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Leinster vs Connacht

Leinster | Official Matchday Programme of Leinster Rugby | Issue 11 Leinster vs Connacht | EPCR Heineken Champions Cup Friday 15th April, 2022 | KO 5.30pm | Aviva Stadium

Leinster | Official Matchday Programme of Leinster Rugby | Issue 11
Leinster vs Connacht | EPCR Heineken Champions Cup
Friday 15th April, 2022 | KO 5.30pm | Aviva Stadium

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ISSUE 11 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME<br />

LEINSTER<br />

VS<br />

connacht<br />

FRI 15 th APR<br />

AVIVA STADIUM<br />

KO 5.30PM<br />

FRONT PAGE


POWERED BY NATURE<br />

CRAFTED FOR YOU<br />

TISSOTWATCHES.COM<br />

TISSOT, INNOVATORS BY TRADITION


Newstead Building A,<br />

UCD,<br />

Belfield,<br />

Dublin 4<br />

#LEIVCON<br />

The Line up<br />

Telephone:<br />

012693224<br />

Fax:<br />

012693142<br />

E-mail:<br />

information@leinsterrugby.ie<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie<br />

10<br />

22<br />

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT<br />

President: John Walsh<br />

Chief Executive: Michael Dawson<br />

Honorary Secretary: Stuart Bayley<br />

Honorary Treasurer: Michael McGrail<br />

RUGBY MANAGEMENT<br />

Head Coach: Leo Cullen<br />

Senior Coach: Stuart Lancaster<br />

Head of Rugby Operations:<br />

Guy Easterby<br />

Assistant Coach: Robin McBryde<br />

Backs Coach: Felipe Contepomi<br />

Kicking Coach: Emmet Farrell<br />

Contact Skills Coach: Denis Leamy<br />

14<br />

PROGRAMME CREDITS<br />

Editorial Team: Marcus Ó Buachalla,<br />

Ryan Corry & Paul Cahill<br />

Advertising: Gary Nolan<br />

Design: Julian Tredinnick,<br />

Ignition Sports Media<br />

Photography: Sportsfile<br />

Chief Steward: Sword Security<br />

Ambulance: St. John’s Ambulance<br />

Medilink<br />

Event Control & Safety Services:<br />

Eamonn O’Boyle & Associates<br />

76<br />

88<br />

STAY<br />

CONNECTED<br />

& KEEP<br />

UP-TO-DATE<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 3


EPCR<br />

WELCOME<br />

MESSAGE<br />

A warm welcome<br />

to this Heineken<br />

Champions Cup<br />

Round of 16 match<br />

as the competition<br />

for a coveted<br />

place in next<br />

month’s Marseille<br />

final really begins<br />

to hot up.<br />

The intensity and drama of the knockout<br />

stage will increase this season with the<br />

historic introduction of home and away<br />

legs in the Round of 16, and aggregate<br />

scores over the back-to-back fixtures will<br />

decide which of the elite clubs – with<br />

an impressive total of 28 European titles<br />

between them - qualify for the last eight of<br />

the tournament.<br />

The innovative format will guarantee<br />

two compelling, high-stakes matches<br />

this month featuring stars of the global<br />

game and we can then look forward to<br />

traditional quarter-finals and semi-finals<br />

culminating in the 2022 showpiece final<br />

at the Stade Vélodrome on Saturday,<br />

28 May.<br />

In addition, following the conclusion<br />

of the Heineken Champions Cup pool<br />

stage, Cardiff Rugby, Wasps, Castres<br />

Olympique, Glasgow Warriors,<br />

FRONT PAGE<br />

Northampton Saints and Bath Rugby will<br />

continue their quest for silverware this<br />

season having booked their places in the<br />

knockout stage of the EPCR Challenge<br />

Cup.<br />

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

journey to Marseille by our long-standing<br />

title partner, Heineken, as well as by our<br />

newest official partner, DHL, who provide<br />

customised logistics solutions for both<br />

the Heineken Champions Cup and the<br />

EPCR Challenge Cup, and we would also<br />

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

Gilbert and Kappa for their continuing<br />

support.<br />

We acknowledge the superb coverage<br />

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

beIN SPORTS, France Télévisions,<br />

Channel 4, Virgin Media, S4C and Sky<br />

Italia whose output is complemented<br />

by the wide range of linear and OTT<br />

platforms which broadcast the Heineken<br />

Champions Cup globally.<br />

We recognise that this season has been<br />

particularly challenging for everyone<br />

associated with the game, however,<br />

it is now heartening to see fans back<br />

at venues across Europe and we will<br />

continue to work closely with the leagues<br />

and unions to ensure that the high-profile<br />

matches in the knockout stage of the<br />

tournament can be played safely.<br />

On behalf of all at EPCR, enjoy the match<br />

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

as well as to your club’s players and staff<br />

for what promises to be a riveting Round<br />

of 16.<br />

Yours in rugby,<br />

Dominic McKay<br />

EPCR Chairman


Every great match<br />

starts with 0.0


HEINEKEN ireland<br />

Welcome<br />

A very warm<br />

welcome to the<br />

Round of 16 of<br />

the 2021/2022<br />

Heineken<br />

Champions<br />

Cup. After an<br />

incredibly<br />

challenging<br />

two years,<br />

it has been<br />

truly heartwarming<br />

to see<br />

full capacity<br />

crowds back in<br />

stadia enjoying<br />

sport, of all<br />

codes, over<br />

the past few<br />

months. Huge<br />

credit is due<br />

to all sporting<br />

organisations,<br />

players, and<br />

officials for<br />

their collective<br />

perseverance,<br />

dedication,<br />

and desire<br />

to entertain<br />

the Irish and<br />

international<br />

sporting<br />

publics.<br />

I wish all remaining 16 teams in the<br />

Heineken Champions Cup the very best<br />

of luck. We have some mouth-watering<br />

games to look forward to, in what<br />

promises to be a hugely exciting twolegged<br />

Round of 16. It is testament to<br />

the ever-increasing strength of Irish rugby<br />

that all four Irish teams have advanced<br />

to the business end of Europe’s leading<br />

club rugby competition. It goes without<br />

saying that we in HEINEKEN Ireland<br />

will keep a particularly close eye on the<br />

progress of the home teams. For Irish<br />

fans, the standout tie must be the clash<br />

of <strong>Connacht</strong> Rugby v <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby in<br />

what will be an epic encounter between<br />

two fine teams. Munster Rugby face a<br />

formidable opponent in Exeter Chiefs<br />

and similarly, Ulster Rugby take on the<br />

might of Stade Toulousain in what also<br />

promises to be another very keenly<br />

contested game.<br />

This time of year, brings with it immense<br />

excitement and anticipation, as hopes<br />

and dreams of making the final of<br />

the Heineken Champions Cup final in<br />

Marseille at the end of May become<br />

closer to realisation. We at HEINEKEN<br />

Ireland are immensely proud to be title<br />

sponsor of a tournament that continues to<br />

deliver so many truly memorable sporting<br />

occasions. I have no doubt, more<br />

memories will be made in the coming<br />

weeks.<br />

Enjoy the games and as always please<br />

do socialise responsibly.<br />

Maarten Schuurman<br />

Managing Director, HEINEKEN Ireland.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 7


john walsh welcome<br />

sport should always keep to the forefront<br />

of our minds.<br />

PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2020/22<br />

On behalf of <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby, we welcome<br />

fans back to the Aviva<br />

Stadium for the first<br />

time this year that<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> will grace this<br />

atmospheric home of<br />

Irish Rugby.<br />

This evening’s fixture in the<br />

second leg of the Round of 16<br />

stage of the Heineken Champions<br />

Cup will mark the fourth occasion<br />

this season that we have had a<br />

local derby with our neighbours<br />

<strong>Connacht</strong>. At stake tonight is a<br />

place in the quarter-final so this<br />

game is of vital importance to<br />

both sides.<br />

A slender five-point advantage for<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> from the first leg encounter at<br />

the packed Sportsground in Galway<br />

last Friday night separates the sides so<br />

tonight’s encounter has all the ingredients<br />

to make a classic encounter between<br />

both these talented sides.<br />

The local derbies between our provincial<br />

sides, no matter at what level, are eagerly<br />

awaited by all rugby fans and indeed all<br />

players look forward to that extra spice<br />

that these events generate.<br />

The post-match changing rooms<br />

following a local derby reflects the extra<br />

exhilaration that the winners achieve from<br />

their win while the faces of the defeated<br />

side tell their own story without a word<br />

needing to be said.<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> will be aware that <strong>Connacht</strong> are<br />

a threat to any side as they play with skill,<br />

passion, heart and commitment until the<br />

final whistle. It’s not that long ago since<br />

they defeated <strong>Leinster</strong> in the Grand Final<br />

of the League in 2016 and have beaten<br />

8 | www.leinsterrugby.ie<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> in Galway and Dublin in recent<br />

years.<br />

On behalf of the <strong>Leinster</strong> Management<br />

and Executive Committee we welcome<br />

our counterparts from Connach Rugby<br />

led by Ann Henegan (President and an<br />

outstanding ambassador for her province<br />

and clubs), Willie Ruane (CEO) and of<br />

course Andy Friend (head coach) and<br />

Jarrad Butler and Jack Carty (captains).<br />

<strong>Connacht</strong> are a proud province with<br />

victories over 53 clubs in European<br />

competitions including over top teams<br />

like Toulon and have contributed over 70<br />

players to the Irish side including the likes<br />

of Lions players Ray McLoughlin, Ciaran<br />

Fitzgerald and John O’Driscoll.<br />

While we may be rivals on the pitch we,<br />

at <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby, continue to work with<br />

our colleagues in <strong>Connacht</strong>, Munster<br />

and Ulster for the sustained development<br />

of the game at all levels on this island<br />

and share many common goals and<br />

objectives and long may that be so.<br />

For Irish Rugby to prosper we need<br />

all our provincial teams to continue to<br />

develop and to have a strong presence in<br />

our European competitions. The US Dime<br />

may well be regarded as an insignificant<br />

coin but it bears the significant inscription<br />

of ‘E Pluribus Unum’ (out of many one)<br />

and it’s a message that all involved in our<br />

<strong>Connacht</strong>, like <strong>Leinster</strong>, are building<br />

for the future and both provinces will<br />

shortly embark on major multi-million<br />

Euro development projects at the<br />

Sportsgrounds and RDS Arena which<br />

will significantly increase the quality of<br />

facilities for our fans and players. We are<br />

very appreciative of the support and vote<br />

of confidence that our sport has received<br />

from Government.<br />

A heartfelt thank you to all our <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby supporting partners and sponsors<br />

for standing shoulder to shoulder with<br />

us during this difficult period of the<br />

pandemic.<br />

A special acknowledgement to thank the<br />

Bank of Ireland for their valued support<br />

of Irish rugby.<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby are proud to be<br />

associated with them and with the vision<br />

and participation that they bring to every<br />

aspect of our structures at <strong>Leinster</strong> youth,<br />

schools, girls and women’s rugby, clubs<br />

and <strong>Leinster</strong> representative sides. We<br />

look forward to our continued successful<br />

association.<br />

The <strong>Leinster</strong> domestic season is reaching<br />

its final competition stages. The 75th<br />

Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup<br />

Final will feature Kilkenny and Ashbourne<br />

in what is a repeat of their 2014 final in<br />

which Ashbourne emerged winners to<br />

record their first title win. Cill Dara RFC<br />

will host the final on Easter Sunday in<br />

what promises to be a thrilling final with<br />

two sides in top form of late.<br />

The 100th Bank of Ireland Metropolitan<br />

Cup will take place on Friday, 22 April,<br />

at Energia Park with a 7.30pm kick-off<br />

and will feature Terenure College (10<br />

wins) against Clontarf (six wins). The last<br />

time these teams met in the final was in<br />

2002 when Clontarf won.<br />

The Bank of Ireland <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby<br />

Schools programme has been severely<br />

impacted due to the pandemic and there<br />

was great delight amongst all involved in<br />

our 73 <strong>Leinster</strong>-affiliated schools that we<br />

have succeeded in completing our cup<br />

competitions this season.


<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby annually stages 73<br />

competitions but we couldn’t play<br />

these games without the hard work<br />

and cooperation of our clubs. We<br />

thank all those clubs who made their<br />

facilities available for the competitions.<br />

Congratulations to all those players who<br />

participated in the competitions and the<br />

best of luck in your future journeys in<br />

rugby.<br />

Irish and <strong>Leinster</strong> fans will have been<br />

disappointed to learn that Dan Leavy<br />

has had to retire on medical advice at<br />

the age of 27 following a knee injury<br />

sustained against Ulster three years ago<br />

now.<br />

His glittering career saw him establish<br />

himself as one of the top emerging<br />

international players.<br />

His career with <strong>Leinster</strong> saw him make 79<br />

appearances and play a leading role in<br />

our Heineken Cup win in Bilbao in 2018.<br />

Capped seven times for Ireland at U-20<br />

level, he graduated to the full Irish side<br />

and in 11 appearances for Ireland (never<br />

on a losing side) he was a member of the<br />

Six Nations Grand Slam winning Irish<br />

side of 2018. <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby wish him the<br />

very best for the future and thank him for<br />

his commitment to the club.<br />

The 2011 European Player of the Year<br />

Seán O’Brien has also announced that<br />

he will retire from professional rugby at<br />

the end of the current season.<br />

In a 14-year professional career his status<br />

with fans of <strong>Leinster</strong>, Ireland and the Lions<br />

is iconic.<br />

The ‘Tullow Tank’s’ glittering career<br />

yielded four Heineken Champions Cup<br />

wins with <strong>Leinster</strong> (126 appearances,<br />

20 tries), 56 Irish Caps and two Lions<br />

tours in 2013 and 2017 that yielded 11<br />

appearances and five Test caps.<br />

A passionate supporter of his local club<br />

Tullow RFC he was an example of just<br />

one of the many Irish Internationals to<br />

emerge as a result of the <strong>Leinster</strong> strategy<br />

of building ‘From The Ground Up’ and<br />

the creation of pathways for players to<br />

progress their talents in rugby. Good luck<br />

to Seán from all in <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby for the<br />

future.<br />

Yours in sport,<br />

John Walsh<br />

President <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby 2020-2022<br />

Until we meet again “Keep The Faith”<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 9


Leo Cullen<br />

head Coach Welcome<br />

Good evening and a very warm welcome to<br />

the Aviva for our fourth encounter with<br />

Andy Friend’s <strong>Connacht</strong> team this season.<br />

Last week in Galway, we<br />

saw two fully committed Irish<br />

provincial teams going at it from<br />

first whistle to last and I’m sure<br />

this evening’s game will be no<br />

different.<br />

We really appreciate your attendance<br />

here today. The passionate support that<br />

the Irish provinces enjoy has always been<br />

a great strength when it comes to this<br />

time of year, when so many of these big<br />

European games come down to the finest<br />

of margins.<br />

Amazingly, this is the first knockout game<br />

in Europe here at the Aviva Stadium<br />

in front of supporters since 2019. That<br />

game was against Ulster for anyone who<br />

can remember that far back!<br />

We definitely needed your support that<br />

day and it’ll be the same today. We have<br />

been away to Irish provinces for the last<br />

four weekends in a row so it’s nice to be<br />

back here for such a huge game.<br />

Since our last home game, we have also<br />

had a couple of players making their<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> debuts.<br />

10 | www.leinsterrugby.ie<br />

Congratulations to Temi Lasisi and<br />

Chris Cosgrave on making their <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

bows against Ulster and <strong>Connacht</strong><br />

respectively. Temi has come through from<br />

the clubs pathway where he represented<br />

Enniscorthy before moving on to<br />

Lansdowne.<br />

Chris on the other hand came through as<br />

a schoolboy with St Michael’s College.<br />

I’m sure both lads have had lots of help<br />

along the way to get to this point and we<br />

are thankful for all the volunteer support,<br />

coaching and mentoring that have<br />

helped so many of our players to reach<br />

their potential.<br />

It’s great to welcome Rob Kearney back<br />

‘home’ this weekend. Rob was one of<br />

the unlucky players who had to finish<br />

his <strong>Leinster</strong> career with no supporters<br />

present. On the plus side, he did get to<br />

finish his time here by raising a trophy<br />

with Fergus McFadden at this very<br />

ground.<br />

I’m sure all our supporters will have fond<br />

memories of Rob and some of the huge<br />

performances that he delivered for both<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> and Ireland over a long and<br />

successful career. We hope to draw<br />

on Rob’s vast experience and rugby<br />

knowledge in some way over the coming<br />

years but in the meantime, we wish him<br />

every success whatever path he chooses.<br />

A big welcome to the <strong>Leinster</strong> contingent<br />

who represented Ireland during the<br />

successful Grand Slam winning U-20s<br />

campaign. The lads were simply brilliant<br />

so well done to them and also to Richie<br />

Murphy and his coaching group on a<br />

great campaign.<br />

On a sadder note, we were all very sorry<br />

to hear of the passing of Don Reddan,<br />

father of former <strong>Connacht</strong> and <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

player Eoin, and of course Eoin’s brother,<br />

Alan, who played for both <strong>Connacht</strong> and<br />

Lansdowne.<br />

Don was such a great supporter of<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong>, even though, by his own<br />

admission he was a late convert! He was<br />

also an ever-present at home and away<br />

matches, part of that special connection<br />

with family and friends that means so<br />

much to the team.<br />

We will all miss Don but remember some<br />

great times and special memories on the<br />

road.<br />

Our aim is now to push on and try our<br />

best to experience more of those special<br />

memories, starting this evening. We<br />

realise however that <strong>Connacht</strong> and all<br />

the other teams that lie in wait have their<br />

own aspirations to go on and achieve<br />

success on the biggest stage. That fierce<br />

competition is what makes this tournament<br />

so special and we hope you will stick<br />

with us for the twists and turns ahead.<br />

Many thanks again to all of you and that<br />

includes our loyal sponsors, particularly<br />

Bank of Ireland, for your continued<br />

support. We couldn’t do what we do<br />

without you.<br />

Leo<br />

Enjoy the game and Happy Easter!


www.leinsterrugby.ie | 11


12 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


carla<br />

delaney<br />

DIRECTOR, BANK OF IRELAND AREA EAST<br />

After five away games in a row it’s great to be back enjoying<br />

home comforts in the Aviva Stadium for the second leg of the<br />

Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 clash against <strong>Connacht</strong> Rugby.<br />

Bank of Ireland is a proud<br />

sponsor of all four provinces,<br />

so interprovincial derbies are a<br />

tricky affair at the best of times!<br />

But there is no doubting that<br />

these games bring out the best<br />

in each and every player, and<br />

we certainly saw that on display<br />

in the first leg last weekend in<br />

Galway.<br />

The game was on the line until the very<br />

end, and it was a testament to both teams<br />

that fans on both sides of the divide left<br />

feeling confident of progression ahead of<br />

this evening’s clash. It promises to be an<br />

intriguing game and we wish both teams<br />

the very best of luck.<br />

Over the last few weeks, it has been<br />

great to see Tania Rosser and her<br />

women’s squad assemble for the first time.<br />

Competitive action is some way away yet,<br />

but they will start to build over the coming<br />

months down in Energia Park.<br />

It was brilliant to hear Tania’s thoughts<br />

recently – together with Leo Cullen and<br />

Mick Dawson – when speaking to the<br />

OLSC and Season Ticket Holders about<br />

the future of the game and the future of<br />

women’s rugby. With the Irish women’s<br />

team under a new coaching ticket, and<br />

picking up their first points of the Six<br />

Nations at the weekend against Italy,<br />

there is plenty to be optimistic about. We<br />

in Bank of Ireland can’t wait to get behind<br />

Tania and her team as they take to the<br />

field again in the coming months for the<br />

Interprovincial Championship.<br />

Congratulations to all the clubs and<br />

schools sides who won their respective<br />

competitions over the last few weeks.<br />

To St Michael’s College and Blackrock<br />

College for their respective Junior and<br />

Senior Cup wins, and of course hard<br />

luck to Cistercian College, Roscrea and<br />

Gonzaga College, who both had brilliant<br />

campaigns coming up just short in their<br />

respective finals.<br />

Congratulations also go to St Fintan’s<br />

High School on winning the Bank<br />

of Ireland <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Schools Fr<br />

Godfrey Cup, and to CUS who won the<br />

Vinnie Murray Cup. There are still games<br />

and finals to be played though, and best<br />

of luck to Ashbourne and Kilkenny as they<br />

prepare for the Bank of Ireland Provincial<br />

Towns Cup, the most prestigious of the<br />

club competitions in the 12 counties of<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby.<br />

Finally, to a good friend of Bank of<br />

Ireland’s - Seán O’Brien, who last week<br />

announced his retirement from rugby at<br />

the end of the season. Seán has been<br />

a phenomenal servant to the game in<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> and certainly put Tullow on the<br />

rugby map. There have been some great<br />

days following him in blue and in green<br />

– and indeed in Lions red! We wish him<br />

well in his retirement.<br />

Enjoy the game and may the best team<br />

win.<br />

CD<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 13


14 | www.leinsterrugby.ie<br />

m


oss<br />

olony<br />

the big interview<br />

BY MARCUS Ó BUACHALLA<br />

Second row Ross<br />

Molony made<br />

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

Rugby debut as<br />

a 20-year-old<br />

against Zebre in<br />

February 2015.<br />

Since then, he<br />

has amassed<br />

an impressive<br />

total of 133<br />

appearances<br />

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

Rugby with four<br />

United Rugby<br />

Championships<br />

and a Heineken<br />

Champions Cup<br />

medal to his<br />

name.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 15


It’s fair to say that there isn’t<br />

much he hasn’t seen in a blue<br />

jersey.<br />

This two-week window, however, is one<br />

that neither Molony or his team-mates<br />

will have experienced in their careers – a<br />

back-to-back aggregate tie.<br />

While the same opposition have regularly<br />

popped up in European competition<br />

in successive weekends in the pool,<br />

the combined scorelines add a new<br />

dimension to the fixtures and give players<br />

an extra element to work into decisionmaking<br />

during the week, and most<br />

importantly, on the field throughout the<br />

80 minutes.<br />

“It’s different,” Molony says. “The<br />

concentration for these knockout games is<br />

at a high over the two-week period where<br />

every point matters.<br />

“You can see some of the other games<br />

over the weekend where a team had a<br />

decent lead but then there was a chance<br />

for the other team to put up a few points<br />

and, again, it’s all to play for.<br />

“It doesn’t allow anyone to run away with<br />

it and for us, getting ahead by five points<br />

was important. But, it keeps us focused<br />

and ready for this week.”<br />

This evening’s meeting at Aviva Stadium<br />

is very much in the bracket of ‘all to play<br />

for’ as <strong>Leinster</strong> come back from Galway<br />

with a five-point advantage.<br />

Head coach Leo Cullen referenced in his<br />

post-match media duties following that<br />

game that it was ‘two good Irish sides<br />

going hard at it’.<br />

And, for Molony, the sentiment is the<br />

same, with both sets of supporters adding<br />

extra edge at The Sportsground.<br />

“It always is down there (a battle). I think<br />

we expected exactly what they came out<br />

with, they were quick out of the blocks,<br />

they were on top of us with ball in hand,”<br />

he explains.<br />

“Obviously, the crowd factor, the pitch<br />

factor are big things playing there.<br />

Having played there the two weeks<br />

previous in the league match, we had an<br />

idea of what was coming.<br />

“There’s a bit of a different group going<br />

down in the European game but, yeah,<br />

it was a battle. It was good. It was a<br />

really enjoyable game from a neutral’s<br />

spectating point of view.<br />

“We had a big number of supporters<br />

buses that went down from the OLSC<br />

and we had a serious contingent of fans<br />

behind the goal where we were attacking<br />

in the second half.<br />

“And, especially in away games, that<br />

makes a huge difference when you<br />

can see the flags and hear the <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

chants, the blue in the crowd. So, now<br />

we’re looking forward to tonight where,<br />

hopefully, we’ll have a lot more.”<br />

Last Friday was Molony’s 17th<br />

appearance of the season for the<br />

16 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


When you’re<br />

in camp, you’re<br />

living in there and<br />

there’s a lot of<br />

things I’ve taken<br />

away from that<br />

in terms of doing<br />

your extras, more<br />

recovery stuff<br />

that I’ve added<br />

to my game this<br />

season.<br />

province, 11 of which have lasted the full<br />

80 minutes.<br />

The former St Michael’s College man<br />

has rightly been earning plaudits for<br />

his performances and how he has<br />

established himself over the last number<br />

of years as a mainstay in the side.<br />

The most notable of those<br />

acknowledgements came from Ireland<br />

head coach, Andy Farrell, who included<br />

Molony in international camps last<br />

summer and during the 2022 Six<br />

Nations.<br />

While he’s yet to get that coveted green<br />

cap, the benefit of being included in that<br />

environment, listening to new voices and<br />

training with new faces has not been lost<br />

on him.<br />

“Firstly, it’s great to be involved in that setup,<br />

with that group of players. They had<br />

a very successful tournament and a very<br />

successful autumn series and even before<br />

that, the summer series,” he adds.<br />

“I feel I’m playing good rugby with the<br />

club so getting rewarded from that is<br />

great but now it’s to the next step and<br />

going on and getting the cap.<br />

“I think it’s driven my game on a bit<br />

because there’s a lot of, not detail, but<br />

you’re under the eye a little bit more.<br />

When you’re in camp, you’re living<br />

in there and there’s a lot of things I’ve<br />

taken away from that in terms of doing<br />

your extras, more recovery stuff that I’ve<br />

added to my game this season.”<br />

“It’s refreshing to experience, and be<br />

under, a different coaching staff. I’d be<br />

familiar with Fogs (John Fogarty) in<br />

there but the other lads, I’d never<br />

worked under before.<br />

“It’s great because coaches<br />

pick up cues that they give their<br />

players that they can always go<br />

back to so you get a refreshed<br />

view on parts of your game that<br />

you may not have thought were<br />

an issue before. But now you have<br />

someone else shining a light on it, I think<br />

it’s great for the players to get better but<br />

also for the team to improve.”<br />

For now though, the focus has turned<br />

back to <strong>Leinster</strong> and, having welcomed<br />

back all of the internationals from Six<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 17


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Nations duty ahead of the Munster clash,<br />

Molony is now familiar with being both<br />

one of the returning contingent as well as<br />

being in the core group still grinding in<br />

UCD or Energia Park during that block<br />

of games.<br />

He does outline, however, that with<br />

the team being as close at it is, the ‘reintegrating’<br />

is limited to the vocabulary<br />

around set-pieces and planning.<br />

“I think it’s more to do with the language<br />

around calls and slotting into different<br />

schedules in here to what they’ve been<br />

used to for eight or nine weeks during the<br />

Six Nations.<br />

“It’s a boost for the group here to have<br />

such quality coming back in to drive<br />

the standards in our training. In terms<br />

of the integration, our group here is<br />

pretty tight knit so it’s seamless enough.”<br />

While Molony’s career continues on an<br />

upward trajectory, sadly the opposite<br />

has to be said for his former schools<br />

teammate, Dan Leavy.<br />

The flanker sadly announced last week<br />

that he was being forced to retire from<br />

the game due to that horrific injury<br />

picked up against Ulster in the 2019<br />

Champions Cup quarter-final against<br />

Ulster.<br />

Despite fighting his way back and<br />

making a further 17 appearances, the<br />

flanker was advised not to continue<br />

on medical grounds, saying in his<br />

announcement that “I can’t do any<br />

more or ask any more of my body”.<br />

Having played through school, agegrade<br />

teams and then for <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

together, he’s someone that Molony<br />

has aligned with all of the highlights<br />

he has in the game.<br />

“He announced it to us on the<br />

Monday last week and it was<br />

announced then in public on the<br />

Tuesday. It’s such a tough one on Dan.<br />

“The resilience he’s shown over the past<br />

few years just shows the character of<br />

who he is. Dan was the year ahead of<br />

me in school so I would have played<br />

all of my rugby growing up with<br />

him. I would have seen him as an<br />

inspiration and a leader, he would<br />

have often captained sides that I<br />

was on in school or underage.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 19


“Any of the big moments in my career, I<br />

can remember enjoying them with Dan.<br />

If I was to ever think of a Dream Team<br />

to play a game with, he’s the first name<br />

on that team sheet. I just think the<br />

way he played the game and<br />

the impact he could have as a<br />

single player on a game was<br />

incredible. I’m gutted for him<br />

but I also know the type<br />

of person he is and what<br />

he’s been through,<br />

anything he does next<br />

will be a success.”<br />

Leavy’s retirement,<br />

along with that of Devin<br />

Toner, and a number of<br />

departing players, many of<br />

whom fit the same age profile<br />

as Molony, coming through<br />

the ranks at the same time as him,<br />

provide just another motivating factor to<br />

finish the season on a high.<br />

And, as always, at this stage of the<br />

season, the lock is steadfast in his<br />

assessment that only silverware will do.<br />

“There’s a lot of lads moving on to<br />

exciting challenges. Again, a lot of<br />

my era. I played a lot of underage<br />

rugby with Dools (Peter Dooley), Adam<br />

(Byrne), Josh (Murphy) and Locko (Rory<br />

O’Loughlin).<br />

20 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


“The years that standout to me, like when<br />

the 2015 World Cup was on, I would<br />

have played a lot at the start of the<br />

season and it was with those lads.<br />

“And then the seasons after that if the<br />

internationals were away, it was that<br />

core group that would stay here. There’s<br />

a good group of players moving on and<br />

their new clubs are very lucky to get<br />

them.<br />

“There’s an opportunity for the group to<br />

do something special. We talked about<br />

the lads moving on, the boys retiring,<br />

others moving on to different clubs.<br />

“We talked about there being a good<br />

group here and we want to do something<br />

special on the pitch but there is that<br />

smaller group that we can play for. The<br />

two trophies have to be the goals for<br />

that,” he states.<br />

The next step in that process can only<br />

begin with a win against <strong>Connacht</strong>.<br />

And having seen them up close and<br />

personal last week, Molony believes that<br />

a promising start is important. It’s also<br />

a help to have been able to add some<br />

more faces back to the fold this week.<br />

“It’s going to be about how quickly we<br />

can get ourselves into the game, get<br />

going. As I said, they got out of the<br />

blocks well last week, which we knew<br />

they would do.<br />

“So, for us, being at home, we need to<br />

win the crowd over by getting into our<br />

game quick and putting out our intent<br />

early.<br />

“We have the ability but it doesn’t just<br />

happen, we have to go and make it<br />

happen.<br />

“It’s a good lift for us that we have Ports<br />

(Andrew Porter) and Rónan (Kelleher)<br />

coming back in. The quality that they’ve<br />

shown over the years means they’ll be a<br />

big boost to the wider group. It pushes<br />

lads on even more.”<br />

That push starts at 5.30pm this evening at<br />

Aviva Stadium.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 21


Action<br />

replay 21 26<br />

CONNACHT RUGBY<br />

Tiernan O’Halloran (Conor Fitzgerald<br />

41); John Porch, Tom Farrell (Sammy<br />

Arnold 77), Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen;<br />

Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion (Caolin<br />

Blade 61); Matthew Burke (Tietie<br />

Tuimauga 56), Dave Heffernan (Dylan<br />

Tierney-Martin 70), Finlay Bealham<br />

(Jack Aungier 70); Gavin Thornbury<br />

(Oisin Dowling 52), Leva Fifita; Cian<br />

Prendergast, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler<br />

(Abraham Papali’I 61).<br />

SCORERS<br />

Tries: John Porch, Leva Fifita.<br />

Con: Jack Carty.<br />

Pens: Jack Carty (3).<br />

FRIDAY APRIL 8, 2022<br />

THE SPORTSGROUND<br />

ATTENDANCE: 8,129<br />

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP<br />

LEINSTER RUGBY<br />

Hugo Keenan; Jimmy O’Brien, Garry<br />

Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw (Ciarán<br />

Frawley 73), James Lowe; Johnny Sexton<br />

(Ross Byrne 68), Luke McGrath (Jamison<br />

Gibson-Park 50); Cian Healy (Ed Byrne<br />

50), Dan Sheehan (James Tracy 62),<br />

Tadhg Furlong (Michael Ala’alatoa 62);<br />

Ross Molony, Josh Murphy (Devin Toner<br />

70); Caelan Doris (Max Deegan 78),<br />

Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.<br />

SCORERS<br />

Tries: James Lowe (2), Hugo Keenan.<br />

Con: Johnny Sexton.<br />

Pens: Johnny Sexton (2), Ross Byrne.<br />

22 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Two Irish teams<br />

going hard at<br />

it. That’s what<br />

you want to see.<br />

There was good<br />

intent to play<br />

from both teams.<br />

Leo Cullen<br />

It’s a tough<br />

place to come.<br />

We were here<br />

two weeks<br />

ago in the URC<br />

but this was<br />

a different<br />

animal. It was a<br />

big occasion for<br />

both teams and<br />

we’re looking<br />

forward to<br />

going up against<br />

them again.<br />

Caelan Doris,<br />

Heineken Star of the Match<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 23


NORTH-EAST CLINCH<br />

U-16 SHANE HORGAN CUP<br />

The fourth<br />

round of<br />

matches in<br />

the Bank<br />

of Ireland<br />

U-16 Shane<br />

Horgan Cup<br />

took place at<br />

Energia Park<br />

on Wednesday<br />

afternoon.<br />

They resulted in wins for North-<br />

East, who also claimed this year’s<br />

title, and North Midlands.<br />

North-East 60<br />

Midlands 20<br />

An impressive North-East<br />

completed a clean sweep to<br />

become champions when posting<br />

10 tries against Midlands.<br />

They blasted out of the blocks with an<br />

opening statement of intent that included<br />

a blistering break and offload by fullback<br />

Delcan O’Connor for loosehead<br />

Griffin Carrick to speed over, Jack<br />

Litchfield converting in the first minute.<br />

Midlands did not stand on ceremony,<br />

flanker Callum Mulligan showing good<br />

footwork and No 8 John Casey getting<br />

on the ball.<br />

Front-rowers Carrick and Max Ward<br />

looked comfortable moving the ball<br />

before lock Chuck Ohawaga and centre<br />

Harley Harold both got to within five<br />

metres of the second try.<br />

Midlands couldn’t afford to go on in<br />

defensive mode. Centre Eoin Conlon and<br />

the big left boot of Oisin O’Hara gave<br />

them room to breathe.<br />

24 | www.leinsterrugby.ie<br />

The dam had to burst when hooker Ward<br />

was given too much room by accurate<br />

passing on the inside for 12-0 in the 15th<br />

minute.<br />

North-East were on the move again<br />

when a pass went astray and Midlands<br />

centre Cody Broderick snapped up the<br />

half-chance to stay ahead of the posse<br />

for an opportunist try.<br />

The long kicking of out-half O’Hara<br />

led to another impressive cameo from<br />

Mulligan, adding pace to a nice move<br />

for a superb try, for 12-10 in the 23rd<br />

minute.<br />

A sustained attack from North-East<br />

ripped through phases as backs and<br />

forwards handled easily for Ward to<br />

punch in his second try, Litchfield’s<br />

conversion making it 19-10 at the<br />

interval.<br />

It was the Midlands who started the<br />

better in the new half, Mulligan to the<br />

fore in creating the front foot for centre<br />

Broderick to go close and replacement<br />

James Grehan to be stopped in his tracks<br />

by Seamus Evans.<br />

In a flash, the North-East were breaking<br />

upfield for Carrick to shoot through a<br />

small gap, having the pace to resist<br />

O’Hara for 24-10 in the 35th minute.<br />

When suffocating defence forced an<br />

error in handling, a Harold hack ahead<br />

put North-East in position to strike again,<br />

tighthead Ciaran Scott bouncing out of a<br />

tackle to ground the ball.<br />

It went from bad to worse for Midlands<br />

when a raid down the right enabled<br />

Litchfield to come on to the ball at pace<br />

to ghost home<br />

Suddenly, North-East were in overdrive,<br />

turning possession into points in a<br />

hurry, Aidan Rennie streaking down the<br />

left before replacement Hugh Keogh<br />

followed suit from distance for converted<br />

tries.<br />

Midlands did find a response from<br />

second row Jake Kenny’s barrelling run<br />

before Luke Fagan barged over for Philip<br />

Smyth to convert for North-East.<br />

Tiring limbs made for leaky defences and<br />

Midlands full-back Andrew Hill was next<br />

to take advantage on the right before<br />

Evan Shelly answered from a quickstriking<br />

attack.<br />

Scorers – North-East: M Ward, G<br />

Carrick two tries each; C Scott, H Keogh,<br />

L Fagan, E Shelly try each; J Litchfield try,<br />

four cons; P Smyth try, con. Midlands: C<br />

Mulligan, C Broderick, J Kenny, A Hill<br />

try each.


North-East – Declan O’Connor (Navan);<br />

Seamus Evans (Navan), Shaun O’Reilly<br />

(Navan), Harley Harold (Balbriggan),<br />

Dara McFadden (Balbriggan); Jack<br />

Litchfield (Skerries), Oisin McEneany<br />

(Skerries); Griffin Carrick (Skerries), Max<br />

Ward (Dundalk), Ciaran Scott (Navan),<br />

Chuck Ohawaga (Navan), Tadgh<br />

Flanagan (Navan), Luke Fagan (Skerries),<br />

Mike Brannigan (Skerries), Evan Shelly<br />

(Skerries).<br />

Replacements: Colin Jordan (Navan),<br />

Hugh Keogh (Ratoath), Luis Hodson<br />

(Balbriggan), Philip Smyth (Navan),<br />

Aidan Rennie (Navan), Adam Dooley<br />

(Boyne), Liam Philips-O’Brien (Skerries),<br />

Lee Bennett (Ratoath).<br />

Midlands – Andrew Hill (Edenderry);<br />

Cian Lynam (Tullamore), Cody Broderick<br />

(Midland Warriors), Eoin Conlon<br />

(Mullingar), Killian Bennett (Wilson’s<br />

Hospital); Oisin O’Hara (Mullingar),<br />

Paidi Gorman (Edenderry); Yaw Appiah<br />

(Longford), Ciaran Heffernan (Longford),<br />

James Ryan (Roscrea), Jake Kenny<br />

(Tullamore), Artur Lazor (Mullingar),<br />

Tadhg Clear (Tullamore), Callum<br />

Mulligan (Wilson’s Hospital), John Casey<br />

(Mullingar).<br />

Replacements: Finbar Kelly (Mullingar),<br />

James Grehan (Longford), Adam<br />

Meehan (Mullingar), Cillian Bourke<br />

(Tullamore).<br />

North Midlands 14<br />

South-East 7<br />

A late try by Sean Walsh<br />

completed North-Midlands’<br />

comeback win over South-East in<br />

the opener.<br />

The opening exchanges were dominated<br />

by both defences as they applied<br />

pressure on the ball handler and looked<br />

to gain ground through the boots of<br />

South-East’s Cathal Kehoe and North<br />

Midlands’ Sean Behan.<br />

The footballing skills of second row Tom<br />

Hughes were on view in a slick one-two<br />

with left-wing Luke Chatten for a fine try,<br />

converted by Brian Johnston in the ninth<br />

minute.<br />

A burst up the left by North Midlands<br />

hooker Josh Domican brought the<br />

game to life and wing Daniel Thornton<br />

threatened on the right.<br />

North Midlands looked likely to deliver<br />

until Sean Logue picked off a pass to pin<br />

his ears back, full-back Killian O’Sullivan<br />

producing the pace to catch the centre.<br />

The support play of Daniel Ring and<br />

Hugh Greaney led to a lineout from a<br />

penalty which North Midlands defended<br />

with aggression and discipline.<br />

The more touches Daragh Farrell, Oran<br />

Kelleher and O’Sullivan got for North<br />

Midlands, the better they looked with<br />

No 8 Walsh a danger on the ball too.<br />

Another burst by Comican put them on<br />

the front foot and Zach Kennedy’s hard<br />

line was further reason for optimism.<br />

South-East scrum-half Ring ripped away<br />

a turnover and had to be vigilant to<br />

deal with O’Sullivan in the outside<br />

channel.<br />

Greaney did well to keep Behan out<br />

and a collective effort held prop Joshua<br />

Apps off the ground over the line to keep<br />

South-East 7-0 ahead at the break.<br />

North Midlands centre Farrell pinched<br />

a penalty on the floor and almost put<br />

Kelleher into space from the first set<br />

move of the second period.<br />

A mazy break by full-back Kehoe put<br />

Chatten on the ball and his delicate<br />

grubber forced Colm Moran into<br />

emergency action.<br />

Once again, Farrell was the creator-inchief<br />

for Behan before Hughes hauled<br />

the out-half down.<br />

The growing pressure led to a tap-andgo<br />

for replacement Jack Kelly to crash<br />

over for Farrell to make it 7-all in the<br />

45th minute.<br />

Sure hands along the line allowed North<br />

Midlands to move out of trouble, wing<br />

Elliot Walsh dinking a kick over the top<br />

only for Kehoe to come to the rescue.<br />

The momentum was swinging with North<br />

Midlands replacement Sam Jordan<br />

thundering through contact and Farrell<br />

feeding Kelleher for what looked a<br />

certain try until openside Hugh Roche<br />

miraculously kept the centre off the<br />

ground over the line.<br />

The number of chances not taken by<br />

North Midlands mounted up, making the<br />

draw likely going into injury-time.<br />

North Midlands came hunting the<br />

winning points through their threequarters,<br />

but second row Hughes was<br />

waiting to force a penalty on the ground.<br />

Finally, the impact of the bench did the<br />

trick, creating the go-forward for Walsh<br />

to duck inside for the decisive try<br />

Scorers – North Midlands: J Kelly,<br />

S Walsh try each; D Farrell two cons.<br />

South-East: T Hughes try; B Johnston<br />

con.<br />

North Midlands – Killian O’Sullivan<br />

(Clane); Daniel Thornton (Portlaoise),<br />

Oran Kelleher (Athy), Darragh Farrell<br />

(Athy), Elliot Walsh (Clondalkin); Sean<br />

Behan (Cill Dara), Colm Moran (Athy);<br />

Joshua Apps (Clondalkin), Josh Domican<br />

(Clondalkin), Luke McTiernan (North<br />

Kildare), Ryan McDonnell (Athy),<br />

Darragh Townsend (Portlaoise), Jack<br />

Dempsey (Naas), Zach Kennedy (Naas),<br />

Sean Walsh (North Kildare).<br />

Replacements: Jack Kelly (Clane),<br />

Gavin Agar (Newbridge), Aran Coiley<br />

(Portlaoise), Jack Osborne (Naas),<br />

Daniel Steed (Clondalkin), Sam Jordan<br />

(North Kildare), Rowan Finnegan<br />

(Naas), Ruaidhri Lawlor (Athy), Oliver<br />

Reilly (Clane), Conor Langabeer<br />

(Clondalkin), Cian Crampton (Naas).<br />

South-East – Cathal Kehoe (Enniscorthy);<br />

William Fitzpatrick (Wicklow), Sean<br />

Logue (Wexford Wanderers), Cathal<br />

Gorman (Tullow), Luke Chatten (County<br />

Carlow); Brian Johnston (Wicklow),<br />

Daniel Ring (Kilkenny); Sean Carey<br />

(Gorey), Hugh Greaney (Kilkenny),<br />

Cormac Murphy (Wicklow), Tom Hughes<br />

(Tullow), Ricardo Whelan (Wicklow),<br />

Oren Cullen (Gorey), Hugh Roche<br />

(Wexford Wanderers), Jamie O’Brien<br />

(Kilkenny).<br />

Replacements: TJ Kennedy (Wicklow),<br />

Daragh McCormack (Wicklow),<br />

Mark Power (Kilkenny), Michael Ryan<br />

(Tullow), Marcas Bowen (Kilkenny),<br />

Stephen Hendy (Gorey), Cian Bolger<br />

(Enniscorthy), Joshua Rossiter (Wexford<br />

Wanderers).<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 25


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28 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


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sporting idol growing up?<br />

Cristiano Ronaldo<br />

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

childhood memory?<br />

Summer holidays in France<br />

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

meal?<br />

Granola and honey<br />

E – Education: What was your favourite<br />

subject in school?<br />

French<br />

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

Catch Me If You Can<br />

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

the squad?<br />

Jordan Larmour<br />

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

holiday destination?<br />

Marbella, Spain<br />

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

in the dressing room?<br />

Not who but where... the locker closest<br />

to the toilets for obvious reasons!<br />

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

squad?<br />

Max Deegan<br />

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

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

5pm<br />

L – Languages: How many languages<br />

can you speak?<br />

Three<br />

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

song right now?<br />

Somebody’s Child - Jungle<br />

N – Number: Do you have a lucky<br />

number?<br />

24<br />

30 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


O – Others: What’s your<br />

favourite sport outside of rugby?<br />

Golf<br />

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

the squad?<br />

James Ryan<br />

Q – Quirky: Who has the most<br />

interesting fashion sense?<br />

Marty Moloney<br />

R – Red Carpet: Who is the most<br />

famous contact in your phone?<br />

Johnny Sexton<br />

S – Superstitions: Do you have<br />

any matchday routines?<br />

Get a nap in pre kick-off<br />

T – Trim: What’s the worst<br />

haircut you’ve ever had?<br />

Lockdown 1.0 home haircut<br />

attempts!<br />

U – Under pressure: Who in the<br />

squad would be the best in a<br />

bad situation?<br />

Ross Byrne<br />

V – Verified: How often do you<br />

use social media?<br />

A scroll or two a day<br />

W – Worst fear: What are<br />

you most scared of?<br />

Spiders<br />

X – X-ray: Have you ever<br />

broken any bones?<br />

Both sides of the Jaw in 2020<br />

Y – Youth: Where did you<br />

grow up?<br />

Dublin<br />

Z – Zoo: What’s your favourite<br />

animal?<br />

Dog<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 31


Did you know?<br />

• <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby won 26-21 in their<br />

Round of 16 - 1st Leg clash against<br />

<strong>Connacht</strong>, their only previous<br />

encounter in European competition;<br />

each of <strong>Leinster</strong>’s last two games<br />

against fellow Irish sides in the<br />

Heineken Champions Cup have ended<br />

with a margin of victory of five<br />

points or fewer.<br />

• <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby have won seven of<br />

their last eight home matches in<br />

the knockout stages of the Heineken<br />

Champions Cup (L1); however, their<br />

sole defeat during that period came<br />

in their most recent such fixture<br />

(17-25 v Saracens in the 2019/20<br />

quarter-final).<br />

• <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby have only lost one<br />

of their last 20 home games in the<br />

Heineken Champions Cup (17-25 v<br />

Saracens), winning each of their<br />

three home fixtures since the<br />

beginning of last season by an<br />

average margin of 41 points.<br />

• <strong>Connacht</strong> Rugby have lost their<br />

last four games in the Heineken<br />

Champions Cup, each by margins<br />

of fewer than seven points;<br />

only once before have they lost<br />

more consecutive games in the<br />

competition though, when they lost<br />

their first five games during their<br />

debut season in 2011/12.<br />

• <strong>Connacht</strong> Rugby have lost their<br />

last eight matches away from home<br />

in the Heineken Champions Cup;<br />

this fixture will be the first time<br />

that they have played a Heineken<br />

Champions Cup knockout stage<br />

match away from home, as well<br />

as the first time that they have<br />

visited a fellow Irish team in the<br />

competition.<br />

• <strong>Connacht</strong> have conceded 22 scrum<br />

penalties in the Heineken Champions<br />

Cup this season, twice as many as<br />

any other club; meanwhile, only<br />

Leicester Tigers (17) have won<br />

more penalties from scrums than<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> (12).<br />

• <strong>Leinster</strong> duo Hugo Keenan and<br />

Jamison Gibson-Park have both<br />

assisted six tries in the Heineken<br />

Champions Cup this season, more<br />

than any other player; Keenan made<br />

two assists last weekend, as well<br />

as scoring one try, while Gibson-<br />

Park recorded one assist.<br />

• <strong>Leinster</strong>’s Garry Ringrose has made<br />

six passes that have led directly<br />

to a line break in the Heineken<br />

Champions Cup this season, more<br />

than any other player, while only<br />

three players have made more<br />

offloads than him this season (7,<br />

behind Gregory Alldritt - 11, Thomas<br />

Ramos - 10 and James Hume - 9).<br />

• Jack Carty (<strong>Connacht</strong> Rugby) has<br />

scored 54 points in the Heineken<br />

Champions Cup this season, the most<br />

of any player; he has also made the<br />

most kicks in play (70) and gained<br />

the most kicking metres (2549).<br />

COMPARISON<br />

PLAYED<br />

184<br />

(95 home, 89 away)<br />

WINS<br />

126<br />

(77 home, 49 away)<br />

LOSSES<br />

53<br />

(17 home, 36 away)<br />

DRAWS<br />

5<br />

(1 home, 4 away)<br />

AVERAGE POINTS<br />

27<br />

BIGGEST WIN<br />

89 - 7<br />

HEAVIEST DEFEAT<br />

10 - 51<br />

TOTAL TRIES<br />

33<br />

METRES GAINED<br />

4377<br />

PASSES<br />

812<br />

PLAYED<br />

37<br />

(19 home, 18 away)<br />

WINS<br />

14<br />

(10 home, 4 away)<br />

LOSSES<br />

23<br />

(9 home, 14 away)<br />

DRAWS<br />

0<br />

(0 home, 0 away)<br />

AVERAGE POINTS<br />

20<br />

BIGGEST WIN<br />

66 - 21<br />

HEAVIEST DEFEAT<br />

6 - 64<br />

TOTAL TRIES<br />

18<br />

METRES GAINED<br />

3141<br />

PASSES<br />

748<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 35


leinster<br />

squad<br />

2021/22 season<br />

Vakh Abdaladze #1263<br />

PROP<br />

DOB: 06/02/1996<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m<br />

WEIGHT: 121kg<br />

Michael Ala’alatoa #1301<br />

prop<br />

DOB: 28/08/1991<br />

HEIGHT: 1.91m<br />

WEIGHT: 127kg<br />

7<br />

CAPS<br />

Ryan Baird #1278<br />

LOCK<br />

DOB: 26/07/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.98m<br />

WEIGHT: 113kg<br />

8<br />

CAPS<br />

Adam Byrne #1213<br />

WING / FULL BACK<br />

DOB: 10/04/1994<br />

HEIGHT: 1.91m<br />

WEIGHT: 98.18kg<br />

1<br />

CAP<br />

Ed Byrne #1222<br />

6<br />

CAPS<br />

Harry Byrne #1280<br />

2<br />

CAPS<br />

Ross Byrne #1236<br />

13<br />

CAPS<br />

Thomas Clarkson #1285<br />

PROP<br />

DOB: 09/09/1993<br />

HEIGHT: 1.8m<br />

WEIGHT: 114.09kg<br />

FLY HALF<br />

DOB: 22/04/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.9m<br />

WEIGHT: 95kg<br />

FLY HALF<br />

DOB: 08/04/1995<br />

HEIGHT: 1.9m<br />

WEIGHT: 92kg<br />

PROP<br />

DOB: 22/02/2000<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m<br />

WEIGHT: 118kg<br />

36 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Jack Conan #1223<br />

27<br />

CAPS<br />

7<br />

CAPS<br />

Will Connors #1264<br />

9<br />

CAPS<br />

Sean Cronin #1202<br />

72<br />

CAPS<br />

Max Deegan #1256<br />

1<br />

CAP<br />

NO. 8<br />

DOB: 29/07/1992<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m<br />

WEIGHT: 114.09kg<br />

BACK ROW<br />

DOB: 04/04/1996<br />

HEIGHT: 1.96m<br />

WEIGHT: 100kg<br />

HOOKER<br />

DOB: 06/05/1986<br />

HEIGHT: 1.78m<br />

WEIGHT: 103.18kg<br />

NO. 8<br />

DOB: 01/10/1996<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m<br />

WEIGHT: 110kg<br />

Peter Dooley #1230<br />

Caelan Doris #1268<br />

17<br />

CAPS<br />

Jack Dunne #1276<br />

Ciaran Frawley #1265<br />

PROP<br />

DOB: 04/08/1994<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 117kg<br />

BACK ROW<br />

DOB: 02/04/1998<br />

HEIGHT: 1.93m<br />

WEIGHT: 107kg<br />

LOCK<br />

DOB: 21/11/1998<br />

HEIGHT: 2.03m<br />

WEIGHT: 120kg<br />

FLY HALF<br />

DOB: 04/12/1997<br />

HEIGHT: 1.91m<br />

WEIGHT: 98kg<br />

Tadhg Furlong #1220<br />

PROP<br />

DOB: 14/11/1992<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 125kg<br />

57<br />

CAPS<br />

13<br />

CAPS<br />

Jamison Gibson-Park #1247<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

DOB: 23/02/1992<br />

HEIGHT: 1.75m<br />

WEIGHT: 80kg<br />

17<br />

CAPS<br />

David Hawkshaw #1290<br />

FLY HALF / Centre<br />

DOB: 03/07/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.75m )<br />

WEIGHT: 85.91kg<br />

Cian Healy #1142<br />

PROP<br />

DOB: 07/10/1987<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m<br />

WEIGHT: 116.82kg<br />

116<br />

CAPS<br />

2<br />

CAPS<br />

Robbie Henshaw #1251<br />

57<br />

CAPS<br />

9<br />

CAPS<br />

Dave Kearney #1158<br />

19<br />

CAPS<br />

Hugo Keenan #1253<br />

20<br />

CAPS<br />

Ronan Kelleher #1277<br />

18<br />

CAPS<br />

CENTRE<br />

DOB: 12/06/1993<br />

HEIGHT: 1.9m<br />

WEIGHT: 99.09kg<br />

WING / FULL BACK<br />

DOB: 19/06/1989<br />

HEIGHT: 1.8m<br />

WEIGHT: 90kg<br />

FULL BACK<br />

DOB: 18/06/1996<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m<br />

WEIGHT: 91.82kg<br />

HOOKER<br />

DOB: 24/01/1998<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 105kg<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 37


Jordan Larmour #1258<br />

30<br />

CAPS<br />

Dan Leavy #1231<br />

11<br />

CAPS<br />

WING<br />

DOB: 10/06/1997<br />

HEIGHT: 1.78m<br />

WEIGHT: 90kg<br />

FLANKER<br />

DOB: 23/05/1994<br />

HEIGHT: 1.91m<br />

WEIGHT: 105.91kg<br />

for full squad profiles<br />

please click here<br />

James Lowe #1262<br />

12<br />

CAPS<br />

Nick McCarthy #1241<br />

Luke McGrath #1206<br />

19<br />

CAPS<br />

Michael Milne #1279<br />

WING / FULL BACK<br />

DOB: 08/07/1992<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m<br />

WEIGHT: 105kg<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

DOB: 25/03/1995<br />

HEIGHT: 1.8m<br />

WEIGHT: 84.09kg<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

DOB: 03/02/1993<br />

HEIGHT: 1.75m<br />

WEIGHT: 84.09kg<br />

PROP<br />

DOB: 05/02/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 115kg<br />

Jimmy O’Brien #1272<br />

Conor O’Brien #1260<br />

Josh Murphy #1261<br />

Ross Molony #1233<br />

LOCK<br />

DOB: 11/05/1994<br />

HEIGHT: 1.96m<br />

WEIGHT: 113kg<br />

FLANKER<br />

DOB: 17/02/1995<br />

HEIGHT: 1.98m<br />

WEIGHT: 110kg<br />

CENTRE<br />

DOB: 06/02/1996<br />

HEIGHT: 1.91m<br />

WEIGHT: 100kg<br />

CENTRE<br />

DOB: 27/11/1996<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 88kg<br />

Tommy O’Brien #1283<br />

Rory O’Loughlin #1248<br />

1<br />

CAP<br />

Scott Penny #1271<br />

Andrew Porter #1246<br />

43<br />

CAPS<br />

CENTRE<br />

DOB: 28/05/1998<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 95kg<br />

CENTRE<br />

DOB: 21/01/1994<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m<br />

WEIGHT: 94.09kg<br />

FLANKER<br />

DOB: 22/09/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 104kg<br />

PROP<br />

DOB: 16/01/1996<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 114.09kg<br />

38 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Garry Ringrose #1237<br />

42<br />

CAPS<br />

Rhys Ruddock #1167<br />

27<br />

CAPS<br />

James Ryan #1259<br />

43<br />

CAPS<br />

Johnny Sexton #1127<br />

105<br />

CAPS<br />

14<br />

CAPS<br />

CENTRE<br />

DOB: 26/01/1995<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m<br />

WEIGHT: 96kg<br />

BACK ROW<br />

DOB: 13/11/1990<br />

HEIGHT: 1.91m<br />

WEIGHT: 113.18kg<br />

LOCK<br />

DOB: 24/07/1996<br />

HEIGHT: 2.03m<br />

WEIGHT: 115kg<br />

FLY HALF<br />

DOB: 11/07/1985<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m<br />

WEIGHT: 90kg<br />

Dan Sheehan #1286<br />

HOOKER<br />

DOB: 17/09/1998<br />

HEIGHT: 1.91m<br />

WEIGHT: 110.91kg<br />

7<br />

CAPS<br />

Devin Toner #1128<br />

LOCK<br />

DOB: 29/06/1986<br />

HEIGHT: 2.11m<br />

WEIGHT: 127kg<br />

70<br />

CAPS<br />

James Tracy #1211<br />

HOOKER<br />

DOB: 02/04/1991<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m<br />

WEIGHT: 106kg<br />

6<br />

CAPS<br />

Josh van der Flier #1228<br />

FLANKER<br />

DOB: 25/04/1993<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m<br />

WEIGHT: 103kg<br />

40<br />

CAPS<br />

Coaching<br />

Staff<br />

2021/22 season<br />

LEO CULLEN<br />

HEAD COACH<br />

STUART LANCASTER<br />

SENIOR COACH<br />

ROBIN MCBRYDE<br />

ASSISTANT COACH<br />

FELIPE CONTEPOMI<br />

BACKS COACH<br />

EMMET FARRELL<br />

KICKING COACH AND<br />

LEAD PERFORMANCE ANALYST<br />

GUY EASTERBY<br />

HEAD OF RUGBY OPERATIONS<br />

DENIS LEAMY<br />

CONTACT SKILLS COACH<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 39


Official Health<br />

and Wellbeing<br />

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

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Swords RFC<br />

Swords RFC was previously<br />

known as Aer Lingus, and later<br />

ALSAA RFC, but changed to<br />

the current name in 2005 for<br />

several reasons. The club had<br />

stopped representing the airline<br />

or the sports complex and as a<br />

result had decided to affiliate<br />

themselves with the growing<br />

town of Swords.<br />

The women’s team was established in<br />

2017 after a recruitment drive from tag<br />

rugby and the local area.<br />

Under the helm of head coach Robert<br />

Gilshenan, the senior men’s and women’s<br />

teams have gone from strength to strength<br />

this season.<br />

The women’s team, playing in Division<br />

5 of the <strong>Leinster</strong> League, have had 15<br />

women make their Swords debut this<br />

season. Most of these women had never<br />

played rugby before but ably stepped up<br />

to the task.<br />

The recruitment for the women’s team<br />

remains strong and Swords welcome<br />

all levels of players with a strong goal<br />

to remove or overcome the barriers that<br />

women often experience when it comes<br />

to playing sports. After narrow losses at<br />

the start of the season, the side won their<br />

first game of the season before Christmas.<br />

The home team put in a serious defensive<br />

effort in front of an energising crowd to<br />

see out the victory. “I was so delighted<br />

I can’t explain!” women’s co-captain<br />

Lauren Heffernan said of the win, “The<br />

girls have played their hearts out all<br />

season and we finally got the result we all<br />

were waiting for and working towards.”<br />

Fellow co-captain Kate Seery attributes<br />

the growth of Swords women’s rugby to<br />

the progress made in Ireland and <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Women’s rugby: “Every player that has<br />

joined the team since our establishment<br />

in 2017, whether they have stayed on in<br />

rugby or not have contributed to the team<br />

we have today. I couldn’t be prouder of<br />

how far we have come.”<br />

The team’s progression this season gives<br />

plenty of encouragement for the next<br />

campaign.<br />

Playing in Division 7 of the <strong>Leinster</strong> Metro<br />

league, the men’s finished fourth with a<br />

record of seven wins and seven losses<br />

from their 14 games.<br />

The men’s captain, Emmet O’Donnell,<br />

commented: “I think it’s been a season of<br />

rebirth and constant improvement for the<br />

men’s team. Despite a disappointing start<br />

to the season results wise, our players<br />

have consistently worked hard all season<br />

and we are now seeing the results of our<br />

hard work.”<br />

Emmet added: “For such a small club<br />

as ourselves, it isn’t often we challenge<br />

for play-offs. It means a lot to the senior<br />

players like myself who might not have<br />

experienced this level of success too<br />

regularly. Hopefully it’s bringing a lot of<br />

enjoyment to our other club members and<br />

the wider community of Swords.”<br />

Recently, the club have had<br />

representation at various representative<br />

rugby trials, a testimony to the ‘Why<br />

not us?’ mantra of the club. Men’s team<br />

member, Sean Ryan, impressed at the<br />

Irish rugby league trials. Anyone at<br />

Swords would tell you that Sean would<br />

be well deserving of the green jersey.<br />

Additionally, for the first time in the club’s<br />

history, six women attended <strong>Leinster</strong> trials:<br />

Caitriona Murphy, Beth Hassan, Amy<br />

Coll, Lana McDonald, Ciara Spencer<br />

and Maeve Moran.<br />

While only Ciara progressed to the<br />

second round of trials, these women<br />

returned to training, inspired to drive<br />

Swords women’s rugby on to future<br />

success.<br />

Swords RFC are striving to cultivate<br />

a community spirit within the club.<br />

Instrumental in forming a connection<br />

between the men and women’s teams,<br />

was commencing each training session<br />

as a combined group. From this stemmed<br />

post training swims together in the<br />

summer, post-match barbecues and, most<br />

meaningfully, a home away from home<br />

for club members who hail from Brazil,<br />

South Africa, the UK and Spain, among<br />

other places.<br />

Head coach Gilshenan is particularly<br />

proud of the growth of the club: “Not<br />

only are Swords flying their own town<br />

banner but they are bringing other<br />

communities together. There is an<br />

amazing vibe in the club and it’s all down<br />

to the lads and ladies from Swords and<br />

the surrounding towns making the effort<br />

on and off the pitch.”<br />

Swords RFC train every Tuesday and<br />

Thursday in the ALSAA Sports Complex,<br />

all are welcome!<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 43


25 years of<br />

Boyne RFC<br />

Delvin RFC 1983 Drogheda RFC PTC Semi Finalists 1961<br />

While the success of <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby is truly enormous and<br />

there for all to enjoy it is also<br />

true to say that this success has<br />

filtered down through the clubs in<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> and none more so than in<br />

Boyne Rugby Club in the town of<br />

Drogheda.<br />

In 1997, a decision was taken by Delvin<br />

Rugby Club and Drogheda Rugby Club<br />

to pool their resources and amalgamate<br />

both clubs into one, a decision that some<br />

people thought might not work. Youth<br />

rugby was strong in both clubs and this<br />

was a factor in prompting them to take<br />

this decision.<br />

A series of meetings took place between<br />

both clubs to discuss the benefits and<br />

problems of taking this step. In June 1997,<br />

both clubs held their respective AGMs on<br />

the same night and passed a motion to<br />

join forces and become one club.<br />

The river Boyne divides the town and with<br />

one club situated on either side it was<br />

decided to call the club Boyne RFC. In<br />

choosing the club colors a decision was<br />

taken to adopt the colors of the world<br />

champions at the time. Hence, the green<br />

and gold of South Africa.<br />

A committee of 18 was elected to sit<br />

for three years in order to consolidate<br />

the amalgamation, 10 from Delvin and<br />

eight from Drogheda. The names of the<br />

original committee were Seamie Davis,<br />

Jack Doran, Oliver Walsh, Leo Monahan,<br />

Noel Carr, Billy Gavin, Conor Taaffe,<br />

Donal Grennan (Drogheda) and Johnny<br />

Sheridan, Seamie Briscoe, Eugene<br />

Winters, Michael Dunne, Ron Eustace,<br />

Declan McCullen, John Dillon, Marty<br />

Reilly, Neil Bailey and Bernard Gogarty<br />

(Delvin). Their shoes have been filled<br />

many times by equally good people.<br />

The administration of the club’s affairs<br />

took off immediately under a very<br />

organised and energetic committee.<br />

While on the playing side of things it<br />

took a little longer than some would have<br />

expected. However, the club was able to<br />

field three full teams each week. The first<br />

elected captain of Boyne RFC was Gary<br />

Downey. When it did take off it grew in<br />

strength year after year in both youth and<br />

adult sections.<br />

It was the youth section that showed the<br />

most progression in the early years. The<br />

club had teams in all the age groups<br />

from U-8 to U-18 and they began to win<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> competitions at all age groups.<br />

After a couple of seasons, the adult<br />

section began to improve greatly to the<br />

point where they won the Provincial<br />

Towns Cup in 2009 and again in 2010.<br />

The following year the club won the<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Junior 1 League and gained<br />

entry into the AIL. While it was hard to<br />

maintain this level, the club did manage<br />

to retain its AIL status for a further six<br />

years. As we speak, the club is currently<br />

playing Junior 1 rugby and almost all<br />

of its adult players came up through the<br />

youth section and continue to do so.<br />

Many players from the club were<br />

selected to represent <strong>Leinster</strong> at youth<br />

level, they are too numerous to name on<br />

this report but, a number of them were<br />

selected to represent Ireland at youth<br />

level, Conor Maguire, Jeffrey Finnegan,<br />

Colm Joyce-Ahearne, Robbie Vallejo,<br />

Brian Davis, Oisin Lynch and Karl Martin<br />

(currently playing with Montpellier in<br />

France).<br />

The club also produced three players to<br />

play full senior international for Ireland.<br />

They were Shane Horgan, Niall Ronan<br />

and Mark McHugh. Shane Horgan also<br />

went on to play with the British and Irish<br />

Lions.<br />

Robbie McGrath, who also played scrum<br />

half for Ireland, was club president for a<br />

spell in recent years.<br />

For any club to be successful it depends<br />

on the number of willing workers involved<br />

plus a succession of young people<br />

coming through. Boyne RFC is happy<br />

they have both in abundance.<br />

There was also a successful ladies team<br />

in the club for a number of years. The<br />

first ladies team was formed in 1997 by<br />

Sandra McAleer and Mick and Vivienne<br />

Quinn. Quite a few of them made it to the<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Ladies and three, Vikki McGinn,<br />

Grace Davitt and Maura Coulter, played<br />

full International for Ireland.<br />

Boyne also supplied a number of referees<br />

to the ARLB and continues to do so.<br />

To summarise, Boyne were two clubs with<br />

great rivalry that became one club with<br />

great unity. They will celebrate 25 years<br />

in June 2022.<br />

Jim Walker | Boyne RFC<br />

44 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Men’s Energia All-Ireland<br />

League<br />

League roundup<br />

BY ROBERT DEACON<br />

The men’s Energia All-Ireland<br />

League campaign reached its<br />

climax last weekend where the<br />

final round of this season’s league<br />

matches took place across the<br />

four provinces. It proved to be<br />

a defining series of games for a<br />

number of the 18 <strong>Leinster</strong> clubs<br />

involved across all five divisions<br />

of 10 teams.<br />

The top four teams in each division<br />

have qualified for a semi-final with the<br />

two winners playing in a final game to<br />

determine who will be crowned overall<br />

champions in Division 1A and who wins<br />

the one promotion spot in the other four<br />

divisions. The format is that the team<br />

who finished top of each division will<br />

have home advantage against the fourth<br />

placed team and the team in second<br />

place, also with home advantage, plays<br />

the third placed team.<br />

To determine relegation the bottom two<br />

clubs in each division will play each other<br />

home and away where the team with the<br />

better aggregate score will remain with<br />

the losers dropping down.<br />

In general, it has been an excellent<br />

season for the participating <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

clubs with 10 of the 18 <strong>Leinster</strong> clubs<br />

competing qualifying for play-off places<br />

in four of the five divisions.<br />

In Division 1A, Clontarf after an<br />

excellent season, finish top of the league<br />

after only tasting defeat once during the<br />

course of the 18-match campaign, and<br />

as a result will face Cork Constitution at<br />

home in the semi-final. Terenure with a<br />

great second half to the season pipped<br />

Lansdowne for second place which sets<br />

up what promises to be an epic semi-final<br />

encounter at home in Lakelands Park<br />

against the Lansdowne men.<br />

Dublin University finished in a creditable<br />

fifth, just losing out on a play-off spot,<br />

while UCD can look forward to another<br />

season in division 1A after ending the<br />

season in eighth position.<br />

Division 1B saw Old Wesley runout<br />

clearcut winners after winning 16 of<br />

their 18 starts during the campaign. The<br />

Donnybrook side finished 10 points clear<br />

of second-placed Highfield who will play<br />

their fellow Munster side Shannon in the<br />

second semi-final. Old Wesley will face<br />

Naas at home, after the Kildare team<br />

secured fourth place in the final round<br />

of matches last weekend. St Mary’s who<br />

had challenged all season for a top four<br />

spot just missed out and finished in fifth<br />

position.<br />

Old Belvedere retain their division 1B<br />

status with a seventh-place finish, while<br />

Navan will face Ulster side Banbridge in<br />

a two-way playoff to decide which club<br />

avoids relegation.<br />

MU Barnhall, were the sole <strong>Leinster</strong> club<br />

in Division 2A and challenged for a top<br />

four spot right up until the last round of<br />

matches. However, results did not go their<br />

way and ended up with a sixth-place<br />

finish.<br />

Queens University were the runaway<br />

winners of this division.<br />

Division 2B saw Greystones hold<br />

top spot from start to finish with 14<br />

victories from their 18 starts, and they<br />

will entertain Galway Corinthians in<br />

Doctor Hickey Park in the semi-final.<br />

Blackrock just lost out on second place<br />

in the final round of games and as a<br />

result of finishing third are on the road<br />

to play Belfast Harlequins in the second<br />

semi-final.<br />

Wanderers, who were in contention all<br />

season for a top four position, finished up<br />

in fifth, while Malahide held down eighth<br />

place.<br />

In Division 2C, the three <strong>Leinster</strong> clubs<br />

competing, Enniscorthy, Skerries and<br />

Tullamore, all made the play-offs. After<br />

an excellent season Enniscorthy topped<br />

the table and will host Tullamore in<br />

the semi-final, the Offaly men finishing<br />

fourth. Skerries, who finished second will<br />

entertain fellow seasiders Bangor in the<br />

second semi-final.<br />

So, a strong showing from our <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

clubs in this season’s men’s Energia All-<br />

Ireland League and good luck to all still<br />

involved over the next two weekends.<br />

In a campaign of 450 matches, only<br />

eight fell victim to Covid mainly in the first<br />

half of the season.<br />

All clubs are to be commended for<br />

adhering to both the HSE and the IRFU’s<br />

protocols and as a result a great season<br />

of club rugby took place enjoyed by<br />

players and supporters alike.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 45


compiled by stuart farmer<br />

media services limited<br />

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

Statistics<br />

SQUAD<br />

CAP<br />

NO<br />

DEBUT<br />

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

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

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

SINCE LAST TRY<br />

CAPS<br />

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

MICHAEL ALA'ALATOA 1301 25 SEPT 21 12+6 2 10 11+3 1 5 1+3 1 5 12+6 2 10 11+3 1 5 1+3 1 5 6 WS 7<br />

RYAN BAIRD 1278 27 APR 19 5+4 1 5 4+3 1 5 1+1 - - 17+19 7 35 15+14 7 35 2+5 - - 4 IR 8<br />

ADAM BYRNE 1213 29 DEC 12 5+2 4 20 5+2 4 20 - - - 54+10 24 120 44+10 18 90 10 6 30 4 IR 1<br />

ED BYRNE 1222 9 FEB 14 6+6 1 5 6+5 1 5 0+1 - - 25+57 11 55 25+45 10 50 0+12 1 5 10 IR 6<br />

HARRY BYRNE 1280 28 SEPT 19 5+3 - 10 5+3 - 10 - - - 19+13 6 164 19+12 6 159 0+1 - 5 11 IR 2<br />

ROSS BYRNE 1236 4 SEPT 15 13+5 3 145 11+3 2 109 2+2 1 36 83+39 9 795 69+21 4 580 14+18 5 215 5 IR 13<br />

THOMAS CLARKSON 1285 29 AUG 20 1+4 - - 1+4 - - - - - 3+12 - - 3+12 - - - - - - -<br />

JACK CONAN 1223 20 FEB 14 6 2 10 3 - - 3 2 10 86+25 25 125 62+15 16 80 24+10 9 45 4 IR 27<br />

WILL CONNORS 1264 9 FEB 18 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - 18+7 2 10 17+7 2 10 1 - - 12 IR 9<br />

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

CHRIS COSGRAVE 1305 26 MAR 22 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - -<br />

SEAN CRONIN 1202 28 OCT 11 3+6 3 15 3+6 3 15 - - - 123+81 45 225 79+60 28 140 43+19 16 80 3 IR 72<br />

MAX DEEGAN 1256 3 DEC 16 6+11 6 30 6+7 6 30 0+4 - - 41+41 24 120 38+29 22 110 3+12 2 10 3 IR 1<br />

PETER DOOLEY 1230 31 OCT 14 3+6 - - 3+6 - - - - - 43+59 5 25 41+53 5 25 2+6 - - 17 -<br />

CAELAN DORIS 1268 28 APR 18 9 2 10 5 2 10 4 - - 41+8 7 35 31+6 5 25 10+2 2 10 6 IR 17<br />

JACK DUNNE 1276 16 FEB 19 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - 3+15 - - 3+15 - - - - - - -<br />

CORMAC FOLEY 1299 24 APR 21 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - -<br />

CIARAN FRAWLEY 1265 17 FEB 18 10+4 2 12 8+2 1 7 2+2 1 5 27+22 6 155 24+16 4 139 3+6 2 16 3 -<br />

TADHG FURLONG 1220 1 NOV 13 6+1 1 5 3+1 - - 3 1 5 79+42 9 45 45+34 3 15 34+8 6 30 4 IR 57<br />

JAMISON GIB-<br />

1247 2 SEPT 16 5+4 3 15 3+2 - - 2+2 3 15 54+56 20 100 47+30 14 70 7+26 6 30 4 IR 17<br />

SON-PARK<br />

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

DAVID HAWKSHAW 1290 2 NOV 20 0+2 1 13 0+2 1 13 - - - 0+10 2 27 0+10 2 27 - - - 1 -<br />

CIAN HEALY 1142 5 MAY 07 4+8 2 10 3+5 2 10 1+3 - - 160+83 29 145 93+53 15 75 65+29 13 65 3 IR 116<br />

ROBBIE HENSHAW 1251 8 OCT 16 5 1 5 3 1 5 2 - - 61+1 12 60 28 6 30 33+1 6 30 5 IR 57<br />

DAVE KEARNEY 1158 16 MAY 09 3+1 1 5 3+1 1 5 - - - 150+23 52 260 124+16 45 225 25+6 7 35 2 IR 19<br />

HUGO KEENAN 1253 5 NOV 16 10 4 20 6 1 5 4 3 15 37+3 8 40 28+3 5 25 9 3 15 1 IR 20<br />

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<br />

JORDAN LARMOUR 1258 2 SEPT 17 9 6 30 6 4 20 3 2 10 61+10 25 125 37+7 18 90 24+3 7 35 1 IR 30<br />

TEMI LASISI 1304 12 MAR 22 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - -<br />

46 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


SQUAD<br />

CAP<br />

NO<br />

DEBUT<br />

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

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

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

SINCE LAST TRY<br />

CAPS<br />

DAN LEAVY 1231 31 OCT 14 4+3 - - 4+3 - - - - - 47+32 17 85 39+22 13 65 8+10 4 20 8 IR 11<br />

JAMES LOWE 1262 2 DEC 17 7+2 7 35 5+1 3 15 2+1 4 20 59+2 41 205 39+1 28 140 20+1 13 65 1 IR 12<br />

JOE MCCARTHY 1303 29 JAN 22 5 - - 5 - - - - - 5 - - 5 - - - - - - -<br />

NICK MCCARTHY 1241 19 DEC 15 2+7 1 5 2+7 1 5 - - - 8+37 5 25 8+31 5 25 0+6 - - 5 -<br />

LUKE MCGRATH 1206 5 MAY 12 12+6 1 5 10+4 1 5 2+2 - - 114+55 40 200 79+47 32 160 35+8 8 40 3 IR 19<br />

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

MARTIN MOLONEY 1300 24 APR 21 2+2 - - 2+2 - - - - - 2+3 - - 2+3 - - - - - - -<br />

ROSS MOLONY 1233 20 FEB 15 14+3 1 5 10+3 - - 4 1 5 78+55 5 25 72+40 4 20 6+15 1 5 10 -<br />

JOSH MURPHY 1261 3 NOV 17 5+3 - - 2+3 - - 3 - - 47+10 5 25 43+9 4 20 4+1 1 5 17 -<br />

JAMIE OSBORNE 1294 30 JAN 21 8+2 - - 8+2 - - - - - 10+6 1 5 10+6 1 5 - - - 11 -<br />

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

JIMMY O'BRIEN 1272 23 NOV 18 11+1 8 42 8 3 17 3+1 5 25 37+10 15 79 32+9 9 49 5+1 6 30 2 -<br />

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

TOMMY O'BRIEN 1283 20 DEC 19 5+5 2 10 5+4 2 10 0+1 - - 9+10 5 25 9+9 5 25 0+1 - - 1 -<br />

RORY O'LOUGH-<br />

1248 2 SEPT 16 6+1 1 5 6+1 1 5 - - - 70+24 22 110 63+16 19 95 7+8 3 15 1 IR 1<br />

LIN<br />

MAX O'REILLY 1291 2 JAN 21 1 - - 1 - - - - - 7+1 1 5 7+1 1 5 - - - 7 -<br />

SCOTT PENNY 1271 23 NOV 18 8+1 5 25 8+1 5 25 - - - 31+7 21 105 31+7 21 105 - - - 4 -<br />

ANDREW PORTER 1246 2 SEPT 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 43<br />

GARRY RINGROSE 1237 12 SEPT 15 10 2 10 6 2 10 4 - - 94+2 29 153 58+1 18 98 36+1 11 55 2 IR 42<br />

RHYS RUDDOCK 1167 6 DEC 09 11+4 1 5 10+3 1 5 1+1 - - 154+49 12 60 116+34 10 50 37+13 2 10 9 IR 27<br />

ROB RUSSELL 1302 3 OCT 21 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - - -<br />

JAMES RYAN 1259 2 SEPT 17 3 - - 3 - - - - - 47+6 3 15 25+1 1 5 22+5 2 10 13 IR 43<br />

JOHNNY SEXTON 1127 27 JAN 06 4+2 - 50 2+1 - 22 2+1 - 28 152+27 26 1557 89+20 13 855 61+7 12 671 19 IR 105<br />

DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 4+6 7 35 3+3 4 20 1+3 3 15 7+16 13 65 6+13 10 50 1+3 3 15 3 IR 7<br />

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

ALEX SOROKA 1296 28 FEB 21 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - - -<br />

DEVIN TONER 1128 27 JAN 06 6+6 - - 6+4 - - 0+2 - - 212+66 4 20 146+46 4 20 63+20 - - 61 IR 70<br />

JAMES TRACY 1211 4 NOV 12 7+5 4 20 7+4 4 20 0+1 - - 64+77 18 90 57+48 17 85 7+29 1 5 5 IR 6<br />

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

JOSH VAN DER FLIER 1228 11 OCT 14 9+1 5 25 5+1 1 5 4 4 20 84+24 16 80 50+18 8 40 34+6 8 40 3 IR 40<br />

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

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

KICKING<br />

SUCCESS<br />

RATE<br />

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

%<br />

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

ROSS BYRNE 85.51% 47 12 - 33 11 - 14 1 - 243 87 1 187 61 1 56 26 - 423 78.01%<br />

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

DAVID HAWKSHAW 66.67% 4 - - 4 - - - - - 7 1 - 7 1 - - - - 12 66.67%<br />

JIMMY O'BRIEN 100.00% 1 - - 1 - - - - - 2 - - 2 - - - - - 4 50.00%<br />

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

JOHNNY SEXTON 76.67% 19 4 - 8 2 - 11 2 - 253 296 11 128 171 7 118 121 4 690 79.57%<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 47


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ig picture<br />

8 April 2022<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> supporters before the<br />

Heineken Champions Cup Round<br />

of 16 First Leg match between<br />

<strong>Connacht</strong> and <strong>Leinster</strong> at the<br />

Sportsground in Galway.<br />

50 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 51


THE GREATEST WEEKEND IN RUGBY<br />

27-28 MAY, STADE VÉLODROME


offical leinster supporters club<br />

And so after the past three weekends<br />

on the road in a combination of URC<br />

and Heineken Champions Cup action<br />

that twice took us to Galway as well<br />

as Limerick, we’re finally back on<br />

familiar soil and welcoming an all<br />

too familiar visitor to the surrounds<br />

of the Aviva Stadium - <strong>Connacht</strong>.<br />

The first leg of our Round of 16<br />

double-header took place last<br />

Friday night in the Sportsground<br />

where in the cauldron of noise,<br />

energy and ferocious action from<br />

end-to-end, and start-to-finish,<br />

we emerged with the victory on<br />

a very (very) tight score-line of<br />

26-21.<br />

Many in attendance would say the battle<br />

between James Lowe and Mack Hansen<br />

was worth the entrance fee alone and<br />

few could call foul on that one. If these<br />

two are on form again for the second leg,<br />

we’ll have a game that could be talked<br />

about for years to come.<br />

Obviously we want this game to be<br />

talked about by us for years to come as<br />

we look to progress to the quarter-finals,<br />

however as we have seen time and time<br />

again in this sport, it’s a funny auld game<br />

and the bounce of the ball can leave<br />

someone going from hero to zero in a<br />

split second.<br />

Thankfully Leo, Stuart and co are not<br />

ones to put the proverbial cart before<br />

the horse and the focus will very much<br />

be on these 80 minutes and getting this<br />

fixture out of the way before hopefully<br />

54 | www.leinsterrugby.ie<br />

then turning our attention to further down<br />

the road.<br />

A shout-out though from ourselves on the<br />

committee must go to all the travelling<br />

support last weekend who certainly<br />

made the College Road Terrace in the<br />

Sportsground almost feel like the terrace<br />

in the RDS such was the wall of blue and<br />

the noise, which at times made it hard<br />

to hear the person beside you and you<br />

could see what a difference this made to<br />

the team.<br />

We know how much this means to them<br />

and given we had a completely different<br />

result two weeks before that in the same<br />

venue, some might have felt the same<br />

result was all but a given but we know,<br />

and have seen some big teams travel<br />

west for a game they perceived to be<br />

a given, and walked away licking their<br />

wounds.<br />

This time, we need to show the same to<br />

the visitors – we need the blue wall from<br />

start to finish as this is only a five-point<br />

game and any team that can get a spring<br />

in their step knows that that difference<br />

can be easily gotten. After all, it only took<br />

John Porch two minutes last week to get<br />

on the scoresheet for the hosts and so<br />

we need that quick start ourselves, and<br />

the blue will help. Let’s just hope your<br />

vocal chords have recovered from last<br />

weekend!<br />

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

<strong>Connacht</strong><br />

53% Possession 47%<br />

59% Territory 41%<br />

590 Metres Gained 382<br />

144 Carries 117<br />

5 Clean Breaks 7<br />

5 Offloads 5<br />

3 Tries 2<br />

21 Defenders Beaten 21<br />

193 Passes 179<br />

14 Turnovers Conceded 10<br />

175 Tackles 193<br />

21 Missed Tackles 21<br />

5 Turnovers Won 5<br />

Last week was a tight affair and we<br />

expect no different this week but what<br />

we do know as evidenced in the past is<br />

that we can come away with the victory<br />

when we need it most when the crowd<br />

is behind the team and let’s make sure<br />

today is no different. This is entering the<br />

business end of this tournament and we’re<br />

striving for five so let’s ensure we get the<br />

job done today!<br />

As always we’re thankful for the support<br />

we as a committee get from <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby and Bank of Ireland and as<br />

always we encourage you to show<br />

your support through our social media<br />

channels.<br />

Be loud, be true, be blue<br />

Yours in Rugby,<br />

Your OLSC Committee


OFFICIAL<br />

LEINSTER<br />

SUPPORTERS<br />

CLUB<br />

Suort Suort Suort Suort Suort us by<br />

visiting r r r r r<br />

ONLINE<br />

STORE<br />

Kp Kp Kp Kp Kp up date<br />

OLSC<br />

NEWS<br />

Ctact Ctact Ctact Ctact Ctact us<br />

olsc@leinsterrugby.ie<br />

Foow Foow Foow Foow Foow us<br />

#seaofblue P D E Q


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www.leinsterrugby.ie | 59


Virtual Mascot<br />

Tommy<br />

Asple<br />

Age: 11<br />

School: St Michael’s<br />

Hobbies: Rugby and GAA<br />

Favourite Player: Tadhg Furlong (up Wexford!)<br />

60 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


DELIVERED BY<br />

Heading into the much-anticipated knockout<br />

stage of the Heineken Champions Cup, three<br />

players from TOP 14 clubs have already captured<br />

the Champions Try of the Round award.<br />

The Round 1 accolade went to Damian Penaud of<br />

ASM Clermont Auvergne who, despite his side’s<br />

29-23 defeat by Ulster Rugby at Stade Marcel-<br />

Michelin, still managed to score a brilliant try.<br />

At the outset of the move, JJ Hanrahan cleverly<br />

created a mis-match and then after a welltimed<br />

pass, Penaud did the rest with a perfect<br />

kick ahead and chase for what was a world-class<br />

score.<br />

In Round 3, Cameron Woki, a nominee like<br />

Penaud for the EPCR European Player of the<br />

Year award, scored an outstanding try during<br />

Union Bordeaux-Bègles’ impressive 45-10 win<br />

against the Scarlets at Stade Chaban-Delmas.<br />

Rodolphe Pires of beIN SPORTS, who was<br />

judging the tries, had no doubt about his<br />

selection. “The tempo of the attack was just<br />

right, the players’ movement was good and the<br />

combination of passes which eventually led to<br />

Woki touching down was superb. All in all, this<br />

was approach play and finishing at its very best.”<br />

In Round 4, Montpellier Hérault Rugby put<br />

in a strong performance after some earlier<br />

indifferent form for a 37-26 home win against<br />

Exeter Chiefs. This time full-back Anthony<br />

Bouthier took the honours following the public<br />

vote and the verdict of Virgin Media’s analyst,<br />

Alan Quinlan, with a try created by a magnificent<br />

Gabriel N’Gandebe break.<br />

More spectacular tries are on the cards for the<br />

knockout stage, so don’t miss your chance to<br />

have your say and vote for the best try!<br />

EPCRUGBY.COM/TOTR


WHERE ARE<br />

THEY NOW?<br />

Stephen Rooney<br />

THEN: Stephen<br />

Rooney played<br />

regularly for<br />

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

from 1994 to<br />

1998.<br />

NOW: He is<br />

the Executive<br />

Director<br />

of Quilter<br />

Cheviot, living<br />

in Milltown<br />

with his wife<br />

Maura and<br />

four children,<br />

Hannah (18),<br />

Sarah (17),<br />

Grace (15) and<br />

Sean (13).<br />

credit Inpho.ie<br />

62 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


credit Inpho.ie<br />

Stephen Rooney was the first fulltime<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> professional rugby<br />

player to come out of St Michael’s<br />

College.<br />

He is not sure exactly how many times<br />

he played for <strong>Leinster</strong>, making maybe<br />

26 or 27 appearances.<br />

It speaks to the modesty of the man,<br />

never mind the player. He was never<br />

one to keep a scrapbook of the many<br />

firsts in a fine career that never quite<br />

delivered the Ireland cap he longed to<br />

wear.<br />

In the beginning, Irish rugby was<br />

dragged kicking and screaming into<br />

professionalism.<br />

Compared to the unpaid, glorious era<br />

of amateurism, it was painted as a dirty<br />

word, unwelcome in the vocabulary of<br />

the traditionalists.<br />

All of that made less than no difference<br />

to Stephen, coming out of school in<br />

1989. At that stage, the All-Ireland<br />

League was the main attraction, the<br />

only avenue into playing provincial and,<br />

eventually, international rugby.<br />

In 1993, the step from UCD to<br />

Lansdowne put Rooney in the line of<br />

sight of <strong>Leinster</strong>’s management.<br />

One of the first official <strong>Leinster</strong> caps<br />

came against Northern Transvaal in<br />

February 1995 when Malcolm O’Kelly<br />

also made his debut for the province.<br />

Stephen would play the same South<br />

African side again a few weeks later as<br />

part of the Combined Provinces team.<br />

Chris Pim was the captain. Conor<br />

O’Shea, Paul Wallace, Martin Ridge<br />

and Niall Woods were there. Victor<br />

Costello was just on the scene.<br />

At least, future Irish legend O’Kelly<br />

would be able to put his best foot<br />

forward from his natural position in<br />

the second row whereas Donal Spring<br />

picked Stephen at seven rather than six.<br />

It would become a familiar theme for<br />

the blindside, one that would leave him<br />

harbouring regrets around not being<br />

able to flex his true rugby muscle.<br />

“Donal picked me at seven because<br />

we were up against a bunch of huge<br />

Afrikaaners and he wanted me to tackle<br />

all day. I was very happy to do that,<br />

but seven was never really my position,”<br />

says Stephen.<br />

“<strong>Leinster</strong> wasn’t the machine that it<br />

is now. Their matches would attract<br />

roughly the same crowd as an AIL<br />

game, maybe 2,000 in Donnybrook.”<br />

As fate would have it, that game<br />

against Northern Transvaal provided<br />

the opportunity to play against the best<br />

player he would come across in his time<br />

in rugby.<br />

“Joost van der Westhuizen played in<br />

that game. He was incredible, the most<br />

impressive rugby player I ever played<br />

against.<br />

“At one stage, I thought I had him<br />

nailed. I was planning on slamming him<br />

into the advertising hoardings,” he says,<br />

with perfect recall.<br />

“He had such a low centre of gravity for<br />

a tall guy. He saw me coming and, in a<br />

split-second, somehow managed to shift<br />

his weight underneath me. I scragged<br />

him into touch, but not in the way I had<br />

planned.<br />

“I have forgotten so much about my<br />

playing days. It seems like such a long<br />

time ago. But, I still remember that<br />

moment very clearly.”<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 63


There was no Celtic League. There were<br />

just a couple of friendlies before the<br />

Interprovincial Championship and the<br />

odd touring game in the early-to-mid-<br />

1990s.<br />

“In the first season I was involved in the<br />

Interpros, in 1995, I played against<br />

Denis McBride up in Ulster and we got<br />

a first win in something like 12 years up<br />

there.”<br />

There was a share of tussles with<br />

Munster at Thomond Park and in<br />

Donnybrook with formidable opponents<br />

in Anthony Foley, Alan Quinlan and<br />

Eddie Halvey.<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> weren’t too shabby themselves,<br />

Stephen vying for selection with Pim,<br />

Trevor Brennan, Kelvin Leahy, Paddy<br />

Kenny and Pat Ward.<br />

When the Heineken Cup came about in<br />

1995/96, Stephen was on the outskirts<br />

looking in until an injury to Dean<br />

Oswald opened up a place in the back<br />

row against Pontypridd in the second of<br />

two Pool matches and against Cardiff<br />

in the first European Cup semi-final at<br />

Lansdowne Road before a crowd of<br />

7,350.<br />

“We viewed it as the proper European<br />

Cup. We were really into it,” he stresses.<br />

“The competition was in its infancy.<br />

The English clubs didn’t participate.<br />

But, it was still a very good standard. I<br />

remember in the semi-final Cardiff were<br />

stacked with Wales internationals.”<br />

Stephen was working in Ulster Bank<br />

Investment Services out of college for a<br />

couple of years when professionalism<br />

began to happen.<br />

There was an exodus of Irish players to<br />

England, led by Conor O’Shea, Paul<br />

Wallace and Nick Popplewell and<br />

Stephen met with Clive Woodward of<br />

London Irish in The Gresham Hotel<br />

“I guess, for me, - it was probably<br />

common for a lot of players - I really just<br />

wanted to play for <strong>Leinster</strong>,” he says.<br />

“Nowadays, players go where the<br />

credit Inpho.ie<br />

contracts are. Growing up, that wasn’t<br />

my motivation. This was the twilight<br />

zone.<br />

“The first professional contracts were<br />

offered for the 1997/98 season<br />

when money started to come into the<br />

equation.<br />

“<strong>Leinster</strong> couldn’t afford to make<br />

everyone fully professional. I was<br />

lucky enough to be one of a handful<br />

of players to sign full-time for<br />

€20,000-a-year.<br />

“It was possible for me to accept it<br />

because I was only in a junior role<br />

at Ulster Bank whereas a parttime<br />

payment of, say, €6,000 or<br />

€7,000-a-year with match fees, was<br />

available to those with better jobs to<br />

add to what they were already making<br />

rather than give up their civilian career<br />

for a big drop in salary.<br />

“To me, this was the best way to go<br />

about playing for <strong>Leinster</strong> and Ireland.<br />

Simple as that.”<br />

That season, Stephen was involved<br />

against Pau, Scottish Borders, Martin<br />

Johnson’s Leicester and Emile Ntamack’s<br />

Toulouse, <strong>Leinster</strong> failing to qualify for<br />

the knock-out stages.<br />

It was at this point in the conversation<br />

that the mention of Toulouse jogged his<br />

memory.<br />

“That was probably my last major game<br />

for <strong>Leinster</strong>.,” he recalls.<br />

Jumping ahead, it must seem strange<br />

to look back on <strong>Leinster</strong> in those early,<br />

coming to professionalism years, given<br />

the current standing of an industry<br />

leader.<br />

“You must remember when we became<br />

full-time with <strong>Leinster</strong>, the coaches had<br />

never been professional before either.<br />

“Everyone was learning on the job.<br />

Jim Glennon, Liam Hennessy and Mike<br />

Ruddock had huge tasks to get <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

up to speed.<br />

“They would flog you one week to see<br />

if that worked. At the same time, you<br />

were training with your club. You could<br />

be training three or four times a day. It<br />

was exhausting. There was a lot of trial<br />

and error.<br />

64 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


“Being Director of Rugby at Lansdowne<br />

now, I am able to see how the<br />

players prepare. To say it has come<br />

on in leaps and bounds is a massive<br />

understatement.<br />

“Am I envious of the set-ups today?<br />

Yes. But, I really enjoyed my time. The<br />

camaraderie we had at <strong>Leinster</strong> and<br />

Lansdowne was such great craic. We<br />

were definitely given more license to<br />

enjoy ourselves off the field.”<br />

When the time came for Stephen to talk<br />

money again, <strong>Leinster</strong> was not inclined<br />

to offer a new contract.<br />

“It just wasn’t going to happen. Trevor<br />

Brennan had arrived on the scene<br />

and Mike (Ruddock) had a grá for<br />

him. Declan O’Brien was there too. In<br />

fairness, I’m not sure I was ever Mike’s<br />

type of blindside.<br />

“I definitely was frustrated because<br />

he also picked me as a seven when I<br />

knew I really wasn’t one. I was never<br />

comfortable playing the position at that<br />

level.”<br />

Even then, Rooney experienced the<br />

psychological challenge of being paid<br />

to play while sometimes not playing.<br />

“Everyone is talking about mental health<br />

these days. I definitely can understand<br />

why. There were times when I was really<br />

frustrated.<br />

“When we were playing there was very<br />

little video analysis going on. There was<br />

none of it.<br />

“Video analysis is a great way of<br />

purging things from your system. You<br />

address your mistakes. You work on<br />

whatever you need to work on. You<br />

move on.<br />

“That was a lot harder to do back in the<br />

mid-1990s. It could be a journalist who<br />

might write that I had a bad game.<br />

“That could stay with you for weeks<br />

because you had fewer games back<br />

then too. You had a lot of time to dwell<br />

on your failings.<br />

“These days, you always have the next<br />

game to concentrate on. You play. You<br />

review. You move on.”<br />

Even though there were contract offers<br />

from French club Pau and two of the<br />

provinces, they just didn’t feel right for<br />

someone who bled the blue of <strong>Leinster</strong>.<br />

“I had loved my time at <strong>Leinster</strong> and<br />

was very grateful for the opportunities<br />

but I felt I needed to focus on my career<br />

away from rugby.”<br />

It was time to move on to Davy<br />

Stockbrokers for four years and,<br />

thereafter, onto investment managers<br />

Quilter Cheviot, where he currently<br />

works as an Executive Director.<br />

Nowadays he remains heavily involved<br />

in rugby as Director of Senior Rugby in<br />

Lansdowne and takes great satisfaction<br />

from seeing young players at the club<br />

push through into the professional ranks.<br />

He cites the rugby values of “teamwork”<br />

and “discipline” as strengths to bring to<br />

any job or to any aspect in later life and<br />

values the lifelong friendships rugby has<br />

given him.<br />

Values for which he is grateful.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 65


Referees<br />

Corner<br />

BY DAN WALLACE<br />

Welcome to another issue<br />

of Referees Corner.<br />

A warm congratulations to our<br />

teams of officials from the recent<br />

Bank of Ireland Schools Cup<br />

finals. The team for the Senior<br />

Cup Final between Blackrock<br />

College and Gonzaga was<br />

Andrew Cole, with Paul Haycock<br />

and last minute replacement<br />

John Carvill. James Fegan and<br />

Keith Spendlove were the fourth<br />

and fifth officials and Nigel Corell<br />

was TMO.<br />

The team for the Junior Cup Final<br />

between St Michael’s College and<br />

Roscrea were Sam Holt in the middle,<br />

assisted by Paul O’Connor and Michael<br />

Forrestal. Well done to both teams on<br />

fine refereeing displays.<br />

Want to get<br />

involved?<br />

Feel free to make contact with the <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Referees<br />

at hayley.whyte@leinsterrugby.ie If you are interested<br />

in becoming a referee get in contact with us through our<br />

Facebook, our website www.leinsterrugbyreferees.ie or<br />

through twitter @leinsterreferee.<br />

66 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Acme Whistles<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Referees are<br />

delighted to announce our<br />

partnership with Acme whistles<br />

as our preferred whistle supplier.<br />

Speaking about the partnership <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby Referees President David<br />

Robb said: “We are delighted to be<br />

partnering with Acme as our whistle<br />

supplier, a company that has been<br />

providing whistles to referees since<br />

before the foundation of <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby<br />

Referees in 1902.<br />

“It’s a company of long-standing<br />

tradition with quality workmanship<br />

providing rugby referees from grassroots<br />

to the elite of the game with a quality<br />

whistle to officiate.”<br />

Ben McFarlane of Acme Whistles<br />

said: “Through this partnership we<br />

continue to evolve and align ourselves<br />

with proactive and forward thinking<br />

organisations such as <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby<br />

Referees. Playing our small part in the<br />

wider rugby community is one we take<br />

immense pride in, the role of the official,<br />

from grassroots to elite level cannot be<br />

underestimated, and we are here to<br />

support and help in any way we can.”<br />

Annual Dinner<br />

The annual dinner of the <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby Referees is the highlight<br />

of our somewhat limited social<br />

calendar and is always a great<br />

event. This year it took place in<br />

Lansdowne FC on Saturday, 9<br />

April, and was hosted by <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby Referees President David<br />

Robb, who had to wait an extra<br />

year for this fantastic evening.<br />

On the night our much-anticipated<br />

annual awards are handed out. There<br />

are five main awards, one for lifetime<br />

achievement, one for referee of the year,<br />

another for refereeing performance<br />

of the year, one for the referee who<br />

progressed the most during the year and<br />

one for club of the year.<br />

The lifetime achievement award is<br />

named after Ham Lambert who passed<br />

away a few years ago. Ham was an<br />

Irish cricketer, rugby union player<br />

and later international rugby referee.<br />

By profession a veterinary surgeon,<br />

he was noted for being the first in<br />

Ireland to own a practice devoted to<br />

the care of companion animals. This<br />

year’s winner was Peter Donnelly of St<br />

Mary’s College RFC who has devoted<br />

a number of years to the association.<br />

As well as being a former president of<br />

the association he is in charge of match<br />

ticketing, an unenviable task. He follows<br />

a long line of winners including Brendan<br />

Jenkinson, Tom Aplin, Des McCabe and<br />

Brian Pender, to name a few.<br />

The award for referee of the year is<br />

named after Harold ‘Harry’ Ardill.<br />

Harry was instrumental in developing,<br />

recruiting and educating referees within<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong>. The referee of the year award<br />

accounts for both on- and off-field efforts<br />

and contribution to the association.<br />

This year’s award went to long-serving<br />

member and Honorary Treasurer Keith<br />

Spendlove. Keith officiates at all levels<br />

and is always there when needed,<br />

another tireless servant to the referees.<br />

The Club of the Year award is named<br />

after Terry Doyle, former President of<br />

the association and was presented<br />

by his wife Deirdre. The award was<br />

named after Terry in 2011 and the first<br />

recipients were Edenderry RFC. This<br />

year’s recipients of the Terry Doyle<br />

Memorial Award were first-time winners<br />

Coolmine RFC. In a tightly fought<br />

contest they came out above last year’s<br />

winner Greystones (2nd), and Terenure<br />

College (3rd). Other winners of this<br />

award include Old Wesley, Greystones,<br />

Terenure College, Lansdowne,<br />

Ashbourne and Skerries. Coolmine were<br />

clear winners amongst the active referee<br />

population for both their captains’ and<br />

players’ attitudes and their off-field<br />

facilities and welcome.<br />

The Alain Rolland Referee Performance<br />

of the Year was won last year by<br />

Andrew Cole. Andrew had an even<br />

better season this year culminating<br />

in an international appointment and<br />

Schools Cup Final. This year’s winner<br />

was Robbie jenkinson. Robbie, a new<br />

national panel member, is a member of<br />

Skerries RFC and made his All-Ireland<br />

League debut earlier this year, in a<br />

great match between Malahide and<br />

Blackrock, Robbie has progressed<br />

through the ranks over the last number<br />

of seasons and is thoroughly deserving<br />

of this award.<br />

The last award of the night was the<br />

Denis Collins Perpetual Award for<br />

Progressive Referee. Presented by the<br />

great man himself, this award is for the<br />

referee who was seen to progress the<br />

most during the season and has shown<br />

themselves to have put in time and effort<br />

into their own development.<br />

No one encouraged referees more in<br />

his time as referee administrator than<br />

Denis Collins. Last year, Katie Byrne<br />

won the inaugural trophy. This year’s<br />

winner was Mitch Enderby. Mitch<br />

hails from Zimbabwe and became a<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Referee in 2017 and<br />

has made great progress since joining.<br />

He refereed this year’s Junior Cup<br />

game between St Mary’s College and<br />

St Fintan’s. We’re looking forward to<br />

seeing his future progression.<br />

With only a few weeks left in the season<br />

we are immensely proud of the work<br />

that has been put in by referees at all<br />

levels this season and look forward<br />

to moving onwards in the 2022/23<br />

season.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 67


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

Junior Team<br />

The Covid-19<br />

pandemic put<br />

so much of<br />

life on hold.<br />

As lockdowns<br />

descended and<br />

we retreated<br />

to find safety<br />

in isolation,<br />

no area was<br />

left untouched.<br />

Rugby was not<br />

unaffected.<br />

The Junior<br />

Interprovincial<br />

Championship<br />

was placed<br />

on ice since<br />

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

won the title in<br />

2019.<br />

Now the long wait is over as the<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Juniors return to action<br />

this year.<br />

Robert McDermott is back for another<br />

season as Team Manager and he’s<br />

looking forward to this year’s campaign.<br />

“The <strong>Leinster</strong> Junior Team finally took<br />

to the pitch on March 9 in Newbridge<br />

RFC after 34 months of waiting. The last<br />

time the Juniors were on a pitch was in<br />

Dundalk in May 2019 where we retained<br />

the Interprovincial Championship,” he<br />

explains.<br />

“We are delighted to be back and there<br />

has been a great buy in from the players<br />

and we had 70 nominations from all the<br />

clubs across the province. The tough job<br />

of narrowing the squad down to 35 has<br />

begun and all the players deserve great<br />

credit for their commitment as they have<br />

to jump into their cars after a long day<br />

work to make training. This weekend<br />

we have a training camp in Tullow RFC,<br />

and we are grateful to them for their<br />

hospitality.”<br />

The former <strong>Leinster</strong> Branch President,<br />

Robert McDermott is joined in the<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> set up by Cill Dara’s Enda Finn<br />

who returns as Head Coach. Maurice<br />

Logue of Tullow RFC is back as senior<br />

coach. Joe Duffy (Wicklow RFC) returns<br />

as Assistant Coach and he is joined by<br />

former <strong>Leinster</strong> Junior player Corey Carty<br />

(Co Carlow FC) who has come on board<br />

the coaching set-up.<br />

The coaches and management have<br />

been working hard over the past number<br />

of months to ensure that the <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Juniors make a successful return. As part<br />

of their preparation for the Interprovincial<br />

Series, the <strong>Leinster</strong> team have played<br />

matches against the Ireland Police team<br />

and the Irish Defence Forces team.<br />

Team Captain for the 2021/22 season is<br />

Kilkenny RFC’s Wes Carter.<br />

“For me Junior rugby is all about<br />

representing your local provincial club<br />

2019 Team with Cup<br />

Wes Carter - Team Captain<br />

and I am extremely proud to represent<br />

Kilkenny RFC,” Carter says.<br />

“The club continues to go from strength<br />

to strength and the future is very bright.<br />

To have the avenue to represent your<br />

province from there, is something that<br />

Junior players across the country relish.<br />

“My first year with the Juniors was 2016,<br />

six years later now and I can’t wait for<br />

the 2022 campaign to start. The last two<br />

years in particular with the Juniors have<br />

been some of the most enjoyable rugby I<br />

have played.<br />

“Winning trophies in rugby is rare but<br />

the Interprovincial series provides the<br />

opportunity to do that. We have been<br />

70 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


2018 Cup Celebrations<br />

delighted to win the last two series and<br />

are under no illusions how difficult this<br />

year will be. When Enda called me about<br />

captaincy, it was an immediate yes, as a<br />

group we are really looking forward to<br />

the 2022 campaign. Leading the <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Juniors out will be an extremely proud<br />

day for me. It’s great to have the series<br />

back after two years off with Covid.”<br />

Hopefully the boys will be well<br />

supported, and all are welcome at<br />

their upcoming Interpro games against<br />

Ulster in Carrickfergus RFC on April 23,<br />

<strong>Connacht</strong> in Buccaneers RFC on April 30<br />

and finally against Munster in New Ross<br />

RFC on May 7.<br />

That match should be a great occasion<br />

as <strong>Leinster</strong> will hopefully be chasing the<br />

Interpro title whilst hosts New Ross will<br />

be celebrating their 50th anniversary.<br />

All matches in the Interpro series have a<br />

2.30pm kick-off time.<br />

2022 LEINSTER RUGBY<br />

JUNIOR SQUAD<br />

Craig Miller Athy RFC<br />

Ciaran Fennessy Athy RFC<br />

Cal O'Connor Balbriggan RFC<br />

Paul O'Connor Balbriggan RFC<br />

Nick Smith Boyne RFC<br />

Rory Hennessy Boyne RFC<br />

Robbie Vallejo Boyne RFC<br />

Caomhán Brennan Co Carlow FC<br />

Daniel Crotty Co Carlow FC<br />

JJ McIlwrath Cill Dara RFC<br />

Gordon Shannon Cill Dara RFC<br />

Dylan Casey Edenderry RFC<br />

Andrew Walsh Gorey RFC<br />

Eoin Walsh Gorey RFC<br />

Fionn O'Loughlin Gorey RFC<br />

Mikey Duke Gorey RFC<br />

Wes Carter Kilkenny RFC<br />

Jake McDonald Kilkenny RFC<br />

Martin Murphy Monkstown FC<br />

Ruadhán McDonnell Monkstown FC<br />

Tristan Brady Monkstown FC<br />

James Ryan New Ross RFC<br />

Will Jennings Newbridge RFC<br />

Tom Tracey Newbridge RFC<br />

Michael Tracey Roscrea RFC<br />

Zach Jungmann Seapoint RFC<br />

Eddie Weaver Seapoint RFC<br />

Matt McKenna Seapoint RFC<br />

John O'Brien Suttonians RFC<br />

Thomas Culleton Suttonians RFC<br />

Jordan Leybourne Tullow RFC<br />

Jack McDonald Tullow RFC<br />

Stevie Smith Tullow RFC<br />

Ben Watson Wicklow RFC<br />

David Nichloson Wicklow RFC<br />

2022 TEAM<br />

MANAGEMENT<br />

Enda Finn (Cill Dara RFC)<br />

HEAD COACH<br />

Maurice Logue (Tullow RFC)<br />

SENIOR COACH<br />

Joe Duffy (Wicklow RFC)<br />

ASSISTANT COACH<br />

Corey Carty (Co Carlow FC)<br />

ASSISTANT COACH<br />

Eoin Stanley (MU Barnhall RFC)<br />

PERFORMANCE COACH<br />

Robert McDermott (Edenderry RFC)<br />

MANAGER<br />

Damien Curly (Longford RFC)<br />

LOGISTICS<br />

Bláithín Brady (Monkstown FC)<br />

PHYSIO SUPPORT<br />

Dr. Maurice Carroll (Edenderry RFC)<br />

TEAM DOCTOR<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 71


ank of ireland halftime<br />

inclusive rugby<br />

Dunbrody<br />

Warriors<br />

Players: Damien Phelan, Colm O Sullivan, Dumitra Kehoe,<br />

Ciara Brennan, Christine Byrne, Michael O’Neill,<br />

Dillon Murphy, Aidan Sinnott, Larry Kehoe,<br />

Martin Browne, Noel Kehoe<br />

Coaches: Rory Flynn and Laura Doyle<br />

Seapoint<br />

Dragons<br />

Players: Donal Brennan, Gordon Bergin, Hugh Brophy,<br />

Matthew Burke, Conor Byrne, Carrie Doyle, Mandy Finlay,<br />

Cormac Fenner, Jamie Harvey, Sam Harvey, Matthew<br />

Hickey, Eoin Kelly, Cameron Lawlor, Mac Dara Lambertini,<br />

Luke Mannion, Louis Mitchell, Andrew McCarthy,<br />

Christopher McKenna, Cathal McKiernan, Louis Olden,<br />

Fiodhna O’Leary, Charlie O’Reilly, Jack Tonge, Joe Whelan,<br />

Daniel Woods, Ben Purcell<br />

Coaches: Joanne Dwyer, Peter O’Brien and<br />

Maire Kelly<br />

Westmanstown<br />

Wasps<br />

Players: Mark O’Meara, Mark Wright, Marcus Tsang,<br />

Darius Tsang, Nathan Cummins, James Burke, Jimmy<br />

Kneafsey, Saul Hill, Derek McLoughlin, Rian Flynn, Seamus<br />

Johnson, Conor Howe, Jason Howe, David Kane, Will<br />

Walsh<br />

Greystones<br />

Seagulls<br />

Coaches: Eamon Cunningham, Eamon O’Grady, Paul<br />

Wright, Caitriona O’Grady, Aaron Slevin<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 73


TO MAXIMISE YOUR SPORTS AND EXERCISE<br />

PERFORMANCE THROUGH NUTRITION<br />

Optimum Nutrition and <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby have partnered to help share good nutrition tips throughout<br />

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

remember to help maximise your performance and help you recover quickly to come back stronger.<br />

Protein Rich.<br />

Protein provides your muscles with<br />

the building blocks to repair & grow.<br />

Carb-Up.<br />

Carbohydrate foods are king as they<br />

power high intensity play.<br />

Fuel-Up.<br />

Consume the majority of your<br />

carbohydrates around training to<br />

support fuelling and recovery.<br />

Recover.<br />

Quality rest & nutrition between<br />

training sessions is the key to<br />

recovery. Remember to:<br />

Repair with protein,<br />

Refuel with carbohydrate,<br />

Rehydrate with fluid.<br />

Hydrate.<br />

Dehydration can lead to a drop in<br />

exercise intensity & can impact your<br />

decision making. Drink 2-3 litres of<br />

fluid each day to ensure hydration.<br />

Game Day.<br />

To fuel performance on the field,<br />

consume a large carbohydrate rich<br />

meal 2-3 hours before kick-off, i.e.<br />

chicken & pasta, turkey bolognaise<br />

wraps.<br />

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leinster rugby charity partner<br />

Irish Community<br />

Air Ambulance<br />

The Irish Community Air<br />

Ambulance is Ireland’s only<br />

charity Helicopter Emergency<br />

Medical Service (HEMS) Air<br />

Ambulance. The organisation<br />

works in partnership with the<br />

National Ambulance Service,<br />

responding to serious incidents<br />

and medical emergencies 365<br />

days a year.<br />

The Community Air Ambulance is based<br />

in Co Cork however the charity plays a<br />

significant role in <strong>Leinster</strong>. Last year, the<br />

HEMS Air Ambulance was tasked to<br />

incidents in Wexford, Kilkenny, Offaly,<br />

Wicklow and Kildare. It also funds a<br />

Critical Care Rapid Response service<br />

staffed by Volunteer Critical Care Doctors<br />

and an Advanced Life Support Doctor<br />

Service with community-based GPs. In<br />

total, the charity was tasked to 625<br />

incidents and emergencies in <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

during 2021.<br />

The Critical Care Rapid Response service<br />

has expanded in Dublin in recent weeks.<br />

Two Specialist Registrars in Emergency<br />

Medicine, Dr Andy Patton and Dr Daragh<br />

Mathews, are now volunteering with the<br />

service, providing pre-hospital emergency<br />

care to critically ill and injured patients<br />

across Dublin and surrounding counties.<br />

Dr Andy Patton who has been a<br />

Volunteer Doctor with the charity since<br />

2021 was tasked to 283 incidents<br />

and emergencies during 2021 alone<br />

including cardiac arrests, road traffic<br />

collisions and major traumas. He has<br />

been joined on the team by Dr Daragh<br />

Mathews. They are often called to the<br />

sickest and most critically injured patients<br />

including cardiac arrests, RTCs, falls from<br />

heights, assaults and stabbings.<br />

Dr Patton explains, “Critically ill and<br />

injured patients can deteriorate rapidly<br />

before reaching hospital. By responding<br />

to the patient in the community, we can<br />

intervene earlier and give them the<br />

best chance of survival with a good<br />

recovery. We are essentially bringing the<br />

Emergency Department to the patient.”<br />

Micheál Sheridan, CEO of the Irish<br />

Community Air Ambulance, added,<br />

“We now have a team of five specialists<br />

in Emergency Medicine volunteering<br />

their time in counties Dublin, Mayo and<br />

Donegal. We’re lucky to be joined by<br />

such highly qualified professionals who<br />

work in Emergency Departments across<br />

the country. The aim of our organisation is<br />

to bring hope to patients when they need<br />

it most and our rapid response teams are<br />

central to that.”<br />

Dr Daragh Mathews said, “I am<br />

delighted to be able to start providing<br />

Pre-Hospital Critical Care in Dublin and<br />

surrounding counties as a Volunteer<br />

Doctor with Irish Community Air<br />

Ambulance. We work alongside the<br />

brilliant paramedics and advanced<br />

paramedics of the National Ambulance<br />

Service and Dublin Fire Brigade to<br />

provide hospital level interventions at the<br />

roadside for the sickest or most seriously<br />

injured patients.<br />

Dr Jason Horan is a Consultant in<br />

Emergency Medicine at Mayo University<br />

Hospital. He volunteers with the Irish<br />

Community Air Ambulance in his spare<br />

time. “I make myself available to the HSE<br />

National Ambulance Service to respond<br />

to the more serious 999 calls in the local<br />

community. Because of the geographical<br />

spread, often I will be the first<br />

professional resource to arrive. I respond<br />

to the more serious road traffic collisions,<br />

other significant injuries, collapsed<br />

patients, seizing children, cardiac arrests<br />

and childbirth”<br />

For more information about the service<br />

or to make a donation to the Irish<br />

Community Air Ambulance visit:<br />

https://communityairambulance.ie<br />

76 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Orin’s Story<br />

The Irish Community Air<br />

Ambulance transferred a<br />

seriously injured child from Kerry<br />

to Dublin after he was knocked<br />

down as he crossed the road in<br />

Listowel. Eleven-year-old Orin<br />

Hough from Limerick was the<br />

first child to be airlifted from the<br />

south-west of Ireland directly to<br />

the specialist neurosurgical centre<br />

at CHI Temple Street under new<br />

trauma protocols.<br />

This is his story:<br />

I’m Orin, and I can’t remember<br />

the helicopter trip to the hospital.<br />

Dad told me about it once I came<br />

out of my coma.<br />

It all started in May last year, I was<br />

knocked down by a car as I was crossing<br />

the road, going for a pizza with my<br />

Dad. I was badly hurt but someone rang<br />

999 and they sent the Air Ambulance,<br />

which came very quickly. They gave<br />

me emergency treatment on board their<br />

helicopter and flew me straight to hospital<br />

in Dublin. Dad went with me in the<br />

helicopter and the Gardai drove Mum up<br />

to meet us. Dad said the Air Ambulance<br />

was very quick to arrive, and that’s what<br />

saved my life! He told me that one of<br />

the crew kept giving him the thumbs up,<br />

which made him feel better.<br />

A team of surgeons were waiting for me<br />

at the hospital, and rushed me inside<br />

for scans. I was brought to the ICU and<br />

put into a coma for a whole week. I was<br />

paralysed on my left side and couldn’t<br />

speak for ages. Mum and Dad were up<br />

the walls with worry.<br />

Thankfully, I’m much better after rehab<br />

and physio. I’m back in school with<br />

my friends and can’t wait to play<br />

football again. Mum said my progress<br />

is phenomenal. I feel very lucky that<br />

everyone was so brilliant, especially the<br />

Air Ambulance team. When I was feeling<br />

better the crew even sent me a teddy.<br />

I call him Hero, because they are my<br />

heroes!<br />

Without the Air Ambulance I might not be<br />

here. Mum and Dad have told me that<br />

the Air<br />

Ambulance is a charity and needs our<br />

support. So, please donate now. It will<br />

mean the world to me, and to all the<br />

people the Air Ambulance will be able to<br />

help in the future.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 77


opposing view<br />

Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile<br />

8 April 2022<br />

<strong>Connacht</strong> players, from left,<br />

Mack Hansen, Bundee Aki and<br />

John Porch celebrate their side’s<br />

second try during the Heineken<br />

Champions Cup Round of 16 First<br />

Leg match between <strong>Connacht</strong> and<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> at the Sportsground in<br />

Galway.<br />

78 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


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Head coach<br />

Andy Friend<br />

Andy Friend took over the reins at<br />

<strong>Connacht</strong> in 2018, joining from the<br />

Australian Sevens team.<br />

His coaching career has taken in wellknown<br />

clubs across both the southern<br />

and northern hemispheres.<br />

The Australia native presided over<br />

Premiership side Harlequins for three<br />

years in the mid-noughties before<br />

returning to Canberra to take the head<br />

coach position with Brumbies.<br />

He also coached Canon Eagles and<br />

Suntory Sungoliath in the Japanese Top<br />

League.<br />

Captain<br />

Jack Carty<br />

Flanker Jarrad Butler held the<br />

role of captain in Ireland’s<br />

western province from 2018,<br />

while Ireland international outhalf<br />

Jack Carty has recently been<br />

named as matchday captain for<br />

the side.<br />

The now 29-year-old has 176<br />

appearances for his province with a<br />

further 11 caps for Ireland.<br />

Originally from Athlone, Carty played<br />

during his formative years with Marist<br />

College and Buccaneers.<br />

connacht squad<br />

DECLAN ADAMSON<br />

HOOKER<br />

BUNDEE AKI<br />

CENTRE/WING<br />

SAM ARNOLD<br />

CENTRE<br />

JACK AUNGIER<br />

TIGHT HEAD PROP<br />

FINLAY BEALHAM<br />

LOOSE HEAD PROP<br />

CAOLIN BLADE<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

SHAYNE BOLTON<br />

CENTRE<br />

PAUL BOYLE<br />

BACK ROW<br />

DENIS BUCKLEY<br />

LOOSE HEAD PROP<br />

MATTHEW BURKE<br />

LOOSE HEAD PROP<br />

JARRAD BUTLER<br />

BACK ROW<br />

DONNACHA BYRNE<br />

BACK ROW<br />

JACK CARTY<br />

OUTSIDE HALF<br />

TOM DALY<br />

CENTRE<br />

SHANE DELAHUNT<br />

HOOKER<br />

MATTHEW DEVINE<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

ULTAN DILLANE<br />

LOCK<br />

OISIN DOWLING<br />

LOCK<br />

JORDAN DUGGAN<br />

LOOSE HEAD PROP<br />

TOM FARRELL<br />

CENTRE<br />

LEVA FIFITA<br />

LOCK<br />

CONOR FITZGERALD<br />

OUTSIDE HALF<br />

CATHAL FORDE<br />

OUTSIDE HALF<br />

HUBERT GILVARRY<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

MACK HANSEN<br />

OUTSIDE HALF<br />

MATT HEALY<br />

WING<br />

DAVID HEFFERNAN<br />

HOOKER<br />

SAM ILLO<br />

TIGHT HEAD PROP<br />

DIARMUID KILGALLEN<br />

WING<br />

KIERAN MARMION<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

SEAN MASTERSON<br />

BACK ROW<br />

EOGHAN MASTERSON<br />

BACK ROW<br />

OISÍN MCCORMACK<br />

BACK ROW<br />

GREG MCGRATH<br />

TIGHT HEAD PROP<br />

ORAN MCNULTY<br />

FULL BACK/WING<br />

JONNY MURPHY<br />

HOOKER<br />

DARRAGH MURRAY<br />

LOCK<br />

NIALL MURRAY<br />

LOCK<br />

JOSH O’CONNOR<br />

WING<br />

BEN O’DONNELL<br />

FULL BACK/WING<br />

TIERNAN O’HALLORAN<br />

FULL BACK/WING<br />

CONOR OLIVER<br />

FLANKER<br />

ABRAHAM PAPALI’I<br />

NO 8<br />

JOHN PORCH<br />

WING<br />

CIAN PRENDERGAST<br />

LOCK<br />

COLM REILLY<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

WILL REILLY<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

PETER ROBB<br />

CENTRE<br />

DOMINIC ROBERTSON-MCCOY<br />

TIGHT HEAD PROP<br />

PETER SULLIVAN<br />

FULL BACK/WING<br />

GAVIN THORNBURY<br />

LOCK<br />

DYLAN TIERNEY MARTIN<br />

HOOKER<br />

TIETIE TUIMAUGA<br />

LOOSE HEAD PROP<br />

CHARLIE WARD<br />

LOOSE HEAD PROP<br />

ALEX WOOTTON<br />

FULL BACK/WING<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 81


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12 Counties, One Club<br />

tallaght<br />

in Focus<br />

RFC<br />

Twenty<br />

years ago,<br />

a directive<br />

came out<br />

from the IRFU<br />

encouraging<br />

the creation<br />

of new rugby<br />

clubs in nontraditional<br />

areas, causing<br />

the creation of<br />

Tallaght RFC.<br />

In the intervening years, the club<br />

has moved from venue to venue,<br />

on terms set down by the Dublin<br />

Council, longing for a place to call<br />

their ‘forever home’.<br />

“We are currently playing out of a<br />

Dublin Council-owned pitch in Firhouse,<br />

across the road from the Community<br />

School,” said Director of Rugby Stephen<br />

Heaney.<br />

“Pitch 100 has been our home for<br />

the last number of years. Two 40-foot<br />

containers serve our facility’s needs,<br />

one as a changing room and one as<br />

a storage room. It is not much by any<br />

standard, but it is home for us, at the<br />

moment.<br />

In recent years, Tallaght has embraced<br />

the positivity and direction that comes<br />

with planning for the future, not just<br />

letting it happen.<br />

“The main point of our Five-Year Plan<br />

is to secure our ‘Forever Home’,” said<br />

Stephen.<br />

“The fact we are renting our pitch from<br />

the Council leaves our future in their<br />

hands. We want to take control of where<br />

we are going as a club.<br />

“Don’t get me wrong, we are grateful for<br />

the facilities provided by South Dublin<br />

84 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


County Council. However, we cannot put<br />

down plans to grow and evolve when we<br />

don’t own our own land.<br />

“It would be lovely to have our own<br />

place. That is what we are working on.<br />

We are meeting with schools in the area.<br />

We are meeting with councillors, all in<br />

the name of having our own home.”<br />

The absence of a long-term lease or<br />

ownership of the land prevents the club<br />

from applying for the significant grants<br />

they need to build a clubhouse and<br />

install modern facilities, like floodlights.<br />

“Until we have the money to buy a<br />

home, we can’t apply for those larger<br />

grants,” he said.<br />

It is akin to having their hands tied<br />

behind their backs when there is a plate<br />

of possibilities staring them in the face.<br />

There is no reason why Tallaght shouldn’t<br />

think bigger and better when it is located<br />

in the heart of a rising population area,<br />

catering to 75,000 locals with 10<br />

secondary schools containing 6,000<br />

students.<br />

The large volume of housing makes for a<br />

steady stream of potential new members.<br />

This has been partly tapped into by a<br />

doubling of men’s and women’s numbers<br />

in recent years, albeit coming from a low<br />

base.<br />

Following a spate of vandalism acts<br />

within their allocated grounds, the<br />

club created a ‘GoFundMe’ for their<br />

permanent home, raising just over<br />

€35,000 and growing.<br />

bring to an area as large and diverse as<br />

Tallaght.<br />

The club is constantly in search of a<br />

piece of land, within Dublin 24, that<br />

it can develop, and make its own.<br />

Chairman Niall Mahon is doing<br />

incredible work in the background to<br />

help make this dream a reality.<br />

It would certainly make for an increase<br />

in numbers from the current base of<br />

250 players, based on what it has been<br />

able to do to date, without the basics of<br />

running water and toilets.<br />

The support from the wider rugby<br />

community has been incredibly heartwarming<br />

with many domestic clubs<br />

rowing in behind them to help.<br />

They have also garnered support from<br />

professional sports stars, like Cian Healy,<br />

Donncha O’Callaghan, CJ Stander, Sene<br />

Naoupu, Lindsay Peat, Alan Quinlan, to<br />

name a few.<br />

They got involved because they<br />

understand the huge benefit rugby can<br />

Tallaght is also one of the few clubs<br />

aiming to have the same number of<br />

men’s and women’s teams as early as<br />

next season.<br />

“Our Ladies Development Officer,<br />

Martina Fitzpatrick, has been with the<br />

club for a long time and has been at the<br />

helm of women’s recruitment. We have<br />

a new women’s coach in Sean Bishop,<br />

who has made a three-year commitment<br />

with us, along with two senior men’s<br />

players as backs and forwards coaches<br />

helping out too,” issues Stephen.<br />

There has been considerable uptake<br />

in sponsorship. Tallaght based<br />

entrepreneurs have put close to €20,000<br />

into the men’s, women’s and now youths<br />

teams. All the teams are fully kitted out in<br />

the branding of local company logos.<br />

The club is leading the field in growing<br />

numbers through its online presence,<br />

using smart and creative social media<br />

campaigns to generate enough interest<br />

for new members to join the club.<br />

“The way things are going you have to<br />

have a big social media presence and<br />

we are very lucky with the work our club<br />

PRO Emma Louise Keogh is doing on this<br />

front,” adds Stephen.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 85


“She is always pushing fun ideas and<br />

links in regularly with <strong>Leinster</strong> and the<br />

IRFU which makes for thousands of<br />

exposures for such a small club. It just<br />

puts us on the rugby map a little more.”<br />

Sponsorship has come from people with<br />

Tallaght close to their hearts or locals<br />

looking to help. They include 123ink.<br />

ie, PeachyLean, Inivo Medical, Tadhg<br />

Riordan Motors, Windsor Motors and<br />

this list is growing.<br />

As a local parish community club, it<br />

has been able to get support from the<br />

professional side of the game. benefiting<br />

from a training day with former Ireland<br />

coach Joe Schmidt as well as kicking and<br />

skills sessions with Ireland U-20 coach<br />

Richie Murphy.<br />

In addition, Colin McEntee, the Director<br />

of the IRFU Domestic Game, has joined<br />

the club for a few training sessions, along<br />

with Ultan and Donncha O’Callaghan<br />

who hosted an evening of talks with<br />

senior men’s players ahead of a final<br />

back in 2020.<br />

There have also been supporting<br />

video messages from Mike McCarthy,<br />

O’Callaghan, Tommy Bowe, Ellis Genge<br />

and Wallaby Dane Haylett-Petty wishing<br />

the players well for various matches.<br />

At the moment, there are two men’s<br />

teams competing from 65 registered<br />

players. The women’s squad has 30<br />

registered players and there are plans<br />

afoot to create a second team as soon as<br />

next season. There are age-grade teams<br />

in the youths section and a growing minis<br />

group from six to 13 years of age.<br />

Tag rugby will take place in the summer,<br />

running to eight teams from a total<br />

playing membership of 250. There<br />

are also a number of <strong>Leinster</strong> referees<br />

registered within the club, such as<br />

Audrey Fulham, who started playing on<br />

the women’s team in the second row.<br />

“We can only hope to continue the<br />

growth of referees within the club and<br />

see them excel and grow in the way<br />

Audrey has,” says Stephen.<br />

There has been a lot done. There is so<br />

much more to do. Imagine what could be<br />

achieved if Tallaght RFC actually had a<br />

pitch, a clubhouse.<br />

A ‘Forever Home’.<br />

86 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


YOUR ACCESS TO THE HEART OF EUROPEAN<br />

RUGBY HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER<br />

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88 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


alex<br />

soroka<br />

THE ACADEMY<br />

INTERVIEW<br />

BY PAUL CAHILL<br />

On February 11, 2022, a<br />

week before his 21st<br />

birthday, Alex Soroka<br />

was flying high.<br />

He had just come off<br />

the bench for his first<br />

senior appearance<br />

of the season in<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong>’s 26-7 win<br />

over Edinburgh at the<br />

RDS Arena.<br />

Less than two weeks later, his<br />

world was rocked as Ukraine, the<br />

birthplace of his brother and his<br />

parents, was invaded by Russia.<br />

With his grandmother and lots of friends<br />

and family still in Ukraine, it has been<br />

an incredibly tough time for the Soroka<br />

family in Dublin.<br />

“I watch the news just to make sure I’m<br />

caught up with what is going on over<br />

there each day,” reflects the <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Academy back row.<br />

“It’s tough, but at the same time it’s not<br />

tough for me at all. There’s nothing wrong<br />

with me and a shell isn’t going to hit my<br />

house. Sometimes it can get to me but<br />

then I remember what they are going<br />

through in Ukraine and it’s a completely<br />

different story.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 89


“It’s more that I feel a bit helpless<br />

sometimes, because I’m here and they<br />

are there and I feel like I can’t do much.”<br />

Alex was born in Ireland shortly after<br />

his parents, Tanya and Vassyl, moved<br />

to Cork with their six-year-old son, Ivan.<br />

Their daughter, Dasha, was born a few<br />

years later after the family moved to<br />

Dublin.<br />

His rugby adventures started in Bective<br />

Rangers, following in the footsteps of big<br />

brother Ivan, before going to school and<br />

representing Belvedere College.<br />

It wasn’t long before representative<br />

honours came his way and he has worn<br />

the green jersey of Ireland on numerous<br />

occasions across two U-20 Six Nations<br />

campaigns.<br />

Like so many young people his age in<br />

Ireland, Alex is very aware and equally<br />

proud of his Irish and Ukrainian roots.<br />

“I’ve lived here my whole life but I<br />

consider myself as much Ukrainian as I<br />

do Irish. All of my extended family are in<br />

Ukraine. I don’t have any Irish relatives,<br />

but at the same time, I was born here<br />

and I grew up here so I feel half and half<br />

basically.”<br />

Having made his <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby debut<br />

last year against Glasgow, Soroka has<br />

impressed the coaches, earning further<br />

caps against Zebre and Edinburgh,<br />

despite a frustrating injury lay-off earlier<br />

this year.<br />

But, for the time being, his rugby career<br />

is very much secondary on his mind as<br />

he and his family do all they can for their<br />

extended family in Ukraine.<br />

“My granny is still there. I speak to her<br />

on the phone a lot. I have one aunt in<br />

London but all of my other aunts, uncles<br />

and cousins are in Ukraine right now.<br />

“My father’s family are all in Kyiv and my<br />

mother’s family are all in Dnipropetro<strong>vs</strong>k,<br />

which is further down the Dnipro river. It is<br />

worrying though because Dnipropetro<strong>vs</strong>k<br />

is in the south-east and the Russians could<br />

go there next. Thankfully, nothing bad has<br />

happened to any of them at the moment.”<br />

His use of the phrase “at the moment” is<br />

well founded given the proximity of both<br />

sides of his family to the ongoing war. His<br />

mother’s family, based in Dnipropetro<strong>vs</strong>k,<br />

are roughly 500km south-east of Kyiv. The<br />

fighting and the shelling that he referenced<br />

earlier is all too real for them all.<br />

The one bit of solace that Alex takes from<br />

his daily calls to Ukraine is the incredible<br />

strength and calmness that he hears from<br />

his extended family.<br />

“My granny is doing fine. I don’t know if<br />

it’s the Ukrainian nature, but they are so<br />

tough. When we are talking to her, it’s<br />

like we are more stressed than she is.<br />

“My mum and dad’s friends are the<br />

same. They are so calm about everything.<br />

My dad says that if he was over there it<br />

would be easier, because he would be<br />

there and wouldn’t be as stressed all the<br />

way over here.”<br />

We all watched the news in horror as<br />

the war intensified throughout parts of<br />

Ukraine.<br />

A sense of helplessness fell on most<br />

people. Soroka and his family decided<br />

that they had to do something.<br />

Knowing the city of Kyiv well, and seeing<br />

the images of injured children, they<br />

decided to start a GoFundMe page,<br />

which has been a huge success.<br />

“The Okhmadyt Children’s Hospital is<br />

the biggest in Ukraine. So, when<br />

everything started over there, we were<br />

trying to help our family and friends by<br />

sending what we can and giving what<br />

we can. But, I started to think, what else<br />

can I do? Because you do feel helpless<br />

over here. You are so far away from<br />

everything.<br />

“I had seen a few GoFundMe campaigns<br />

before, so I thought I would start one.<br />

We thought that there’s no better place<br />

90 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


to send the money than the children’s<br />

hospital.<br />

“A section of the hospital was actually<br />

shelled around the time I started the<br />

campaign. A lot of the kids in there<br />

are having to get their treatment done<br />

underground.<br />

“My dad got in contact with the hospital<br />

so the logistics of sending the money<br />

are sorted. I’ll probably keep it running<br />

for another few weeks. But, if we can<br />

help some of the injured kids back to full<br />

health, hopefully it can be of help.”<br />

The goodwill of the Irish people was<br />

clear as the campaign grew quickly.<br />

“The original goal was €5,000. I didn’t<br />

really know what amount to put the goal<br />

as. We hit that within a few hours so I<br />

doubled it. Then we hit that quickly so I<br />

doubled it again.<br />

“I moved it up to €50,000 and see how<br />

it goes, but we’re nearly there now.”<br />

Incredibly, the campaign is now just shy<br />

of €48,000 having been posted less<br />

than three weeks ago.<br />

“The day I put it live, all of the <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

players supported it and shared it across<br />

their social media pages. All my friends<br />

and teammates in Clontarf shared it too,<br />

so it got great exposure and I’m really<br />

grateful for that.”<br />

That support Alex talks about has come<br />

from all four corners of Ireland.<br />

“Cork Constitution FC gave a great<br />

contribution. I had no idea they were<br />

doing a fundraiser. We played them a<br />

few weeks ago with Clontarf and Donal<br />

Lenihan came up to me after the match<br />

and gave me an envelope to add to the<br />

fund. That was really nice.<br />

“UCD Rugby Club also gave a donation<br />

after our game last week which was<br />

really nice from them. When you see<br />

things like that, it makes you proud to be<br />

a part of the rugby community.”<br />

Those trips in the Energia AIL with Clontarf<br />

FC, and training in UCD with the <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Academy are the few hours each week<br />

that Alex isn’t thinking about the war. It’s<br />

a good distraction for the 21-year-old,<br />

knowing that everyone at Clontarf and<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby is behind him.<br />

“Not that you ever forget that the war<br />

is going on, but coming into UCD to<br />

train gives you something else to focus<br />

on for the time that I’m with the team. It<br />

definitely helps. It’s good to blow some<br />

steam off doing a gym session and it puts<br />

you in a better headspace overall.<br />

“The lads have been great. The<br />

support has been unbelievable.<br />

The whole squad here in <strong>Leinster</strong>,<br />

and all of the coaches have<br />

been so supportive. Everyone has<br />

said that if there’s anything they can do<br />

to help, they would love to do it. It means<br />

a lot.”<br />

This year, before the war began, rugby<br />

had brought the Soroka family a lot of<br />

big days out together as Alex, and his<br />

older brother, Ivan, who has previously<br />

played with tonight’s opponents<br />

<strong>Connacht</strong>, finally got to play on the same<br />

team.<br />

“Ivan is about six or seven years older<br />

than me so when we were growing up<br />

we never had a chance to play together.<br />

I signed back with Clontarf during Covid,<br />

but, obviously we didn’t get a chance to<br />

play any games.<br />

“I picked up an injury at the start of<br />

this season and I only got back in<br />

January. My first game back was against<br />

Garryowen and I finally got to play on<br />

the same team as my brother. That was<br />

special. It’s probably my favourite rugby<br />

memory.<br />

“We were waiting for a long time, and<br />

my parents were waiting for a long time<br />

too. They were happier than we were.<br />

My sister Dasha was there as well so it<br />

was special. It was just a really good day<br />

out. We won, thankfully. It would have<br />

been an anti-climax if we lost!<br />

“I think we’ve played nine games<br />

together this year for Clontarf and my<br />

parents have been to every one of them.<br />

They’ve travelled down to Cork for away<br />

games and everything.”<br />

Having that Clontarf Rugby Club<br />

community support has clearly been a<br />

great help to the entire Soroka family.<br />

Between the players and the supporters,<br />

92 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


the club has raised more than €6,000 for<br />

the campaign.<br />

The club is now working on helping as<br />

many Ukrainians as possible who move<br />

into the area.<br />

“A lot of families have moved into<br />

Clontarf, and the rugby club has set up a<br />

training session for Ukrainian kids. It’s on<br />

Mondays at 5.30pm in the rugby club.<br />

“Rugby isn’t very popular in Ukraine, but<br />

it’s just great that they have somewhere<br />

for the kids to run around and have a bit<br />

of craic. There’s so many examples of that<br />

goodwill around Ireland.<br />

“I couldn’t ask for anymore from the<br />

players, staff and the people behind the<br />

scenes at Clontarf. My family and I really<br />

appreciate it. It’s nice to be a part of a<br />

club like that.”<br />

From a rugby perspective, Alex is focused<br />

on impressing the <strong>Leinster</strong> coaches and<br />

adding to his three caps to date, as<br />

well as repaying Clontarf for all of their<br />

support with some silverware.<br />

“We’ve been going well this season with<br />

Clontarf and we’re into the play-offs.<br />

we’ll just try<br />

and help out<br />

as much as we<br />

can. We’ll keep<br />

organising<br />

things to help<br />

the Ukrainians<br />

coming over to<br />

Ireland.<br />

We’re playing Cork Con at home in the<br />

semi-final, so hopefully we can bring it<br />

home.”<br />

More importantly, Alex and his family are<br />

focused on helping Ukrainians arriving<br />

in Ireland as well as doing anything they<br />

can for family and friends back home in<br />

Ukraine.<br />

“Looking ahead, we’ll just try and help<br />

out as much as we can. We’ll keep<br />

organising things to help the Ukrainians<br />

coming over to Ireland.<br />

“There are a few Facebook groups that<br />

we’re in, so if somebody sees a good<br />

donation page, we’ll share it, or help set<br />

up a meet and greet for Ukrainians who<br />

have just come in at St Stephen’s Green<br />

on Saturdays. All of that kind of stuff.<br />

“It’s very daunting for the Ukrainians who<br />

are coming over here now. Especially the<br />

children.<br />

“It’s a new environment, a new language,<br />

a new climate, a new everything. Small<br />

things we can do to help them to make<br />

their lives a little bit easier, can go a long<br />

way.”<br />

94 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


If you<br />

would like<br />

to support<br />

the Soroka<br />

family<br />

GoFundMe<br />

campaign<br />

which is<br />

raising<br />

funds for the<br />

Okhmadyt<br />

Children’s<br />

Hospital<br />

in Ukraine,<br />

please<br />

donate here.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 95


Success in rugby is about collective excellence,<br />

the sort of excellence demonstrated last season<br />

by Stade Toulousain when they memorably<br />

clinched a record-breaking fifth Heineken<br />

Champions Cup title, and by Montpellier Hérault<br />

Rugby who lifted the EPCR Challenge Cup for<br />

the second time in their history.<br />

But within a group of players there is always<br />

the opportunity for individual brilliance and<br />

that is where the EPCR European Player of the<br />

Year award comes in. This prestigious accolade,<br />

won with such style in 2021 by the outstanding<br />

Antoine Dupont, is in the spotlight once again<br />

following announcement of this season’s 15<br />

nominees who are now vying to claim the<br />

Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy.<br />

Voting remains open and fans will be in the<br />

running to win a signed ball and a signed jersey<br />

courtesy of one of the Heineken Champions<br />

Cup finalist clubs. The list will be reduced<br />

to five candidates after the semi-finals by a<br />

combination of the public vote and the verdict<br />

of the judging panel, and players who have not<br />

been included in the initial longlist, but who<br />

make a significant impact during the knockout<br />

stages, may be considered for the shortlist.<br />

The voting will then re-open and the winner of<br />

the 2022 award will be announced following the<br />

Heineken Champions Cup final in Marseille.<br />

JUDGING PANEL<br />

Erik Bonneval (beIN SPORTS),<br />

Bryan Habana (two-time<br />

Heineken Champions Cup<br />

winner), Lee McKenzie<br />

(Channel 4), Alan Quinlan<br />

(Virgin Media and two-time<br />

Heineken Cup winner) and<br />

Dimitri Yachvili (France<br />

Télévisions)<br />

ROLL OF HONOUR<br />

2021: Antoine Dupont (Stade<br />

Toulousain); 2020: Sam<br />

Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs);<br />

2019: Alex Goode (Saracens);<br />

2018: Leone Nakarawa<br />

(Racing 92); 2017: Owen<br />

Farrell (Saracens); 2016: Maro<br />

Itoje (Saracens); 2015: Nick<br />

Abendanon (ASM Clermont<br />

Auvergne); 2014: Steffon<br />

Armitage (RC Toulon); 2013:<br />

Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon);<br />

2012: Rob Kearney (<strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby); 2011: Sean O’Brien<br />

(<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby); 2010: Ronan<br />

O’Gara (Munster Rugby –<br />

best player of first 15 years of<br />

European professional club<br />

competitions)


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HARLEQUINS HARLEQUINS HARLEQUINS LEINSTER RUGBYLEINSTER UNION RUGBY BORDEAUX-BÈGLES<br />

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UNION VOTE NOW<br />

EPCRUGBY.COM/EPOTY<br />

#EPOTY2022


<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Academy<br />

Year Three 2021/22:<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Academy<br />

Year two 2021/22:<br />

Second Row<br />

Brian Deeny<br />

DOB: 02/03/2000<br />

HEIGHT: 1.99m WEIGHT: 121kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (8 caps)<br />

Did You Know: Brian played youth rugby with Wexford<br />

Wanderers RFC. He got his first Irish cap playing for<br />

Ireland Under-18 Sevens. Brian played midfield for<br />

his school St Peter’s College in Gaelic football and<br />

reached the All-Ireland Colleges Final in 2017. He is<br />

currently studying Science in Trinity and lives in Abbey<br />

House B&B, Wexford...if you are looking for a room?!<br />

Instagram: brian_deeny<br />

wing<br />

Niall Comerford<br />

DOB: 06/04/2000<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m WEIGHT: 86kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20<br />

Did You Know: Niall played both hurling and Gaelic<br />

football with Kilmacud Crokes for 14 years. He also<br />

represented Dublin in Gaelic football in the U17<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Championship. He is currently studying<br />

Commerce in UCD.<br />

Instagram: niall_c123<br />

Cormac Foley #1299<br />

DOB: 24/10/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.81m WEIGHT: 88kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (9 caps)<br />

& <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (2 caps)<br />

Marcus Hanan #1295<br />

DOB: 03/10/2000<br />

HEIGHT:1.8m WEIGHT:110.91kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (2 caps)<br />

& <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (3 caps)<br />

Scrum Half<br />

Did You Know: Started playing rugby with Greystones<br />

RFC when he was nine. Growing up, Cormac did a lot<br />

of show jumping and he is now studying Economics and<br />

Finance in UCD.<br />

Instagram: cormacfoley6<br />

prop<br />

Did You Know? Marcus is from Clane in Kildare and is the<br />

youngest of three. His dad went to the High School and then<br />

played rugby in Old Wesley before coaching back at Clane<br />

RFC. Marcus has Italian connections on his mother’s side with her<br />

father, Luigi Rea, being from Italy. Marcus is studying Business<br />

Management in Griffith College. Instagram: @marcus_hanan<br />

Back Row<br />

Martin Moloney #1300<br />

DOB: 19/10/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m WEIGHT: 99kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (5 caps) &<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (5 caps)<br />

Did You Know: Martin played hurling for Kildare and<br />

played GAA and basketball for his secondary school,<br />

Knockbeg College, and local GAA club, St Laurence’s.<br />

He played his youth rugby with Athy RFC. He is now<br />

studying Business and Law in UCD, He also enjoys<br />

working on the family farm. Instagram: martin_moloney<br />

Second Row<br />

Joe McCarthy #1303<br />

DOB: 26/03/2001<br />

HEIGHT: 1.95m WEIGHT: 119kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (3 caps) &<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (5 caps)<br />

Did You Know: Joe started playing rugby with Blackrock<br />

College RFC at the age of six before moving to<br />

Willow Park and then Blackrock College. He was also<br />

on the Blackrock swim team for five years. He’s currently<br />

studying Global Business in Trinity College Dublin.<br />

Instagram: joetmmcc<br />

Second Row<br />

Charlie Ryan<br />

DOB: 03/02/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 2.01m WEIGHT: 115kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (15 caps)<br />

Did You Know: Charlie played youth rugby at Blackrock<br />

College RFC while also attending the school since<br />

Senior Infants. He captained Ireland to the U20 Grand<br />

Slam in 2019 and again for the U20s World Cup. His<br />

friends call him Chuck! He is currently studying Business<br />

and Legal Studies in UCD.<br />

Instagram: chuck_ryan5<br />

hooker<br />

John McKee<br />

DOB: 15/02/2000<br />

HEIGHT: 1.82m WEIGHT: 105kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (12 caps)<br />

Did You Know: John grew up in Belfast going to school<br />

at Campbell College where he won a Senior Cup. He<br />

was involved with Ulster at age grade level until moving<br />

to Dublin after school. He also has multiple medals<br />

from Northern Irish Schools Judo competitions.<br />

Instagram: johnmckee_<br />

Centre<br />

Liam Turner #1287<br />

DOB: 14/07/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.73m WEIGHT: 91kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (10 caps)<br />

& <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (6 caps)<br />

Did You Know: Liam started to play rugby at the age<br />

of six at Blackrock College RFC. He later joined<br />

Blackrock College and was part of the 2018 Senior Cup<br />

winning team. He was also part of the Ireland U20 team<br />

that went on to win the 2019 Grand Slam. Liam currently<br />

studys BESS in Trinity College. Instagram: liamtn123<br />

Centre / Full Back<br />

Jamie Osborne #1294<br />

DOB: 16/11/2001<br />

HEIGHT:1.93m WEIGHT:96.82kg<br />

HONOURS: <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (16 caps)<br />

Did you know? Jamie is studying commerce in UCD. His<br />

grandad, Paddy Osborne, was a horse trainer in Naas,<br />

while his dad played rugby all throughout his life and<br />

his mum played hockey. Other than rugby, Jamie loves<br />

all sports especially soccer, GAA and NFL. Jamie is<br />

currently in a house with fellow <strong>Leinster</strong> Academy players<br />

Brian Deeny, Martin Moloney and Max O’Reilly.<br />

Instagram: @jamieosborne01<br />

98 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Seán O’Brien #1297<br />

Lee Barron<br />

Back Row<br />

DOB: 31/07/2000<br />

HEIGHT: 1.90m WEIGHT: 103kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (3 caps)<br />

& <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (2 caps)<br />

Did You Know: Seán started playing rugby at age<br />

six with Greystones RFC where he played up until Under-13.<br />

He then played on the Junior and Senior Cup<br />

teams in Blackrock College. He is currently studying<br />

Economics and Finance in UCD<br />

Instagram: seanobrien456<br />

Hooker<br />

DOB: 15/02/2001<br />

HEIGHT: 1.91m WEIGHT: 108kg<br />

Did You Know: Lee played golf growing up in the<br />

Castle Golf Club and in the end was playing off a<br />

handicap of eight. He has family roots in Carlow but<br />

went to school in Dublin and attended St Michael’s College.<br />

As well as rugby with his school, he also played<br />

GAA and even lined out in Croke Park.<br />

Instagram: @lleebarron<br />

Max O’Reilly #1291<br />

Chris Cosgrave #1305<br />

Full Back<br />

DOB: 26/02/2000<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m WEIGHT: 86kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (3 caps) &<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (8 caps)<br />

Did You Know: Max is currently in his third year of<br />

Business and Management in DIT. His preferred sport<br />

was soccer until about the age of 15, which he had<br />

played at centre midfield with Enniskerry FC for over 10<br />

years and also for Wicklow.<br />

Instagram: max_oreilly<br />

full back<br />

DOB: 24/07/2001<br />

HEIGHT:1.83m WEIGHT:85kg<br />

Did You Know: Chris is a member of UCD RFC, where<br />

he is also an Ad Astra scholar studying Agricultural<br />

Science. His athleticism is best highlighted by his feats<br />

in the field of Athletics with All-Ireland honours to his<br />

name in both the 4x100m relay and the Discus. Before<br />

the UCD and St Michael’s College days, he played at<br />

a young age with Old Belvedere RFC.<br />

Instagram: @chriscosgrave1<br />

Andrew Smith #1292<br />

Mark Hernan<br />

DOB: 21/07/2000<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m WEIGHT: 91kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (3 caps) &<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (2 caps)<br />

DOB: 04/07/2000<br />

HEIGHT: 1.88m WEIGHT: 99kg<br />

HONOURS: <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (1 cap)<br />

Back Three<br />

Did You Know: Andrew is currently studying Quantity<br />

Surveying and Construction Economics in TUD. In<br />

2019, he won the <strong>Leinster</strong> Schools Senior Cup with St<br />

Michael’s College. Andrew also played Gaelic football<br />

with his local club - Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA Club.<br />

Instagram: andrew.sm1th<br />

Flanker<br />

Did You Know: Mark was coached by Ross Molony,<br />

Josh Murphy, Ross Byrne and Nick McCarthy when in<br />

St. Michael’s College. His grandfather Fergus O’Brien<br />

was Lord Mayor of Dublin and his father, Ray, played<br />

for <strong>Connacht</strong> seniors and Ireland u25s.<br />

Instagram: @mark_hernani<br />

Alex Soroka #1296<br />

Temi Lasisi #1304<br />

Back Row<br />

DOB: 19/02/2001<br />

HEIGHT: 1.95m WEIGHT: 104.5kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (7 caps)<br />

& <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (3 caps)<br />

Did You Know: Alex’s family moved to Ireland from<br />

Ukraine shortly before his birth. He was born in Cork<br />

before moving to Dublin.<br />

Instagram: alex._.soroka<br />

prop<br />

DOB: 09/05/2001<br />

HEIGHT: 1.78m WEIGHT: 115.8kg<br />

HONOURS: <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (1 cap)<br />

Did You Know: The TUD Mechanical Engineering<br />

student originally picked up the oval ball in Enniscorthy<br />

before later moving to Lansdowne FC. Temi rose<br />

through the ranks in the Youths system, his first outing<br />

with the province came at U-18 level against Northampton.<br />

He also describes himself as a ‘competent<br />

pianist’. Instagram: @lasisi.temi<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Academy<br />

Year one 2021/22:<br />

Scrum half<br />

Ben Murphy<br />

DOB: 23/04/2001<br />

HEIGHT: 1.75m WEIGHT: 80kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (3 caps)<br />

& <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (1 cap)<br />

Did You Know: Ben played all different sports growing<br />

up including football, GAA and golf and won an 800m<br />

gold in the U-14 East <strong>Leinster</strong>s. He is studying economics<br />

in UCD. Ben’s father Richie played for <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

Rugby and has coached at all levels of the game and is<br />

the current Ireland U-20s head coach. I<br />

nstagram: @ben._murphy01<br />

Jack Boyle<br />

DOB: 10/03/2002<br />

HEIGHT: 1.85m WEIGHT: 106kg<br />

HONOURS: Ireland U20 (9 caps)<br />

Rob Russell #1302<br />

DOB: 13/01/1999<br />

HEIGHT: 1.83m WEIGHT: 90kg<br />

HONOURS: <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby (3 caps)<br />

Prop<br />

Did You Know: Jack’s father, Herbie, and uncles, Colon<br />

and Eric, all represented Old Wesley rugby club for<br />

years. His cousin Stephen Boyle also represented the<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby youths. Jack is currently studying for a<br />

Commerce Degree in UCD.<br />

Instagram: @jackboyle1<br />

Full Back / Wing<br />

Did You Know: Rob is currently in his final year of<br />

Business and Management in DIT. He started playing<br />

rugby at the age of five with Wanderers RFC. He also<br />

played football up to minor level with Kilmacud Crokes<br />

and it took priority over rugby until he left school.<br />

Instagram: @robrussell7<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 99


celebrating International<br />

Women’s Day<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby celebrated<br />

International Women’s Day<br />

with a week full of activities.<br />

Among these was a new initiative<br />

encouraging members of the<br />

Area U-18 Girls squads to referee,<br />

under supervision, at the Girls<br />

U-10 and U-12 Festivals on the<br />

Friday night.<br />

Among those who took up the challenge<br />

was Blathnaid Smith, a member of the<br />

PortDara <strong>Leinster</strong> U-18 Cup-winning side<br />

and a member of the North Midlands<br />

team in the 2022 Sarah Robinson Cup.<br />

Joining, Playing,<br />

Refereeing - A<br />

Youth Player’s View<br />

BY BLATHNAID SMITH<br />

When I was about nine years<br />

old, my dad brought me down<br />

to Portarlington rugby club. We<br />

went down one Saturday when<br />

there were a few matches on and<br />

it just went from there. I’ve been<br />

playing ever since.<br />

Once I began playing U-18, I was old<br />

enough to be selected for the North<br />

Midlands team, but unfortunately, I did<br />

not get on.<br />

That year, I realized how much I loved<br />

rugby and was gutted not to be put<br />

forward for the team. Then I decided<br />

to work really hard for what I wanted<br />

to achieve. So, I went running, and<br />

practiced all my rugby skills to improve<br />

myself as a player and a person so they<br />

could do nothing but pick me for the<br />

team.<br />

As we went into lockdown in 2020, I was<br />

picked to play on the North Midlands<br />

U-18 team. We didn't get to play any<br />

matches for the North Midlands that year<br />

due to Covid-19.<br />

My first match with the team was one<br />

year later in 2021. We played Midlands<br />

in Edenderry as a warm-up game. This<br />

was to prepare ourselves to face them in<br />

Donnybrook in the Sarah Robinson Cup.<br />

We won that match and it was great to<br />

be playing.<br />

As a North Midlands player, I was asked,<br />

‘Would I be interested in refereeing<br />

minis?’ This was an opportunity not to be<br />

missed as I love the game of rugby and I<br />

wanted to help encourage young girls to<br />

play the sport.<br />

During my Transition Year, I had<br />

completed the Minis Coaching course<br />

with <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby. I loved coaching<br />

girls and I felt that refereeing was a great<br />

idea.<br />

I had a bit of learning to do on the<br />

laws of rugby before then. We did a<br />

refereeing module with Sean Gallagher,<br />

the Referee Development Manager for<br />

<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby. It was a very informative<br />

session on anything we didn't understand,<br />

this helped to educate us further on the<br />

laws of rugby.<br />

It really showed me the work referees<br />

put in in preparing to referee a game is<br />

equally important as that of the player in<br />

preparation for playing. It was great to<br />

hear from people with lots of experience<br />

in refereeing the game.<br />

Joy Neville was a special guest; she was<br />

a great player and a great role model<br />

as a pro referee. I learned it's all about<br />

fundamentals of refereeing.<br />

With all this prep, we finally got to Friday,<br />

11 March, the North Midlands Girls Mini<br />

Festival. I was a bit nervous because I<br />

wanted to do well.<br />

I was amazed at the sheer number of<br />

girls playing rugby in the U-10s and<br />

U-12s, it was fabulous. I refereed the<br />

U-10s where they know their rugby.<br />

I wasn't sure if they knew what an offside<br />

rule was. But, they explained it to me, it<br />

was delightful for the girls to know all the<br />

laws of rugby. The games were excellent,<br />

the girls were driving with the ball, a few<br />

dummies and steps mixed in. Everybody,<br />

including me, was delighted when a<br />

try was scored. It didn't matter if it was<br />

against you or for you. Everybody was<br />

happy to be playing rugby.<br />

I would suggest minis rugby refereeing to<br />

all players. If you are stepping away from<br />

playing for whatever reason, refereeing<br />

could be for you. It's so much fun and<br />

time flies. It was a wonderful experience<br />

and really enjoyable.<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 101


Date<br />

25/09<br />

03/10<br />

09/10<br />

16/10<br />

22/10<br />

27/11<br />

03/12<br />

11/12<br />

1/12<br />

1/01<br />

22/01<br />

29/01<br />

11/02<br />

19/02<br />

25/02<br />

05/03<br />

12/03<br />

26/03<br />

02/05<br />

08/04<br />

KO/<br />

Result<br />

W<br />

31-3<br />

W<br />

7-6<br />

W<br />

43-7<br />

Opposiotion Venue 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 1 2<br />

URC VODACOM<br />

BULLS<br />

URC DRAGONS<br />

Aviva<br />

Stadium<br />

Rodney<br />

Parade<br />

URC ZEBRE RDS Arena J O’BRIEN<br />

KEENAN O’LOUGHLIN RINGROSE FRAWLEY LOWE<br />

SEXTON<br />

3C 1P<br />

MCGRATH<br />

PORTER<br />

1T<br />

SHEEHAN<br />

KEENAN RUSSELL RINGROSE C O’BRIEN O’LOUGHLIN R BYRNE GIBSON-PARK PORTER SHEEHAN<br />

A BYRNE<br />

2T<br />

OSBORNE<br />

FRAWLEY<br />

W<br />

50-15 URC SCARLETS RDS Arena KEENAN LARMOUR RINGROSE FRAWLEY<br />

1C<br />

W<br />

31-15<br />

URC GLASGOW<br />

Scotstoun<br />

Stadium<br />

KEENAN<br />

1T<br />

A BYRNE<br />

1T<br />

L<br />

10-20 URC ULSTER RDS Arena J O’BRIEN A BYRNE HENSHAW<br />

1T<br />

W<br />

47-19 URC CONNACHT RDS Arena KEENAN LARMOUR 1T RINGROSE<br />

1T<br />

W<br />

45-20 HCC BATH Aviva<br />

Stadium<br />

L<br />

0-28<br />

W<br />

89-7<br />

W<br />

64-7<br />

L<br />

29-27<br />

W<br />

26-7<br />

W<br />

29-7<br />

W<br />

21-13<br />

HCC MONTPELLIER<br />

GGL (Altrad)<br />

Stadium<br />

KEENAN<br />

1T<br />

HCC MONTPELLIER RDS Arena KEENAN<br />

HCC BATH<br />

URC<br />

CARDIFF<br />

RUGBY<br />

Recreation<br />

Ground<br />

Cardiff Arms<br />

Park<br />

LARMOUR<br />

1T<br />

LOWE<br />

RINGROSE FRAWLEY LOWE<br />

FRAWLEY<br />

HENSHAW<br />

LARMOUR RINGROSE FRAWLEY<br />

LARMOUR<br />

LOWE<br />

LOWE<br />

1T<br />

H BYRNE<br />

SEXTON<br />

1C 1P<br />

R BYRNE<br />

4C 1P<br />

R BYRNE<br />

1C 1P<br />

H BYRNE<br />

5C<br />

R BYRNE<br />

5C<br />

MCGRATH<br />

GIBSON-PARK<br />

MCGRATH<br />

E BYRNE<br />

1T<br />

PORTER<br />

1T<br />

HEALY<br />

CRONIN<br />

1T<br />

KELLEHER<br />

1T<br />

KELLEHER<br />

1T<br />

MCGRATH E BYRNE TRACY<br />

MCGRATH<br />

GIBSON-PARK<br />

2T<br />

HEALY<br />

PORTER<br />

- - - - - - - - -<br />

KEENAN<br />

1T<br />

LARMOUR<br />

1T<br />

LARMOUR<br />

1T<br />

RINGROSE<br />

RINGROSE<br />

FRAWLEY<br />

HENSHAW<br />

J O’BRIEN<br />

1T<br />

J O’BRIEN<br />

4T<br />

J O’BRIEN A BYRNE 1T OSBORNE FRAWLEY O’LOUGHLIN<br />

URC EDINBURGH RDS Arena OSBORNE T O’BRIEN O’LOUGHLIN FRAWLEY KEARNEY<br />

URC OSPREYS RDS Arena J O’BRIEN<br />

URC<br />

EMIRATES<br />

LIONS<br />

W<br />

17-61 URC BENETTON Stadio<br />

Monigo<br />

L<br />

13-18 URC ULSTER Kingspan<br />

Stadium<br />

W<br />

45-8<br />

LARMOUR<br />

1T<br />

OSBORNE H BYRNE KEARNEY<br />

RDS Arena O’REILLY T O’BRIEN OSBORNE H BYRNE<br />

J O’BRIEN<br />

2T 1C<br />

URC CONNACHT Sportsground J O’BRIEN<br />

W<br />

34-19 URC MUNSTER Thomond<br />

Park<br />

LARMOUR<br />

1T<br />

KEARNEY<br />

1T<br />

OSBORNE H BYRNE T O’BRIEN<br />

J O’BRIEN A BYRNE O’LOUGHLIN OSBORNE T O’BRIEN<br />

KEENAN<br />

W<br />

26-21 HCC CONNACHT Sportsground KEENAN<br />

1T<br />

15/04 17:30 HCC CONNACHT<br />

23/04 17:15 URC CELL C<br />

SHARKS<br />

30/04 16:15 URC DHL<br />

STORMERS<br />

20|21/05 19:00 URC MUNSTER<br />

fixtures and<br />

results 2021/22<br />

Aviva<br />

Stadium<br />

Jonsson<br />

Kings Park<br />

Green Point<br />

Stadium<br />

Aviva<br />

Stadium<br />

T O’BRIEN<br />

2T<br />

J O’BRIEN<br />

1T<br />

OSBORNE<br />

RINGROSE<br />

1T<br />

FRAWLEY<br />

1T<br />

HENSHAW<br />

J O’BRIEN RINGROSE HENSHAW<br />

O’LOUGHLIN<br />

1T<br />

LOWE<br />

2T<br />

LOWE<br />

2T<br />

R BYRNE<br />

1T 7C<br />

SEXTON<br />

5C<br />

R BYRNE<br />

3C 2P<br />

R BYRNE<br />

3C<br />

R BYRNE<br />

3C 1P<br />

R BYRNE<br />

3C<br />

R BYRNE<br />

1T 7C<br />

R BYRNE<br />

1C 2P<br />

R BYRNE<br />

1C<br />

R BYRNE<br />

1P 4C<br />

SEXTON<br />

1C 2P<br />

GIBSON-PARK<br />

1T<br />

MCGRATH<br />

PORTER<br />

PORTER<br />

1T<br />

SHEEHAN<br />

1T<br />

KELLEHER<br />

1T<br />

KELLEHER<br />

KELLEHER<br />

MCGRATH E BYRNE CRONIN<br />

N MCCARTHY<br />

1T<br />

MCGRATH<br />

E BYRNE<br />

HEALY<br />

1T<br />

TRACY<br />

TRACY<br />

N MCCARTHY E BYRNE TRACY<br />

MCGRATH<br />

DOOLEY<br />

CRONIN<br />

2T<br />

MCGRATH DOOLEY TRACY<br />

MCGRATH DOOLEY TRACY<br />

GIBSON-PARK E BYRNE TRACY<br />

MCGRATH HEALY SHEEHAN<br />

102 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


3 4 5 6 7 8 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23<br />

ALAALATOA MOLONY J RYAN RUDDOCK<br />

VAN DER FLIER<br />

1T<br />

ALAALATOA MOLONY RYAN RUDDOCK VAN DER FLIER<br />

ALAALATOA BAIRD TONER LEAVY<br />

FURLONG MOLONY RYAN<br />

DORIS<br />

2T<br />

PENNY<br />

1T<br />

VAN DER FLIER<br />

DORIS<br />

DEEGAN<br />

1T<br />

RUDDOCK<br />

CONAN<br />

FURLONG MOLONY BAIRD DORIS LEAVY CONAN<br />

TRACY<br />

1T<br />

E BYRNE HEALY BAIRD DEEGAN GIBSON-PARK<br />

R BYRNE<br />

1T 1C<br />

TRACY E BYRNE HEALY BAIRD LEAVY N MCCARTHY C FRAWLEY<br />

KELLEHER<br />

1T<br />

SHEEHAN<br />

2T<br />

SHEEHAN<br />

1T<br />

DOOLEY HEALY MOLONY DEEGAN N MCCARTHY<br />

HEALY<br />

1T<br />

ALAALATOA BAIRD RUDDOCK MCGRATH<br />

SEXTON<br />

4C<br />

R BYRNE<br />

3C<br />

OSBORNE<br />

S PENNY<br />

[UNUSED]<br />

RUSSELL<br />

T O’BRIEN<br />

E BYRNE ALAALATOA TONER RUDDOCK GIBSON-PARK OSBORNE VAN DER FLIER<br />

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

ALA’ALATOA<br />

BAIRD<br />

1T<br />

TONER<br />

RUDDOCK<br />

1T<br />

VAN DER FLIER<br />

DORIS<br />

1T<br />

KELLEHER PORTER ABDALADZE J MURPHY<br />

DEEGAN<br />

1T<br />

N MCCARTHY<br />

R BYRNE<br />

1C<br />

T O’BRIEN<br />

FURLONG<br />

1T<br />

MOLONY BAIRD RUDDOCK<br />

VAN DER FLIER<br />

1T<br />

DORIS SHEEHAN HEALY ALAALATOA TONER DEEGAN MCGRATH J O’BRIEN T O’BRIEN<br />

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -<br />

FURLONG<br />

MOLONY<br />

1T<br />

J MURPHY<br />

DORIS<br />

VAN DER FLIER<br />

2T<br />

CONAN<br />

2T<br />

SHEEHAN<br />

2T<br />

HEALY<br />

ALAALATOA<br />

1T<br />

RUDDOCK DEEGAN MCGRATH<br />

SEXTON<br />

5C<br />

LOWE<br />

1T<br />

ALAALATOA MOLONY MURPHY DORIS<br />

VAN DER FLIER<br />

1T<br />

CONAN<br />

SHEEHAN<br />

1T<br />

HEALY ABDALADZE BAIRD DEEGAN GIBSON-PARK<br />

R BYRNE<br />

2C<br />

FRAWLEY<br />

1T<br />

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

ALAALATOA MOLONY J MURPHY MOLONEY<br />

ALAALATOA MOLONY BAIRD MOLONEY<br />

ALAALATOA<br />

1T<br />

PENNY<br />

1T<br />

PENNY<br />

1T<br />

DEEGAN<br />

1T<br />

CRONIN<br />

DOOLEY<br />

ABDALADZE<br />

1T<br />

TONER SOROKA MCGRATH H BYRNE RUSSELL<br />

DEEGAN CRONIN DOOLEY CLARKSON DUNNE RUDDOCK N MCCARTHY A BYRNE<br />

TONER J MCCARTHY J MURPHY LEAVY RUDDOCK CRONIN DOOLEY CLARKSON DUNNE DEEGAN MCGRATH A BYRNE<br />

CLARKSON MOLONY J MCCARTHY RUDDOCK PENNY<br />

ALAALATOA MOLONY J MCCARTHY RUDDOCK PENNY<br />

ALAALATOA MOLONY J MCCARTHY RUDDOCK PENNY<br />

DEEGAN<br />

1T<br />

DEEGAN<br />

1T<br />

DEEGAN<br />

1T<br />

TRACY<br />

2T<br />

LOWE<br />

1T<br />

PENNY<br />

1T<br />

E BYRNE ALAALATOA TONER LEAVY FOLEY O’LOUGHLIN KEARNEY<br />

CRONIN LASISI CLARKSON TONER LEAVY N MCCARTHY HAWKSHAW MOLONEY<br />

CRONIN E BYRNE CLARKSON J MURPHY MOLONEY N MCCARTHY<br />

HAWKSHAW<br />

1T 4C<br />

ALAALATOA TONER DUNNE DORIS VAN DER FLIER CONAN SHEEHAN HEALY FURLONG MOLONY MURPHY MCGRATH FRAWLEY DEEGAN<br />

COSGRAVE<br />

FURLONG MOLONY J MURPHY DORIS VAN DER FLIER CONAN TRACY E BYRNE ALAALATOA TONER DEEGAN GIBSON-PARK<br />

R BYRNE<br />

1P<br />

FRAWLEY<br />

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 103


matchday<br />

Squads officials<br />

REFEREE<br />

LUKE PEARCE<br />

(ENG)<br />

ASSISTANT REFEREE<br />

DANIEL JONES<br />

(ENG)<br />

ASSISTANT REFEREE<br />

PAUL DIX (<br />

ENG)<br />

Hugo Keenan<br />

Jimmy O’Brien<br />

Garry Ringrose<br />

Robbie Henshaw<br />

James Lowe<br />

Johnny Sexton [C]<br />

15<br />

14<br />

13<br />

12<br />

11<br />

10<br />

9<br />

FULL BACK<br />

RIGHT WING<br />

OUTSIDE CENTRE<br />

INSIDE CENTRE<br />

LEFT WING<br />

FLY HALF<br />

Tiernan O’Halloran<br />

John Porch<br />

Tom Farrell<br />

Bundee Aki<br />

Mack Hansen<br />

Jack Carty [C]<br />

TMO<br />

TOM FOLEY<br />

(ENG)<br />

CITING COMMISSIONER<br />

STUART SCOTT<br />

(WAL)<br />

Jamison Gibson-Park<br />

SCRUM HALF<br />

Caolin Blade<br />

Andrew Porter<br />

Rónan Kelleher<br />

Tadhg Furlong<br />

Ross Molony<br />

Josh Murphy<br />

Caelan Doris<br />

Josh van der Flier<br />

Jack Conan<br />

1<br />

2<br />

3<br />

4<br />

5<br />

6<br />

7<br />

8<br />

LOOSE HEAD PROP Matthew Burke<br />

FRONT PAGE<br />

HOOKER Dave Heffernan<br />

TIGHT HEAD PROP Finlay Bealham<br />

SECOND ROW Gavin Thornbury<br />

SECOND ROW Leva Fifita<br />

BLINDSIDE FLANKER Cian Prendergast<br />

OPENSIDE FLANKER Conor Oliver<br />

NUMBER 8 Jarrad Butler<br />

Dan Sheehan<br />

Ed Byrne<br />

Michael Ala’alatoa<br />

Devin Toner<br />

Rhys Ruddock<br />

Luke McGrath<br />

Ross Byrne<br />

Ciarán Frawley<br />

16<br />

17<br />

18<br />

19<br />

20<br />

21<br />

22<br />

23<br />

REPLACEMENT<br />

REPLACEMENT<br />

REPLACEMENT<br />

REPLACEMENT<br />

REPLACEMENT<br />

REPLACEMENT<br />

REPLACEMENT<br />

REPLACEMENT<br />

Jonny Murphy<br />

Denis Buckley<br />

Jack Aungier<br />

Oisin Dowling<br />

Abraham Papali’i<br />

Kieran Marmion<br />

Sammy Arnold<br />

Conor Fitzgerald


At Sword we know how important the Game is.<br />

We know how important your memories are ....so relax<br />

and enjoy yourself, you're in safe hands.<br />

LEINSTER RUGBY FANS .... Secured by the team at Sword<br />

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Parting Shot<br />

Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile<br />

8 April 2022<br />

Jonathan Sexton of <strong>Leinster</strong><br />

before the Heineken Champions<br />

Cup Round of 16 first leg match<br />

between <strong>Connacht</strong> and <strong>Leinster</strong> at<br />

the Sportsground in Galway.<br />

106 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


RUGBY.<br />

DELIVERED.<br />

TEAMWORK. SPEED. DELIVERY. THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE<br />

OFFICIAL LOGISTICS PARTNER. DHL.

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