Leinster vs Connacht

ISSUE 11 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
LEINSTER
VS
connacht
FRI 15 th APR
AVIVA STADIUM
KO 5.30PM
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22
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT
President: John Walsh
Chief Executive: Michael Dawson
Honorary Secretary: Stuart Bayley
Honorary Treasurer: Michael McGrail
RUGBY MANAGEMENT
Head Coach: Leo Cullen
Senior Coach: Stuart Lancaster
Head of Rugby Operations:
Guy Easterby
Assistant Coach: Robin McBryde
Backs Coach: Felipe Contepomi
Kicking Coach: Emmet Farrell
Contact Skills Coach: Denis Leamy
14
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www.leinsterrugby.ie | 3

EPCR
WELCOME
MESSAGE
A warm welcome
to this Heineken
Champions Cup
Round of 16 match
as the competition
for a coveted
place in next
month’s Marseille
final really begins
to hot up.
The intensity and drama of the knockout
stage will increase this season with the
historic introduction of home and away
legs in the Round of 16, and aggregate
scores over the back-to-back fixtures will
decide which of the elite clubs – with
an impressive total of 28 European titles
between them - qualify for the last eight of
the tournament.
The innovative format will guarantee
two compelling, high-stakes matches
this month featuring stars of the global
game and we can then look forward to
traditional quarter-finals and semi-finals
culminating in the 2022 showpiece final
at the Stade Vélodrome on Saturday,
28 May.
In addition, following the conclusion
of the Heineken Champions Cup pool
stage, Cardiff Rugby, Wasps, Castres
Olympique, Glasgow Warriors,
FRONT PAGE
Northampton Saints and Bath Rugby will
continue their quest for silverware this
season having booked their places in the
knockout stage of the EPCR Challenge
Cup.
We are delighted to be joined on the
journey to Marseille by our long-standing
title partner, Heineken, as well as by our
newest official partner, DHL, who provide
customised logistics solutions for both
the Heineken Champions Cup and the
EPCR Challenge Cup, and we would also
like to thank Tissot, the Financial Times,
Gilbert and Kappa for their continuing
support.
We acknowledge the superb coverage
provided by our TV partners BT Sport,
beIN SPORTS, France Télévisions,
Channel 4, Virgin Media, S4C and Sky
Italia whose output is complemented
by the wide range of linear and OTT
platforms which broadcast the Heineken
Champions Cup globally.
We recognise that this season has been
particularly challenging for everyone
associated with the game, however,
it is now heartening to see fans back
at venues across Europe and we will
continue to work closely with the leagues
and unions to ensure that the high-profile
matches in the knockout stage of the
tournament can be played safely.
On behalf of all at EPCR, enjoy the match
and best wishes to you, the supporters,
as well as to your club’s players and staff
for what promises to be a riveting Round
of 16.
Yours in rugby,
Dominic McKay
EPCR Chairman

Every great match
starts with 0.0

HEINEKEN ireland
Welcome
A very warm
welcome to the
Round of 16 of
the 2021/2022
Heineken
Champions
Cup. After an
incredibly
challenging
two years,
it has been
truly heartwarming
to see
full capacity
crowds back in
stadia enjoying
sport, of all
codes, over
the past few
months. Huge
credit is due
to all sporting
organisations,
players, and
officials for
their collective
perseverance,
dedication,
and desire
to entertain
the Irish and
international
sporting
publics.
I wish all remaining 16 teams in the
Heineken Champions Cup the very best
of luck. We have some mouth-watering
games to look forward to, in what
promises to be a hugely exciting twolegged
Round of 16. It is testament to
the ever-increasing strength of Irish rugby
that all four Irish teams have advanced
to the business end of Europe’s leading
club rugby competition. It goes without
saying that we in HEINEKEN Ireland
will keep a particularly close eye on the
progress of the home teams. For Irish
fans, the standout tie must be the clash
of Connacht Rugby v Leinster Rugby in
what will be an epic encounter between
two fine teams. Munster Rugby face a
formidable opponent in Exeter Chiefs
and similarly, Ulster Rugby take on the
might of Stade Toulousain in what also
promises to be another very keenly
contested game.
This time of year, brings with it immense
excitement and anticipation, as hopes
and dreams of making the final of
the Heineken Champions Cup final in
Marseille at the end of May become
closer to realisation. We at HEINEKEN
Ireland are immensely proud to be title
sponsor of a tournament that continues to
deliver so many truly memorable sporting
occasions. I have no doubt, more
memories will be made in the coming
weeks.
Enjoy the games and as always please
do socialise responsibly.
Maarten Schuurman
Managing Director, HEINEKEN Ireland.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 7

john walsh welcome
sport should always keep to the forefront
of our minds.
PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2020/22
On behalf of Leinster
Rugby, we welcome
fans back to the Aviva
Stadium for the first
time this year that
Leinster will grace this
atmospheric home of
Irish Rugby.
This evening’s fixture in the
second leg of the Round of 16
stage of the Heineken Champions
Cup will mark the fourth occasion
this season that we have had a
local derby with our neighbours
Connacht. At stake tonight is a
place in the quarter-final so this
game is of vital importance to
both sides.
A slender five-point advantage for
Leinster from the first leg encounter at
the packed Sportsground in Galway
last Friday night separates the sides so
tonight’s encounter has all the ingredients
to make a classic encounter between
both these talented sides.
The local derbies between our provincial
sides, no matter at what level, are eagerly
awaited by all rugby fans and indeed all
players look forward to that extra spice
that these events generate.
The post-match changing rooms
following a local derby reflects the extra
exhilaration that the winners achieve from
their win while the faces of the defeated
side tell their own story without a word
needing to be said.
Leinster will be aware that Connacht are
a threat to any side as they play with skill,
passion, heart and commitment until the
final whistle. It’s not that long ago since
they defeated Leinster in the Grand Final
of the League in 2016 and have beaten
8 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Leinster in Galway and Dublin in recent
years.
On behalf of the Leinster Management
and Executive Committee we welcome
our counterparts from Connach Rugby
led by Ann Henegan (President and an
outstanding ambassador for her province
and clubs), Willie Ruane (CEO) and of
course Andy Friend (head coach) and
Jarrad Butler and Jack Carty (captains).
Connacht are a proud province with
victories over 53 clubs in European
competitions including over top teams
like Toulon and have contributed over 70
players to the Irish side including the likes
of Lions players Ray McLoughlin, Ciaran
Fitzgerald and John O’Driscoll.
While we may be rivals on the pitch we,
at Leinster Rugby, continue to work with
our colleagues in Connacht, Munster
and Ulster for the sustained development
of the game at all levels on this island
and share many common goals and
objectives and long may that be so.
For Irish Rugby to prosper we need
all our provincial teams to continue to
develop and to have a strong presence in
our European competitions. The US Dime
may well be regarded as an insignificant
coin but it bears the significant inscription
of ‘E Pluribus Unum’ (out of many one)
and it’s a message that all involved in our
Connacht, like Leinster, are building
for the future and both provinces will
shortly embark on major multi-million
Euro development projects at the
Sportsgrounds and RDS Arena which
will significantly increase the quality of
facilities for our fans and players. We are
very appreciative of the support and vote
of confidence that our sport has received
from Government.
A heartfelt thank you to all our Leinster
Rugby supporting partners and sponsors
for standing shoulder to shoulder with
us during this difficult period of the
pandemic.
A special acknowledgement to thank the
Bank of Ireland for their valued support
of Irish rugby.
Leinster Rugby are proud to be
associated with them and with the vision
and participation that they bring to every
aspect of our structures at Leinster youth,
schools, girls and women’s rugby, clubs
and Leinster representative sides. We
look forward to our continued successful
association.
The Leinster domestic season is reaching
its final competition stages. The 75th
Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup
Final will feature Kilkenny and Ashbourne
in what is a repeat of their 2014 final in
which Ashbourne emerged winners to
record their first title win. Cill Dara RFC
will host the final on Easter Sunday in
what promises to be a thrilling final with
two sides in top form of late.
The 100th Bank of Ireland Metropolitan
Cup will take place on Friday, 22 April,
at Energia Park with a 7.30pm kick-off
and will feature Terenure College (10
wins) against Clontarf (six wins). The last
time these teams met in the final was in
2002 when Clontarf won.
The Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby
Schools programme has been severely
impacted due to the pandemic and there
was great delight amongst all involved in
our 73 Leinster-affiliated schools that we
have succeeded in completing our cup
competitions this season.

Leinster Rugby annually stages 73
competitions but we couldn’t play
these games without the hard work
and cooperation of our clubs. We
thank all those clubs who made their
facilities available for the competitions.
Congratulations to all those players who
participated in the competitions and the
best of luck in your future journeys in
rugby.
Irish and Leinster fans will have been
disappointed to learn that Dan Leavy
has had to retire on medical advice at
the age of 27 following a knee injury
sustained against Ulster three years ago
now.
His glittering career saw him establish
himself as one of the top emerging
international players.
His career with Leinster saw him make 79
appearances and play a leading role in
our Heineken Cup win in Bilbao in 2018.
Capped seven times for Ireland at U-20
level, he graduated to the full Irish side
and in 11 appearances for Ireland (never
on a losing side) he was a member of the
Six Nations Grand Slam winning Irish
side of 2018. Leinster Rugby wish him the
very best for the future and thank him for
his commitment to the club.
The 2011 European Player of the Year
Seán O’Brien has also announced that
he will retire from professional rugby at
the end of the current season.
In a 14-year professional career his status
with fans of Leinster, Ireland and the Lions
is iconic.
The ‘Tullow Tank’s’ glittering career
yielded four Heineken Champions Cup
wins with Leinster (126 appearances,
20 tries), 56 Irish Caps and two Lions
tours in 2013 and 2017 that yielded 11
appearances and five Test caps.
A passionate supporter of his local club
Tullow RFC he was an example of just
one of the many Irish Internationals to
emerge as a result of the Leinster strategy
of building ‘From The Ground Up’ and
the creation of pathways for players to
progress their talents in rugby. Good luck
to Seán from all in Leinster Rugby for the
future.
Yours in sport,
John Walsh
President Leinster Rugby 2020-2022
Until we meet again “Keep The Faith”
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 9

Leo Cullen
head Coach Welcome
Good evening and a very warm welcome to
the Aviva for our fourth encounter with
Andy Friend’s Connacht team this season.
Last week in Galway, we
saw two fully committed Irish
provincial teams going at it from
first whistle to last and I’m sure
this evening’s game will be no
different.
We really appreciate your attendance
here today. The passionate support that
the Irish provinces enjoy has always been
a great strength when it comes to this
time of year, when so many of these big
European games come down to the finest
of margins.
Amazingly, this is the first knockout game
in Europe here at the Aviva Stadium
in front of supporters since 2019. That
game was against Ulster for anyone who
can remember that far back!
We definitely needed your support that
day and it’ll be the same today. We have
been away to Irish provinces for the last
four weekends in a row so it’s nice to be
back here for such a huge game.
Since our last home game, we have also
had a couple of players making their
Leinster debuts.
10 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Congratulations to Temi Lasisi and
Chris Cosgrave on making their Leinster
bows against Ulster and Connacht
respectively. Temi has come through from
the clubs pathway where he represented
Enniscorthy before moving on to
Lansdowne.
Chris on the other hand came through as
a schoolboy with St Michael’s College.
I’m sure both lads have had lots of help
along the way to get to this point and we
are thankful for all the volunteer support,
coaching and mentoring that have
helped so many of our players to reach
their potential.
It’s great to welcome Rob Kearney back
‘home’ this weekend. Rob was one of
the unlucky players who had to finish
his Leinster career with no supporters
present. On the plus side, he did get to
finish his time here by raising a trophy
with Fergus McFadden at this very
ground.
I’m sure all our supporters will have fond
memories of Rob and some of the huge
performances that he delivered for both
Leinster and Ireland over a long and
successful career. We hope to draw
on Rob’s vast experience and rugby
knowledge in some way over the coming
years but in the meantime, we wish him
every success whatever path he chooses.
A big welcome to the Leinster contingent
who represented Ireland during the
successful Grand Slam winning U-20s
campaign. The lads were simply brilliant
so well done to them and also to Richie
Murphy and his coaching group on a
great campaign.
On a sadder note, we were all very sorry
to hear of the passing of Don Reddan,
father of former Connacht and Leinster
player Eoin, and of course Eoin’s brother,
Alan, who played for both Connacht and
Lansdowne.
Don was such a great supporter of
Leinster, even though, by his own
admission he was a late convert! He was
also an ever-present at home and away
matches, part of that special connection
with family and friends that means so
much to the team.
We will all miss Don but remember some
great times and special memories on the
road.
Our aim is now to push on and try our
best to experience more of those special
memories, starting this evening. We
realise however that Connacht and all
the other teams that lie in wait have their
own aspirations to go on and achieve
success on the biggest stage. That fierce
competition is what makes this tournament
so special and we hope you will stick
with us for the twists and turns ahead.
Many thanks again to all of you and that
includes our loyal sponsors, particularly
Bank of Ireland, for your continued
support. We couldn’t do what we do
without you.
Leo
Enjoy the game and Happy Easter!

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 11

12 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

carla
delaney
DIRECTOR, BANK OF IRELAND AREA EAST
After five away games in a row it’s great to be back enjoying
home comforts in the Aviva Stadium for the second leg of the
Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 clash against Connacht Rugby.
Bank of Ireland is a proud
sponsor of all four provinces,
so interprovincial derbies are a
tricky affair at the best of times!
But there is no doubting that
these games bring out the best
in each and every player, and
we certainly saw that on display
in the first leg last weekend in
Galway.
The game was on the line until the very
end, and it was a testament to both teams
that fans on both sides of the divide left
feeling confident of progression ahead of
this evening’s clash. It promises to be an
intriguing game and we wish both teams
the very best of luck.
Over the last few weeks, it has been
great to see Tania Rosser and her
women’s squad assemble for the first time.
Competitive action is some way away yet,
but they will start to build over the coming
months down in Energia Park.
It was brilliant to hear Tania’s thoughts
recently – together with Leo Cullen and
Mick Dawson – when speaking to the
OLSC and Season Ticket Holders about
the future of the game and the future of
women’s rugby. With the Irish women’s
team under a new coaching ticket, and
picking up their first points of the Six
Nations at the weekend against Italy,
there is plenty to be optimistic about. We
in Bank of Ireland can’t wait to get behind
Tania and her team as they take to the
field again in the coming months for the
Interprovincial Championship.
Congratulations to all the clubs and
schools sides who won their respective
competitions over the last few weeks.
To St Michael’s College and Blackrock
College for their respective Junior and
Senior Cup wins, and of course hard
luck to Cistercian College, Roscrea and
Gonzaga College, who both had brilliant
campaigns coming up just short in their
respective finals.
Congratulations also go to St Fintan’s
High School on winning the Bank
of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools Fr
Godfrey Cup, and to CUS who won the
Vinnie Murray Cup. There are still games
and finals to be played though, and best
of luck to Ashbourne and Kilkenny as they
prepare for the Bank of Ireland Provincial
Towns Cup, the most prestigious of the
club competitions in the 12 counties of
Leinster Rugby.
Finally, to a good friend of Bank of
Ireland’s - Seán O’Brien, who last week
announced his retirement from rugby at
the end of the season. Seán has been
a phenomenal servant to the game in
Leinster and certainly put Tullow on the
rugby map. There have been some great
days following him in blue and in green
– and indeed in Lions red! We wish him
well in his retirement.
Enjoy the game and may the best team
win.
CD
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 13

14 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
m

oss
olony
the big interview
BY MARCUS Ó BUACHALLA
Second row Ross
Molony made
his Leinster
Rugby debut as
a 20-year-old
against Zebre in
February 2015.
Since then, he
has amassed
an impressive
total of 133
appearances
for Leinster
Rugby with four
United Rugby
Championships
and a Heineken
Champions Cup
medal to his
name.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 15

It’s fair to say that there isn’t
much he hasn’t seen in a blue
jersey.
This two-week window, however, is one
that neither Molony or his team-mates
will have experienced in their careers – a
back-to-back aggregate tie.
While the same opposition have regularly
popped up in European competition
in successive weekends in the pool,
the combined scorelines add a new
dimension to the fixtures and give players
an extra element to work into decisionmaking
during the week, and most
importantly, on the field throughout the
80 minutes.
“It’s different,” Molony says. “The
concentration for these knockout games is
at a high over the two-week period where
every point matters.
“You can see some of the other games
over the weekend where a team had a
decent lead but then there was a chance
for the other team to put up a few points
and, again, it’s all to play for.
“It doesn’t allow anyone to run away with
it and for us, getting ahead by five points
was important. But, it keeps us focused
and ready for this week.”
This evening’s meeting at Aviva Stadium
is very much in the bracket of ‘all to play
for’ as Leinster come back from Galway
with a five-point advantage.
Head coach Leo Cullen referenced in his
post-match media duties following that
game that it was ‘two good Irish sides
going hard at it’.
And, for Molony, the sentiment is the
same, with both sets of supporters adding
extra edge at The Sportsground.
“It always is down there (a battle). I think
we expected exactly what they came out
with, they were quick out of the blocks,
they were on top of us with ball in hand,”
he explains.
“Obviously, the crowd factor, the pitch
factor are big things playing there.
Having played there the two weeks
previous in the league match, we had an
idea of what was coming.
“There’s a bit of a different group going
down in the European game but, yeah,
it was a battle. It was good. It was a
really enjoyable game from a neutral’s
spectating point of view.
“We had a big number of supporters
buses that went down from the OLSC
and we had a serious contingent of fans
behind the goal where we were attacking
in the second half.
“And, especially in away games, that
makes a huge difference when you
can see the flags and hear the Leinster
chants, the blue in the crowd. So, now
we’re looking forward to tonight where,
hopefully, we’ll have a lot more.”
Last Friday was Molony’s 17th
appearance of the season for the
16 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

When you’re
in camp, you’re
living in there and
there’s a lot of
things I’ve taken
away from that
in terms of doing
your extras, more
recovery stuff
that I’ve added
to my game this
season.
province, 11 of which have lasted the full
80 minutes.
The former St Michael’s College man
has rightly been earning plaudits for
his performances and how he has
established himself over the last number
of years as a mainstay in the side.
The most notable of those
acknowledgements came from Ireland
head coach, Andy Farrell, who included
Molony in international camps last
summer and during the 2022 Six
Nations.
While he’s yet to get that coveted green
cap, the benefit of being included in that
environment, listening to new voices and
training with new faces has not been lost
on him.
“Firstly, it’s great to be involved in that setup,
with that group of players. They had
a very successful tournament and a very
successful autumn series and even before
that, the summer series,” he adds.
“I feel I’m playing good rugby with the
club so getting rewarded from that is
great but now it’s to the next step and
going on and getting the cap.
“I think it’s driven my game on a bit
because there’s a lot of, not detail, but
you’re under the eye a little bit more.
When you’re in camp, you’re living
in there and there’s a lot of things I’ve
taken away from that in terms of doing
your extras, more recovery stuff that I’ve
added to my game this season.”
“It’s refreshing to experience, and be
under, a different coaching staff. I’d be
familiar with Fogs (John Fogarty) in
there but the other lads, I’d never
worked under before.
“It’s great because coaches
pick up cues that they give their
players that they can always go
back to so you get a refreshed
view on parts of your game that
you may not have thought were
an issue before. But now you have
someone else shining a light on it, I think
it’s great for the players to get better but
also for the team to improve.”
For now though, the focus has turned
back to Leinster and, having welcomed
back all of the internationals from Six
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 17

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Nations duty ahead of the Munster clash,
Molony is now familiar with being both
one of the returning contingent as well as
being in the core group still grinding in
UCD or Energia Park during that block
of games.
He does outline, however, that with
the team being as close at it is, the ‘reintegrating’
is limited to the vocabulary
around set-pieces and planning.
“I think it’s more to do with the language
around calls and slotting into different
schedules in here to what they’ve been
used to for eight or nine weeks during the
Six Nations.
“It’s a boost for the group here to have
such quality coming back in to drive
the standards in our training. In terms
of the integration, our group here is
pretty tight knit so it’s seamless enough.”
While Molony’s career continues on an
upward trajectory, sadly the opposite
has to be said for his former schools
teammate, Dan Leavy.
The flanker sadly announced last week
that he was being forced to retire from
the game due to that horrific injury
picked up against Ulster in the 2019
Champions Cup quarter-final against
Ulster.
Despite fighting his way back and
making a further 17 appearances, the
flanker was advised not to continue
on medical grounds, saying in his
announcement that “I can’t do any
more or ask any more of my body”.
Having played through school, agegrade
teams and then for Leinster
together, he’s someone that Molony
has aligned with all of the highlights
he has in the game.
“He announced it to us on the
Monday last week and it was
announced then in public on the
Tuesday. It’s such a tough one on Dan.
“The resilience he’s shown over the past
few years just shows the character of
who he is. Dan was the year ahead of
me in school so I would have played
all of my rugby growing up with
him. I would have seen him as an
inspiration and a leader, he would
have often captained sides that I
was on in school or underage.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 19

“Any of the big moments in my career, I
can remember enjoying them with Dan.
If I was to ever think of a Dream Team
to play a game with, he’s the first name
on that team sheet. I just think the
way he played the game and
the impact he could have as a
single player on a game was
incredible. I’m gutted for him
but I also know the type
of person he is and what
he’s been through,
anything he does next
will be a success.”
Leavy’s retirement,
along with that of Devin
Toner, and a number of
departing players, many of
whom fit the same age profile
as Molony, coming through
the ranks at the same time as him,
provide just another motivating factor to
finish the season on a high.
And, as always, at this stage of the
season, the lock is steadfast in his
assessment that only silverware will do.
“There’s a lot of lads moving on to
exciting challenges. Again, a lot of
my era. I played a lot of underage
rugby with Dools (Peter Dooley), Adam
(Byrne), Josh (Murphy) and Locko (Rory
O’Loughlin).
20 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

“The years that standout to me, like when
the 2015 World Cup was on, I would
have played a lot at the start of the
season and it was with those lads.
“And then the seasons after that if the
internationals were away, it was that
core group that would stay here. There’s
a good group of players moving on and
their new clubs are very lucky to get
them.
“There’s an opportunity for the group to
do something special. We talked about
the lads moving on, the boys retiring,
others moving on to different clubs.
“We talked about there being a good
group here and we want to do something
special on the pitch but there is that
smaller group that we can play for. The
two trophies have to be the goals for
that,” he states.
The next step in that process can only
begin with a win against Connacht.
And having seen them up close and
personal last week, Molony believes that
a promising start is important. It’s also
a help to have been able to add some
more faces back to the fold this week.
“It’s going to be about how quickly we
can get ourselves into the game, get
going. As I said, they got out of the
blocks well last week, which we knew
they would do.
“So, for us, being at home, we need to
win the crowd over by getting into our
game quick and putting out our intent
early.
“We have the ability but it doesn’t just
happen, we have to go and make it
happen.
“It’s a good lift for us that we have Ports
(Andrew Porter) and Rónan (Kelleher)
coming back in. The quality that they’ve
shown over the years means they’ll be a
big boost to the wider group. It pushes
lads on even more.”
That push starts at 5.30pm this evening at
Aviva Stadium.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 21

Action
replay 21 26
CONNACHT RUGBY
Tiernan O’Halloran (Conor Fitzgerald
41); John Porch, Tom Farrell (Sammy
Arnold 77), Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen;
Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion (Caolin
Blade 61); Matthew Burke (Tietie
Tuimauga 56), Dave Heffernan (Dylan
Tierney-Martin 70), Finlay Bealham
(Jack Aungier 70); Gavin Thornbury
(Oisin Dowling 52), Leva Fifita; Cian
Prendergast, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler
(Abraham Papali’I 61).
SCORERS
Tries: John Porch, Leva Fifita.
Con: Jack Carty.
Pens: Jack Carty (3).
FRIDAY APRIL 8, 2022
THE SPORTSGROUND
ATTENDANCE: 8,129
HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP
LEINSTER RUGBY
Hugo Keenan; Jimmy O’Brien, Garry
Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw (Ciarán
Frawley 73), James Lowe; Johnny Sexton
(Ross Byrne 68), Luke McGrath (Jamison
Gibson-Park 50); Cian Healy (Ed Byrne
50), Dan Sheehan (James Tracy 62),
Tadhg Furlong (Michael Ala’alatoa 62);
Ross Molony, Josh Murphy (Devin Toner
70); Caelan Doris (Max Deegan 78),
Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
SCORERS
Tries: James Lowe (2), Hugo Keenan.
Con: Johnny Sexton.
Pens: Johnny Sexton (2), Ross Byrne.
22 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Two Irish teams
going hard at
it. That’s what
you want to see.
There was good
intent to play
from both teams.
Leo Cullen
It’s a tough
place to come.
We were here
two weeks
ago in the URC
but this was
a different
animal. It was a
big occasion for
both teams and
we’re looking
forward to
going up against
them again.
Caelan Doris,
Heineken Star of the Match
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 23

NORTH-EAST CLINCH
U-16 SHANE HORGAN CUP
The fourth
round of
matches in
the Bank
of Ireland
U-16 Shane
Horgan Cup
took place at
Energia Park
on Wednesday
afternoon.
They resulted in wins for North-
East, who also claimed this year’s
title, and North Midlands.
North-East 60
Midlands 20
An impressive North-East
completed a clean sweep to
become champions when posting
10 tries against Midlands.
They blasted out of the blocks with an
opening statement of intent that included
a blistering break and offload by fullback
Delcan O’Connor for loosehead
Griffin Carrick to speed over, Jack
Litchfield converting in the first minute.
Midlands did not stand on ceremony,
flanker Callum Mulligan showing good
footwork and No 8 John Casey getting
on the ball.
Front-rowers Carrick and Max Ward
looked comfortable moving the ball
before lock Chuck Ohawaga and centre
Harley Harold both got to within five
metres of the second try.
Midlands couldn’t afford to go on in
defensive mode. Centre Eoin Conlon and
the big left boot of Oisin O’Hara gave
them room to breathe.
24 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
The dam had to burst when hooker Ward
was given too much room by accurate
passing on the inside for 12-0 in the 15th
minute.
North-East were on the move again
when a pass went astray and Midlands
centre Cody Broderick snapped up the
half-chance to stay ahead of the posse
for an opportunist try.
The long kicking of out-half O’Hara
led to another impressive cameo from
Mulligan, adding pace to a nice move
for a superb try, for 12-10 in the 23rd
minute.
A sustained attack from North-East
ripped through phases as backs and
forwards handled easily for Ward to
punch in his second try, Litchfield’s
conversion making it 19-10 at the
interval.
It was the Midlands who started the
better in the new half, Mulligan to the
fore in creating the front foot for centre
Broderick to go close and replacement
James Grehan to be stopped in his tracks
by Seamus Evans.
In a flash, the North-East were breaking
upfield for Carrick to shoot through a
small gap, having the pace to resist
O’Hara for 24-10 in the 35th minute.
When suffocating defence forced an
error in handling, a Harold hack ahead
put North-East in position to strike again,
tighthead Ciaran Scott bouncing out of a
tackle to ground the ball.
It went from bad to worse for Midlands
when a raid down the right enabled
Litchfield to come on to the ball at pace
to ghost home
Suddenly, North-East were in overdrive,
turning possession into points in a
hurry, Aidan Rennie streaking down the
left before replacement Hugh Keogh
followed suit from distance for converted
tries.
Midlands did find a response from
second row Jake Kenny’s barrelling run
before Luke Fagan barged over for Philip
Smyth to convert for North-East.
Tiring limbs made for leaky defences and
Midlands full-back Andrew Hill was next
to take advantage on the right before
Evan Shelly answered from a quickstriking
attack.
Scorers – North-East: M Ward, G
Carrick two tries each; C Scott, H Keogh,
L Fagan, E Shelly try each; J Litchfield try,
four cons; P Smyth try, con. Midlands: C
Mulligan, C Broderick, J Kenny, A Hill
try each.

North-East – Declan O’Connor (Navan);
Seamus Evans (Navan), Shaun O’Reilly
(Navan), Harley Harold (Balbriggan),
Dara McFadden (Balbriggan); Jack
Litchfield (Skerries), Oisin McEneany
(Skerries); Griffin Carrick (Skerries), Max
Ward (Dundalk), Ciaran Scott (Navan),
Chuck Ohawaga (Navan), Tadgh
Flanagan (Navan), Luke Fagan (Skerries),
Mike Brannigan (Skerries), Evan Shelly
(Skerries).
Replacements: Colin Jordan (Navan),
Hugh Keogh (Ratoath), Luis Hodson
(Balbriggan), Philip Smyth (Navan),
Aidan Rennie (Navan), Adam Dooley
(Boyne), Liam Philips-O’Brien (Skerries),
Lee Bennett (Ratoath).
Midlands – Andrew Hill (Edenderry);
Cian Lynam (Tullamore), Cody Broderick
(Midland Warriors), Eoin Conlon
(Mullingar), Killian Bennett (Wilson’s
Hospital); Oisin O’Hara (Mullingar),
Paidi Gorman (Edenderry); Yaw Appiah
(Longford), Ciaran Heffernan (Longford),
James Ryan (Roscrea), Jake Kenny
(Tullamore), Artur Lazor (Mullingar),
Tadhg Clear (Tullamore), Callum
Mulligan (Wilson’s Hospital), John Casey
(Mullingar).
Replacements: Finbar Kelly (Mullingar),
James Grehan (Longford), Adam
Meehan (Mullingar), Cillian Bourke
(Tullamore).
North Midlands 14
South-East 7
A late try by Sean Walsh
completed North-Midlands’
comeback win over South-East in
the opener.
The opening exchanges were dominated
by both defences as they applied
pressure on the ball handler and looked
to gain ground through the boots of
South-East’s Cathal Kehoe and North
Midlands’ Sean Behan.
The footballing skills of second row Tom
Hughes were on view in a slick one-two
with left-wing Luke Chatten for a fine try,
converted by Brian Johnston in the ninth
minute.
A burst up the left by North Midlands
hooker Josh Domican brought the
game to life and wing Daniel Thornton
threatened on the right.
North Midlands looked likely to deliver
until Sean Logue picked off a pass to pin
his ears back, full-back Killian O’Sullivan
producing the pace to catch the centre.
The support play of Daniel Ring and
Hugh Greaney led to a lineout from a
penalty which North Midlands defended
with aggression and discipline.
The more touches Daragh Farrell, Oran
Kelleher and O’Sullivan got for North
Midlands, the better they looked with
No 8 Walsh a danger on the ball too.
Another burst by Comican put them on
the front foot and Zach Kennedy’s hard
line was further reason for optimism.
South-East scrum-half Ring ripped away
a turnover and had to be vigilant to
deal with O’Sullivan in the outside
channel.
Greaney did well to keep Behan out
and a collective effort held prop Joshua
Apps off the ground over the line to keep
South-East 7-0 ahead at the break.
North Midlands centre Farrell pinched
a penalty on the floor and almost put
Kelleher into space from the first set
move of the second period.
A mazy break by full-back Kehoe put
Chatten on the ball and his delicate
grubber forced Colm Moran into
emergency action.
Once again, Farrell was the creator-inchief
for Behan before Hughes hauled
the out-half down.
The growing pressure led to a tap-andgo
for replacement Jack Kelly to crash
over for Farrell to make it 7-all in the
45th minute.
Sure hands along the line allowed North
Midlands to move out of trouble, wing
Elliot Walsh dinking a kick over the top
only for Kehoe to come to the rescue.
The momentum was swinging with North
Midlands replacement Sam Jordan
thundering through contact and Farrell
feeding Kelleher for what looked a
certain try until openside Hugh Roche
miraculously kept the centre off the
ground over the line.
The number of chances not taken by
North Midlands mounted up, making the
draw likely going into injury-time.
North Midlands came hunting the
winning points through their threequarters,
but second row Hughes was
waiting to force a penalty on the ground.
Finally, the impact of the bench did the
trick, creating the go-forward for Walsh
to duck inside for the decisive try
Scorers – North Midlands: J Kelly,
S Walsh try each; D Farrell two cons.
South-East: T Hughes try; B Johnston
con.
North Midlands – Killian O’Sullivan
(Clane); Daniel Thornton (Portlaoise),
Oran Kelleher (Athy), Darragh Farrell
(Athy), Elliot Walsh (Clondalkin); Sean
Behan (Cill Dara), Colm Moran (Athy);
Joshua Apps (Clondalkin), Josh Domican
(Clondalkin), Luke McTiernan (North
Kildare), Ryan McDonnell (Athy),
Darragh Townsend (Portlaoise), Jack
Dempsey (Naas), Zach Kennedy (Naas),
Sean Walsh (North Kildare).
Replacements: Jack Kelly (Clane),
Gavin Agar (Newbridge), Aran Coiley
(Portlaoise), Jack Osborne (Naas),
Daniel Steed (Clondalkin), Sam Jordan
(North Kildare), Rowan Finnegan
(Naas), Ruaidhri Lawlor (Athy), Oliver
Reilly (Clane), Conor Langabeer
(Clondalkin), Cian Crampton (Naas).
South-East – Cathal Kehoe (Enniscorthy);
William Fitzpatrick (Wicklow), Sean
Logue (Wexford Wanderers), Cathal
Gorman (Tullow), Luke Chatten (County
Carlow); Brian Johnston (Wicklow),
Daniel Ring (Kilkenny); Sean Carey
(Gorey), Hugh Greaney (Kilkenny),
Cormac Murphy (Wicklow), Tom Hughes
(Tullow), Ricardo Whelan (Wicklow),
Oren Cullen (Gorey), Hugh Roche
(Wexford Wanderers), Jamie O’Brien
(Kilkenny).
Replacements: TJ Kennedy (Wicklow),
Daragh McCormack (Wicklow),
Mark Power (Kilkenny), Michael Ryan
(Tullow), Marcas Bowen (Kilkenny),
Stephen Hendy (Gorey), Cian Bolger
(Enniscorthy), Joshua Rossiter (Wexford
Wanderers).
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 25

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www.leinsterrugby.ie | 27

leo
the lion’s
kids
corner
IN A BLUR!
Can you name this
leinster player?
spot the difference!
Can you find all six?
ANAGRAMS
Can you un-jumble the names of these players?
RABID
YARN
BERRY
SONS
how did you do?
IN A BLUR?
JONATHAN SEXTON
ANAGRAMS
RYAN BAIRD
ROSS BYRNE
ZOOMED IN!
JOSH MURPHY
zoomed in!
WHo is this leinster
player having an
extreme close-up?
28 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

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AZTO
with
Garry Ringrose
A – Action: If you could be a superhero,
which would you be?
Superman
B – Boyhood: Who was your favourite
sporting idol growing up?
Cristiano Ronaldo
C – Childhood: What is your favourite
childhood memory?
Summer holidays in France
D – Dish: What’s your go-to pre-match
meal?
Granola and honey
E – Education: What was your favourite
subject in school?
French
F – Film buff: What’s your favourite film?
Catch Me If You Can
G – Groove: Who is the best dancer in
the squad?
Jordan Larmour
H – Holiday: What’s your favourite
holiday destination?
Marbella, Spain
I – Inside: Who is the worst to sit beside
in the dressing room?
Not who but where... the locker closest
to the toilets for obvious reasons!
J – Joker: Who is the funniest in the
squad?
Max Deegan
K – Kick-off: What’s your favourite time
of the day to play a match?
5pm
L – Languages: How many languages
can you speak?
Three
M – Music: Your favourite artist and
song right now?
Somebody’s Child - Jungle
N – Number: Do you have a lucky
number?
24
30 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

O – Others: What’s your
favourite sport outside of rugby?
Golf
P – Pal: Who is your best mate in
the squad?
James Ryan
Q – Quirky: Who has the most
interesting fashion sense?
Marty Moloney
R – Red Carpet: Who is the most
famous contact in your phone?
Johnny Sexton
S – Superstitions: Do you have
any matchday routines?
Get a nap in pre kick-off
T – Trim: What’s the worst
haircut you’ve ever had?
Lockdown 1.0 home haircut
attempts!
U – Under pressure: Who in the
squad would be the best in a
bad situation?
Ross Byrne
V – Verified: How often do you
use social media?
A scroll or two a day
W – Worst fear: What are
you most scared of?
Spiders
X – X-ray: Have you ever
broken any bones?
Both sides of the Jaw in 2020
Y – Youth: Where did you
grow up?
Dublin
Z – Zoo: What’s your favourite
animal?
Dog
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 31

Did you know?
• Leinster Rugby won 26-21 in their
Round of 16 - 1st Leg clash against
Connacht, their only previous
encounter in European competition;
each of Leinster’s last two games
against fellow Irish sides in the
Heineken Champions Cup have ended
with a margin of victory of five
points or fewer.
• Leinster Rugby have won seven of
their last eight home matches in
the knockout stages of the Heineken
Champions Cup (L1); however, their
sole defeat during that period came
in their most recent such fixture
(17-25 v Saracens in the 2019/20
quarter-final).
• Leinster Rugby have only lost one
of their last 20 home games in the
Heineken Champions Cup (17-25 v
Saracens), winning each of their
three home fixtures since the
beginning of last season by an
average margin of 41 points.
• Connacht Rugby have lost their
last four games in the Heineken
Champions Cup, each by margins
of fewer than seven points;
only once before have they lost
more consecutive games in the
competition though, when they lost
their first five games during their
debut season in 2011/12.
• Connacht Rugby have lost their
last eight matches away from home
in the Heineken Champions Cup;
this fixture will be the first time
that they have played a Heineken
Champions Cup knockout stage
match away from home, as well
as the first time that they have
visited a fellow Irish team in the
competition.
• Connacht have conceded 22 scrum
penalties in the Heineken Champions
Cup this season, twice as many as
any other club; meanwhile, only
Leicester Tigers (17) have won
more penalties from scrums than
Leinster (12).
• Leinster duo Hugo Keenan and
Jamison Gibson-Park have both
assisted six tries in the Heineken
Champions Cup this season, more
than any other player; Keenan made
two assists last weekend, as well
as scoring one try, while Gibson-
Park recorded one assist.
• Leinster’s Garry Ringrose has made
six passes that have led directly
to a line break in the Heineken
Champions Cup this season, more
than any other player, while only
three players have made more
offloads than him this season (7,
behind Gregory Alldritt - 11, Thomas
Ramos - 10 and James Hume - 9).
• Jack Carty (Connacht Rugby) has
scored 54 points in the Heineken
Champions Cup this season, the most
of any player; he has also made the
most kicks in play (70) and gained
the most kicking metres (2549).
COMPARISON
PLAYED
184
(95 home, 89 away)
WINS
126
(77 home, 49 away)
LOSSES
53
(17 home, 36 away)
DRAWS
5
(1 home, 4 away)
AVERAGE POINTS
27
BIGGEST WIN
89 - 7
HEAVIEST DEFEAT
10 - 51
TOTAL TRIES
33
METRES GAINED
4377
PASSES
812
PLAYED
37
(19 home, 18 away)
WINS
14
(10 home, 4 away)
LOSSES
23
(9 home, 14 away)
DRAWS
0
(0 home, 0 away)
AVERAGE POINTS
20
BIGGEST WIN
66 - 21
HEAVIEST DEFEAT
6 - 64
TOTAL TRIES
18
METRES GAINED
3141
PASSES
748
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 35

leinster
squad
2021/22 season
Vakh Abdaladze #1263
PROP
DOB: 06/02/1996
HEIGHT: 1.88m
WEIGHT: 121kg
Michael Ala’alatoa #1301
prop
DOB: 28/08/1991
HEIGHT: 1.91m
WEIGHT: 127kg
7
CAPS
Ryan Baird #1278
LOCK
DOB: 26/07/1999
HEIGHT: 1.98m
WEIGHT: 113kg
8
CAPS
Adam Byrne #1213
WING / FULL BACK
DOB: 10/04/1994
HEIGHT: 1.91m
WEIGHT: 98.18kg
1
CAP
Ed Byrne #1222
6
CAPS
Harry Byrne #1280
2
CAPS
Ross Byrne #1236
13
CAPS
Thomas Clarkson #1285
PROP
DOB: 09/09/1993
HEIGHT: 1.8m
WEIGHT: 114.09kg
FLY HALF
DOB: 22/04/1999
HEIGHT: 1.9m
WEIGHT: 95kg
FLY HALF
DOB: 08/04/1995
HEIGHT: 1.9m
WEIGHT: 92kg
PROP
DOB: 22/02/2000
HEIGHT: 1.85m
WEIGHT: 118kg
36 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Jack Conan #1223
27
CAPS
7
CAPS
Will Connors #1264
9
CAPS
Sean Cronin #1202
72
CAPS
Max Deegan #1256
1
CAP
NO. 8
DOB: 29/07/1992
HEIGHT: 1.93m
WEIGHT: 114.09kg
BACK ROW
DOB: 04/04/1996
HEIGHT: 1.96m
WEIGHT: 100kg
HOOKER
DOB: 06/05/1986
HEIGHT: 1.78m
WEIGHT: 103.18kg
NO. 8
DOB: 01/10/1996
HEIGHT: 1.93m
WEIGHT: 110kg
Peter Dooley #1230
Caelan Doris #1268
17
CAPS
Jack Dunne #1276
Ciaran Frawley #1265
PROP
DOB: 04/08/1994
HEIGHT: 1.83m
WEIGHT: 117kg
BACK ROW
DOB: 02/04/1998
HEIGHT: 1.93m
WEIGHT: 107kg
LOCK
DOB: 21/11/1998
HEIGHT: 2.03m
WEIGHT: 120kg
FLY HALF
DOB: 04/12/1997
HEIGHT: 1.91m
WEIGHT: 98kg
Tadhg Furlong #1220
PROP
DOB: 14/11/1992
HEIGHT: 1.83m
WEIGHT: 125kg
57
CAPS
13
CAPS
Jamison Gibson-Park #1247
SCRUM HALF
DOB: 23/02/1992
HEIGHT: 1.75m
WEIGHT: 80kg
17
CAPS
David Hawkshaw #1290
FLY HALF / Centre
DOB: 03/07/1999
HEIGHT: 1.75m )
WEIGHT: 85.91kg
Cian Healy #1142
PROP
DOB: 07/10/1987
HEIGHT: 1.85m
WEIGHT: 116.82kg
116
CAPS
2
CAPS
Robbie Henshaw #1251
57
CAPS
9
CAPS
Dave Kearney #1158
19
CAPS
Hugo Keenan #1253
20
CAPS
Ronan Kelleher #1277
18
CAPS
CENTRE
DOB: 12/06/1993
HEIGHT: 1.9m
WEIGHT: 99.09kg
WING / FULL BACK
DOB: 19/06/1989
HEIGHT: 1.8m
WEIGHT: 90kg
FULL BACK
DOB: 18/06/1996
HEIGHT: 1.85m
WEIGHT: 91.82kg
HOOKER
DOB: 24/01/1998
HEIGHT: 1.83m
WEIGHT: 105kg
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 37

Jordan Larmour #1258
30
CAPS
Dan Leavy #1231
11
CAPS
WING
DOB: 10/06/1997
HEIGHT: 1.78m
WEIGHT: 90kg
FLANKER
DOB: 23/05/1994
HEIGHT: 1.91m
WEIGHT: 105.91kg
for full squad profiles
please click here
James Lowe #1262
12
CAPS
Nick McCarthy #1241
Luke McGrath #1206
19
CAPS
Michael Milne #1279
WING / FULL BACK
DOB: 08/07/1992
HEIGHT: 1.88m
WEIGHT: 105kg
SCRUM HALF
DOB: 25/03/1995
HEIGHT: 1.8m
WEIGHT: 84.09kg
SCRUM HALF
DOB: 03/02/1993
HEIGHT: 1.75m
WEIGHT: 84.09kg
PROP
DOB: 05/02/1999
HEIGHT: 1.83m
WEIGHT: 115kg
Jimmy O’Brien #1272
Conor O’Brien #1260
Josh Murphy #1261
Ross Molony #1233
LOCK
DOB: 11/05/1994
HEIGHT: 1.96m
WEIGHT: 113kg
FLANKER
DOB: 17/02/1995
HEIGHT: 1.98m
WEIGHT: 110kg
CENTRE
DOB: 06/02/1996
HEIGHT: 1.91m
WEIGHT: 100kg
CENTRE
DOB: 27/11/1996
HEIGHT: 1.83m
WEIGHT: 88kg
Tommy O’Brien #1283
Rory O’Loughlin #1248
1
CAP
Scott Penny #1271
Andrew Porter #1246
43
CAPS
CENTRE
DOB: 28/05/1998
HEIGHT: 1.83m
WEIGHT: 95kg
CENTRE
DOB: 21/01/1994
HEIGHT: 1.88m
WEIGHT: 94.09kg
FLANKER
DOB: 22/09/1999
HEIGHT: 1.83m
WEIGHT: 104kg
PROP
DOB: 16/01/1996
HEIGHT: 1.83m
WEIGHT: 114.09kg
38 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Garry Ringrose #1237
42
CAPS
Rhys Ruddock #1167
27
CAPS
James Ryan #1259
43
CAPS
Johnny Sexton #1127
105
CAPS
14
CAPS
CENTRE
DOB: 26/01/1995
HEIGHT: 1.85m
WEIGHT: 96kg
BACK ROW
DOB: 13/11/1990
HEIGHT: 1.91m
WEIGHT: 113.18kg
LOCK
DOB: 24/07/1996
HEIGHT: 2.03m
WEIGHT: 115kg
FLY HALF
DOB: 11/07/1985
HEIGHT: 1.88m
WEIGHT: 90kg
Dan Sheehan #1286
HOOKER
DOB: 17/09/1998
HEIGHT: 1.91m
WEIGHT: 110.91kg
7
CAPS
Devin Toner #1128
LOCK
DOB: 29/06/1986
HEIGHT: 2.11m
WEIGHT: 127kg
70
CAPS
James Tracy #1211
HOOKER
DOB: 02/04/1991
HEIGHT: 1.83m
WEIGHT: 106kg
6
CAPS
Josh van der Flier #1228
FLANKER
DOB: 25/04/1993
HEIGHT: 1.85m
WEIGHT: 103kg
40
CAPS
Coaching
Staff
2021/22 season
LEO CULLEN
HEAD COACH
STUART LANCASTER
SENIOR COACH
ROBIN MCBRYDE
ASSISTANT COACH
FELIPE CONTEPOMI
BACKS COACH
EMMET FARRELL
KICKING COACH AND
LEAD PERFORMANCE ANALYST
GUY EASTERBY
HEAD OF RUGBY OPERATIONS
DENIS LEAMY
CONTACT SKILLS COACH
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 39

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Swords RFC
Swords RFC was previously
known as Aer Lingus, and later
ALSAA RFC, but changed to
the current name in 2005 for
several reasons. The club had
stopped representing the airline
or the sports complex and as a
result had decided to affiliate
themselves with the growing
town of Swords.
The women’s team was established in
2017 after a recruitment drive from tag
rugby and the local area.
Under the helm of head coach Robert
Gilshenan, the senior men’s and women’s
teams have gone from strength to strength
this season.
The women’s team, playing in Division
5 of the Leinster League, have had 15
women make their Swords debut this
season. Most of these women had never
played rugby before but ably stepped up
to the task.
The recruitment for the women’s team
remains strong and Swords welcome
all levels of players with a strong goal
to remove or overcome the barriers that
women often experience when it comes
to playing sports. After narrow losses at
the start of the season, the side won their
first game of the season before Christmas.
The home team put in a serious defensive
effort in front of an energising crowd to
see out the victory. “I was so delighted
I can’t explain!” women’s co-captain
Lauren Heffernan said of the win, “The
girls have played their hearts out all
season and we finally got the result we all
were waiting for and working towards.”
Fellow co-captain Kate Seery attributes
the growth of Swords women’s rugby to
the progress made in Ireland and Leinster
Women’s rugby: “Every player that has
joined the team since our establishment
in 2017, whether they have stayed on in
rugby or not have contributed to the team
we have today. I couldn’t be prouder of
how far we have come.”
The team’s progression this season gives
plenty of encouragement for the next
campaign.
Playing in Division 7 of the Leinster Metro
league, the men’s finished fourth with a
record of seven wins and seven losses
from their 14 games.
The men’s captain, Emmet O’Donnell,
commented: “I think it’s been a season of
rebirth and constant improvement for the
men’s team. Despite a disappointing start
to the season results wise, our players
have consistently worked hard all season
and we are now seeing the results of our
hard work.”
Emmet added: “For such a small club
as ourselves, it isn’t often we challenge
for play-offs. It means a lot to the senior
players like myself who might not have
experienced this level of success too
regularly. Hopefully it’s bringing a lot of
enjoyment to our other club members and
the wider community of Swords.”
Recently, the club have had
representation at various representative
rugby trials, a testimony to the ‘Why
not us?’ mantra of the club. Men’s team
member, Sean Ryan, impressed at the
Irish rugby league trials. Anyone at
Swords would tell you that Sean would
be well deserving of the green jersey.
Additionally, for the first time in the club’s
history, six women attended Leinster trials:
Caitriona Murphy, Beth Hassan, Amy
Coll, Lana McDonald, Ciara Spencer
and Maeve Moran.
While only Ciara progressed to the
second round of trials, these women
returned to training, inspired to drive
Swords women’s rugby on to future
success.
Swords RFC are striving to cultivate
a community spirit within the club.
Instrumental in forming a connection
between the men and women’s teams,
was commencing each training session
as a combined group. From this stemmed
post training swims together in the
summer, post-match barbecues and, most
meaningfully, a home away from home
for club members who hail from Brazil,
South Africa, the UK and Spain, among
other places.
Head coach Gilshenan is particularly
proud of the growth of the club: “Not
only are Swords flying their own town
banner but they are bringing other
communities together. There is an
amazing vibe in the club and it’s all down
to the lads and ladies from Swords and
the surrounding towns making the effort
on and off the pitch.”
Swords RFC train every Tuesday and
Thursday in the ALSAA Sports Complex,
all are welcome!
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 43

25 years of
Boyne RFC
Delvin RFC 1983 Drogheda RFC PTC Semi Finalists 1961
While the success of Leinster
Rugby is truly enormous and
there for all to enjoy it is also
true to say that this success has
filtered down through the clubs in
Leinster and none more so than in
Boyne Rugby Club in the town of
Drogheda.
In 1997, a decision was taken by Delvin
Rugby Club and Drogheda Rugby Club
to pool their resources and amalgamate
both clubs into one, a decision that some
people thought might not work. Youth
rugby was strong in both clubs and this
was a factor in prompting them to take
this decision.
A series of meetings took place between
both clubs to discuss the benefits and
problems of taking this step. In June 1997,
both clubs held their respective AGMs on
the same night and passed a motion to
join forces and become one club.
The river Boyne divides the town and with
one club situated on either side it was
decided to call the club Boyne RFC. In
choosing the club colors a decision was
taken to adopt the colors of the world
champions at the time. Hence, the green
and gold of South Africa.
A committee of 18 was elected to sit
for three years in order to consolidate
the amalgamation, 10 from Delvin and
eight from Drogheda. The names of the
original committee were Seamie Davis,
Jack Doran, Oliver Walsh, Leo Monahan,
Noel Carr, Billy Gavin, Conor Taaffe,
Donal Grennan (Drogheda) and Johnny
Sheridan, Seamie Briscoe, Eugene
Winters, Michael Dunne, Ron Eustace,
Declan McCullen, John Dillon, Marty
Reilly, Neil Bailey and Bernard Gogarty
(Delvin). Their shoes have been filled
many times by equally good people.
The administration of the club’s affairs
took off immediately under a very
organised and energetic committee.
While on the playing side of things it
took a little longer than some would have
expected. However, the club was able to
field three full teams each week. The first
elected captain of Boyne RFC was Gary
Downey. When it did take off it grew in
strength year after year in both youth and
adult sections.
It was the youth section that showed the
most progression in the early years. The
club had teams in all the age groups
from U-8 to U-18 and they began to win
Leinster competitions at all age groups.
After a couple of seasons, the adult
section began to improve greatly to the
point where they won the Provincial
Towns Cup in 2009 and again in 2010.
The following year the club won the
Leinster Junior 1 League and gained
entry into the AIL. While it was hard to
maintain this level, the club did manage
to retain its AIL status for a further six
years. As we speak, the club is currently
playing Junior 1 rugby and almost all
of its adult players came up through the
youth section and continue to do so.
Many players from the club were
selected to represent Leinster at youth
level, they are too numerous to name on
this report but, a number of them were
selected to represent Ireland at youth
level, Conor Maguire, Jeffrey Finnegan,
Colm Joyce-Ahearne, Robbie Vallejo,
Brian Davis, Oisin Lynch and Karl Martin
(currently playing with Montpellier in
France).
The club also produced three players to
play full senior international for Ireland.
They were Shane Horgan, Niall Ronan
and Mark McHugh. Shane Horgan also
went on to play with the British and Irish
Lions.
Robbie McGrath, who also played scrum
half for Ireland, was club president for a
spell in recent years.
For any club to be successful it depends
on the number of willing workers involved
plus a succession of young people
coming through. Boyne RFC is happy
they have both in abundance.
There was also a successful ladies team
in the club for a number of years. The
first ladies team was formed in 1997 by
Sandra McAleer and Mick and Vivienne
Quinn. Quite a few of them made it to the
Leinster Ladies and three, Vikki McGinn,
Grace Davitt and Maura Coulter, played
full International for Ireland.
Boyne also supplied a number of referees
to the ARLB and continues to do so.
To summarise, Boyne were two clubs with
great rivalry that became one club with
great unity. They will celebrate 25 years
in June 2022.
Jim Walker | Boyne RFC
44 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Men’s Energia All-Ireland
League
League roundup
BY ROBERT DEACON
The men’s Energia All-Ireland
League campaign reached its
climax last weekend where the
final round of this season’s league
matches took place across the
four provinces. It proved to be
a defining series of games for a
number of the 18 Leinster clubs
involved across all five divisions
of 10 teams.
The top four teams in each division
have qualified for a semi-final with the
two winners playing in a final game to
determine who will be crowned overall
champions in Division 1A and who wins
the one promotion spot in the other four
divisions. The format is that the team
who finished top of each division will
have home advantage against the fourth
placed team and the team in second
place, also with home advantage, plays
the third placed team.
To determine relegation the bottom two
clubs in each division will play each other
home and away where the team with the
better aggregate score will remain with
the losers dropping down.
In general, it has been an excellent
season for the participating Leinster
clubs with 10 of the 18 Leinster clubs
competing qualifying for play-off places
in four of the five divisions.
In Division 1A, Clontarf after an
excellent season, finish top of the league
after only tasting defeat once during the
course of the 18-match campaign, and
as a result will face Cork Constitution at
home in the semi-final. Terenure with a
great second half to the season pipped
Lansdowne for second place which sets
up what promises to be an epic semi-final
encounter at home in Lakelands Park
against the Lansdowne men.
Dublin University finished in a creditable
fifth, just losing out on a play-off spot,
while UCD can look forward to another
season in division 1A after ending the
season in eighth position.
Division 1B saw Old Wesley runout
clearcut winners after winning 16 of
their 18 starts during the campaign. The
Donnybrook side finished 10 points clear
of second-placed Highfield who will play
their fellow Munster side Shannon in the
second semi-final. Old Wesley will face
Naas at home, after the Kildare team
secured fourth place in the final round
of matches last weekend. St Mary’s who
had challenged all season for a top four
spot just missed out and finished in fifth
position.
Old Belvedere retain their division 1B
status with a seventh-place finish, while
Navan will face Ulster side Banbridge in
a two-way playoff to decide which club
avoids relegation.
MU Barnhall, were the sole Leinster club
in Division 2A and challenged for a top
four spot right up until the last round of
matches. However, results did not go their
way and ended up with a sixth-place
finish.
Queens University were the runaway
winners of this division.
Division 2B saw Greystones hold
top spot from start to finish with 14
victories from their 18 starts, and they
will entertain Galway Corinthians in
Doctor Hickey Park in the semi-final.
Blackrock just lost out on second place
in the final round of games and as a
result of finishing third are on the road
to play Belfast Harlequins in the second
semi-final.
Wanderers, who were in contention all
season for a top four position, finished up
in fifth, while Malahide held down eighth
place.
In Division 2C, the three Leinster clubs
competing, Enniscorthy, Skerries and
Tullamore, all made the play-offs. After
an excellent season Enniscorthy topped
the table and will host Tullamore in
the semi-final, the Offaly men finishing
fourth. Skerries, who finished second will
entertain fellow seasiders Bangor in the
second semi-final.
So, a strong showing from our Leinster
clubs in this season’s men’s Energia All-
Ireland League and good luck to all still
involved over the next two weekends.
In a campaign of 450 matches, only
eight fell victim to Covid mainly in the first
half of the season.
All clubs are to be commended for
adhering to both the HSE and the IRFU’s
protocols and as a result a great season
of club rugby took place enjoyed by
players and supporters alike.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 45

compiled by stuart farmer
media services limited
Leinster Player
Statistics
SQUAD
CAP
NO
DEBUT
2021/22 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER
ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR
App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts
SINCE LAST TRY
CAPS
VAKH ABDALADZE 1263 2 DEC 17 0+4 1 5 0+3 1 5 0+1 - - 0+16 2 10 0+15 2 10 0+1 - - 1 -
MICHAEL ALA'ALATOA 1301 25 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
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
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
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
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
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
THOMAS CLARKSON 1285 29 AUG 20 1+4 - - 1+4 - - - - - 3+12 - - 3+12 - - - - - - -
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
WILL CONNORS 1264 9 FEB 18 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - 18+7 2 10 17+7 2 10 1 - - 12 IR 9
TIM CORKERY 1298 12 MAR 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - -
CHRIS COSGRAVE 1305 26 MAR 22 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - -
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
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
PETER DOOLEY 1230 31 OCT 14 3+6 - - 3+6 - - - - - 43+59 5 25 41+53 5 25 2+6 - - 17 -
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
JACK DUNNE 1276 16 FEB 19 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - 3+15 - - 3+15 - - - - - - -
CORMAC FOLEY 1299 24 APR 21 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - -
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 -
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
JAMISON GIB-
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
SON-PARK
MARCUS HANAN 1295 19 FEB 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - - -
DAVID HAWKSHAW 1290 2 NOV 20 0+2 1 13 0+2 1 13 - - - 0+10 2 27 0+10 2 27 - - - 1 -
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
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
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
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
RONAN KELLEHER 1277 22 FEB 19 5+2 4 20 2+2 3 15 3 1 5 25+7 13 65 16+5 11 55 9+2 2 10 3 IR 18
JORDAN LARMOUR 1258 2 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
TEMI LASISI 1304 12 MAR 22 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - -
46 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

SQUAD
CAP
NO
DEBUT
2021/22 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER
ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR
App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts
SINCE LAST TRY
CAPS
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
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
JOE MCCARTHY 1303 29 JAN 22 5 - - 5 - - - - - 5 - - 5 - - - - - - -
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 -
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
MICHAEL MILNE 1279 28 SEPT 19 - - - - - - - - - 1+15 2 10 1+15 2 10 - - - 14 -
MARTIN MOLONEY 1300 24 APR 21 2+2 - - 2+2 - - - - - 2+3 - - 2+3 - - - - - - -
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 -
JOSH MURPHY 1261 3 NOV 17 5+3 - - 2+3 - - 3 - - 47+10 5 25 43+9 4 20 4+1 1 5 17 -
JAMIE OSBORNE 1294 30 JAN 21 8+2 - - 8+2 - - - - - 10+6 1 5 10+6 1 5 - - - 11 -
CONOR O'BRIEN 1260 3 NOV 17 1 - - 1 - - - - - 17+7 6 30 17+6 6 30 0+1 - - 10 -
JIMMY O'BRIEN 1272 23 NOV 18 11+1 8 42 8 3 17 3+1 5 25 37+10 15 79 32+9 9 49 5+1 6 30 2 -
SEAN O'BRIEN 1297 12 MAR 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - -
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 -
RORY O'LOUGH-
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
LIN
MAX O'REILLY 1291 2 JAN 21 1 - - 1 - - - - - 7+1 1 5 7+1 1 5 - - - 7 -
SCOTT PENNY 1271 23 NOV 18 8+1 5 25 8+1 5 25 - - - 31+7 21 105 31+7 21 105 - - - 4 -
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
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
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
ROB RUSSELL 1302 3 OCT 21 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - - -
JAMES RYAN 1259 2 SEPT 17 3 - - 3 - - - - - 47+6 3 15 25+1 1 5 22+5 2 10 13 IR 43
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
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
ANDREW SMITH 1292 2 JAN 21 - - - - - - - - - 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - - -
ALEX SOROKA 1296 28 FEB 21 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - - -
DEVIN TONER 1128 27 JAN 06 6+6 - - 6+4 - - 0+2 - - 212+66 4 20 146+46 4 20 63+20 - - 61 IR 70
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
LIAM TURNER 1287 23 OCT 20 - - - - - - - - - 4+2 - - 4+2 - - - - - - -
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
2021/22 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER
ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR OVERALL
KICKING
SUCCESS
RATE
C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG ATT Career
%
- - - HARRY BYRNE 62.50% 5 - - 5 - - - - - 58 6 57 5 1 1 82 78.05%
ROSS BYRNE 85.51% 47 12 - 33 11 - 14 1 - 243 87 1 187 61 1 56 26 - 423 78.01%
CIARAN FRAWLEY 100.00% 1 - - 1 - - - - - 52 7 - 49 7 - 3 - - 73 80.82%
DAVID HAWKSHAW 66.67% 4 - - 4 - - - - - 7 1 - 7 1 - - - - 12 66.67%
JIMMY O'BRIEN 100.00% 1 - - 1 - - - - - 2 - - 2 - - - - - 4 50.00%
GARRY RINGROSE - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - 4 - - - - - 6 66.67%
JOHNNY SEXTON 76.67% 19 4 - 8 2 - 11 2 - 253 296 11 128 171 7 118 121 4 690 79.57%
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 47

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8 April 2022
Leinster supporters before the
Heineken Champions Cup Round
of 16 First Leg match between
Connacht and Leinster at the
Sportsground in Galway.
50 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 51

THE GREATEST WEEKEND IN RUGBY
27-28 MAY, STADE VÉLODROME

offical leinster supporters club
And so after the past three weekends
on the road in a combination of URC
and Heineken Champions Cup action
that twice took us to Galway as well
as Limerick, we’re finally back on
familiar soil and welcoming an all
too familiar visitor to the surrounds
of the Aviva Stadium - Connacht.
The first leg of our Round of 16
double-header took place last
Friday night in the Sportsground
where in the cauldron of noise,
energy and ferocious action from
end-to-end, and start-to-finish,
we emerged with the victory on
a very (very) tight score-line of
26-21.
Many in attendance would say the battle
between James Lowe and Mack Hansen
was worth the entrance fee alone and
few could call foul on that one. If these
two are on form again for the second leg,
we’ll have a game that could be talked
about for years to come.
Obviously we want this game to be
talked about by us for years to come as
we look to progress to the quarter-finals,
however as we have seen time and time
again in this sport, it’s a funny auld game
and the bounce of the ball can leave
someone going from hero to zero in a
split second.
Thankfully Leo, Stuart and co are not
ones to put the proverbial cart before
the horse and the focus will very much
be on these 80 minutes and getting this
fixture out of the way before hopefully
54 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
then turning our attention to further down
the road.
A shout-out though from ourselves on the
committee must go to all the travelling
support last weekend who certainly
made the College Road Terrace in the
Sportsground almost feel like the terrace
in the RDS such was the wall of blue and
the noise, which at times made it hard
to hear the person beside you and you
could see what a difference this made to
the team.
We know how much this means to them
and given we had a completely different
result two weeks before that in the same
venue, some might have felt the same
result was all but a given but we know,
and have seen some big teams travel
west for a game they perceived to be
a given, and walked away licking their
wounds.
This time, we need to show the same to
the visitors – we need the blue wall from
start to finish as this is only a five-point
game and any team that can get a spring
in their step knows that that difference
can be easily gotten. After all, it only took
John Porch two minutes last week to get
on the scoresheet for the hosts and so
we need that quick start ourselves, and
the blue will help. Let’s just hope your
vocal chords have recovered from last
weekend!
Leinster
Connacht
53% Possession 47%
59% Territory 41%
590 Metres Gained 382
144 Carries 117
5 Clean Breaks 7
5 Offloads 5
3 Tries 2
21 Defenders Beaten 21
193 Passes 179
14 Turnovers Conceded 10
175 Tackles 193
21 Missed Tackles 21
5 Turnovers Won 5
Last week was a tight affair and we
expect no different this week but what
we do know as evidenced in the past is
that we can come away with the victory
when we need it most when the crowd
is behind the team and let’s make sure
today is no different. This is entering the
business end of this tournament and we’re
striving for five so let’s ensure we get the
job done today!
As always we’re thankful for the support
we as a committee get from Leinster
Rugby and Bank of Ireland and as
always we encourage you to show
your support through our social media
channels.
Be loud, be true, be blue
Yours in Rugby,
Your OLSC Committee

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Only one Defend 400 device is available to win. The competition is only open to Leinster based businessess.
By registering your details to enter you are agreeing to a telephone call to discuss Novaerus Air Disinfection technology from a member
of our team. The Defend 400 utilises Novaerus NanoStrike technology and a triple-stage Camfil© Filtration system.
Filters need to be replaced at intervals throughout the year. Replacing the filters is your organisations responsibility and is at
your own cost. The competition closes on Sunday 24th April 2022 and the winner will be announced on Monday 25th April 2022.

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 59

Virtual Mascot
Tommy
Asple
Age: 11
School: St Michael’s
Hobbies: Rugby and GAA
Favourite Player: Tadhg Furlong (up Wexford!)
60 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

DELIVERED BY
Heading into the much-anticipated knockout
stage of the Heineken Champions Cup, three
players from TOP 14 clubs have already captured
the Champions Try of the Round award.
The Round 1 accolade went to Damian Penaud of
ASM Clermont Auvergne who, despite his side’s
29-23 defeat by Ulster Rugby at Stade Marcel-
Michelin, still managed to score a brilliant try.
At the outset of the move, JJ Hanrahan cleverly
created a mis-match and then after a welltimed
pass, Penaud did the rest with a perfect
kick ahead and chase for what was a world-class
score.
In Round 3, Cameron Woki, a nominee like
Penaud for the EPCR European Player of the
Year award, scored an outstanding try during
Union Bordeaux-Bègles’ impressive 45-10 win
against the Scarlets at Stade Chaban-Delmas.
Rodolphe Pires of beIN SPORTS, who was
judging the tries, had no doubt about his
selection. “The tempo of the attack was just
right, the players’ movement was good and the
combination of passes which eventually led to
Woki touching down was superb. All in all, this
was approach play and finishing at its very best.”
In Round 4, Montpellier Hérault Rugby put
in a strong performance after some earlier
indifferent form for a 37-26 home win against
Exeter Chiefs. This time full-back Anthony
Bouthier took the honours following the public
vote and the verdict of Virgin Media’s analyst,
Alan Quinlan, with a try created by a magnificent
Gabriel N’Gandebe break.
More spectacular tries are on the cards for the
knockout stage, so don’t miss your chance to
have your say and vote for the best try!
EPCRUGBY.COM/TOTR

WHERE ARE
THEY NOW?
Stephen Rooney
THEN: Stephen
Rooney played
regularly for
Leinster Rugby
from 1994 to
1998.
NOW: He is
the Executive
Director
of Quilter
Cheviot, living
in Milltown
with his wife
Maura and
four children,
Hannah (18),
Sarah (17),
Grace (15) and
Sean (13).
credit Inpho.ie
62 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

credit Inpho.ie
Stephen Rooney was the first fulltime
Leinster professional rugby
player to come out of St Michael’s
College.
He is not sure exactly how many times
he played for Leinster, making maybe
26 or 27 appearances.
It speaks to the modesty of the man,
never mind the player. He was never
one to keep a scrapbook of the many
firsts in a fine career that never quite
delivered the Ireland cap he longed to
wear.
In the beginning, Irish rugby was
dragged kicking and screaming into
professionalism.
Compared to the unpaid, glorious era
of amateurism, it was painted as a dirty
word, unwelcome in the vocabulary of
the traditionalists.
All of that made less than no difference
to Stephen, coming out of school in
1989. At that stage, the All-Ireland
League was the main attraction, the
only avenue into playing provincial and,
eventually, international rugby.
In 1993, the step from UCD to
Lansdowne put Rooney in the line of
sight of Leinster’s management.
One of the first official Leinster caps
came against Northern Transvaal in
February 1995 when Malcolm O’Kelly
also made his debut for the province.
Stephen would play the same South
African side again a few weeks later as
part of the Combined Provinces team.
Chris Pim was the captain. Conor
O’Shea, Paul Wallace, Martin Ridge
and Niall Woods were there. Victor
Costello was just on the scene.
At least, future Irish legend O’Kelly
would be able to put his best foot
forward from his natural position in
the second row whereas Donal Spring
picked Stephen at seven rather than six.
It would become a familiar theme for
the blindside, one that would leave him
harbouring regrets around not being
able to flex his true rugby muscle.
“Donal picked me at seven because
we were up against a bunch of huge
Afrikaaners and he wanted me to tackle
all day. I was very happy to do that,
but seven was never really my position,”
says Stephen.
“Leinster wasn’t the machine that it
is now. Their matches would attract
roughly the same crowd as an AIL
game, maybe 2,000 in Donnybrook.”
As fate would have it, that game
against Northern Transvaal provided
the opportunity to play against the best
player he would come across in his time
in rugby.
“Joost van der Westhuizen played in
that game. He was incredible, the most
impressive rugby player I ever played
against.
“At one stage, I thought I had him
nailed. I was planning on slamming him
into the advertising hoardings,” he says,
with perfect recall.
“He had such a low centre of gravity for
a tall guy. He saw me coming and, in a
split-second, somehow managed to shift
his weight underneath me. I scragged
him into touch, but not in the way I had
planned.
“I have forgotten so much about my
playing days. It seems like such a long
time ago. But, I still remember that
moment very clearly.”
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 63

There was no Celtic League. There were
just a couple of friendlies before the
Interprovincial Championship and the
odd touring game in the early-to-mid-
1990s.
“In the first season I was involved in the
Interpros, in 1995, I played against
Denis McBride up in Ulster and we got
a first win in something like 12 years up
there.”
There was a share of tussles with
Munster at Thomond Park and in
Donnybrook with formidable opponents
in Anthony Foley, Alan Quinlan and
Eddie Halvey.
Leinster weren’t too shabby themselves,
Stephen vying for selection with Pim,
Trevor Brennan, Kelvin Leahy, Paddy
Kenny and Pat Ward.
When the Heineken Cup came about in
1995/96, Stephen was on the outskirts
looking in until an injury to Dean
Oswald opened up a place in the back
row against Pontypridd in the second of
two Pool matches and against Cardiff
in the first European Cup semi-final at
Lansdowne Road before a crowd of
7,350.
“We viewed it as the proper European
Cup. We were really into it,” he stresses.
“The competition was in its infancy.
The English clubs didn’t participate.
But, it was still a very good standard. I
remember in the semi-final Cardiff were
stacked with Wales internationals.”
Stephen was working in Ulster Bank
Investment Services out of college for a
couple of years when professionalism
began to happen.
There was an exodus of Irish players to
England, led by Conor O’Shea, Paul
Wallace and Nick Popplewell and
Stephen met with Clive Woodward of
London Irish in The Gresham Hotel
“I guess, for me, - it was probably
common for a lot of players - I really just
wanted to play for Leinster,” he says.
“Nowadays, players go where the
credit Inpho.ie
contracts are. Growing up, that wasn’t
my motivation. This was the twilight
zone.
“The first professional contracts were
offered for the 1997/98 season
when money started to come into the
equation.
“Leinster couldn’t afford to make
everyone fully professional. I was
lucky enough to be one of a handful
of players to sign full-time for
€20,000-a-year.
“It was possible for me to accept it
because I was only in a junior role
at Ulster Bank whereas a parttime
payment of, say, €6,000 or
€7,000-a-year with match fees, was
available to those with better jobs to
add to what they were already making
rather than give up their civilian career
for a big drop in salary.
“To me, this was the best way to go
about playing for Leinster and Ireland.
Simple as that.”
That season, Stephen was involved
against Pau, Scottish Borders, Martin
Johnson’s Leicester and Emile Ntamack’s
Toulouse, Leinster failing to qualify for
the knock-out stages.
It was at this point in the conversation
that the mention of Toulouse jogged his
memory.
“That was probably my last major game
for Leinster.,” he recalls.
Jumping ahead, it must seem strange
to look back on Leinster in those early,
coming to professionalism years, given
the current standing of an industry
leader.
“You must remember when we became
full-time with Leinster, the coaches had
never been professional before either.
“Everyone was learning on the job.
Jim Glennon, Liam Hennessy and Mike
Ruddock had huge tasks to get Leinster
up to speed.
“They would flog you one week to see
if that worked. At the same time, you
were training with your club. You could
be training three or four times a day. It
was exhausting. There was a lot of trial
and error.
64 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

“Being Director of Rugby at Lansdowne
now, I am able to see how the
players prepare. To say it has come
on in leaps and bounds is a massive
understatement.
“Am I envious of the set-ups today?
Yes. But, I really enjoyed my time. The
camaraderie we had at Leinster and
Lansdowne was such great craic. We
were definitely given more license to
enjoy ourselves off the field.”
When the time came for Stephen to talk
money again, Leinster was not inclined
to offer a new contract.
“It just wasn’t going to happen. Trevor
Brennan had arrived on the scene
and Mike (Ruddock) had a grá for
him. Declan O’Brien was there too. In
fairness, I’m not sure I was ever Mike’s
type of blindside.
“I definitely was frustrated because
he also picked me as a seven when I
knew I really wasn’t one. I was never
comfortable playing the position at that
level.”
Even then, Rooney experienced the
psychological challenge of being paid
to play while sometimes not playing.
“Everyone is talking about mental health
these days. I definitely can understand
why. There were times when I was really
frustrated.
“When we were playing there was very
little video analysis going on. There was
none of it.
“Video analysis is a great way of
purging things from your system. You
address your mistakes. You work on
whatever you need to work on. You
move on.
“That was a lot harder to do back in the
mid-1990s. It could be a journalist who
might write that I had a bad game.
“That could stay with you for weeks
because you had fewer games back
then too. You had a lot of time to dwell
on your failings.
“These days, you always have the next
game to concentrate on. You play. You
review. You move on.”
Even though there were contract offers
from French club Pau and two of the
provinces, they just didn’t feel right for
someone who bled the blue of Leinster.
“I had loved my time at Leinster and
was very grateful for the opportunities
but I felt I needed to focus on my career
away from rugby.”
It was time to move on to Davy
Stockbrokers for four years and,
thereafter, onto investment managers
Quilter Cheviot, where he currently
works as an Executive Director.
Nowadays he remains heavily involved
in rugby as Director of Senior Rugby in
Lansdowne and takes great satisfaction
from seeing young players at the club
push through into the professional ranks.
He cites the rugby values of “teamwork”
and “discipline” as strengths to bring to
any job or to any aspect in later life and
values the lifelong friendships rugby has
given him.
Values for which he is grateful.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 65

Referees
Corner
BY DAN WALLACE
Welcome to another issue
of Referees Corner.
A warm congratulations to our
teams of officials from the recent
Bank of Ireland Schools Cup
finals. The team for the Senior
Cup Final between Blackrock
College and Gonzaga was
Andrew Cole, with Paul Haycock
and last minute replacement
John Carvill. James Fegan and
Keith Spendlove were the fourth
and fifth officials and Nigel Corell
was TMO.
The team for the Junior Cup Final
between St Michael’s College and
Roscrea were Sam Holt in the middle,
assisted by Paul O’Connor and Michael
Forrestal. Well done to both teams on
fine refereeing displays.
Want to get
involved?
Feel free to make contact with the Leinster Rugby Referees
at hayley.whyte@leinsterrugby.ie If you are interested
in becoming a referee get in contact with us through our
Facebook, our website www.leinsterrugbyreferees.ie or
through twitter @leinsterreferee.
66 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Acme Whistles
Leinster Rugby Referees are
delighted to announce our
partnership with Acme whistles
as our preferred whistle supplier.
Speaking about the partnership Leinster
Rugby Referees President David
Robb said: “We are delighted to be
partnering with Acme as our whistle
supplier, a company that has been
providing whistles to referees since
before the foundation of Leinster Rugby
Referees in 1902.
“It’s a company of long-standing
tradition with quality workmanship
providing rugby referees from grassroots
to the elite of the game with a quality
whistle to officiate.”
Ben McFarlane of Acme Whistles
said: “Through this partnership we
continue to evolve and align ourselves
with proactive and forward thinking
organisations such as Leinster Rugby
Referees. Playing our small part in the
wider rugby community is one we take
immense pride in, the role of the official,
from grassroots to elite level cannot be
underestimated, and we are here to
support and help in any way we can.”
Annual Dinner
The annual dinner of the Leinster
Rugby Referees is the highlight
of our somewhat limited social
calendar and is always a great
event. This year it took place in
Lansdowne FC on Saturday, 9
April, and was hosted by Leinster
Rugby Referees President David
Robb, who had to wait an extra
year for this fantastic evening.
On the night our much-anticipated
annual awards are handed out. There
are five main awards, one for lifetime
achievement, one for referee of the year,
another for refereeing performance
of the year, one for the referee who
progressed the most during the year and
one for club of the year.
The lifetime achievement award is
named after Ham Lambert who passed
away a few years ago. Ham was an
Irish cricketer, rugby union player
and later international rugby referee.
By profession a veterinary surgeon,
he was noted for being the first in
Ireland to own a practice devoted to
the care of companion animals. This
year’s winner was Peter Donnelly of St
Mary’s College RFC who has devoted
a number of years to the association.
As well as being a former president of
the association he is in charge of match
ticketing, an unenviable task. He follows
a long line of winners including Brendan
Jenkinson, Tom Aplin, Des McCabe and
Brian Pender, to name a few.
The award for referee of the year is
named after Harold ‘Harry’ Ardill.
Harry was instrumental in developing,
recruiting and educating referees within
Leinster. The referee of the year award
accounts for both on- and off-field efforts
and contribution to the association.
This year’s award went to long-serving
member and Honorary Treasurer Keith
Spendlove. Keith officiates at all levels
and is always there when needed,
another tireless servant to the referees.
The Club of the Year award is named
after Terry Doyle, former President of
the association and was presented
by his wife Deirdre. The award was
named after Terry in 2011 and the first
recipients were Edenderry RFC. This
year’s recipients of the Terry Doyle
Memorial Award were first-time winners
Coolmine RFC. In a tightly fought
contest they came out above last year’s
winner Greystones (2nd), and Terenure
College (3rd). Other winners of this
award include Old Wesley, Greystones,
Terenure College, Lansdowne,
Ashbourne and Skerries. Coolmine were
clear winners amongst the active referee
population for both their captains’ and
players’ attitudes and their off-field
facilities and welcome.
The Alain Rolland Referee Performance
of the Year was won last year by
Andrew Cole. Andrew had an even
better season this year culminating
in an international appointment and
Schools Cup Final. This year’s winner
was Robbie jenkinson. Robbie, a new
national panel member, is a member of
Skerries RFC and made his All-Ireland
League debut earlier this year, in a
great match between Malahide and
Blackrock, Robbie has progressed
through the ranks over the last number
of seasons and is thoroughly deserving
of this award.
The last award of the night was the
Denis Collins Perpetual Award for
Progressive Referee. Presented by the
great man himself, this award is for the
referee who was seen to progress the
most during the season and has shown
themselves to have put in time and effort
into their own development.
No one encouraged referees more in
his time as referee administrator than
Denis Collins. Last year, Katie Byrne
won the inaugural trophy. This year’s
winner was Mitch Enderby. Mitch
hails from Zimbabwe and became a
Leinster Rugby Referee in 2017 and
has made great progress since joining.
He refereed this year’s Junior Cup
game between St Mary’s College and
St Fintan’s. We’re looking forward to
seeing his future progression.
With only a few weeks left in the season
we are immensely proud of the work
that has been put in by referees at all
levels this season and look forward
to moving onwards in the 2022/23
season.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 67

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Leinster Rugby
Junior Team
The Covid-19
pandemic put
so much of
life on hold.
As lockdowns
descended and
we retreated
to find safety
in isolation,
no area was
left untouched.
Rugby was not
unaffected.
The Junior
Interprovincial
Championship
was placed
on ice since
Leinster last
won the title in
2019.
Now the long wait is over as the
Leinster Juniors return to action
this year.
Robert McDermott is back for another
season as Team Manager and he’s
looking forward to this year’s campaign.
“The Leinster Junior Team finally took
to the pitch on March 9 in Newbridge
RFC after 34 months of waiting. The last
time the Juniors were on a pitch was in
Dundalk in May 2019 where we retained
the Interprovincial Championship,” he
explains.
“We are delighted to be back and there
has been a great buy in from the players
and we had 70 nominations from all the
clubs across the province. The tough job
of narrowing the squad down to 35 has
begun and all the players deserve great
credit for their commitment as they have
to jump into their cars after a long day
work to make training. This weekend
we have a training camp in Tullow RFC,
and we are grateful to them for their
hospitality.”
The former Leinster Branch President,
Robert McDermott is joined in the
Leinster set up by Cill Dara’s Enda Finn
who returns as Head Coach. Maurice
Logue of Tullow RFC is back as senior
coach. Joe Duffy (Wicklow RFC) returns
as Assistant Coach and he is joined by
former Leinster Junior player Corey Carty
(Co Carlow FC) who has come on board
the coaching set-up.
The coaches and management have
been working hard over the past number
of months to ensure that the Leinster
Juniors make a successful return. As part
of their preparation for the Interprovincial
Series, the Leinster team have played
matches against the Ireland Police team
and the Irish Defence Forces team.
Team Captain for the 2021/22 season is
Kilkenny RFC’s Wes Carter.
“For me Junior rugby is all about
representing your local provincial club
2019 Team with Cup
Wes Carter - Team Captain
and I am extremely proud to represent
Kilkenny RFC,” Carter says.
“The club continues to go from strength
to strength and the future is very bright.
To have the avenue to represent your
province from there, is something that
Junior players across the country relish.
“My first year with the Juniors was 2016,
six years later now and I can’t wait for
the 2022 campaign to start. The last two
years in particular with the Juniors have
been some of the most enjoyable rugby I
have played.
“Winning trophies in rugby is rare but
the Interprovincial series provides the
opportunity to do that. We have been
70 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

2018 Cup Celebrations
delighted to win the last two series and
are under no illusions how difficult this
year will be. When Enda called me about
captaincy, it was an immediate yes, as a
group we are really looking forward to
the 2022 campaign. Leading the Leinster
Juniors out will be an extremely proud
day for me. It’s great to have the series
back after two years off with Covid.”
Hopefully the boys will be well
supported, and all are welcome at
their upcoming Interpro games against
Ulster in Carrickfergus RFC on April 23,
Connacht in Buccaneers RFC on April 30
and finally against Munster in New Ross
RFC on May 7.
That match should be a great occasion
as Leinster will hopefully be chasing the
Interpro title whilst hosts New Ross will
be celebrating their 50th anniversary.
All matches in the Interpro series have a
2.30pm kick-off time.
2022 LEINSTER RUGBY
JUNIOR SQUAD
Craig Miller Athy RFC
Ciaran Fennessy Athy RFC
Cal O'Connor Balbriggan RFC
Paul O'Connor Balbriggan RFC
Nick Smith Boyne RFC
Rory Hennessy Boyne RFC
Robbie Vallejo Boyne RFC
Caomhán Brennan Co Carlow FC
Daniel Crotty Co Carlow FC
JJ McIlwrath Cill Dara RFC
Gordon Shannon Cill Dara RFC
Dylan Casey Edenderry RFC
Andrew Walsh Gorey RFC
Eoin Walsh Gorey RFC
Fionn O'Loughlin Gorey RFC
Mikey Duke Gorey RFC
Wes Carter Kilkenny RFC
Jake McDonald Kilkenny RFC
Martin Murphy Monkstown FC
Ruadhán McDonnell Monkstown FC
Tristan Brady Monkstown FC
James Ryan New Ross RFC
Will Jennings Newbridge RFC
Tom Tracey Newbridge RFC
Michael Tracey Roscrea RFC
Zach Jungmann Seapoint RFC
Eddie Weaver Seapoint RFC
Matt McKenna Seapoint RFC
John O'Brien Suttonians RFC
Thomas Culleton Suttonians RFC
Jordan Leybourne Tullow RFC
Jack McDonald Tullow RFC
Stevie Smith Tullow RFC
Ben Watson Wicklow RFC
David Nichloson Wicklow RFC
2022 TEAM
MANAGEMENT
Enda Finn (Cill Dara RFC)
HEAD COACH
Maurice Logue (Tullow RFC)
SENIOR COACH
Joe Duffy (Wicklow RFC)
ASSISTANT COACH
Corey Carty (Co Carlow FC)
ASSISTANT COACH
Eoin Stanley (MU Barnhall RFC)
PERFORMANCE COACH
Robert McDermott (Edenderry RFC)
MANAGER
Damien Curly (Longford RFC)
LOGISTICS
Bláithín Brady (Monkstown FC)
PHYSIO SUPPORT
Dr. Maurice Carroll (Edenderry RFC)
TEAM DOCTOR
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 71

ank of ireland halftime
inclusive rugby
Dunbrody
Warriors
Players: Damien Phelan, Colm O Sullivan, Dumitra Kehoe,
Ciara Brennan, Christine Byrne, Michael O’Neill,
Dillon Murphy, Aidan Sinnott, Larry Kehoe,
Martin Browne, Noel Kehoe
Coaches: Rory Flynn and Laura Doyle
Seapoint
Dragons
Players: Donal Brennan, Gordon Bergin, Hugh Brophy,
Matthew Burke, Conor Byrne, Carrie Doyle, Mandy Finlay,
Cormac Fenner, Jamie Harvey, Sam Harvey, Matthew
Hickey, Eoin Kelly, Cameron Lawlor, Mac Dara Lambertini,
Luke Mannion, Louis Mitchell, Andrew McCarthy,
Christopher McKenna, Cathal McKiernan, Louis Olden,
Fiodhna O’Leary, Charlie O’Reilly, Jack Tonge, Joe Whelan,
Daniel Woods, Ben Purcell
Coaches: Joanne Dwyer, Peter O’Brien and
Maire Kelly
Westmanstown
Wasps
Players: Mark O’Meara, Mark Wright, Marcus Tsang,
Darius Tsang, Nathan Cummins, James Burke, Jimmy
Kneafsey, Saul Hill, Derek McLoughlin, Rian Flynn, Seamus
Johnson, Conor Howe, Jason Howe, David Kane, Will
Walsh
Greystones
Seagulls
Coaches: Eamon Cunningham, Eamon O’Grady, Paul
Wright, Caitriona O’Grady, Aaron Slevin
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 73

TO MAXIMISE YOUR SPORTS AND EXERCISE
PERFORMANCE THROUGH NUTRITION
Optimum Nutrition and Leinster Rugby have partnered to help share good nutrition tips throughout
the season to help you achieve your performance goals. Here are some simple tips and things to
remember to help maximise your performance and help you recover quickly to come back stronger.
Protein Rich.
Protein provides your muscles with
the building blocks to repair & grow.
Carb-Up.
Carbohydrate foods are king as they
power high intensity play.
Fuel-Up.
Consume the majority of your
carbohydrates around training to
support fuelling and recovery.
Recover.
Quality rest & nutrition between
training sessions is the key to
recovery. Remember to:
Repair with protein,
Refuel with carbohydrate,
Rehydrate with fluid.
Hydrate.
Dehydration can lead to a drop in
exercise intensity & can impact your
decision making. Drink 2-3 litres of
fluid each day to ensure hydration.
Game Day.
To fuel performance on the field,
consume a large carbohydrate rich
meal 2-3 hours before kick-off, i.e.
chicken & pasta, turkey bolognaise
wraps.
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using code Leinster20 on optimumnutrition.ie

KNOWING WHAT ADVICE TO TAKE
IS ESSENTIAL IN THIS GAME.
beauchamps.ie
OFFICIAL LEGAL ADVISOR
Beauchamps LLP | Riverside Two | Sir John Rogerson’s Quay | Dublin 2 | D02 KV60

leinster rugby charity partner
Irish Community
Air Ambulance
The Irish Community Air
Ambulance is Ireland’s only
charity Helicopter Emergency
Medical Service (HEMS) Air
Ambulance. The organisation
works in partnership with the
National Ambulance Service,
responding to serious incidents
and medical emergencies 365
days a year.
The Community Air Ambulance is based
in Co Cork however the charity plays a
significant role in Leinster. Last year, the
HEMS Air Ambulance was tasked to
incidents in Wexford, Kilkenny, Offaly,
Wicklow and Kildare. It also funds a
Critical Care Rapid Response service
staffed by Volunteer Critical Care Doctors
and an Advanced Life Support Doctor
Service with community-based GPs. In
total, the charity was tasked to 625
incidents and emergencies in Leinster
during 2021.
The Critical Care Rapid Response service
has expanded in Dublin in recent weeks.
Two Specialist Registrars in Emergency
Medicine, Dr Andy Patton and Dr Daragh
Mathews, are now volunteering with the
service, providing pre-hospital emergency
care to critically ill and injured patients
across Dublin and surrounding counties.
Dr Andy Patton who has been a
Volunteer Doctor with the charity since
2021 was tasked to 283 incidents
and emergencies during 2021 alone
including cardiac arrests, road traffic
collisions and major traumas. He has
been joined on the team by Dr Daragh
Mathews. They are often called to the
sickest and most critically injured patients
including cardiac arrests, RTCs, falls from
heights, assaults and stabbings.
Dr Patton explains, “Critically ill and
injured patients can deteriorate rapidly
before reaching hospital. By responding
to the patient in the community, we can
intervene earlier and give them the
best chance of survival with a good
recovery. We are essentially bringing the
Emergency Department to the patient.”
Micheál Sheridan, CEO of the Irish
Community Air Ambulance, added,
“We now have a team of five specialists
in Emergency Medicine volunteering
their time in counties Dublin, Mayo and
Donegal. We’re lucky to be joined by
such highly qualified professionals who
work in Emergency Departments across
the country. The aim of our organisation is
to bring hope to patients when they need
it most and our rapid response teams are
central to that.”
Dr Daragh Mathews said, “I am
delighted to be able to start providing
Pre-Hospital Critical Care in Dublin and
surrounding counties as a Volunteer
Doctor with Irish Community Air
Ambulance. We work alongside the
brilliant paramedics and advanced
paramedics of the National Ambulance
Service and Dublin Fire Brigade to
provide hospital level interventions at the
roadside for the sickest or most seriously
injured patients.
Dr Jason Horan is a Consultant in
Emergency Medicine at Mayo University
Hospital. He volunteers with the Irish
Community Air Ambulance in his spare
time. “I make myself available to the HSE
National Ambulance Service to respond
to the more serious 999 calls in the local
community. Because of the geographical
spread, often I will be the first
professional resource to arrive. I respond
to the more serious road traffic collisions,
other significant injuries, collapsed
patients, seizing children, cardiac arrests
and childbirth”
For more information about the service
or to make a donation to the Irish
Community Air Ambulance visit:
https://communityairambulance.ie
76 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Orin’s Story
The Irish Community Air
Ambulance transferred a
seriously injured child from Kerry
to Dublin after he was knocked
down as he crossed the road in
Listowel. Eleven-year-old Orin
Hough from Limerick was the
first child to be airlifted from the
south-west of Ireland directly to
the specialist neurosurgical centre
at CHI Temple Street under new
trauma protocols.
This is his story:
I’m Orin, and I can’t remember
the helicopter trip to the hospital.
Dad told me about it once I came
out of my coma.
It all started in May last year, I was
knocked down by a car as I was crossing
the road, going for a pizza with my
Dad. I was badly hurt but someone rang
999 and they sent the Air Ambulance,
which came very quickly. They gave
me emergency treatment on board their
helicopter and flew me straight to hospital
in Dublin. Dad went with me in the
helicopter and the Gardai drove Mum up
to meet us. Dad said the Air Ambulance
was very quick to arrive, and that’s what
saved my life! He told me that one of
the crew kept giving him the thumbs up,
which made him feel better.
A team of surgeons were waiting for me
at the hospital, and rushed me inside
for scans. I was brought to the ICU and
put into a coma for a whole week. I was
paralysed on my left side and couldn’t
speak for ages. Mum and Dad were up
the walls with worry.
Thankfully, I’m much better after rehab
and physio. I’m back in school with
my friends and can’t wait to play
football again. Mum said my progress
is phenomenal. I feel very lucky that
everyone was so brilliant, especially the
Air Ambulance team. When I was feeling
better the crew even sent me a teddy.
I call him Hero, because they are my
heroes!
Without the Air Ambulance I might not be
here. Mum and Dad have told me that
the Air
Ambulance is a charity and needs our
support. So, please donate now. It will
mean the world to me, and to all the
people the Air Ambulance will be able to
help in the future.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 77

opposing view
Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
8 April 2022
Connacht players, from left,
Mack Hansen, Bundee Aki and
John Porch celebrate their side’s
second try during the Heineken
Champions Cup Round of 16 First
Leg match between Connacht and
Leinster at the Sportsground in
Galway.
78 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

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Head coach
Andy Friend
Andy Friend took over the reins at
Connacht in 2018, joining from the
Australian Sevens team.
His coaching career has taken in wellknown
clubs across both the southern
and northern hemispheres.
The Australia native presided over
Premiership side Harlequins for three
years in the mid-noughties before
returning to Canberra to take the head
coach position with Brumbies.
He also coached Canon Eagles and
Suntory Sungoliath in the Japanese Top
League.
Captain
Jack Carty
Flanker Jarrad Butler held the
role of captain in Ireland’s
western province from 2018,
while Ireland international outhalf
Jack Carty has recently been
named as matchday captain for
the side.
The now 29-year-old has 176
appearances for his province with a
further 11 caps for Ireland.
Originally from Athlone, Carty played
during his formative years with Marist
College and Buccaneers.
connacht squad
DECLAN ADAMSON
HOOKER
BUNDEE AKI
CENTRE/WING
SAM ARNOLD
CENTRE
JACK AUNGIER
TIGHT HEAD PROP
FINLAY BEALHAM
LOOSE HEAD PROP
CAOLIN BLADE
SCRUM HALF
SHAYNE BOLTON
CENTRE
PAUL BOYLE
BACK ROW
DENIS BUCKLEY
LOOSE HEAD PROP
MATTHEW BURKE
LOOSE HEAD PROP
JARRAD BUTLER
BACK ROW
DONNACHA BYRNE
BACK ROW
JACK CARTY
OUTSIDE HALF
TOM DALY
CENTRE
SHANE DELAHUNT
HOOKER
MATTHEW DEVINE
SCRUM HALF
ULTAN DILLANE
LOCK
OISIN DOWLING
LOCK
JORDAN DUGGAN
LOOSE HEAD PROP
TOM FARRELL
CENTRE
LEVA FIFITA
LOCK
CONOR FITZGERALD
OUTSIDE HALF
CATHAL FORDE
OUTSIDE HALF
HUBERT GILVARRY
SCRUM HALF
MACK HANSEN
OUTSIDE HALF
MATT HEALY
WING
DAVID HEFFERNAN
HOOKER
SAM ILLO
TIGHT HEAD PROP
DIARMUID KILGALLEN
WING
KIERAN MARMION
SCRUM HALF
SEAN MASTERSON
BACK ROW
EOGHAN MASTERSON
BACK ROW
OISÍN MCCORMACK
BACK ROW
GREG MCGRATH
TIGHT HEAD PROP
ORAN MCNULTY
FULL BACK/WING
JONNY MURPHY
HOOKER
DARRAGH MURRAY
LOCK
NIALL MURRAY
LOCK
JOSH O’CONNOR
WING
BEN O’DONNELL
FULL BACK/WING
TIERNAN O’HALLORAN
FULL BACK/WING
CONOR OLIVER
FLANKER
ABRAHAM PAPALI’I
NO 8
JOHN PORCH
WING
CIAN PRENDERGAST
LOCK
COLM REILLY
SCRUM HALF
WILL REILLY
SCRUM HALF
PETER ROBB
CENTRE
DOMINIC ROBERTSON-MCCOY
TIGHT HEAD PROP
PETER SULLIVAN
FULL BACK/WING
GAVIN THORNBURY
LOCK
DYLAN TIERNEY MARTIN
HOOKER
TIETIE TUIMAUGA
LOOSE HEAD PROP
CHARLIE WARD
LOOSE HEAD PROP
ALEX WOOTTON
FULL BACK/WING
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 81

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12 Counties, One Club
tallaght
in Focus
RFC
Twenty
years ago,
a directive
came out
from the IRFU
encouraging
the creation
of new rugby
clubs in nontraditional
areas, causing
the creation of
Tallaght RFC.
In the intervening years, the club
has moved from venue to venue,
on terms set down by the Dublin
Council, longing for a place to call
their ‘forever home’.
“We are currently playing out of a
Dublin Council-owned pitch in Firhouse,
across the road from the Community
School,” said Director of Rugby Stephen
Heaney.
“Pitch 100 has been our home for
the last number of years. Two 40-foot
containers serve our facility’s needs,
one as a changing room and one as
a storage room. It is not much by any
standard, but it is home for us, at the
moment.
In recent years, Tallaght has embraced
the positivity and direction that comes
with planning for the future, not just
letting it happen.
“The main point of our Five-Year Plan
is to secure our ‘Forever Home’,” said
Stephen.
“The fact we are renting our pitch from
the Council leaves our future in their
hands. We want to take control of where
we are going as a club.
“Don’t get me wrong, we are grateful for
the facilities provided by South Dublin
84 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

County Council. However, we cannot put
down plans to grow and evolve when we
don’t own our own land.
“It would be lovely to have our own
place. That is what we are working on.
We are meeting with schools in the area.
We are meeting with councillors, all in
the name of having our own home.”
The absence of a long-term lease or
ownership of the land prevents the club
from applying for the significant grants
they need to build a clubhouse and
install modern facilities, like floodlights.
“Until we have the money to buy a
home, we can’t apply for those larger
grants,” he said.
It is akin to having their hands tied
behind their backs when there is a plate
of possibilities staring them in the face.
There is no reason why Tallaght shouldn’t
think bigger and better when it is located
in the heart of a rising population area,
catering to 75,000 locals with 10
secondary schools containing 6,000
students.
The large volume of housing makes for a
steady stream of potential new members.
This has been partly tapped into by a
doubling of men’s and women’s numbers
in recent years, albeit coming from a low
base.
Following a spate of vandalism acts
within their allocated grounds, the
club created a ‘GoFundMe’ for their
permanent home, raising just over
€35,000 and growing.
bring to an area as large and diverse as
Tallaght.
The club is constantly in search of a
piece of land, within Dublin 24, that
it can develop, and make its own.
Chairman Niall Mahon is doing
incredible work in the background to
help make this dream a reality.
It would certainly make for an increase
in numbers from the current base of
250 players, based on what it has been
able to do to date, without the basics of
running water and toilets.
The support from the wider rugby
community has been incredibly heartwarming
with many domestic clubs
rowing in behind them to help.
They have also garnered support from
professional sports stars, like Cian Healy,
Donncha O’Callaghan, CJ Stander, Sene
Naoupu, Lindsay Peat, Alan Quinlan, to
name a few.
They got involved because they
understand the huge benefit rugby can
Tallaght is also one of the few clubs
aiming to have the same number of
men’s and women’s teams as early as
next season.
“Our Ladies Development Officer,
Martina Fitzpatrick, has been with the
club for a long time and has been at the
helm of women’s recruitment. We have
a new women’s coach in Sean Bishop,
who has made a three-year commitment
with us, along with two senior men’s
players as backs and forwards coaches
helping out too,” issues Stephen.
There has been considerable uptake
in sponsorship. Tallaght based
entrepreneurs have put close to €20,000
into the men’s, women’s and now youths
teams. All the teams are fully kitted out in
the branding of local company logos.
The club is leading the field in growing
numbers through its online presence,
using smart and creative social media
campaigns to generate enough interest
for new members to join the club.
“The way things are going you have to
have a big social media presence and
we are very lucky with the work our club
PRO Emma Louise Keogh is doing on this
front,” adds Stephen.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 85

“She is always pushing fun ideas and
links in regularly with Leinster and the
IRFU which makes for thousands of
exposures for such a small club. It just
puts us on the rugby map a little more.”
Sponsorship has come from people with
Tallaght close to their hearts or locals
looking to help. They include 123ink.
ie, PeachyLean, Inivo Medical, Tadhg
Riordan Motors, Windsor Motors and
this list is growing.
As a local parish community club, it
has been able to get support from the
professional side of the game. benefiting
from a training day with former Ireland
coach Joe Schmidt as well as kicking and
skills sessions with Ireland U-20 coach
Richie Murphy.
In addition, Colin McEntee, the Director
of the IRFU Domestic Game, has joined
the club for a few training sessions, along
with Ultan and Donncha O’Callaghan
who hosted an evening of talks with
senior men’s players ahead of a final
back in 2020.
There have also been supporting
video messages from Mike McCarthy,
O’Callaghan, Tommy Bowe, Ellis Genge
and Wallaby Dane Haylett-Petty wishing
the players well for various matches.
At the moment, there are two men’s
teams competing from 65 registered
players. The women’s squad has 30
registered players and there are plans
afoot to create a second team as soon as
next season. There are age-grade teams
in the youths section and a growing minis
group from six to 13 years of age.
Tag rugby will take place in the summer,
running to eight teams from a total
playing membership of 250. There
are also a number of Leinster referees
registered within the club, such as
Audrey Fulham, who started playing on
the women’s team in the second row.
“We can only hope to continue the
growth of referees within the club and
see them excel and grow in the way
Audrey has,” says Stephen.
There has been a lot done. There is so
much more to do. Imagine what could be
achieved if Tallaght RFC actually had a
pitch, a clubhouse.
A ‘Forever Home’.
86 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

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RUGBY HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER
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88 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

alex
soroka
THE ACADEMY
INTERVIEW
BY PAUL CAHILL
On February 11, 2022, a
week before his 21st
birthday, Alex Soroka
was flying high.
He had just come off
the bench for his first
senior appearance
of the season in
Leinster’s 26-7 win
over Edinburgh at the
RDS Arena.
Less than two weeks later, his
world was rocked as Ukraine, the
birthplace of his brother and his
parents, was invaded by Russia.
With his grandmother and lots of friends
and family still in Ukraine, it has been
an incredibly tough time for the Soroka
family in Dublin.
“I watch the news just to make sure I’m
caught up with what is going on over
there each day,” reflects the Leinster
Academy back row.
“It’s tough, but at the same time it’s not
tough for me at all. There’s nothing wrong
with me and a shell isn’t going to hit my
house. Sometimes it can get to me but
then I remember what they are going
through in Ukraine and it’s a completely
different story.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 89

“It’s more that I feel a bit helpless
sometimes, because I’m here and they
are there and I feel like I can’t do much.”
Alex was born in Ireland shortly after
his parents, Tanya and Vassyl, moved
to Cork with their six-year-old son, Ivan.
Their daughter, Dasha, was born a few
years later after the family moved to
Dublin.
His rugby adventures started in Bective
Rangers, following in the footsteps of big
brother Ivan, before going to school and
representing Belvedere College.
It wasn’t long before representative
honours came his way and he has worn
the green jersey of Ireland on numerous
occasions across two U-20 Six Nations
campaigns.
Like so many young people his age in
Ireland, Alex is very aware and equally
proud of his Irish and Ukrainian roots.
“I’ve lived here my whole life but I
consider myself as much Ukrainian as I
do Irish. All of my extended family are in
Ukraine. I don’t have any Irish relatives,
but at the same time, I was born here
and I grew up here so I feel half and half
basically.”
Having made his Leinster Rugby debut
last year against Glasgow, Soroka has
impressed the coaches, earning further
caps against Zebre and Edinburgh,
despite a frustrating injury lay-off earlier
this year.
But, for the time being, his rugby career
is very much secondary on his mind as
he and his family do all they can for their
extended family in Ukraine.
“My granny is still there. I speak to her
on the phone a lot. I have one aunt in
London but all of my other aunts, uncles
and cousins are in Ukraine right now.
“My father’s family are all in Kyiv and my
mother’s family are all in Dnipropetrovsk,
which is further down the Dnipro river. It is
worrying though because Dnipropetrovsk
is in the south-east and the Russians could
go there next. Thankfully, nothing bad has
happened to any of them at the moment.”
His use of the phrase “at the moment” is
well founded given the proximity of both
sides of his family to the ongoing war. His
mother’s family, based in Dnipropetrovsk,
are roughly 500km south-east of Kyiv. The
fighting and the shelling that he referenced
earlier is all too real for them all.
The one bit of solace that Alex takes from
his daily calls to Ukraine is the incredible
strength and calmness that he hears from
his extended family.
“My granny is doing fine. I don’t know if
it’s the Ukrainian nature, but they are so
tough. When we are talking to her, it’s
like we are more stressed than she is.
“My mum and dad’s friends are the
same. They are so calm about everything.
My dad says that if he was over there it
would be easier, because he would be
there and wouldn’t be as stressed all the
way over here.”
We all watched the news in horror as
the war intensified throughout parts of
Ukraine.
A sense of helplessness fell on most
people. Soroka and his family decided
that they had to do something.
Knowing the city of Kyiv well, and seeing
the images of injured children, they
decided to start a GoFundMe page,
which has been a huge success.
“The Okhmadyt Children’s Hospital is
the biggest in Ukraine. So, when
everything started over there, we were
trying to help our family and friends by
sending what we can and giving what
we can. But, I started to think, what else
can I do? Because you do feel helpless
over here. You are so far away from
everything.
“I had seen a few GoFundMe campaigns
before, so I thought I would start one.
We thought that there’s no better place
90 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

to send the money than the children’s
hospital.
“A section of the hospital was actually
shelled around the time I started the
campaign. A lot of the kids in there
are having to get their treatment done
underground.
“My dad got in contact with the hospital
so the logistics of sending the money
are sorted. I’ll probably keep it running
for another few weeks. But, if we can
help some of the injured kids back to full
health, hopefully it can be of help.”
The goodwill of the Irish people was
clear as the campaign grew quickly.
“The original goal was €5,000. I didn’t
really know what amount to put the goal
as. We hit that within a few hours so I
doubled it. Then we hit that quickly so I
doubled it again.
“I moved it up to €50,000 and see how
it goes, but we’re nearly there now.”
Incredibly, the campaign is now just shy
of €48,000 having been posted less
than three weeks ago.
“The day I put it live, all of the Leinster
players supported it and shared it across
their social media pages. All my friends
and teammates in Clontarf shared it too,
so it got great exposure and I’m really
grateful for that.”
That support Alex talks about has come
from all four corners of Ireland.
“Cork Constitution FC gave a great
contribution. I had no idea they were
doing a fundraiser. We played them a
few weeks ago with Clontarf and Donal
Lenihan came up to me after the match
and gave me an envelope to add to the
fund. That was really nice.
“UCD Rugby Club also gave a donation
after our game last week which was
really nice from them. When you see
things like that, it makes you proud to be
a part of the rugby community.”
Those trips in the Energia AIL with Clontarf
FC, and training in UCD with the Leinster
Academy are the few hours each week
that Alex isn’t thinking about the war. It’s
a good distraction for the 21-year-old,
knowing that everyone at Clontarf and
Leinster Rugby is behind him.
“Not that you ever forget that the war
is going on, but coming into UCD to
train gives you something else to focus
on for the time that I’m with the team. It
definitely helps. It’s good to blow some
steam off doing a gym session and it puts
you in a better headspace overall.
“The lads have been great. The
support has been unbelievable.
The whole squad here in Leinster,
and all of the coaches have
been so supportive. Everyone has
said that if there’s anything they can do
to help, they would love to do it. It means
a lot.”
This year, before the war began, rugby
had brought the Soroka family a lot of
big days out together as Alex, and his
older brother, Ivan, who has previously
played with tonight’s opponents
Connacht, finally got to play on the same
team.
“Ivan is about six or seven years older
than me so when we were growing up
we never had a chance to play together.
I signed back with Clontarf during Covid,
but, obviously we didn’t get a chance to
play any games.
“I picked up an injury at the start of
this season and I only got back in
January. My first game back was against
Garryowen and I finally got to play on
the same team as my brother. That was
special. It’s probably my favourite rugby
memory.
“We were waiting for a long time, and
my parents were waiting for a long time
too. They were happier than we were.
My sister Dasha was there as well so it
was special. It was just a really good day
out. We won, thankfully. It would have
been an anti-climax if we lost!
“I think we’ve played nine games
together this year for Clontarf and my
parents have been to every one of them.
They’ve travelled down to Cork for away
games and everything.”
Having that Clontarf Rugby Club
community support has clearly been a
great help to the entire Soroka family.
Between the players and the supporters,
92 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

the club has raised more than €6,000 for
the campaign.
The club is now working on helping as
many Ukrainians as possible who move
into the area.
“A lot of families have moved into
Clontarf, and the rugby club has set up a
training session for Ukrainian kids. It’s on
Mondays at 5.30pm in the rugby club.
“Rugby isn’t very popular in Ukraine, but
it’s just great that they have somewhere
for the kids to run around and have a bit
of craic. There’s so many examples of that
goodwill around Ireland.
“I couldn’t ask for anymore from the
players, staff and the people behind the
scenes at Clontarf. My family and I really
appreciate it. It’s nice to be a part of a
club like that.”
From a rugby perspective, Alex is focused
on impressing the Leinster coaches and
adding to his three caps to date, as
well as repaying Clontarf for all of their
support with some silverware.
“We’ve been going well this season with
Clontarf and we’re into the play-offs.
we’ll just try
and help out
as much as we
can. We’ll keep
organising
things to help
the Ukrainians
coming over to
Ireland.
We’re playing Cork Con at home in the
semi-final, so hopefully we can bring it
home.”
More importantly, Alex and his family are
focused on helping Ukrainians arriving
in Ireland as well as doing anything they
can for family and friends back home in
Ukraine.
“Looking ahead, we’ll just try and help
out as much as we can. We’ll keep
organising things to help the Ukrainians
coming over to Ireland.
“There are a few Facebook groups that
we’re in, so if somebody sees a good
donation page, we’ll share it, or help set
up a meet and greet for Ukrainians who
have just come in at St Stephen’s Green
on Saturdays. All of that kind of stuff.
“It’s very daunting for the Ukrainians who
are coming over here now. Especially the
children.
“It’s a new environment, a new language,
a new climate, a new everything. Small
things we can do to help them to make
their lives a little bit easier, can go a long
way.”
94 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

If you
would like
to support
the Soroka
family
GoFundMe
campaign
which is
raising
funds for the
Okhmadyt
Children’s
Hospital
in Ukraine,
please
donate here.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 95

Success in rugby is about collective excellence,
the sort of excellence demonstrated last season
by Stade Toulousain when they memorably
clinched a record-breaking fifth Heineken
Champions Cup title, and by Montpellier Hérault
Rugby who lifted the EPCR Challenge Cup for
the second time in their history.
But within a group of players there is always
the opportunity for individual brilliance and
that is where the EPCR European Player of the
Year award comes in. This prestigious accolade,
won with such style in 2021 by the outstanding
Antoine Dupont, is in the spotlight once again
following announcement of this season’s 15
nominees who are now vying to claim the
Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy.
Voting remains open and fans will be in the
running to win a signed ball and a signed jersey
courtesy of one of the Heineken Champions
Cup finalist clubs. The list will be reduced
to five candidates after the semi-finals by a
combination of the public vote and the verdict
of the judging panel, and players who have not
been included in the initial longlist, but who
make a significant impact during the knockout
stages, may be considered for the shortlist.
The voting will then re-open and the winner of
the 2022 award will be announced following the
Heineken Champions Cup final in Marseille.
JUDGING PANEL
Erik Bonneval (beIN SPORTS),
Bryan Habana (two-time
Heineken Champions Cup
winner), Lee McKenzie
(Channel 4), Alan Quinlan
(Virgin Media and two-time
Heineken Cup winner) and
Dimitri Yachvili (France
Télévisions)
ROLL OF HONOUR
2021: Antoine Dupont (Stade
Toulousain); 2020: Sam
Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs);
2019: Alex Goode (Saracens);
2018: Leone Nakarawa
(Racing 92); 2017: Owen
Farrell (Saracens); 2016: Maro
Itoje (Saracens); 2015: Nick
Abendanon (ASM Clermont
Auvergne); 2014: Steffon
Armitage (RC Toulon); 2013:
Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon);
2012: Rob Kearney (Leinster
Rugby); 2011: Sean O’Brien
(Leinster Rugby); 2010: Ronan
O’Gara (Munster Rugby –
best player of first 15 years of
European professional club
competitions)

GRÉGORY GRÉGORY ALLDRITT GRÉGORY ALLDRITT ALEX ALLDRITT DOMBRANDT
ALEX DOMBRANDT
ALEX DOMBRANDT CAELAN CAELAN DORIS CAELAN DORIS DORIS
STADE ROCHELAIS STADE ROCHELAIS
STADE ROCHELAIS HARLEQUINS HARLEQUINS HARLEQUINS LEINSTER RUGBYLEINSTER RUGBY
ANTOINE ANTOINE DUPONT ANTOINE DUPONT DUPONT GAËL FICKOU GAËL FICKOU GAËL FICKOU GEORGE FORDGEORGE FORD
STADE TOULOUSAIN
STADE TOULOUSAIN
STADE TOULOUSAIN RACING 92 RACING RACING 92 LEICESTER 92 LEICESTER TIGERS LEICESTER TIGERS TIGERS
MICHAEL MICHAEL LOWRY MICHAEL LOWRY JIMMY LOWRYO’BRIEN
JIMMY JIMMY O’BRIEN JACK O’BRIEN O’DONOGHUE
JACK O’DONOGHUE
JACK O’DONOGHUE
ULSTER RUGBY ULSTER ULSTER RUGBY RUGBY LEINSTER RUGBYLEINSTER RUGBY MUNSTER RUGBYMUNSTER RUGBY
DAMIAN DAMIAN PENAUD DAMIAN PENAUD SEMI PENAUD RADRADRA
SEMI RADRADRA
SEMI RADRADRA SAM SIMMONDS SAM SIMMONDS
SAM SIMMONDS
ASM CLERMONT ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE
ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE BRISTOL AUVERGNE BEARS BRISTOL BRISTOL BEARS BEARS EXETER CHIEFS EXETER EXETER CHIEFS CHIEFS
MARCUS MARCUS SMITH MARCUS SMITH JOSH SMITH VAN JOSH DER VAN JOSH FLIER DER VAN FLIER CAMERON DER FLIER CAMERON WOKI CAMERON WOKI WOKI
HARLEQUINS HARLEQUINS HARLEQUINS LEINSTER RUGBYLEINSTER UNION RUGBY BORDEAUX-BÈGLES
UNION BORDEAUX-BÈGLES
UNION VOTE NOW
EPCRUGBY.COM/EPOTY
#EPOTY2022

Leinster Rugby Academy
Year Three 2021/22:
Leinster Rugby Academy
Year two 2021/22:
Second Row
Brian Deeny
DOB: 02/03/2000
HEIGHT: 1.99m WEIGHT: 121kg
HONOURS: Ireland U20 (8 caps)
Did You Know: Brian played youth rugby with Wexford
Wanderers RFC. He got his first Irish cap playing for
Ireland Under-18 Sevens. Brian played midfield for
his school St Peter’s College in Gaelic football and
reached the All-Ireland Colleges Final in 2017. He is
currently studying Science in Trinity and lives in Abbey
House B&B, Wexford...if you are looking for a room?!
Instagram: brian_deeny
wing
Niall Comerford
DOB: 06/04/2000
HEIGHT: 1.83m WEIGHT: 86kg
HONOURS: Ireland U20
Did You Know: Niall played both hurling and Gaelic
football with Kilmacud Crokes for 14 years. He also
represented Dublin in Gaelic football in the U17
Leinster Championship. He is currently studying
Commerce in UCD.
Instagram: niall_c123
Cormac Foley #1299
DOB: 24/10/1999
HEIGHT: 1.81m WEIGHT: 88kg
HONOURS: Ireland U20 (9 caps)
& Leinster Rugby (2 caps)
Marcus Hanan #1295
DOB: 03/10/2000
HEIGHT:1.8m WEIGHT:110.91kg
HONOURS: Ireland U20 (2 caps)
& Leinster Rugby (3 caps)
Scrum Half
Did You Know: Started playing rugby with Greystones
RFC when he was nine. Growing up, Cormac did a lot
of show jumping and he is now studying Economics and
Finance in UCD.
Instagram: cormacfoley6
prop
Did You Know? Marcus is from Clane in Kildare and is the
youngest of three. His dad went to the High School and then
played rugby in Old Wesley before coaching back at Clane
RFC. Marcus has Italian connections on his mother’s side with her
father, Luigi Rea, being from Italy. Marcus is studying Business
Management in Griffith College. Instagram: @marcus_hanan
Back Row
Martin Moloney #1300
DOB: 19/10/1999
HEIGHT: 1.88m WEIGHT: 99kg
HONOURS: Ireland U20 (5 caps) &
Leinster Rugby (5 caps)
Did You Know: Martin played hurling for Kildare and
played GAA and basketball for his secondary school,
Knockbeg College, and local GAA club, St Laurence’s.
He played his youth rugby with Athy RFC. He is now
studying Business and Law in UCD, He also enjoys
working on the family farm. Instagram: martin_moloney
Second Row
Joe McCarthy #1303
DOB: 26/03/2001
HEIGHT: 1.95m WEIGHT: 119kg
HONOURS: Ireland U20 (3 caps) &
Leinster Rugby (5 caps)
Did You Know: Joe started playing rugby with Blackrock
College RFC at the age of six before moving to
Willow Park and then Blackrock College. He was also
on the Blackrock swim team for five years. He’s currently
studying Global Business in Trinity College Dublin.
Instagram: joetmmcc
Second Row
Charlie Ryan
DOB: 03/02/1999
HEIGHT: 2.01m WEIGHT: 115kg
HONOURS: Ireland U20 (15 caps)
Did You Know: Charlie played youth rugby at Blackrock
College RFC while also attending the school since
Senior Infants. He captained Ireland to the U20 Grand
Slam in 2019 and again for the U20s World Cup. His
friends call him Chuck! He is currently studying Business
and Legal Studies in UCD.
Instagram: chuck_ryan5
hooker
John McKee
DOB: 15/02/2000
HEIGHT: 1.82m WEIGHT: 105kg
HONOURS: Ireland U20 (12 caps)
Did You Know: John grew up in Belfast going to school
at Campbell College where he won a Senior Cup. He
was involved with Ulster at age grade level until moving
to Dublin after school. He also has multiple medals
from Northern Irish Schools Judo competitions.
Instagram: johnmckee_
Centre
Liam Turner #1287
DOB: 14/07/1999
HEIGHT: 1.73m WEIGHT: 91kg
HONOURS: Ireland U20 (10 caps)
& Leinster Rugby (6 caps)
Did You Know: Liam started to play rugby at the age
of six at Blackrock College RFC. He later joined
Blackrock College and was part of the 2018 Senior Cup
winning team. He was also part of the Ireland U20 team
that went on to win the 2019 Grand Slam. Liam currently
studys BESS in Trinity College. Instagram: liamtn123
Centre / Full Back
Jamie Osborne #1294
DOB: 16/11/2001
HEIGHT:1.93m WEIGHT:96.82kg
HONOURS: Leinster Rugby (16 caps)
Did you know? Jamie is studying commerce in UCD. His
grandad, Paddy Osborne, was a horse trainer in Naas,
while his dad played rugby all throughout his life and
his mum played hockey. Other than rugby, Jamie loves
all sports especially soccer, GAA and NFL. Jamie is
currently in a house with fellow Leinster Academy players
Brian Deeny, Martin Moloney and Max O’Reilly.
Instagram: @jamieosborne01
98 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Seán O’Brien #1297
Lee Barron
Back Row
DOB: 31/07/2000
HEIGHT: 1.90m WEIGHT: 103kg
HONOURS: Ireland U20 (3 caps)
& Leinster Rugby (2 caps)
Did You Know: Seán started playing rugby at age
six with Greystones RFC where he played up until Under-13.
He then played on the Junior and Senior Cup
teams in Blackrock College. He is currently studying
Economics and Finance in UCD
Instagram: seanobrien456
Hooker
DOB: 15/02/2001
HEIGHT: 1.91m WEIGHT: 108kg
Did You Know: Lee played golf growing up in the
Castle Golf Club and in the end was playing off a
handicap of eight. He has family roots in Carlow but
went to school in Dublin and attended St Michael’s College.
As well as rugby with his school, he also played
GAA and even lined out in Croke Park.
Instagram: @lleebarron
Max O’Reilly #1291
Chris Cosgrave #1305
Full Back
DOB: 26/02/2000
HEIGHT: 1.85m WEIGHT: 86kg
HONOURS: Ireland U20 (3 caps) &
Leinster Rugby (8 caps)
Did You Know: Max is currently in his third year of
Business and Management in DIT. His preferred sport
was soccer until about the age of 15, which he had
played at centre midfield with Enniskerry FC for over 10
years and also for Wicklow.
Instagram: max_oreilly
full back
DOB: 24/07/2001
HEIGHT:1.83m WEIGHT:85kg
Did You Know: Chris is a member of UCD RFC, where
he is also an Ad Astra scholar studying Agricultural
Science. His athleticism is best highlighted by his feats
in the field of Athletics with All-Ireland honours to his
name in both the 4x100m relay and the Discus. Before
the UCD and St Michael’s College days, he played at
a young age with Old Belvedere RFC.
Instagram: @chriscosgrave1
Andrew Smith #1292
Mark Hernan
DOB: 21/07/2000
HEIGHT: 1.83m WEIGHT: 91kg
HONOURS: Ireland U20 (3 caps) &
Leinster Rugby (2 caps)
DOB: 04/07/2000
HEIGHT: 1.88m WEIGHT: 99kg
HONOURS: Leinster Rugby (1 cap)
Back Three
Did You Know: Andrew is currently studying Quantity
Surveying and Construction Economics in TUD. In
2019, he won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup with St
Michael’s College. Andrew also played Gaelic football
with his local club - Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA Club.
Instagram: andrew.sm1th
Flanker
Did You Know: Mark was coached by Ross Molony,
Josh Murphy, Ross Byrne and Nick McCarthy when in
St. Michael’s College. His grandfather Fergus O’Brien
was Lord Mayor of Dublin and his father, Ray, played
for Connacht seniors and Ireland u25s.
Instagram: @mark_hernani
Alex Soroka #1296
Temi Lasisi #1304
Back Row
DOB: 19/02/2001
HEIGHT: 1.95m WEIGHT: 104.5kg
HONOURS: Ireland U20 (7 caps)
& Leinster Rugby (3 caps)
Did You Know: Alex’s family moved to Ireland from
Ukraine shortly before his birth. He was born in Cork
before moving to Dublin.
Instagram: alex._.soroka
prop
DOB: 09/05/2001
HEIGHT: 1.78m WEIGHT: 115.8kg
HONOURS: Leinster Rugby (1 cap)
Did You Know: The TUD Mechanical Engineering
student originally picked up the oval ball in Enniscorthy
before later moving to Lansdowne FC. Temi rose
through the ranks in the Youths system, his first outing
with the province came at U-18 level against Northampton.
He also describes himself as a ‘competent
pianist’. Instagram: @lasisi.temi
Leinster Rugby Academy
Year one 2021/22:
Scrum half
Ben Murphy
DOB: 23/04/2001
HEIGHT: 1.75m WEIGHT: 80kg
HONOURS: Ireland U20 (3 caps)
& Leinster Rugby (1 cap)
Did You Know: Ben played all different sports growing
up including football, GAA and golf and won an 800m
gold in the U-14 East Leinsters. He is studying economics
in UCD. Ben’s father Richie played for Leinster
Rugby and has coached at all levels of the game and is
the current Ireland U-20s head coach. I
nstagram: @ben._murphy01
Jack Boyle
DOB: 10/03/2002
HEIGHT: 1.85m WEIGHT: 106kg
HONOURS: Ireland U20 (9 caps)
Rob Russell #1302
DOB: 13/01/1999
HEIGHT: 1.83m WEIGHT: 90kg
HONOURS: Leinster Rugby (3 caps)
Prop
Did You Know: Jack’s father, Herbie, and uncles, Colon
and Eric, all represented Old Wesley rugby club for
years. His cousin Stephen Boyle also represented the
Leinster Rugby youths. Jack is currently studying for a
Commerce Degree in UCD.
Instagram: @jackboyle1
Full Back / Wing
Did You Know: Rob is currently in his final year of
Business and Management in DIT. He started playing
rugby at the age of five with Wanderers RFC. He also
played football up to minor level with Kilmacud Crokes
and it took priority over rugby until he left school.
Instagram: @robrussell7
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 99

celebrating International
Women’s Day
Leinster Rugby celebrated
International Women’s Day
with a week full of activities.
Among these was a new initiative
encouraging members of the
Area U-18 Girls squads to referee,
under supervision, at the Girls
U-10 and U-12 Festivals on the
Friday night.
Among those who took up the challenge
was Blathnaid Smith, a member of the
PortDara Leinster U-18 Cup-winning side
and a member of the North Midlands
team in the 2022 Sarah Robinson Cup.
Joining, Playing,
Refereeing - A
Youth Player’s View
BY BLATHNAID SMITH
When I was about nine years
old, my dad brought me down
to Portarlington rugby club. We
went down one Saturday when
there were a few matches on and
it just went from there. I’ve been
playing ever since.
Once I began playing U-18, I was old
enough to be selected for the North
Midlands team, but unfortunately, I did
not get on.
That year, I realized how much I loved
rugby and was gutted not to be put
forward for the team. Then I decided
to work really hard for what I wanted
to achieve. So, I went running, and
practiced all my rugby skills to improve
myself as a player and a person so they
could do nothing but pick me for the
team.
As we went into lockdown in 2020, I was
picked to play on the North Midlands
U-18 team. We didn't get to play any
matches for the North Midlands that year
due to Covid-19.
My first match with the team was one
year later in 2021. We played Midlands
in Edenderry as a warm-up game. This
was to prepare ourselves to face them in
Donnybrook in the Sarah Robinson Cup.
We won that match and it was great to
be playing.
As a North Midlands player, I was asked,
‘Would I be interested in refereeing
minis?’ This was an opportunity not to be
missed as I love the game of rugby and I
wanted to help encourage young girls to
play the sport.
During my Transition Year, I had
completed the Minis Coaching course
with Leinster Rugby. I loved coaching
girls and I felt that refereeing was a great
idea.
I had a bit of learning to do on the
laws of rugby before then. We did a
refereeing module with Sean Gallagher,
the Referee Development Manager for
Leinster Rugby. It was a very informative
session on anything we didn't understand,
this helped to educate us further on the
laws of rugby.
It really showed me the work referees
put in in preparing to referee a game is
equally important as that of the player in
preparation for playing. It was great to
hear from people with lots of experience
in refereeing the game.
Joy Neville was a special guest; she was
a great player and a great role model
as a pro referee. I learned it's all about
fundamentals of refereeing.
With all this prep, we finally got to Friday,
11 March, the North Midlands Girls Mini
Festival. I was a bit nervous because I
wanted to do well.
I was amazed at the sheer number of
girls playing rugby in the U-10s and
U-12s, it was fabulous. I refereed the
U-10s where they know their rugby.
I wasn't sure if they knew what an offside
rule was. But, they explained it to me, it
was delightful for the girls to know all the
laws of rugby. The games were excellent,
the girls were driving with the ball, a few
dummies and steps mixed in. Everybody,
including me, was delighted when a
try was scored. It didn't matter if it was
against you or for you. Everybody was
happy to be playing rugby.
I would suggest minis rugby refereeing to
all players. If you are stepping away from
playing for whatever reason, refereeing
could be for you. It's so much fun and
time flies. It was a wonderful experience
and really enjoyable.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 101

Date
25/09
03/10
09/10
16/10
22/10
27/11
03/12
11/12
1/12
1/01
22/01
29/01
11/02
19/02
25/02
05/03
12/03
26/03
02/05
08/04
KO/
Result
W
31-3
W
7-6
W
43-7
Opposiotion Venue 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 1 2
URC VODACOM
BULLS
URC DRAGONS
Aviva
Stadium
Rodney
Parade
URC ZEBRE RDS Arena J O’BRIEN
KEENAN O’LOUGHLIN RINGROSE FRAWLEY LOWE
SEXTON
3C 1P
MCGRATH
PORTER
1T
SHEEHAN
KEENAN RUSSELL RINGROSE C O’BRIEN O’LOUGHLIN R BYRNE GIBSON-PARK PORTER SHEEHAN
A BYRNE
2T
OSBORNE
FRAWLEY
W
50-15 URC SCARLETS RDS Arena KEENAN LARMOUR RINGROSE FRAWLEY
1C
W
31-15
URC GLASGOW
Scotstoun
Stadium
KEENAN
1T
A BYRNE
1T
L
10-20 URC ULSTER RDS Arena J O’BRIEN A BYRNE HENSHAW
1T
W
47-19 URC CONNACHT RDS Arena KEENAN LARMOUR 1T RINGROSE
1T
W
45-20 HCC BATH Aviva
Stadium
L
0-28
W
89-7
W
64-7
L
29-27
W
26-7
W
29-7
W
21-13
HCC MONTPELLIER
GGL (Altrad)
Stadium
KEENAN
1T
HCC MONTPELLIER RDS Arena KEENAN
HCC BATH
URC
CARDIFF
RUGBY
Recreation
Ground
Cardiff Arms
Park
LARMOUR
1T
LOWE
RINGROSE FRAWLEY LOWE
FRAWLEY
HENSHAW
LARMOUR RINGROSE FRAWLEY
LARMOUR
LOWE
LOWE
1T
H BYRNE
SEXTON
1C 1P
R BYRNE
4C 1P
R BYRNE
1C 1P
H BYRNE
5C
R BYRNE
5C
MCGRATH
GIBSON-PARK
MCGRATH
E BYRNE
1T
PORTER
1T
HEALY
CRONIN
1T
KELLEHER
1T
KELLEHER
1T
MCGRATH E BYRNE TRACY
MCGRATH
GIBSON-PARK
2T
HEALY
PORTER
- - - - - - - - -
KEENAN
1T
LARMOUR
1T
LARMOUR
1T
RINGROSE
RINGROSE
FRAWLEY
HENSHAW
J O’BRIEN
1T
J O’BRIEN
4T
J O’BRIEN A BYRNE 1T OSBORNE FRAWLEY O’LOUGHLIN
URC EDINBURGH RDS Arena OSBORNE T O’BRIEN O’LOUGHLIN FRAWLEY KEARNEY
URC OSPREYS RDS Arena J O’BRIEN
URC
EMIRATES
LIONS
W
17-61 URC BENETTON Stadio
Monigo
L
13-18 URC ULSTER Kingspan
Stadium
W
45-8
LARMOUR
1T
OSBORNE H BYRNE KEARNEY
RDS Arena O’REILLY T O’BRIEN OSBORNE H BYRNE
J O’BRIEN
2T 1C
URC CONNACHT Sportsground J O’BRIEN
W
34-19 URC MUNSTER Thomond
Park
LARMOUR
1T
KEARNEY
1T
OSBORNE H BYRNE T O’BRIEN
J O’BRIEN A BYRNE O’LOUGHLIN OSBORNE T O’BRIEN
KEENAN
W
26-21 HCC CONNACHT Sportsground KEENAN
1T
15/04 17:30 HCC CONNACHT
23/04 17:15 URC CELL C
SHARKS
30/04 16:15 URC DHL
STORMERS
20|21/05 19:00 URC MUNSTER
fixtures and
results 2021/22
Aviva
Stadium
Jonsson
Kings Park
Green Point
Stadium
Aviva
Stadium
T O’BRIEN
2T
J O’BRIEN
1T
OSBORNE
RINGROSE
1T
FRAWLEY
1T
HENSHAW
J O’BRIEN RINGROSE HENSHAW
O’LOUGHLIN
1T
LOWE
2T
LOWE
2T
R BYRNE
1T 7C
SEXTON
5C
R BYRNE
3C 2P
R BYRNE
3C
R BYRNE
3C 1P
R BYRNE
3C
R BYRNE
1T 7C
R BYRNE
1C 2P
R BYRNE
1C
R BYRNE
1P 4C
SEXTON
1C 2P
GIBSON-PARK
1T
MCGRATH
PORTER
PORTER
1T
SHEEHAN
1T
KELLEHER
1T
KELLEHER
KELLEHER
MCGRATH E BYRNE CRONIN
N MCCARTHY
1T
MCGRATH
E BYRNE
HEALY
1T
TRACY
TRACY
N MCCARTHY E BYRNE TRACY
MCGRATH
DOOLEY
CRONIN
2T
MCGRATH DOOLEY TRACY
MCGRATH DOOLEY TRACY
GIBSON-PARK E BYRNE TRACY
MCGRATH HEALY SHEEHAN
102 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

3 4 5 6 7 8 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
ALAALATOA MOLONY J RYAN RUDDOCK
VAN DER FLIER
1T
ALAALATOA MOLONY RYAN RUDDOCK VAN DER FLIER
ALAALATOA BAIRD TONER LEAVY
FURLONG MOLONY RYAN
DORIS
2T
PENNY
1T
VAN DER FLIER
DORIS
DEEGAN
1T
RUDDOCK
CONAN
FURLONG MOLONY BAIRD DORIS LEAVY CONAN
TRACY
1T
E BYRNE HEALY BAIRD DEEGAN GIBSON-PARK
R BYRNE
1T 1C
TRACY E BYRNE HEALY BAIRD LEAVY N MCCARTHY C FRAWLEY
KELLEHER
1T
SHEEHAN
2T
SHEEHAN
1T
DOOLEY HEALY MOLONY DEEGAN N MCCARTHY
HEALY
1T
ALAALATOA BAIRD RUDDOCK MCGRATH
SEXTON
4C
R BYRNE
3C
OSBORNE
S PENNY
[UNUSED]
RUSSELL
T O’BRIEN
E BYRNE ALAALATOA TONER RUDDOCK GIBSON-PARK OSBORNE VAN DER FLIER
FURLONG MOLONY TONER LEAVY PENNY RUDDOCK CRONIN DOOLEY ABDALADZE DEEGAN CONNORS N MCCARTHY H BYRNE T O’BRIEN
ALA’ALATOA
BAIRD
1T
TONER
RUDDOCK
1T
VAN DER FLIER
DORIS
1T
KELLEHER PORTER ABDALADZE J MURPHY
DEEGAN
1T
N MCCARTHY
R BYRNE
1C
T O’BRIEN
FURLONG
1T
MOLONY BAIRD RUDDOCK
VAN DER FLIER
1T
DORIS SHEEHAN HEALY ALAALATOA TONER DEEGAN MCGRATH J O’BRIEN T O’BRIEN
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FURLONG
MOLONY
1T
J MURPHY
DORIS
VAN DER FLIER
2T
CONAN
2T
SHEEHAN
2T
HEALY
ALAALATOA
1T
RUDDOCK DEEGAN MCGRATH
SEXTON
5C
LOWE
1T
ALAALATOA MOLONY MURPHY DORIS
VAN DER FLIER
1T
CONAN
SHEEHAN
1T
HEALY ABDALADZE BAIRD DEEGAN GIBSON-PARK
R BYRNE
2C
FRAWLEY
1T
ALAALATOA TONER J MCCARTHY RUDDOCK CONNORS PENNY 1T TRACY 1T DOOLEY ABDALADZE MOLONY DEEGAN N MCCARTHY H BYRNE T O’BRIEN
ALAALATOA MOLONY J MURPHY MOLONEY
ALAALATOA MOLONY BAIRD MOLONEY
ALAALATOA
1T
PENNY
1T
PENNY
1T
DEEGAN
1T
CRONIN
DOOLEY
ABDALADZE
1T
TONER SOROKA MCGRATH H BYRNE RUSSELL
DEEGAN CRONIN DOOLEY CLARKSON DUNNE RUDDOCK N MCCARTHY A BYRNE
TONER J MCCARTHY J MURPHY LEAVY RUDDOCK CRONIN DOOLEY CLARKSON DUNNE DEEGAN MCGRATH A BYRNE
CLARKSON MOLONY J MCCARTHY RUDDOCK PENNY
ALAALATOA MOLONY J MCCARTHY RUDDOCK PENNY
ALAALATOA MOLONY J MCCARTHY RUDDOCK PENNY
DEEGAN
1T
DEEGAN
1T
DEEGAN
1T
TRACY
2T
LOWE
1T
PENNY
1T
E BYRNE ALAALATOA TONER LEAVY FOLEY O’LOUGHLIN KEARNEY
CRONIN LASISI CLARKSON TONER LEAVY N MCCARTHY HAWKSHAW MOLONEY
CRONIN E BYRNE CLARKSON J MURPHY MOLONEY N MCCARTHY
HAWKSHAW
1T 4C
ALAALATOA TONER DUNNE DORIS VAN DER FLIER CONAN SHEEHAN HEALY FURLONG MOLONY MURPHY MCGRATH FRAWLEY DEEGAN
COSGRAVE
FURLONG MOLONY J MURPHY DORIS VAN DER FLIER CONAN TRACY E BYRNE ALAALATOA TONER DEEGAN GIBSON-PARK
R BYRNE
1P
FRAWLEY
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 103

matchday
Squads officials
REFEREE
LUKE PEARCE
(ENG)
ASSISTANT REFEREE
DANIEL JONES
(ENG)
ASSISTANT REFEREE
PAUL DIX (
ENG)
Hugo Keenan
Jimmy O’Brien
Garry Ringrose
Robbie Henshaw
James Lowe
Johnny Sexton [C]
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
FULL BACK
RIGHT WING
OUTSIDE CENTRE
INSIDE CENTRE
LEFT WING
FLY HALF
Tiernan O’Halloran
John Porch
Tom Farrell
Bundee Aki
Mack Hansen
Jack Carty [C]
TMO
TOM FOLEY
(ENG)
CITING COMMISSIONER
STUART SCOTT
(WAL)
Jamison Gibson-Park
SCRUM HALF
Caolin Blade
Andrew Porter
Rónan Kelleher
Tadhg Furlong
Ross Molony
Josh Murphy
Caelan Doris
Josh van der Flier
Jack Conan
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
LOOSE HEAD PROP Matthew Burke
FRONT PAGE
HOOKER Dave Heffernan
TIGHT HEAD PROP Finlay Bealham
SECOND ROW Gavin Thornbury
SECOND ROW Leva Fifita
BLINDSIDE FLANKER Cian Prendergast
OPENSIDE FLANKER Conor Oliver
NUMBER 8 Jarrad Butler
Dan Sheehan
Ed Byrne
Michael Ala’alatoa
Devin Toner
Rhys Ruddock
Luke McGrath
Ross Byrne
Ciarán Frawley
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
Jonny Murphy
Denis Buckley
Jack Aungier
Oisin Dowling
Abraham Papali’i
Kieran Marmion
Sammy Arnold
Conor Fitzgerald

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We know how important your memories are ....so relax
and enjoy yourself, you're in safe hands.
LEINSTER RUGBY FANS .... Secured by the team at Sword
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Parting Shot
Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
8 April 2022
Jonathan Sexton of Leinster
before the Heineken Champions
Cup Round of 16 first leg match
between Connacht and Leinster at
the Sportsground in Galway.
106 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

RUGBY.
DELIVERED.
TEAMWORK. SPEED. DELIVERY. THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE
OFFICIAL LOGISTICS PARTNER. DHL.