Leinster vs Cell C Sharks

LEINSTER 

VS 

ISSUE 02 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 

cell c sharks 

SAT 8 th OCTOBER 

RDS ARENA 

KO 5.05PM

Our People, Our Home 

TWELVE COUNTIES. ONE SHIRT. 

Aaron Craig 

From a lad wearing Leinster blue to the RDS, to 

designing this season’s shirt. Aaron Craig’s journey has 

been amazing. The adidas Designer talks us through 

his design and what it means to create the shirt for his 

boyhood club. 

How did you begin working with adidas? 

When I was at the National College of Art and Design Dublin, I learned 

of adidas’ intern program. A lifelong fan of the brand, I knew it was an 

amazing opportunity. Luckily, I got to join adidas as an intern in 2016 

and I’ve been in Herzogenaurach (adidas HQ) ever since. I’m now a 

licensed apparel designer for some of the biggest teams in the world. 

What drew you to this project? 

Leinster asked if there were any Irish designers at adidas HQ they 

could collaborate with. For a lad who comes from Leinster that grew 

up supporting the team, this was a massive bucket list moment. My 

grandfather even worked the entrance gates the RDS and Donnybrook 

for years. 

What was your inspiration for the design? 

The inspiration came quite naturally. Each county of Leinster was to be 

represented equally with their heraldic crests – instantly recognisable 

symbols. I wanted to recount my own Leinster memories too. That 

meant introducing the darker blue sleeves and the collegiate gold 

detailing. To me, it’s a design that could be worn by players from any 

generation, from O’Driscoll to Sexton. 

How do you keep designs fresh year on year? 

We work closely with clubs to find authentic and fresh stories. At 

adidas, we also want to be at the forefront of performance technologies 

and sustainability. So every year we work to combine the two. 

Which design excited you the most? 

On a professional level, I designed the Spanish national team kits for 

the World Cup this season. The biggest sporting event there is. But, 

on a personal level, being part of the first adidas Celtic jersey in 2020 

and now seeing the framed Leinster kits in my parents’ home in Dublin 

might just be level with the World Cup. 

How does it feel to see your designs worn by thousands of fans? 

Seeing your jersey enjoyed by fans is definitely one of the most 

rewarding aspects of our jobs. Seeing people of all ages around Dublin 

on game day. Outside the pubs and cafés around the RDS. It’s a real 

pinch yourself moment for sure.

Newstead Building A, 

UCD, 

Belfield, 

Dublin 4 

#LEIVSHA 

The Line up 

Telephone: 

012693224 

Fax: 

012693142 

E-mail: 

information@leinsterrugby.ie 

www.leinsterrugby.ie 

6 

24 

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT 

President: Debbie Carty 

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: Andrew Goodman 

Kicking Coach: Emmet Farrell 

Contact Skills Coach: Seán O’Brien 

14 

PROGRAMME CREDITS 

Editorial Team: Marcus Ó Buachalla 

& Paul Cahill 

Advertising: Gary Nolan 

Design: Julian Tredinnick, 

Ignition Sports Media 

Photography: Sportsfile 

Chief Steward: Sword Security 

Ambulance: St. John’s Ambulance 

Medilink 

Event Control & Safety Services: 

Eamonn O’Boyle & Associates 

76 

86 

STAY 

CONNECTED 

& KEEP 

UP-TO-DATE 

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 3

Debbie Carty welcome 

PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2022/23 

On behalf of Leinster Rugby, I would 

like to welcome you all to the RDS 

Arena for this evening’s match 

against Cell C Sharks in Round 4 

of this season’s BKT United Rugby 

Championship. 

In particular, I wish to extend 

a warm welcome to Dublin to 

our South African visitors, to 

the Sharks squad, their Head 

Coach Sean Everitt and their 

management team and hope 

you are enjoying your visit here 

for the URC match. 

Of course a very warm welcome back 

to Noel McNamara who did so much 

brilliant work with our age grade sides 

and of course with the Ireland U-20s 

and the Leinster Academy. 

Leinster have won their last three 

matches and I would like to 

congratulate the Leinster squad 

captained by Garry Ringrose on their 

win over Ulster last week and they will 

be confident heading into tonight’s 

match, but we cannot be complacent 

with the Sharks also winning their last 

two matches so we expect tonight to be 

a challenging and physical match as 

we strive to get back to the summit of 

the URC. 

I have no doubt that Leo and his squad 

are up for the challenge and we look 

forward to the season ahead. 

With Emerging Ireland tours, and 

Ireland A games, and Autumn 

Internationals and of course a Six 

Nations it will be a busy rugby season 

but I know you will join me in wishing 

Leo and the squad every success this 

season. I look forward to meeting our 

many supporters of the Leinster team be 

it in Energia Park, the RDS Arena, the 

Aviva Stadium and beyond. 

On the domestic front, all competitions; 

the Bank of Ireland Leinster Leagues, 

the Energia All-Ireland League for men 

and women, they are all up and running 

as the teams start the task of taking 

their teams towards promotion from 

their divisions. With most clubs fielding 

second and third teams this year it 

promises to be an exciting season 

ahead. 

Congratulations goes to Wanderers 

FC for their win over MU Barnhall in 

the Final of the Bank of Ireland Leinster 

Rugby Senior League Division 2, and 

to Lansdowne FC for their win over 

Terenure in the Senior League Division 

1 Final. 

I am delighted to see that the first round 

of the Bank of Ireland Sarah Robinson 

Cup is also underway with wins for 

North Midlands over Midlands and the 

South-East over Metro. And we look 

forward to the next round of this great 

competition, named after one very 

brave and extraordinary young lady 

who lost her life far too soon and far 

too young. 

On the age grade interprovincial side, 

congratulations to Leinster U-18 girls 

as they won their series with a strong 

win over Connacht in Energia Park two 

weeks ago. 

Our club representative teams – or 

youths teams as many of us still call 

them – are thriving within Leinster and 

it is a testament to Phil Lawlor and his 

staff and how hard they all work getting 

players through the player pathway 

that they are succeeding the way that 

they are. 

I look forward to watching these 

players proceed into the Academy and 

towards the senior men’s and women’s 

teams in the future. Leinster’s motto of 

‘From The Ground Up’ can be seen in 

this framework and I urge everyone to 

try to take in a game when they are 

playing in Energia Park. 

There are a number of pitch and ground 

works going on over the last few months 

and I would like to thank the clubs for 

all their hard work with fundraising and 

plenty of red tape and administration 

when applying for capital grants. 

Well done to Skerries RFC on the 

opening of their 3G Pitch, to Stillorgan/ 

Rathfarnham on their 50th anniversary 

celebrations and the opening of their 

new pitches and facilities in Heavy 

Park, to Wicklow RFC on the opening of 

their new gym and dressing rooms and 

to Kilkenny RFC on their new dressing 

rooms, gym, pitch works and ground 

works and all other clubs that are doing 

similar projects at the moment. 

I would like to welcome to the RDS this 

evening the mini rugby teams who will 

4 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

With Emerging 

Ireland tours, 

and Ireland A 

games, and Autumn 

Internationals 

and of course a Six 

Nations it will be a 

busy rugby season 

but I know you will 

join me in wishing 

Leo and the squad 

every success this 

season. 

play at half time in the Bank of Ireland 

Mini Games. To the players from 

Monkstown, North Meath, Dundalk 

and Clane rugby clubs, your coaches 

and parents, I know you will all enjoy 

the occasion. I would ask all supporters 

to show your appreciation and cheer 

on these young stars of the future. 

To our title sponsor Bank of 

Ireland, great patrons of both 

our professional and domestic 

games, who along with all 

our premium partners and 

suppliers, do so much to 

support Leinster Rugby, I 

offer my sincere thanks. 

Finally, to you the fans, our 

Season Ticket Holders, 

members of the Official 

Leinster Supporters Club 

and friends of Leinster, 

I thank you for the 

contribution you make on 

match days. 

I am sure this evening will 

be no different as you get 

the roar going and the 

flags waving to cheer on 

the boys in blue to another 

victory. 

Let us hope for an energetic, 

exciting and injury free 

match tonight. 

Debbie Carty 

Leinster Rugby President 2022/23 


Leo Cullen 

head Coach Welcome 

Good afternoon to all our supporters and 

welcome to the RDS Arena for today’s Round 

4, BKT United Rugby Championship clash 

against the Cell C Sharks. 

Today’s visitors, led by head 

coach Sean Everitt, have had an 

unbeaten start to the season so 

we know we are in for a very 

tough examination. 

As many of you will know, the Sharks 

also have some reliable inside 

knowledge on all things Leinster Rugby 

due to our former Academy Manager 

and Ireland U-20s head coach, Noel 

McNamara, being part of their coaching 

group. 

Noel has pretty much done everything 

there is to do in underage coaching 

and he was an incredible support to me 

during his time here. He has also been 

a key influence in the development of a 

number of Leinster players in our squad 

today. 

The Sharks are a franchise with a very 

strong rugby tradition and identity, and 

we are really excited to play them on 

a regular basis. I hope that some of 

our supporters get the opportunity to 

follow us down to South Africa at some 

stage, because it is such a unique and 

passionate environment with some of the 

world’s most iconic rugby grounds. 

On which note, a big thanks to everyone 

who braved the elements at Kingspan 

Stadium in Belfast last Friday. It’s hard to 

put into words just how bad the rain was! 

It absolutely poured, and my sympathies 

go out to anyone who was on the 

terraces. 

Thanks also to everyone who turned out 

for our first home game of the season 

against Benetton Rugby the weekend 

before. 

I thought it was a great atmosphere that 

really lifted the players. The new fan 

zone was also a big success and we 

hope to grow that connection between 

the team and supporters over the coming 

months. If you haven’t experienced it yet, 

make sure you get in to see some of the 

goings-on pre and post-game. 

Thanks as always to our sponsors, in 

particular Bank of Ireland. It was nice 

to see so many of you on Wednesday 

at our sponsors forum which we held 

in UCD and it was a reminder of how 

deeply professional sport was affected 

by the pandemic. I think it’s fair to 

say we would not have been able 

to survive if not for the support we 

receive. 

On a sadder note we at Leinster 

were all devasted to hear about 

the recent passing of Brian 

Mullins. 

Brian was one of the great Irish 

sports people and he will be 

deeply missed by everyone in 

UCD where we are based. Our 

thoughts are with his family at 

this time. 

Looking ahead, we have two 

interprovincial derbies coming up, 

first Connacht in Galway and then back 

here at Aviva Stadium for a date with 

Munster. How amazing would it be to fill 

out the Aviva again?! 


The new fan 

zone was also a 

big success and 

we hope to grow 

that connection 

between the 

team and 

supporters 

over the coming 

months. If 

you haven’t 

experienced it 

yet, make sure 

you get in to 

see some of the 

goings-on pre 

and post-game. 

Whatever happens, we are hugely 

excited by the challenges that lie ahead 

this season. 

We know already that there will be 

changes at the end of this season, in 

particular with the news that Stuart 

Lancaster will be leaving us to become 

director of rugby with Racing 92. 

As I said in all my interviews, we are 

going to miss Stu and all the qualities he 

brings to the group, but change is part 

and parcel of every sport. All we can 

control is how well prepared the team 

is, so they have the best opportunity 

to go out and perform on the pitch. 

As much as we prepare tactically 

for every game, there’s no doubt that 

players also feed off the energy and 

momentum in any game. 

Supporters should never underestimate 

how much they can help to make 

happen simply by being there, by 

getting behind the team, on game day. 

Food for thought! 

For now, I hope you enjoy your 

Saturday evening at the RDS. Thanks 

to each and every one of you for 

being here. 

Leo 


Carla 

Delaney 

BANK OF IRELAND 

AREA EAST DIRECTOR 

Bank of lIreland 

are proud 

partners to 

Leinster Rugby. 

Like us, they are rooted in local communities 

across the 12 counties of Leinster. 

We are delighted to support Leo Cullen and his coaching 

team in building Leinster Rugby through clubs and schools, 

developing home grown talent and always ensuring that 

Leinster #NeverStopCompeting. 

Much of that amazing talent will be on display on the pitch 

this afternoon. 

We wish Leinster Rugby every success, and hope that you 

enjoy the game. 


Did you 

know? 

• Leinster have made 

a perfect start to the 

new BKT United Rugby 

Championship season 

winning all three 

matches so far. 

• The Leinstermen’s 

only home defeat in 

any competition since 

last November was by a 

solitary point against 

the Vodacom Bulls in last 

year’s semi-final in June. 

• Leinster have lost 

their last three fixtures 

against South African 

opponents since beating 

the Emirates Lions 21- 

13 at the RDS Arena in 

February. 

• Cell C Sharks have won 

both matches they have 

played so far in the 

Vodacom United Rugby 

Championship, both away 

from home, at Zebre and 

at Dragons RFC. 

• Sharks have faced the 

Irish provinces on four 

previous occasions last 

season, winning their 

two home games against 

Leinster and Connacht 

but losing the two away 

games at Munster and 

Ulster. 

• The two sides have 

met just once before, in 

Durban in April, with the 

home side running out 28- 

23 victors. 

COMPARISON 

Overall URC head-to-head record: 

Played 1, Sharks won 1. 

Last 3 URC results 

17 Sep - Zebre (A) W 33-29 4 Jun - Bulls (A) L 27-30 

23 Sep - Benetton (H) W 42-10 23 Sep - Zebre (A) W 42-37 

30 Sep - Ulster (A) W 20-13 1 Oct - Dragons (A) W 20-19 

1ST - W3 D0 L0 - 14PTS 

WWW (14pts) 

URC 2022/23 

URC form 

Top try scorer 

5TH - W2 D0 L0 - 9PTS 

WW (9pts) 

5 - Dan Sheehan 1 - Kerron van Vuuren, 

Top points scorer 

Reniel Hugo, 

Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 

Werner Kok, Dan Jooste, 

Grant Williams, 

Thaakir Abrahams 

25 - Dan Sheehan 27 - Boeta Chamberlain 

Date Venue L S Leinster scorers Sharks scorers 

Sat 23 Apr 22 

Hollywoodbets Kings 

Park 

23 28 Ciaran Frawley(2C/3P) Scott Penny(T) 

Tommy O'Brien(T) 

Makazole Mapimpi(T) Phepsi Buthelezi(T) 

Bongi Mbonambi(T) Curwin Bosch(4C) 

Jaden Hendrikse(T) 


Je 


Jason 

nkins 

the big interview 

BY MARCUS Ó BUACHALLA 

It was Oscar Wilde that 

said that the only thing 

worse than being talked 

about, was not being 

talked about. 

You get the sense that 

Leinster Rugby lock Jason 

Jenkins would be keen to 

just get on with things. 

Head down. Crack on. 

Things to do. Scrums to 

lock down. Mauls to hit. 


But such has been the level of his 

performances over the first three 

games of the new BKT United 

Rugby Championship season, 

that people have finally started 

to take note of the big South 

African. 

Media. Supporters. Fellow players. His 

coaches. They are all talking about JJ. 

We say ‘finally’ of course because it’s 

not today nor yesterday that he landed 

onto these shores. 

South African international second 

row, Jenkins signed for Munster 

Rugby in 2021 to much fanfare 

but as we now know, injury 

issues restricted him to only 

ten appearances all season 

with only two starts. 

When he signed for Leinster 

Rugby, the question on 

everyone’s lips was could he put those 

injury woes behind him and kick on in 

blue? 

The answer so far – and touch wood – 

has been a resounding, yes. 

Leinster coach Robin McBryde was 

effusive in his praise of the giant lock 

earlier this week when he said, “he’s 

all over his detail in fairness to him. A 

big ask to come and learn a different 

language, learn a different way of 

doing things, but he has taken it in his 

stride and I expect him to grow even 

further. Really happy with the way Jason 

is going.” 

After a year of going under the radar 

down south, what does the 26-year-old 

make of all the talk now coming his way? 

“It’s pretty special hearing that kinda stuff 

from a legend of the game like Robin but 

for me I just have to keep my focus on 


Having that 

understanding of 

the game in South 

Africa and the 

mentality of the 

players and the 

coaches, I know 

Leo and the rest 

of the coaches 

are keen to 

learn about that 

and take some 

lessons from my 

experiences... 

what I am doing and I want to get more 

games under my belt and keep doing 

what I can to help the team. 

“We have started the season well but 

it’s a completely new challenge this 

weekend at the RDS.” 

It could have all been so different of 

course if injuries hadn’t got in the way. 

He had to be patient from the off. 

He made his Munster debut in the 

Champions Cup in December 2021 

against Castres but would have to 

wait a further three months for his next 

appearance against Benetton. 

His third appearance would be his first 

start against Leinster Rugby. 

While the injuries were a source of deep 

frustration, it can’t have been all bad if 

he chose to stay around a little longer. 

“Exactly. On the field there were 

frustrations with the injuries especially at 

the start but we did everything we could 

and I really enjoyed my time at Munster 

but I was just unlucky with the injuries. 

“But off the field I was really enjoying 

my time in Ireland. I love the people 

and how friendly they are and whether 

it’s a chat or a pint, everyone was very 

welcoming whether that be in Limerick or 

now in Dublin. 

“That on the field piece though, I 

definitely felt that there was unfinished 

business here in Ireland and when the 

opportunity arose to sign for Leinster, I 

jumped at the chance because as I said, 

I’m really loving my time here in Ireland 

but maybe just felt that there was more to 

give on the field.” 

That is now starting to take shape nicely. 

He was involved in the pre-season fixture 

against Harlequins at the Stoop and has 

started all three of Leinster’s games in 

the URC. 

His all-action, 80 minutes performance 

against Benetton Rugby was his first 80 

minutes in over two years. 

It hasn’t been without its challenges 

though. 

“Getting used to the style of training has 

been difficult, for sure. 

“At the start, I was looking after a finger 

injury so I couldn’t take part in the 

contact stuff during pre-season so that 

had me on the back foot a little but the 

last five or six weeks I’ve been all in and 

it takes time.” 

What is the biggest difference? 

“The sessions are short but intense. There 

is a continuity to the training too and you 

are always being put under pressure but 

I am really starting to enjoy that now. 


MORE 

innovation 

As Official Innovation Partner to Leinster Rugby, 

BearingPoint is embarking on a journey with 

Leinster Rugby into the metaverse. 

Contact us to learn more 

01 418 1111 

www.bearingpoint.com 

ireland@bearingpoint.com 

@bearingpoint_ie

“The main thing that I think it gives 

you is that confidence going into the 

weekend and the games. It’s taken a 

while but I think I have adapted to it 

and I’m loving it now.” 

There has also been a lot of talk and 

focus about what Jenkins himself brings 

to the table as a player, but also as a 

South African player. 

What does he feel a South African 

player brings that is maybe different 

to a player from another country? 

What differentiates a Springbok from 

the rest? 

“I suppose the South African game is 

based around momentum, physicality 

and getting over the gainline. Those 

are the three elements that I think the 

game is based around. 

“Having that understanding of the 

game in South Africa and the mentality 

of the players and the coaches, I 

know Leo and the rest of the coaches 

are keen to learn about that and take 

some lessons from my experiences but 

really I think it works both ways. 

“I think already my time here is 

challenging me to play smarter, to 

bring my skills to another level so I 

think we are all learning here and 

taking bits from each other.” 

With the on pitch elements now 

looking after themselves, and the body 

feeling good, what about matters off 

the field? 

Jenkins’ move to Dublin coincided with 

a rental crisis and a real shortage of 

options. 

Step forward Gert Smal. 

The former Springbok is no stranger 

to these parts and served as Ireland’s 

forwards coach when they won the 

Grand Slam in 2009. 

In recent years he’s been coaching in 

Japan and it is there that Jenkins and 

he formed a close friendship. 

“Gert has been coaching in Japan 

and that’s where I first came across 

him at Toyota Verblitz. We got on 

pretty well anyway but then Covid-19 

hit and I spent four months pretty much 

in his company during lockdown. 

I think there is still room 

for us to improve as an eight 

but we have started the 

season well as a unit I feel. 


“My parents were also there so we spent 

a lot of time with each other. Going 

away on weekends together, spending 

time together, hanging out or whatever 

and became very close. 

“When he heard I had an opportunity 

to come to Leinster he got in touch and 

said I’ve a place in Dublin, fully furnished 

so yeah, especially in the middle of the 

rental crisis that is here at the moment. 

I’ve been very lucky. 

“Dublin is good. I’ve had a chance 

now and the boys have shown me a 

few nice lunch spots and coffee spots. 

Been looking around a bit now. It’s been 

great.” 

Another big South African influence on 

his Irish adventure is fellow Springbok, 

RG Snyman. 

Snyman has also been hugely 

unfortunate with injuries and two serious 

ACL injuries have curtailed his own 

Munster adventures. 

“I’ve known RG a long time now, maybe 

ten years since we started playing 

together with the Junior Springboks and 

at the Bulls. 

“Obviously I spoke to him quite a bit 

before I came over and he couldn’t 

speak highly enough of the country 

and the people. The plan was to play 

together and to scrum down together 

but it didn’t work out like that but I think 

it was brilliant for us both to have each 

other last year because it was tough. 

“We were both injured and a long way 

from home and it’s good to have that 

familiar face to support you. It was good 

for us both I feel. 

“Hopefully he will be back out there 

again soon and we might not be able 

to scrum down together but we may go 

against each other now which would be 

pretty cool.” 

They had that experience before in 

Japan when Snyman was with Honda 

Heat RFC and Jenkins at Toyota Verblitz. 

If it’s to happen again it will be Munster 

red against Leinster blue but that will 

have to wait. 

He mentions missing out on the 

opportunity of scrummaging with Snyman 

and while his work in the loose has 

caught the eye, his work at scrum time 

was another facet that drew great praise, 

again, from McBryde this week. 

For Jenkins though, it’s just part and 

parcel of what he does, and a little bit of 

the dark arts thrown in for good measure. 

“It’s a big part of the game, isn’t it? I 

think there is still room for us to improve 

as an eight but we have started the 

season well as a unit I feel. 

“For me, playing in that tighthead lock 

position, I just want to give my prop 

the best opportunity to deliver the best 

version of themselves that they can and 

then it’s just about the dark arts at scrum 

time!” 

He says the last part with more than a 

glint in the eye and you can be sure that 

the Cell C Sharks will be coming to the 

RDS Arena this afternoon with more than 

a glint in the eye themselves and relishing 

the thought of coming up against their 

fellow countryman. 

How does he reflect on their start to the 

season so far? 

“They’ve been good. Unbeaten and 

unbeaten on the road too so you just 

know that they will be looking at this and 

saying we’re two from two, how good 

would it be to go three from three before 

we return back home? 

“The final leg of the tour, I know myself, 

you just want to end it on a high and that 

is where their motivation will be. Bringing 

They will 

certainly pose 

a different 

challenge to 

what we have 

seen so far 

in the URC 

but that’s 

been the case 

across the 

board really. 


that momentum then with them back 

home to Durban for the next few rounds 

of home games. 

“They will certainly pose a different 

challenge to what we have seen so far in 

the URC but that’s been the case across 

the board really. The South African teams 

have all started well this season. Only 

one loss across all four teams across 

the opening three rounds. That’s very 

different to last season where they took 

time to get going. 

“This season they are up and running 

and that is why it is such a difficult 

challenge for us.” 

That challenge against the Cell C Sharks 

won’t get any easier with new signing 

Eben Etzebeth landing into his new club 

only this week but the trip to Dublin will 

come too soon for the Springbok star. 

Back to today though and to Jenkins, 

our own South African 6’ 8’ and 124kgs 

powerhouse. 

“To run out at the RDS two weeks ago 

was special. That was my first time. I 

hadn’t played there at all up until then so 

it was great. 

“It is something we have targeted as a 

club and as a group of players, creating 

an energy and an atmosphere for the 

supporters to get behind in those home 

games. Us feeding off them, them 

feeding off us and our performances. 

“It was phenomenal two weeks ago and 

I look forward to more of the same on 

Saturday.” 

After a difficult start in Ireland, he’s now 

got the bit between the teeth and is 

loving life. Long may it continue. 


13 

20 

Action 

replay 

FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2022 

KINGSPAN STADIUM 

REFEREE: ANDY BRACE 

ATTENDANCE:14,477 

UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 

ULSTER: 

Lowry; Sexton, Marshall, McCloskey, 

Stockdale; Burns, Cooney; Warwick, 

Herring, O’Toole, O’Connor (capt), 

Treadwell; Matty Rea, Marcus Rea, Timoney. 

REPLACEMENTS: 

Andrew, O’Sullivan, Moore, Carter, Jones, 

Shanahan, Curtis, Moxham. 

TRY: Andrew 

CON: Cooney 

PENS: Cooney 2 

Ulster got the better of us 

twice last year so we knew it was 

going to be a tough ask to come here 

and win, and then especially in the 

conditions, so really happy to 

get a win here. 

Garry Ringrose 

LEINSTER: 

O’Brien; Larmour, Ringrose (capt), Henshaw, 

Kearney; Byrne, McGrath; Porter, Sheehan, 

Ala’alatoa, Molony, Jenkins, Baird, Van der 

Flier, Conan. 

REPLACEMENTS: 

McKee, E Byrne, Abdaladze, J Ryan, 

Connors, McCarthy, Sexton, Ngatai. 

TRIES: Baird, Sheehan 

CONS: R Byrne 2 

PENS: R Byrne 2 


We are excited 

for the season 

but we have to 

put the building 

blocks in place 

and that means 

coming away, on a 

really ugly night, 

and dogging out 

a win and to get 

four points and 

that’s not a bad 

outcome for us 

here tonight. 

Leo Cullen 


21 Years of Ladies 

Rugby Celebration 

in Navan RFC 

A celebration of 21 years of 

ladies and girls rugby had been 

postponed several times due to 

Covid-19. However, it was worth 

the wait! The event was sold out 

in advance and the huge crowd 

enjoyed pre-dinner drinks, dinner, 

amazing guest speakers, fantastic 

spot prizes and lots of dancing. 

Guests included coaches, managers, 

supporters, past and present executive 

club members. The club were delighted 

to see so many past players including 

players who represented at Leinster and 

Ireland along with the current ladies 

panel. Youth and minis coaches were well 

represented on the night too. 

BY EMMA LOUISE KEOGH, LEINSTER WOMEN’S RUGBY PRO 

Friday 16 September 

was a night to 

remember in Navan RFC. 

Navan RFC girls rugby has also had 

phenomenal success in North East, 

Leinster, Leinster league competitions and 

more recently two of their players were 

capped for Ireland U-18s. 

Minis and youths have flourished thanks 

to the dedication and hard work of these 

coaches and managers. Thanks to their 

efforts over the years, the club is now 

fielding girls teams across all the age 

grades from minis, U-14, U-16, U-18s 

in great numbers and they have had 

fantastic success. 

The evening began with a message 

from Club President Raymond Hannon, 

read by the club’s main sponsor Eimer 

Hannon, as Raymond was in Boston. 

Director of Rugby Niall Hennessey gave 

an outline of plans for girls and ladies 

rugby in the club. He also welcomed 

Paddy Donnelly of Bermingham’s Bar as 

the new sponsor of the senior ladies team 

and the new jersey was revealed. 

Lizzie Oakes, the first ever lady captain 

from 2001, gave a speech which had the 

audience in stitches and was probably 

the most entertaining speech ever made 

in the club. Her standing ovation was well 

deserved. 

After a delicious meal, Michael Connolly, 

the Youth Coordinator who first brought 

the idea of ladies rugby to the Executive 

Committee gave a very eloquent, witty 

and informative speech on the history of 

ladies rugby in Navan. It was very well 

received. 

A wave of excitement spread through the 

audience when it was announced that 

spot prizes were attached under chairs. 

The next speaker was Ciara Delahunt, 

out-half from the All-Ireland winning 

teams of 2003 and 2011. Ciara shared 

stories from over the years and paid 

tribute to all the coaches, managers, and 

supporters. Her words were inspiring as 

well as entertaining and gained rapturous 

applause. 


Paul Beggy, the Head Coach of the 

senior ladies team spoke next. Paul spoke 

from the heart of the past and the present 

and of the bright future that is ahead for 

girls and ladies rugby in Navan RFC. The 

huge reception and appreciation that 

he received illustrated the high esteem 

and respect that he has as a coach and 

mentor. 

The evening continued with banter in the 

bar and dancing to DJ Tracy. 

The night was a real tribute to all involved 

in girls and ladies rugby in Navan RFC. A 

fantastic celebration of the past, present 

and a toast to a bright future. 

And of course, if you or anyone you 

know is interested, new members are 

always welcome and there is a team and 

a training session for all: 

Senior Women Training every 

Tuesday and Thursday at 7.30pm 

U-14 girls train every Wednesday 

and Friday at 7.30pm 

U-16 girls train every Wednesday 

and Friday at 7.30pm 

U-18 girls train every Monday and 

Wednesday at 7.30pm 

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram 

@NavanLadiesRugby 

& on Twitter 

@NavanRFCLadies 

and send us a message if you've any 

questions, or email us at: 

Navanladiesrugby@gmail.com 

If you are 

interested in 

taking up rugby 

or you would like 

to follow our 

updates, check out 

our social media 

channels: 

Leinster Women 

LeinsterWomens 

@LeinsterWomen 

womenspro@leinsterrugby.ie 


leo 

the lion’s 

kids 

corner 

ANAGRAMS 

Can you un-jumble 

the names of these 

academy players? 

MERCY 

OF COAL 

CLOWNS 

OR NIL 

spot the difference! 

Can you find all six? 

zoomed in! 

WHo is this leinster player 

having an extreme close-up? 

how did you do? 

ANAGRAMS 

Cormac Foley, Will Connors 

ZOOMED IN! 

James Lowe 

a... 

...maze... 

...ing 

can you make 

your way 

through the 

maze to the 

ball? 


AZTO 

with 

Rob Russell 

A – Action: If you could be a superhero, 

which would you be? 

Spider Man 

B – Boyhood: Who was your favourite 

sporting idol growing up? 

Alan Brogan, the Dublin Gaelic 

footballer 

C – Childhood: What is your favourite 

childhood memory? 

Spending the summers surfing in Clare 

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

meal? 

Scrambled eggs and toast 

E – Education: What was your favourite 

subject in school? 

History 

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

Inception 

G – Groove: Who is the best dancer in 

the squad? 

Thomas Clarkson 

H – Holiday: What’s your favourite 

holiday destination? 

Italy, Lake Garda 

I – Inside: Who is the worst to sit beside 

in the dressing room? 

John McKee 

J – Joker: Who is the funniest in the 

squad? 

Max O’Reilly 

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

of the day to play a match? 

3pm 

L – Languages: How many languages 

can you speak? 

One 

M – Music: Your favourite artist and 

song right now? 

Tame Impala, Let It Happen 

N – Number: Do you have a lucky 

number? 

15 


O – Others: What’s your 

favourite sport outside of rugby? 

Gaelic football 

P – Pal: Who is your best mate in 

the squad? 

Andy Smith 

Q – Quirky: Who has the most 

interesting fashion sense? 

Martin Moloney 

R – Red Carpet: Who is the most 

famous contact in your phone? 

Jamie Osborne 

S – Superstitions: Do you have 

any matchday routines? 

Same music the day of a game 

T – Trim: What’s the worst 

haircut you’ve ever had? 

I had a shaved head in primary 

school 

U: Under pressure: Who in the 

squad would be the best in a 

bad situation? 

Charlie Ryan 

V – Verified: How often do you 

use social media? 

Daily 

W – Worst fear: What are you 

most scared of? 

Snakes 

X – X-ray: Have you ever broken 

any bones? 

Broken arm 

Y – Youth: Where did you grow 

up? 

Booterstown in Dublin 

Z – Zoo: What’s your favourite 

animal? 

Dog 


Bank of Ireland 

Sarah Robinson Cup 

The 2022/23 

Bank of 

Ireland Sarah 

Robinson Cup 

kicked off 

last week 

with games 

taking place 

in Newbridge 

and Carlow. 

North Midlands 

and South-East 

secured opening 

day wins. 

NORTH MIDLANDS 29 

MIDLANDS 12 

A powerhouse first-half propelled 

North Midlands to a comfortable 

win over Midlands in the Bank of 

Ireland Leinster Sarah Robinson 

(U18) Cup in Newbridge on 

Wednesday evening. 

They started as they meant to continue 

when Niamh Murphy’s strong running 

opened up their opponents for the first 

try, expertly converted by Amy Rushton in 

the fourth minute. 

The solid work of prop Clodagh 

Goulding and flanker Emma Jane Wilson 

was important in the battle for the gain 

line. 

The ensuing stalemate was caused by the 

impact of Midlands front five forwards 

Shannon Doran and Saoirse Guinan and 

flanker Claire Burke. 

However, North Midland’s cutting edge 

was sharper with Heidi Lyons a cause for 

concern and captain Julie Nokan stealing 

over for the second try in the 28th minute. 

The hammer blow arrived just before the 

interval when full-back Murphy knifed 

through for her second try and Rushton’s 

second conversion to make it a 19-point 

gap. 

Replacement Ellie White didn’t need a 

second invitation to pounce for the fourth 

try in the 47th minute. 

It was at this point Midlands began to 

get a better grip on the tussle for territory, 

enabling number eight Georgia Young to 

ground the ball for Kelly Burke to convert 

in the 54th minute. 

Suddenly infused with confidence, 

Midlands centres Jodie Ahern and 

Caoimhe McCormack kept the 

momentum going. 

They were quickly back on the attack for 

replacement Hannah Connon to halve 

the deficit before May Kelleher arrived 

to seal the issue with the final try of the 

night. 

SCORERS – North Midlands: N Murphy, 2 

tries; J Nolan, E White, M Kelleher try each; 

A Rushton 2 cons. Midlands: H Connon, G 

Young try each; K Burke con. 

NORTH MIDLANDS – 15. Niamh Murphy 

(Port Dara), 14. Holly Bale (Port Dara), 

13. Sophie Cullen (Naas), 12. Heidi Lyons 

(Naas), 11. Faye O’Toole (Clane), 10. Amy 

Rushton (Port Dara), 9. Julie Nolan (Athy, 

Capt), 1. Aoife Thompson (PortDara), 2. 

Lucy Snoddy (Athy), 3. Clodagh Goulding 

(PortDara), 4. Alannah O’Brien (Athy), 


5. Ellen Dunne (Portlaoise), 6. Emma- 

Jane Wilson (PortDara), 7. Roisin Kehoe 

(PortDara), 8. Shauna Healy (Athy). 

Replacements: 16. Lizzie Crumpton (North 

Kildare), 17. May Kelleher (Naas), 18. 

Tegan McCabe (Clane), 19. Orla O’Keeffe 

(PortDara), 20. Kate Noons (PortDara), 

21. Hannah Kelly (Clane), 22. Emma Henry 

(Athy), 23. Ellie White (PortDara). 

MIDLANDS – 15. Ellen O’Sullivan-Sexton 

(Mullingar), 14. Sorcha Tierney (Birr), 13. 

Jodie Ahern (Mullingar), 12. Caoimhe 

McCormack (Mullingar), 11. Sinead Bowes 

(Mullingar), 10. Aoife Hughes (Tullamore), 

9. Aoibhe Kelly (Roscrea), 1. Maebh 

Staunton (Edenderry), 2. Dorieann Oman 

(Tullamore), 3. Shannon Doran (Edenderry), 

4. Clodagh Farrell (Edenderry), 5. Saoirse 

Guinan (Tullamore), 6. Claire Burke 

(Tullamore), 7. Eve Byrne (Mullingar), 8. 

Georgia Young (Mullingar). 

Replacements: 16. Kelly Burke (Mullingar), 

17. Abigail Johnston (Mullingar), 18. Moya 

Murtagh (Mullingar), 19. Anna Mai O’Brien 

(Mullingar), 20. Dervela Walsh (Longford), 

21. Abigail O’Connor (Mullingar), 22. 

Meabh O’Hara (Mullingar), 23. Hannah 

Connon (Roscrea). 

SOUTH EAST 36 

METRO 5 

A hat-trick by Kate Corrigan 

was the highlight of South East’s 

comfortable win over Metro in 

the Bank of Ireland Leinster Sarah 

Robinson (U18s) Cup in Carlow on 

Wednesday night. 

The South East began at pace, taking the 

ball up and forcing the issue to create 

the opening try for centre Corrigan in the 

fifth minute. 

However, the combination of mistakes 

made by the winners and tackles put in 

by Metro, led by loose forward Emily 

Tarrant, prop Hope Lowney and number 

eight Isobel O’Sullivan, kept them from 

adding to that start. 

It looked like it would stay that way 

until South-East manufactured a try for 

Abby Healy which the out-half herself 

converted for 12-0 at the interval. 

Better again, SE mirrored the opening 

half by getting out of the blocks quickly 

to apply pressure for the hard-charging 

Corrigan to nab her second in the 40th 

minute. 

Metro were handed a way back into the 

game when hooker Bronagh Boggan and 

second row Carla Cloney were binned in 

the 44th and 49th minutes, respectively. 

This is when the no-nonsense defence of 

flanker Ciara Short and number eight 

Orla Wafer came to the fore and it was 

soon supported by the return of Boggan 

and Cloney. 

Amid all of the chaos brought on by 

the yellow cards, Metro were able to 

dominate from hard carries and flanker 

Tarrant crashed over for a try. 

Healy’s use of the ball from crossfield 

kicks and passing was a feature of the 

game, particularly aimed for Robyn 

O’Connor and Corrigan. 

Ireland U18 full-back O’Connor stepped 

into the breach to punch in tries in 

the 55th and 57th minutes, the latter 

converted by Healy. 

All the while, Metro scrum-half Charlotte 

Nagle, wing Brooke Fagan-Merrigan and 

centre Sadhbh Furlong were prominent. 

South East emptied the bench, thereafter, 

and it was left to Corrigan to complete 

her haul in the 66th minute for a night the 

Tullow girls won’t forget in a hurry. 

SCORERS – South-East: K Corrigan 3 tries; 

R O’Connor 2 tries; A Healy try, 3 cons. 

Metro – E Tarrant try. 

SOUTH EAST – 15. Robyn O’Connor 

(Wexford Wanderers), 14. Emily Corrigan 

(Tullow), 13. Katie Corrigan (Tullow), 12. 

Alannah Dixon (Wicklow), 11. Ciara Byrne 

(Tullow), 10. Abby Healy (Wicklow), 9. 

Amelie Birrell (Wicklow), 1. Melissa Quirke 

(Wexford Wanderers), 2. Bronagh Boggan 

(Wexford Wanderers), 3. Aoife Farrell 

(Enniscorthy), 4. Carla Cloney (Enniscorthy), 

5. Rebecca Brennan (Wicklow), 6. Deirbhile 

Gavaghan (Wicklow), 7. Ciara Short 

(Wicklow), 8. Orla Wafer (Enniscorthy). 

Replacements: 16. Mary Canavan (Gorey), 

17. Molly Callery (Wicklow), 18. Sophie 

Murphy (Wicklow), 19. Amie O’Brien 

(Enniscorthy), 20. Clara Dunne (Wicklow), 

21. Doireann Kiloran (Arklow), 22. Sina 

White (Gorey), 23. Eve Prendergast (New 

Ross). 

METRO – 15. Rebecca England 

(Greystones), 14. Lucy Nagle (Greystones), 

13. Sadhbh Furlong (Greystones), 12. 

Millie Merriman-Devlin (Greystones), 11. 

Brooke Fagan-Merrigan (Clontarf), 10. 

Hannah Scanlan (Clontarf), 9. Charlotte 

Nagle (Greystones), 1. Laoise McAuley 

(MU Barnhall), 2. Emma Counihan 

(MU Barnhall), 3. Hope Lowney (MU 

Barnhall), 4. Sadhbh Poullain (DLSP), 

5. Kate Colton (MU Barnhall), 6. Emily 

Tarrant (MU Barnhall), 7. Sarah Moody 

(Greystones), 8. Isobel O’Sullivan 

(Greystones). 

Replacements: 16. Sophie Leach (MU 

Barnhall), 17. Katie O’Driscoll (Suttonians), 

18. Mia Gordon (MU Barnhall), 19. 

Aoibhe Curran (MU Barnhall), 20. Giselle 

O’Donnoghue (Clontarf), 21. Sasha 

Sweeney (Greystones). 


leinster 

squad 2022/23 

season 

Vakhtang Abdaladze #1263 

Prop 

DOB 6 Feb 1996 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 

WEIGHT 121kg (19st 1 lb) 

Michael Ala’alatoa #1301 

9 

CAPS 

Prop 

DOB 28 August 1991 

HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 

WEIGHT 126kg (19st 11lbs) 

Ryan Baird #1278 

Second Row 

DOB 26 July 1999 

HEIGHT 1.98m (6’ 6”) 


8 

CAPS 

Ed Byrne #1222 

Prop 

DOB 9 September 1993 

HEIGHT 1.80m (5’ 11”) 

WEIGHT 115kg (18st) 

6 

CAP 

Harry Byrne #1280 

2 

CAPS 

Outhalf 

DOB 22 April 1999 

HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


Ross Byrne #1236 

Out-half 


HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


13 

CAPS 

Thomas Clarkson #1285 

Prop 

DOB 22 February 2000 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Jack Conan #1223 

30 

CAPS 

7 

CAPS 

No 8 


HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”) 

WEIGHT 110kg (17st 4 lbs) 


Will Connors #1264 

9 

CAPS 

Max Deegan #1256 

1 

CAPS 

Brian Deeny #1306 

Caelan Doris #1268 

20 

CAPS 

Back Row 


HEIGHT 1.96 (6’ 5”) 


No 8 

DOB 1 October 1996 

HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”) 


Second Row 

DOB 2 March 2000 

HEIGHT 1.99m (6’ 6”) 


Back Row 


HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”) 


Cormac Foley #1299 

Scrum-half 


HEIGHT 1.81m (5’ 11 ”) 

WEIGHT 90kg (14 st 2 lbs) 

Ciarán Frawley #1265 

Out-half 

DOB 4 December 1997 

HEIGHT 1.92m (6’ 3”) 


Tadhg Furlong #1220 

60 

CAPS 

13 

CAPS 

Prop 

DOB 14 November 1992 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Jamison Gibson-Park #1247 

Scrum-half 


HEIGHT 1.76m (5’ 9”) 


20 

CAPS 

Cian Healy #1142 

118 

CAPS 

2 

CAPS 

Robbie Henshaw #1251 

60 

CAPS 

9 

CAPS 

Jason Jenkins #1310 

1 

CAP 

Dave Kearney #1158 

19 

CAPS 

Prop 


HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Centre / Full Back 

DOB 12 June 1993 

HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


Lock 

DOB 2 December 1995 

HEIGHT 2.03 m (6’ 8”) 


Wing / Full Back 


HEIGHT 1.81m (5’ 11”) 


Hugo Keenan #1253 

23 

CAPS 

Rónan Kelleher #1277 

18 

CAPS 

Jordan Larmour #1258 

30 

CAPS 

James Lowe #1262 

15 

CAPS 

Full Back 


HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Hooker 

DOB 24 January 1998 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”) 


Wing 


HEIGHT 1.78m (5’ 10”) 


Wing / Full Back 


HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”) 



Joe McCarthy #1303 

Nick McCarthy #1241 

Luke McGrath #1206 

19 

CAPS 

Michael Milne #1279 

Second Row 


HEIGHT 1.98m (6’ 6”) 


Scrum Half 


HEIGHT 1.8m (5’ 11”) 


Scrum Half 


HEIGHT 1.75m (5’ 9”) 


Prop 


HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”) 


Martin Moloney #1300 

Ross Molony #1233 

Charlie Ngatai #1311 

1 

CAP 

Jimmy O’Brien #1272 

Back Row 


HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”) 


Lock 

DOB 11 May 1994 

HEIGHT 2.00m (6’ 6”) 


Centre / Full Back 


HEIGHT 1.87 m (6’ 2”) 


Back Three 


HEIGHT 1.84m (6’ 0”) 


Tommy O’Brien #1283 

Jamie Osborne #1294 

Scott Penny #1271 

Andrew Porter #1246 

46 

CAPS 

Wing 

DOB 28 May 1998 

HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”) 


Centre 


HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”) 

WEIGHT 97.5kg (15st 5lbs) 

Flanker 


HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Prop 


HEIGHT 1.84m (6’ 1”) 


Garry Ringrose #1237 

44 

CAPS 

Rhys Ruddock #1167 

27 

CAPS 

Charlie Ryan 

James Ryan #1259 

46 

CAPS 

Centre 


HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”) 


Back Row 


HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


Lock 


HEIGHT 2.01m (6’ 7”) 


Lock 


HEIGHT 2.00m (6’ 7”) 



Johnny Sexton #1127 

108 

CAPS 

14 

CAPS 

Dan Sheehan #1286 

10 

CAPS 

James Tracy #1211 

6 

CAPS 

Liam Turner #1287 

Out-half 


HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”) 


Hooker 


HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


Hooker 


HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Centre 


HEIGHT 1.73m (5’ 8”) 


Josh van der Flier #1228 

43 

CAPS 

Flanker 


HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”) 


for full squad profiles please click here 

Coaching 

Staff 2022/23 

Stuart 

Lancaster 

Senior Coach 

season 

Leo Cullen 

Head 

Coach 

Emmet 

Farrell 

Kicking Coach and 

Lead Performance Analyst 

Robin 

McBryde 

Assistant Coach 

SEÁN 

O’BRIEN 

CONTACT SKILLS Coach 

ANDREW 

GOODMAN 

ASSISTANT COACH 

Guy 

Easterby 

Head of Rugby Operations 


We always strive to be 

A beat ahead 

layahealthcare.ie

Your best support every season 

Managed IT Services IT Disaster Recovery 

Managed IT Security Services Cloud Services 

Delivering bespoke IT services from concept, delivery and support 

support@lantech.ie 

www.lantech.ie 

OFFICIAL 

IT PARTNER

RUGBY 

YOU KNOW BETTER 

BECAUSE YOU GET 

Official Media Partner of Leinster Rugby

New Stand Opened 

at Mullingar RFC 

Newly elected 

IRFU President, 

John Robinson 

cut the ribbon 

at the official 

opening of 

the newly 

constructed 

stand in 

Mullingar 

Rugby Club 

last Sunday 

week just ahead 

of the Bank 

of Ireland 

Leinster 

League, Round 1 

game between 

Mullingar and 

Carlow. 

BY PADRAIG MURPHY 

The stand boasts 425 seats 

stretching from 22 to 22, that will 

greatly enhance the experience of 

spectators on match days. 

The stand provides an elevated viewing 

position and will provide protection from 

the elements during the inclement winter 

months. 

The opening followed two years of 

planning including a submission to an 

Bord Pleanála and an appeal. 

The summer of hard work and activity 

in Shay Murtagh Park included the 

spectator stand, a 20m long skills wall 

and an 800m walking track. 

Mullingar President Conal Fitzgerald 

complimented all involved in the project 

and getting everything done in the offseason 

ensured there was no disruption 

to rugby. He also wanted to pay tribute 

to past-Presidents, committees and 

volunteers who, through their great work, 

had built Mullingar Rugby Club to where 

it is today. 

The IRFU President John Robinson 

thanked the club for the invitation to 

preside on the opening and commented 

on the excellent facilities that were 

available in Mullingar Rugby Club, how 

the spectator experience would be much 

improved with the new facility and that 

it was one of the best structures in the 

country. 

Denis McDermott, chair of the 

Fundraising Committee outlined the 

next phase of the development works in 

Shay Murtagh Park which will include 

installing solar panels on the roof of the 

stand which will allow the club to sell 40 

kwh of electricity to the grid, while also 

upgrading the lights on the main grass 

pitch to 400lux low energy LED lights. 


Leinster Rugby Hosts 

Annual Sponsors’ Forum 

Earlier this 

week, Leinster 

Rugby hosted 

the annual 

sponsors’ 

forum in the 

UCD Club in 

Belfield. 

The forum was last held in 2019 

but because of Covid-19 it has 

been missing from the schedule 

since then. 

In attendance at the event were head 

coaches Leo Cullen and Tania Rosser, as 

well as representatives from each of the 

sponsors and partners of Leinster Rugby 

and members of the OLSC Committee, 

including President Bebhinn Dunne. 

The event was a welcome opportunity 

for people to catch up in person for the 

first time in quite a while as well as an 

opportunity for those new to their roles 

or indeed new partners and sponsors to 

the Leinster Rugby family, to introduce 

themselves. 

Mick Dawson, the CEO of Leinster 

Rugby, was also in attendance for his last 

sponsors’ forum, as was incoming CEO, 

Shane Nolan. Dawson addressed those 

in attendance and thanked them most 

sincerely for their support, in particular 

during the Covid-19 pandemic, when all 

organisations were under huge financial 

pressure. 

There was a Q&A with both head 

coaches, where they both outlined their 

excitement for the season ahead and 

indeed for Tania Rosser, her excitement 

for what the short and medium-term future 

held for the women’s game in Ireland 

and indeed further afield with talk of a 

potential URC-style competition. 

There were also presentations from Bank 

of Ireland, Diageo, adidas, Energia, 

BearingPoint and LAYA Healthcare, 

before the chair of the Commercial and 

Marketing Committee in Leinster Rugby, 

Billy Murphy, brought proceedings to a 

conclusion. 

A great morning of networking, of 

sharing ideas and of interaction and most 

importantly of meeting the wider Leinster 

Rugby family. 


compiled by stuart farmer 

media services limited 

Leinster Player 

Statistics 

SQUAD 

CAP 

NO 

DEBUT 

2022/23 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 

VAKHTANG ABDALADZE 1263 2 DEC 17 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 0+19 2 10 0+18 2 10 0+1 - - 4 - 

MICHAEL ALA'ALATOA 1301 25 SEP 21 3 - - 3 - - - - - 15+13 3 15 14+6 2 10 1+7 1 5 5 WS 9 

RYAN BAIRD 1278 27 APR 19 2 1 5 2 1 5 - - - 21+19 8 40 19+14 8 40 2+5 - - 1 IR 8 

LEE BARRON 1308 23 APR 22 - - - - - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - - 

ED BYRNE 1222 9 FEB 14 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - 28+60 12 60 28+47 11 55 0+13 1 5 5 IR 6 

HARRY BYRNE 1280 28 SEP 19 - - - - - - - - - 21+15 6 183 21+14 6 178 0+1 - 5 15 IR 2 

ROSS BYRNE 1236 4 SEP 15 2+1 - 24 2+1 - 24 - - - 87+44 9 850 73+22 4 620 14+22 5 230 14 IR 13 

TOM CLARKSON 1285 29 AUG 20 - - - - - - - - - 6+12 - - 6+12 - - - - - - - 

JACK CONAN 1223 20 FEB 14 1 - - 1 - - - - - 92+26 25 125 64+16 16 80 28+10 9 45 11 IR 30 

WILL CONNORS 1264 9 FEB 18 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - 18+10 2 10 17+10 2 10 1 - - 15 IR 9 

CHRIS COSGRAVE 1305 26 MAR 22 - - - - - - - - - 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - - - 

MAX DEEGAN 1256 3 DEC 16 1 - - 1 - - - - - 44+41 24 120 41+29 22 110 3+12 2 10 6 IR 1 

BRIAN DEENY 1306 23 APR 22 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 2+1 - - 2+1 - - - - - - - 

CAELAN DORIS 1268 28 APR 18 1 - - 1 - - - - - 48+8 8 40 34+6 6 30 14+2 2 10 3 IR 20 

CORMAC FOLEY 1299 24 APR 21 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 2+4 1 5 2+4 1 5 - - - 2 - 

CIARAN FRAWLEY 1265 17 FEB 18 1+1 - 6 1+1 - 6 - - - 32+26 7 185 29+18 5 169 3+8 2 16 4 - 

TADHG FURLONG 1220 1 NOV 13 - - - - - - - - - 85+42 10 50 47+34 3 15 38+8 7 35 6 IR 60 

JAMISON GIBSON-PARK 1247 2 SEP 16 - - - - - - - - - 60+56 22 110 49+30 15 75 11+26 7 35 2 IR 20 

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

CIAN HEALY 1142 5 MAY 07 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 160+90 30 150 93+57 16 80 65+32 13 65 2 IR 118 

ROBBIE HENSHAW 1251 8 OCT 16 2 - - 2 - - - - - 68+2 16 80 31+1 7 35 37+1 9 45 3 IR 60 

JASON JENKINS 1310 17 SEP 22 3 1 5 3 1 5 - - - 3 1 5 3 1 5 - - - 3 SA 1 

DAVE KEARNEY 1158 16 MAY 09 3 1 5 3 1 5 - - - 153+23 53 265 127+16 46 230 25+6 7 35 3 IR 19 

HUGO KEENAN 1253 5 NOV 16 - - - - - - - - - 41+3 9 45 28+3 5 25 13 4 20 2 IR 23 

RONAN KELLEHER 1277 22 FEB 19 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - 30+8 13 65 17+6 11 55 13+2 2 10 9 IR 18 

JORDAN LARMOUR 1258 2 SEP 17 2 - - 2 - - - - - 66+10 27 135 42+7 20 100 24+3 7 35 4 IR 30 

TEMI LASISI 1304 12 MAR 22 - - - - - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - - 

JAMES LOWE 1262 2 DEC 17 - - - - - - - - - 63+2 47 235 39+1 28 140 24+1 19 95 2 IR 15 

JOE MCCARTHY 1303 29 JAN 22 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 8+4 1 5 8+1 1 5 0+3 - - 3 - 

NICK MCCARTHY 1241 19 DEC 15 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 9+39 5 25 9+33 5 25 0+6 - - 8 - 

LUKE MCGRATH 1206 5 MAY 12 3 2 10 3 2 10 - - - 117+61 43 215 82+49 35 175 35+12 8 40 2 IR 19 

JOHN MCKEE 1307 23 APR 22 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 2+2 - - 2+2 - - - - - - - 


SQUAD 

CAP 

NO 

DEBUT 


ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR 

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

SINCE LAST TRY 

CAPS 

MICHAEL MILNE 1279 28 SEP 19 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 1+17 2 10 1+17 2 10 - - - 16 - 

MARTIN MOLONEY 1300 24 APR 21 - - - - - - - - - 2+5 - - 2+5 - - - - - - - 

ROSS MOLONY 1233 20 FEB 15 3 - - 3 - - - - - 85+57 5 25 75+42 4 20 10+15 1 5 19 - 

BEN MURPHY 1309 21 MAY 22 - - - - - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - - 

CHARLIE NGATAI 1311 17 SEP 22 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - - NZ 1 

JAMIE OSBORNE 1294 30 JAN 21 1 - - 1 - - - - - 14+6 1 5 14+6 1 5 - - - 15 - 

JIMMY O'BRIEN 1272 23 NOV 18 2 - - 2 - - - - - 45+10 16 84 36+9 10 54 9+1 6 30 4 - 

SEAN O'BRIEN 1297 12 MAR 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - - - 

TOMMY O'BRIEN 1283 20 DEC 19 - - - - - - - - - 10+11 6 30 10+9 6 30 0+2 - - 2 - 

MAX O'REILLY 1291 2 JAN 21 1 - - 1 - - - - - 9+1 1 5 9+1 1 5 - - - 9 - 

SCOTT PENNY 1271 23 NOV 18 1 - - 1 - - - - - 35+7 23 115 35+7 23 115 - - - 2 - 

ANDREW PORTER 1246 2 SEP 16 2 - - 2 - - - - - 43+50 14 70 31+31 10 50 12+19 4 20 10 IR 46 

GARRY RINGROSE 1237 12 SEP 15 2 - - 2 - - - - - 102+2 30 158 62+1 19 103 40+1 11 55 4 IR 44 

RHYS RUDDOCK 1167 6 DEC 09 1 2 10 1 2 10 - - - 157+54 14 70 119+35 12 60 37+17 2 10 1 IR 27 

ROB RUSSELL 1302 3 OCT 21 1 - - 1 - - - - - 4+2 - - 4+2 - - - - - - - 

CHARLIE RYAN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

JAMES RYAN 1259 2 SEP 17 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 52+7 3 15 27+2 1 5 25+5 2 10 19 IR 46 

JOHNNY SEXTON 1127 27 JAN 06 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 156+29 26 1614 89+22 13 857 65+7 12 726 25 IR 108 

DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 2 5 25 2 5 25 - - - 11+20 21 105 10+13 18 90 1+7 3 15 1 IR 10 

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

ALEX SOROKA 1296 28 FEB 21 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 2+4 - - 2+4 - - - - - - - 

JAMES TRACY 1211 4 NOV 12 - - - - - - - - - 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 

1228 11 OCT 14 2 1 5 2 1 5 - - - 92+24 19 95 54+18 9 45 38+6 10 50 2 IR 43 

FLIER 

JOHNNY SEXTON 1127 27 JAN 06 8+3 - 107 2+2 - 24 6+1 - 83 156+28 26 1614 89+21 13 857 65+7 12 726 24 IR 108 

DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 6+10 10 50 5+3 7 35 1+7 3 15 9+20 16 80 8+13 13 65 1+7 3 15 1 IR 10 

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

ALEX SOROKA 1296 28 FEB 21 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - 2+3 - - 2+3 - - - - - - - 

DEVIN TONER 1128 27 JAN 06 6+8 - - 6+5 - - 0+3 - - 212+68 4 20 146+47 4 20 63+21 - - 63 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 15+1 7 35 7+1 1 5 8 6 30 90+24 18 90 52+18 8 40 38+6 10 50 4 IR 43 

KICKING 


ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR OVERALL 

SUCCESS 

RATE 

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

% 

- - - HARRY BYRNE - - - - - - - - - - 63 9 62 8 1 1 92 78.26% 

ROSS BYRNE 91.67% 9 2 - 9 2 - - - - 263 92 1 204 63 1 59 29 - 452 78.54% 

CIARAN FRAWLEY 100.00% 3 - - 3 - - - - - 57 12 - 54 12 - 3 - - 83 83.13% 

JIMMY O'BRIEN - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - 2 - - - - - 4 50.00% 

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

JOHNNY SEXTON - - - - - - - - - - 265 307 11 129 171 7 129 132 4 714 80.11% 


TITLE PARTNER 

OFFICAL KIT PARTNER 

PREMIUM PARTNERS 

PARTNERS & SUPPLIERS 

MEDIA PARTNERS 


Bank of Ireland 

Match Day Mascots 

Oran 

McConville 

Age: 7 

School: Scoil Bhríde Athgarvan 

Class: 1st class 

Sports: Rugby, GAA, soccer, athletics 

Favourite players: Johnny Sexton & James Ryan 

Max 

Kissane 

Age: 12 

School: St Mary’s College 

Class: 6th class 

Hobbies and interests: Rugby, 

soccer and basketball 

Favourite Leinster Rugby player: 

Johnny Sexton 

Robyn 

Kissane 

Age: 10 

School: Alexandra College 

Class: 5th class 

Hobbies and interests: Rugby, soccer and hockey 

Favourite Leinster Rugby player: Johnny Sexton 


ig picture 

23 September 2022 

Michael Ala’alatoa of Leinster 

warms up with the assistance of 

children before the United Rugby 

Championship match between 

Leinster and Benetton at the RDS 

Arena in Dublin. 


Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile 


Reduce your home energy 

consumption with solar. 

Our range of Solar PV panels, batteries and hot water diverters 

means we’ve something to suit every home. Solar battery storage 

means that energy generated by Solar PV panels during the day 

isn’t wasted, as it is stored to power your home in the evening 

and overnight. 

Choose from a solar add-on to maximise your home 

energy efficiency: 

A hot water diverter to heat your hot water 

Battery storage to store any excess electricity your 

panels generate. If you export this excess electricity 

back to the grid you could be eligible for a payment 

through the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) scheme. 

energia.ie/cosy-homes/solar

A rugby passion 

rekindled at 

Longford Rugby Club! 

Hearing stories From The 

Ground Up is what we are 

all about here in Leinster, 

and we also love hearing 

from those within our 12 

county-community that find 

a home away from home at 

their local rugby club. 

The Marshall family are one such 

family. 

In this piece, Allen Marshall, originally 

from South Africa, reflects on settling in 

Longford and joining Longford Rugby 

Club with his family. 

Travelling from country to country looking 

for greener pastures has not been an 

easy process. We wanted a nice place to 

settle down and set up for family life. My 

wife, Lisa, and I eventually ended up in 

Ireland and it has been a true Godsend. 

We bought a house at Glen, outside 

Edgeworthstown, and pretty soon 

were blessed with two kids. Once the 

children had started school, it really 

did begin to intertwine us with the local 

neighbourhood. 

Life was passing quickly by, and the little 

guys were growing up very fast. 

Our son, Aaron, wasn’t participating 

into any sporting activity. We took him 

to rugby at first, then GAA, both football 

and hurling and also soccer. You name 

it, we tried it and he refused it. None of 

the sports interested him! 

It was funny how it all works out over 

time. 

I then met Longford Rugby Club vice- 

President, Donagh outside his vet practice 

one afternoon and we chatted about 

life’s twists and turns. 

Donagh suggested I join Longford Rugby 

Club to train and hopefully play for the 

seniors. 

He phoned several times to encourage 

me to come in. Youths coach with the 

U-14s at the time, Padraig Murphy, also 

phoned enquiring about my son Aaron 

and following that, I took that opportunity 

to go in and bring Aaron with me. 

I realised, knowing how parenting works, 

that it's probably a case of monkey-see 

monkey-do, so I committed to train with 

the seniors. 

I soon found that playing really did 

remind me how awesome and how much 

I missed being part of a broader club 

family and community! 

The lads in the squad and coaches at the 

club welcomed me in with open arms. I 

was so grateful to the team coach, Glen 

Baskett, and all the lads for having the 


patience with me then and continuing to 

do so! 

At forty something, keeping up with the 

younger lads in the squad is not such an 

easy task! 

But it’s definitely worth it to push through 

the negative thinking that you may not be 

capable. My motto is, where the mind 

goes, the body will follow. 

Playing and training with Longford Rugby 

Club is akin to reliving my youth. 

OK, I might feel like I look the part at the 

time, but definitely don’t feel it when I get 

out of bed the following day. Regardless, 

in my opinion it’s so worth it! 

At the start, Aaron would carry my kit 

bag and water bottle. He would sit and 

watch. Seeing me hit and tackle a few 

players really did change him. He would 

be all chat afterwards in the car as he 

told me how hard I tackled the lads. It 

was such an overwhelming feeling to 

have him positively engaging with me 

about it! 

Aaron is now playing with Longford 

youths, much to my delight. 

As I started to watch him train and play, 

I got to know his coach, Padraig, and 

chairperson Gerry Carthy. They both 

encouraged me to get involved and to 

help out where I could. I was delighted 

to be asked and felt that with me giving 

Aaron that equal support that he gave 

me, we would have an even stronger 

father, son bond. 

That really did really help me out, both 

physically and from a social perspective. 

Sitting in the car while Aaron was training 

was definitely the boring bit and getting 

involved with the team was brilliant for 

both that social perspective and was 

quite rewarding to be able to contribute 

back to the club. 

For everyone out there, I would definitely 

suggest that you come to Longford Rugby 

Club! 

Rugby is a sport for all and that’s how I 

have rediscovered my love for it, here at 

Longford Rugby Club! 

They will invite you in and welcome you 

with the greatest of acceptance. 

For some of the older guys I would also 

say that you are far from retirement in the 

mind, even if not in body! There is plenty 

for players to offer the club after playing 

retirement. I definitely believe that. 

If I can do it, so can you! 


SUPPORTERS CLUB 

Support us by 

visiting our 

ONLINE 

STORE 

Keep up to date 

OLSC 

NEWS 

Contact us 

olsc@leinsterrugby.ie 

#seaofblue 

P D E Q

#seaofblue 

SUPPORTERS CLUB

The Beachy Cup 

by Caroline McFadden 

The annual 

North- 

East Area 

Beachy Cup 

competition 

made a 

welcome 

return on 

Sunday 11th 

September 

after a Covid 

enforced 

break. 

It was the first time that this 

competition was played since 

Ashbourne hosted the event in 

August 2019. This is the sixth 

time the Beachy Cup tournament 

has been played since it was first 

inaugurated in 2015. 

The festival is now recognised as a firm 

fixture in the North-East calendar. 

The competition is named in memory of 

the late John “Beachy” McCreanor who 

sadly passed away in 2012. Beachy 

played most of his rugby with Boyne RFC, 

though he also had a playing connection 

with Ardee RFC and, in his youth, with 

Delvin RFC. 

This year, the competition was held at 

Balbriggan RFC having previously been 

hosted by Boyne, Balbriggan, Dundalk, 

Navan and in 2019 in Ashbourne RFC. 

This year, teams from Ardee, Ashbourne, 

Balbriggan, Boyne, Navan and Ratoath 

participated. 

Despite the heavy rain that fell that 

afternoon, the day was a great success. 

The six participating teams were divided 

into two groups of three teams. Each 

team played the other two teams in 

their respective group in 20-minute 

matches. Once the group stages ended, 

the winners of the two groups played 

each other in the Beachy Cup, whilst the 

runners-up played each other in the Plate 

final and the third placed teams played 

for the Beachy Bowl. 

Balbriggan won the Beachy Cup, Boyne 

won the Plate and Ashbourne won the 

Bowl. The competition was played in 


great spirit with old friendships renewed. 

Thanks to Beachy’s family, his partner 

Tanya and daughters Kasey and Iona 

who were present for the competition. 

Kasey and Iona presented the trophies to 

the captains of the winning teams. 

The referees from the North-East turned 

out in great numbers as ever, to officiate 

each of the matches. Thanks also to Area 

President, David Rowland from Ratoath 

and Chairman of the Leinster Junior 

Committee, Pat Carolan from Wicklow 

who were also present. 

Finally, a special thanks to North-East 

Hon Sec Cathal Myles for all his work in 

organising the Beachy Cup this year. It 

simply would not have happened without 

all his efforts. 


THE ULTIMATE 

URC EXPERIENCE 

JOIN FOR FREE 

Personalised team 

experience 

Exclusive offers 

& competitions 

Premium opinion 

articles & analysis 

Match highlights & 

exclusive video content 


As Official Clean Air Partner to Leinster Rugby, 

Novaerus by McGreals Health provides both squad and 

management with safe, clean, indoor air, 24/7. 

Clean air indoors gives Leinster the edge, helping to 

improve physical performance, cognitive ability, make 

healthier bodies, reduce the risk of illness and allergies and 

give more energy.

GETTING 

We check social media 

for the latest views 

and thoughts across 

SOCIAL 

the 12 counties 


WHERE 

ARE 

THEY 

NOW? 

64 | www.leinsterrugby.ie 

NIALL 

BY DES BERRY 

RONAN

THEN: Niall 

earned 37 

caps for 


Rugby over 

four seasons 

(2003-2007). 

NOW: The 

Managing 

Director 

of Titan 

Wellness 

is living in 

Meath with 

his wife 

Jaimie and 

two children 

Lily (6) and 

Felix (3). 

Niall Ronan owes Leinster a debt 

of gratitude for how it prepared 

the flanker for the professional 

game. 

In fairness, the Meathman was turned 

from a bundle of raw energy into a 

valuable commodity at Munster where 

he spent seven seasons, becoming a 

centurion and even grabbing four caps 

for his country. 

“GAA has been my life. It was all I ever 

wanted. I would have played Meath 

U-14s, U-16s and two years at minor. At 

that point, my goal was to play for my 

county,” he says. 

“Rugby didn’t really register with me. I 

played for Boyne Rugby, amalgamated 

from Drogheda and Delvin rugby clubs. It 

only hit my radar at 17 when I was called 

up for the Leinster Youths. 

“To be honest, I didn’t know what the 

Leinster Youths were at the time,” he 

declares. 

What caused such a drastic change of 

course, the dream shifting from Meath in 

Croke Park to Leinster at The RDS? 

“The professionalism of rugby really 

opened my eyes to a career in which 

you could get paid to play and travel the 

world,” he says. 

“A big turning point was when I got 

picked for Ireland to play in the U-19 

World Cup in Chile, a new experience.” 


It was around then that Niall came into 

contact with Collie McEntee, the former 

Lansdowne and Leinster number eight, a 

fellow loose forward and Steve Aboud, 

an outside-the-box thinker with a drill 

sergeant attitude to discipline. 

“The detail in the coaching was also an 

attraction. It was a lot better than it was in 

the GAA. I didn’t know where the journey 

would take me. But, I knew I wanted to 

go on it. 

“Two years later, I went in blind. I would 

have known Brian O’Driscoll, but, I didn’t 

know many of the other players. 

“When you are training with those 

international players, you soon get to 

know all about what they can do and you 

learn so much from the more experienced 

players.” 

He was offered his first part-time contract 

with Leinster after impressing at the U-21 

World Cup, turning down a full-time deal 

to move west to Connacht. 

In that first season, Australian Gary Ella 

came in as head coach. Niall ended 

up playing the last six or seven matches 

of the season due to injuries to Keith 

Gleeson and Shane Jennings, enough to 

earn Young Player of the Year. 

“That was my highest moment there. 

“It was a dream come true really. I was 

playing with a team of internationals. You 

had Felipe Contepomi, Gordon D’Arcy, 

Brian O’Driscoll, Shane Horgan, Denis 

Hickie and Girvan Dempsey. 

In the forwards, there was Malcolm 

O’Kelly, Victor Costello, Eric Miller, who 

I would have looked up to then, Shane 

Byrne.” 

A breakthrough season brought the 

promise of greater things to come. 

Afterall, the kid from nowhere had 

become a name on the lips of so many. 

The lack of top-quality rugby in his early 

teenage years left the impression of a 

higher ceiling than many of those around 

him. It never really turned out that way for 

a multitude of reasons. 

“In my time there, I had four different 

coaches in four seasons. You had Gary 

Ella. You had Declan Kidney - he left 

early. You had Gerry Murphy in an 

interim role. You had Michael Cheika. 

“I had Keith Gleeson and Shane Jennings 

ahead of me. But I learned a lot during 

a frustrating four seasons. I feel a lot of 

gratitude towards Leinster for how they 

moulded me from a raw player to a 

professional. 

“When a new coach comes in, he will 

have his opinion on the way he wants to 

play and the players in his squad. You 

have to build trust and sometimes change 

their opinion of what you can offer. 

“When they go, someone else comes 

in. That happened every season I was 

there and it became harder to generate 

continuity, especially when there are 

internationals ahead of you in the queue. 

That is how it was. That is professional 

sport. 

“There was a lot of chopping and 

changing. It was challenging for me 

because I wasn’t at the same level I 

reached later on in my career at Munster. 

“You have to accept the challenge and 

go about proving people wrong. That 

was the mindset for most of my career.” 

He went on to nurture tremendous 

friendships with Ciaran Potts, Simon 

Crawford, John Lyne and Gary Brown. 

At the end of three years, Cheika shared 

the fact Ulster and Connacht were 

interested in his signature. He turned 

those down. 

At the end of four years, Jennings had 

re-signed with Leinster from Leicester 

Tigers. There was no contract on the table 

for Niall. There was no choice. He had to 

leave Leinster. 

At 24, he had no interest in moving to the 

second tier in England. He was in limbo, 

seriously considering retiring from rugby. 

Then, Declan Kidney came calling with a 

contract for Munster. Now, Niall had not 

been selected by Kidney in his short stint 

at Leinster. There was no guarantee of 

playing time. 

“If you have a choice between retiring 

and playing for Munster, the top club in 

European Rugby at the time, what do you 

do? You sign for Munster. 


You have to 

accept the 

challenge and go 

about proving 

people wrong. 

That was the 

mindset for most 

of my career. 

“It turned into a dream come true in my 

seven seasons there. My career went on 

an upward curve and I played four times 

for Ireland.” 

In a strange way, Leinster had taken 

Niall on as a late bloomer, provided an 

apprenticeship, fast-tracked his talent, 

coached him up to be ready to produce 

his best at Munster. 

“Leinster is a totally different place now 

to what it was then. I am sure the players 

would agree on that,” states Niall. 

“There was dysfunction, coaches and 

players coming in and out. There was no 

chance to build anything. 

“I would be the first to admit that the first 

four or five seasons of your career are the 

most important, in terms of getting where 

you want to get to whether it is playing 

international rugby or at the highest club 

level for a long time. 

“My time at Leinster Rugby was a great 

experience. I loved every minute of it. But, 

when you don’t play, you get frustrated.” 

In 2014, Niall walked away from the 

game due to a knee injury. He had been 

smart enough to complete a degree in 

strength and conditioning and had all his 

coaching badges. 

He set up his own company Titan 

Wellness, described on its’ website 

as “Ireland’s largest fitness facilities 

management company and wellness 

service provider.” 

He also returned to his first love, working 

for three years as head of S&C for Andy 

McEntee’s Meath senior footballers. 

“What I took from rugby was how to 

be disciplined, how to work hard, how 

to communicate and collaborate with 

people,” he says. 

“When I retired, I set up a company 

called Titan Wellness to provide 

workplace well-being solutions to 

corporates all over Ireland. 

“That means we go into businesses 

to support them in creating a positive 

environment where productivity improves 

by having fitness classes or educational 

talks on sleep, nutrition or desktop 

massage to reward people for their work. 

“It is the same as rugby where good 

feedback from a coach on how to work 

within a team helps to generate success.” 

Long may it last. 


W W W . B E S T M E N S W E A R . C O M 

OFF 

ENTER THE CODE BELOW 

LEIN15 

Until December 31st 2022 

ONLINE ONLY SHOP NOW 

T&Cs Apply

Today’s match referee is Craig 

Evans from Wales assisted by 

Peter Martin and Keane Davison 

with John Mason in the TMO 

box. 

Craig began refereeing on the World 

Rugby Sevens Series in 2016. He also 

refereed during the 2020 Olympics. He 

made his BKT URC / PRO14 refereeing 

debut in 2018 and was awarded his 

first Six Nations Championship match 

for the match between Italy and Ireland 

in the 2021 Six Nations Championship. 

He was appointed to the Tier One select 

group of referees in June 2021. 

We wish the team well today in what 

should be an entertaining game. 

Referees 

Corner 

BY DAN WALLACE 

Welcome to another edition 

of referees’ corner! 

The season is in full swing with over 100 refereeing 

appointments being made for each weekend. This 

weekend also sees the start of the Energia All- 

Ireland League seeing many referees double up with 

touch judging duties. Our monthly education sessions 

will also focus on Touch Laws - Law 18. 

Our new recruits did their induction 

workshop, facilitated by Sean Gallagher 

in August and we were delighted to see 

over 40 new referees attend the course. 

These referees will be sent out to referee 

youth games to get match experience 

over the coming weeks and months. 

Our trainee refs will also receive 

mentoring over a number of weeks and 

will then do their assessment game. If 

they pass the assessment, they are then 

put forward to become full members of 

Leinster Rugby Referees. 

One notable thing this season is the 

amount of female officials that are 

coming through our ranks in Leinster 

and the large amount of women taking 

up the whistle around Ireland. In Leinster 

we have been fortunate to have some 

excellent referees go through our ranks 

and it is great to see more get involved 

in our beginners courses. 

In last week’s edition I mentioned that 

the Global Law trials were adopted into 

law. Here is the full and comprehensive 

list of those. 

Hookers will be required to have 

one foot forward as the scrum 

sets up (19.10c),which acts as 

a brake on the scrum until the 

call of ‘Set’ in the engagement 

sequence (19.12) 

Law 8 – Charging a Conversion – 

Chargers must not do so until the 

kicker moves in any direction to 

begin their approach to kick. 

Law 9.11 – Dangerous Play – 

Jumping into or over the tackle 

explicitly added. 


Want to get 

involved? 

Feel free to make contact 

with the Leinster Rugby 

Referees at hayley.whyte@ 

leinsterrugby.ie 

Law 9 – Dangerous Play – Flying 

wedge GLT adopted into law – 

One latcher permitted pre contact 

– must comply with arriving 

player laws. 

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. 

Law 9 – Dangerous Play – Protect 

the jackler – may be levered 

away but not dangerously. 

Law 12 – Goal Line Drop Out 

– Adopted fully into law. Ball 

‘played’ into in goal added to 

kicked. 

Law 15 – Ruck – Diving/falling 

on ball near to ruck (1m) as it 

emerges is a PK. 

Law 16 – Maul – Formation – 

Ripper must be bound to ball 

carrier. 

Law 16 – Maul – Ball carrier 

cannot slide or move backwards 

– ball must be transferred 

backwards. 

Law 13.3 – In Goal – Player on 

ground may play the ball to 

ground it for try or touchdown. 

Law 18.8 – 50:22 adopted fully 

into Law. 

Law 18 – Lineout – Ball 

prevented from traveling 5m is a 

free kick. 

More information on these can be 

found in the World Rugby Laws site at 

the following link: https://www.world. 

rugby/the-game/laws/home 

Think you know them all? Why not test 

yourself. The World Rugby Laws exam 

is available at the World Rugby online 

learning system. 

On the subject of laws, former top 

whistler Nigel Owens does a great 

monthly video on Laws, and other rugby 

related items called Whistle Watch and 

you can see those at the following link: 

https://www.world.rugby/ 

tournaments/videos/733274/whistlewatch/wr-whistle-watch-s4e5 


ank of ireland 

MATCHDAY MINIS 

Monkstown FC 

Players: [Standing] Aidan O’Brien, James Ferris, Sean O’Kelly, 

Dylan O’Dwyer, Joshua Gibson, Manny Flogdell, Ross Lyons, 

John O’Connor, Emily Liddy. [Kneeling] Daniel Reidy, Fionn 

Harney de Vries, Luke Coffey, Danny McCormack, Ben 

O’Dwyer, Tod O’Driscoll, Samuel McDonagh, James Mitchell, 

Jacob Lee (Mascot - Charlie O’Brien). 

Coaches: Alan O’Brien, Chris Flogdell, David Coffey, 

Sean O’Kelly, John O’Connor, Daniel Ryan. 

Clane RFC 

Players front row left to right: Cathal Geelon, Iarla Massarella- 

Ferguson, Cian Cahill, Oisín Connolly, Toby O’Shaughnessy, 

Shaun Cardwell, Claragh Geelon, Devin Heavey, Stephen 

Delaney, Aaron McIllroy, Cillian Berns. 

Players Back row left to right: Seán Tansey, Jack Carroll, Tristan 

Sheehan, James O’Connor, Myles Heneghan, James Murphy, 

Daniel Curran, Ethan Lane, Paraic Kehoe, Peter Jackson. 

Coaches left to right: Peter Jackson, Oisín O’Shaughnessy, 

Rory Geelon. 

North Kildare RFC 

Dundalk RFC 

Players: Patrick Byrne, Cian Cunningham, James Durnin, Janie 

Joyce, Ollie Halpin, Donnchadh Lyons, Darragh O’Neill, 

Thomas Sheehy, Sam Whately, Eoin Dillon, Ciaran Maguire, 

Oisin Costello, Matthew Dorian, Monty Veale, Alex Brady, Jack 

Murdock, Jacob Hamill, Thomas Mullholland, Ewan McCourt, 

Theo Hynes. 

Coaches: Paul Whately, Cathal O’Neill 

Players: Fionn McNerney, Cormac Lane, James Quigley, 

Daniel Cunningham, Artúr Helies, Patrick O’Flaherty, Alex 

Whittaker, Owen Moran, Noah Deevy, Adam Charles, Seán 

O’Toole, Zachary Hyland, Ben Hopper, Harry Whelan, Sean 

McLoughlin, Finian Bradley, Donnacha Maguire, Matthew 

Fogarty, Fionn Deevy, Daniel Johnston, Ronan Hickey, Dillan 

Finn, Conor Landy, Ted Murtagh. Adam Dunne, Adomas 

Seskus, Ben Nolan, Cian Hanlon, David Daly, Edward O’Shea, 

Ethan O’Neill, Finnan Morrow, Finn Doyle, James McElligott, 

Luke Harrington, Rian Mc Cullagh, Ryan Crehan, Tadhg 

Bowden, Thimas Healy, Michael Rooney. 

Coaches: Brian Hopper, David Hickey, David Whittaker, Jerry 

Bradley, John McLoughlin, John O’Toole, Mark Deevy, Rob 

Landy, Steven Maguire. 


Ed’s jersey 

warms Carlow 

Hearts 

Members of 

Carlow Rugby 

Club, along with 

the wider Carlow 

community, were 

delighted when 

Carlow native Ed 

Byrne was called 

up to wear the 

green jersey of 

Ireland. 

Their pride and admiration for 

the Carlow club man was even 

greater when they learned that 

Ed had donated his first Irish 

jersey to a raffle in support of a 

fundraiser for Martin Dunphy a 

former Carlow player who had 

suffered a life changing accident. 

Ed with framed Irish jersey being accepted by Carlow Club President and Edel 

Gibbons, Chairperson of the Executive of County Carlow Football Club. 

The Carlow Rugby Club Executive then 

banded together to raise €2600 to 

purchase the jersey at a fundraising 

auction. Ed Byrne’s Irish jersey , signed 

by the player has been framed and is 

now on permanent display in the Carlow 

Clubhouse at Oakpark. 

The Byrne family have had a long 

association with Carlow Rugby Club. 

Ed, his twin Bryan, and other brothers 

Thomas, Mark and Shane all started 

their rugby as minis in Carlow. Their 

father Thomas, who has an auctioneering 

business in Carlow, is a member of the 

club executive. 

Since they joined the Leinster panel Ed 

and Bryan have been most supportive of 

their home club and have often helped in 

coaching of youth teams. Currently Bryan 

is playing his rugby with Bristol in the UK. 

Ed’s breakthrough into the Irish team 

came after he was out of the game for 

28 months with knee surgery. At this 

stage he has been capped six times for 

Ireland along with 88 caps for Leinster. 

With Leinster Ed has scored a total of 12 

tries which is remarkable for a loosehead 

prop. As a mini player in Carlow Ed and 

Bryan sometimes played in the backs 

such was their turn of speed. 

Ed has had some amazing experiences 

with Leinster and Ireland. He has held 

his own against the biggest of props 

including 140 kg Antonio from La 

Rochelle. He was part of the history 

making Irish squad that recently beat the 

All Blacks in New Zealand. 

Currently Ed is enjoying being coached 

in Leinster by fellow Carlow man Seán 

O’Brien. 

Alongside his rugby career Ed has 

studied for a Commerce degree. 

Eventually he would like to be involved in 

business but thankfully for all Leinster and 

Ireland fans, not for a while yet! 


COUNTRY SOUTH AFRICA HOME GROUND HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK FOUNDED 1995 

last time out 

dragons rfc 19 

cell c sharks 20 

SAT 1 OCT | 18:35 | RODNEY PARADE | URC 

Sharks Edge Out 

Dragons in Thriller 

A late Cell C Sharks try saw 

them edge out the Dragons 20- 

19 in the Round 3 BKT United 

Rugby Championship clash at 

Rodney Parade. 

Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien, Rio Dyer, Sio 

Tomkinson, Jack Dixon, Ashton Hewitt (J. Williams 

29), Will Reed (Clark 76), Rhodri Williams (Jones 76); 

Aki Seiuli (Evans 50), Elliot Dee (Roberts 50), Lloyd 

Fairbrother (Coleman 54), Ben Carter, Will Rowlands, 

George Nott (Wainwright 63), Taine Basham, Ross 

Moriarty 

Replacements: Bradley Roberts, Rob Evans, Chris 

Coleman, Joe Davies, Aaron Wainwright, Lewis 

Jones, Max Clark, Jordan Williams 

Cell C Sharks: Aphelele Fassi, Werner Kok, Rohan 

Janse van Rensburg, Ben Tapuai, Thaakir Abrahams, 

Boeta Chamerlain, Grant Williams, Ntuthuko Mchunu, 

Kerron van Vuuren, Thomas du Toit, Justin Basson, 

Reniel Hugo, James Venter, Dylan Richardson, Phepsi 

Buthelezi 

Replacements: Dan Jooste, Dian Bleuler, Carlu 

Sadie, Hyron Andrews, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 

Cameron Wright, Marnus Potgieter, Anthony Volmink 

Referee: Ben Blain (SRU, 22nd league game) 

Attendance: 4,069 

TIMELINE: 

09m 

Chamberlain p 0-3 

12m 

Reed p 3-3 

15m 

Reed p 6-3 

29m 

Reed p 9-3 

33m 

Chamberlain p 9-6 

40m 

Reed p 12-6 

48m 

Dee t Reed c 19-6 

63m 

Williams t Chamberlain c 19-13 

75m 

Abrahams t Chamberlain c 19-20 

The home side went toe-to-toe 

with the South African giants 

and were very much in control 

for much of the game before late 

heartbreak. 

An impressive opening period saw Will 

Reed slot four penalties as Dragons 

deservedly took a 12-6 lead into the 

interval. 

The opening try of the game came from 

Dragons’ hooker Elliot Dee who touched 

down seven minutes in the second period 

after a powerful forward surge. 

But an intercept from Sharks’ Grant 

Williams gave the visitors a way back 

into the game and the late score from 

wing Thaakir Abrahams saw them take 

the win. 

When the two sides previously met in 

Durban in April the home side ran out 

51-3 victors so this was a much better 

performance from the Dragons. 

This was a totally different affair as the 

Dragons thrilled the home crowd with a 

passionate and spirited show before the 

late Sharks score sealed it. 


Both teams went at it from the first whistle 

in a thunderous opening few minutes as 

the tackles rained in. 

A scrum penalty allowed Sharks’ number 

ten Boeta Chamberlain to open the 

scoring after nine minutes. Will Reed, 

though, opened the scoring for the 

Dragons with a well struck effort of his 

own three minutes later. 

Dragons were applying plenty of 

pressure and disrupted more Sharks ball, 

allowing second row pair Will Rowlands 

and Ben Carter to rattle up and force 

another breakdown penalty that Reed 

nudged over. 

The South Africans looked to put the 

squeeze on at scrum time before Dragons 

returned the favour with a big driving 

maul as both teams continued to unload 

shuddering hits. 

A massive scrum penalty on South 

African ball was greeted by a huge 

ovation by the terraces and Reed stepped 

up to make it 9-3. 

Just before the half hour, the Sharks hit 

back with a penalty from Chamberlain. 

One last attack in the first half saw 

Dragons attempt to shunt a maul over 

before patiently working in field and 

forcing a penalty for offside that Reed 

dispatched. 

Sharks came out for the second half firing 

on all cylinders and the home side had 

to stand firm in the opening exchanges 

before exploding into life on halfway as 

images: inpho.ie 

Dyer, O’Brien and Rhodri Williams all 

combined. 

Rodney Parade was then off its feet as 

a monster driving maul was forced over 

with Dee the man to dot down to huge 

acclaim. 

This only spurred the visitors and a 

disgruntled Sharks team came back with 

interest and turned down two kickable 

penalties to go to the corner. 

Eventually the pressure paid off and the 

Sharks were gifted a way back as an 

intercept on halfway gave scrum half 

Grant Williams an easy run in to reduce 

the lead to 19-13. 

Patient play forced a penalty but Reed 

was this time off target as his kick drifted 

wide right. 

The final act of a brilliant game saw 

the Sharks break home hearts with 

Thaakir Abrahams racing over down 

the left wing after a powerful line break 

and Chamberlain again adding the 

conversion to leave the narrowest of 

margins between the two sides. 


New Nissan Qashqai 

coming soon with e-POWER 

A unique electric experience, now unplugged. 

Order now for 2023 with flexible finance 

packages to suit you! 

Find out more at www.windsor.ie

Sean Everitt 

Head Coach 

Everitt has been coaching at the Cell C 

Sharks for over 14 years, initially with the 

age grade sides, before moving up as 

an assistant coach, then as coach to their 

Currie Cup team, and then finally, head 

coach, with the Sharks. 

He took over the head coach role in 

2020 from Robert du Preez. In July 

2022, he signed a new contract to keep 

him at the club until 2024. 

Thomas du Toit 

Captain 

Thomas du Toit, 27, was born in 

Cape Town, but is no stranger to 

these shores having represented 

Munster Rugby on a short-term 

contract in 2016/17. 

He is a prop and has played the majority 

of his senior club career with the Cell C 

Sharks. He has been capped by South 

Africa, and despite not making the 

original South Africa World Cup squad in 

2019, du Toit was called up to the squad 

for the final pool game as a replacement 

for the injured Trevor Nyakane. 

the sharks squad 

FORWARDS 

HYRON ANDREWS 

LOCK 

JUSTIN BASSON 

LOCK 

THEMBELANI BHOLI 

FLANKER 

DIAN BLEULER 

PROP 

PHEPSI BUTHELEZI 

NO. 8 

THOMAS DU TOIT 

PROP 

EBEN ETZEBETH 

LOCK 

GERBRANDT GROBLER 

LOCK 

MPILO GUMEDE 

FLANKER 

RENIEL HUGO 

LOCK 

HANRU JACOBS 

PROP 

DAN JOOSTE 

HOOKER 

SIYA KOLISI 

FLANKER 

JEANDRE LABUSCHAGNE 

LOCK 

TINO MAVESERE 

FLANKER 

FEZ MBATHA 

HOOKER 

BONGI MBONAMBI 

HOOKER 

KHUTHA MCHUNU 

PROP 

NTUTHUKO MCHUNU 

PROP 

KHWEZI MONA 

PROP 

OX NCHE 

PROP 

SIKHUMBUZO NOTSHE 

NO. 8 

DYLAN RICHARDSON 

FLANKER 

LE ROUX ROETS 

LOCK 

CARLU SADIE 

PROP 

VINCENT TSHITUKA 

FLANKER 

KERRON VAN VUUREN 

HOOKER 

HENCO VENTER 

FLANKER 

JAMES VENTER 

FLANKER 

BACKS 

THAAKIR ABRAHAMS 

WING 

LUKHANYO AM 

CENTRE 

CURWIN BOSCH 

FLY-HALF 

BOETA CHAMBERLAIN 

FLY-HALF 

LIONEL CRONJE 

FLY-HALF 

APHELELE FASSI 

FULLBACK 

NEVALDO FLEURS 

FLY-HALF 

JADEN HENDRIKSE 

SCRUM-HALF 

ROHAN JANSE VAN RENSBURG 

CENTRE 

EDUAN KEYTER 

CENTRE 

WERNER KOK 

CENTRE 

MURRAY KOSTER 

CENTRE 

MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI 

WING 

ZEE MKHABELA 

SCRUM-HALF 

YAW PENXE 

WING 

MARNUS POTGIETER 

WING 

BEN TAPUAI 

CENTRE 

ANTHONY VOLMINK 

WING 

GRANT WILLIAMS 

SCRUM-HALF 

CAMERON WRIGHT 

SCRUM-HALF 

FRED ZEILINGA 

FLY-HALF 


Family Day 

at the RDS Arena! 

The new fanzone - The Laighin 

Den - was launched two weeks 

ago ahead of the Benetton 

Rugby game and again this 

weekend there is plenty for 

all...and in particular for the 

younger supporters in the 

Leinster Rugby family! 

Today, as Leinster Rugby welcome 

the Cell C Sharks, there will 

be something for everyone as 

Leinster host a Family Day at the 

RDS Arena. 

Gates will open from 3pm and from then 

on, there will be plenty to see and do! 

The Bank of Ireland Family Fun Zone will 

be located behind the Anglesea Stand 

and will feature a number of games and 

activities. 

The Catch 

The Catch offers supporters the chance to 

test their inner Rob Russell, Jimmy O’Brien 

or Jordan Larmour and see how they get 

on under a high ball. 

Elsewhere in the Bank of Ireland Family 

Fun Zone, Leinster Rugby community 

coaches will be hosting a skill challenge, 

testing the ball accuracy of supporters. 

There will also be a full range of 

inflatables for children including 

bouncing castle, rugby toss, rugby velcro 

darts and more. 


Face Painting 

Novaerus by McGreals will be in the 

RDS sandpit with activities including 

complimentary face painting, candy floss 

& popcorn. 

The Laighin Den 

After an incredible opening night two 

weeks ago, the Laighin Den fanzone is 

back again! 

Johnny Sexton, Tadhg Furlong and James 

Lowe took part in a Q&A before our 

game against Benetton, and we will have 

three more players taking part before 

the game against the Sharks today from 

4.00pm.. 

There will also be an opportunity for any 

kids in the audience to ask the players a 

question. 

After the game, a Leinster coach and 

senior player will be in the Laighin Den 

to talk to supporters and give us their 

thoughts on the game. 

There will also be live music after the fulltime 

whistle from the band, Pop Gods. 

The RDS is the place to be today and 

every match day and the The Laighin Den 

will be a regular feature for all match 

days going forward! 

We hope to see as many of you as 

possible there today and every match 

day! 


Club in 

Focus 

BY DES BERRY 

swords RFC 

The legacy 

of Ivan 

O’Kelly 

lives on 

at Swords 

Rugby 

Club. 

In February 2018, the world lost 

a wonder far too soon when the 

Clontarf and Swords clubman 

passed away suddenly. 

The shock of the news reverberated 

around North Dublin where Ivan had 

given so much of his time and energy to 

the game he loved. 

Two years ago, Swords stalwart Gary 

McCormack got a fright when he thought 

full sure he had come upon his old coach 

and mentor. 

“I saw the same short, stocky silhouette of 

a man I could have sworn was Ivan. My 

heart skipped a beat for a second. I had 

a second look and recognised his brother 

Warren,” says Gary. 

Still, it was enough to remind Gary of the 

man, who had played such a central role 

in his rugby education and his journey 

from teenager to adult. 

“Ivan was a rugby advocate for Clontarf 

and ourselves, making such a big impact 

at both clubs,” he says. 

“You could talk to him about everything, 

whether it was your rugby life or your life 

outside the game.” 

The spirit of Ivan has been revived in the 

trophy, named in his honour, contested 

between Clontarf and Swords, the latter 

taking the plaudits when outshining their 

rivals 31-14 in a good-natured battle last 

month. 

Back in 2008, Gary followed his two 

friends David Reilly and Conor Glynn out 

to Swords in search of a place to play. 

“It was just the welcome that was given to 

you,” he says. 

At that time, the club had just set up 

its’ youth structures. This meant strong 

investment from funding and strong 

support from players and parents as the 


plan to grow from the ground up kicked 

into gear. 

“Ivan was the senior coach to the first 

team and I was playing away with the 

U18s. He was the sort of guy who had 

one eye on his players and another on 

those coming through the club. 

“He would always be available to give 

his time to the younger players to have 

them ready to take the next step up when 

the time was right. 

“He wasn’t just a coach to one team. He 

was a coach for everyone, helping out 

wherever he could in the club.” 

The experienced heads, like Richard 

Cowman, Malachy Bradley, Leo Price 

and Gordon Brennan also opened their 

arms to any new members. 

“There was an established group of 

leaders back then, a bunch of really 

good characters that you always looked 

up to.” 

The will-do attitude filtered down from 

what the senior players tried to do on the 

pitch, all driven by Ivan’s mentality. 

“He was a leader among men, wellrespected. 

When he spoke, you just 

listened,” adds Gary. 

In the 2009/2010 season, Gary moved 

up to compete for a first team place and 

head coach Ivan advised the theretofore 

prop to move into the back row where his 

short, stocky frame and combative skills 

would be better served. 

The transition from the front row to the 

back was made with Ivan there every 

step of the way to guide the young 

whipper-snapper through the hard times. 

The busy coach set time aside to work 

with the developing openside flanker, 

honing the basics, advising on where he 

needed to be, what to do when he got 

there. 

“He definitely had shortcuts. One of 

them was, as a seven, you should follow 

the referee because it was his job to get 

to the next breakdown as quickly as 

possible,” reveals Gary. 

“I would be nearly rubbing shoulders 

with the referee because wherever he 

was going was the shortest route to the 

ball, making me first to the breakdown, 

either disturb it or turn it over. I learned so 

much from Ivan.” 

The experienced coach nurtured the 

game of the young player who liked to 

tackle more than to carry, who thrived 

in the trenches where hitting rucks was a 

badge of honour. 

“You often hear how when players 

played for Sir Alex Ferguson, they felt like 

they let him down when they didn’t win or 

play up to expectations. 

“It was the same with Ivan. If you didn’t 

play well, or were binned or red carded, 

you would look for Ivan to apologise for 

letting him down. 

“He would put his arm around you and 

say, ‘it is okay, young man.’ He always 

called you ‘young man.’ 

“He always looked ahead, told you to 

work on next week what went wrong this 

week. You would go away and work on 

that part of your game and play for him. 

“Ivan never gave you the hairdryer 

treatment. He just had so much respect 

from the players that he never needed it.” 

There is a distinct difference between the 

club close to the airport and most others 

in that they have stayed consistent to a 

clear vision. 

“Swords is a small club, fighting against 

those around us, like Clontarf, Suttonians, 

Malahide, to keep a hold of our players.” 

“What makes Swords special is that it has 

always been run by the players, for the 

players,” states Gary. 

“The committee is made up of ex-players 

and players. Any decisions taken were 

made with the best interests of the players 

in mind.” 

The sense of family is deep in a club 

where small truly is beautiful. The 

relationships formed there stretch beyond 

the white lines. 

“There are no cliques. Everything is done 

together which I think is unique. It is a 

case of one-in, all-in. It is the same for the 

men and our growing group of women. 

We all go out together as a club. 

Swords has gone through peaks 

and troughs, dropping from Leinster 

League Division One at the end of the 

2000/2001 season, losing players to 

emigration in the recession and climbing 

back to competitiveness. 

“There are good numbers down at 

training and we are on the verge of going 

for a second men’s team, providing we 

can get to 50-odd players. That would be 

a positive.” 

Something Ivan would certainly cheer. 


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

CPR Training 

Day for Leinster 

Rugby Players 

Last August, the Irish Heart 

Foundation was selected as one of 

Leinster Rugby’s charity partners 

and since then have been engaging 

with Leinster Rugby and with Dr. Emma 

Burrows in Rugby Players Ireland, to 

roll out a CPR training programme for 

Senior and Academy players. 

The first such session was held this 

week in the Leinster Rugby high 

performance centre in UCD. 

The players were introduced to a 

number of case studies by the Irish Heart 

Foundation as well as undergoing some 

hands-on CPR training and practical 

demonstrations themselves. 

It is estimated that every hour someone 

in Ireland suffers from a stroke, while 

hundreds more are diagnosed with heart 

disease every day. 

The lives of these people are often cut 

tragically short or permanently changed. 

Almost 9,000 people die each year, 

making heart disease and stroke one of 

the nation’s biggest killers. 

The Irish Heart Foundation works to 

prevent this, while also supporting and 

caring for people living with heart 

conditions and the effects of stroke and 

saving lives through CPR training. 

Further information on the work of the 

Irish Heart Foundation can be found at 

www.irishheart.ie and anyone interested 

in CPR training and such programmes 

is encouraged to contact the Irish Heart 

Foundation for more information. 



Seán 

O’Brien 

As Seán O’Brien 

picked himself 

up from under 

a sea of red 

shirts, his 

teammates were 

quickly in to 

congratulate 

him. 

THE ACADEMY 

INTERVIEW 

BY PAUL CAHILL 

The young number eight had just 

touched down the sixth try for 

the Leinster ‘A’ team and helped 

them to secure a 43-12 win over 

Munster ‘A’. 

That brought an end to the interprovincial 

series where Leinster ‘A’ won all three 

games with O’Brien as captain. 

September was a busy month for the 

Wicklow man. 

He led the Leinster ‘A’ side to a 37-22 

win over Connacht ‘A’ at the start of 

the month. One week later, O’Brien 

captained the Leinster ‘A’ side to a 28-12 

win over Ulster ‘A’ in Templeville Road. 

He then capped off a fine interpro series 

with the final try of the game against 

Munster ‘A’. 


PROUD TO BE OFFICIAL 

BUSINESS ADVISORS 

TO LEINSTER RUGBY 

For further information contact: 

Michael Costello, Managing Partner, 

on 01 470 0130 or email mcostello@bdo.ie 

Click here to visit bdo.ie 

BDO is authorised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland to carry on investment business. BDO, a partnership established under Irish Law, is a 

member of BDO International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, and forms part of the international BDO network of independent members firms.

“It was a great few weeks,” says O’Brien. 

“For me personally, it was good just 

getting a run of games for Leinster. There 

were a lot of younger lads and it was a 

good opportunity for them to see how the 

week works. 

“The ‘A’ team very much mimic the Senior 

team schedule in terms of, walkthroughs 

and plays and stuff like that. So I think it 

was good for everyone.” 

This experience was a little bit different 

from previous seasons. 

As a year one and as a year two 

Academy player, O’Brien didn’t start 

every ‘A’ team interpro game and had to 

make an impact off the bench. 

This year, he started every game and 

took on the responsibility of being team 

captain. 

Something he has experience of from his 

school days with Blackrock College, but 

not in the blue of Leinster. 

“It was a good experience for me to 

work on that side of the game. I definitely 

learned more each week. In terms of 

dealing with the referees, speaking to the 

group during the week, what needs to be 

said and what doesn’t need to be said. 

“Obviously when you’re playing with 

the Leinster ‘A’ team, you’re surrounded 

by lots of good players. So a lot of them 

already know what they’re doing. It’s just 

about aligning everyone. 

“The team has lads coming from the 

Academy and lads coming straight out 

of school, so trying to bring all of that 

together in the Centre of Excellence and 

in a pretty short space of time was the 

biggest challenge.” 

With the momentum of those three 

games, O’Brien then lined out for UCD 

RFC in their Energia All-Ireland League 

round one fixture against Clontarf last 

weekend. Despite powering over for a try 

midway through the first half, UCD lost 

24-19 to the defending champions. 

A very busy start to the 2022/23 season, 

but the back row insists that getting lots of 

games under his belt is key. 

“It’s great to be training here and coming 

in and learning, but, you’ve got to put 

that into practice on the pitch. That’s what 

really counts.” 

A five-point loss for UCD was hard to 

take, but two tries in as many weeks 

showed an element of his game that he 

has been working hard on; getting over 

the line. 

“I’ve been playing a bit more at number 

eight this year. It definitely means that I 

get my hands on the ball a bit more. 

“Those two tries I scored in the last two 

weeks were both off the base of the 

scrum, which is probably something you 

don’t get to do when you’re playing six 

or seven. 

“Number eight is the position I’ve been 

focused on the most this year. That’s 

where I feel I can have the biggest 

influence anyway. So they are the type of 

conversations I have had with coaches.” 

It’s clear that that competition is high for a 

starting back row position within Leinster 

Rugby. 

O’Brien knows that getting minutes on the 

pitch in any capacity is his best chance of 

being noticed. 


“I’ve been playing for UCD and I’ve 

been playing for the Leinster ‘A’ team for 

the last while, and I’m pretty confident 

in my own game off the back of those 

performances. 

“So that’s the main thing. While you’re 

an Academy player and you’re here 

learning, you’re still a rugby player. You 

still need to be playing games. 

“Playing games is where you get your 

confidence from. It’s where you get better 

as well.” 

While playing games is where you hone 

your craft, he knows that the work you 

put in Monday to Friday is where the real 

work is done. 

And as a young player looking to soak 

up as much knowledge as he can, he 

hasn’t been short on coaches who can 

inspire a back row. 

Last year, two-time Champions Cup 

winner and international back-rower, 

Denis Leamy was the Contact Skills 

Coach. He has been replaced by former 

Leinster, Ireland and British and Irish Lion, 

and his namesake, Seán O’Brien. 

A player the younger O’Brien looked 

up to as a fan and is looking forward to 

working with this season. Even if it gets a 

little bit confusing at training. 

“It’s strange. Even with our Instagram 

handles, he’s @SeanOBrien678, and I’m 

@SeanOBrien456. I’ve probably been 

tagged in a lot of the wrong photos, so I 

might change it.” 

But, as an aspiring professional back row 

rugby player, could you ask for better 

mentors? 

“When they say something, you know 

it’s something they would have done 

themselves, which probably does carry a 

bit more weight. They are both great for 

young back rows. 

“They’re very good for doing analysis 

clips because they’ve got a very good 

idea of what it’s like being there. It’s 

definitely good to have world class backrowers 

coaching us.” 


Playing 

games is 

where you 

get your 

confidence 

from. It’s 

where you 

get better 

as well. 

There are plenty of ‘pinch me’ moments 

for O’Brien. 

He is now working beside with the 

players he watched growing up and says 

that it has been a special experience. 

“Like so many of the lads who come into 

the Academy, I grew up wanting to play 

for the Senior team. 

“It’s obviously really cool being in the 

building now and training with all the 

players I used to look up to. I have loads 

of early memories of going to watch the 

team play. 

“I used to be a season ticket holder with 

my dad. We would go to all of the games 

together. 

“On a Saturday, I’d play my game in the 

morning for Blackrock or Willow Park 

or Greystones, and then you’d go to the 

Leinster game in the evening. 

“It would be a bit of a ritual at the 

weekend. I used to really enjoy it.” 

With a trip to the RDS in the calendar 

each week, it was clear which sport 

O’Brien would go on to play, even if he 

wasn’t sure at the beginning. 

“I started in Greystones at six years of 

age. My dad dragged me down against 

my will, but once I got into it, I loved it. 

I played for Greystones from U-6s to 

U-14s until the rugby got really serious in 

Blackrock. 

“I really enjoyed my time with 

Greystones. I still have loads of friends 

now from my time playing there.” 

With three sisters, Kate, Ciara and Ali, all 

very sporty during their school days, it 

was an easy house to stay active in. 

But, with O’Brien growing at quite a 

fast rate, it was an easy decision to 

concentrate on the oval ball. 

“My dad was big into cycling. He used to 

get me out on the bike until I was about 

14 or 15. I was just a little skinny lad, so I 

gave it a crack. 

“I ended up getting a bit too heavy for 

the bike after a while. I had to abandon 

it. Not too many bikes can support my 

frame anymore.” 

Now that he isn’t damaging his dad’s 

bikes, the Wicklow born player is fully 

focused on reaching his rugby targets. 

“The goal is always to be involved with 

the Senior team. I’ve got three caps and 

I’d love to just keep adding to that every 

year. 

“Playing in the Leinster ‘A’ games and 

winning those is very important as well. 

The games this year were very successful, 

but in my first year and even second year 

in the Academy probably weren’t as 

successful in the ‘A’ games. 

“With UCD, we really have our eyes on 

a top four finish, so that’ll be a big goal 

of mine this year as well. And, also to win 

the colours game against Trinity because 

we didn’t win it last year.” 

The progression of Seán O’Brien as a 

rugby player has been clear to see over 

the past few years. 

A determined young man, he knows what 

the next step on his rugby journey is and 

what he needs to do to get there. 

“Hopefully, I can just translate my 

performances into a few more caps for 

the Senior team. Because, that’s what 

everyone is really pushing for. It’s such 

a competitive squad, but it’s good that 

everyone’s pushing for that because it 

makes everyone else better as well.”


Rugby 

Academy 

Year 

Three: 

92 | www.leinsterrugby.ie 

Marcus Hanan (3) #1295 


FROM Clane, Co Kildare 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”) 


POSITION Loosehead prop 

SCHOOL Salesian College, Celbridge 

CLUB Clane RFC 

HONOURS Ireland U-20 (2 caps) 

John McKee (3) #1307 


FROM Belfast 

HEIGHT 1.85m ( 6’ 0”) 


POSITION Hooker 

SCHOOL Campbell College 

CLUB Terenure College RFC 


Seán O’Brien (3) #1297 


FROM Pittsburgh, PA, USA 

HEIGHT 1.91m ( 6 ’ 3”) 

WEIGHT 106kg ( 16st 10lbs) 

POSITION Back Row 

SCHOOL Blackrock College 

CLUB UCD RFC 


Max O’Reilly (9) #1291 


FROM Long Island, USA 

HEIGHT 1.86m (6’ 1”) 


POSITION Full-back 

SCHOOL St Gerard’s School 

CLUB DUFC 


Andrew Smith (2) #1292 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.8 m (5’ 11”) 


POSITION Back Three 

SCHOOL St Michael’s College 

CLUB Clontarf FC 



Rugby 

Academy 

Year 

Two: 

Alex Soroka (5) #1296 


FROM Cork 

HEIGHT 1.95m (6’ 5”) 



SCHOOL Belvedere College 



Jack Boyle 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.86m (6’ 1”) 


POSITION Loosehead prop 


CLUB UCD RFC 


Lee Barron (2) #1308 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 3”) 


POSITION Hooker 


CLUB DUFC 


Chris Cosgrave (2) #1305 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”) 




CLUB UCD RFC 


Temi Lasisi (1) #1304 

DOB 9 May 2001 

FROM Enniscorthy, Co Wexford 

HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0 “) 


POSITION Tighthead prop 

SCHOOL CBS Enniscorthy 

CLUB Lansdowne FC/Enniscorthy RFC 


(3) = Leinster Rugby Senior caps

Ben Murphy (1) #1309 


FROM Bray 

HEIGHT 1.76m (5’ 8”) 


POSITION Scrum-half 

SCHOOL Presentation College, Bray 




Rugby 

Academy 

Year 

One: 

Rob Russell (5) #1302 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”) 




CLUB DUFC 


Ben Brownlee 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”) 


POSITION Centre 


CLUB UCD RFC 


James Culhane 

Stats correct as of September 16, 2022 


FROM Enniskerry, Co Wicklow 

HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”) 




CLUB UCD RFC 


Aitzol Arenzana-King 


FROM Gormanston, Co Meath 

HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 



SCHOOL Gormanston College/CUS 

CLUB Clontarf FC/Balbriggan RFC 


Diarmuid Mangan 


FROM Kildare 

HEIGHT 1.93 m (6’ 4”) 



SCHOOL Newbridge College 

CLUB UCD RFC 


Rory McGuire 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”) 


POSITION Tightead prop 


CLUB UCD RFC 


Sam Prendergast 


FROM Kildare 

HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”) 


POSITION Out-half 

SCHOOL Newbridge College 

CLUB Lansdowne FC 


Charlie Tector 


FROM Wexford 

HEIGHT 1.89 m (6’ 2”) 


POSITION Out-half 

SCHOOL Kilkenny College 

CLUB Lansdowne FC 



fixtures and 

results 2021/22 

Date 

17/09 

23/09 

30/09 

KO/ 

Result 

Opposiotion Venue 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 1 2 

W 

29-33 URC ZEBRE Stadio Sergio 

Lanfranchi 

O’REILLY RUSSELL OSBORNE NGATAI 

KEARNEY 

1T 

R. BYRNE 

C4 

W 

42-10 URC BENETTON RDS Arena O’BRIEN LARMOUR RINGROSE HENSHAW KEARNEY FRAWLEY 

3C 

W 

13-20 URC ULSTER Kingspan 

Stadium 

08/10 17:05 URC CELL C 

SHARKS 

RDS Arena 

14/10 19:35 URC CONNACHT Sportsground 

O’BRIEN LARMOUR RINGROSE HENSHAW KEARNEY 

R. BYRNE 

2C 2P 

MCGRATH 

1T 

MCGRATH 

1T 

MCGRATH 

E BYRNE 

PORTER 

PORTER 

KELLEHER 

SHEEHAN 

4T 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

22/10 17:15 URC MUNSTER 

28/10 19:35 URC SCARLETS 

Aviva 

Stadium 

Parc y 

Scarlets 

26/11 15:15 URC GLASGOW RDS Arena 

03/12 19:35 URC ULSTER RDS Arena 

09/10/11 

Dec 

16/17/18 

Dec 

TBC HCC RACING 92 TBC 

TBC HCC GLOUCESTER 

RUGBY 

26/12 19:35 URC MUNSTER 

RDS Arena 

Thomond 

Park 

01/01 19:35 URC CONNACHT RDS Arena 

07/01 19:35 URC OSPREYS 

13/14/15 

Jan 

20/21/22 

Jan 

TBC 

HCC GLOUCESTER 

RUGBY 

TBC HCC RACING 92 

28/01 17:00 URC CARDIFF 

RUGBY 

18/02 19:35 URC DRAGONS 

RFC 

04/03 17:05 URC EDINBURGH 

24/03 19:35 URC DHL 

STORMERS 

15/04 14:00 URC EMIRATES 

LIONS 

22/04 16:05 URC VODACOM 

BULLS 

Swansea. 

com Stadium 

Kingsholm 

Aviva 

Stadium 

RDS Arena 

RDS Arena 

DAM Health 

Stadium 

RDS Arena 

Emirates 

Airline Park 

Loftus 

Versfeld 


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

ALAALATOA 

MOLONY 

JENKINS 

1T 

RUDDOCK 

T2 

ALAALATOA MOLONY JENKINS BAIRD 

ALAALATOA MOLONY JENKINS 

BAIRD 

1T 

PENNY DEEGAN MCKEE MILNE ABDALADZE DEENY SOROKA MCCARTHY FRAWLEY CONNORS 

VAN DER FLIER 

1T 

DORIS KELLEHER E. BYRNE HEALY MCCARTHY CONNORS FOLEY 

R. BYRNE 

3C 

NGATAI 

VAN DER FLIER CONAN MCKEE E. BYRNE ABDALADZE RYAN CONNORS MCCARTHY SEXTON NGATAI 


matchday 

Squads 

officials 

Jimmy O’BRIEN 

Jordan LARMOUR 

Robbie HENSHAW 

Charlie NGATAI 

Rob RUSSELL 

Jonathan SEXTON [C] 

Luke Mc GRATH 

15 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

FULL BACK 

RIGHT WING 

OUTSIDE CENTRE 

INSIDE CENTRE 

LEFT WING 

FLY HALF 

SCRUM HALF 

Aphelele FASSI 

Werner KOK 

Rohan JANSE VAN RENSBERG 

Ben TAPUAI 

Thaakir ABRAHAMS 

Boeta CHAMBERLAIN 

Grant WILLIAMS 

REFEREE: 

CRAIG EVANS 

(WRU, 35TH COMPETITION GAME) 

ASSISTANT REFEREE: 

PETER MARTIN (IRFU) 

ASSISTANT REFEREE: 

KEANE DAVISON (IRFU) 

TMO: 

JON MASON (WRU) 

Andrew PORTER 

Dan SHEEHAN 

Michael ALA’ALATOA 

Ross MOLONY 

Jason JENKINS 

Ryan BAIRD 

Will CONNORS 

Jack CONAN 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

LOOSE HEAD PROP 

HOOKER 

TIGHT HEAD PROP 

SECOND ROW 

SECOND ROW 

BLINDSIDE FLANKER 

OPENSIDE FLANKER 

NUMBER 8 

Ntuthuko MCHUNU 

Kerron VAN VUUREN 

Thomas DU TOIT [C] 

Justin BASSON 

Hyron ANDREWS 

James VENTER 

Dylan RICHARDSON 

Sikhumbuzo NOTSHE 

John McKEE 

Cian HEALY 

Vakhtang ABDALADZE 

James RYAN 

Rhys RUDDOCK 

Cormac FOLEY 

Ross BYRNE 

Garry RINGROSE 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

Dan JOOSTE 

Dian BLEULER 

Carlu SADIE 

Reniel HUGO 

Phepsi BUTHELEZI 

Cameron WRIGHT 

Nevaldo FLEURS 

Marnus POTGIETER

*Restrictions apply. 

*

Parting Shot 

23 September 2022 

Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile 

Cian Healy of Leinster after making his 250th 

Leinster appearance in the United Rugby 

Championship match between Leinster and Benetton 

at the RDS Arena in Dublin.

Leinster vs Cell C Sharks

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?