Leinster vs Edinburgh

john walsh welcome
PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2020/22
We extend a warm welcome to our
fans and guests from Edinburgh
(the city of rugby in my eyes) for
this evening’s rescheduled Round
8 fixture in the United Rugby
Championship.
Edinburgh’s last visit to the RDS was in
November 2020 and while the result did
not go in their favour, the great thing about
our challenging sport is that we can’t dwell
on the past and every game is a new
chapter waiting to be told. Edinburgh arrive
in the RDS with a total of 34 league points
from nine fixtures played while Leinster
trail them with 30 league points from eight
fixtures so this game has a significant
importance for both clubs.
Edinburgh are a club with a proud rugby
tradition and are celebrating their 150th
anniversary year in 2022 having been
founded in 1872, seven years prior to the
establishment of Leinster. We wish the club
well for their celebrations and indeed for
their future as ambassadors for the game in
Scotland.
Edinburgh is a passionate rugby region
with the city and districts the home to over
32 rugby clubs, 20 of which are based in
the city. Little wonder then that Edinburgh
is undoubtedly one of the most popular
and welcoming destinations for Six Nations
rugby fans. In addition international touring
sides such as New Zealand, Australia,
Japan, Canada, Romania, Fiji, Tonga and
Western Samoa are among the teams that
the Edinburgh club have hosted during their
distinguished history.
All Leinster Rugby fans have always enjoyed
the hospitality and atmosphere of a visit to
Edinburgh especially as Scottish supporters
are so knowledgeable and passionate
about the game. There was no better venue
than Edinburgh for Leinster fans to celebrate
our first European Cup victory when we
conquered Leicester in front of 66,000 in
Murrayfield in 2009.
Following the advent of professional rugby
in 1995 Edinburgh Rugby was established
in 1996 by the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU)
as one of the two professional teams in
Scotland along with Glasgow Warriors.
Both sides have reached finals in the
domestic league and indeed in the
Challenge Cup when Edinburgh lost to
Gloucester 19-13 in the 2015 Final.
In the United Rugby Championship and it’s
preceding formats Edinburgh were runners
up to Munster in the then Magners League
in 2008/09 while their rivals Glasgow
claimed a notable Guinness PRO12 title
over Munster in the 2014/15 season
winning the Grand Final by 31-13.
We welcome Edinburgh Chairperson John
Davidson, CEO Douglas Struth, head coach
Mike Blair (capped 85 times for Scotland
and also a British and Irish Lion), team
captain Stuart McInally (40 Scotland caps)
both stalwarts of the Edinburgh clubs and
their squad.
As mentioned, Edinburgh have had an
excellent season to date in what has been
a disrupted United Rugby Championship.
With nine rounds played they have won six,
drawn one and lost two and in the process
scored 224 points and conceded 147
points.
As reigning champions we have to defend
our crown and will be fully aware that we
will face stern challenges both on and off
the field this season and that teams will
be highly motivated to bring our current
winning titles sequence of four to an end.
That said, Leinster’s season to date in both
the United Rugby Championship and
European Rugby Champions Cup has
reflected the determination of the Leinster
squad and team management has to pursue
excellence and success.
Our Champions Cup campaign has resulted
in three wins from four fixtures and in the
process scoring 198 points (30 tries) and
conceding 34 points to qualify for mouthwatering
home and away fixtures with our
local rivals Connacht.
Leinster’s United Rugby Championship
campaign has resulted in six wins and two
defeats (to Ulster in the RDS and away
to Cardiff on our latest United Rugby
Championship start) from eight fixtures and
scoring 246 points (31 tries) and conceding
114 points. This fixture marks the 41st
occasion that we have played Edinburgh
and our record is good with 25 wins, one
draw and 14 defeats.
Leinster Rugby recently lost one of it’s most
respected and popular members of our
community with the passing of Kevin Flynn.
A former President and captain of
Wanderers he proudly represented
Ireland on 22 occasions in a distinguished
international career. He also made a total
of 36 appearances for Leinster as well as
eight appearances for the famed Barbarian
club, for whom he did sterling work as a
committee member.
Kevin’s contribution to Leinster Rugby
was acknowledged with his induction to
Leinster’s Hall of Fame. We extend our
condolences to his family and he will
be much missed by all his friends and
colleagues throughout our nationwide rugby
community.
Congratulations to all in Wanderers for their
sterling support for the Together Academy
project and indeed for the club’s progressive
local community engagement policy. The
club which celebrated its 150th year in
2021 has also fielded its first girls team
this season which will no doubt add to the
strength of their women’s team in seasons
to come.
On the Leinster club scene the draws for
the Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup
and the Bank of Ireland Metropolitan Cup
took place recently and we look forward
to completing these prestigious Leinster
competitions that generate cup rugby
passion between clubs and their fans. This
year will mark the 100th edition of the
Metropolitan Cup so this will be a special
occasion for all those clubs involved.
I hope you all enjoy the game and thank
you for your support which contributes so
much to our success as a club.
On behalf of Leinster Rugby I wish all
involved a happy, healthy and enjoyable
rugby season.
‘Keep The Faith’ as the future belongs to
those who believe in their dreams (Eleanor
Roosevelt)
John Walsh
President Leinster Rugby 2020-2022
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 5