerus air disinfection technology to their<br />

winning formula.<br />

Irish-designed and patented Novaerus NanoStrike <br />

technology strives to give <strong>Leinster</strong> the physical and<br />

competitive edge by disinfecting the squad and<br />

management team’s indoor air safely, 24/7.<br />

Clean air is as important to a world-class winning<br />

team as clean water, superb nutrition, and a healthy<br />

lifestyle, all improving cognitive and physical<br />

performance on and off the pitch. Wishing our<br />

new partners <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby all the best <strong>vs</strong> <strong>Bath</strong><br />

Rugby today.


“Mick is synonymous with all that is great<br />

about <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby,” says Cullen.<br />

“It’s not just about winning it’s about<br />

building relationships that will survive<br />

the test of time. Personally, Mick has<br />

always been a great support to me<br />

both as a player and more recently as a<br />

coach. And whenever I have brought him<br />

problems, he is always keen to provide<br />

solutions.<br />

“<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby owes Mick a great deal<br />

for his leadership and the work he has<br />

put in over the course of the last 20<br />

years.”<br />

Finally, who better than the man charged<br />

with steering the ship on the pitch in the<br />

Heineken Champions Cup and the URC<br />

over the coming weeks, Johnny Sexton,<br />

for his thoughts on the Dawson years.<br />

“Everything starts with the leader of any<br />

organisation and he is very much the<br />

one that has driven things from the top.<br />

I’m sure he’s had battles over the years<br />

internally or with the IRFU but I think<br />

he has always been pro-active in his<br />

approach and has found that balance<br />

between professionalism and the integrity<br />

of the game.<br />

“I think he’s done a fantastic job with the<br />

success that we have had but leaving<br />

that to one side you look at some of the<br />

decisions he has made and in particular<br />

some of the moves he has made.<br />

“The move to the RDS from Donnybrook<br />

is the one that stands out for me but also<br />

in terms of the facilities that we now<br />

have in UCD and down in Energia Park<br />

and now a vision for four other Centres<br />

of Excellence around the province to<br />

further tap into the talent that is out there<br />

amongst the boys and girls in our clubs<br />

and schools.<br />

“Success can’t happen unless it is driven<br />

from the top down and he has certainly<br />

done that but he has also been a great<br />

personality around the place. He’s a<br />

good character, you can have a laugh<br />

with him, and even though he is obviously<br />

the CEO of the organisation you can go<br />

to him, call into him, chat to him and get<br />

along with him.”<br />

When mentioning decisions Dawson<br />

has made in his time at <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby,<br />

the hiring of head coaches is one that<br />

gathers most headlines.<br />

It is hard to ignore the impact that<br />

Michael Cheika had on <strong>Leinster</strong>, but<br />

beyond that the impact that Joe Schmidt<br />

then had on <strong>Leinster</strong> and Irish rugby.<br />

Of course Schmidt turned down the initial<br />

approach from Dawson but not content<br />

with ‘no’ for an answer, Dawson went<br />

after Schmidt a second time but had an<br />

ace or two up his sleeve. Namely, Cullen<br />

and Sexton, his captain and the young<br />

out-half that Schmidt could build a team<br />

around at club level, and in time, at<br />

international level.<br />

“Cheika coming in changed the culture<br />

of the organisation and then Joe came in<br />

and made it even better again. Two great<br />

appointments,” Sexton adds.<br />

“But Mick was very clever in that he<br />

knew who he was dealing with and<br />

what would work and when it didn’t go<br />

right the first time in his chats with Joe,<br />

he arranged a second meeting and I<br />

remember it like it was yesterday. It feels<br />

like yesterday! It was myself and Leo and<br />

Jono Gibbes who met with him and had<br />

good chats.<br />

“The funny thing is I came away from<br />

that meeting thinking Joe was far too<br />

nice to be a head coach! But Mick saw<br />

something in him, had done his research<br />

and that appointment brought us to<br />

another level and we’ve never looked<br />

back.”<br />

He’s not gone or going anywhere but 20<br />

years at the helm is worth acknowledging<br />

and celebrating.<br />

Congratulations Mick!<br />

As they say in Irish, fiche bliain ag fás,<br />

fiche bliain faoi bhláth.<br />

Twenty years growing, twenty years<br />

blossoming.<br />

Here’s to many more.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 73


TO MAXIMISE YOUR SPORTS AND EXERCISE<br />

PERFORMANCE THROUGH NUTRITION<br />

Optimum Nutrition and <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby have partnered to help share good nutrition tips throughout<br />

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

remember to help maximise your performance and help you recover quickly to come back stronger.<br />

Protein Rich.<br />

Protein provides your muscles with<br />

the building blocks to repair & grow.<br />

Carb-Up.<br />

Carbohydrate foods are king as they<br />

power high intensity play.<br />

Fuel-Up.<br />

Consume the majority of your<br />

carbohydrates around training to<br />

support fuelling and recovery.<br />

Recover.<br />

Quality rest & nutrition between<br />

training sessions is the key to<br />

recovery. Remember to:<br />

Repair with protein,<br />

Refuel with carbohydrate,<br />

Rehydrate with fluid.<br />

Hydrate.<br />

Dehydration can lead to a drop in<br />

exercise intensity & can impact your<br />

decision making. Drink 2-3 litres of<br />

fluid each day to ensure hydration.<br />

Game Day.<br />

To fuel performance on the field,<br />

consume a large carbohydrate rich<br />

meal 2-3 hours before kick-off, i.e.<br />

chicken & pasta, turkey bolognaise<br />

wraps.<br />

Get 20% off all Optimum Nutrition products<br />

using code <strong>Leinster</strong>20 on optimumnutrition.ie


KNOWING WHAT ADVICE TO TAKE<br />

IS ESSENTIAL IN THIS GAME.<br />

beauchamps.ie<br />

OFFICIAL LEGAL ADVISOR<br />

Beauchamps LLP | Riverside Two | Sir John Rogerson’s Quay | Dublin 2 | D02 KV60


<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Charity Affiliate<br />

Peter McVerry Trust<br />

There is no doubt that the<br />

Covid-19 pandemic has been a<br />

challenge to everyone. But for the<br />

most vulnerable in our society –<br />

those without a place to call home<br />

– it was particularly daunting.<br />

Over the past 20 months Peter<br />

McVerry Trust has, in partnership with<br />

State agencies and other voluntary<br />

organisations in the sector, kept the<br />

vulnerable safe and continued to help<br />

those in need.<br />

Pat Doyle, CEO of Peter McVerry Trust<br />

writes:<br />

At the onset of the pandemic Peter<br />

McVerry Trust responded rapidly to<br />

meet the needs of people living in<br />

homelessness, especially those accessing<br />

our emergency accommodation services.<br />

RESPONDING TO A<br />

GLOBAL CRISIS<br />

We provided an immediate and urgent<br />

response to Covid-19 and supported over<br />

7,000 people to self-isolate.<br />

Our isolation services cater to four<br />

separate groups; people living in<br />

homelessness, patients leaving HSE<br />

services without a home to go to, children<br />

in Tusla services and asylum seekers<br />

entering the country for the first time<br />

through the International Protection<br />

Accommodation Services.<br />

Within each isolation unit, we provide<br />

rapid access to essential supports<br />

including addiction, mental health and<br />

translation services.<br />

PROTECTING<br />

PARTICIPANTS AND<br />

STAFF<br />

Throughout our response to Covid-19 we<br />

have sought to ensure that we offer the<br />

best possible protection and supports<br />

to people in homelessness and our<br />

own team members. Covid-19 testing is<br />

carried out on-site in our isolation services<br />

by nursing and social care workers and,<br />

once available, the vaccine was offered<br />

to all Peter McVerry Trust participants<br />

and staff members. To date, over 1,500<br />

participants have received the Covid-19<br />

vaccination. We’re now working to<br />

ensure our frontline team and participants<br />

receive their booster shots.<br />

DAY TO DAY WORK<br />

All of this work is in addition to working<br />

with all those with whom we normally<br />

support in our day to day work as a<br />

charity.<br />

We provide low-threshold entry services,<br />

primarily to younger people and<br />

vulnerable adults with complex needs,<br />

and offers pathways out of homelessness<br />

based on the principles of the Housing<br />

First model. Our mission is to target those<br />

most marginalised in society and offer<br />

them a safe, challenging and supportive<br />

environment through our service<br />

provision.<br />

Our aim is to treat participants with<br />

warmth and respect and actively<br />

encourage them to be involved in all<br />

aspects of their own support plan. We<br />

aim to assist each person to re-establish<br />

himself or herself in the community and<br />

move towards greater independence.<br />

LIVE SIMPLY, SHARE<br />

GENEROUSLY<br />

This year we will work with over 10,000<br />

people, a 20 per cent increase on last<br />

year. Unfortunately, the fundraising<br />

environment has been incredibly<br />

challenging since the onset of Covid-19<br />

in Ireland.<br />

At the start of November, Stephen Kenny,<br />

the manager of the Irish men’s football<br />

team, launched our Christmas Fundraising<br />

Appeal at our latest social housing<br />

scheme in Dublin, where we created 18<br />

social housing apartments by refurbishing<br />

two vacant buildings. Tenants will now<br />

be moving into these homes in time for<br />

Christmas.<br />

Our Christmas fundraising appeal is<br />

using the theme ‘Live Simply, Share<br />

Generously’, a quote from our founder<br />

Fr Peter McVerry’s interview with Tommy<br />

Tiernan on RTÉ earlier in the year.<br />

We know, and have seen first-hand over<br />

the years, the generosity of the Irish<br />

public and we hope that people who are<br />

in a position to donate and support this<br />

year’s Christmas appeal do so, whether<br />

it’s on an individual level, as a business,<br />

a group of employees or through<br />

community groups.<br />

We hope people will reflect on the<br />

simple message to ‘live simply and share<br />

generously’, as we need all the support<br />

we can get in the run up to Christmas.<br />

2020 IN BRIEF<br />

Worked with 7,800 people<br />

Active in 28 out of 31 local<br />

authorities across Ireland<br />

1,300 people supported into housing<br />

Opened our Mid-East Regional Office<br />

in Naas, Co. Kildare<br />

76 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Live simply,<br />

share<br />

generously


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Wicklow U-12s in RDS<br />

Wicklow RFC U-12<br />

boys squad were<br />

delighted to be<br />

invited to the<br />

Bank of Ireland<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby<br />

half-time mini<br />

games at the<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> v Ulster<br />

game on Saturday,<br />

27 November.<br />

The exhibition matches are the<br />

highlight of <strong>Leinster</strong> minis rugby<br />

and had been postponed for the<br />

last few seasons due to Covid<br />

restrictions.<br />

Wicklow U-12s’ day started at Ashtown<br />

Lane where they travelled by bus to the<br />

game in Dublin. Before they left Wicklow,<br />

they were given a lively send off by Club<br />

President Brian Clarke who, on behalf<br />

of the club, wished the kids well and<br />

reminded them to enjoy the experience.<br />

Wicklow RFC arrived full of enthusiasm<br />

at the RDS and were given VIP treatment,<br />

escorted to their reserved seating in the<br />

South Stand. They had plenty of time<br />

to watch the <strong>Leinster</strong> and Ulster players<br />

warming up.<br />

As half-time approached the Wicklow<br />

players got their game faces on to<br />

prepare for the highlight of their young<br />

rugby lives. As the half-time whistle blew<br />

on the main game the kids ran onto the<br />

main pitch in front of a crowd of 15,000<br />

spectators<br />

Their match kicked off against Ashbourne<br />

RFC and from the start they played like<br />

warriors to score two brilliant team tries.<br />

The match was over in a flash and they<br />

finished the game with a lap of honour<br />

around the pitch to the applause of an<br />

appreciative crowd.<br />

The kids then resumed their seats for<br />

the second half of the adult game.<br />

Ulster were the deserved winners in the<br />

interprovincial fixture but that was soon<br />

forgotten on the bus journey home where<br />

the kids recounted their memories of a<br />

truly unforgettable experience.<br />

This day will be long remembered by this<br />

group of talented players.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 79


Founded:<br />

1865<br />

Ground:<br />

THE RECREATION GROUND<br />

Capacity:<br />

14,500<br />

bath rugby<br />

last time out<br />

Northampton Saints 40<br />

<strong>Bath</strong> Rugby 19<br />

Losing Josh McNally in the warmup,<br />

the Blue, Black and Whites fell<br />

behind within a minute as Rory<br />

Hutchinson ran in for Saints.<br />

Tommy Freeman scored soon after before<br />

Sam Underhill replied for the visitors.<br />

<strong>Bath</strong> then lost half-back pairing Ben<br />

Spencer and Danny Cipriani to injuries<br />

and Northampton crossed twice through<br />

Juarno Augustus.<br />

Lewis Boyce nudged his way over for a<br />

score just before the break and fellow<br />

prop Will Stuart added to <strong>Bath</strong>’s tally.<br />

But Northampton sealed their victory via<br />

a double from wing Courtnall Skosan.<br />

Saints went on the front foot from the<br />

off and crossed in the first minute. The<br />

hosts made use of an overlap to the right<br />

and Hutchinson scampered across the<br />

whitewash.<br />

In response. Tom de Glanville evaded a<br />

number of challenges before releasing<br />

Franklin’s Gardens | 4 December 2021 | Word and pictures: bathrugby.com<br />

A heavily disrupted <strong>Bath</strong> Rugby were beaten by<br />

Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens on<br />

their last day out.<br />

Spencer. In turn, he went out the<br />

backdoor to Josh Bayliss after making 15<br />

or so metres but the ball couldn’t quite<br />

stick.<br />

Tom Dunn and Underhill carried well to<br />

make metres and the forwards had great<br />

early success at the line-out but not before<br />

Freeman went over from an inside ball.<br />

Three penalties moved <strong>Bath</strong> to the five<br />

and a strong maul allowed Underhill to<br />

leg drive his way to the line.<br />

Soon after, with Spencer on the floor<br />

receiving treatment, Saints made the<br />

most of their advantage with their third<br />

try. Fraser Dingwall raced away and<br />

was superbly hauled down by Butt but<br />

managed to pop for No 8 Augustus to<br />

dot down.<br />

The back-rower managed to grab his<br />

second moments later on a short line with<br />

<strong>Bath</strong> forced into a makeshift backline<br />

and down to 14 due to a Mike Williams<br />

sin bin.<br />

Further changes were needed early in<br />

the second half as Williams received a<br />

blow to the head but <strong>Bath</strong> continued to<br />

have joy at the line-out and succession<br />

of penalties resulted in Matavesi being<br />

yellow carded.<br />

The resultant penalty saw Stuart tap and<br />

power over to make it 28-19, however<br />

80 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Northampton rallied and replied<br />

immediately through Skosan.<br />

Attacking intent remained with <strong>Bath</strong><br />

as Underhill and de Glanville asked<br />

questions of the home defence.<br />

Though when Saints did eventually<br />

retrieve possession, they managed to<br />

make it count. Will Muir and de Glanville<br />

put their bodies on the line to stop Ollie<br />

Sleightholme from finishing a cross-kick<br />

but the ball was quickly recycled and<br />

punt to the other corner where Skosan<br />

was on hand to score his second.<br />

Until the very end, <strong>Bath</strong> tried their best<br />

to get a try-bonus. Max Ojomoh – who<br />

stepped in at out-half – sent a looping<br />

ball to Muir on the wing and de Glanville<br />

dancing footwork made hard ground.<br />

Ojomoh again flicked a ball out to<br />

Bayliss and his strength forced his way<br />

to the five.<br />

Saints were patient in their defensive<br />

system and earned a turnover on their<br />

own goalline to thwart <strong>Bath</strong> and see out<br />

the game.<br />

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS – George<br />

Furbank; Tommy Freeman, Fraser<br />

Dingwall, Rory Hutchinson, Courtnall<br />

Skosan; Dan Biggar, Alex Mitchell; Alex<br />

Waller, Sam Matavesi, Ehren Painter;<br />

David Ribbans, Alex Moon; Karl Wilkins,<br />

Lewis Ludlam, Juarno Augustus.<br />

Replacements: James Fish, Nick Auterac,<br />

Paul Hill, Api Ratuniyarawa, Alex<br />

Coles, Tom James, Tom Litchfield, Ollie<br />

Sleightholme.<br />

BATH RUGBY – Tom de Glanville;<br />

Semesa Rokoduguni, Will Butt, Max<br />

Ojomah, Will Muir; Danny Cipriani, Ben<br />

Spencer; Lewis Boyce, Tom Dunn, Will<br />

Stuart; Mike Williams, Charlie Ewels; Tom<br />

Ellis, Sam Underhill, Josh Bayliss.<br />

Replacements: Jacques du Toit, Will<br />

Vaughan, D’Arcy Rae, Nahum Merigan,<br />

Richard de Carpentier, Ewan Richards,<br />

Ollie Fox, Gabriel Hamer-Webb.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 81


ath squad<br />

Director of Rugby<br />

Stuart Hooper<br />

Stuart Hooper joined <strong>Bath</strong> Rugby<br />

from Leeds at the start of the<br />

2008/09 season. In 2011, Hooper<br />

was named the new <strong>Bath</strong> Rugby<br />

club captain for the 2011/12<br />

season.<br />

Hooper retired with immediate effect<br />

from all rugby in 2016 under medical<br />

advice as the result of a back injury and it<br />

was soon announced that he would take<br />

on the role of Performance and Player<br />

Development Director at <strong>Bath</strong>.<br />

In 2019, it was announced that Hooper<br />

would take on the role of Director of<br />

Rugby for <strong>Bath</strong> Rugby at the start of<br />

the 2019/20 season, following the<br />

departure of Todd Blackadder.<br />

Captain<br />

charlie ewels<br />

Homegrown second row Charlie<br />

Ewels was named club captain<br />

ahead of the 2019/20 season.<br />

The 26-year-old made his debut for<br />

the club in November 2014 against<br />

Glasgow Warriors in the Heineken<br />

Champions Cup and has since amassed<br />

over a century of appearances.<br />

He has also represented England on 23<br />

occasions, scoring two tries, following a<br />

debut against Fiji in 2016.<br />

82 | www.leinsterrugby.ie<br />

DARREN ATKINS<br />

FULL BACK/WING<br />

ORLANDO BAILEY<br />

OUTSIDE HALF<br />

JOSH BAYLISS<br />

BACK ROW<br />

LEWIS BOYCE<br />

LOOSE HEAD PROP<br />

WILL BUTT<br />

CENTRE<br />

TOM CARR-SMITH<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

DANNY CIPRIANI<br />

OUTSIDE HALF<br />

MAX CLARK<br />

CENTRE<br />

JACO COETZEE<br />

BACK ROW<br />

JOE COKANASIGA<br />

WING<br />

ARTHUR CORDWELL<br />

LOOSE HEAD PROP<br />

TOM COWAN<br />

BACK ROW<br />

RICHARD DE CARPENTIER<br />

BACK ROW<br />

TOM DE GLANVILLE<br />

OUTSIDE HALF<br />

JOSH DINGLEY<br />

BACK ROW/LOCK<br />

CIARAN DONOGHUE<br />

OUTSIDE HALF<br />

TOM DOUGHTY<br />

HOOKER<br />

JACQUES DU TOIT<br />

HOOKER<br />

TOM DUNN<br />

HOOKER<br />

TOM ELLIS<br />

LOCK<br />

CHARLIE EWELS<br />

LOCK<br />

TAULUPE FALETAU<br />

BACK ROW<br />

OLLIE FOX<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

GABE GOSS<br />

WING<br />

MACKENZIE GRAHAM<br />

BACK ROW<br />

MAX GREEN<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

ARCHIE GRIFFIN<br />

TIGHT HEAD PROP<br />

GABE HAMER-WEBB<br />

WING<br />

JOHANNES JONKER<br />

TIGHT HEAD PROP<br />

JONATHAN JOSEPH<br />

CENTRE<br />

ARCHIE MAGGS<br />

TIGHT HEAD PROP<br />

RUARIDH MCCONNOCHIE<br />

FULL BACK<br />

JOSH MCNALLY<br />

LOCK<br />

NAHUM MERIGAN<br />

NO 8<br />

WILL MUIR<br />

WING<br />

BENO OBANO<br />

LOOSE HEAD PROP<br />

MAX OJOMOH<br />

CENTRE<br />

D’ARCY RAE<br />

TIGHT HEAD PROP<br />

FRANKIE READ<br />

BACK ROW<br />

CAMERON REDPATH<br />

CENTRE<br />

MILES REID<br />

FLANKER<br />

EWAN RICHARDS<br />

BACK ROW/LOCK<br />

SEMESA ROKODUGUNI<br />

WING<br />

JUAN SCHOEMAN<br />

LOOSE HEAD PROP<br />

TIAN SCHOEMAN<br />

OUTSIDE HALF<br />

JOE SIMPSON<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

JASPER SPANDLER<br />

HOOKER<br />

BEN SPENCER<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

WILL SPENCER<br />

LOCK<br />

ETHAN STADDON<br />

BACK ROW/LOCK<br />

ARCHIE STANLEY<br />

LOOSE HEAD PROP<br />

JOHN STEWART<br />

HOOKER<br />

WILL STUART<br />

TIGHT HEAD PROP<br />

SAM UNDERHILL<br />

BACK ROW<br />

WILL VAUGHAN<br />

LOOSE HEAD PROP<br />

KIERAN VERDEN<br />

LOOSE HEAD PROP<br />

ANTHONY WATSON<br />

FULL BACK<br />

MIKE WILLIAMS<br />

BACK ROW/LOCK<br />

GEORGE WORBOYS<br />

FULL BACK


Club in Focus<br />

LIBERTY SAINTS<br />

Tom<br />

Magee has<br />

known the<br />

despair a<br />

hopeless<br />

future<br />

can hold.<br />

At 26, it led Tom to start playing a<br />

sport he had never even seen. He<br />

went on to represent Wanderers<br />

in the All-Ireland League for 10<br />

years.<br />

The President at Liberty Saints Rugby<br />

Club in Dublin 8 is forever optimistic that<br />

young people’s lives can be saved long<br />

before they are lost to the cruel realities<br />

of life in the inner city.<br />

What rugby can be to those who<br />

embrace the discipline, commitment<br />

and identity of team is a way out of the<br />

drudgery of the everyday challenge it<br />

can be to simply get out of bed and stay<br />

out of trouble.<br />

“When you put guys on a rugby pitch,<br />

where there is nowhere to hide, it’s<br />

pi**ing rain, someone comes running at<br />

you, that is when you see who they are.<br />

“You realise how vulnerable they are,<br />

despite the hoods on their heads,” says<br />

Tom.<br />

“When you are on a team with someone,<br />

you get to know a lot about them, you<br />

see pieces of their personality they might<br />

never want you to see.<br />

“You automatically know, that guy is<br />

dishonest, that guy is lazy, that guy is a<br />

coward, that guy is brave, that guy can<br />

be trusted. Behaviours come out when the<br />

rules are laid out.<br />

“People around you suffer when<br />

you don’t follow the rules, keep your<br />

discipline and play as part of the team.<br />

“This is where the seeds for personal<br />

growth and development can grow<br />

from as boys and girls learn how to take<br />

instructions and be accountable.<br />

“Without rugby, without sport, in Dublin<br />

8, nothing happens. Trouble, gangs,<br />

drugs, jail becomes the natural cycle.”<br />

Tom is in the business of using rugby to<br />

bring change to the community and make<br />

lives better.<br />

Of course, for every good story, there<br />

are many to keep feet firmly rooted to the<br />

ground.<br />

Andy Ciobanu showed a lot of promise<br />

as a rugby player for Liberty Saints. He<br />

won a scholarship to Terenure College,<br />

made the Senior Cup team in 2019 and<br />

went on to college.<br />

Tom Magee with members of the girls<br />

team ahead of their first game<br />

He is currently in the second year of an<br />

Computer Science degree in UCD.<br />

“Andy is very positive, very grateful<br />

for the opportunity he earned and an<br />

example to everyone else of what can<br />

be achieved with the right discipline,”<br />

says Tom.<br />

Aaron Crowe is another player who has<br />

gone on to third level education, studying<br />

Sports Management in Technological<br />

University Dublin. He now gives back to<br />

the club every Sunday morning coaching<br />

the next generation of ‘Saints’.<br />

Adam Malone played on the same team<br />

as Andy and Aaron at Liberty Saints.<br />

When he outgrew the club as an 18-yearold,<br />

Adam went down to Wanderers and<br />

played several games at scrum-half.<br />

He struggled with the transition from a<br />

teenager with the purpose rugby gave<br />

him to the adult world in which life’s<br />

challenges became overwhelming.<br />

In August, at just 20 years of age, he<br />

tragically died, two weeks after the birth<br />

of his daughter Vada Rae.<br />

In 2018, two Liberty players Craig<br />

86 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Aaron Crowe<br />

Since 2014, we have been<br />

campaigning in the area for a pitch<br />

for all these children who have<br />

never run anywhere unless they are<br />

getting chased by the Gardai.<br />

Andy Ciobanu makes tackle with<br />

Conor Fitzgerald in support<br />

Hanlon-McKeon and Conor Fitzgerald,<br />

idle one afternoon, walked along the<br />

roof of a derelict building near St James’<br />

Hospital just for the craic.<br />

At one point, Conor heard a crack,<br />

looked back and saw a hole in the<br />

roof. He looked six meters below to see<br />

Craig’s still body on concrete. Another<br />

one gone.<br />

For every good news story, there are<br />

many heartbreaking ones that make you<br />

realise how fragile life can be.<br />

“Sport, in this case rugby, is about the<br />

values young people can learn and the<br />

needs that are met for players, even how<br />

they feel when coming off a pitch with a<br />

black eye after being beaten. They feel<br />

alive because they are testing themselves<br />

against their peers in a positive way,”<br />

says Tom.<br />

“That is what keeps me involved. I am<br />

passionate about what we are doing. I<br />

look at rugby as a way of fulfilling needs<br />

for young people, the fun, the freedom,<br />

the belonging, the power of team.<br />

Andy Ciobanu with J McG<br />

“We are not interested in trying to<br />

find the next Brian O’Driscoll. We are<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 87


interested in finding out who the next<br />

Andy Ciobanu and Adam Malone can<br />

be.”<br />

The club has had a rethink in recent years,<br />

moving to intervene earlier in the lives of<br />

the local children.<br />

“Part of the reason we started this was<br />

to attract teenagers, at the stage where<br />

they were moving from sixth class into<br />

secondary school.<br />

“They are meeting new peers, meeting a<br />

lot of distractions. They end up portraying<br />

a personality they have to live up to on<br />

the streets,” adds Tom.<br />

“We decided we had to introduce<br />

ourselves to these kids earlier at nine, 10,<br />

11, not 13, 14 15, so that we can gain<br />

their confidence as people they already<br />

know, not as strangers when they hit those<br />

teenage years.”<br />

There has been a determination to spread<br />

the gospel, finding support from St James’<br />

primary school where Liberty Saints reach<br />

out to children.<br />

“We thought it would only be boys that<br />

would find rugby attractive. What we<br />

found was the girls were just as interested.<br />

“Where we are, the nearest landmark<br />

to us is Fatima Luas stop, where Fatima<br />

Mansions was situated. There are no team<br />

sports in the area. None.”<br />

On the morning of the Ireland v Argentina<br />

November international, for the first time,<br />

Liberty Saints took 16 girls from age 9-11,<br />

to play against Terenure in another step<br />

forward for the club.<br />

“Since 2014, we have been campaigning<br />

in the area for a pitch for all these<br />

children who have never run anywhere<br />

unless they are getting chased by the<br />

Gardai.<br />

“They play in the flats, kick a ball against<br />

a wall, but never pull on a pair of football<br />

boots. They never know what it is to be<br />

part of a team.<br />

“The only ‘team’ these kids know is the<br />

four or five teenagers hanging around in<br />

a gang on the street corners.<br />

“Kids want to be a part of something<br />

bigger than themselves. That is the only<br />

grouping they know.”<br />

The coaches at Liberty Saints give these<br />

children a new gang to be part of, one<br />

that won’t eat into their humanity, one that<br />

gives them hope in the present, at least.<br />

“We now have 40-50 children for<br />

training on a Sunday morning with Barry<br />

(Barry Holmes, head coach). We are the<br />

only ones in that part of Dublin 8 within<br />

a three-mile radius from a population of<br />

60,000 that are engaged in team sport.<br />

That is incredibly sad.”<br />

Now living in Artane, Tom is still<br />

committed to the Liberties as a strong<br />

supporter of the move to ‘Reclaim the<br />

Iveagh Markets’ and as a member of<br />

‘Sporting Liberties’, a campaign to secure<br />

sports facilities in the area.<br />

Tom Magee<br />

“Although I don’t physically go to bed<br />

there every night, my heart is there,” he<br />

states.<br />

“I just want to see those kids get a fair<br />

chance at a good life and get the same<br />

opportunities to be involved in sport that<br />

all the kids from the rest of Dublin have. It<br />

doesn’t seem like a big ask.”<br />

In November, a patch of land on<br />

Marrowbone Lane, about the size of<br />

a GAA pitch, was rezoned from Z4,<br />

which is commercial, to Z9, which is<br />

recreational.<br />

Hope has been revived that, at last, their<br />

‘Field of Dreams’ can come true.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 89


Southeast<br />

Area Update<br />

BY DEBORAH CARTY<br />

Arklow<br />

Arklow’s U-14, 16 and 18 Girls got<br />

together recently and headed to the<br />

RDS to support the Irish Women’s team<br />

against Japan, the U-12 girls were busy<br />

winning three out of three games at a<br />

blitz in Gorey.<br />

U-18.5s Challenge v Gorey<br />

Arklow 31 v Gorey 7<br />

A very well attended match under<br />

lights despite the cold weather saw<br />

Arklow blow off the cobwebs with a<br />

comprehensive win over neighbours<br />

Gorey, with a number of Arklow players<br />

lining out for the first time since the<br />

pandemic, it was great to see the team on<br />

the pitch again. A great result for Arklow<br />

but more importantly great to see this<br />

group of lads back out playing again.<br />

Carlow<br />

Co Carlow are currently engaging in an<br />

exciting project to collect and preserve<br />

the history of Co Carlow Football Club<br />

from its foundation in October 1873 to<br />

mark its 150th year.<br />

The aim is to have a documented<br />

history and archive in time for the 150th<br />

Anniversary of the club in 2023, we<br />

would ask that anyone who has any old<br />

photographs, brochures, memorabilia,<br />

stories or memories you are willing<br />

to share from any era to contact<br />

carlowrugby@gmail.com.<br />

Enniscorthy<br />

Eighteen-year-old James Doyle came<br />

off the bench in his first game for<br />

Enniscorthy’s AIL team recently, scoring<br />

a try helping to secure a win against<br />

Sunday’s Well, this was followed by<br />

another great win against Bangor where<br />

Doyle and his teacher and club captain<br />

Tomás Stamp, both of CBS Enniscorthy,<br />

celebrated another win, one as a student<br />

and one as a teacher.<br />

Gorey<br />

Congratulations to Gorey’s Kate Farrell<br />

McCabe who represented the Irish<br />

Sevens squad in Dubai. Best of luck Kate<br />

from everyone in Gorey RFC.<br />

Kilkenny<br />

Well done to our Women’s First team<br />

who have returned to their winning ways,<br />

defeating Swords recently, the concession<br />

of an early try appeared to galvanise the<br />

team and they had a very strong win.<br />

The side are now three wins from four<br />

games in the <strong>Leinster</strong> League and deserve<br />

kudos for the continuous hard work and<br />

willingness to learn.<br />

Kilkenny RFC U-13, U-14 and U-16<br />

have all qualified for their respective<br />

Southeast finals. Well done to all players,<br />

coaches, volunteers and other support<br />

for their hard work in getting three out<br />

of four youth sides to the area final. A<br />

clear indication that the club’s youth<br />

development strategy is on track.<br />

Tullow<br />

Tullow’s first and second teams played<br />

last weekend with this being the seconds’<br />

first match of the season in a local derby<br />

away to Co Carlow where old rivalries<br />

and friendships were renewed.<br />

Tullow RFC minis enjoyed their own<br />

‘Autumn Series’ of blitzes around the<br />

Southeast. The U-10 girls ‘Tullow Tigers’<br />

are enjoying their first season together<br />

this year.<br />

Rathdrum<br />

Give Rugby a Try in Rathdrum! Are you<br />

new to the area or looking for a team,<br />

sport and club to join? Rathdrum Rugby<br />

Club is now recruiting for all ages, adults<br />

and youths. For more information get in<br />

touch with the club through their Social<br />

Media pages.<br />

Wicklow<br />

With the minis back playing in the RDS<br />

at half-time, Wicklow’s U-12s were one<br />

of the first teams back on the pitch, a<br />

brilliant night had by all soaking up the<br />

atmosphere in the RDS.<br />

Wexford<br />

Wanderers<br />

Wexford U-10 and U-12 girls recently<br />

travelled to Gorey for their first game of<br />

the season with many of them making<br />

their rugby debut showcasing their<br />

fantastic rugby skills on a cold but<br />

bright Sunday morning. The future of the<br />

Women’s game is bright in Wexford.<br />

Wexford recently held their Annual<br />

Memorial night in the Clubhouse, this is<br />

held on the third Friday of November<br />

every year to remember those they have<br />

lost from the club, their families and the<br />

wider community.<br />

A call went out recently looking for<br />

historical photos of Wexford over the<br />

years, with some great pictures coming<br />

in, the club are looking forward to seeing<br />

many more old faces on the website.<br />

90 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


92 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Temi<br />

Lasisi<br />

THE ACADEMY<br />

INTERVIEW<br />

BY MARCUS Ó BUACHALLA<br />

“It’s all a bit mad<br />

really.”<br />

The words of Temi Lasisi,<br />

the Enniscorthy prop<br />

as he looks back on the<br />

journey to this point,<br />

to the <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby<br />

Academy and sharing<br />

the same training<br />

environment as Messrs.<br />

Healy, Furlong and Porter.<br />

It’s all a bit mad because it<br />

shouldn’t have been this way.<br />

Football, soccer that is, was his thing.<br />

That was his sport.<br />

His sport, that is, until the dad of one of<br />

his mates, Ryan Cahill, intervened and<br />

suggested something else.<br />

“I was never into rugby as a young<br />

fella. I was into football, loved it but I<br />

was a big kid and the local club was<br />

a bit away from my house so it was<br />

awkward to get to on a Monday and a<br />

Wednesday.<br />

“Whereas the rugby club, Enniscorthy<br />

RFC, was just on my doorstep.<br />

“I just never thought of it as an option<br />

because I wasn’t into it. Not only was I<br />

not into it, I hadn’t a clue about the rules<br />

or how to play it or whatever but then a<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 93


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mate of mine’s dad mentioned to me that<br />

I should go with him to training one night.<br />

“So I went with Colm, and with my mate<br />

Ryan, and I just loved it.<br />

“Honestly, day one, went up and loved<br />

it. As I said I was a big kid so I suppose<br />

parts of it came easily to me and I just<br />

went from there.”<br />

He was still relatively young, 11-years-old<br />

and in sixth class he reckons, so while<br />

he was a late starter, there was plenty of<br />

time to play catch up.<br />

Lasisi went to the CBS in Enniscorthy but<br />

again it would have been easier for him<br />

to drift to other sports.<br />

“The CBS was great and while we had<br />

a rugby team, we were more a GAA<br />

school so the majority of the lads on the<br />

rugby team we had were GAA players<br />

that just happened to play rugby.<br />

“It wasn’t a huge focus for the school but<br />

thankfully I was still involved and loving<br />

my rugby at the club. I played there from<br />

U-11 all the way to U-18 and I suppose<br />

in around U-16 level, I started to get<br />

selected elsewhere.”<br />

Getting selected elsewhere at that level<br />

of course means the Shane Horgan Cup<br />

where the five areas of <strong>Leinster</strong> compete<br />

to bring home the provincial honours.<br />

His area is of course the South-East and<br />

the best club players at U-16 and U-18<br />

level from that area get to pull on the<br />

jersey and start their representative road.<br />

It leads then to the <strong>Leinster</strong> Clubs team<br />

at U-18, then the <strong>Leinster</strong> U-19s and<br />

all things going well, to the <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

U-20s and a spot potentially in the sub-<br />

Academy.<br />

Until a global pandemic shows up and<br />

has other ideas.<br />

“I was happy because I got into the<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> U-20s but I never stepped foot<br />

inside the Centre of Excellence because<br />

of Covid-19. It all got pushed back and<br />

then cancelled. So it suddenly became<br />

much harder to make it, if that makes<br />

sense?”<br />

It certainly does.<br />

It’s a story well told on these pages over<br />

the last few weeks.<br />

Look at our chats with Marcus Hanan<br />

and Jack Boyle and the challenges<br />

they faced in their quest for Academy<br />

contracts when there were no<br />

opportunities to do their thing on an<br />

actual rugby pitch.<br />

And that has been replicated at all levels<br />

and people falling away from sport<br />

when opportunities were not available.<br />

Lasisi has seen it at his own club.<br />

“I know lads back in Enniscorthy and<br />

they have stuck with the GAA, whereas<br />

before Covid-19 they were really decent<br />

rugby players that also played GAA.<br />

“Some lads have been lost to all sports,<br />

not just rugby, and that’s a pity.”<br />

He wasn’t lost, but he could have been.<br />

“I honestly didn’t see this as an option,<br />

getting an Academy contract because<br />

there was no rugby. By now I was<br />

transferred to Lansdowne FC in Dublin<br />

while studying but no games to play.<br />

“So how do you show what you can do?<br />

“I was studying in TUD (formerly DIT)<br />

studying Mechanical Engineering, I was<br />

training away with Lansdowne and then<br />

I got an opportunity with the Ireland<br />

U-20s.<br />

“But like I said, I wasn’t in the Centre<br />

of Excellence down in Energia Park<br />

or anything. I wasn’t having those<br />

conversations. That was until I played<br />

with the Ireland U-20s and I suppose the<br />

possibility opened up again. I got my<br />

first cap there at that level, I had a good<br />

campaign and that’s when it all took off.”<br />

So what was the plan?<br />

“Continue my studies, continue the rugby<br />

with Lansdowne and just see where it all<br />

got me. I won’t lie, I really didn’t expect<br />

any of this!<br />

“It’s class! I have the contract now and<br />

I haven’t a bad word to say about my<br />

time in the Academy so far. It’s been<br />

unbelievable.”<br />

The studies are still ongoing and going<br />

well but again it wasn’t the road best<br />

travelled for a young Lasisi.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 95


“In first year in the CBS I made a massive<br />

mistake! I chose languages for my<br />

modules!<br />

“I was doing that until Junior Cert as<br />

my module but it was a big mistake<br />

and it wasn’t until I did terrible in a few<br />

exams that a teacher sat my folks down<br />

and said ‘look, we think he should<br />

look at another option, he’s not great<br />

at languages!’ That was the chat and<br />

thankfully we took that advice.<br />

“I got into fifth year and I changed to<br />

engineering and technical drawing. I<br />

love metal work, I enjoy working with<br />

my hands and that element really suited<br />

me and I chose those two subjects for<br />

the Leaving and left the languages<br />

behind me! I did well then in the Leaving<br />

and especially in engineering so it was<br />

an obvious choice choosing it for my<br />

degree.”<br />

Working with your hands and being<br />

comfortable doing same is something<br />

that all modern props, excelling at an<br />

elite level, need to be good at.<br />

“Definitely. It’s no longer good enough<br />

to lock down a scrum and be good at<br />

your set piece. You now have to bring<br />

more to your game. Be explosive in the<br />

loose, be able to run, to pass off both<br />

sides equally well and have good<br />

hands to bring others into the<br />

game and be an option.<br />

I started out as<br />

a loosehead but I’ve<br />

moved across to<br />

tighthead recently so<br />

I wouldn’t have had a<br />

clue! But Andrew Porter<br />

has been brilliant.<br />

96 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


“The role of a prop has definitely evolved<br />

and moved on. They’re more diverse in<br />

terms of what they can do and hopefully<br />

I can evolve like that too.”<br />

He had previously listed Cian Healy as<br />

his hero growing up.<br />

What’s it like now working in and around<br />

the same environment as him?<br />

“The first three weeks, I was definitely<br />

a little taken aback, a bit mad! In and<br />

around the place and training with lads<br />

that I had watched growing up. It was<br />

crazy but then you quickly realise just<br />

how sound and normal everyone is and<br />

how willing they are to help you.<br />

“I started out as a loosehead but I’ve<br />

moved across to tighthead recently so I<br />

wouldn’t have had a clue! But Andrew<br />

Porter has been brilliant. The two<br />

positions are so different but he went<br />

through the same transition as a prop so<br />

he has been excellent in and around that<br />

but also Tadhg (Furlong) and how good<br />

he has been giving me tips.<br />

“They have all been great. There is a<br />

great work ethic and ethos around the<br />

props I think and that element of helping<br />

each other has definitely been there from<br />

day one and I’ve loved it.”<br />

It is probably no bad thing to hear of that<br />

help and encouragement when you hear<br />

of the schedule the young 20-year-old<br />

has on a daily basis.<br />

“I’d be in UCD or down in Energia Park<br />

for 7am most mornings until one or two<br />

o’clock and then it’s about trying to make<br />

the lectures at three o’clock for a few<br />

hours and then most days I try to hit the<br />

library for an hour before heading home.<br />

“I also eat! I’m trying to bulk up and put<br />

on weight at the moment so I eat a fair<br />

bit during the day or going to college or<br />

whatever.<br />

“It’s a long day, home for 6.30pm or so<br />

to an apartment. I’m in in Smithfield. I<br />

won’t lie. I’m here with a few lads and it’s<br />

fairly messy!<br />

“But I’m really enjoying it all.”<br />

For a man who didn’t think this would be<br />

his path in life, what has been the biggest<br />

change?<br />

“The organisation definitely. There is a<br />

lot to fit in and a lot of scheduling. Then<br />

it’s just working with so many leaders in<br />

their field. Whether that is S&C coaches<br />

like Dave Fagan or the team up in UCD<br />

or Sophie (Conroy) on the nutrition side<br />

of things.<br />

“A lot of that was new to me in terms of it<br />

being every day. Now every area of my<br />

life is mapped out and looked after and<br />

yet they also encourage the academic<br />

side so you are encouraged to finish out<br />

college and to get your degree and they<br />

work with you to make that work.”<br />

There is maybe one area of his life that<br />

has yet to receive the attention that is<br />

deserves; and that is his competence as<br />

a piano player.<br />

Whereas once there was that ability,<br />

now?<br />

“Yeah not so much! I’d be lucky now if I<br />

could belt out Ba Ba Black Sheep on the<br />

piano! That has slipped down the priority<br />

list a fair bit as I am so out of practice!”<br />

Like the 11-year-old Temi Lasisi that<br />

rocked up to Enniscorthy RFC, time is<br />

most definitely on his side.<br />

For the piano practice and also for his<br />

rugby career to take that next significant<br />

step with a senior debut.<br />

But he wouldn’t have it any other way.<br />

Life has been mad until now, and no<br />

doubt there will be other twists and turns,<br />

but rugby is very much here to stay for<br />

the young Wexford man.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 97


<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Academy<br />

Year Three 2021/22:<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Academy<br />

Year two 2021/22:<br />

Second Row<br />

Brian Deeny<br />

DOB: 02/03/2000<br />

HEIGHT: 1.99m WEIGHT: 121kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (8 caps)<br />

Did You Know: Brian played youth rugby with Wexford<br />

Wanderers RFC. He got his first Irish cap playing for<br />

Ireland Under-18 Sevens. Brian played midfield for<br />

his school St Peter’s College in Gaelic football and<br />

reached the All-Ireland Colleges Final in 2017. He is<br />

currently studying Science in Trinity and lives in Abbey<br />

House B&B, Wexford...if you are looking for a room?!<br />

Instagram: brian_deeny<br />

wing<br />

Niall Comerford<br />

DOB: 06/04/2000<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m WEIGHT: 86kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20<br />

Did You Know: Niall played both hurling and Gaelic<br />

football with Kilmacud Crokes for 14 years. He also<br />

represented Dublin in Gaelic football in the U17<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Championship. He is currently studying<br />

Commerce in UCD.<br />

Instagram: niall_c123<br />

Cormac Foley #1299<br />

DOB: 24/10/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.81m WEIGHT: 88kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (9 caps)<br />

& <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (1 cap)<br />

Marcus Hanan #1295<br />

DOB: 03/10/2000<br />

HEIGHT:1.8m WEIGHT:110.91kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (2 caps)<br />

& <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (3 caps)<br />

Scrum Half<br />

Did You Know: Started playing rugby with Greystones<br />

RFC when he was nine. Growing up, Cormac did a lot<br />

of show jumping and he is now studying Economics and<br />

Finance in UCD.<br />

Instagram: cormacfoley6<br />

prop<br />

Did You Know? Marcus is from Clane in Kildare and is the<br />

youngest of three. His dad went to the High School and then<br />

played rugby in Old Wesley before coaching back at Clane<br />

RFC. Marcus has Italian connections on his mother’s side with her<br />

father, Luigi Rea, being from Italy. Marcus is studying Business<br />

Management in Griffith College. Instagram: @marcus_hanan<br />

Back Row<br />

Martin Moloney #1300<br />

DOB: 19/10/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m WEIGHT: 99kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (5 caps) &<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (1 cap)<br />

Did You Know: Martin played hurling for Kildare and<br />

played GAA and basketball for his secondary school,<br />

Knockbeg College, and local GAA club, St Laurence’s.<br />

He played his youth rugby with Athy RFC. He is now<br />

studying Business and Law in UCD, He also enjoys<br />

working on the family farm. Instagram: martin_moloney<br />

Second Row<br />

Joe McCarthy<br />

DOB: 26/03/2001<br />

HEIGHT: 1.95m WEIGHT: 119kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (3 caps)<br />

Did You Know: Joe started playing rugby with Blackrock<br />

College RFC at the age of six before moving to<br />

Willow Park and then Blackrock College. He was also<br />

on the Blackrock swim team for five years. He’s currently<br />

studying Global Business in Trinity College Dublin.<br />

Instagram: joetmmcc<br />

Second Row<br />

Charlie Ryan<br />

DOB: 03/02/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 2.01m WEIGHT: 115kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (15 caps)<br />

Did You Know: Charlie played youth rugby at Blackrock<br />

College RFC while also attending the school since<br />

Senior Infants. He captained Ireland to the U20 Grand<br />

Slam in 2019 and again for the U20s World Cup. His<br />

friends call him Chuck! He is currently studying Business<br />

and Legal Studies in UCD.<br />

Instagram: chuck_ryan5<br />

hooker<br />

John McKee<br />

DOB: 15/02/2000<br />

HEIGHT: 1.82m WEIGHT: 105kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (12 caps)<br />

Did You Know: John grew up in Belfast going to school<br />

at Campbell College where he won a Senior Cup. He<br />

was involved with Ulster at age grade level until moving<br />

to Dublin after school. He also has multiple medals<br />

from Northern Irish Schools Judo competitions.<br />

Instagram: johnmckee_<br />

Centre<br />

Liam Turner #1287<br />

DOB: 14/07/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.73m WEIGHT: 91kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (10 caps)<br />

& <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (6 caps)<br />

Did You Know: Liam started to play rugby at the age<br />

of six at Blackrock College RFC. He later joined<br />

Blackrock College and was part of the 2018 Senior Cup<br />

winning team. He was also part of the Ireland U20 team<br />

that went on to win the 2019 Grand Slam. Liam currently<br />

studys BESS in Trinity College. Instagram: liamtn123<br />

Centre / Full Back<br />

Jamie Osborne #1294<br />

DOB: 16/11/2001<br />

HEIGHT:1.93m WEIGHT:96.82kg<br />

HONOURS: <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (9 caps)<br />

Did you know? Jamie is studying commerce in UCD. His<br />

grandad, Paddy Osborne, was a horse trainer in Naas,<br />

while his dad played rugby all throughout his life and<br />

his mum played hockey. Other than rugby, Jamie loves<br />

all sports especially soccer, GAA and NFL. Jamie is<br />

currently in a house with fellow <strong>Leinster</strong> Academy players<br />

Brian Deeny, Martin Moloney and Max O’Reilly.<br />

Instagram: @jamieosborne01<br />

98 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Seán O’Brien #1297<br />

Lee Barron<br />

Back Row<br />

DOB: 31/07/2000<br />

HEIGHT: 1.90m WEIGHT: 103kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (3 caps)<br />

& <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (2 caps)<br />

Did You Know: Seán started playing rugby at age<br />

six with Greystones RFC where he played up until Under-13.<br />

He then played on the Junior and Senior Cup<br />

teams in Blackrock College. He is currently studying<br />

Economics and Finance in UCD<br />

Instagram: seanobrien456<br />

Hooker<br />

DOB: 15/02/2001<br />

HEIGHT: 1.91m WEIGHT: 108kg<br />

Did You Know: Lee played golf growing up in the<br />

Castle Golf Club and in the end was playing off a<br />

handicap of eight. He has family roots in Carlow but<br />

went to school in Dublin and attended St Michael’s College.<br />

As well as rugby with his school, he also played<br />

GAA and even lined out in Croke Park.<br />

Instagram: @lleebarron<br />

Max O’Reilly #1291<br />

Chris Cosgrave<br />

Full Back<br />

DOB: 26/02/2000<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m WEIGHT: 86kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (3 caps) &<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (7 caps)<br />

Did You Know: Max is currently in his third year of<br />

Business and Management in DIT. His preferred sport<br />

was soccer until about the age of 15, which he had<br />

played at centre midfield with Enniskerry FC for over 10<br />

years and also for Wicklow.<br />

Instagram: max_oreilly<br />

full back<br />

DOB: 24/07/2001<br />

HEIGHT:1.83m WEIGHT:85kg<br />

Did You Know: Chris is a member of UCD RFC, where<br />

he is also an Ad Astra scholar studying Agricultural<br />

Science. His athleticism is best highlighted by his feats<br />

in the field of Athletics with All-Ireland honours to his<br />

name in both the 4x100m relay and the Discus. Before<br />

the UCD and St Michael’s College days, he played at<br />

a young age with Old Belvedere RFC.<br />

Instagram: @chriscosgrave1<br />

Andrew Smith #1292<br />

Mark Hernan<br />

DOB: 21/07/2000<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m WEIGHT: 91kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (3 caps) &<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (2 caps)<br />

DOB: 04/07/2000<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m WEIGHT: 99kg<br />

Back Three<br />

Did You Know: Andrew is currently studying Quantity<br />

Surveying and Construction Economics in TUD. In<br />

2019, he won the <strong>Leinster</strong> Schools Senior Cup with St<br />

Michael’s College. Andrew also played Gaelic football<br />

with his local club - Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA Club.<br />

Instagram: andrew.sm1th<br />

Flanker<br />

Did You Know: Mark was coached by Ross Molony,<br />

Josh Murphy, Ross Byrne and Nick McCarthy when in<br />

St. Michael’s College. His grandfather Fergus O’Brien<br />

was Lord Mayor of Dublin and his father, Ray, played<br />

for Connacht seniors and Ireland u25s.<br />

Instagram: @mark_hernani<br />

Alex Soroka #1296<br />

Temi Lasisi<br />

Back Row<br />

DOB: 19/02/2001<br />

HEIGHT: 1.95m WEIGHT: 104.5kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (7 caps)<br />

& <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (2 caps)<br />

Did You Know: Alex’s family moved to Ireland from<br />

Ukraine shortly before his birth. He was born in Cork<br />

before moving to Dublin.<br />

Instagram: alex._.soroka<br />

prop<br />

DOB: 09/05/2001<br />

HEIGHT: 1.78m WEIGHT: 115.8kg<br />

Did You Know: The TUD Mechanical Engineering<br />

student originally picked up the oval ball in Enniscorthy<br />

before later moving to Lansdowne FC. Temi rose<br />

through the ranks in the Youths system, his first outing<br />

with the province came at U-18 level against Northampton.<br />

He also describes himself as a ‘competent<br />

pianist’.<br />

Instagram: @lasisi.temi<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Academy<br />

Year one 2021/22:<br />

Scrum half<br />

Ben Murphy<br />

DOB: 23/04/2001<br />

HEIGHT: 1.75m WEIGHT: 80kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (3 caps)<br />

& <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (1 cap)<br />

Did You Know: Ben played all different sports growing<br />

up including football, GAA and golf and won an 800m<br />

gold in the U-14 East <strong>Leinster</strong>s. He is studying economics<br />

in UCD. Ben’s father Richie played for <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby and has coached at all levels of the game and is<br />

the current Ireland U-20s head coach. I<br />

nstagram: @ben._murphy01<br />

Jack Boyle<br />

DOB: 10/03/2002<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m WEIGHT: 106kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (4 caps)<br />

Rob Russell #1302<br />

DOB: 13/01/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m WEIGHT: 90kg<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (2 caps)<br />

Prop<br />

Did You Know: Jack’s father, Herbie, and uncles, Colon<br />

and Eric, all represented Old Wesley rugby club for<br />

years. His cousin Stephen Boyle also represented the<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby youths. Jack is currently studying for a<br />

Commerce Degree in UCD.<br />

Instagram: @jackboyle1<br />

Full Back / Wing<br />

Did You Know: Rob is currently in his final year of<br />

Business and Management in DIT. He started playing<br />

rugby at the age of five with Wanderers RFC. He also<br />

played football up to minor level with Kilmacud Crokes<br />

and it took priority over rugby until he left school.<br />

Instagram: @robrussell7<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 99


Date<br />

25/09<br />

03/10<br />

09/10<br />

16/10<br />

22/10<br />

27/11<br />

03/12<br />

KO/<br />

Result<br />

W<br />

31-3<br />

W<br />

7-6<br />

W<br />

43-7<br />

Opposiotion Venue 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 1 2<br />

URC VODACOM<br />

BULLS<br />

URC DRAGONS<br />

Aviva<br />

Stadium<br />

Rodney<br />

Parade<br />

URC ZEBRE RDS Arena J O’BRIEN<br />

KEENAN O’LOUGHLIN RINGROSE FRAWLEY LOWE<br />

SEXTON<br />

3C 1P<br />

MCGRATH<br />

PORTER<br />

1T<br />

SHEEHAN<br />

KEENAN RUSSELL RINGROSE C O’BRIEN O’LOUGHLIN R BYRNE GIBSON-PARK PORTER SHEEHAN<br />

A BYRNE<br />

2T<br />

OSBORNE<br />

FRAWLEY<br />

W<br />

50-15 URC SCARLETS RDS Arena KEENAN LARMOUR RINGROSE FRAWLEY<br />

1C<br />

W<br />

31-15<br />

URC GLASGOW<br />

Scotstoun<br />

Stadium<br />

KEENAN<br />

1T<br />

A BYRNE<br />

1T<br />

L<br />

10-20 URC ULSTER RDS Arena J O’BRIEN A BYRNE HENSHAW<br />

1T<br />

W<br />

47-19 URC CONNACHT RDS Arena KEENAN LARMOUR 1T RINGROSE<br />

1T<br />

11 Dec 15:15 HCC BATH<br />

17 Dec 20:00 HCC MONTPELLIER<br />

26/12 19:35 URC MUNSTER<br />

01/01 19:35 URC ULSTER<br />

Aviva<br />

Stadium<br />

GGL (Altrad)<br />

Stadium<br />

Thomond<br />

Park<br />

Kingspan<br />

Stadium<br />

07/01 19:35 URC SIGMA LIONS RDS Arena<br />

fixtures and<br />

results 2021/22<br />

LARMOUR<br />

1T<br />

LOWE<br />

RINGROSE FRAWLEY LOWE<br />

FRAWLEY<br />

HENSHAW<br />

LARMOUR<br />

LOWE<br />

H BYRNE<br />

SEXTON<br />

1C 1P<br />

R BYRNE<br />

4C 1P<br />

R BYRNE<br />

1C 1P<br />

H BYRNE<br />

5C<br />

MCGRATH<br />

GIBSON-PARK<br />

MCGRATH<br />

E BYRNE<br />

1T<br />

PORTER<br />

1T<br />

HEALY<br />

CRONIN<br />

1T<br />

KELLEHER<br />

1T<br />

KELLEHER<br />

1T<br />

MCGRATH E BYRNE TRACY<br />

MCGRATH<br />

HEALY<br />

SHEEHAN<br />

1T<br />

16 Jan 13:00 HCC MONTPELLIER RDS Arena<br />

22 Jan 13:00 HCC BATH<br />

28/29/30<br />

Jan<br />

18/19/20<br />

Feb<br />

04/05/06<br />

Mar<br />

25/26/27<br />

Mar<br />

01/02/03<br />

Apr<br />

22/23/24<br />

Apr<br />

29/30/01<br />

Apr<br />

20/21/22<br />

May<br />

TBC<br />

URC CARDIFF<br />

RUGBY<br />

Recreation<br />

Ground<br />

Cardiff Arms<br />

Park<br />

TBC URC OSPREYS RDS Arena<br />

TBC<br />

URC BENETTON<br />

tadio<br />

Monigo<br />

TBC URC CONNACHT Sportsground<br />

TBC URC MUNSTER RDS Arena<br />

TBC<br />

TBC<br />

URC CELL C<br />

SHARKS<br />

URC DHL<br />

STORMERS<br />

Jonsson<br />

Kings Park<br />

Green Point<br />

Stagium<br />

TBC URC EDINBURGH RDS Arena<br />

100 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


3 4 5 6 7 8 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23<br />

ALAALATOA MOLONY J RYAN RUDDOCK<br />

VAN DER FLIER<br />

1T<br />

ALAALATOA MOLONY RYAN RUDDOCK VAN DER FLIER<br />

ALAALATOA BAIRD TONER LEAVY<br />

FURLONG MOLONY RYAN<br />

DORIS<br />

2T<br />

PENNY<br />

1T<br />

VAN DER FLIER<br />

DORIS<br />

DEEGAN<br />

1T<br />

RUDDOCK<br />

CONAN<br />

FURLONG MOLONY BAIRD DORIS LEAVY CONAN<br />

TRACY<br />

1T<br />

E BYRNE HEALY BAIRD DEEGAN GIBSON-PARK<br />

R BYRNE<br />

1T 1C<br />

TRACY E BYRNE HEALY BAIRD LEAVY N MCCARTHY C FRAWLEY<br />

KELLEHER<br />

1T<br />

SHEEHAN<br />

2T<br />

SHEEHAN<br />

1T<br />

DOOLEY HEALY MOLONY DEEGAN N MCCARTHY<br />

HEALY<br />

1T<br />

ALAALATOA BAIRD RUDDOCK MCGRATH<br />

SEXTON<br />

4C<br />

R BYRNE<br />

3C<br />

OSBORNE<br />

S PENNY<br />

[UNUSED]<br />

RUSSELL<br />

T O’BRIEN<br />

E BYRNE ALAALATOA TONER RUDDOCK GIBSON-PARK OSBORNE VAN DER FLIER<br />

FURLONG MOLONY TONER LEAVY PENNY RUDDOCK CRONIN DOOLEY ABDALADZE DEEGAN CONNORS N MCCARTHY H BYRNE T O’BRIEN<br />

ALA’ALATOA<br />

BAIRD<br />

1T<br />

TONER<br />

RUDDOCK<br />

1T<br />

VAN DER FLIER<br />

DORIS<br />

1T<br />

KELLEHER PORTER ABDALADZE J MURPHY<br />

DEEGAN<br />

1T<br />

N MCCARTHY<br />

R BYRNE<br />

1C<br />

T O’BRIEN<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 101


Squads matchday<br />

officials<br />

REFEREE<br />

PIERRE BROUSSET (FRA)<br />

ASSISTANT REFEREE<br />

LUC RAMOS (FRA)<br />

ASSISTANT REFEREE<br />

FLAVIEN HOURQUET (FRA)<br />

TMO<br />

ERIC GAUZINS (FRA)<br />

Hugo Keenan<br />

Jordan Larmour<br />

Garry Ringrose<br />

Ciarán Frawley<br />

James Lowe<br />

Ross Byrne<br />

Jamison Gibson-Park<br />

Andrew Porter<br />

Rónan Kelleher<br />

Tadhg Furlong<br />

Ross Molony<br />

Ryan Baird<br />

Rhys Ruddock [C]<br />

Josh van der Flier<br />

Caelan Doris<br />

15<br />

14<br />

13<br />

12<br />

11<br />

10<br />

9<br />

FULL BACK<br />

RIGHT WING<br />

OUTSIDE CENTRE<br />

INSIDE CENTRE<br />

LEFT WING<br />

FLY HALF<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

Tom de Glanville<br />

Semesa Rokoduguni<br />

Will Butt<br />

Max Ojomoh<br />

Will Muir<br />

Orlando Bailey<br />

Ben Spencer<br />

LOOSE HEAD<br />

1<br />

PROP Lewis Boyce<br />

FRONT PAGE<br />

HOOKER Jacques du Toit<br />

2<br />

3<br />

4<br />

5<br />

6<br />

7<br />

8<br />

TIGHT HEAD PROP<br />

SECOND ROW<br />

SECOND ROW<br />

BLINDSIDE FLANKER<br />

OPENSIDE FLANKER<br />

NUMBER 8<br />

Will Stuart<br />

Josh McNally<br />

Charlie Ewels [C]<br />

Tom Ellis<br />

Richard de Carpentier<br />

Josh Bayliss<br />

CITING COMMISSIONER<br />

JEFF MARK (WAL)<br />

Dan Sheehan<br />

Cian Healy<br />

Michael Ala’alatoa<br />

Devin Toner<br />

Max Deegan<br />

Luke McGrath<br />

Jimmy O’Brien<br />

Tommy O’Brien<br />

16<br />

17<br />

18<br />

19<br />

20<br />

21<br />

22<br />

23<br />

REPLACEMENT<br />

REPLACEMENT<br />

REPLACEMENT<br />

REPLACEMENT<br />

REPLACEMENT<br />

REPLACEMENT<br />

REPLACEMENT<br />

REPLACEMENT<br />

Tom Dunn<br />

Arthur Cordwell<br />

D’Arcy Rae<br />

Will Spencer<br />

Ewan Richards<br />

Joe Simpson<br />

Gabriel Hamer-Webb<br />

Tom Prydie


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Parting<br />

Shots<br />

3 December 2021<br />

Emily McKeown is presented with<br />

her cap by <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby President<br />

John Walsh during the <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby Womens Cap and Jersey<br />

Presentation at the RDS Library in<br />

Dublin.<br />

3 December 2021<br />

Alice O’Dowd is presented with her<br />

cap by <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby President<br />

John Walsh during the <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby Womens Cap and Jersey<br />

Presentation at the RDS Library in<br />

Dublin.<br />

3 December 2021<br />

Mary Healy is presented with her<br />

cap by <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby President<br />

John Walsh during the <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby Womens Cap and Jersey<br />

Presentation at the RDS Library in<br />

Dublin.<br />

104 | www.leinsterrugby.ie<br />

Photos by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile


RUGBY.<br />

DELIVERED.<br />

TEAMWORK. SPEED. DELIVERY. THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE<br />

OFFICIAL LOGISTICS PARTNER. DHL.

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