Leinster vs Ospreys

ISSUE 9 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 

LEINSTER 

VS 

ospreys 

SAT 19 th FEB 

RDS ARENA 

KO 5PM

Newstead Building A, 

UCD, 

Belfield, 

Dublin 4 

#LEIVOSP 

The Line up 

Telephone: 

012693224 

Fax: 

012693142 

E-mail: 

information@leinsterrugby.ie 

www.leinsterrugby.ie 

6 

24 

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT 

President: John Walsh 

Chief Executive: Michael Dawson 

Honorary Secretary: Stuart Bayley 

Honorary Treasurer: Michael McGrail 

RUGBY MANAGEMENT 

Head Coach: Leo Cullen 

Senior Coach: Stuart Lancaster 

Head of Rugby Operations: 

Guy Easterby 

Assistant Coach: Robin McBryde 

Backs Coach: Felipe Contepomi 

Kicking Coach: Emmet Farrell 

Contact Skills Coach: Denis Leamy 

14 

PROGRAMME CREDITS 

Editorial Team: Marcus Ó Buachalla, 

Ryan Corry & Paul Cahill 

Advertising: Gary Nolan 

Design: Julian Tredinnick, 

Ignition Sports Media 

Photography: Sportsfile 

Chief Steward: Sword Security 

Ambulance: St. John’s Ambulance 

Medilink 

Event Control & Safety Services: 

Eamonn O’Boyle & Associates 

44 

86 

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CONNECTED 

& KEEP 

UP-TO-DATE 

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 3

john walsh welcome 

PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2020/22 

On behalf of Leinster Rugby we extend 

a warm welcome to Ospreys to the RDS 

Arena for Round 10 of the United Rugby 

Championship and for the 40th league 

fixture between us Celtic cousins. 

Leinster Rugby has recorded 23 

wins, three draws and 13 defeats 

in those years and we have 

had our fair share of drama too 

coming down the home stretch. 

Leinster can boast seven league titles 

and Ospreys have four titles to their 

credit. However these stats do not reflect 

that Leinster have been runner-up to the 

Ospreys on the two occasions that we 

have met in the league final and that 

these finals were staged on our home 

turf at the RDS Arena in front of our 

home fans. The Ospreys have become 

renowned party spoilers as they also 

edged out Munster to win their first 

league title in 2005. 

A special welcome to our visitors Rob 

Davies (Chairperson), Nick Garcia 

(CEO), Toby Booth (Head Coach) and 

Club Captain Justin Tipuric and the 

travelling squad. There will always be a 

welcome on the Emerald Isle for Mike 

Ruddock who has contributed so much to 

the sport and we wish him every success 

in his role as Development Officer with 

Ospreys. 

In this season’s United Rugby 

Championship, Ospreys have played 

10 for six wins, four defeats and in 

the process scoring 203 points and 

conceding 238 points. They are currently 

in sixth position in the URC with 26 

points. 

Reflecting on those past two league finals 

in 2010 and 2012 between Leinster and 

Ospreys we know that the Ospreys are a 

proud club side that are totally committed 

to playing to the final whistle even if the 

score board does is not always in their 

favour. 

In the 2010 league final, we were 

beaten 17-12 in front of a sell-out crowd 

of 19,750. Leinster were skippered by 

Shane Jennings and Johnny Sexton 

landed four penalties but we failed to 

cross the whitewash to land a telling blow 

and haul back an Osprey lead. Ospreys 

scores came from Lee Byrne and the 

flying winger Tommy Bowe (holder of the 

league’s try scoring record of 65 tries). 

Ospreys captain Ryan Jones lifted the 

trophy and spoilt the anticipated farewell 

party for Leinster coach Michael Cheika 

on his final game in charge. 

The 2012 league final will no doubt be 

regarded as a thrilling classic game by 

all rugby fans with the Ospreys edging 

Leinster by a 31-30. 

Coached by Joe Schmidt, Leinster were 

favourites to add to their European Cup 

final success over Ulster and were led by 

Leo Cullen. Leinster’s scores came from 

Seán Cronin (try), Isa Nacewa (two tries) 

with Johnny Sexton converting the three 

tries and landing three of his four penalty 

kicks. The Ospreys scores came from 

Shane Williams (two tries), Ashley Beck 

(try) with Dan Biggar converting two and 

adding three penalties. 

Leinster led at half-time by 17-9 but 

Ospreys edged their way back into 

the contest just after the restart. With 

Leinster down to 14 following a yellow 

card, Shane Williams signed off his 

Ospreys career with a 78th-minute try 

that required a converted kick by out-half 

and Welsh centurion Dan Biggar to 

seal victory and leave the Leinster fans 

shocked. 

The importance that sport plays in our 

lives and our communities has been 

recognised by Government and on 

behalf of Leinster Rugby I wish to take the 

opportunity to acknowledge and thank 

them for their support. 

In addition to the Covid Support Grants 

of €85 million that were allocated to 42 

national sporting organisations, the recent 

Government announcement regarding 

the allocation of €150 million under the 

Sports Capital Programme has been a 

huge boost to morale as we emerge from 

over 20 months of necessary restrictions 

as a result of the pandemic. 

The Sports Capital Programme was first 

introduced by Government in 1998 

and to date has resulted in over €1.1 

billion being allocated to over 13,000 

approved sports projects. The current 

programme announced by Government 

allocated €150 million of which €16.6 

million was allocated to the ‘equipment 

only’ aspect of the grant. The balance 

has now been allocated to a total of 

1,900 projects submitted on behalf of 

30 sports. 

The sport of rugby has continued to 

benefit from this recent allocation and 

a total of 85 clubs nationally were 

successful in obtaining funding for capital

projects. A total of 39 Leinster clubs 

have received funding amounting to 

€3.3 million of which 16 clubs received 

funding in excess of €100,000 for their 

projects and six Leinster clubs receiving 

the maximum grant of €150,000. The 

total number of Leinster clubs who 

have received grants under both the 

‘equipment only’ and the sport capital 

element is 50 clubs for a total amount of 

€3,433,500. 

A total of €56 million has been allocated 

to the 12-county province of Leinster 

for various sports and no matter what 

sport you follow this is a most welcomed 

development for our communities. So 

on behalf of our Leinster clubs, their 

dedicated committees and volunteers 

we acknowledge the support and in 

particular to the Minister for Tourism, 

Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and 

Media, Catherine Martin, the Minister 

of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, 

Jack Chambers and the Minister for 

Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael 

McGrath, we say, a heartfelt thanks. 

Our recent hard-earned victory over 

Edinburgh at the RDS Arena saw Seán 

Cronin make his 199th appearance for 

Leinster. 

Rhys Ruddock was also due to make 

his 199th appearance but was a late 

withdrawal. Another significant milestone 

was achieved by Dave Kearney who 

reached 170 Leinster appearances. 

The depth of experience in the 23-man 

matchday squad was highlighted by 

the fact that seven of the players have 

represented Leinster on more than 

100 occasions for a total of 1,180 

appearances. 

The five divisions of the men’s Leinster 

League are now reaching their final 

rounds and there will be numerous 

anxious moments to be endured by 

players and supporters in the next 

few weeks in what have been very 

competitive leagues not just for the 

promotion spots but also in the relegation 

zones. 

Congratulation to Portarlington on 

winning Division 3 and to New Ross on 

winning Division 2B. 

The Division 2A title will go down to a 

photo finish between Athy (50 points) 

and DLSP (48 points) as will the Division 

1B title between Boyne (54 Points) and 

Wicklow (52 points). The Division 1 title 

for the Eddie Egan Cup and a valued 

spot in the Provincial play-off and for 

the Energia All-Ireland League will be 

between Bective Rangers (52 points) and 

Monkstown (48 points). 

Both these clubs have featured in the 

All-Ireland League previously and would 

dearly love to achieve a return to that 

league. The very best of good fortune to 

all involved and a big thank you to all the 

members of the Competitions Committee 

under their Chair Ciaran O’Brien for 

managing to get these valued leagues 

staged during the pandemic period. 

I also wish to acknowledge and thank 

all our Leinster partners and sponsors for 

their support and commitment over the 

last two seasons during these tough times 

and we are very appreciative of having 

them on our team and for standing 

shoulder to shoulder with us. We look 

forward to a more positive future and 

strengthening our relationships. 

I hope you all enjoy the game and thank 

you for your support which contributes so 

much to our success as a club. 

John Walsh 

President Leinster Rugby 2020-2022 


Leo Cullen 

head Coach Welcome 

Good evening 

and welcome 

to the RDS 

Arena for our 

United Rugby 

Championship 

clash against 

Toby Booth’s 

Ospreys. 

6 | www.leinsterrugby.ie 

We had a very tough game here 

against the Welsh side last season 

when we were beaten by three 

late tries, so we know we’re in 

for a battle today. 

This year’s URC is without doubt the 

most competitive it has been, with lots 

of fixtures being decided by the finest of 

margins, the odd score here and there, 

and tonight may be another that goes 

down to the wire. 

Many thanks to everyone who turned 

out for our game last week against 

Edinburgh. 

Your support means a huge amount to 

the team and we are looking forward to 

seeing and hearing you in full voice over 

the remainder of the season. There’s a 

lot to play for and we’ll be battling hard 

to make sure we are involved in as many 

big games as possible! 

Congratulations to Martin Moloney on 

making his first start for Leinster. Martin 

has come through the club system and 

the Shane Horgan Cup competition 

representing his area before pulling on a 

Leinster Rugby jersey and he has proven 

to be such a great character in the group. 

We say it to the players all the time, be 

ready for when the chance comes your 

way, and Martin certainly grabbed his 

opportunity with both hands after Rhys 

Ruddock unfortunately had to pull out of 

the team on game day. 

It was great to see the Bank of Ireland 

Leinster Rugby Schools Senior Cup 

competition kick-off last week, with 

some fantastic games fought out in 

the very best spirit of the game. 

Good luck to all participating 

teams over the next few weeks, 

and for those teams and 

players who have suffered 

early exits, I hope you learn 

the painful lessons and go 

on to enjoy many more 

good days playing in the 

future with your clubs. The club is where 

it all begins for all of us and I would 

encourage all of you to re-engage with 

your clubs when the studies are to one 

side and time allows. 

We’ve all been pleased to see the return 

of the ‘minis’ at half-time here at the RDS. 

On which note, I have to wish Railway 

Union the very best of luck today as I’ve 

been lucky enough to see them train on 

Wednesday nights in recent months! 

Many thanks to all the team’s sponsors, 

in particular Bank of Ireland, for your 

continued support. It looks as though life 

is finally starting to get back to the way 

we used to know it and we look forward 

to hopefully sharing some special days in 

the months ahead. 

From a personal point of view, my 

contract extension was announced this 

week and I want to say a big thanks to 

the powers that be in Leinster Rugby for 

their continued support. 

A special mention to Leinster’s Mick 

Dawson, Guy Easterby and Frank 

Doherty for all their backing, and to 

David Nucifora at the IRFU. 

It is a great honour for me and my family 

to continue to serve such a special group 

of people, including players, coaches 

and backroom staff. The great teams in 

sport are never about one person and 

we are lucky to have a special group 

that pushes one another to achieve the 

highest standards, day in and day out. 

Back to this evening! 

We have a really important and 

exciting run of games coming 

up, starting with Ospreys 

tonight, and we’re going to 

need every ounce of your 

support as we push to 

go as far as possible 

this season. 

Leo 

Enjoy the game,

It looks as though life is 

finally starting to get back to 

the way we used to know it and 

we look forward to hopefully 

sharing some special days in the 

months ahead. 


8 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

carla 

delaney 

DIRECTOR, BANK OF IRELAND AREA EAST 

Welcome back to the RDS Arena for another 

home fixture, this time against Ospreys, in 

the United Rugby Championship. 

It was brilliant to be back at the 

home of Leinster Rugby last week 

for the Edinburgh game after 

so long away and everyone is 

looking forward to another tough 

battle against Welsh opponents 

that recorded a victory at the RDS 

Arena as recently as March of 

2021. The memory of defeat that 

is sure to be fresh in the minds of 

Leo Cullen and his players as they 

prepare for this clash. 

Over the last week we have seen the 

Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools 

Senior Cup return after a two-season 

hiatus. This followed on from the recent 

return of the Shane Horgan Cup, and it is 

great to have a sense of normality back 

now for the boys in our schools and our 

clubs as they’re able to compete on the 

rugby fields once more. 

As sponsors of the wider Leinster Rugby 

domestic rugby programme we very 

much look forward to following all their 

journeys in the coming weeks and months 

in Energia Park, at the RDS Arena and 

indeed in venues across the province. 

Chances are that the next rising star to 

emerge from the Leinster Rugby player 

pathway, which is built on a strong club 

and school scene, will soon be on show. 

I also want to wish the very best of luck to 

the four teams taking part in the Bank of 

Ireland half-time minis this evening. These 

will be special moments for the young 

players selected, not to mention their 

coaches, and we hope they all enjoy the 

occasion. 

Finally, to you the supporters. The noise 

and the passion that was on display last 

weekend for the Edinburgh match was 

a joy to behold, and as fan-zones and 

match-day activity gets back into full 

swing each week we hope that you all 

enjoy the games and enjoy being back as 

part of that Sea of Blue once more. 

There is a fantastic group of volunteers 

in the OLSC, and their committee, led by 

President Bebhinn Dunne, do a fantastic 

job at every home game turning the place 

blue! And that is before we talk about 

their work away from home! If you are in 

the RDS this evening and have some time 

to spare, calling up to the Laighin Out 

Bar never fails to disappoint and you are 

guaranteed a warm welcome. 

Bank of Ireland is delighted to support 

the work of the OLSC and look forward 

to big days out together at home and 

abroad before the end of the season. 

Enjoy the game, 

CD 


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Did you 

know? 

• Leinster Rugby’s record in 

their last four United Rugby 

Championship matches is won 

two, lost two, but at the RDS 

Arena their only defeat in any 

competition since April 2021 

was 10-20 to Ulster in Round 6 

of this season’s United Rugby 

Championship. 

• Leinster lost their most 

recent match to a Welsh 

region, 27-29 to the Blues 

at the Arms Park at the end 

of January and have not lost 

successive matches against 

Welsh opponents since 2015. 

• Ospreys 23-19 victory at 

home to Edinburgh last time 

out ended a two-game losing 

run in the United Rugby 

Championship. 

• Ospreys have lost their 

last three away matches in 

the Championship since their 

29-26 victory in Treviso on 16 

October. 

• Ospreys have already beaten 

two Irish provinces this 

season, lowering the colours 

of Munster in Round 5 and 

Ulster in Round 7 both at the 

Swansea.com Stadium. 

• Ospreys beat Leinster the 

last time the two sides met, 

at the RDS Arena in March 

2021, whilst Ospreys have not 

won back-to-back matches at 

the venue since they took the 

title in 2012. 

COMPARISON 

Overall URC head-to-head record: 

Played 36, Leinster won 20, Ospreys won 13 with 3 matches drawn. 

Last 3 URC results 

3 Dec - Connacht (H) W 47-19 1 Jan - Scarlets (A) L 19-22 

29 Jan - Cardiff Rugby (A) L 27-29 8 Jan - Glasgow (A) L 19-38 

11 Feb - Edinburgh (H) W 26-7 29 Jan - Edinburgh (H) W 23-19 

2nd - W7 D0 L2 - 35PTS 

WWLWLW (21pts) 

URC 2021/22 

URC form 

Top try scorer 

6th - W6 D0 L4 - 26PTS 

WLWLLW (13pts) 

4 - Adam Byrne, Dan Sheehan 4 - Rhys Webb 

Top points scorer 

51 - Ross Byrne 64 - Stephen Myler 

Date Venue L O Leinster scorers Ospreys scorers 

Sat 24 Mar 

18 

Swansea.com Stadium 18 32 Ross Byrne(P) Barry Daly(T) Joey 

Carbery(C/P) Rory O’Loughlin(T) 

Dan Biggar(3C/2P) Tom Habberfield(T) 

Justin Tipuric(T) Dan Evans(2T) 

Fri 23 Nov 18 RDS Arena 52 7 Max Deegan(T) Ciaran Frawley(7C/P) 

Scott Penny(T) Scott Fardy(T) Bryan Byrne(T) 

Ed Byrne(T) Nick McCarthy(T) Conor 

O’Brien(T) 

Fri 4 Oct 19 RDS Arena 53 5 Ross Byrne(4C/P) Max Deegan(T) 

Harry Byrne(T/C) Joe Tomane(T) Ronan 

Kelleher(3T) Fergus McFadden(T) Michael 

Milne(T) 

Fri 21 Feb 20 The Gnoll 21 13 Ciaran Frawley(2C) Harry Byrne(C) 

Cian Kelleher(T) Josh Murphy(T) Tommy 

O’Brien(T) 

Sun 8 Nov 20 Swansea.com Stadium 26 7 Harry Byrne(3C) James Tracy(T) Peter 

Dooley(T) Scott Penny(T) Dave Kearney(T) 

Fri 19 Mar 21 RDS Arena 19 24 Ciaran Frawley(2C) Harry Byrne(2T) Jamie 

Osborne(T) 

Sam Davies(C) Hanno Dirksen(T) 

Luke Morgan(T) 

Luke Morgan(T) Luke Price(C/2P) 

Penalty Try(T) 

Olly Cracknell(T) Luke Price(P) Josh 

Thomas(T/2C) Owen Watkin(T) Shaun 

Venter(C) 



james 

tracy 

the big interview 

BY RYAN CORRY 

James Tracy 

has been 

around the 

fold of the 

Leinster 

Rugby senior 

team for 

almost 10 

years, making 

his debut in 

November 2012. 


A very recognisable face in the 

dressing room, Tracy has devoted 

a lot of himself to charity during 

that stint in the first team. 

Most recently, for those of you who aren’t 

following the progress on his Instagram 

account, Tracy has undertaken the 

‘Freezbruary’ challenge set by a former 

Leinster player in Damien Browne. 

It’s simple in theory but difficult in 

practice. For each day of this month, the 

hooker is heading off to the coast for 

a dip in the Irish sea with the length of 

time spent in the less than comfortable 

temperatures of the water decided by 

the date. 

Starting with a one-minute swim for the 

first of the month, a minute will be added 

each day until the final dive for 28 

minutes on the 28th. 

The why makes it all seem a lot more 

understandable – Tracy is using the 

challenge to raise money for the 

Punchestown Kidney Foundation. 

“My sister was diagnosed with Multiple 

Sclerosis six years ago and that kind of 

started a sequence of unfortunate events. 

She took a drug to suppress the MS and 

it gave her a rare disease which caused 

kidney failure,” he explains. 

“It’s been a tough time for her but 

through different treatments and chemo 


and stuff now she seems to be on the 

other side of it. Her godfather Al Tracy, 

who is up for uncle of the year, gave her 

one of his kidneys about three months 

ago. 

“James Nolan, who got a kidney off of 

his sister Kathrine, who is married to a 

relation of mine, runs the charity and 

not a cent from it is used for anything 

apart from kidney research, looking after 

people, buying dialysis machines for 

people who need them so they can have 

a better quality of life. And then looking 

after people who are going through the 

transplant or kidney failure or anything to 

do with kidney problems. 

“It’s the Punchestown Kidney Foundation 

and they actually run a charity race every 

year in Punchestown to raise money… 

so it’s a charity close to home and it’s a 

direct connection with what Sara-Jane 

went through. I’ve raised about €7,500 

so far so hopefully we can keep going.” 

As well as the financial support shown for 

the initiative so far, Tracy is lucky to have 

had a few guests with him on individual 

days to join him in the water. 

It’s nice to sink the teeth 

into something outside of rugby 

but I’m still just as hungry for 

rugby as I am with the job. 

While you might think that those guests 

would take a bit of convincing, he’s 

quick to point out that all those who have 

accepted the challenge, if even for a day, 

have all approached him with the offer 

to join. 

Teammates such as Ryan Baird, Dan 

Leavy, Ferg McFadden, Scott Penny, Josh 

Murphy and James Lowe have been a 

part of the challenge while friends and 

family have joined in on alternating days 

too – all making it much more bearable. 

“It’s a mental and physical challenge but 

it’s been good so far! I still have a long 

way to go. 

“The funny thing is everyone who has 

come with me has offered. I think the 

challenge would be a lot harder on your 

own, I have done a few days on my own 

but it’s really been an eye-opener of 

how supportive and lucky I am to have 

friends, family and teammates who are 

all reaching out to me and asking to hop 

in and support along the way. It’ll all help 

to raise awareness one and help me get 

through it two, so it’s been great.” 

It’s become another date in the diary, 

albeit a short-term one, for one of the 

busiest players in the Leinster Rugby 

dressing room. 

Last year, Tracy and wife Ashley 

welcomed their first child, Bay, into the 

world while he’s also now working as 

Business Development Manager for 

Clear Strategy, a Dublin-based Data and 

Analytics Consultancy company. 

Family will always come first but these 

changes have given Tracy a better grasp 

of time management. 

“The new baby has been amazing, 

adjusting to fatherhood and everything 


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that comes along with it. I’d never held a 

baby before until my own so there was 

an adjustment period there. It’s the most 

amazing thing ever, we’re very lucky to 

have a healthy little boy. We live for the 

smiles, the smiles make it all worth it,” he 

says proudly. 

“Your day doesn’t revolve around you 

anymore. Now, you’re providing for a 

little human and your world revolves 

around them. But it’s great, I wouldn’t 

change it for the world, we’re so lucky 

to have him. 

“The job with Clear Strategy was 

something that just came to me 

through meeting people for coffees 

through that journey. I’ve always 

been interested and curious, 

asking for advice and I was 

referred to this job. Once they 

reached out to me, I realised 

that it was a really good fit 

for who I am and what they 

stood for. It’s been a great 

challenge managing my time 

but I’m really enjoying it,” 

he adds. 

“It’s nice to sink the teeth 

into something outside 

of rugby but I’m still just 

as hungry for rugby 

as I am with the job. 

There’s a lot of things I 

can transfer over but it’s 

really helped me to focus 

on my time, even when I’m in 

Leinster as well. 

“BearingPoint are the innovation partners 

of Leinster Rugby. Eric Conway, who is 

a global partner in there now, is a big 


Leinster supporter, a big rugby man and 

a fellow Kildare man, he took myself and 

Peter Dooley for a bit of work experience. 

And again, that helped me along the 

journey as well to where I’m at. That was 

a brilliant chapter and we’re very grateful 

for him for giving us that opportunity.” 

Now back to matters on the field and the 

season so far. 

The emergence of both Rónan Kelleher 

and Dan Sheehan has seen Tracy 

sometimes on the fringes for games this 

season that every player wants to be 

involved in, something that he has been 

unfamiliar with over the last couple of 

years. 

In the five seasons before this one, Tracy 

has played in 19, 18, 26, 24 and 26 

games while so far this year, he’s been 

limited to just five appearances, two of 

those from the start. 

This year’s calendar changes haven’t 

helped but the 30-year-old says the 

competition has fuelled a fire in him once 

again. 

“This season has been quite frustrating. 

I’ve been fortunate over the last few years 

where I’ve been involved in every game 

for probably four or five seasons. It’s hard 

to sit back and not be involved in the 

big games but, if anything, it’s probably 

ignited a fire in me again in terms of my 

competitiveness and kicking into another 

gear because the two boys are excellent 

rugby players and I have to be better,” 

he admits. 

“I get up every day and know I have 

to improve and keep fighting to be in 

the matchday 23. It’s not easy, it’s so 

competitive but it’s good. It gets the juices 

flowing knowing that you have to be at 

the top of your game just to get in the 

squad. 

“We’ve been a bit fortunate now with the 

games that were postponed with Covid, 

that they’ve fallen now in this period. It’s 

a bit of a blessing for anyone who hasn’t 

had too much game time. I’m raring to 

get a few games under my belt.” 

Today presents one of those opportunities 

and regardless of personnel, Tracy says 

that the team’s mentality, goals and set 

up will always be the same. 

Ospreys came to the RDS at this time 

last year and escaped with a late victory 

so motivation, as ever, won’t be lacking 

among the selected Leinster squad. 

Last week’s win against Edinburgh saw 

the boys in blue leapfrog a couple of 

sides up to second in the URC standings, 

now a point off leaders Ulster but with a 

game in hand. 

After the blip against Cardiff, it looks as 

though the train has been set on the right 

track again. 

“We wouldn’t be dwelling too much on 

different parts. We’re very motivated as a 

group. We want silverware and anything 

but silverware is a failure. That’s just 

where our heads are at and that comes 

from chipping away week-on-week and 

building towards the business end of the 

season. We’re very focused on bringing 

home silverware this year. 

“They’re going to fly out of the blocks 

and be hungry. But, I think the great 

thing is that so are we. Like I said, the 

lads who are getting opportunities, 

our motivation is always going to 

be there so it’ll be interesting 

to see who comes out 

better. They play a good 

brand and they’re a 

physical side like all of 

the Welsh regions so it’s 

going to be a great game 


and hopefully we can put on a good 

show.” 

This evening’s game will be even more 

notable for one of Tracy’s teammates, the 

man he will share duties with front and 

centre of the Leinster pack. 

Seán Cronin, if he replaces Tracy, will 

make his 200th appearance for the 

province, on top of almost 70 for Munster 

and Connacht combined. 

“It’s incredible. Two hundred caps is an 

unbelievable achievement and he’s had 

an amazing career. He’s won so much 

and been so consistently good for so 

long. I was joking with him, I don’t know 

how he’s done, what is it, 16 years. I’ve 

done six and I’m falling apart, he’s done 

10 more and he’s still going strong,” 

Tracy laughs. 

“It’s incredible really. He’s a great 

character, I’ve learned a lot off him and 

he’s probably the first kind of explosive, 

rapidly fast hooker in the world. He’s kind 

of changed the profile of what a hooker 

should be. He’s a great lad and definitely 

well-deserving of his 200 caps.” 

With 134 appearances and counting 

to his own name, it’s an understatement 

to say the front row won’t lack for 

experience throughout the 80 minutes 

today. 

We’re very motivated as a 

group. We want silverware 

and anything but silverware 

is a failure. 


Action 

replay 26 7 

LEINSTER RUGBY 

Jamie Osborne (Rob Russell 73); Tommy 

O’Brien, Rory O’Loughlin, Ciarán 

Frawley (Harry Byrne 19), Dave Kearney; 

Ross Byrne, Nick McCarthy (Luke 

McGrath 55); Ed Byrne (Peter Dooley 

55), James Tracy (Seán Cronin 55), 

Michael Ala’alatoa (Vakh Abdaladze 

55); Ross Molony, Josh Murphy (Devin 

Toner 56); Martin Moloney (Alex Soroka 

73), Scott Penny, Max Deegan. 

SCORERS 

Tries: Scott Penny, Nick McCarthy, Vakh 

Abdaladze, Max Deegan. 

Cons: Ross Byrne (3). 

FRIDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 

RDS ARENA 

ATTENDANCE: 8,559 

UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 

EDINBURGH RUGBY 

Henry Immelman; Matt Currie, James 

Lang (Cameron Hutchison 61), Emiliano 

Boffelli; Charlie Savala (Jaco van der 

Walt 72), Henry Pyrgos (Charlie Shiel 

56); Boan Venter (Sam Grahamslaw 

68), Adam McBurney (David Cherry 

53), Lee-Roy Atalifo (Jake Armstrong 

53); Marshall Sykes, Glen Young (Pierce 

Phillips 62); Ben Muncaster, Connor 

Boyle (Kwagga van Niekerk 72), 

Mesulame Kunavula. 

SCORERS 

Trie: Emiliano Boffelli 

Con: Emiliano Boffelli 


We’ve a group 

here that are 

working away 

with limited 

numbers and 

young guys 

coming in who 

did really well. 

The effort was 

outstanding. 

Head coach Leo Cullen 


Energia Women’s All-Ireland League: 

Top Four and Conference 

Round 4 Review 

Blackrock College and Railway 

Union have booked their places in 

the Energia Women’s All-Ireland 

League final, while Suttonians 

will face either Galwegians or 

Ballincollig in the Conference 

decider. 

Blackrock College secured their spot in 

the final after a 44-point haul away to 

local rivals Old Belvedere RFC. With the 

half time score 5-10 to the visitors 

Tries from Maeve Liston, Maggie Boylan 

(2), Michelle Claffey (2), Katie Fitzhenry, 

Dorothy Wall and Aoibheann Reilly saw 

Blackrock come away from the Top Four 

conference with four wins from four. 

A five-try first half salvo got the job 

done for Railway Union away to UL 

Bohemians, with winger Aoife Doyle 

touching down twice in a 31-14 win. With 

the wind behind them, Railway quickly 

got on the scoreboard through captain 

Niamh Byrne and Doyle. Byrne’s classy 

break and pass led to a 15th-minute try 

for Lindsay Peat under the posts. 

Bohs were unable to get their hands 

on the ball, and taking a nice line off a 

scrum, Limerick woman Doyle broke past 

Enya Breen to scamper in for the bonuspoint 

try. Muirne Wall used a quick tap 

penalty to get UL off the mark, but Ireland 

sevens star Eve Higgins replied for 

Railway before the interval, leaving four 

defenders for dead with a brilliant burst 

of pace and deft sidestepping. 

A sustained spell of pressure saw UL 

captain Chloe Pearse power over in the 

50th minute, closing the gap to 17 points, 

but Railway’s strong defence frustrated 

the Red Robins for the remainder of the 

game. 

Suttonians sealed their place in the 

Conference final with young centre Kate 

Farrell-McCabe, who returned from 

Ireland sevens duty, starring with four tries 

in their 34-22 triumph over Ballincollig. 

Galwegians captain Mairéad Coyne 

claimed a brace of tries in a runaway 

41-0 victory over Malone, while Ireland 

sevens captain Lucy Mulhall had a 

successful debut with Wicklow, who 

edged out Cooke 22-17. 

Quick ball from a scrum was fed into 

midfield where Coyne burst through 

for the opening score at Crowley Park, 

before Ursula Sammon thundered clear 

of three defenders for a fine individual 

try, also converted by Emma Keane. After 

‘Wegians won a scrum against the head, 

Coyne tied in two defenders and flicked a 

pass away for Saskia Morrissey to score. 

Centre Megan Walsh was the fourth 

member of the hosts’ back-line to get 

over the whitewash, charging through 

following a turnover on the edge of 

the Malone 22. The rain made for a 

tighter second half, but Niamh O’Grady 

crashed over from close range, Coyne 

crossed again from her own kick through 

and second row Grace Browne Moran 


Energia Women’s AIL Conference 

POS TEAM PL W D L PF PA DIFF TB LB PTS 

1 Suttonians 4 4 0 0 143 59 84 4 0 20 

2 Galwegians 4 3 0 1 123 36 87 3 1 16 

3 Ballincollig 4 3 0 1 78 73 5 2 0 14 

4 Wicklow RFC 4 2 0 2 52 82 -30 1 1 10 

5 Malone 4 0 0 4 32 117 -85 0 2 2 

6 Cooke 4 0 0 4 47 108 -61 0 1 1 

Energia Women’s AIL Top 4 

POS TEAM PL W D L PF PA DIFF TB LB PTS 

1 Blackrock College 4 4 0 0 107 40 67 2 0 18 

2 Railway Union RFC 4 3 0 1 69 50 19 1 1 14 

3 UL Bohemian 4 1 0 3 87 83 4 2 1 7 

4 Old Belvedere 4 0 0 4 22 112 -90 0 1 1 

rounded off the scoring from a crisp line 

of passes. 

Meanwhile, it was celebration time again 

for Wicklow in Belfast – they overcame 

Malone recently for their first ever away 

AIL win – as Ella Roberts’ bonus-point 

try in the final play saw them prevail at 

Shaw’s Bridge 

Broadcast and Venue Details Confirmed 

for Energia Women’s All-Ireland League 

Finals 

Broadcast and venue details have been 

confirmed for the upcoming Energia 

Women’s All-Ireland League finals on 

Saturday, 26 February. 

This year will see the Energia Women’s 

All-Ireland League final broadcast live 

on television for the first time in the 

competition’s history. 

The Women’s Conference final will also 

be televised live as part of a unique 

double header on TG4. 

Energia Park will once again stage the 

finals with the 3rd-4th place play-off 

giving attending fans the chance to enjoy 

three games for the price of one entry. 

Tickets will be available via Ticketmaster, 

with details to be announced in due 

course. 

Saturday, 26 February 

Energia Women’s All- 

Ireland League Final 

Energia Park, 7.30pm (live on TG4) 


Ireland League 

Conference Final 

Energia Park, 4.45pm (live on TG4) 



3rd-4th Place Play-Off 

Energia Park, 2pm (deferred 

coverage on IrishRugby.ie) 



7th-8th Place Play-Off 

Home venue of third-placed 

Conference team, kick-off tbc 

(highlights on IrishRugby.ie) 



9th-10th Place Play-Off 

Home venue of fifth-placed 

Conference team, kick-off tbc 

(highlights on IrishRugby.ie) 

If you are 

interested in 

taking up rugby 

or you would like 

to follow our 

updates, check out 

our social media 

channels: 

Leinster Women’s Rugby 

LeinsterWomensRugby 

@LeinsterWomen 

womenspro@leinsterrugby.ie 


HERE’S TO BEING SHOULDER 

TO SHOULDER AGAIN

SHOP THE 2021/22 LEINSTER RUGBY RANGE NOW, 

EXCLUSIVELY AT LIFE STYLE SPORTS 


leo 

the lion’s 

kids 

corner 

IN A BLUR! 

Can you name this 

leinster player? 

spot the difference! 

Can you find all six? 

ANAGRAMS 

Can you un-jumble the names of these players? 

DEPORT 

WARREN 

HAND SEA 

HEN 

how did you do? 

IN A BLUR? 

SEÁN CRONIN 

ANAGRAMS 

ANDREW PORTER 

DAN SHEEHAN 

ZOOMED IN! 

CONOR O’BRIEN 

zoomed in! 

WHo is this leinster 

player having an 

extreme close-up? 


AJ Products provides unique 

solutions for office, 

warehouse and 

environment 

www.ajproducts.ie

AZTO 

with 

Martin Moloney 

A – Action: If you could be a superhero, 

which would you be? 

Dash from The Incredibles 

B – Boyhood: Who was your favourite 

sporting idol growing up? 

Johnny Doyle 

C – Childhood: What is your favourite 

childhood memory? 

Long puck, All-Ireland Community 

Games 

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

meal? 

Pasta pesto with chicken 

E – Education: What was your favourite 

subject in school? 

Ag. Science 

F – Film buff: What’s your favourite film? 

Sounder 

G – Groove: Who is the best dancer in 

the squad? 

Max O’Reilly 

H – Holiday: What’s your favourite 

holiday destination? 

Malta 

I – Inside: Who is the worst to sit beside 

in the dressing room? 

Cormac Foley, always grumpy! 

J – Joker: Who is the funniest in the 

squad? 

Joe McCarthy 

K – Kick-off: What’s your favourite time 

of the day to play a match? 

Evening 

L – Languages: How many languages 

can you speak? 

Two 

M – Music: Your favourite artist and 

song right now? 

Going Up The Country – Canned Heat 

N – Number: Do you have a lucky 

number? 

Yes – Seven! 


O – Others: What’s your 

favourite sport outside of rugby? 

Hurling 

P – Pal: Who is your best mate in 

the squad? 

Jamie Osborne 

Q – Quirky: Who has the most 

interesting fashion sense? 

Charlie Ryan 

R – Red Carpet: Who is the most 

famous contact in your phone? 

Jamie Osborne 

S – Superstitions: Do you have 

any matchday routines? 

I listen to music on the bus! 

T – Trim: What’s the worst 

haircut you’ve ever had? 

Mullet by Marcus Hanan, 

thankfully fixed by Ciarán 

Frawley! 

U: Under pressure: Who in the 

squad would be the best in a 

bad situation? 

Charlie Ryan 

V – Verified: How often do 

you use social media? 

Everyday 

W – Worst fear: What are 

you most scared of? 

David Hawkshaw 

X – X-ray: Have you ever 

broken any bones? 

Yes – My heel and jaw! 

Y – Youth: Where did you 

grow up? 

Athy 

Z – Zoo: What’s your 

favourite animal? 

Dogs 


THE SPIRIT OF 

UNITED RUGBY 

CHAMPIONSHIP. 

Enjoy responsibly 

DISCOVER THE SPIRIT WITHIN | 

#SAVOURTHEMOMENT

IRFU AND LEINSTER RUGBY CONFIRM 

CULLEN CONTRACT 

EXTENSION 

The IRFU and 

Leinster 

Rugby have 

confirmed 

a one-year 

contract 

extension 

for Leinster 

Rugby Head 

Coach Leo 

Cullen. 

In May last year, Cullen signed 

a rolling one-year contract 

extension with the IRFU and 

Leinster Rugby, with the option to 

extend for a further season at the 

end of 2021/22. 

That extension has now been agreed up 

to the end of the 2022/23 season. 

Speaking to leinsterrugby.ie, Leinster 

Rugby CEO Mick Dawson said, “We 

offered Leo a two-year contract last year 

but were very happy to work with Leo to 

make the situation work for him. It was 

always our intention, all going well, that 

we would sit down again and agree to 

the second year and that has been the 

case. It has been very straight forward 

thankfully. 

“I’d like to thank Leo for his work and 

his dedication and indeed thank his wife 

Dairine, and his wider family, for the 

support they give to him in allowing him 

to be the coach that he is. 

“The job that Leo has done in his time 

as Head Coach has been excellent and 

he has with him, a group of coaches 

and staff, that contribute and drive the 

standards that we have here today 

at Leinster Rugby. They have created 

a hugely positive environment for the 

players over the last few years to perform 

to the best of their abilities. 

“That continuity in our coaching team 

is a vital piece of the puzzle for us, as 

well as having someone like Leo who 

understands the system, our pathway 

and the importance of the clubs and the 

schools to the future success of Leinster 

Rugby. 

“I wish Leo every success for the rest of 

this season and indeed the season to 

come.” 

Cullen, who won 221 caps for Leinster 

and was captain of three Heineken Cupwinning 

squads, was appointed Head 

Coach at the start of the 2015/16 season 

and has led the team to a Champions 

Cup and four PRO14/URC titles in his 

time in charge. 

IRFU Performance Director, David 

Nucifora, commented, “It’s great that 

Leo has again extended his contract to 

remain in his role with Leinster Rugby. 

“The combined strength of Irish Rugby 

lies in the cohesion and alignment we 

have with our provinces and with our 

pathways. Stability in our coaching ranks 

is a key part of what underpins Irish 

Rugby.” 


leinster 

squad 

2021/22 season 

Vakh Abdaladze #1263 

PROP 

DOB: 06/02/1996 

HEIGHT: 1.88m 

WEIGHT: 121kg 

Michael Ala’alatoa #1301 

prop 

DOB: 28/08/1991 

HEIGHT: 1.91m 

WEIGHT: 127kg 

7 

CAPS 

Ryan Baird #1278 

LOCK 

DOB: 26/07/1999 

HEIGHT: 1.98m 

WEIGHT: 113kg 

7 

CAPS 

Adam Byrne #1213 

WING / FULL BACK 

DOB: 10/04/1994 

HEIGHT: 1.91m 

WEIGHT: 98.18kg 

1 

CAP 

Ed Byrne #1222 

6 

CAPS 

Harry Byrne #1280 

2 

CAPS 

Ross Byrne #1236 

13 

CAPS 

Thomas Clarkson #1285 

PROP 

DOB: 09/09/1993 

HEIGHT: 1.8m 


FLY HALF 

DOB: 22/04/1999 

HEIGHT: 1.9m 

WEIGHT: 95kg 

FLY HALF 

DOB: 08/04/1995 

HEIGHT: 1.9m 

WEIGHT: 92kg 

PROP 

DOB: 22/02/2000 

HEIGHT: 1.85m 

WEIGHT: 118kg 


Jack Conan #1223 

24 

CAPS 

7 

CAPS 

Will Connors #1264 

9 

CAPS 

Sean Cronin #1202 

72 

CAPS 

Max Deegan #1256 

1 

CAP 

NO. 8 

DOB: 29/07/1992 

HEIGHT: 1.93m 


BACK ROW 

DOB: 04/04/1996 

HEIGHT: 1.96m 

WEIGHT: 100kg 

HOOKER 

DOB: 06/05/1986 

HEIGHT: 1.78m 


NO. 8 

DOB: 01/10/1996 

HEIGHT: 1.93m 

WEIGHT: 110kg 

Peter Dooley #1230 

Caelan Doris #1268 

14 

CAPS 

Jack Dunne #1276 

Ciaran Frawley #1265 

PROP 

DOB: 04/08/1994 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 

WEIGHT: 117kg 

BACK ROW 

DOB: 02/04/1998 

HEIGHT: 1.93m 

WEIGHT: 107kg 

LOCK 

DOB: 21/11/1998 

HEIGHT: 2.03m 

WEIGHT: 120kg 

FLY HALF 

DOB: 04/12/1997 

HEIGHT: 1.91m 

WEIGHT: 98kg 

Tadhg Furlong #1220 

PROP 

DOB: 14/11/1992 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 

WEIGHT: 125kg 

54 

CAPS 

13 

CAPS 

Jamison Gibson-Park #1247 

SCRUM HALF 

DOB: 23/02/1992 

HEIGHT: 1.75m 

WEIGHT: 80kg 

14 

CAPS 

David Hawkshaw #1290 

FLY HALF / Centre 

DOB: 03/07/1999 

HEIGHT: 1.75m ) 


Cian Healy #1142 

PROP 

DOB: 07/10/1987 

HEIGHT: 1.85m 


114 

CAPS 

2 

CAPS 

Robbie Henshaw #1251 

54 

CAPS 

9 

CAPS 

Dave Kearney #1158 

19 

CAPS 

Hugo Keenan #1253 

18 

CAPS 

Ronan Kelleher #1277 

18 

CAPS 

CENTRE 

DOB: 12/06/1993 

HEIGHT: 1.9m 



DOB: 19/06/1989 

HEIGHT: 1.8m 

WEIGHT: 90kg 

FULL BACK 

DOB: 18/06/1996 

HEIGHT: 1.85m 


HOOKER 

DOB: 24/01/1998 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 

WEIGHT: 105kg 


Jordan Larmour #1258 

30 

CAPS 

Dan Leavy #1231 

11 

CAPS 

WING 

DOB: 10/06/1997 

HEIGHT: 1.78m 

WEIGHT: 90kg 

FLANKER 

DOB: 23/05/1994 

HEIGHT: 1.91m 


for full squad profiles 

please click here 

James Lowe #1262 

9 

CAPS 

Nick McCarthy #1241 

Luke McGrath #1206 

19 

CAPS 

Michael Milne #1279 


DOB: 08/07/1992 

HEIGHT: 1.88m 

WEIGHT: 105kg 

SCRUM HALF 

DOB: 25/03/1995 

HEIGHT: 1.8m 


SCRUM HALF 

DOB: 03/02/1993 

HEIGHT: 1.75m 


PROP 

DOB: 05/02/1999 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 

WEIGHT: 115kg 

Jimmy O’Brien #1272 

Conor O’Brien #1260 

Josh Murphy #1261 

Ross Molony #1233 

LOCK 

DOB: 11/05/1994 

HEIGHT: 1.96m 

WEIGHT: 113kg 

FLANKER 

DOB: 17/02/1995 

HEIGHT: 1.98m 

WEIGHT: 110kg 

CENTRE 

DOB: 06/02/1996 

HEIGHT: 1.91m 

WEIGHT: 100kg 

CENTRE 

DOB: 27/11/1996 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 

WEIGHT: 88kg 

Tommy O’Brien #1283 

Rory O’Loughlin #1248 

1 

CAP 

Scott Penny #1271 

Andrew Porter #1246 

42 

CAPS 

CENTRE 

DOB: 28/05/1998 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 

WEIGHT: 95kg 

CENTRE 

DOB: 21/01/1994 

HEIGHT: 1.88m 


FLANKER 

DOB: 22/09/1999 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 

WEIGHT: 104kg 

PROP 

DOB: 16/01/1996 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 



Garry Ringrose #1237 

39 

CAPS 

Rhys Ruddock #1167 

27 

CAPS 

James Ryan #1259 

42 

CAPS 

Johnny Sexton #1127 

102 

CAPS 

14 

CAPS 

CENTRE 

DOB: 26/01/1995 

HEIGHT: 1.85m 

WEIGHT: 96kg 

BACK ROW 

DOB: 13/11/1990 

HEIGHT: 1.91m 


LOCK 

DOB: 24/07/1996 

HEIGHT: 2.03m 

WEIGHT: 115kg 

FLY HALF 

DOB: 11/07/1985 

HEIGHT: 1.88m 

WEIGHT: 90kg 

Dan Sheehan #1286 

HOOKER 

DOB: 17/09/1998 

HEIGHT: 1.91m 


4 

CAPS 

Devin Toner #1128 

LOCK 

DOB: 29/06/1986 

HEIGHT: 2.11m 

WEIGHT: 127kg 

70 

CAPS 

James Tracy #1211 

HOOKER 

DOB: 02/04/1991 

HEIGHT: 1.83m 

WEIGHT: 106kg 

6 

CAPS 

Josh van der Flier #1228 

FLANKER 

DOB: 25/04/1993 

HEIGHT: 1.85m 

WEIGHT: 103kg 

37 

CAPS 

Coaching 

Staff 

2021/22 season 

LEO CULLEN 

HEAD COACH 

STUART LANCASTER 

SENIOR COACH 

ROBIN MCBRYDE 

ASSISTANT COACH 

FELIPE CONTEPOMI 

BACKS COACH 

EMMET FARRELL 

KICKING COACH AND 

LEAD PERFORMANCE ANALYST 

GUY EASTERBY 

HEAD OF RUGBY OPERATIONS 

DENIS LEAMY 

CONTACT SKILLS COACH 


Official Health 

and Wellbeing 

Partner to 

Leinster Rugby 

Always a beat ahead

Your best support every season 

Managed IT Services IT Disaster Recovery 

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Delivering bespoke IT services from concept, delivery and support 

support@lantech.ie 

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OFFICIAL 

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Official Media Partner of Leinster Rugby

INCLUSION TAG RUGBY 

AT RAILWAY UNION RFC 

The Railway 

Union RFC 

Inclusion 

Tag team 

was setup in 

September 

2021 and now 

train every 

Wednesday 

night at 6pm. 

New members 

are always 

welcome. 

It was important to the club to have 

trainings on at times that the club was 

busy so it was all inclusive. 

They have engaged with local sports 

partnership, local schools, disability 

services and other inclusive teams to 

encourage participation. This was done 

through fliers, email invites and phone 

calls to encourage kids to give tag a try. 

They had fantastic numbers and kids 

During the training sessions children with 

special needs learn new skills such as 

catching, passing, running and tagging 

as well as a new sport, all while having 

fun. 

Often you will see the younger group of 

girls mixing in for skills and drills before 

breaking away to practice in a tag game, 

all of which encourage peer-to-peer 

mentorship and neurodiversity from an 

early age. 

Railway Union offers tag rugby 

to children 5-15 years with special 

needs, providing an inclusive and 

supportive environment in a social 

and sporting setting. 

Planning for the team began prepandemic 

to make Railway Union an 

even more inclusive club. Thanks to the 

support of David McKay from the IRFU 

and the Leinster Rugby branch, our 

coaches were trained up once restrictions 

were lifted. 

Recruitment began with taster sessions on 

Sundays in September 2021, allowing 

coaches to get an understanding of how 

the sessions would run and for children 

to familiarise themselves with Railway 

Union. 

brought their siblings and parents to join 

in too. 

Many of the children have said they had 

never tried tag before and were eager to 

get stuck in. 

The IRFU and Leinster Rugby have been 

fantastic in introducing clubs around 

Dublin for Railway Union to meet, mix 

with and play against. While they have 

only been established for five months, 

they want to continue to grow their 

numbers and play against teams all 

around the county. 

Railway Union would love to have you 

and your friends down. If you want to 

get involved in a coaching or playing 

perspective, please contact Dee 

Roberts on 0892730992. 


North-East Area U-18 Girls 

play first competitive game 

On a crisp cold Monday evening 

in January, the U-18 Leinster 

North-East Girls team made a little 

piece of history at Balbriggan RFC, 

as they took to the pitch for their 

first ever competitive match. This 

historic night was five years in 

the making, with the Area squads 

slowly developing and building 

over those years. The competition 

is the newly established Sarah 

Robinson Cup, named in memory 

of Sarah, a youth player with 

Gorey RFC, who sadly passed 

away in 2019. 

The inter-area competition kicked off in 

October, but as the North-East had a bye 

in the first round, the squad had to wait 

a little longer to finally take to the pitch. 

The cancellation of round two matches 

because of Covid and which were 

due to take place over Christmas was 

disappointing for the team. But it made 

the occasion all the sweeter when they 

finally took to the pitch at Balbriggan on 

January 17 to play their match against 

Metro. 

The extended North-East squad come 

together each week, from their respective 

clubs, to train as one. Under the guidance 

of manager John Fitzgerald and the 

team of dedicated coaches from around 

the North-East, the girls have worked 

hard to develop their rugby skills. Their 

commitment to the North-East squad has 

been inspiring and it has been a joy to 

see girls rugby in the area develop and 

grow as it has. 

The girls were asked what it means to 

them to be part of the North-East U-18 

Girls squad. Here is what some of them 

had to say: 

“Being part of this rugby team is a 

privilege. It is a great honour to be 

selected amongst such a talented group 

of girls. Rugby is hugely important to me; 

there is no better feeling than walking 

off a pitch arm in arm with team-mates 

knowing you played for yourself and 

these other girls. 

“I find North-East U-18 girls is a very 

special team, so many friendships have 

been built with people I would have 

never met otherwise. I now look forward 

to playing teams like Navan, Ashbourne- 

Balbriggan, Skerries and Ardee as there 

is such a friendly rivalry amongst us, but, 

on the pitch with the North-East, club 

teams don’t matter. 

“We all play as a team, for the North- 

East of Leinster. I look forward to training, 

to improve and develop my skills. To have 

coaches and a team as interested and 

dedicated to rugby really inspires me to 

push myself more than I thought I could. 

For this, I thank the coaches and the 

team, it is such an honour to represent the 

North-East alongside such a talented and 

hardworking group of players.” - Aoife 

Purcell, Dundalk RFC 

“I really enjoy being on the North-East 

team, there’s always a great atmosphere 

within the team when we train, even 

though we might have played against 

each other a few days before. Girls 

rugby is growing across the country and 

having this cup and the opportunity to 

play at this level is a huge achievement 

for me and I love every second of 

it.” - Shannon Campbell, Ashbourne- 

Balbriggan Team 

“I love playing rugby. This sport 

relies massively on teamwork and 

competitiveness, while having good 

sportsmanship and professionalism. I 

have been playing rugby since I was an 

11-year-old and love it. It has taught me 

how to work well with others. I, along 

with my club team, currently hold two 

Leinster titles. Through this amazing 

journey I have made lifelong friendships. 

I was blessed to be awarded Player of 


the Year in 2019. I am off to college 

this September and will continue to play 

rugby as long as l can.” - Ava Galvin, 

Navan RFC 

“A few months ago, just after Ashbourne- 

Balbriggan U-18 girls played against 

Navan U-18 girls, a text was sent into the 

North-East group chat asking us players 

what being part of the squad meant to 

us in one word. So many words filled 

the group chat, but two words that really 

encapsulate this wonderful group of 

players were ‘unity’ and ‘dedication’. 

“While all the players on the team come 

from different clubs across North-East 

Leinster and are rivals during the league, 

once those red and black jerseys are on 

our backs we play as one, as a family. 

I am extremely grateful to be part of 

such an amazing squad with dedicated 

players, managers and coaches, and I 

cannot wait to see what the future has 

in store for all of us.” - Naoise Smith, 

Ashbourne-Balbriggan Team 

“Playing for the North-East for us in 

Ardee Rugby Club means forming lifelong 

friendships while gaining experience 

and knowledge of the game. It also 

means being a well-respected player and 

learning that there are pathways in rugby 

for girls at all clubs.” - Caoimhe Stewart, 

Ardee RFC 

“Being part of the North-East team 

will forever be one of my greatest 

accomplishments. Not only for the fact 

that I was chosen to play at such a 

high level, but because I was given the 

opportunity to play alongside some of 

the most talented people I have ever met. 

Despite every girl coming from a different 

club and background, the minute we put 

on the North-East jerseys we become 

united as a team. 

“We play together, not as individuals. 

We work hard, train hard and play 

hard not only for ourselves but for our 

team-mates, our coaches and our parents 

who make the long journeys every week 

to bring us to training and matches. 

Working with people who have the 

same passion for rugby as you do is an 

incredible feeling and opportunity, and I 

am so grateful to have experienced the 

highs and lows of it all alongside a group 

of girls I can proudly call my family. 

“This is my third, and sadly my final 

season playing for the North-East and I 

have enjoyed every single moment of it, 

from the freezing cold Monday training 

sessions to all the celebrations after 

matches, I’ve loved and will cherish it all.” 

- Ally Cullivan, Navan RFC 

‘Is mór an onóir dom a bheith páirteach 

ar an bhfoireann ‘North-East Leinster 

U-18.’ Seachtain i ndiadh seachtaine, 

táimid ag fás agus ag forbairt le chéile 

mar fhoireann. Táimid an-tógtha leis 

an spórt. Is clann mhór í an fhoireann.’ 

Clíodhna Ní Chonchobhair, Ashbourne- 

Balbriggan Team 

The parents are also an integral part of 

the team, supporting the girls by bringing 

them to training each week, standing on 

the sidelines in support, getting involved 

in helping the team, and lots more 

besides. 

‘What are the benefits about rugby or 

in particular girls playing rugby with 

North-East? 

“There are lots, I like that the sport is 

inclusive; that there is a place for every 

girl on the team regardless of body type. 

I like that it’s a team sport and that ethos 

has been ingrained. No one player can 

win on their own; they need the support 

and skills of each other to succeed. I 

admire the coaches who invest so much 

of themselves, to provide opportunities for 

player development. 

“I admire the passion for the game and 

the commitment to train on cold winter 

nights! I like the respect that’s shown to 

each other as players, to the coaches 

and in particular, to the referee. I like 

that a win is celebrated with humility and 

empathy for the losing side. I like that, as 

in life, there are highs and lows that come 

with playing competitive sport and that 

life skills are being developed to deal 

with both. I like that it’s a sport that is 

challenging but smart and rewarding and 

most importantly, when played well, it’s a 

joy to watch!” - Deirdre Cullivan, Parent 

It may have taken five years to get to this 

point, but the journey is just beginning for 

girl’s rugby in the North-East and indeed 

all the other areas. 


compiled by stuart farmer 

media services limited 

Leinster Player 

Statistics 

SQUAD 

CAP 

NO 

DEBUT 

2021/22 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER 

ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR 

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

SINCE LAST TRY 

CAPS 

VAKH ABDALADZE 1263 2 DEC 17 0+4 1 5 0+3 1 5 0+1 - - 0+16 2 10 0+15 2 10 0+1 - - 1 - 

MICHAEL ALA'ALATOA 1301 25 SEP 21 7+4 1 5 6+2 - - 1+2 1 5 7+4 1 5 6+2 - - 1+2 1 5 4 WS 7 

RYAN BAIRD 1278 27 APR 19 4+4 1 5 3+3 1 5 1+1 - - 16+19 7 35 14+14 7 35 2+5 - - 3 IR 7 

ADAM BYRNE 1213 29 DEC 12 4 4 20 4 4 20 - - - 53+8 24 120 43+8 18 90 10 6 30 1 IR 1 

ED BYRNE 1222 9 FEB 14 4+3 1 5 4+3 1 5 - - - 23+54 11 55 23+43 10 50 0+11 1 5 5 IR 6 

HARRY BYRNE 1280 28 SEP 19 2+3 - 10 2+3 - 10 - - - 16+13 6 164 16+12 6 159 0+1 - 5 8 IR 2 

ROSS BYRNE 1236 4 SEP 15 7+4 2 84 5+3 1 51 2+1 1 33 77+38 8 734 63+21 3 522 14+17 5 212 4 IR 13 

THOMAS CLARK- 

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

SON 

JACK CONAN 1223 20 FEB 14 4 2 10 2 - - 2 2 10 84+25 25 125 61+15 16 80 23+10 9 45 2 IR 24 

WILL CONNORS 1264 9 FEB 18 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - 18+7 2 10 17+7 2 10 1 - - 12 IR 9 

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

SEAN CRONIN 1202 28 OCT 11 2+2 1 5 2+2 1 5 - - - 122+77 43 215 78+56 26 130 43+19 16 80 4 IR 72 

MAX DEEGAN 1256 3 DEC 16 2+8 3 15 2+5 3 15 0+3 - - 37+38 21 105 34+27 19 95 3+11 2 10 1 IR 1 

PETER DOOLEY 1230 31 OCT 14 0+4 - - 0+4 - - - - - 40+57 5 25 38+51 5 25 2+6 - - 12 - 

CAELAN DORIS 1268 28 APR 18 7 2 10 4 2 10 3 - - 39+8 7 35 30+6 5 25 9+2 2 10 4 IR 14 

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

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

CIARAN FRAWLEY 1265 17 FEB 18 9+2 1 7 7+1 - 2 2+1 1 5 26+20 5 150 23+15 3 134 3+5 2 16 3 - 

TADHG FURLONG 1220 1 NOV 13 5 1 5 3 - - 2 1 5 78+41 9 45 45+33 3 15 33+8 6 30 2 IR 54 

JAMISON GIBSON-PARK 1247 2 SEP 16 4+3 3 15 2+2 - - 2+1 3 15 53+55 20 100 46+30 14 70 7+25 6 30 2 IR 14 

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

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

CIAN HEALY 1142 5 MAY 07 2+7 1 5 2+4 1 5 0+3 - - 158+82 28 140 92+52 14 70 64+29 13 65 6 IR 114 

ROBBIE HENSHAW 1251 8 OCT 16 3 1 5 2 1 5 1 - - 59+1 12 60 27 6 30 32+1 6 30 3 IR 54 

DAVE KEARNEY 1158 16 MAY 09 1 - - 1 - - - - - 148+22 51 255 122+15 44 220 25+6 7 35 8 IR 19 

HUGO KEENAN 1253 5 NOV 16 8 3 15 5 1 5 3 2 10 35+3 7 35 27+3 5 25 8 2 10 1 IR 18 

RONAN KELLEHER 1277 22 FEB 19 5+2 4 20 2+2 3 15 3 1 5 25+7 13 65 16+5 11 55 9+2 2 10 3 IR 18 

JORDAN LARMOUR 1258 2 SEP 17 7 4 20 4 2 10 3 2 10 59+10 23 115 35+7 16 80 24+3 7 35 1 IR 30 

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 


SQUAD 

CAP 

NO 

DEBUT 


ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR 

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

SINCE LAST TRY 

CAPS 

JAMES LOWE 1262 2 DEC 17 5+1 2 10 4 - - 1+1 2 10 57+1 36 180 38 25 125 19+1 11 55 1 IR 9 

JOE MCCARTHY 1303 29 JAN 22 1 - - 1 - - - - - 1 - - 1 - - - - - - - 

NICK MCCARTHY 1241 19 DEC 15 1+4 1 5 1+4 1 5 - - - 7+34 5 25 7+28 5 25 0+6 - - 1 - 

LUKE MCGRATH 1206 5 MAY 12 7+4 - - 6+2 - - 1+2 - - 109+53 39 195 75+45 31 155 34+8 8 40 13 IR 19 

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

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

ROSS MOLONY 1233 20 FEB 15 9+2 1 5 6+2 - - 3 1 5 73+54 5 25 68+39 4 20 5+15 1 5 4 - 

JOSH MURPHY 1261 3 NOV 17 3+1 - - 1+1 - - 2 - - 45+8 5 25 42+7 4 20 3+1 1 5 13 - 

JAMIE OSBORNE 1294 30 JAN 21 3+2 - - 3+2 - - - - - 5+6 1 5 5+6 1 5 - - - 6 - 

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

JIMMY O'BRIEN 1272 23 NOV 18 5+1 5 25 3 - - 2+1 5 25 31+10 12 62 27+9 6 32 4+1 6 30 2 - 

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

TOMMY O'BRIEN 1283 20 DEC 19 1+5 - - 1+4 - - 0+1 - - 5+10 3 15 5+9 3 15 0+1 - - 11 - 

RORY O'LOUGHLIN 1248 2 SEP 16 4 - - 4 - - - - - 68+23 21 105 61+15 18 90 7+8 3 15 34 IR 1 

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

SCOTT PENNY 1271 23 NOV 18 4 3 15 4 3 15 - - - 27+6 19 95 27+6 19 95 - - - 1 - 

ANDREW PORTER 1246 2 SEP 16 6+1 3 15 3+1 2 10 3 1 5 34+50 14 70 26+31 10 50 8+19 4 20 1 IR 42 

GARRY RINGROSE 1237 12 SEP 15 8 1 5 5 1 5 3 - - 92+2 28 148 57+1 17 93 35+1 11 55 4 IR 39 

RHYS RUDDOCK 1167 6 DEC 09 7+3 1 5 6+2 1 5 1+1 - - 150+48 12 60 112+33 10 50 37+13 2 10 4 IR 27 

ROB RUSSELL 1302 3 OCT 21 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - - - 

JAMES RYAN 1259 2 SEP 17 3 - - 3 - - - - - 47+6 3 15 25+1 1 5 22+5 2 10 13 IR 42 

JOHNNY SEXTON 1127 27 JAN 06 3+2 - 42 2+1 - 22 1+1 - 20 151+27 26 1549 89+20 13 855 60+7 12 663 18 IR 102 

DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 3+5 7 35 3+2 4 20 0+3 3 15 6+15 13 65 6+12 10 50 0+3 3 15 1 IR 4 

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

ALEX SOROKA 1296 28 FEB 21 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - - - 

DEVIN TONER 1128 27 JAN 06 4+3 - - 4+2 - - 0+1 - - 210+63 4 20 144+44 4 20 63+19 - - 56 IR 70 

JAMES TRACY 1211 4 NOV 12 2+3 2 10 2+3 2 10 - - - 59+75 16 80 52+47 15 75 7+28 1 5 2 IR 6 

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

JOSH VAN DER FLIER 1228 11 OCT 14 7+1 5 25 4+1 1 5 3 4 20 82+24 16 80 49+18 8 40 33+6 8 40 1 IR 37 


ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR OVERALL 

KICKING 

SUCCESS 

RATE 

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

% 

- - - HARRY BYRNE 62.50% 5 - - 5 - - - - - 58 6 57 5 1 1 82 78.05% 

ROSS BYRNE 87.50% 31 4 - 17 4 - 14 - - 227 79 1 171 54 1 56 25 - 394 77.66% 

CIARAN FRAWLEY 100.00% 1 - - 1 - - - - - 52 7 - 49 7 - 3 - - 73 80.82% 

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

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

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

JOHNNY SEXTON 80.00% 18 2 - 8 2 - 10 - - 252 294 11 128 171 7 117 119 4 685 79.71% 


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in pictures 

11 February 2022 

Action from the Bank of Ireland 

Half-Time Minis matches between 

Portarlington RFC and Birr RFC 

and Tullow RFC and Naas RFC 

at half-time of the United Rugby 

Championship match between 

Leinster and Edinburgh at the RDS 

Arena in Dublin. 


Photos by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile 



offical leinster 

supporters club 

Friday Night 

Lights had it all 

last week, the 

return to action 

in the RDS, a 

raucous crowd, a 

cold biting wind, 

thankfully no 

rain and a bonuspoint 

win to send 

the majority of 

the 8,559 crowd 

who were in 

attendance home 

happy. 

Tries from Scott Penny, Nick 

McCarthy, Vakh Abdaladze 

and Max Deegan ensured that 

the bitter last minute, one point 

defeat away to Cardiff a few 

weeks back was put behind us 

as we make a massive leap from 

fourth to second in the URC table, 

just a single point behind leaders 

Ulster, but with a game in hand. 

We’re back in action again this weekend 

where we welcome Ospreys to the RDS 

for what is sure to be another exciting 

evening of rugby, but hopefully not too 

much nail-biting as we look to continue 

our ascent back to the top of both the 

URC and Irish Shield tables. 

On behalf of the OLSC Committee we 

would like to extend a warm welcome 

to Toby Booth and the Ospreys team as 

well as all management and backroom 

staff. A big welcome too to the Ospreys 

travelling faithful who will no doubt be in 

full voice as they look to cheer their team 

to victory and so we reckon we’re in for 

an exciting evening of rugby! 

Our form coming into this game as 

we know is having lost two of our last 

five URC games, whilst our visitors are 

currently sitting sixth in the URC table and 

first in the Welsh Shield, having lost three 

of their last five URC games. 

LEINSTER 

Played 9 Won 7 Drawn 0 Lost 2 

For 272 Against 121 

Bonus 6 Points 35 

OSPREYS 

Played 10 Won 6 Drawn 0 Lost 4 

For 203 Against 238 

Bonus 1 Points 26 

We must not overlook the fact however 

that the last time these two sides faced 

off, it was here in the RDS back on 19 

March, 2021, and it was Ospreys that 

day who secured victory on a scoreline 

of 24-19 for what was their first victory 

in the RDS since 2012 and so that 

incredible victory for them is sure to give 

them a spring in their step as they take to 

the RDS turf for kick-off this evening. 

On that evening back in 2021, Player 

of the Match was Ospreys backrow 

Morgan Morris who went home happy 

with a return of: 

Points 0 

Metres Gained 42 

Carries 13 

Tackles Made 16 

Last weekend our own backrow supremo 

Scott Penny left the RDS with his tally 

below and so if these two are on form 

this evening, it’ll be another fascinating 

contest of the back rows! 

Points 5 

Metres Gained 35 

Carries 7 

Tackles Made 20 

As stated so often, but so true, this is 

a game neither side will want to lose 

as both look to build on recent form. 

Ironically both recent victories for us and 

Ospreys were against Edinburgh and 

they’ll be buoyed at displacing them from 

first and their last outing here, whilst we 

wish to return to first so a game neither 

can afford to lose! 

As always we’re thankful for the support 

we as a committee get from Leinster 

Rugby, as well as you the supporters, and 

we encourage you to continue to show 

your support for the team through our 

social media channels. 

Yours in Rugby, 

Your OLSC Committee 


OFFICIAL 

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For more details, 

click here 

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As Official Clean Air Partner to Leinster 

Rugby we are delighted to support the 

team in their pursuit of excellence by 

adding Novaerus Air Disinfection to their 

winning formula. 

Irish-designed and patented Novaerus 

NanoStrike technology strives to give 

Leinster the physical and competitive edge 

by disinfecting the squad and 

management team’s indoor 

air safely, 24/7.

GETTING 

We check social media 

for the latest views 

and thoughts across 

SOCIAL 

the 12 counties 


Virtual Mascot 

Keelan 

McCarthy 

Age: 10 

School: Willow Park, Blackrock 

Hobbies: Rugby, Hurling , Gaelic Football, 

Swimming and Gaming 

Favourite Player: Johnny Sexton 


WHERE ARE 

THEY NOW? 

sean brophy 

THEN: Sean 

Brophy earned 

seven caps for 

Leinster in 

2004. 

NOW: He lives 

in Surrey 

with his 

Liverpudlian 

wife Hannah 

and children 

Aoife (5) and 

Conor (3), 

working as 

Head of Direct 

Lending at 

TriplePoint, a 

London-based 

investment 

firm. 


© Inpho.ie 

Sean Brophy is a runner now. 

He is not running away from anyone 

or even towards anything, more so for 

something. 

The ex-Belvedere College, Clontarf, 

Oxford University and Leinster prop has 

shed many of the kilos needed to put his 

best foot forward in rugby. 

He has completed nine marathons in a 

journey that is just beginning, reserving 

time in his busy life to sweat out the 

demons, preserving his mental health and 

raising money for that of others. 

Pieta House. The Samaritans. Suicide 

prevention charities. 

******** 

The memory is still there. 

As lucid and stinging as the moment, 

five minutes into injury time, when St 

Mary’s College’s Shane Jennings ended 

Belvedere College’s dream of a Leinster 

Schools Senior Cup medal in 1999. 

“I vividly remember the time after that. It 

was like a death in the family, a very big 

family,” says Sean. 

He went on to study economics at Trinity 

College, play for Tony Smeeth and play 

with Kieran Lewis, Trevor Hogan, Roger 

Wilson, Matt McCullough and Jamie 

Heaslip. 

“I played Leinster Schools and, in 2001, 

for Leinster U-21s in the front row with 

Gavin Hickie and Niall Treston,” he says. 

“In 2002, I remember looking at the 

Leinster senior front row and seeing Gav 

and Trezzy. There I was playing against, 

say, Thomond in Division Three of the AIL, 

down in Limerick. 

“I thought: ‘I should be there. I should, at 

least, be in that conversation.’” 

It seems Sean was always a step behind 

and there was a reason for that. 

“It was never a big dream for me to 

play professional rugby. That was the 

difference,” he states. 

“There was the risk of putting all the 

rugby eggs in one basket weighed 

against the reward. Maybe, I was being 

too analytical about it. 

“My concern would have been joining 

the workforce at 30, starting out 10 years 

behind where you think you should have 

been. That was my overarching thought 

process.” 


After Trinity, he went back to play for his 

local club Clontarf, where he had started 

out as a seven-year-old. 

“That was the season I played for 

Leinster,” he says. 

In January 2004, Reggie Corrigan was 

with Ireland, Emmet Byrne was injured 

and Treston had broken his leg. There 

was a hole to be filled. 

Sean’s debut came against Dragons, 

coming off the bench when the scrum 

was being demolished. 

“It was certainly a very different 

experience to playing for Clontarf. 

The scrum was in trouble. But, I was 

surrounded by guys I knew well because 

we had played together in the age 

grades. 

“From a personnel perspective, it was 

fine. From a rugby standard perspective, 

it was a big step-up, very big.” 

Standing on the touchline at Rodney 

Parade, there was a mix of feelings 

coursing through his body and mind. 

“I am generally, calm. This was different. 

I was very nervous at that moment. It was 

a lot to wrap your head around. 

“You absolutely want to get into the 

game. There was no point in going over 

there, putting a jersey on your back just to 

sit on the bench. 

“But, when you see the scrum going 

backwards and it is your job to go in 

there and do something about it, that is a 

different feeling. 

“As you stand there on the sideline, 

waiting to come on, you don’t doubt 

yourself in that moment. Too much time 

has passed. It is all adrenalin. 

“Equally, as soon as I involved which, for 

a prop, means getting into a scrum, it felt 

so much better.” 

One moment stands out above the rest: 

“I don’t even know how this would 

happen. But, I remember tackling Percy 

Montgomery, prop on full-back, and 

thinking, not that I had made it, but that I 

could live here for a while,” he smiles. 

That wasn’t a good season at Leinster for 

a number of reasons. But, he loved all 

seven games. 

“The last scrum I got into for Leinster 

was the last game of the season, again 

against Dragons. 

“I was the only uncapped player in that 

pack. There was Reggie Corrigan, Shane 

Byrne, Malcolm O’Kelly, Victor Costello, 

Eric Miller, Aidan McCullen. 

“I was left with the thought that I was the 

only uncapped player in that scrum and 

that I wasn’t a million miles away from 

holding my own. 

“In the end, that gave me a massive 

amount of pride and it is something that 

stays with me, to look back and know I 

was part of that, even if it was only for a 

matter of months. 

“That pride is definitely still there today 

– my kids Aoife and Conor have always 

had Leinster jerseys ready to go, despite 

being born in London.” 

In May 2004, Sean finished playing 

for Leinster and Clontarf coach Phil 

Werahiko organised a move to New 

Zealand to play in Waikato before going 

to Oxford. 

“I got the call on a Tuesday and was on 

a flight on a Friday. That was magic, just 

magic. 

“I was taken completely out of my 

comfort zone, playing with Marty Holah 

and Rua Tipoki. In a very Kiwi way, they 

took care of you, only when you proved 

you could mix it on the pitch.” 

Even when Sean was a kid, he used to 

watch the Varsity match. 

For whatever reason, he always wanted 

Oxford to win, perhaps because his first 

memory was of Ulster and Ireland outhalf 

David Humphreys playing for them. 

Later, Sean discovered strong ties 

between Trinity and Oxford, including 

their annual match, and coach Steve Hill 

made an offer he couldn’t refuse. 

Oxford became Sean’s focus. Leinster 

and Waikato are just what happened in 

between Trinity and his main aim. 

A call came from Connacht with the offer 

of a two-year contract just after Sean had 

accepted a place to study for a masters 

in geography at Oxford University. 

The analytical mind favoured education, 

knowing the opportunity to play might 

still be there two years later. 

“In my head, that was always my path. If 

professional rugby came before or after 

it, so be it.” 

In August 2004, he made his way to 

Oxford, winning one (2004) and l 

osing one (2005) of the Varsity 

matches. 

“We won one and we don’t talk about 

the other one. In the second one, I was 

sin-binned and Cambridge scored 14 

points in that time. That was the game.” 

In 2006, Sean moved into banking, 

played for Westcombe Park on the 

outskirts of London for a couple of 

seasons, a shoulder dislocation hastening 

the end of his playing career in 2010. 

He quickly learned how transferable 

some of the skills were from the pitch to 

the office. 

“In rugby, you have to have a meticulous 

nature about what you do. You don’t 

even know you have it when you are 

doing it. 


© Inpho.ie 

“I am talking about the finer details, like 

body position, the timing of runs, decoy 

runs, all this stuff you do on a rugby pitch 

that you don’t think twice about because 

you acquire it through muscle memory. 

“When you are in the workplace, that 

doesn’t go away, wanting to do things in 

a meticulous, attention to detail way.” 

It was whilst completing his MBA in 

Imperial College, London, when Sean 

could see the benefit of teamwork in 

rugby, in how different people from 

all over the world with different belief 

systems had to come together in cooperation 

just to get through the course. 

“You also don’t lose that discipline you 

have to have in rugby to get things done. 

You take that with you and the absolute 

requirement to rely on other people.” 

***** 

Now 41, the competitive fire still burns 

brightly enough for Sean to express that 

part of himself through running. 

“When I stopped playing rugby, it did 

leave a hole, in terms of fitness,” he 

states. 

“The running is principally driven by 

mental health, getting really fit and 

having that mental space to clear my 

mind. That is what it is all about.” 

This is when Sean’s rosy remembrance 

gives way to a deeper, more meaningful 

window into the life of a man who sees 

beyond the material. 

“Irish men of my generation all know 

someone who has died by suicide. A 

relative of a very close friend of mine 

was the first time it happened. 

“I am talking about men like Conrad 

O’Sullivan, with whom I played Ireland 

U-21s. It is mad how little everyone 

talks about it. Because of this, I have 

raised money for Pieta House, for the 

Samaritans, for Suicide Counselling 

Charities. 

“Mental health and physical health are 

inextricably related. I know it is not the 

magic cure for mental health issues. 

“But, I have absolutely no doubt that 

most of the running I have done is to 

make sure I am happy in myself, happy 

where I am.” 


Referees 

Corner 

BY DAN WALLACE 

A warm welcome to this 

edition of Referees Corner. 

Today’s match referee is 

Gianluca Gnecchi from Italy. 

Gianluca hails from Brescia 

in Italy where he started 

his refereeing journey. He 

refereed the U-20 Six Nations 

Championship before making 

his PRO14 refereeing debut in 

the match between Zebre and 

Benetton in 2020, where he 

was assisted by fellow Brescian 

referee Andrea Piardi. 

Piardi himself was an assistant match 

referee for last year’s Six Nations game 

between Scotland and Wales and also 

refereed Leinster v Bath in January. 

Gnecchi refereed the 2023 Rugby 

World Cup qualifiers in South America, 

taking the match between Brazil and 

Want to get 

involved? 

Feel free to make contact with the Leinster Rugby Referees 

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

in becoming a referee get in contact with us through our 

Facebook, our website www.leinsterrugbyreferees.ie or 

through twitter @leinsterreferee. 


Chile last July. Gianluca will be assisted 

by Andrew Brace (MAR), Dan Carson 

(USRFR) and TMO Leo Colgan (MAR). 

We wish them all well. 

Our area meetings for February are in 

full swing. This month we look at two 

recent World Rugby Law Clarifications 

and discuss some current trends in the 

game – global law trials, materiality 

and advantage. 

The two law clarifications are: 1. The 

addition of cotton-blend long tights or 

leggings, with single inside leg seam 

under their shorts and socks to permitted 

players clothing. No mention of referees 

being allowed to don leggings on a 

cold day. Whilst women have been 

allowed to wear leggings for some time, 

this is now extended to men as well. 

The second clarification that we 

discussed was that recently there have 

been instances of rucks being extended 

sideways which gets the last player very 

close to the opposition nine when he/ 

she is box kicking. This reduces space 

and the options available to players. 

The clarification states that: Adding 

players to your own side of the ruck, 

in order to advance closer to the 

opposition side of the ruck, as shown 

in the clips attached, squeezes the 

space available and compromises the 

clearance of the ball from the ruck. 

These actions should be discouraged. 

If a player is fully bound and they have 

moved beyond the offside line then they 

must return to be behind the hindmost 

foot before being able to be involved 

in play, once the ball is out or is played 

from the ruck. 

More information at: 

The discussion on advantage is always 

an interesting one. The advantage 

Law as designed allows the game to 

be more continuous and have fewer 

stoppages. Sometimes, during a game, 

an infringement of the Laws may be 

committed where a stoppage in play 

would deprive the non-offending team of 

an opportunity to score. Even though the 

Laws state that the non-offending team 

should be awarded a penalty, free-kick 

or scrum, they are given the opportunity 

to continue with open play and attempt 

to score a try. In this instance, the 

referee will allow play to continue rather 

than penalise the offence. 

Advantage can be applied to either 

minor infringements (e.g. knock-on), or 

offences which would result in a penalty 

(e.g. offside). The decision has to be 

made by the referee as to whether 

there may be more benefit to the nonoffending 

team if play continues. If no 

advantage occurs, the referee will blow 

the whistle and bring play back to the 

place of the original infringement which 

occurred prior to advantage being 

played. 

Sean Gallagher facilitated the 

discussion with some examples of recent 

clips where good and bad advantage 

was played. The key question is often 

- how much advantage should be 

played? 

Materiality is always an interesting 

discussion. Whilst we can see many 

infringements on a field, they do not 

all have consequences for the nonoffending 

team and we can move 

on with the game. Corris Thomas, 

the legendary Welsh referee of the 

1970s (Munster v All Blacks), uses a 

legal principle that is used in public 

law making, to explain the concept of 

materiality: ‘De minimis non curat lex.’ 

This Latin phrase, which translates as 

‘The law does not concern itself with 

trivialities’, is a principle of Law which 

means that even if a technical violation 

of the Law appears to have occurred 

according to the letter of the Law, if the 

effect is too small to be of consequence, 

the violation of the law will not be 

considered as a sufficient cause for 

punitive action. 

This principle, taken from the world of 

law school, is indeed very applicable 

to refereeing a game of rugby. The 

principle does not mean a disregard 

for any Laws, but rather it is an 

encouragement to enforce the Laws, 

but only when the circumstances for 

which those Laws were created actually 

occurs. It is still necessary to accept that 

two criteria must apply to create the 

need to penalise a team in a game of 

rugby: 

• A Law has been infringed, and 

• There has been an effect, of either 

· One team has received an unfair 

advantage, or 

· One side has been denied a fair 

advantage. 


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Successful Your Club 

Your Country draw 

for Leinster clubs 

The Your Club Your Country 

(YCYC) Draw has become a major 

annual fundraising event for 

clubs, organised by the IRFU in 

association with Energia. 

The December 2021 draw was the 

11th Annual Draw in an IRFU initiative 

created to help our rugby clubs. Every 

single cent raised by clubs stays in 

the clubs, one of the key elements 

contributing to its success. It raised over 

€600,000 for club rugby throughout 

Ireland, with a great effort being made 

by many clubs. 

Throughout the pandemic, clubs around 

Ireland have struggled with funding, but 

we are thankful for the support of Sports 

Ireland and the Government along with 

the IRFU. But it is also up to our clubs to 

try and raise funds in these challenging 

times and the YCYC draw offers a 

welcomed opportunity to do this. 

Jane Gilsenan in the IRFU head office 

led the campaign, and in Leinster, this 

season, some extra efforts were made. 

The Leinster Junior Committee was asked 

to drive this initiative and it formed a subcommittee 

lead by Enniscorthy’s Rory 

Fanning. 

This Leinster sub-committee 

enthusiastically went about its work, 

and in particular it was heartened by 

the reaction and support of the very 

hardworking club volunteers throughout 

the 12 counties. 

The sub-committee was drawn from 

clubs across the province with Mark 

Bergin (Athy), Tony Walshe (Wexford 

Wanderers), Shane Delaney (Coolmine), 

Fergus Flanagan (Bective) and Bill 

Duggan (Ashbourne) all joining, and 

they were hugely appreciative for the 

support they got from clubs to drive this 

opportunity forward. 

There were lots of novel ideas to 

encourage support for the draw. It was 

not easy in the middle of the Covid 

pandemic. Clubs got excellent leverage 

in a win-win combination of this draw 

and membership recruitment. 

Use of social media by clubs was also 

key. One club even resorted to recruiting 

the legendary Mrs Doyle from Father 

Ted, urging on ticket buyers with the 

rallying cry: “Go on, go on, go on…” 

Leinster platforms were also used as the 

province rowed in behind this positive 

initiative by the IRFU. 

Sixty-three participating Leinster clubs 

raised just under €400,000 for the 

second year in succession. These funds 

will be used by the clubs to support the 

development of the club and domestic 

game, which is the foundation of rugby 

within the Leinster model. 

With 10 incredible prizes, generously 

donated by the Irish Rugby family of 

sponsors, the draw has continued to 

raise vital funds for clubs during a 

challenging season. The hard work of 

volunteers and the unwavering support 

of club members has given the club 

game a real boost halfway through the 

season. 

The winning tickets of first prize, a trip 

to New Zealand for Ireland’s 2022 

Summer Tour, was sold by Lansdowne 

FC. Second prize went to Roscrea RFC 

and third prize to County Carlow FC. 

Seven of the 10 lucky winners were from 

Leinster clubs. 

Twenty-one clubs sold 1,000 or more 

tickets, raising more than €10,000 each. 

Coolmine RFC sold the most tickets, 

followed by Ashbourne RFC, Suttonians 

RFC and Railway Union RFC. 

If you missed your opportunity to support 

your own local club this season, don’t 

worry. We look forward to an even more 

successful draw next year. Watch out 

for the messaging, support your local 

rugby club, and maybe win an exciting 

top prize. 


ank of ireland 

MATCHDAY MINIS 

Gorey RFC 

Players: Darcie Bailey, Kai Hulin, Rosie Cooper, 

Ava Johnson, Zoe Darcy, Sara Kruczek, Amelia Doherty, 

Isabelle Maher, Mia Doherty, Isabelle Rolland, 

Robyn Fitzgerald, Aisling Rooney, Liliana Gawronska, 

Elly Ryanhart-Kenny, Zara Grouse, Mollie Sheridan, Kate 

van Heerden, Sofia Thompson, Kate Hendy, 

Daisy Vreenegoor 

Coaches: Johan van Heerden, Eric Hendy, Yvonne Howard, 

Kasia Gawronska, Gareth Noctor, Mervyn Bailey 

Balbriggan RFC 

Players Front Row L to R: Nicole O’Reilly Rogers, 

Kathleen O’Donnell, Tara Eason, Chloe McGillivray, 

Jessica Covey 

Players Back Row L to R: Lily Carew, Fiah Magee, 

Lara Nolan, Amelia LeSclotour, Keira Lynch, Aobha Beirne 

Missing from photo: Ava Collins, Aisling Teeling 

Coaches: Mark Lynch, Naoise Howley, Kate McFadden 

Athy RFC 

Players: Chloe Bell, Clara O’Keefe, Claudia Treacy, 

Dearbhla McHugh, Deirbhile Coughlan, Eabha Flynn, 

Elva Mai Greene, Emily Brennan, Emily Howe, Emily Julian, 

Eryka Owens, Eva Harris, Heidi Dowling, Katie Farrell, 

Kate Watchorn, Katie Nolan, Loretta Lawlor, Lucy Whelan, 

Sarah Brennan, Vivienne Lawlor 

Coaches: Lar Nolan, Alicia Whelan 

Railway Union RFC/ 

Lansdowne FC 

Players: Evie Reddan, Orla Rose Gilmore, Mea O’Donnell, 

Mila Williams, Pearl Deane, Amy Deane (Railway Union), 

Megan Dunne, Bronwyn Boyd, Lilah Maher, Edith Maher, 

Chloe Padioleau, Alexia Bouchery, Sophia Doyle, Anna 

Colton (Lansdowne FC) 

Coaches: Daisy Earle, Claire Byrne 


GIVE 

YOURSELF 

A FLOATING 

CHANCE 

If you’re in trouble 

in cold water: 

1 Fight your instinct to thrash around 

2 Lean back, extend 

IF 

your 

YOU 

arms 

GET 

and 

IN TROUBLE 

legs 

IN THE W 

3 If you need to, gently move your arms 

and legs to help you float 

4 Float until you can control your breathing 

5 Only then call for help or swim to safety 

Help save lives. Share our Float to Live advice. 

RNLI.org/RespectTheWater 

CHOOSE A 

LIFEGUARDED BEAC 

FLOAT TO LIVE 

LEAN BACK AND USE YOUR ARMS 

AND LEGS TO HELP YOU FLOAT 

IN AN EMERGENCY, 

CALL 999 FOR THE 

COASTGUARD 

JN22392770 

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea 

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, registered charity number (CHY 2678 and 20003326) 

in the Republic of Ireland. Registered as a charity in England and Wales (209603), Scotland 

(SC037736) and the Bailiwick of Jersey (14), the Isle of Man (1308 and 006329F), the 

Bailiwick of Guernsey and Alderney, of West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ 

#RESPECTTHEWATER

ANSWERING THE CALL 

As you read this article, hundreds 

of RNLI volunteers are on call, 

ready to rush to their lifeboat 

station at a moment’s notice and 

launch to the rescue. Of the 46 

lifeboat stations on the Island 

of Ireland, Leinster is home to a 

quarter of them, From the inland 

lifeboat station at Coosan Point 

on Lough Ree, down along the 

East Coast, from Clogher Head 

in Louth, through the counties of 

Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford, 

lifeboat crews stand with their 

colleagues around the country 

and across the water, waiting for 

the call from someone in trouble 

on the water, to go and save lives. 

Established in 1824, the RNLI (Royal 

National Lifeboat Institution) works to 

save lives and prevent drowning off the 

coast and on inland waters throughout 

Ireland and the UK. Every year in 

Ireland, RNLI volunteer lifeboat crews 

help rescue hundreds of people from 

drowning with the charity saving over 

143,000 lives since its foundation. 

From all-night rescues out to fishing 

vessels and cargo ships, to rescuing 

crews of sailing boats and cruisers, 

often in challenging conditions, RNLI 

lifesavers will always be there to help 

those in danger in the water. There are 

other callouts too, to incidents closer 

to shore involving swimmers, kayakers, 

coastal walkers and all types of water 

users. Anyone can get into difficulty on 

the water and may need help one day. 

Lifeboat crew make the commitment to 

be there to answer that call. Over the 

last five years, volunteer lifeboat crews 

in Leinster alone have rescued 1,702 

people. 

Over 95% of RNLI lifeboat crews are 

volunteers; men and women living and 

working in their local communities. 

They are fully trained and on-call. That 

training has never been more important. 

New crew members will need to know 

how to use hi-tech equipment and 

fast, sophisticated lifeboats, as well as 

providing care to injured or shocked 

casualties. As a result, the RNLI is 

committed to giving crews the highest 

standards of training available. Whether 

they operate on the inshore fleet, which 

carry out rescues closer to land and can 

reach speeds of up to 35 knots or on 

the All-Weather lifeboat fleet, which can 

launch in any weather and go out up 

to 100 nautical miles to sea, the crews 

train every week to be ready to face any 

incident on the water. 

This month, Leinster Rugby have 

announced the RNLI as its latest charity 

partner of the 2021/22 season as part 

of the Charity Affiliate Programme, after 

being nominated by staff at Energia, one 

of Leinster Rugby’s premium partners. 

As well as carrying out rescues, the RNLI 

also aims to save lives by preventing 

people from getting into difficulty on 

the water in the first place. The charity 

provides safety advice and resources for 

all sorts of sea users, from fishermen and 

sailors to motorboaters and beach users. 

The increased use of the sea for leisure 

activities is adding to the demands on 

the RNLI’s lifesaving service and for our 

colleagues in the other search and rescue 

agencies too. With continued support 

from the public, the charity can continue 

to meet that demand and save even more 

lives. 

This support from Leinster Rugby allows 

the charity to reach more people with 

lifesaving messages and water safety 

advice. By sharing this advice with the 

supporters of Leinster Rugby, the RNLI 

is looking to bring an awareness of the 

potential dangers of using the water for 

all types of activity and provide advice 

on what to do if you see someone in 

trouble on the water. 

Ireland is a small island with strong 

coastal and inland communities, many 

people live or holiday near the sea, a 

river or a lough. Every year, on average, 

127 people lose their lives to drowning. 

Simple advice could help save lives. 

The ‘Float To Live’ message is displayed 

beside this article. This one piece of 

safety advice could help someone save a 

life one day. 

For more information and life-saving 

water safety advice, to learn more about 

the work of the RNLI and get involved or 

to support the work of the RNLI in Ireland 

visit www.rnli.org. If you would like to 

donate, please use the link via the QR 

code. 

www.rnli.org 


TO MAXIMISE YOUR SPORTS AND EXERCISE 

PERFORMANCE THROUGH NUTRITION 

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

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

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

Protein Rich. 

Protein provides your muscles with 

the building blocks to repair & grow. 

Carb-Up. 

Carbohydrate foods are king as they 

power high intensity play. 

Fuel-Up. 

Consume the majority of your 

carbohydrates around training to 

support fuelling and recovery. 

Recover. 

Quality rest & nutrition between 

training sessions is the key to 

recovery. Remember to: 

Repair with protein, 

Refuel with carbohydrate, 

Rehydrate with fluid. 

Hydrate. 

Dehydration can lead to a drop in 

exercise intensity & can impact your 

decision making. Drink 2-3 litres of 

fluid each day to ensure hydration. 

Game Day. 

To fuel performance on the field, 

consume a large carbohydrate rich 

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

chicken & pasta, turkey bolognaise 

wraps. 

Get 20% off all Optimum Nutrition products 

using code Leinster20 on optimumnutrition.ie

KNOWING WHAT ADVICE TO TAKE 

IS ESSENTIAL IN THIS GAME. 

beauchamps.ie 

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COUNTRY 

WALES 

HOME GROUND 

SWANSEA.COM STADIUM | THE GNOLL 

FOUNDED 

2003 

CHAMPIONS 

4 | 2011-2012, 2009-2010, 2006-2007, 2004-2005 

The Ospreys were without 20 

players for this URC tie, eight 

away on international duty and 

a further 12 absent through 

injury, including British and Irish 

Lions stars Justin Tipuric, Alun 

Wyn Jones, and George North. 

A shining opportunity then for 

the young Ospreys to raise their 

hands and catch the eye. 

It was a stalemate for the first quarter of 

the game, but two tries from loosehead 

prop Boan Venter, converted by 

Edinburgh outside half Jaco van der 

Walt, gave the visitors a 14-point lead 

with still plenty of the first half left to 

play. 

ospreys 

last time out 

Ospreys 23 

Edinburgh Rugby 19 

Saturday, 29 January | swansea.com Stadium | URC | words: ospreysrugby.com 

The rain kept away for the late afternoon kick-off, but 

it was still bitingly cold under the floodlights as the 

teams ran out, the Ospreys back in their familiar black 

kit and Edinburgh in a striking orange and navy kit. 

Ospreys battled their way back into 

the game, but only one Stephen Myler 

penalty on the scoreboard was the fruits 

of their labour, despite two close calls 

near the Edinburgh line. 

Eleven points separated the two at the 

interval, and Toby Booth would expect 

more accuracy from his side in the 

second half. 

It was the Ospreys that fired the first 

shot in the second half with full-back 

Mat Protheroe running clear over the 

line for the first Ospreys try; and hooker 

Sam Parry benefiting of some cunning 

lineout trickery to barrel over the line 

in the far corner for a try each while 

Edinburgh prop Venter got his hat-trick 

to give them the lead. 


However, a crucial charge-down of the 

conversion from winger Luke Morgan 

denied Edinburgh the extras and two 

calmly slotted penalties from the tee 

from Myler was enough to give the 

hosts a four-point lead in the final 

moments of the game. 

The squad stepped up to hold 

the visitors out and some heroic 

scrummaging and disruption work at the 

breakdown denied Edinburgh a steady 

platform. A final penalty in favour of the 

Ospreys ensured the home crowd had 

plenty to cheer about as the ball was 

kicked into touch to record an important 

victory. 

OSPREYS 

Matt Protheroe; Keelan Giles (Gareth 

Anscombe 51), Michael Giles, Kieran 

Williams (Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler 75), 

Luke Morgan; Stephen Myler, Rhys 

Webb; Nicky Smith (Rhodri Jones 63), 

Sam Parry (Elvis Taione 63), Tom Botha 

(Rhys Henry 63); Rhys Davies, Lloyd 

Ashley (Huw Owen-Sutton 78); William 

Griffiths, Harri Deaves (Morgan Morris 

51), Ethan Roots. 

EDINBURGH 

Henry Immelman; Darcy Graham, Matt 

Currie (Mark Bennett 61), Cameron 

Hutchison, Emiliano Boffelli; Jaco van 

der Walt, Henry Pyrgos (Ben Vellacott 

61); Boan Venter (Harrison Courtney 

73), David Cherry (Adam McBurney 

45), Angus Williams (Jamie Hodgson 

45); Marshall Sykes, Glen Young (Lee- 

Roy Atalifo 45-79); Magnus Bradbury, 

Connor Boyle, Mesulame Kunavula (Ben 

Muncaster 63). 


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Head Coach 

Toby Booth 

Toby Booth joined Ospreys from 

Harlequins in 2020. 

He had joined Quins in November 2019 

as an assistant coach to Paul Gustard. 

He also previously led London Irish to 

the Premiership final in 2009 where 

they suffered a 10-9 defeat to Leicester 

Tigers. That had come after the coach 

had worked his way from an assistant 

academy coach position to the club’s 

top job. 

Captain 

Justin Tipuric 

Wales international Justin Tipuric 

is now into his fourth year as 

captain of the region. 

He was first handed the armband in 

2018/19, taking over from Alun Wyn 

Jones, and the 32-year-old has made 

almost 200 appearances since making 

his debut in 2009. 

He also played every minute of Wales’ 

Grand Slam-winning campaign in 2019. 

He has amassed 85 caps for his country 

scoring 10 tries. 

ospreys squad 

FORWARDS 

ADAM BEARD 

LOCK 

TOM BOTHA 

PROP 

OLLY CRACKNELL 

FLANKER 

SAM CROSS 

FLANKER 

BRADLEY DAVIES 

LOCK 

RHYS DAVIES 

LOCK 

HARRI DEAVES 

BACK-ROW 

MA’AFU FIA 

PROP 

TOMAS FRANCIS 

PROP 

WILL GRIFFITHS 

FLANKER 

RHYS HENRY 

PROP 

WILL HICKEY 

FLANKER 

RHODRI JONES 

PROP 

DEWI LAKE 

HOOKER 

DAN LYDIATE 

FLANKER 

JAC MORGAN 

FLANKER 

MORGAN MORRIS 

NO. 8 

SAM PARRY 

HOOKER 

GARYN PHILLIPS 

PROP 

IFAN PHILLIPS 

HOOKER 

JACK REGAN 

LOCK 

ETHAN ROOTS 

FLANKER 

NICKY SMITH 

PROP 

HUW SUTTON 

LOCK 

ELVIS TAIONE 

HOOKER 

GARETH THOMAS 

PROP 

JUSTIN TIPURIC 

FLANKER 

BEN WARREN 

PROP 

ALUN WYN JONES 

LOCK 

BACKS 

GARETH ANSCOMBE 

FLY-HALF 

MATTHEW AUBREY 

SCRUM-HALF 

CALLUM CARSON 

FULLBACK 

MIKE COLLINS 

CENTRE 

DEWI CROSS 

WING 

ALEX CUTHBERT 

WING 

DAN EVANS 

FULLBACK 

CAI EVANS 

FLY-HALF 

KEELAN GILES 

WING 

JOE HAWKINS 

CENTRE 

LUKE MORGAN 

WING 

HARRI MORGAN 

SCRUM-HALF 

REUBEN MORGAN-WILLIAMS 

SCRUM-HALF 

STEPHEN MYLER 

FLY-HALF 

MAX NAGY 

FULLBACK 

GEORGE NORTH 

WING 

MAT PROTHEROE 

WING 

JOSH THOMAS 

SCRUM-HALF 

TIAAN THOMAS-WHEELER 

CENTRE 

OWEN WATKIN 

CENTRE 

RHYS WEBB 

SCRUM-HALF 

KEIRAN WILLIAMS 

CENTRE 


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Club in Focus 

RATOATH 

Ratoath was not even two years 

old and nothing more than a 

bare field when David Rowland 

walked into the club around 

Christmas 2006. 

“I was brought down there by 

Tony Murphy, the then president 

of the club. He recognised me 

from our playing days and 

pestered me to come on down,” 

he says. 

“I landed down there to find out they 

were trying to push adult participation 

through tag rugby. Embarrassingly, I had 

no idea what tag was at the time. 

“Unfortunately, a gentleman ran down 

the pitch with the ball and I did what I 

was trained to do. I smashed him. 

“I could hear Maura Coulter, a former 

Ireland women’s international, cry out: 

‘Oh, Christ! No, it’s tag’. 

“That was my introduction to the club.” 

Speaking now as club President, David 

remarks: “We were very lucky from the 

start to have 

founding members like Dominic 

Kenna, Derek Gillen, Dave Marrinan, 

Tony Murphy, Richard Whitty, Mark 

Coatsworth, Maura Coulter and others. 

“They had the drive to go out to the 

schools and the community to recruit 

players, and the foresight to get two 

40-foot containers which are still there as 

office portakabins. 

“We converted one into a changing 

room and the other into a kitchen and 

social space, work done by the late Rob 

Kevelighan, who also cemented in our 

first set of goalposts. 

“Rob was a great man, who we sadly 

lost to cancer last spring, and he is very 

fondly remembered,” he notes. 

David began his coaching career with 

the Ratoath U-15s, helping out Dermot 

Doyle and Tony Grehan, quickly realising 

there was no adult team and no place for 

players to go once they graduated from 

age grade rugby. 

In 2008, he started a Veterans team, 

the Legends, which consisted of just 

six players who had played the game, 

Coulter, activated as scrum-half and head 

coach, and 11 who had only played tag. 

The first match was against Coolmine, 


who had agreed to play within the spirit 

of the game, rather than to the letter of 

the law, such was the disparity in basic 

skills. 

They played Coolmine twice, Navan 

twice, Suttonians and Ardee in that first 

season and had to take their lumps and 

bumps. 

The simple exercise of picking up the 

phone and calling anyone and everyone 

living in the area who had ever played 

rugby, David’s version of recruiting, led to 

more bodies and a first ever win for the 

club against Dundalk, three matches into 

the 2009/10 season. 

“I was lucky enough to be chosen as the 

first club captain, an honour I hold higher 

than the club 

presidency, quite simply because it is a 

role given to you by your peers,” says 

David. 

Labelled the fastest growing town in 

Ireland, Ratoath was a prime target for 

the big established 

sports clubs to thrive, with Ratoath GAA 

sprouting wings to win back-to-back 

Meath senior football crowns in 2019 

and 2020. 

Ratoath Harps is a strong force in 

underage soccer and the new rugby 

club improved the product on the field 

steadily, claiming the Magee Cup 

in 2016 with a memorable win over 

North Meath in the final under lights at 

Balbriggan. 

However, the new experience of winning 

and being promoted to a higher level 

was not conducive to progress with many 

veterans on an ageing team choosing to 

hang up their boots after that cup win. 

The younger players struggled to adapt 

to the extra demands that came with 

playing the game at a higher grade. By 


the end of the 2016/17 season, David 

was left with no team to train, and it took 

some work to get the magic back, to hit 

that sweet spot between socialising and 

competing. 

In 2018, David had what he called 

“the good fortune” to connect with past 

Ratoath youth players 

Ross Gillian and Alex Coakley, who 

were playing for St Mary’s and Clontarf, 

respectively. 

A reformed senior team hit the ground 

running to win the Dunne Cup in 2019 in 

a nail-biter against County Carlow. 

Their return prompted a rise in interest, 

strong enough for David to retire from 

playing when a first experience at 

loosehead against Tallaght completed 

his representation in every position in the 

team for the club from the front row to 

full-back. 

“I thought I got away with it the Monday 

after the game. But, Tuesday and 

Wednesday reminded me that while the 

heart is willing, the body is unable to 

keep going,” muses the 43-year-old. 

But David’s influence at the club has 

not waned since hanging up his boots. 

Having a President 

heavily involved in the construction 

business was exactly what the club 

needed to drive their plans forward. 

He has been leaving his mark on the 

club’s facilities for current and future 

We’re a family club. We want 

family-friendly facilities and a 

clubhouse as the beating heart of 

the place. 

generations of rugby players in Ratoath 

to enjoy. 

Redeveloping the facilities is a huge focus 

for the club right now. When the land 

they had been renting for the previous 

10 years came onto the market a 

number of years back, the club set out a 

redevelopment plan and have not looked 

back. 

“Buying the land was a big step, it meant 

we could invest further. Our old pitch was 

little more than a pasture. It was never 

properly drained and was regularly 

unplayable in winter,” says Ratoath 

Chairman Conor Kiely. 

“We got a Sports Capital Grant to help 

with the build of a new pitch, and opened 

it up for play in 2018. It is an excellent 

sand-based pitch, and visitors have 

remarked that it is the finest surface in the 

north-east Leinster area. 

“We’ve recently done the groundwork 

on a second pitch. We brought in a lot of 

top-soil onto what was originally a flood 

plain, built it up and levelled it off. 

“We are hoping to receive a new Sports 

Capital Grant to assist in laying the 

second pitch to the same standard as the 

first. Fingers crossed,” adds Conor. 

But building a new clubhouse is the big 

challenge right now. 

“Our portakabins have served us well for 

changing rooms and a social space, but 

they’re no longer fit for purpose. They are 

dilapidated and have been vandalised 

through the years. 

“We’ve completed the core foundations 

and blockwork for the new clubhouse, 

with roof and windows next up. Then, we 

are into the internal fit-out as well as a car 

park during the summer. 

“Progress has been interrupted by Covid 

more than once, but we fully intend 

to be operational for the start of the 

2022/23 season. We anticipate a busy 

springtime.” says Conor. 

“People have been very good to us. The 

local community really rowed in behind 

a recent car draw, and businesses in the 

area have been supporting us with pitchside 

advertising. 

“We’re lucky to be getting great help 

from David and other friends of the club, 

who are in the construction industry. 

“We would be nowhere without this 

help. So, by the end of the summer, we 

will have a single-story building with 


changing-rooms, showers, and a goodsized 

social space which is probably the 

most important aspect for us. 

“It is just about having an area where 

parents and players can come together 

on busy weekend mornings to have a cup 

of tea and a chat and a few treats after 

a game. 

“We’re a family club. We want familyfriendly 

facilities and a clubhouse as 

the beating heart of the place,” he 

states. 

It doesn’t end there. There are goals to 

add-on to the facilities to make it more 

attractive to current and new players. 

“Beyond the clubhouse and the second 

pitch, we plan to have an astro training 

area and further developments down 

the road, including floodlighting and a 

biodiverse nature walkway. 

“We also plan to have a future phase of 

the clubhouse building. The foundations 

and build were designed to support 

a second storey and we have every 

intention of building upwards a couple of 

years down the road. 

“But, for this year, we just need to open 

it up and enjoy the new space that 

everyone has been eagerly waiting for.” 



chris 

cosgrave 

THE ACADEMY 

INTERVIEW 

BY PAUL CAHILL 

Despite playing in the 

fixture just two years 

ago, last Sunday, in Energia 

Park, Chris Cosgrave 

blended seamlessly into 

the St Michael’s College 

supporters, as he kicked, 

caught and passed every 

ball and cheered on from 

the stands supporting 

his alma mater in the 

first round of the Bank of 

Ireland Leinster Schools 

Senior Cup. 

“I found it really hard to watch,” 

says Cosgrave. 

“It’s strange because I found it more 

nerve wracking watching a game with 

someone I know involved than actually 

playing in a game. I couldn’t control 

anything so I found it much harder to just 

sit there and watch it.” 

That ‘someone’ he refers to is his younger 

brother, Andy, who was a part of the St 

Michael’s Senior Cup team who were 

narrowly defeated by Blackrock College 

last weekend. 

“The atmosphere was great. It always is 

in the Schools Cup, but it was a shame St 

Michael’s couldn’t get over the line.” 

When Cosgrave was able to control the 

outcome of games with St Michael’s, he 

usually came out on top. The versatile 

back claimed a Junior Cup title in 2017 

and a Senior Cup title in 2019. 


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They are days he will never forget. 

“St Michael’s and rugby in the school 

means a lot to me. It definitely set me up 

for the environment in here at Leinster 

Rugby. 

“The way they coach and analyse 

games there is quite professional. I really 

enjoyed all three years of Senior Cup 

and two years of Junior Cup rugby. They 

are really special memories.” 

To highlight how successful Chris’ school 

team was, he is currently joined in the 

Leinster Academy by classmates Mark 

Hernan, Jack Boyle, Andrew Smith 

and Lee Barron, while Will Hickey 

has already made his senior debut for 

tonight’s opponents, Ospreys. 

That’s quite a crop of players to come 

along at once. 

“It made it easier coming into the Leinster 

Academy having played with a lot of the 

lads all the way up. The transition was 

made a lot easier. I also played with 

Alex Soroka and Jamie Osborne all the 

way through the age grade teams too.” 

After an impressive schools career, Chris 

made the jump to full-time rugby earlier 

this year as he began his first pre-season 

with the Leinster Academy. 

“I came up a little bit last year, but this 

has been my first full year training in 

UCD. 

“I came back from the U-20 Six Nations 

with Jamie Osborne and we did a 

couple of weeks with Gordon Brett, the 

Academy Athletic Development Coach 

while the others were on holidays. 

“That gave us a bit of a head start. We 

then started training with everyone when 

they came back, which was brilliant.” 

His first opportunity to impress the senior 

coaches didn’t take long to come as 

he was named in the squad to play the 

pre-season game against Harlequins at 

Aviva Stadium. 

Despite picking up an injury in the first 

half, Cosgrave learned a lot from his time 

in the senior matchday squad. 

“It was brilliant to be involved in that 

game. I had travelled as a reserve player 

before but that was the first game that 

I was in the named matchday squad. 

I didn’t last too long unfortunately, but 

it was great to see the work that goes 

into a match week, and the preparation 

around a match day. I learned a lot from 

that.” 

When the season began, opportunities 

to break into the match day 

squad were hard to come by 

as the Irish internationals and British and 

Irish Lions returned to the squad. 

Like so many other young, contracted 

players, Cosgrave has used another 

avenue to help showcase his talents: the 

Energia All-Ireland League. 

“I’ve been lucky enough to be playing 

senior rugby with UCD since the start of 

the year. It’s been really good. It’s a very 

good standard. It definitely gives you 

great exposure. 

“I think the competitive level of the 

All-Ireland League is so strong because 

there’s lads coming in with 20 or 30 

caps with their provinces playing for 

their clubs which is really driving the 

standards in the league.” 

UCD currently find themselves in midtable 

in Division 1A, but Chris believes 

the students can mount a serious push 

over the next few months. 

“UCD have nine players with the Irish 

U-20 squad at the moment. I think we’ll 

put a good run together after the Six 

Nations. 

“We’ve had a tough year so far 

with a few losses. It’s tough as the 

squad varies quite a lot. But, a 

lot of Leinster players have been 

available this season trying to get 

their minutes up. 

“For example, so far this season, 

we’ve had senior players like 

Josh Murphy, Scott Penny and 

Tommy O’Brien all line out for 

the team, so we have a lot of 

experience to draw on.” 


A perfect example of the quality on show 

in the league this year is UCD’s recent 

32-27 victory over Lansdowne FC. 

O’Brien and Penny were instrumental 

in that victory and were then named 

in the Leinster Rugby matchday 23 the 

following week for the trip to Cardiff, 

where the latter got on the scoresheet 

mid-way through the second half. 

Both then started in the following game 

as Leinster beat Edinburgh 26-7 with 

Penny named Player of the Match. 

If ever there was an incentive for 

any young player, there it is, good 

performances for their clubs won’t go 

unnoticed. 

“I think playing regular Division 1A 

rugby with UCD is a big step in the right 

direction. 

“This is a good window for young 

players in Leinster to show what they can 

do in front of the coaches with so many 

internationals away. But, there’s so much 

depth in every position, you might need 

a bit of luck to get that opportunity. I feel 

like I’m definitely pushing though, and 

that’s the main thing.” 

With so many players getting minutes 

with their clubs at the weekend, 

it means a lot of Leinster 

players meet on a 

Monday morning having 

faced each other in the 

previous 48 hours. 

As you can imagine, those who come 

out on top are quick to let the rest of the 

dressing room know how the game went! 


The training 

here is great. 

The sessions 

we do with 

Stuart are 

really intense, 

but they really 

prepare you 

for going out 

to play for 

your club or 

Leinster each 

week. 

“We definitely have a bit of craic on a 

Monday morning in the changing room. 

Lads are quick to start rubbing it in if you 

got a win over a few of the lads!” 

With six months under his belt as a 

Leinster Academy player, Cosgrave now 

feels at home in UCD. 

While the Academy players are always 

trying to impress and earn their stripes, 

he now knows the staff and other 

personnel around the Leinster Rugby 

building, but he says that there is one 

person who helps everyone feel at ease, 

kitman Jim Bastick. 

The former Army Ranger is a popular 

figure in UCD, and it seems the Academy 

players have taken to him quickly. 

“Jim is a great man. He’s a good fella 

to have around UCD. He always gives 

the Academy boys plenty of time. He 

always has a birthday card ready and 

he makes sure we’re all kitted out too. 

He’s a legend.” 

While Jim can make sure the lads look 

the part, they have to do the business in 

front of the senior coaches. 

Moving into Leinster senior team training 

can be a step up, but Cosgrave believes 

it can only make you a better player. 

“The training here is great. The sessions 

we do with Stuart are really intense, but 

they really prepare you for going out to 

play for your club or Leinster 

each week. They definitely get 

you to that match ready place, 

or even more so sometimes. 

“I think the coaches like to create chaos 

in training to help get us to think clearly 

in those situations. If you are training 

that hard and that fast, when it comes to 

matches you will have seen these pictures 

100 times before and you’ll be ready.” 

There is a lot of adjusting when it comes 

to training with seasoned professionals, 

and there are lots of times the younger 

players may need to ask exactly how it 

should be done, but he is quick to point 

out that every senior player is willing to 

help. 

“They are all very approachable. The 

former St Michael’s lads have all been 

really good with me. Ross Molony, 

Harry Byrne and Ross Byrne, but I think 

everyone is helpful. 

“Everyone is pulling in the same 

direction. They all want you to do well 

so if you went to anyone for advice, they 

would be more than happy to help.” 

Cosgrave has taken each step along the 

rugby ladder in his stride. 

He is clear in what he hopes will be his 

next step – putting on that famous blue 

jersey. 

“I want to keep training well and stay 

injury free. If you can do that, you are 

giving yourself a chance of earning that 

first cap. 

“The main goal of this year is trying to 

play senior rugby. Everything after that 

would be a bonus. Just trying to get your 

name onto that team sheet is the biggest 

thing.” 


Leinster Rugby Academy 

Year Three 2021/22: 


Year two 2021/22: 

Second Row 

Brian Deeny 

DOB: 02/03/2000 

HEIGHT: 1.99m WEIGHT: 121kg 

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (8 caps) 

Did You Know: Brian played youth rugby with Wexford 

Wanderers RFC. He got his first Irish cap playing for 

Ireland Under-18 Sevens. Brian played midfield for 

his school St Peter’s College in Gaelic football and 

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

currently studying Science in Trinity and lives in Abbey 

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

Instagram: brian_deeny 

wing 

Niall Comerford 

DOB: 06/04/2000 


HONOURS: Ireland U20 

Did You Know: Niall played both hurling and Gaelic 

football with Kilmacud Crokes for 14 years. He also 

represented Dublin in Gaelic football in the U17 

Leinster Championship. He is currently studying 

Commerce in UCD. 

Instagram: niall_c123 

Cormac Foley #1299 

DOB: 24/10/1999 



& Leinster Rugby (1 cap) 

Marcus Hanan #1295 

DOB: 03/10/2000 

HEIGHT:1.8m WEIGHT:110.91kg 


& Leinster Rugby (3 caps) 

Scrum Half 

Did You Know: Started playing rugby with Greystones 

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

of show jumping and he is now studying Economics and 

Finance in UCD. 

Instagram: cormacfoley6 

prop 

Did You Know? Marcus is from Clane in Kildare and is the 

youngest of three. His dad went to the High School and then 

played rugby in Old Wesley before coaching back at Clane 

RFC. Marcus has Italian connections on his mother’s side with her 

father, Luigi Rea, being from Italy. Marcus is studying Business 

Management in Griffith College. Instagram: @marcus_hanan 

Back Row 

Martin Moloney #1300 

DOB: 19/10/1999 


HONOURS: Ireland U20 (5 caps) & 

Leinster Rugby (1 cap) 

Did You Know: Martin played hurling for Kildare and 

played GAA and basketball for his secondary school, 

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

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

studying Business and Law in UCD, He also enjoys 

working on the family farm. Instagram: martin_moloney 

Second Row 

Joe McCarthy #1303 

DOB: 26/03/2001 



Leinster Rugby (1 cap) 

Did You Know: Joe started playing rugby with Blackrock 

College RFC at the age of six before moving to 

Willow Park and then Blackrock College. He was also 

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

studying Global Business in Trinity College Dublin. 

Instagram: joetmmcc 

Second Row 

Charlie Ryan 

DOB: 03/02/1999 



Did You Know: Charlie played youth rugby at Blackrock 

College RFC while also attending the school since 

Senior Infants. He captained Ireland to the U20 Grand 

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

friends call him Chuck! He is currently studying Business 

and Legal Studies in UCD. 

Instagram: chuck_ryan5 

hooker 

John McKee 

DOB: 15/02/2000 



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

at Campbell College where he won a Senior Cup. He 

was involved with Ulster at age grade level until moving 

to Dublin after school. He also has multiple medals 

from Northern Irish Schools Judo competitions. 

Instagram: johnmckee_ 

Centre 

Liam Turner #1287 

DOB: 14/07/1999 




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

of six at Blackrock College RFC. He later joined 

Blackrock College and was part of the 2018 Senior Cup 

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

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

studys BESS in Trinity College. Instagram: liamtn123 

Centre / Full Back 

Jamie Osborne #1294 

DOB: 16/11/2001 

HEIGHT:1.93m WEIGHT:96.82kg 

HONOURS: Leinster Rugby (11 caps) 

Did you know? Jamie is studying commerce in UCD. His 

grandad, Paddy Osborne, was a horse trainer in Naas, 

while his dad played rugby all throughout his life and 

his mum played hockey. Other than rugby, Jamie loves 

all sports especially soccer, GAA and NFL. Jamie is 

currently in a house with fellow Leinster Academy players 

Brian Deeny, Martin Moloney and Max O’Reilly. 

Instagram: @jamieosborne01 


Seán O’Brien #1297 

Lee Barron 

Back Row 

DOB: 31/07/2000 




Did You Know: Seán started playing rugby at age 

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

He then played on the Junior and Senior Cup 

teams in Blackrock College. He is currently studying 

Economics and Finance in UCD 

Instagram: seanobrien456 

Hooker 

DOB: 15/02/2001 


Did You Know: Lee played golf growing up in the 

Castle Golf Club and in the end was playing off a 

handicap of eight. He has family roots in Carlow but 

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

As well as rugby with his school, he also played 

GAA and even lined out in Croke Park. 

Instagram: @lleebarron 

Max O’Reilly #1291 

Chris Cosgrave 

Full Back 

DOB: 26/02/2000 



Leinster Rugby (7 caps) 

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

Business and Management in DIT. His preferred sport 

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

played at centre midfield with Enniskerry FC for over 10 

years and also for Wicklow. 

Instagram: max_oreilly 

full back 

DOB: 24/07/2001 

HEIGHT:1.83m WEIGHT:85kg 

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

he is also an Ad Astra scholar studying Agricultural 

Science. His athleticism is best highlighted by his feats 

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

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

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

a young age with Old Belvedere RFC. 

Instagram: @chriscosgrave1 

Andrew Smith #1292 

Mark Hernan 

DOB: 21/07/2000 




DOB: 04/07/2000 


Back Three 

Did You Know: Andrew is currently studying Quantity 

Surveying and Construction Economics in TUD. In 

2019, he won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup with St 

Michael’s College. Andrew also played Gaelic football 

with his local club - Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA Club. 

Instagram: andrew.sm1th 

Flanker 

Did You Know: Mark was coached by Ross Molony, 

Josh Murphy, Ross Byrne and Nick McCarthy when in 

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

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

for Connacht seniors and Ireland u25s. 

Instagram: @mark_hernani 

Alex Soroka #1296 

Temi Lasisi 

Back Row 

DOB: 19/02/2001 

HEIGHT: 1.95m WEIGHT: 104.5kg 



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

Ukraine shortly before his birth. He was born in Cork 

before moving to Dublin. 

Instagram: alex._.soroka 

prop 

DOB: 09/05/2001 

HEIGHT: 1.78m WEIGHT: 115.8kg 

Did You Know: The TUD Mechanical Engineering 

student originally picked up the oval ball in Enniscorthy 

before later moving to Lansdowne FC. Temi rose 

through the ranks in the Youths system, his first outing 

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

He also describes himself as a ‘competent 

pianist’. 

Instagram: @lasisi.temi 


Year one 2021/22: 

Scrum half 

Ben Murphy 

DOB: 23/04/2001 



& Leinster Rugby (1 cap) 

Did You Know: Ben played all different sports growing 

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

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

in UCD. Ben’s father Richie played for Leinster 

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

the current Ireland U-20s head coach. I 

nstagram: @ben._murphy01 

Jack Boyle 

DOB: 10/03/2002 



Rob Russell #1302 

DOB: 13/01/1999 



Prop 

Did You Know: Jack’s father, Herbie, and uncles, Colon 

and Eric, all represented Old Wesley rugby club for 

years. His cousin Stephen Boyle also represented the 

Leinster Rugby youths. Jack is currently studying for a 

Commerce Degree in UCD. 

Instagram: @jackboyle1 

Full Back / Wing 

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

Business and Management in DIT. He started playing 

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

played football up to minor level with Kilmacud Crokes 

and it took priority over rugby until he left school. 

Instagram: @robrussell7 


fixtures and 

results 2021/22 

Date 

25/09 

03/10 

09/10 

16/10 

22/10 

27/11 

03/12 

11/12 

1/12 

1/01 

22/01 

29/01 

11/02 

KO/ 

Result 

W 

31-3 

W 

7-6 

W 

43-7 

Opposiotion Venue 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 1 2 

URC VODACOM 

BULLS 

URC DRAGONS 

Aviva 

Stadium 

Rodney 

Parade 

URC ZEBRE RDS Arena J O’BRIEN 

KEENAN O’LOUGHLIN RINGROSE FRAWLEY LOWE 

SEXTON 

3C 1P 

MCGRATH 

PORTER 

1T 

SHEEHAN 

KEENAN RUSSELL RINGROSE C O’BRIEN O’LOUGHLIN R BYRNE GIBSON-PARK PORTER SHEEHAN 

A BYRNE 

2T 

OSBORNE 

FRAWLEY 

W 

50-15 URC SCARLETS RDS Arena KEENAN LARMOUR RINGROSE FRAWLEY 

1C 

W 

31-15 

URC GLASGOW 

Scotstoun 

Stadium 

KEENAN 

1T 

A BYRNE 

1T 

L 

10-20 URC ULSTER RDS Arena J O’BRIEN A BYRNE HENSHAW 

1T 

W 

47-19 URC CONNACHT RDS Arena KEENAN LARMOUR 1T RINGROSE 

1T 

W 

45-20 HCC BATH Aviva 

Stadium 

L 

0-28 

W 

89-7 

W 

64-7 

L 

29-27 

W 

26-7 

HCC MONTPELLIER 

GGL (Altrad) 

Stadium 

KEENAN 

1T 

HCC MONTPELLIER RDS Arena KEENAN 

HCC BATH 

URC 

CARDIFF 

RUGBY 

Recreation 

Ground 

Cardiff Arms 

Park 

LARMOUR 

1T 

LOWE 

RINGROSE FRAWLEY LOWE 

FRAWLEY 

HENSHAW 

LARMOUR RINGROSE FRAWLEY 

LARMOUR 

LOWE 

LOWE 

1T 

H BYRNE 

SEXTON 

1C 1P 

R BYRNE 

4C 1P 

R BYRNE 

1C 1P 

H BYRNE 

5C 

R BYRNE 

5C 

MCGRATH 

GIBSON-PARK 

MCGRATH 

E BYRNE 

1T 

PORTER 

1T 

HEALY 

CRONIN 

1T 

KELLEHER 

1T 

KELLEHER 

1T 

MCGRATH E BYRNE TRACY 

MCGRATH 

GIBSON-PARK 

2T 

HEALY 

PORTER 

- - - - - - - - - 

KEENAN 

1T 

LARMOUR 

1T 

LARMOUR 

1T 

RINGROSE 

RINGROSE 

FRAWLEY 

HENSHAW 

J O’BRIEN 

1T 

J O’BRIEN 

4T 

J O’BRIEN A BYRNE 1T OSBORNE FRAWLEY O’LOUGHLIN 

URC EDINBURGH RDS Arena OSBORNE T O’BRIEN O’LOUGHLIN FRAWLEY KEARNEY 

R BYRNE 

1T 7C 

SEXTON 

5C 

R BYRNE 

3C 2P 

R BYRNE 

3C 

GIBSON-PARK 

1T 

MCGRATH 

PORTER 

PORTER 

1T 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

KELLEHER 

1T 

KELLEHER 

KELLEHER 

MCGRATH E BYRNE CRONIN 

N MCCARTHY 

1T 

E BYRNE 

TRACY 

19/02 17:00 URC OSPREYS RDS Arena 

25/02 19:35 URC EMIRATES 

LIONS 

05/03 12:55 URC BENETTON 

12/03 19:35 URC ULSTER 

RDS Arena 

Stadio 

Monigo 

Kingspan 

Stadium 

26/03 19:35 URC CONNACHT Sportsground 

02/04 19:00 URC MUNSTER 

Aviva 

Stadium 

08/04 20:00 HCC CONNACHT Sportsground 

15/04 17:30 HCC CONNACHT 

23/04 17:15 URC CELL C 

SHARKS 

30/04 16:15 URC DHL 

STORMERS 

Aviva 

Stadium 

Jonsson 

Kings Park 

Green Point 

Stadium 

20|21/05 TBC URC MUNSTER TBC 


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

ALAALATOA MOLONY J RYAN RUDDOCK 

VAN DER FLIER 

1T 

ALAALATOA MOLONY RYAN RUDDOCK VAN DER FLIER 

ALAALATOA BAIRD TONER LEAVY 

FURLONG MOLONY RYAN 

DORIS 

2T 

PENNY 

1T 

VAN DER FLIER 

DORIS 

DEEGAN 

1T 

RUDDOCK 

CONAN 

FURLONG MOLONY BAIRD DORIS LEAVY CONAN 

TRACY 

1T 

E BYRNE HEALY BAIRD DEEGAN GIBSON-PARK 

R BYRNE 

1T 1C 

TRACY E BYRNE HEALY BAIRD LEAVY N MCCARTHY C FRAWLEY 

KELLEHER 

1T 

SHEEHAN 

2T 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

DOOLEY HEALY MOLONY DEEGAN N MCCARTHY 

HEALY 

1T 

ALAALATOA BAIRD RUDDOCK MCGRATH 

SEXTON 

4C 

R BYRNE 

3C 

OSBORNE 

S PENNY 

[UNUSED] 

RUSSELL 

T O’BRIEN 

E BYRNE ALAALATOA TONER RUDDOCK GIBSON-PARK OSBORNE VAN DER FLIER 

FURLONG MOLONY TONER LEAVY PENNY RUDDOCK CRONIN DOOLEY ABDALADZE DEEGAN CONNORS N MCCARTHY H BYRNE T O’BRIEN 

ALA’ALATOA 

BAIRD 

1T 

TONER 

RUDDOCK 

1T 

VAN DER FLIER 

DORIS 

1T 

KELLEHER PORTER ABDALADZE J MURPHY 

DEEGAN 

1T 

N MCCARTHY 

R BYRNE 

1C 

T O’BRIEN 

FURLONG 

1T 

MOLONY BAIRD RUDDOCK 

VAN DER FLIER 

1T 

DORIS SHEEHAN HEALY ALAALATOA TONER DEEGAN MCGRATH J O’BRIEN T O’BRIEN 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

FURLONG 

MOLONY 

1T 

J MURPHY 

DORIS 

VAN DER FLIER 

2T 

CONAN 

2T 

SHEEHAN 

2T 

HEALY 

ALAALATOA 

1T 

RUDDOCK DEEGAN MCGRATH 

SEXTON 

5C 

LOWE 

1T 

ALAALATOA MOLONY MURPHY DORIS 

VAN DER FLIER 

1T 

CONAN 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

HEALY ABDALADZE BAIRD DEEGAN GIBSON-PARK 

R BYRNE 

2C 

FRAWLEY 

1T 

ALAALATOA TONER J MCCARTHY RUDDOCK CONNORS PENNY 1T TRACY 1T DOOLEY ABDALADZE MOLONY DEEGAN N MCCARTHY H BYRNE T O’BRIEN 

ALAALATOA MOLONY J MURPHY MOLONEY 

PENNY 

1T 

DEEGAN 

1T 

CRONIN 

DOOLEY 

ABDALADZE 

1T 

TONER SOROKA MCGRATH H BYRNE RUSSELL 


matchday 

Squads 

officials 

Jimmy O’Brien 

Jordan Larmour 

Jamie Osborne 

Harry Byrne 

Dave Kearney 

Ross Byrne 

Luke McGrath [C] 

15 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

FULL BACK 

RIGHT WING 

OUTSIDE CENTRE 

INSIDE CENTRE 

LEFT WING 

FLY HALF 

SCRUM HALF 

Dan Evans 

Keelan Giles 

Michael Collins 

Keiran Williams 

Luke Morgan 

Stephen Myler 

Rhys Webb [C] 

REFEREE 

GIANLUCA GNECCHI 

(FIR, 13TH LEAGUE GAME) 

ASSISTANT REFEREE 

ANDREW BRACE (IRFU) 

ASSISTANT REFEREE 

DAN CARSON (IRFU) 

TMO 

LEO COLGAN (IRFU) 

Cian Healy 

James Tracy 

Michael Ala’alatoa 

Ross Molony 

Ryan Baird 

Martin Moloney 

Scott Penny 

Max Deegan 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

LOOSE HEAD PROP 

HOOKER 

TIGHT HEAD PROP 

SECOND ROW 

SECOND ROW 

BLINDSIDE FLANKER 

OPENSIDE FLANKER 

NUMBER 8 

Nicky Smith 

Sam Parry 

Tom Botha 

Bradley Davies 

Will Griffiths 

Ethan Roots 

Harri Deaves 

Morgan Morris 

Seán Cronin 

Peter Dooley 

Thomas Clarkson 

Jack Dunne 

Rhys Ruddock 

Nick McCarthy 

Rory O’Loughlin 

James Lowe 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

Elvis Taione 

Rhodri Jones 

Rhys Henry 

Lloyd Ashley 

Dan Lydiate 

Reuben Morgan-Williams 

Gareth Anscombe 

Tiaan Thomas Wheeler

At Sword we know how important the Game is. 

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

and enjoy yourself, you're in safe hands. 

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

Dublin: 01-6688220 

info@swordsecurity.com 

www.swordsecurity.com 

Securing Sports Fans around the World.

Parting Shot 

7 February 2022 

Wesley College players, from left, 

Shane Pedlow, Tom Geoghegan 

and Liam O’Neill celebrate after 

the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby 

Schools Senior Cup 1st Round 

match between Cistercian College, 

Roscrea and Wesley College at 

Energia Park in Dublin. 


Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Leinster vs Ospreys

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