Leinster vs Munster

LEINSTER 

VS 

€6 | ISSUE 03 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 

munster 

SAT 22 nd OCTOBER 

AVIVA STADIUM 

KO 5.15PM

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 

#LEIVMUN 

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 

72 

Stay 

connected 

& keep 

up-to-date 

86 

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 Aviva 

Stadium for this afternoon’s match 

against our old rivals Munster in 

Round 6 of this season’s BKT United 

Rugby Championship. 

I am delighted that we will be 

producing both a virtual and 

printed match programme for 

this match for the first time in 

two years! Covid-19 impacted 

a lot of things and the way we 

do things and it impacted on 

a lot of companies, including 

the company that used to 

print our programmes. But the 

communications team back at the 

Branch, feel they might have a 

solution so this afternoon’s game 

and match programme is being 

done on a trial basis to see where 

the appetite is at for a return to 

hard copy programmes! 

Once off? Or a full return? We shall see! 

But I know many of our supporters enjoy 

the mementos from games so great to 

see it back today. 

I wish to extend a warm welcome to 

Dublin to our Munster visitors and 

congratulate Ger McNamara on his 

appointment as President to Munster 

Rugby. To the squad, their Head 

Coach, Graham Rowntree and their 

management team, I hope you are 

enjoying your visit here for the URC 

match. 

Leinster have won their last five 

matches in the URC and I would like 

to congratulate the Leinster squad 

captained by Garry Ringrose on their 

win over Connacht last week and they 

will be confident heading into tonight’s 

match. But, of course, we can never be 

complacent around Munster especially 

as they had a great win against the 

Bulls last weekend so we expect this 

afternoon to be a challenging and 

physical match as always. 

I have no doubt that Leo and his squad 

are up for the challenge and we look 

forward to the season ahead. 

With Autumn Internationals and 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. 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; 

Bank of Ireland Leinster Leagues, 

Energia WAIL and AIL are all up and 

running as the teams start the task of 

taking their teams towards promotion 

from their divisions, with most Clubs 

fielding 2nds and 3rds teams this year 

it promises to be an exciting season 

ahead. 

I would like to congratulate MU Barnhall 

on the running of their Buffalo Blitz 

recently, after an absence of two years 

it was great to see all the teams; with 

national and international teams taking 

part, it was a huge success. 

A lot of our clubs that were awarded 

Sports Capital Funding over the last two 

years have been very busy updating 

their clubs, grounds and facilities. 

Congratulations to Skerries RFC on 

their new 3G pitch, Wicklow RFC on 

their new dressing rooms and gym, 

Stillorgan/Rathfarnham RFC on both 

their 50th Anniversary and to finally 

achieving their dream of having their 

own grounds and pitches in Heavy Park, 

and to Kilkenny RFC on their new gym 

and dressing rooms and improving their 

pitches and Club Grounds. Well done 

to all clubs who are currently in the same 

position and are busy working away to 

upgrade their clubs. 

I’d like to take this opportunity to 

congratulate Lansdowne FC and 

their President Mick Dawson on their 

150th Anniversary and their recent 

successful book launch and gala ball to 

commemorate this great occasion. 

I would like to welcome to the Aviva 

Stadium this afternoon the mini rugby 

teams who will play at half time in the 

Bank of Ireland Mini Games. To the 

players from all four 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 when they play at half time. 

It would be remiss of me not to mention 

our CEO Mick Dawson who retires at 

the end of this month. 

Mick has led Leinster Rugby to greatness 

over his 21 years at the helm and it has 

4 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

With Autumn 

Internationals 

and 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. 

been a great honour for me to have 

worked with him and be guided by him 

over the last few years. I wish him well 

in his retirement and look forward to 

meeting him on the circuit in his position 

as President of Lansdowne FC this year. 

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, who 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 afternoon 

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 and welcome to the Aviva 

Stadium for today’s fixture against our 

timeless provincial rivals Munster. 

A special welcome to Graham 

Rowntree, also known as ‘Wig’, 

my old Leicester Tigers teammate, 

who gets to experience his first 

Leinster v Munster game as head 

coach of the visitors. 

As we all know, the form book goes out 

the window for interprovincial derby 

games, so even though Munster are 

probably not where they want to be in 

the league table, we know that means 

nothing once the game kicks off – and 

we expect a formidable challenge. 

For me, this fixture will always echo back 

to my last meeting with Anthony Foley. 

It’s hard to believe it’s been seven years 

since his untimely passing – a sad day 

for Irish rugby. Whether you are a red or 

a blue, Axel will always be remembered 

fondly and we wish the best for Olive 

and their two boys, now and in the future. 

6 | www.leinsterrugby.ie 

As always, there’s been huge interest 

in today’s match and I want to say how 

much we all appreciate everyone who 

has turned up to cheer on their respective 

team. 

Provincial loyalty is a cornerstone of Irish 

rugby and when you see some of the 

challenges taking place in the English 

game at the moment, it drives home 

how lucky we are to count on such a 

loyal supporter base. It’s vital that we 

do everything we can to safeguard our 

provincial identity as a real point of 

difference in the professional game. 

A big thanks to all our supporters 

who braved the elements in Galway 

last weekend. There was a fantastic 

atmosphere in the Sportsground even 

though scores in the game were very 

hard to come by. 

Every provincial derby game produces 

a different challenge, and we know we 

have to be ready for whatever today’s 

match throws at us. 

A big thanks to all the team’s sponsors, 

in particular Bank of Ireland. After a 

long time without crowds, it has been 

fun to have more and more matchday 

activations and other events around 

games. 

On that note, we were delighted to 

welcome DigitalWell on board this week 

as Official Communications Partner and 

Official Secure Collaboration Partner to 

Leinster Rugby. 

Welcome also to Tadgh McElroy, who 

joins us as hooker cover for the next few 

months. With a couple of injuries in the 

squad, Tadgh brings some important 

experience to our group and we hope he 

goes well when given opportunities. 

I’d like to sign off by saying a big thank 

you to Mick Dawson for everything he 

has done, not only for Leinster Rugby but 

also for me personally. 

Professional sport can be a cut-throat 

business at times, but Mick has always 

had an amazing ability to maintain the 

‘dual mandate’ of Leinster, in other 

words balancing the professional 

with the amateur ethos of our great 

club. 

We have shared some brilliant 

days together and we will miss 

him greatly. 

In the meantime, I’m sure he’ll 

have plenty to keep him busy 

as President of Lansdowne FC, 

especially as they celebrate 150 

proud seasons. 

We look forward to welcoming 

Mick and Aileen back here for 

many years to come. 

Again, thank you to everyone for turning 

out to support their province and here’s 

to a cracking game of rugby! 

Leo

I’d like to sign 

off by saying a 

big thank you to 

Mick Dawson for 

everything he has 

done, not only for 

Leinster Rugby 

but also for me 

personally. 


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laura 

lynch 

BANK OF IRELAND 

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 

A very warm welcome to the 

Aviva Stadium from Bank of 

Ireland, for what promises 

to be a hugely exciting game 

against Munster Rugby. 

Whilst we know that Leo Cullen 

and his squad engage in the 

pursuit of excellence for all their 

matches, we’re sure that they 

would have had a circle in the 

calendar around this fixture at 

the start of the season, providing 

as it does such massive levels of 

anticipation and excitement for 

true blue rugby fans. 

I wish Leo and all the players the best of 

luck today. 

On behalf of Bank of Ireland, I want to 

congratulate Mick Dawson - a man who 

has done so much for Leinster Rugby for 

the past 21 years. 

As CEO, he has overseen the remarkable 

progress of Leinster over the past two 

decades, both on and off the pitch - and 

the organisation has flourished under his 

direction. 

I would personally like to wish Mick a 

very happy retirement and a successful 

season as President of Lansdowne FC. 

How fitting that your last home game as 

Leinster Rugby CEO would be on the 

doorstep of your own home club. 

I congratulate the Leinster Rugby U-19s 

who recently received a lap of honour 

at the RDS Arena in recognition of their 

tremendous achievement in winning their 

interprovincial series. Well done to all 

involved - it’s great to be starting another 

season with such positivity across our 12 

counties. 

Best of luck to the Portarlington, 

Enniscorthy, Blessington and Carlingford 

minis teams taking part in our half-time 

games this afternoon, and also to our 

match day mascots. We hope you have 

a wonderful day with your friends and 

families at the Aviva Stadium. 

Finally, to you the Leinster supporters. 

The challenge today and over the 

coming weeks is to keep your boundless 

energy levels high for the boys in blue as 

they face a series of tough challenges. 

Your support is hugely important as 

that sea of blue plays a pivotal role in 

ensuring that we #NeverStopCompeting. 

Enjoy the game, 

Laura Lynch. 

BANK OF IRELAND 

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 


Did you know? 

• Leinster Rugby have a 100% 

winning record after five 

rounds of the BKT United Rugby 

Championship. 

• The Leinstermen have 

lost only once at home in 

any competition since last 

November and that by a solitary 

point to the Vodacom Bulls in 

last season’s semi-final. 

• Leinster have played twentyfive 

previous fixtures at 

Landsdowne Road/Aviva Stadium 

in the Championship with their 

only defeat being 23-34 to 

Munster in October 2014. 

• Munster’s two victories so 

far in the BKT United Rugby 

Championship were both in home 

fixtures against Zebre and 

Vodacom Bulls 

• The Munstermen have won 

only once away from home in the 

Championship since January 24- 

17 against Ulster in Belfast in 

April. 

• Munster’s most recent 

victory at Aviva Stadium was 

49-12 over Connacht behind 

closed doors in August 2020, 

although they did draw there 

24-all against Toulouse in last 

season’s European Champions Cup 

quarter final, albeit eventually 

losing the penalty shootout 2-4. 

• The two provinces have met 

on 165 previous occasions with 

Leinster having the edge by 105 

wins to 49 with eleven games 

drawn. 

• Leinster have lost only one of 

their last nine fixtures against 

their fiercest rivals: 3-27 at 

the RDS Arena in the Rainbow Cup 

in April 2021. 

COMPARISON 

Overall URC head-to-head record: 

Played 45, Leinster won 30, Munster won 15. 

Last 3 URC results: 

30 Sep - Ulster (A) W 20-13 1 Oct - Zebre (H) W 21-5 

8 Oct - Sharks (H) W 54-34 7 Oct - Connacht (A) L 11-20 

14 Oct - Connacht (A) W 10-0 15 Oct - Bulls (H) W 31-17 

URC 2022/23 

1ST - W5 D0 L0 - 23PTS 

10TH - W2 D0 L3 - 11PTS 

WWWWW (23pts) 

URC form 

LLWLW (11pts) 

Top try scorer 

5 - Dan Sheehan 2 - Gavin Coombes, Niall Scannell 

Top points scorer 

26 - Ross Byrne 30 - Ben Healy 

Date Venue L M Leinster scorers Munster scorers 

Fri 4 

Sep 20 

Sat 23 

Jan 21 

Sat 27 

Mar 21 

Sat 24 

Apr 21 

Sat 2 

Apr 22 

Sat 21 

May 22 

Aviva Stadium (SF) 13 3 Ronan Kelleher(T) Johnny Sexton(C/2P) JJ Hanrahan(P) 

Thomond Park 13 10 Ross Byrne(C) Jordan Larmour(T) Johnny 

Sexton(2P) 

Tadhg Beirne(T) JJ Hanrahan(C/P) 

RDS Arena (TF) 16 6 Jack Conan(T) Ross Byrne(C/3P) Joey Carbery(2P) 

RDS Arena (RC) 3 27 David Hawkshaw(P) Conor Murray(2T) Joey Carbery(2C/2P) 

Penalty Try(T) 

Thomond Park 34 19 James Lowe(2T) Ross Byrne(C/4P) Garry 

Ringrose(T) Jimmy O'Brien(T) 

Aviva Stadium 35 25 Harry Byrne(2C/3P) Cormac Foley(T) Scott 

Penny(T) Rory O'Loughlin(T) Penalty Try(T) 

Damian de Allende(T) Joey Carbery(C/4P) 

Mike Haley(T) Jack O'Donoghue(T) Conor 

Murray(T) Joey Carbery(2C/2P) 


sh 


dan 

eehan 

the big interview 

BY MARCUS Ó BUACHALLA 

A second interprovincial derby 

in the space of eight days is 

enough to get anyone giddy 

and Leinster Rugby hooker, Dan 

Sheehan, is no different. 

As he settles his 6’3 frame into 

a seat at the Leinster base in 

UCD, he is still excited by the job 

done at the weekend out west in 

Galway and equally enthused by 

what lies ahead. 

First things first, a win against Connacht 

Rugby in near apocalyptic conditions. 

“Always going down to the Sportsground 

it’s difficult anyway, but then when the 

conditions come into play, it makes it 

even harder. So when you look back on 

it, to go there, in those conditions, and to 

win and also to keep them scoreless is a 

pretty good outcome. 

“Like every game, there are areas for 

us to improve and we’ve got a brilliant 

game now to look forward to, to try and 

improve on those things.” 


What frustrated them and what’s to 

improve on? 

“I suppose when you score so early and 

then don’t add to it for a while, that’s 

one element. So to keep the scoreboard 

ticking along especially after such a 

strong start, you want to build on it and 

we didn’t do that. 

“Against that I think we have to be 

happy with our defensive performance. 

We were under the pump a fair bit 

and under our posts a bit but we didn’t 

concede anything and against a team 

like Connacht to hold them out for a full 

game is very satisfying.” 

In his post-match comments to media, 

Jimmy O’Brien mentioned the wind in 

Galway and that usually it plays one 

way and you can read it from there and 

that read stays fairly consistent, but that 

the wind last Friday was a different beast 

altogether. 

Swirling and changing direction at will. 

It made conditions for catching the ball 

for back three players like O’Brien very 

challenging. As it did for Ross Byrne and 

Ciarán Frawley on kicking duties and 

indeed for Sheehan and John McKee on 

throwing duties at hooker. 

Those are the nights that ask serious 

questions of your technique and your 

process. 

“For somewhere like the Sportsground, 

which is an exposed stadium, during 

the week we make sure that we have 

the conversations internally about the 

conditions but also the different options 

we have depending on how the weather 

plays out. 

“Especially around lineout time, the wind 

in Galway impacts different parts of the 

pitch differently. One stand, depending 

on how it’s blowing, could cover some 

of that wind, but another position on the 

pitch could be completely at the mercy of 

the elements. 

“Being able to manipulate the opposition 

to be able to win an easy ball at the 

front or a different option and to keep it 

tight, so I think, in that moment you have 

to stick to the process and that comes 

back to being prepared during the week 

and seeing all the possibilities good and 

early. Nothing should surprise you on 

match day if you’ve your prep done. 

“It won’t always go your way especially 

in conditions like that but then it’s about 

the next moment and not getting bogged 

down in it. Forget it. Next moment and 

move on.” 

In Sheehan’s ear on Friday evening were 

the Connacht fanatics in the Clan Terrace 

and a packed-out Sportsground, looking 

to put him off, but there were also the 

familiar voices of Messrs. Dooley and 

Murphy in the Connacht pack. 

Two old friends, turned foes, and doing 

their best to make sure that Sheehan 

and Co. knew they were in a game, 

especially at scrum and lineout time. 

He smiles as he reflects on the 

interactions. All part and parcel of the 

modern match day environment, both on 

and off the pitch. 

“It was great to see the lads after the 

game, definitely. But before the game or 

during the game, we were all ready to 

bite each other’s ears off! But that’s what 

you’d expect. Them going at us, and us 

at them. We’d expect no different. 

“It’s always a challenge coming against 

players like that. Peter and Josh know 

what we are about, inside out, and 

especially given they were here in 

Leinster recently, it’s probably even 

more of an issue. And then you had 

Dave Hawkshaw playing at centre and 


these are the big days, the interpros, 

the European games, the massive games 

you want to be involved in. 

Adam (Byrne) is obviously there as 

well. 

“The lads are all going well at Connacht 

and you’d wish them well. Four great 

lads. I know Adam wasn’t playing on 

Friday but the other three lads definitely 

caused us issues at times in areas that 

they knew they could exploit. 

“That happens though. Not just in this 

game but in games between all the 

provinces. There is that familiarity that we 

all have from time in with Ireland or from 

lads moving clubs and it’s an element 

to these games that we all have to deal 

with. 

“If anything it probably adds to the mix 

for these games and the uncertainty of 

how that knowledge plays out.” 

With the Autumn internationals around 

the corner, Sheehan has to be happy 

with his stats. 

He has four starts from five games 

for Leinster so far this season and a 

remarkable five tries, including four in the 

game against Benetton Rugby. He also 

has two Player of the Match awards to 

his name. 

When you add that into the mix and 

a successful and historic test series win 

against New Zealand with Ireland, 

things are going well but he is very quick 

to distance himself from too much praise, 

in particular around his try-scoring feats. 

Instead he credits the work of scrum 

coach Robin McBryde and a different 

focus over the last few seasons. 

“I haven’t scored in the last two games, 

to be fair,” he jokes, “but to be honest, 

the reality is that the work is done 

elsewhere and I am just at the end of that 

work. 

“Robin came in a few years ago now 

but he put a huge emphasis on our 

maul work and on our set-piece so it’s 

something that we’ve relied on heavily in 

the last two seasons in particular to give 

us access into games and to put points 

on the scoreboard so I think if you look 

at any of our hookers we’ve all scored 

more tries that would be expected from 

that position. It’s not just me. 

“It’s something that we can really look 

forward to and try to improve even more 

as the season progresses.” 

To the Munster Rugby game today and 

a first home interpro of the season and 

similar to the Connacht game last week, 

there is more than a sense of familiarity 

with this one. 

Yes there are the international bonds 

forged during historic tours to New 

Zealand but there is also the small matter 

of the former Leinster Rugby contact skills 

coach, Denis Leamy, now back in a 

red tracksuit as the Munster defence 

coach. 

Sheehan enjoyed working with Leamy, 

first in his role with the ‘A’ team and 

then in the last year as he worked with 

the Senior team. 


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“Two season ago when I was playing 

a lot of Leinster ‘A’ rugby, Leams would 

have been heavily involved with that 

team. He was great to work with. 

“He was great for the small details. 

The detail around the breakdown in 

particular and I suppose the dark arts 

of rugby and it’s been interesting to see 

some of those ideas or even some of the 

Leinster ideas play out now in some of 

the things we’ve seen from Munster so 

far this season. 

“So that is something we need to adapt 

to. But yeah, for Leams, he’s had a huge 

impact on my game over the last two 

years in particular. I enjoyed working 

with him.” 

What have they scouted in the five 

Munster Rugby performances to date? 

There has been a lot of chatter in media 

and amongst supporters, but what has 

the Leinster brains trust seen? 

“I think for a start it’s only natural with 

a new coaching team and then a few 

changes in their squad, that it will take a 

while to get going but over the last few 

games we can see things taking shape 

and they are up and running. 

“There is a change though, you can 

definitely see that. I think we are seeing 

a more expansive game that they are 

trying to play and for them, a game up 

in Dublin, in the Aviva Stadium, against 

Leinster is the perfect game to really kickstart 

their season. 

“If they can put in a performance on 

Saturday nobody will be talking about 

the games until now because that will 

have them confident again. That is 

what we have to ready ourselves for, a 

physical game, backs to the wall, them 

coming out fighting and knowing they 

need to deliver. 

you have to stay focused 

as much as you can on the 

here and now and not get 

distracted by what’s coming 

down the line. 

“We have to acknowledge that and 

be ready for it but also have our own 

ambition and our own mindset and goals 

front and centre. Focus on ourselves 

and a performance in front of our own 

supporters and what we want to take 

from the game.” 

There have been big games up to now 

in the BKT United Rugby Championship 

season, including two interpros, but this 

feels different. As it should. 

“Especially in the Aviva, these are the 

big days, the interpros, the European 

games, the massive games you want to 

be involved in. 


“Great crowd and noise, family and 

friends there. You couldn’t ask for me. 

And then it’s Munster. It’s always a big 

day. All the boys are really excited to get 

stuck into their opposite number because 

the points are crucial for the URC table 

but then you’ve also got the Irish coaches 

looking in and the games around the 

corner.” 

He has mentioned the small matter of 

South Africa, Fiji and Australia in passing 

and it’s clear it’s in the back of his head 

but he also knows that thinking too 

far ahead won’t do him or any of his 

colleagues in blue any favours. 

“Exactly. I know it’s a cliché but you will 

only pull on an Ireland jersey by going 

well in a blue one so you have to stay 

focused as much as you can on the 

here and now and not get distracted by 

what’s coming down the line. 

“Everyone is looking for consistency in 

the week-to-week games and that edge 

that you can bring so this week, that’s 

all I can focus on and then whatever 

happens after that, I’ll focus on that.” 

This afternoon at 5.14pm one man who 

has been consistency personified, over 

many years, will lead Leinster Rugby out 

onto the Aviva Stadium turf. 

Johnny Sexton is Sheehan’s captain for 

Leinster and for Ireland, but is now on his 

final few laps of the track, with retirement 

after the 2023 Rugby World Cup wellflagged. 

It’s not quite time to hang up the boots 

yet for Sexton, but what has the 24-yearold 

Sheehan made of the last few years 

training and playing alongside him. 

“I talk about consistency week to week 

and that’s it for me. 

“He drives the standards more than 

anyone I’ve ever met, at club or 

international level. The standards that 

he shows and expects from others 

is something that has had a massive 

impact over all the squads that he’s been 

involved with over the last 15, 20 years. 

“You can see that in the way people 

react to him, play for him, show up 

around him. He’s the ultimate captain. 

He’s someone that you want to play for, 

you don’t want to let him down.” 

The ‘ultimate captain’ reference has been 

challenged externally over the last few 

weeks especially off the back of the Cell 

C Sharks game and some of Sexton’s 

discussions with the referee in 

that game, but internally, there 

is nothing but support for 

Sexton and Sheehan knows 

exactly what he wants from 

his captain. 

“Johnny’s hugely 

passionate and gets 

himself into any game, no 

matter what it is. 

“But that is also his role. 

To have those chats with 

the ref, in the right way of 

course and respectfully, 

but at times he has to 

get his point across too 

and I think in a match 

when you are away 

from the action, 

or you hear 

something on the 

ref mic, it can 

get blown out 

of proportion, 

but I think it 

just shows 

I think you 

can clearly 

see that 

he’s always 

going to be 

there for his 

teammates 

and it’s 

exactly what 

you want in a 

captain. 


how passionate he is about his team 

mates, about winning, about Leinster and 

about Ireland as well. 

“I think you can clearly see that he’s 

always going to be there for his 

teammates and it’s exactly what you 

want in a captain.” 

As our chat concludes, talk drifts towards 

family, his roots and indeed his ties to 

Lansdowne FC. 

His late grandfather, Denis Shaw, played 

for Leinster Rugby back in the 1950s, 

while his father Barry would have played 

for UCD in the 80s and 90s, and his 

uncle Derry Shaw was President of 

Lansdowne for the 2019/20 season. 

Talk also drifts towards Mick Dawson, 

the Leinster Rugby CEO, who departs 

at the end of the month after 21 years 

in the hot seat. 

Dawson, like Sheehan, is a proud 

Lansdowne FC man, and as he takes 

his bow from Leinster Rugby he does so 

as Lansdowne celebrate 150 years in 

existence and with Dawson as President 

for that special celebration. 

Sheehan was one of the guests of 

honour at the recent gala ball and 

reflects fondly on Dawson’s legacy but 

also the role of Lansdowne in his own 

career to date after playing for the club 

in the Energia All-Ireland League having 

impressed for Dublin University FC prior 

to that. 

“Lansdowne has been a big part of my 

life, but not just my life, it’s been part of 

the narrative to my family life and we’ve 

had links with the club for years. 

“A good few uncles and family friends 

growing up, it’s the club you went to 

watching games and three seasons ago 

with my uncle, Derry, as President of 

Lansdowne, it was one of my proudest 

moments to pull on the famous jersey and 

to play for him. 

“That was huge for me, it really was, and 

to get a good season with them and to 

pull on the jersey a good few times, it still 

means a lot to this day because it’s such 

a historic club as well. They’ve the 150th 

anniversary celebrations this year and 

it’s brilliant for Mick. 

“Mick being President for a special year, 

he has done a huge amount already for 

Leinster and is now doing even more 

for Lansdowne and really showing his 

support for the 150th year. 

“Lansdowne will always be close to my 

heart and it was a great night at the ball. 

It was brilliant to catch up with coaches 

I’ve had like Mike Ruddock and Mark 

McHugh, all these great people that I’ve 

had in my life, guiding me and giving 

me advice. 

“Even looking back on my time with 

Mike and one of the first things he 

showed me when I met him was a scrum 

machine. It was one of the things that I 

really wanted to develop at the time and 

he made sure that I was developing and 

he took special notice because he knew 

it was an area that I needed to improve 

to get into the professional game and 

I’ve a huge amount to be thankful 

for. Thankful to Mike and thankful to 

Lansdowne.” 

As he talks in a calm, measured and 

mature manner, you forget that he is still 

so young. 

At 24 years of age, his best days are 

arguably still ahead of him, but for now, 

let’s take his own advice from earlier. 

Let’s enjoy the moment now, let’s 

enjoy his performances and what he’s 

achieving. Let’s enjoy the game today. 

And down the line will look after itself. 


0 

10 

Action 

replay 

FRIDAY 14TH OCTOBER 2022 

SPORTSGROUND 

REFEREE: FRANK MURPHY 

ATTENDANCE: 6,997 

UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 

SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR 

THE FULL MATCH REPORT 

SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR 

THE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS 

CONNACHT: 

Conor Fitzgerald, John Porch, Byron Ralston, David 

Hawkshaw, Mack Hansen, Jack Carty (capt), 

Colm Reilly; Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay 

Bealham, Niall Murray, Gavin Thornbury; Josh 

Murphy, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle. 

REPLACEMENTS: Grant Stewart for Heffernan 

(59), Denis Buckley for Dooley (44), Jack Aungier 

for Bealham (62), Oisin Dowling for Thornbury 

(55), Conor Oliver for Hurley-Langton (55), Caolin 

Blade for Reilly (50), Tom Daly for Fitzgerald (65), 

Ciaran Booth. 

YELLOW CARD: N Murray 

LEINSTER: 

Jimmy O’Brien, Liam Turner, Garry Ringrose (capt), 

Charlie Ngatai, Rob Russell, Ross Byrne, Cormac 

Foley, Ed Byrne, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Ross 

Molony, James Ryan, Caelan Doris, Josh van der 

Flier, Jack Conan. 

REPLACEMENTS: John McKee for van der Flier 

(70), Andrew Porter for Byrne (44), Michael 

Ala’alatoa for Furlong (40), Joe McCarthy for 

James Ryan (62), Martin Moloney, Nick McCarthy 

for Foley (54), Ciarán Frawley for Russell (72), 

Robbie Henshaw for Ngatai (46). 

TRY: C. Foley CON: R. Byrne PEN: C. Frawley 

A very tough 

game and we’re 

just delighted 

to get the four 

points and get 

home! The wind 

was across 

the pitch so it 

was different 

to what we are 

used to here. 

I thought we 

managed it well 

enough. And then 

to keep them out 

for 80 minutes, 

was very 

satisfying. 

Jimmy O’Brien 


We start the 

game well and 

had some more 

chances to 

push on but we 

couldn’t quite 

nail them. The 

crowd are into 

everything here 

and Connacht 

players feed 

off that. So it’s 

a great 

reflection on 

provincial rugby 

in Ireland. 

Leo Cullen 


CYM Rugby Club, 

Terenure, celebrate Ten 

Years of Women’s Rugby 

BY EMMA LOUISE KEOGH, LEINSTER WOMEN’S RUGBY PRO 

Ten years ago this season 

women’s rugby did not exist at 

CYM RFC, while numbers for the 

men’s section were languishing. 

Fast forward to 2022 and a 

decade of women’s rugby is being 

celebrated and it’s been a decade 

which has transformed the 

fortunes of the entire club, a club 

with almost 100 years of history 

behind it. 

The women’s team started life in the 

then-development league of Division 

4. They quickly moved up to Division 2 

as numbers and the quality of players 

grew. Then in 2017, CYM women’s team 

secured promotion to Division 1 with 

a victory over Tullow in the Division 2 

League Final in Donnybrook. They spent 

four years in Division 1, before moving 

back to Division 2 this season. 

Beyond the results on-field and just 

as importantly, the establishment of a 

women’s team has allowed the club to 

flourish and mature. 

There is much more engagement in the 

club, female representation at executive 

level has been transformational, the club 

has a much greater role in community 

social responsibility and charity work, 

and we have had a few club weddings 

along the way! 

This October, to drum up interest, the 

CYM women held their annual Give It 

A Try night, welcoming players of all 

standards to join them for a fun-filled intro 

to rugby session, followed by a good 

chinwag and hot cuppa in the clubhouse 

afterward. 

A serious effort from everyone in the 

club prior to the night resulted in over 

30 women giving rugby a try and 

reinvigorated the team. This spark 

between new and veteran players has 

created a brilliant learning and friendly 

environment. 

Since then, CYM women won their first 

game of the season away to Balbriggan 

in Round 1 of the Bank of Ireland Leinster 

Rugby Women’s League, with six new 

players in that squad, all of whom joined 

the Give It A Try night. 

“I’ve been only playing with CYM - and 

rugby itself! - for a month” says Sligo 

native Grace Filan who is now a member 

of CYM RFC. 

“The team has made me feel welcomed 

and capable both on and off the pitch 

through ice breakers incorporated in 

drills, detailed tutorials with videos, 

a buddy system, all of the women 

answering any questions, as well as 

baked goods and nights out! It’s been 

great to take up a sport, learn new skills, 

and join such a wholesome community.” 

The recently appointed captain, Noreen 

Cassidy, is no stranger to sports as a 


proud Mayo woman who grew up 

playing football for Aghamore and 

camogie for Na Brídeoga, Tooreen. 

Lacrosse even took her fancy once she hit 

the bright lights of college life in National 

University of Ireland, Galway and in 

2019 Cassidy represented Ireland with 

the women’s national Lacrosse Team in 

international competitions. 

Her rugby career didn’t start until 2017, 

where she took up social tag rugby 

for the summer season with her work 

colleagues, but CYM soon caught her 

eye at the Give It A Try night and it was 

all positive from there. 

“CYM has given me the opportunity 

to play an amazing sport but more 

importantly make lifelong friends. I got 

to play with Connacht last season for 

the interpros which was a huge honour, 

I learned a lot and hopefully brought 

that back to improve my club game and 

confidence as well.” 

Cassidy isn’t the only one with an 

interprovincial cap under their belt. 

Former women’s captain Rachel Horan, 

an Offaly native, and centre Grace Tutty 

of Limerick were both selected for Leinster 

Rugby in recent seasons. 

Horan featured in the Leinster squad for 

four consecutive years (2016-2019), 

skipped a year due to the pandemic 

putting a kibosh on things, and finally 

in the 2021 season, where she played 

alongside former CYM teammate 

and now Irish International Hannah 

O’Connor. 

Tutty was also selected for the 2019 

squad, but unfortunately due to an ACL 

injury, had to put her Leinster dreams 

aside for the time-being. But she’s 

definitely one to watch! 

“It’s great for CYM to be celebrating ten 

years of women’s rugby this season. The 

introduction of women’s rugby to our club 

has completely revolutionised the way 

we run the club and how we consider all 

aspects of the game. 

“We are really looking forward to 

marking ten years of the CYM Women’s 

team with a special celebration later 

in the season,” said Bernard Murray, 

President of CYM RFC. 

Despite the recent drop in divisions, CYM 

RFC’s tenacious spirit, the addition of two 

pedigree coaches, and the reinvigoration 

of players new and old, means only good 

things for the Terenure-based club. 

CYM RFC has much more to offer its 

members than just an outlet to stay fit, it is 

a place for people to come and get that 

vital sense of belonging. 

There are 12 nationalities represented 

in the club not to mention someone from 

every county in Ireland, even Leitrim! 

If you’re interested in trying out rugby 

and meeting the women from this 

tenacious club, they’re running a second 

Give It A Try night on Thursday 27 

October 2022 at Terenure Sports Club, 

kicking off at 7pm. 

You can keep in touch and find out more 

on their social media. 

TRAINING TIMES: 

Tuesdays & Thursdays 

from 19:00 - 20:30 every week. 

Twitter: @cymrugby 

Instagram: @cymrfcterenure 

Facebook: CYMRugbyClubTerenure 

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 


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A – Action: If you could be a superhero, 

which would you be? 

Iron Man 

B – Boyhood: Who was your favourite 

sporting idol growing up? 

Rafael Nadal 

C – Childhood: What is your favourite 

childhood memory? 

Family ski trips to France 

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

meal? 

Pancakes with banana and honey 

E – Education: What was your favourite 

subject in school? 

Maths 

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

The Dark Knight 

G – Groove: Who is the best dancer in 

the squad? 

Michael Milne 

H – Holiday: What’s your favourite 

holiday destination? 

Rosslare 

I – Inside: Who is the worst to sit beside 

in the dressing room? 

Rónan Kelleher (very messy!) 

J – Joker: Who is the funniest in the 

squad? 

Rhys Ruddock 

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

of the day to play a match? 

5pm 

L – Languages: How many languages 

can you speak? 

Three 

M – Music: Your favourite artist and 

song right now? 

Queen and Bohemian Rhapsody. Old 

school. 


N – Number: Do you have a 

lucky number? 

Nope 

O – Others: What’s your 

favourite sport outside of rugby? 

Golf 

P – Pal: Who is your best mate in 

the squad? 

Don’t have a single best mate, 

they all are! 

Q – Quirky: Who has the most 

interesting fashion sense? 

Jamison Gibson-Park 

R – Red Carpet: Who is the most 

famous contact in your phone? 

Johnny Sexton 

S – Superstitions: Do you have 

any matchday routines? 

Just a stretching routine 

T – Trim: What’s the worst 

haircut you’ve ever had? 

Pre-Junior Cup game haircut 

from 2014! 

U: Under pressure: Who in the 

squad would be the best in a 

bad situation? 

Ryan Baird 

V – Verified: How often do you 

use social media? 

30 minutes a day probably 

W – Worst fear: What are you 

most scared of? 

Snakes 

X – X-ray: Have you ever broken 

any bones? 

Yes my hand last season 

Y – Youth: Where did you grow 

up? 

Stillorgan in Dublin. Kilmacud 

Crokes Abú! 

Z – Zoo: What’s your favourite 

animal? 

Gorilla 


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Family is at the Heart of 

Portarlington RFC 

BY BARRY LAMBKIN 

Portarlington Rugby Club, who 

won the 2021/22 Bank of Ireland 

Leinster Rugby Junior Club of the 

Year Award, is a club at the centre 

of its community and right at the 

centre of the club are the families 

who see the club as their home 

away from home. 

One such family is the Fitzpatrick family 

and Leinster Rugby have caught up with 

them to find out more about how they 

became involved with this vibrant club 

and what part it plays in their family life. 

Bobby Fitzpatrick is a native of 

Portarlington and played with some great 

youth teams at the club during the 1990s. 

When he returned from college he also 

played with the club’s senior team and 

says that the highlight of that time was a 

tour to Barcelona. 

“It was an unbelievable experience and 

really strengthened the bonds in the 

squad. I have some incredible memories 

of that tour and enjoyed every minute 

both on and off the field.” 

Bobby then moved to the US in 2009 

with his wife Francie where he joined 

Seattle Rugby Club. He had the 

opportunity to play both 7s and 15s and 

competed in the Canadian BC League 

and the US National Championships. 

“I was lucky to have great teammates 

and coaches including former Ireland 

and Ulster prop Justin Fitzpatrick and the 

King of 7s Waisale Serevi. In fact, myself 

and Justin were both in hospital one 

weekend and welcomed new babies into 

the world but we still made it to match the 

next morning and thankfully we won!” 

Francie and Bobby at the recent 10s 

tournament that they organised. 

Francie is Seattle born and bred but she 

travelled to Edinburgh for her third year 

of college and it was there that she met 

Bobby. She returned home after that year 

and graduated in 2005 but Bobby’s 

charm was strong enough to lure her to 

Ireland and when she moved over, she 

played with one of Portarlington’s first 

senior women’s teams in 2007/08. 

When she returned to the US with Bobby 

in 2009, she wasn’t able to continue 

playing as she was busy with four young 

kids but when they all made the move to 

Ireland in 2018, Francie hoped to play 

again. The following year she joined 

the PortDara women’s team and she 

continues to be an important member of 

the team. 

When Francie and Bobby brought their 

kids out to join the club’s minis teams 

they were immediately encouraged to 

get involved with coaching and they 

both agreed straight away. The club 

had only started to develop girls minis 

teams at U8s, 10s and 12s and so their 

experience was a huge addition to the 

coaching group. 

This season Francie has taken on the 

role of Director of Rugby for PortDara 

(an amalgamation of Portarlington RFC 

and Cill Dara RFC for girls youths and 

women’s rugby). 

Herself and Bobby both still coach 

Portarlington’s minis girls and Francie 

is part of the club’s minis management 

team which is tasked with continuing the 

development of minis coaches, working 

with the club’s CCRO Páidí Mahon to 

recruit new players and to come up with 

new innovative ideas so make the minis 

experience as inclusive and as much fun 

as possible while developing core skills of 

both the boys and girls. 

In fact, the management team have 

organised a club trip to watch their U-12s 

boys playing in the half time exhibition 

match this evening and over 350 players 

and parents have travelled to be with 

us tonight! That really is a sign of a 

vibrant club with families at the heart of 

everything that they do. 

The Fitzpatrick family at minis training 

in Portarlington 

Francie is very positive about the role that 

she can play in developing rugby for girls 

and women in the club. 

“I'm thrilled to be Director of Rugby this 

season and have already got to know 

some great people at both clubs. We 

expanded the PortDara Committee this 

year with people taking on specific 

roles, which is really helping us set the 

foundation for a great season ahead. It's 

great to be part of a group where we're 

working towards the same goal - fun, 

competitive rugby for girls and women in 

our community.” 

Francie and Bobby recently ran an 

invitational 10s tournament for senior 

women’s teams. The day was a huge 

success with clubs from all over Leinster 

travelling to Portarlington for the event. 

And it was a real family affair with 

Francie both playing and coordinating 

while Bobby managed things pitch side 

and their kids Keeley (11), Corina (9), 

Gavin (7) and Aoife (5) ran the tuck 

shop, updated the scoreboard and 

helped with the BBQ. 

Days like that and families like the 

Fitzpatrick family are the reason that 

people are drawn to our clubs. Their 

commitment to volunteering and to finding 

new ways to encourage more and more 

people to get involved and experience 

the joys of being part of a club and a 

team means that the future of their club is 

in good hands. 

Well done Bobby and Francie. Everyone 

at Leinster Rugby applauds you for your 

hard work. 


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 scan this qr code 

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 

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The Irish Times is proud to be official media partner to Leinster Rugby. 

With unparalleled rugby coverage we look forward to keeping you up to 

date with everything on and off the field in the 2022/23 season.

ENERGIA ALL-IRELAND 

LEAGUE ROUND-UP 

BY ROBERT DEACON 

With just three rounds completed 

of the men’s Energia All-Ireland 

League it is probably too early in 

the season to assess where teams 

are in terms of how their overall 

league campaign. 

Each club has sixteen matches remaining 

so a long, long way to go before next 

April when titles are won, promotion 

decided or relegation avoided. However, 

a good start is important for team moral 

and confidence and a number of the 

eighteen Leinster clubs competing across 

the five divisions have made a promising 

start. 

Division 1A 

In Division 1A, where five clubs from 

the province are competing, it is the two 

teams that contested last season’s final 

that are nailing their colours to the mast 

good and early with both teams still 

unbeaten. 

Terenure, beaten finalists in that epic 

encounter in the Aviva Stadium last 

April, have certainly shown their intent 

with three out of three victories against 

Munster opposition. They lead the table 

by virtue of having picked a four try 

bonus point in each match. 

Clontarf, the current champions, have 

started the campaign with victories over 

Lansdowne at home and UCD and 

Ballynahinch on the road for an excellent 

start in their bid to retain the title. 

They sit in third place, a point behind 

Terenure and on equal points with Dublin 

University FC who also have made an 

excellent start with three straight wins. 

One of those came against fellow 

students and arch-rivals UCD. 

Both Lansdowne and UCD have not had 

the start to the campaign they would 

have wished for, with both clubs still 

waiting for their first win. Lansdowne sit in 

seventh place with UCD a place behind 

in eight. Both clubs have picked up two 

losing bonus points in narrow defeats 

and there is no doubt their fortunes will 

change as the campaign gets deeper into 

the season. 

Division 1B 

There are four Leinster clubs in Division 

1B, and it is Old Belvedere who head 

the quartet in third place, on ten points, 

behind leaders UCC. The Anglesea Road 

men have had two wins to date, one of 

which was a last play victory against 

Naas. 

St. Mary’s also have had one success 

so far but have managed to pick up four 

bonus points to sit in sixth place with eight 

points. 

Old Wesley, are in eight place with six 

points, again having only one victory 

which came with a bonus point success, 

first time out against Naas. The Kildare 

men have yet to get off the mark but there 

is a long way to go in this campaign 

and there will be many twists and turns 

throughout the season in this division. 

Division 2A 

Division 2A sees three Leinster clubs 

plying their trade, Navan, Blackrock and 

MU Barnhall. 

Navan having been relegated from 

Division 1B last season have made a 

promising start with two home wins to 

date. They sit in third place with ten 

points, four behind leaders Queen’s 

University, and on equal points with 

newly promoted Blackrock in fourth 

position, who also have won their two 

home matches. 

MU Barnhall, lie in seventh position with 

one victory, but have picked up three 

bonus points, so still all to play for in this 

division. 

Division 2B 

In Division 2B, Greystones top the table 

in first place on points difference, after 

winning three form three, and are looking 

to gain promotion after narrowly missing 

out last season. 

Malahide, are in sixth place, one point 

ahead of Wanderers in seventh, both 

with one win, Wanderers success being 

against newly promoted Enniscorthy 

who have yet to get off the mark and lie 

in ninth place having gained two bonus 

points. 

Division 2C 

Division 2C, has Skerries and Tullamore 

representing the province, and both clubs 

have enjoyed two victories from three 

games to date. The Offaly men lie in 

fourth place, six points off the lead and 

one point ahead of the seasiders, so an 

exciting encounter is anticipated when 

the two sides clash. 

Round four takes place next Saturday the 

29th with plenty of top-quality club rugby 

across all five divisions. Check out the 

IRFU and club websites, and social media 

outlets for details of fixtures near you. 

The Energia All Ireland League continues 

to go from strength to strength and never 

fails to entertain. 


Donal McEvoy - RIP 

Last September, 

Donal McEvoy 

sadly passed 

away after a 

long illness. 

He was a native of Clonbur, in 

Galway, but he was no stranger 

to those in the 12 counties of 

Leinster, having been born in 

Wexford and having played 

Leinster Schools rugby with 

Roscrea and later again, playing 

number ten with Lansdowne FC. 

He was also highly regarded in Kilmacud 

Crokes where he and his family were 

members and indeed in golfing, fishing 

and shooting circles where his warm and 

friendly demeanour opened many a door 

and started many a conversation. 

Through his company Wildan Sports he 

represented some of the biggest brands 

in the golfing world and it is through his 

association with Rhino Rugby that many 

of you reading this today will recognise 

the name and the face. 

But to many within Leinster Rugby, he was 

so much more than that. 

“Integrity and passion are the two words 

that spring to mind when I reflect on 

Donal,” says Philip Lawlor, Head of the 

Rugby Department in Leinster Rugby. 

“Donal had a very easy manner and a 

passion for sport that made him easy to 

know and work with. He was very astute 

and in building the relationship between 

Rhino and Leinster Rugby. 

“He along with Barry Brennan made sure 

that the club and school game was at the 

forefront of all discussions. The benefits 

that accrued through the relationship 

continues to positively impact our rugby 

development programmes. 

“Donal’s love of all things Lansdowne 

was very evident. He enjoyed being 

part of the coaching team of the club’s 

U-16/17 transition year side over many 

years. His coaching experience and 

involvement with Lansdowne gave us 

plenty of time to discuss the merits of 

player and coaching philosophies. 

“He enjoyed sitting down and discussing 

all things rugby. For Donal it was rightly 

all about the player experience and 

ensuring they were involved in a learning, 

fun and safe environment. We would 

discuss the merits of the club/school/ 

youth programmes and all the activity 

involved in sustaining and driving the 

game at all levels and how Rhino could 

compliment this by providing resources 

suitable for coaches and players. 

“Donal was a gentleman who, on 

a business and personal level, was 

very enjoyable to be around, he was 

knowledgeable and understanding of 

what rugby development was all about 

and his integrity was to the fore. He is 

missed but his legacy in how to engage 

and build a positive beneficial working 

relationship with Leinster Rugby will 

endure.” 

Barry Brennan, who Philip mentions 

above, also remembers a brilliant 

character and workmate and despite his 

Galway roots and time spent playing 

rugby in Sydney, his deep passion for 

Lansdowne. 

“When he returned from Australia, 

Lansdowne became his second home, 

where his beloved four boys excelled 

over the past 20 years. 

“He became a much-valued coach, 

particularly at U-17 level. As Philip has 

already mentioned, there are countless 

stories of Donal quietly supporting player 

prospects, particularly from non-rugby 

backgrounds. 

“But he just loved everything about 

Lansdowne. 

“The mix of Dublin and provincial 

players from a wide range of sporting 

backgrounds. The strong focus on 

under-age and junior rugby which under 

pinned the success at Senior level. 

Donal would have revelled in the 150th 

Year celebrations this year. Also more 

important than his own involvement to him 

has been the success there of his boys, 

particularly Dan who continues to perform 

at Senior level.” 

As well as missing a business partner in 

Rhino Rugby, Barry will miss his friend. 

“Donal loved nothing more, as a 

passionate Galway man, but born in 

Enniscorthy, than going to Croke Park to 

see Galway or Wexford perform. We 

often celebrated or drowned our sorrows 

in Mulligans afterwards! 

“Fishing and shooting were his other great 

hobbies. He loved nothing more that 

fishing on the Lough Mask, near Clonbur 

where the McEvoy Galway roots are 

deeply embedded. 

“He will be greatly missed by us that 

knew him and worked with him but our 

thoughts and our hearts are still very much 

with Gill and the boys and his family.” 

Indeed all our thoughts at Leinster 

Rugby are still with Donal’s wife Gill, his 

treasured sons, William, Daniel, Andrew 

and Alex, and his extended family and 

friends. 

May he rest in peace. 


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+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - 0+20 2 10 0+19 2 10 0+1 - - 5 - 

MICHAEL ALA'ALATOA 1301 25 SEP 21 4+1 - - 4+1 - - - - - 16+14 3 15 15+7 2 10 1+7 1 5 7 WS 9 

RYAN BAIRD 1278 27 APR 19 3 1 5 3 1 5 - - - 22+19 8 40 20+14 8 40 2+5 - - 2 IR 8 

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

ED BYRNE 1222 9 FEB 14 2+2 - - 2+2 - - - - - 29+60 12 60 29+47 11 55 0+13 1 5 6 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 3+2 - 26 3+2 - 26 - - - 88+45 9 852 74+23 4 622 14+22 5 230 16 IR 13 

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

JACK CONAN 1223 20 FEB 14 2 - - 2 - - - - - 93+26 25 125 65+16 16 80 28+10 9 45 12 IR 33 

WILL CONNORS 1264 9 FEB 18 1+3 - - 1+3 - - - - - 19+10 2 10 18+10 2 10 1 - - 16 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 2 - - 2 - - - - - 49+8 8 40 35+6 6 30 14+2 2 10 4 IR 20 

CORMAC FOLEY 1299 24 APR 21 1+2 1 5 1+2 1 5 - - - 3+5 2 10 3+5 2 10 - - - 1 - 

CIARAN FRAWLEY 1265 17 FEB 18 1+2 - 9 1+2 - 9 - - - 32+27 7 188 29+19 5 172 3+8 2 16 5 - 

TADHG FURLONG 1220 1 NOV 13 1 - - 1 - - - - - 86+42 10 50 48+34 3 15 38+8 7 35 7 IR 66 

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+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 160+91 30 150 93+58 16 80 65+32 13 65 3 IR 118 

ROBBIE HENSHAW 1251 8 OCT 16 3+1 1 5 3+1 1 5 - - - 69+3 17 85 32+2 8 40 37+1 9 45 2 IR 63 

JASON JENKINS 1310 17 SEP 22 4 2 10 4 2 10 - - - 4 2 10 4 2 10 - - - 1 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 3 - - 3 - - - - - 67+10 27 135 43+7 20 100 24+3 7 35 5 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+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 8+5 1 5 8+2 1 5 0+3 - - 4 - 

NICK MCCARTHY 1241 19 DEC 15 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - 9+40 5 25 9+34 5 25 0+6 - - 9 - 

LUKE MCGRATH 1206 5 MAY 12 4 2 10 4 2 10 - - - 118+61 43 215 83+49 35 175 35+12 8 40 3 IR 19 

JOHN MCKEE 1307 23 APR 22 0+3 1 5 0+3 1 5 - - - 2+4 1 5 2+4 1 5 - - - 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 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 2+7 - - 2+7 - - - - - - - 

ROSS MOLONY 1233 20 FEB 15 5 - - 5 - - - - - 87+57 5 25 77+42 4 20 10+15 1 5 21 - 

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

CHARLIE NGATAI 1311 17 SEP 22 3+2 - - 3+2 - - - - - 3+2 - - 3+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 4 - - 4 - - - - - 47+10 16 84 38+9 10 54 9+1 6 30 6 - 

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 3+1 1 5 3+1 1 5 - - - 44+51 15 75 32+32 11 55 12+19 4 20 2 IR 46 

GARRY RINGROSE 1237 12 SEP 15 3+1 2 10 3+1 2 10 - - - 103+3 32 168 63+2 21 113 40+1 11 55 2 IR 44 

RHYS RUDDOCK 1167 6 DEC 09 2 2 10 2 2 10 - - - 158+54 14 70 120+35 12 60 37+17 2 10 2 IR 27 

ROB RUSSELL 1302 3 OCT 21 3 1 5 3 1 5 - - - 6+2 1 5 6+2 1 5 - - - 2 - 

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

JAMES RYAN 1259 2 SEP 17 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - 53+8 3 15 28+3 1 5 25+5 2 10 21 IR 46 

JOHNNY SEXTON 1127 27 JAN 06 1+1 1 19 1+1 1 19 - - - 157+29 27 1633 90+22 14 876 65+7 12 726 1 IR 114 

DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 4 5 25 4 5 25 - - - 13+20 21 105 12+13 18 90 1+7 3 15 3 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 1 - - 1 - - - - - 5+2 - - 5+2 - - - - - - - 

JOSH VAN DER 

1228 11 OCT 14 3 1 5 3 1 5 - - - 93+24 19 95 55+18 9 45 38+6 10 50 3 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 80.00% 10 2 - 10 2 - - - - 264 92 1 205 63 1 59 29 - 455 78.24% 

CIARAN FRAWLEY 100.00% 3 1 - 3 1 - - - - 57 13 - 54 13 - 3 - - 84 83.33% 

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

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

JOHNNY SEXTON 87.50% 7 - - 7 - - - - - 272 307 11 136 171 7 129 132 4 722 80.19% 


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Match Day Mascots 

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Age: 10 

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Hobbies: Rugby, soccer, GAA and Fortnite. 

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Squads 

matchday 

15 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

Ciarán FRAWLEY 

Jimmy O’BRIEN 

Garry RINGROSE 

Robbie HENSHAW 

Jamie OSBORNE 

Johnny SEXTON [C] 

Luke McGRATH 

FULL BACK 

RIGHT WING 

OUTSIDE CENTRE 

INSIDE CENTRE 

LEFT WING 

FLY HALF 

SCRUM HALF 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

Cian HEALY 

Dan SHEEHAN 

Tadhg FURLONG 

Jason JENKINS 

James RYAN 

Max DEEGAN 

Scott PENNY 

Caelan DORIS 

LOOSE HEAD PROP 

HOOKER 

TIGHT HEAD PROP 

SECOND ROW 

SECOND ROW 

BLINDSIDE FLANKER 

OPENSIDE FLANKER 

NUMBER 8 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

John McKEE 

Andrew PORTER 

Michael ALA’ALATOA 

Ross MOLONY 

Jack CONAN 

Nick MCCARTHY 

Ross BYRNE 

Rob RUSSELL 

REPLACEMENT 

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officials 

REFEREE: ANDREW BRACE (IRFU, 83RD COMPETITION GAME) 

ASSISTANT REFEREE: PETER MARTIN (IRFU) 

ASSISTANT REFEREE: OISIN QUINN (IRFU) 

TMO: MARIUS JONKER (SARU) 

FULL BACK 

Jack CROWLEY 15 

RIGHT WING 

OUTSIDE CENTRE 

INSIDE CENTRE 

LEFT WING 

FLY HALF 

SCRUM HALF 

Shane DALY 

Dan GOGGIN 

Rory SCANNELL 

Liam COOMBES 

Joey CARBERY 

Conor MURRAY 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

LOOSE HEAD PROP 

HOOKER 

TIGHT HEAD PROP 

SECOND ROW 

SECOND ROW 

BLINDSIDE FLANKER 

OPENSIDE FLANKER 

NUMBER 8 

Jeremy LOUGHMAN 

Diarmuid BARRON 

Keynan KNOX 

Jean KLEYN 

Tom AHERN 

Jack O’DONOGHUE [C] 

John HODNETT 

Gavin COOMBES 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

REPLACEMENT 

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Scott BUCKLEY 

Dave KILCOYNE 

James FRENCH 

Jack O’SULLIVAN 

Ruadhan QUINN 

Paddy PATTERSON 

Ben HEALY 

Patrick CAMPBELL 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23

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offical leinster 

supporters club 

At the end of the 2001/02 season the honours 

board in the old Donnybrook office of 

Leinster Rugby simply noted one engraving 

“Celtic League Winners 2001/02”. 

Fast forward 20+ years and it 

reads something quite different 

and whilst players, coaches, 

backroom staff and personnel 

are all to be credited in some 

shape or form with this, the 

one consistency over those two 

decades has been outgoing CEO, 

Mick Dawson. 

He has seen an extraordinary evolution 

during the most successful period of our 

143 year history and when you read 

through just some of the accolades, 

you can’t help but stop and think of the 

blood, sweat and tears Mick has shed 

in that time to get us to where we are 

today. 

Four Heineken Champions Cups (2009, 

2011, 2014 and 2018), a Challenge 

Cup (2013), the now URC on eight 

occasions, six Women’s Interprovincial 

titles, two British and Irish Cups and two 

Celtic Cups. 

Add to that a move from Donnybrook to 

the RDS, state of the art facilities in UCD, 

former coaches such as Michael Cheika 

and Joe Schmidt alongside current 

coaches Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster 

and sprinkle in the dazzling array of 

both home-grown and overseas talent 

and it’s clear to see this is a juggernaut 

that has built up a tremendous amount of 

steam and will continue to roll long after 

Mick has tidied the last of the papers on 

his desk, removed his signed photo of 

Brian O’Driscoll off the wall and exited 

Newstead Building A for the last time. 

Back in November 2001 when Mick 

first arrived on the scene into leaky 

portakabins with no computers and no 

access to email, he may have asked 

himself some difficult questions as to 

what he was about to embark upon! 

The office wasn’t great but when 

coupled with a pitch in Donnybrook 

that could break ankles mid-January, it 

must’ve been a real head scratcher for 

him. 

One of the first big challenges Mick 

undertook was to oversee the move of 

Leinster less than a mile from our spiritual 

home in Donnybrook to our new home in 

the RDS. Previous capacity was a mere 

6,500 however the RDS as we know 

can hold a rip-roaring 18,500 at full 

capacity and this is what a team wants 

to see when their backs are against the 

wall. 

Add to that, over 12,000 season 

ticket holders year in, year out and 

infrastructural projects like the Ken Wall 

Centre of Excellence in Energia Park, it’s 

been some innings from him. 

That is before you talk about the 

Academy players coming through in 

their droves as well as a successful 

girls and women’s player pathway that 

continues to develop playing talent for 

the senior Leinster team as well as the 

national side. 

This really is a team, a club, an 

organisation and a structure for Mick to 

be proud of. 

Mick being Mick though, he is not one 

to sit back on his laurels and relax as he 

is taking up a new role as President of 

Lansdowne FC for what is their 150th 

year. In doing so he’ll maintain a proud 

family tradition of following in the 

footsteps of his brother Mark, father Jack 

and grandfather Michael who too were 

also past presidents of the club. 

Whilst the OLSC don’t deal with Mick on 

a day to day basis, it’s clear he sees the 

role and the impact the committee and 

the supporters have on the Leinster set-up 

and this is a credit to him and one we 

are very thankful for. 

Those in attendance at the Supporters 

Q&A over the recent summer with Mick, 

Leo Cullen and Tania Rosser can see 

what Leinster means to Mick and how 

this wasn’t an easy decision for him. 

There’s an old Irish proverb, the work 

praises the man, and it’s clear to see this 

with Mick. 

Your OLSC Committee 


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Blessington RFC - 

An Introduction! 

BY KEVIN GREENE 

Blessington 

RFC is a 

young club 

which is 

building 

from the 

grassroots 

up. 

As a result, this U-12s team 

playing during the Bank of 

Ireland Half-Time Minis at Aviva 

Stadium this afternoon, will have 

pride of place when the club’s 

history is written. 

In those early days in 2016, two of our 

U-12s – Carter and Hugo – were the 

youngest of the ‘starting fifteen’ kids to 

join the club six years ago. Now, the club 

has over 200 kids (tots to U-14s) and the 

U-12s squad playing today now have 24 

players with new recruits Evan and Ryan 

joining only this year to help numbers 

even more. 

Ryan loves it and said, “in my first game, 

I managed to score a try. I remember 

being tackled by a player, but I could 

see the line and I just said to myself keep 

pushing, keep driving and I got the ball 

down. It was an amazing day.” 

The Blessington Minis play teams across 

the North Midlands league, and with 

each match, the team is developing their 

quick ball technique and teamwork. The 

hospitality of those teams has been great, 

and we enjoy hosting them at our pitches 

in Russborough House, where we train on 

Tuesday evenings. To say our clubhouse 

was built in 1752 is fantastic for a new 

club. Alfred Beit would be proud to know 

that his commitment to supporting the 

community continues today. 

Many players come from multiple sports 

backgrounds – GAA, cross country, 

sailing, fencing, soccer, etc. – while 

for others, it’s the only sport they are 

passionate about. Each player brings 

something different to the team. 

Theo, a forward in his second year with 

the team, said, “I like the atmosphere at 

rugby. It is a very physical and active 

sport. It also requires teamwork and we 

have a strong bond as a team.” 

The coaches see this trip to the Aviva as 

an early graduation ceremony for the 

boys and girls, as this will be the final 

season playing together. Next year’s girls 

team will bring some fantastic talent and 

speed in wingers Isabelle, Doireann and 

Lucy; lineout dominators Aoibheann and 

Brooke; and powerhouse forwards like 

Tia and team captain Emma. 

The Blessington girls’ programme will be 

great, but players like Lucy are looking 

further ahead, “I hope one day to play 

for the women’s Irish Team as a winger 

and bring home the World Cup.” 


It’s a brilliant group of U-12s though! 

The forwards – Isaac, Aaron, Sam, 

James, Dylan, Theo – love the pickand-go 

opportunities when they arrive. 

Shane provides plenty of height to let the 

backs – Charlie, Aaron, Dylan, Evan – 

apply serious pressure at the kick-off and 

restarts. While the team’s most confident 

tackler, Tom, always gives the other 

pointers and tips when Blessington is 

defending. 

“I love playing rugby for Blessington 

because it makes me feel happy and 

encouraged,” said Doireann. 

Creating that the right team environment 

is down to fantastic coaching team made 

up of Gavin, Tristan, Donal, Sorcha (a 

member of the Irish ALF Championship 

team), and Patrick with the expert 

coordination of Sylvia. 

Playing at the Aviva will be a big 

day, and the team is grateful for the 

opportunity. 

Evan Clery says, “I love representing my 

club and my town. I would love to play 

for Leinster, Ireland and the Lions when I 

grow up. I’m looking forward to playing 

at the Aviva Stadium for the first time!” 

Thanks for hosting us and all the support 

that Leinster Rugby, particularly Joe 

Carbery. 

It’s a big day for our young club but the 

memory of a lifetime for these young 

players…as we’re sure, it will only be the 

first of many rugby matches they play 

with pride at the Aviva. 


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 SOCIAL 

Leinster Rugby’s Club Community 

Rugby Officers (CCROs), working 

under the guidance of the Community 

Rugby Officer (CRO) work with clubs, 

schools and community groups to 

deliver tailored rugby programmes 

and expand the game of rugby within 

the clubs and schools of the province. 

Leinster Rugby has 49 CCROs and 18 

CROs working on the ground with girls 

and boys, in our clubs and schools for the 

2022/23 season. 

Let’s see what some of them have been 

up to and some of the places they’ve 

been to! 


THEN: Jim 

played for 

Leinster 

from 1976 to 

1987, winning 

six caps for 

Ireland. 

NOW: He is a 

non-executive 

director 

living with 

his wife Helen 

in Skerries 

with his three 

children 

Frank, 

Louise and 

Joe and four 

grandchildren 

nearby. 

Jim Glennon’s connection to 

Leinster is strong, deep and true. 

It is that way because of the hard 

road it took to get there. 

Having first played the game as 10 

year old at Skerries RFC, as a student 

at Cistercian College in Roscrea, he 

attended a Leinster Schools trial in 1969. 

No luck. 

He spent two years on the Leinster U19 

squad without ever playing as much as a 

minute. No luck there. 

Then, due to Skerries’ junior status in 

1974, Jim qualified to play for the Leinster 

Counties, what might today be referred to 

as the Provincial Towns team, moving on 

up to the Leinster Juniors. 

In 1975, Skerries moved into the senior 

club arena whereupon he became part 

of the Leinster squad without cracking the 

team. No luck there either. 

“Until then, we were just a junior club, 

the Towns’Cup had been the limit of 

our ambition, along with the occasional 

‘scalp’ of a senior club in the Leinster 

Senior Cup. Life was very simple ! 

“My first game for Skerries in adult rugby 

was as a hooker in September 1970 

against Barnhall and I was dropped 

to the seconds the following week and 

dropped again to play number eight 

on the Skerries 3rds the following week 

again.” 

By the end of the month, if anyone had 

suggested Jim as a Leinster and Ireland 

second row, they would have been 

laughed right out of the North Dublin 

town, not least by the man himself. 

However, there was genetic evidence of 

better times ahead from his six maternal 

McGowan rugby-playing uncles from 

Balbriggan (one of whom had earned a 

final Ireland trial in the 1920s) and three 

cousins of the same name, two of whom, 

Joe and Kevin, played for Leinster, the 

latter getting a Final Trial in 1969. 


WHERE 

ARE 

THEY 

NOW? 

JIM 

BY DES BERRY 

GLENNON 


family. Yes, I gladly gave it. But, it would 

never happen nowadays,” he says. 

“In those days, Leinster played three 

interpros, maybe a match in September 

and, more often than not, they had an 

annual match in the South of France, on 

November 11, Armistice Day, a national 

holiday over there, or against Llannelli in 

the old Stradey Park. 

Standing - Jim Glennon (Coach), Derek Dowling, Henry Hurley, John ‘Spud’ Murphy, Brian 

Rigney, Jim O’Callagan, Phil Lawlor, Robbie Love, Kelvin Leahy, Tom Darcy (President Leinster 

Branch), Alan Duggan (Chairman). Seated - Ciaran Clarke, Alan McGowan, Damien 

O’Brien, Vinnie Cunningham (Capt) Niall Woods, Martin Ridge, Fergus Ahearne. On ground 

- Chris Pim, Conor O’Shea, Shane Byrne, Angus McKeen, Alain Rolland, Nicky Barry. 

So the story goes. A Leinster selector 

attended Skerries’s first senior club match 

against Old Belvedere on a horrible day 

in September 1975. He got drenched 

there and was taken home to a committee 

member’s house to shower and dry his 

clothes. 

Said selector was taken back to the club 

where the campaign to have Jim included 

in a Leinster trial was supported by a 

scatter of pints. He was invited to the trial. 

Once again, no luck. 

“I didn’t make the team but what I took 

from the trial was that Leinster wasn’t out 

of reach. It wasn’t out of sight as I had 

previously presumed. I decided to have a 

real go at getting there,” he adds. 

“I reckoned that if I managed to be part 

of a successful Leinster team that it would 

give me a better chance of sneaking up 

another level to the ultimate honour.” 

At Halloween 1976, Jim met his wife 

Helen on the night after he was first 

selected for Leinster; and they brought 

up their children Frank, Louise and Joe 

in Skerries, the latter following his father 

and grandfather as captain of Skerries 

RFC. 

A special place is now reserved for his 

four grandchildren Silas, Amelia, Xav and 

Rosa. Jim is making up for the time rugby 

took him away from his own children. 

“Looking back, I am very conscious of the 

amount of time rugby took away from my 

“I made my debut for Leinster against 

Perpignan on that day in 1976 in a team 

with Tom Grace as captain, John Robbie 

scrum-half, Ollie Campbell out-half, 

props Phil Orr, Mick Fitzpatrick and Ned 

Byrne, Louis Magee, Fergus Slattery 

and, coincidentally, a childhood friend of 

mine, Johnny Cronin of Terenure making 

his debut too, at full-back. 

“As a raw 23 year-old from Skerries, it 

was a real eye-opener into French club 

rugby and all that it implies. The word 

‘friendly’ doesn’t appear too often in the 

annals of French club rugby. 

“Very late in the game, my legs were 

taken from under me in a lineout. I ended 

up in hospital and lost the interpro season 

to torn ligaments. 

“At least, something good came out of it. 

When I had to go off, a good friend of 

mine, Jim Bardon, from Clontarf, came in 

for me for his first Leinster cap.” 

The length of Jim’s Leinster career meant 

he had to battle it out with the likes of 

Louis Magee, Emmet O’Rafferty, George 

Wallace (with whom Jim accumulated 

a record-breaking total for a Leinster 

second-row partnership) right up to the 

emergence of a young Neil Francis in 

1986. 


In 1979, the Mick ‘Doyler’ Doyle 

revolution began when the Kerryman 

was appointed as Leinster coach and Jim 

became an anchor in the forwards until 

retiring in 1987. 

“Doyler and his chairman Mick Cuddy 

had a massive impact on Leinster. They 

completely transformed the culture. By the 

time they appeared on the scene I had 

grown slightly disillusioned at how loose 

and casual it had all become - it was seen 

by many high-profile players simply as a 

means to an end (Ireland) rather than an 

end in itself (Leinster). 

“They imbued in Leinster the feel of a 

tight club side, where everyone wanted to 

play for the jersey and for the group.We 

went on a five-year unbeaten run in the 

inter-pros from 15 matches that netted five 

Interpro titles from 1979 to 1983. 

From left to right - Louise & Ronan Yourell, Jen Ferguson & Joe, Helen & Jim, Julie Currid and Frank. 

“It was Doyler’s theory that the best 

chance any of us had of playing for 

Ireland was to be part of a successful 

Leinster team. That was certainly true for 

me.” 

It all led to six Ireland caps, two in 1980, 

debuting against England’s Bill Beaumont 

at Twickenham, and four in 1987, 

including the first World Cup. 

“All I will say about my Ireland debut is 

that it was England’s Grand Slam year,” 

chuckles Jim. 

“In 1987 I actually broke the record for 

the longest time served between caps, 

which had been previously held by 

Tony O’Reilly, and was latet broken by 

Bangor’s Kenny Hooks. 

“While I knew I wasn’t quite an 

international class lock, there’s no better 

motivation than pulling on the green 

jersey. In Mick Doyle’s words, you ‘give 

it a lash.’ You can persuade yourself of a 

lot of things when you have to.” 

Retiring in 1987 after playing in the 

World Cup, Jim returned as a Leinster 

sub-selector in 1990, a Leinster selector 

in 1991, the Leinster coach in two stints 

from 1992 to 1993 and 1995 to 1997, 

transitioning over to Leinster Manager for 

one year under Mike Ruddock. 

The now 69 year-old was the last Leinster 

coach and manager of the amateur 

era as well as the last Leinsterman to 

coach the province prior to Leo Cullen, 

coincidentally a fellow second-row. 

Away from rugby, in 1995, in conjunction 

with the Irish Medical Organisation, 

Jim set up Medisec Ireland to provide 

Irish GPs with professional indemnity 

insurance; he currently acts as nonexecutive 

chairman of the company 

which has grown steadily and now looks 

after upwards of 2,500 Irish doctors. 

He has held a similar position with the 

Irish arm of Edelman, the world’s largest 

privately-owned communications agency, 

since 2008. 

Jim went into national politics in 2000, 

serving in the Seanad until 2002 when 

he won a Dail seat for Fianna Fáil 

in Dublin North, from which he later 

stepped down without contesting the 

2007 General Election. 


OFF 

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Referees 

Corner 

BY DAN WALLACE 

Welcome to another edition 

of Referees’ Corner! 

Today’s match officials are Andrew Brace, Peter 

Martin, Oisin Quinn and the TMO is Leo Colgan. 

Andrew Brace was born in 

Cardiff, Wales. He started 

playing rugby union in Cardiff 

when he was 12. Between 2010 

and 2017 Brace worked as a 

Community Rugby Officer for 

Munster Rugby. He previously 

worked as a community 

development officer for Cardiff 

Blues. Brace continued working 

as a CRO until 2017 when, 

together with George Clancy, 

John Lacey and Joy Neville 

he was one of seven referees 

offered professional contracts by 

the IRFU. 

He also previously played for Old 

Crescent. While playing for Old 

Crescent, Brace was contacted by an 

agent to play for the Belgium national 

team. Brace qualified to represent 

Belgium through his father’s family. He 

subsequently helped Belgium win the 

2012 Emirates Cup of Nations. He also 

played for Belgium in the 2012–14 

European Nations Cup First Division. 

We wish him and his team well today. 

November 

Internationals 

The match day officials for 

Ireland’s international fixtures in 

November have been announced 

by World Rugby and the IRFU 

High Performance Referees 

will have a busy month on 

international duty. 

For our teams in green, the RFU’s Adam 

Leal will take charge of the game 

between Ireland ‘A’ and the All Blacks 

XV at the RDS on Friday, 4th November. 

The following day, Georgian referee 

Nika Amashukeli has the whistle for 

the game between Ireland and World 

Champions South Africa at Aviva 

Stadium. 

South African Jaco Peyper is in charge 

of Ireland v Fiji and New Zealander 

Ben O’Keeffe is the man in the middle 

for Ireland’s final game of the Autumn 

Nations Series against Australia. 

IRFU referee Andrew Brace takes 

charge of two games during this 

international window – England v 

Argentina and France v Japan. Joy 

Neville, who will have just returned 

from the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 

New Zealand, is in the TMO hot seat 

for the France game against the Brave 

Blossoms. 

Frank Murphy in on duty for Scotland 

against New Zealand at Murrayfield 

and Chris Busby has the whistle for the 

French Barbarians against Fiji in Lille. 


Both Chris Busby and Eoghan Cross 

are on duty in Dubai for the World Cup 

Final Qualifier tournament. Chris is 

refereeing the game between Portugal 

and Hong Kong with Eoghan in the 

AR role for that game and the clash 

between the USA and Kenya. 

Area Education 

Sessions 

Our monthly area education 

sessions this month focus on 

Touch and Touch Laws (Law 18). 

A number of our referees are heavily 

involved in touch judging games in the 

Energia All-Ireland League amongst 

other competitions. 

The sessions were facilitated by Dermot 

Blake, John Flynn, Bernie White, 

Michael Forrestal and Sam Holt. They 

many covered when the ball is in touch 

and when it is not. 

Touch or 

touch-in-goal 

The ball is in touch or touch-ingoal 

when: 

A] The ball or ball-carrier touches the 

touchline, touch-in-goal line or anything 

beyond. 

B] A player, who is already touching the 

touchline, touch-in-goal line or anything 

beyond, catches or holds the ball. 

1] If the ball has reached the plane of 

touch when it is caught, the catcher is 

not deemed to have taken the ball into 

touch. 

2] If the ball has not reached the plane 

of touch when it is caught or picked up, 

the catcher is deemed to have taken the 

ball into touch, regardless of whether 

the ball was in motion or stationary. 

The ball is not in touch or touchin-goal 

if: 

C] The ball reaches the plane of touch 

but is caught, knocked or kicked by a 

player who is in the playing area. 

D] A player jumps, from within or 

outside the playing area, and catches 

the ball, and then lands in the playing 

area, regardless of whether the ball 

reached the plane of touch. 

E] A player jumps from the playing area 

and knocks (or catches and releases) 

the ball back into the playing area, 

before landing in touch or touch-in-goal, 

regardless of whether the ball reached 

the plane of touch. 

F] A player, who is in touch, kicks or 

knocks the ball, but does not hold it, 

provided it has not reached the plane 

of touch. 

Of course, it is more complicated than 

it looks! 

Want to get 

involved? 

Feel free to make contact 

with the Leinster Rugby 

Referees at hayley.whyte@ 

leinsterrugby.ie 

If you are interested in 

becoming a referee get in 

contact with us through our 

Facebook, our website 

www.leinsterrugbyreferees.ie 

or through twitter 

@leinsterreferee. 


ank of ireland 

MATCHDAY MINIS 

Carlingford 

Knights RFC 

Players: James Loughran, Michael Gormley, Jonah Moore, 

Oisin Gallagher, Adam Duffy, John O’Hanlon, Aaron Kane, 

Dylan McKenna, Alexander Sochor, Bill Challoner O’Gorman, 

Jamie Connon, Cuan Carroll, Felix Savage, Senan McSorley, 

Meadhbh Ni Shuilleabhain, Isaac Mullen Murphy, Callum 

Murphy, John Hilland, Logan McBride, Oscar Daly 

Coaches: David Moore & Gearoid Carroll 

Blessington RFC 

Players (l-r): Tom Evans, Dylan O’Connell, Aoibheann Ash, 

Aaron Keogh, Brooke Fox, Evan Reid Maguire, Theo Giles, 

Sam Smith, Luke Kelly, Shane Buggy, Evan Clery, Isabelle 

Warren, Dylan Glennon, Hugo Burns, Carter King, Isaac 

Geoghegan, Ryan O’Connor, Charlie Gahan, Emma Kelly, 

Lucy Keely, Doireann O’Brien, Tia Martin. (Not Pictured) Aaron 

McEvoy, James Carolan. 

Coaches/Coordinator (back row l-r): Patrick King, Gavin 

Buggy, Sylvia Macken, Tristan Geoghegan. (Not Pictured) 

Sorcha Nolan. 

Enniscorthy RFC 

Players: Charlie Butler, Cian OLoughlin, David Doyle, Darragh 

Doyle, Zac Hill, Alex Waugh, Charlie Heffernan, Liam 

Hennessy, Darragh Browne, Tom Jordan, Tiernan Cullen, Max 

Hogan, Alex Farrell, Flinn Morrissey, Harry Deacon, Cian 

Kehoe, Harry Masterson, Noah Doran, Evan Dooley, Ryan 

Neary. 

Head Coach: Alan Butler 

Coach: Paul Hill 

Portarlington RFC 

Back Row. Left to Right; Ben Kelly Drennan, Edward Feehan, 

Nico Kearns, Darragh Donoher, Ruairi Harrington, Jake 

Fitzpatrick, Cian Whelan, Sean Fitzpatrick, Kyle Kelly, Niall 

Malone. Middle Row. Left to Right; Jamie O Halloran, Cian 

James, Daniel Bree, Harry Wheeler, Jack Penston, Cian 

Clifford, Tomas Carapeto Feeney, Eoghan Griffin. Front Row. 

Left to Right; Adam Smith, Harry Dunne, Darragh Donnelly, 

Conor Ryan, Jayden Brady, Aaron Flood. 


Mick Dawson 

A Celebration! 

Today, 

at Aviva 

Stadium, 

marks Mick 

Dawson’s 

last home 

game as 


Rugby CEO. 

A journey that started in 

November 2001 comes to a fitting 

conclusion on Lansdowne Road, 

and adjacent to the Lansdowne 

FC clubhouse, where Mick is 

the current President as they 

celebrate 150 years in existence. 

Mick is from Dublin and from a family 

with a huge interest in the game. He went 

to school in CUS and played with his 

beloved Lansdowne after leaving school. 

After hanging up the boots, he threw 

himself into matters away from the field. 

He managed the first XV and was also 

Director of Rugby with Lansdowne 

between 1998-2001 and served on 

numerous committees. He was due to be 

President of Lansdowne for the 2003/04 

season but only a few years into his new 

role in Leinster Rugby, he had to step 

aside. Thankfully, the role has come back 

his way now for the 2022/23 season. 

Mick knew the way the system worked 

and knew that to make rugby or indeed 

any organisation tick, you needed good 

people around you. 

In November 2001 it was now up to him 

to make Leinster Rugby tick. 

It’s fair to say as we look back on his 

legacy, that he more than made Leinster 

Rugby tick. 

On the pitch, the success is evident in the 

trophies won but off the pitch is where he 

arguably left his greatest mark. 

Moving from Donnybrook to the RDS, 

building the stand in Donnybrook, the 

two artificial pitches in Energia Park, the 

move to UCD, some of the coaching 

appointments, players like Isa Nacewa 

signed from abroad, the investment in the 

club and the schools game, the growth 

of the girls and the women’s game, and 

of course, the building of the Ken Wall 

Centre of Excellence. 

He was also instrumental in attracting 

big sponsors and partners like Bank of 

Ireland, another key moment in 2007. 

He’d be the first to say that it was never 

about just him. There were others helping 

him out. Numerous committees and 

boards. The Executive, Management, 

Commercial, Finance, the Professional 

Game Board. 

And good people like Paul McNaughton 

and Brian McLoughlin in the early days, 

and more recently someone the calibre 

of Ray Ryan as Honorary Treasurer for 

over 15 years. And of course more recent 

confidantes like Frank Sowman, Frank 

Doherty and Billy Murphy to name but 

a few. 

But today, we can be forgiven for 

trying to make it all about Mick, and 

celebrating his role in making Leinster 

Rugby what it is today. 

To Aileen, to Jack and to Nicola, we say 

a heartfelt thank you, for allowing us 

to borrow Mick for all these years. We 

hand him back to you in relatively good 

condition! And we wish you all every 

happiness together as a family as you all 

set about enjoying his retirement. 

Before we sign off, what better than 

to hear from a few of those that have 

worked closest with Mick over the last 

few years. 

Here is Mick, in their own words. 

He was a breath of fresh air from 

day one. And you think of the 

growth from those early days. 

From a pre-fab to what we now 

have in UCD. Only two full-time 

employees and another three 

part-time, plus the evergreen 

Ultan Daly, who looked after 

Donnybrook. And now today in 

modern offices in UCD you have 

well over 20 full-time people plus 

admin and support staff. 

Mick oversaw all of that. More than that 

he oversaw the growth of Leinster from 

a perceived D4 club to a 12 county, 

province-wide supported club. 

And then how he did it all. His laid back 

and professionalism was second to none. 

“Deal with your daily work issues” he’d 

say to us. And then of course he had the 

famous 3Ds. 

“Decide. Delegate. Disappear.” And he 

laid that mantra out at the very first staff 

meeting! 

Another one that he was fond of was 

“come with the solution not the problem, 

and if I do not like the solution, it is my 

problem.” 

He was the perfect boss. 

Mick, go off and enjoy yourself. 

Denis Collins 


The eve of match social activities 

on away trips usually concluded 

with a nightcap at the bar when 

the prospects for the following 

day and similar matters would be 

discussed at length. 

Though rarely the first to leave, the 

time would come when Mick would be 

anxious to get back to the hotel in order 

be in good shape for his diplomatic 

duties the next day. 

On one such occasion, Mick interrupted 

a rambling conversation to suggest that 

we should order a taxi to bring us back 

to the hotel. 

As diplomatically as possible , we 

explained to Mick that we were actually 

sitting in the bar of our hotel. That being 

the case, and as a taxi was not required, 

we all agreed that there was time for 

another nightcap! 

I have very much enjoyed each and 

every one of those many away trips, 

Mick, and every meeting and occasion 

in your company, always a pleasure. 

Frank Sowman 

Mick Dawson leaves a strong 

legacy as he departs his role as 

Leinster Rugby CEO. 

He is a man that gets things done 

and does so with the minimum of fuss. 

He invariably makes common sense 

decisions. He cuts to the chase. He 

is adept at defusing tricky issues. His 

antennae are typically well tuned. He 

makes it his business to get on with 

people. And he uses humour to great 

effect. 

During his 21-year tenure he has dealt 

with literally scores of volunteers who 

have, at one time or another, served 


on Leinster Branch committees across 

a myriad of disciplines. In doing so he 

maintained a personable and helpful 

demeanour throughout, even if the odd 

time he was required to display the 

patience of Job. 

Due to the fact that he himself was a 

great clubman in his playing days, he 

fundamentally understood the importance 

of nurturing amateur rugby throughout 

Leinster. 

He has travelled with generations of 

Leinster squads to venues right around 

Europe. All the while, he has been 

a great ambassador, not just for his 

province, but for Ireland too. 

Billy Murphy 

From my first conversation with 

Mick, way back in early 2008, I 

always knew what direction and 

aspirations Mick had for Leinster. 

He was always very supportive 

of the head coach whether it was 

Cheiks, Joe, Leo, and later on 

Stuart. 

Mick’s support was there through the 

highs and the lows. I think this is rare in 

a CEO. 

Personally, I always treasured our chats, 

on the way home from away games. 

Whether it be after big Heineken Cup 

matches, or returning from Wales in the 

middle of winter in the early hours of 

the morning. Mick was always open to 

chat and was always 100% supportive 

regardless of the outcome! 

What a legend. Best of luck for the future, 

Mick. 

Isa Nacewa 

I go way back. Saw him as a 

young fella playing cricket. 

He’s been brilliant. Without Mick, Leinster 

would have struggled. Big time. 

What can you say about Mick? I 

remember him scoring a winning try for 

Lansdowne. Down in Donnybrook in a 

league final. Him crawling along the 

ground to score! 

He was a top-class tennis player as well 

which not many know about. He was the 

number one tennis player in Donnybrook. 

That was big back then. To be the number 

one. In Donnybrook. He was the number 

one fella. But he’s moved up to Fitzwilliam 

now. Notions. 

He’s still trying to get into Portmarnock 

too I hear. A few got in before him, which 

he’s not happy about. But he still hasn’t 

got in there. He has to wait his turn. I’m 

not sure what the attraction is? It’s always 

windy and raining. But that’s Mick for 

you. 

Mick is a great man for entertaining 

people and a great man for the five 

o’clock club. They know who they are! 

They will remain nameless! I remember 

him dancing in South Africa when the 

Dubs won the All-Ireland. I was there. 

Myself, Mick and Ruaidhrí O’Connor 

from the Irish Independent. That’s where 

all the leaks came from. 

What more can I say about him? I’ll 

see him on Saturday and we’ll have a 

good laugh about all of this. That’s Mick, 

though, isn’t it? A great fella. And he’s 

done a brilliant job at Leinster. 

Johnny O’Hagan 

I don’t actually know what to say 

about Mick. 

All I can say is that I’ve enjoyed every 

day working with Mick. He’s allowed us 

all to become better than what we were 

when we first started in our roles a long 

time ago now. He didn’t interfere and he 

let us get on with things. 

Throughout it all, it’s probably his sense 

of humour that I will remember the most. 

He is a particularly unique individual – I 

think – and while he doesn’t take things 

too seriously, he still manages to get the 

things done that need to get done. 

I’m very proud to have worked with him 

for the last 20 plus years and I wish him 

all the best. 

It’s very hard to put it all into words if 

I’m honest. 20 years is a long time and 

because he’s been brilliant to work with. 

Eleanor Ryan 

We had a lot of transition in 

Mick’s time and, in my opinion, he 

was the ideal person to oversee 

it. Going from Kurt McQuilkin’s 

rat episode in Donnybrook to 

UCD was a journey with many 

twists and turns but Mick had 

a quiet determination to get 

things done and to always move 

Leinster forward both on and off 

the field at both professional and 

domestic game level. 

Having come from a club background in 

Lansdowne where he played, coached 

and managed teams from minis to senior 

he knew that the success at professional 

level had to be underpinned by a 

successful club and school game. 

Once you could explain the rationale and 

show the vision Mick was fully supportive. 

In his time the rugby department went 

from having four staff members covering 


each area is equality appreciated 

and respected, all the time ensuring 

it continuously evolves to meet future 

demands. 

Mick has been that person. 

Philip Lawlor 

all aspects of the game to having a staff 

of 60 plus personnel delivering across the 

province. Mick always had my back and 

for that I will always be grateful. 

In all our time I only had one slight fall 

out with Mick and that was during a 

discussion. 

You see, Mick never did arguments, 

but there was this one day that I had 

the audacity to call Mick ‘Michael’ 

upon which Mick drew breath and 

said, “Philip. Only my Mother calls me 

Michael”. It was a slight that I never 

repeated. 

A lot has been spoken and rightly 

so about the culture of the Leinster 

Senior team and the management 

involved in creating that, but Leinster 

Rugby is much more than just the 

Senior team it is a hugely diverse 

organisation encompassing clubs, 

schools, communities, councils, sponsors , 

committees and staff all working together 

to create a fun quality rugby environment 

so that girls and boys, men and women, 

coaches, players and referees can enjoy 

themselves and fulfil their ambitions. 

It takes a special person to be able to 

oversee such an environment to ensure 

For me he has just been a bloody 

good bloke. 

He has been unbelievably supportive, 

with a positive outlook on all things that 

enabled Leinster Rugby to grow into 

professionalism under his guidance. 

Any idea you brought to Mick was 

always given due consideration and I 

really appreciated everything that he 

has done for me personally, particularly 

in guiding and advising me in the early 

years as I learnt the ropes. 

I see that others have already mentioned 

his 3Ds…and I quickly realised why he 

wanted to ‘delegate’ so much and this 

was something he was very good at! I 

saw that at first hand with him handing 

over the player contracting piece to me in 

the early days! 

Guy Easterby 

It was my pleasure to work 

closely with Mick for 16 years. 

From the early days it was clear 

that Mick was forward thinking, 

supportive of innovation and new 

ideas. 

Highlights of our 16 years working 

together include the installation of the two 

all-weather pitches in Energia Park, the 

Ken Wall Centre of Excellence, hosting 

the Irish Women's Hockey Olympic 

Qualifiers, various concerts and of course 

not forgetting the many rugby occasions, 

internationals, schools cups and leagues. 

Mick's leadership as CEO has been 

instrumental to Leinster's success on and 

off the pitch. 

May I take this opportunity to thank 

him for his support and wish him well 

on his retirement, and look forward to 

welcoming him to the retirement back 

benches! 

David Ross 


COUNTRY IRELAND HOME GROUND THOMOND PARK FOUNDED 1879 CHAMPIONS x3 

last time out 

munster 31 

vodacom bulls 17 

SAT 15 OCT | ROUND 5 · URC | THOMOND PARK | REFEREE: MIKE ADAMSON, (SRU) 

Munster Record Bonus 

Point Win Over Bulls 

Munster got their Thomond 

Park campaign off to a 

winning start with a bonus 

point win against the 

Vodacom Bulls in last week’s 

BKT URC Round 5 clash. 

Munster: Shane Daly, Calvin Nash (Jack Crowley, rep: 41), Malakai Fekitoa, Dan Goggin, 

Liam Coombes, Joey Carbery, Craig Casey (rep: Conor Murray ’57), Jeremy Loughman (rep: 

Dave Kilcoyne ’51), Niall Scannell (rep: Diarmuid Barron ’51), Stephen Archer (rep: Roman 

Salanoa ’51), Jean Kleyn , Edwin Edogbo (rep: Thomas Ahern ’51), Tadhg Beirne (rep: Jack 

O’Donoghue ’69), Peter O’Mahony (rep: John Hodnett ’63), Gavin Coombes. 

Tries: G Coombes 2, Loughman, Beirne 

Conversions: Carbery (4/4) 

Penalties: Carbery (1/1) 

The atrocious conditions didn’t 

deter the 12,218 supporters who 

attended Thomond Park as they 

got behind Graham Rowntree’s 

men. 

Munster’s tries came from Gavin 

Coombes (2), Jeremy Loughman and 

Tadhg Beirne with BKT URC Player of 

the Match Joey Carbery faultless from 

the tee adding the four conversions and 

a penalty. 

While it was a scrappy start from 

Munster, there was a noticeable increase 

in physicality this week as the men in 

red dominated territory and possession 

in the opening half and when they got 

consistency on their phase play, the 

points arrived courtesy of two Gavin 

Coombes tries. 

Vodacom Bulls: Kurt-lee Arendse; Cornel Hendricks (rep; David Kriel ’41) , Lionel Mapoe, 

Harold Vorster, Wandisile Simelane; Johan Goosen (rep: Chris Smith ’41), Embrose Papier 

(rep: Zak Burger ’68); Simphiwe Matanzima (rep: Dylan Smith ’57), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (rep: 

Bismarck Du Plessis ’57) , Mornay Smith (yellow card – 47-57 – (rep: Jacques van Rooyen ’57), 

Walt Steenkamp, Run Nortje, Marcell Coetzee (rep: Marco Van Staden ’60), WJ Steenkamp 

(Jacques van Rooyen ’53-57), Elrigh Louw 

Tries: WJ Steenkamp, Kriel 

Conversions: C Smith (2/2) 

Penalties: Johan Goosen (1/1) 

A good half from the Munster men saw 

them score 17 unanswered points after 

an early Bulls penalty. 

Edwin Edogbo made his presence felt 

from early doors when the Bulls attack 

was held up outside the Munster 22 and 

the young Cobh man was there to force 

the turnover. 


Craig Casey took a quick tap-penalty 

following some issues with the scrum and 

was unlucky to capitalise as he was held 

up over the line, with the TMO called to 

adjudicate. 

A high tackle gave the Bulls a chance at 

the posts and Johan Goosen made no 

mistake with the kick, to hand the visitors 

the first score after 10 minutes. 

Munster had their own chance for points 

at the start of the second quarter and 

Joey Carbery restored parity at Thomond 

Park with a straightforward kick from 

close in. 

Just before the half-hour mark Gavin 

Coombes got over for the first try as he 

slid over the line after Munster worked 

the ball into a scoring position from the 

line-out. Edogbo and Jean Kleyn were on 

hand to help power the number 8 across 

the line. 

Carbery made no mistake to add the 

additional two and Munster led by 

seven. 

A second Coombes try followed with 

the forward power all involved in the 

build-up as they edged closer to the line 

before the ball was touched down by 

the posts. 

Carbery again added the simple 

conversion with the province going in at 

the break with a 17-3 lead. 

Just three minutes into the second forty 

and the Bulls handed Munster an easy 

try when a costly Chris Smith error, 

allowed Jeremy Loughman to kick it on 

and run in for the easiest of touchdowns. 

There was a good reaction to that 

setback and ten minutes later the Bulls 

got over for their first try when Munster 

ball was turned over and played out to 

the right with WJ Steenkamp diving over. 

After advancing into the final quarter 

Munster wrapped up the try bonus 

point with Tadhg Beirne getting into a 

great body position to drop below two 

defenders to score from close-range. 

Another Bulls’ try was scored when 

the ball spilled out in midfield and that 

allowed David Kriel to run 60 yards 

unchallenged to touch down and narrow 

the margin. 

The Bulls had further opportunities to add 

to the score but the Munster rear-guard 

held out and it finished 31-17. 


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Graham 

Rowntree 

Head Coach 

Graham Rowntree is a former English 

international and British & Irish Lion. He 

played all his club rugby with Leicester 

Tigers and played an astonishing 398 

times for the Welford Road club. He 

became scrum coach with England in 

2008, before taking on similar roles with 

the Lions in 2009 and later with Munster 

in 2019. He was appointed head coach 

of Munster ahead of the 2022/23 

season. 

Peter 

O’Mahony 

Captain 

Peter O’Mahony has played over 150 

times for his province as well as 87 

times for Ireland, scoring three tries. He 

has won three Six Nations titles with 

Ireland, including a Grand Slam in 2018. 

O’Mahony is also a British & Irish Lion 

and was captain of the Lions in 2017 for 

their first test. 

Munster squad 

FORWARDS 

TOM AHERN 

LOCK 

STEPHEN ARCHER 

PROP 

DIARMUID BARRON 

HOOKER 

TADHG BEIRNE 

LOCK 

SCOTT BUCKLEY 

HOOKER 

GAVIN COOMBES 

FLANKER 

JACK DALY 

FLANKER 

EDWIN EDOGBO 

LOCK 

JAMES FRENCH 

PROP 

JOHN HODNETT 

FLANKER 

ALEX KENDELLEN 

FLANKER 

DAVE KILCOYNE 

PROP 

JEAN KLEYN 

LOCK 

KEYNAN KNOX 

PROP 

JEREMY LOUGHMAN 

PROP 

CHRIS MOORE 

HOOKER 

LIAM O’CONNOR 

PROP 

JACK O’DONOGHUE 

FLANKER 

PETER O’MAHONY 

FLANKER C 

JACK O’SULLIVAN 

FLANKER 

RUADHAN QUINN 

FLANKER 

ROMAN SALANOA 

PROP 

NIALL SCANNELL 

HOOKER 

RG SNYMAN 

LOCK 

JOSH WYCHERLEY 

PROP 

FINEEN WYCHERLEY 

LOCK 

BACKS 

PATRICK CAMPBELL 

FULLBACK 

JOEY CARBERY 

FLY-HALF 

CRAIG CASEY 

SCRUM-HALF 

ANDREW CONWAY 

FULLBACK 

LIAM COOMBES 

FULLBACK 

NEIL CRONIN 

SCRUM-HALF 

JACK CROWLEY 

FLY-HALF 

SHANE DALY 

CENTRE 

KEITH EARLS 

WING 

CHRIS FARRELL 

CENTRE 

MALAKAI FEKITOA 

CENTRE 

ANTOINE FRISCH 

CENTRE 

FIONN GIBBONS 

CENTRE 

DAN GOGGIN 

CENTRE 

MIKE HALEY 

FULLBACK 

BEN HEALY 

FLY-HALF 

CONOR MURRAY 

SCRUM-HALF 

CALVIN NASH 

WING 

PADDY PATTERSON 

SCRUM-HALF 

CONOR PHILLIPS 

WING 

RORY SCANNELL 

CENTRE 

SIMON ZEBO 

WING 


BY DES BERRY 

athboy RFC 

Boy! 

Oh Boy! 

Athboy. 

The Meath 

rugby 

club has 

suffered 

enough 

blows 

to have 

it fold 

forever. 

Club in 

Focus 

But, this place, and these people, 

are made of stern stuff. Founded 

in 1978, it had already gone 

through a fallow period in which 

senior rugby was suspended from 

1995 to 1999. 

Just this summer, it looked like the same 

fate awaited the players and members 

until a ‘Call To Arms’ caused a renewal of 

faith from some old soldiers convinced to 

return to the battlefield. 

The knock-on effect of the pandemic 

caused a number of players to turn away 

from the game. For the 2021/2022 

season, it was decided it was in the best 

interests of Athboy and local rivals North 

Meath to amalgamate for one season. 

“We were in the Leinster League for a 

number of seasons, getting as high as 

Division 2A. Subsequently, we dropped 

down to Division 3. We were not that 

competitive and began to lose players,” 

says Athboy stalwart Fergus O’Boyle. 

“Then, Covid kicked in and knocked 

us back. When we came back in the 

summer of 2021, we just didn’t have 

enough numbers or enough commitment. 

Athboy or North Meath were faring 

too well and numbers at training were 

disappointing. It just made sense to pull 

them all together,” concedes Fergus. 

Usually, the prospect of joining forces 

with your local rivals would be a 

disagreeable one. Not so much in this 

case. They needed each other. 

“The blending went well because we 

hadn’t played North Meath to build up 

a rivalry. We always seemed to be in 

different Divisions of the Leinster League 

through the years. 

“We didn’t see each other enough to 

build up that animosity or dislike that 

normally comes with the long history of a 

local derby. We were never hard rivals. 

“Perhaps, that is why we had a successful 

season. We came third in Division Three. 

We won the North-East Jenkinson Cup 

and the Plate of the Seconds Towns Cup.” 

There was a temptation, even ambition, 

to stay together as the club co-operation 

had led to a first and second team, 

providing depth and competition for 

positions. 

“In fact, an uncomfortable conversation 

began in March 2021 when neither 

At a late hour, the decision came down 

from Leinster that the two clubs had to 


divide and conquer this season, Athboy 

losing three players, Padraic McGurl, 

Graham Boland and Jordan Herring, to 

North Meath in the Leinster League. 

“We have had conversations with all 

three players. Their preference was to 

play at a higher level. We understand 

that. The door is always open for them to 

come back to us,” he says. 

In mid-August, the proximity of pre-season 

prompted a small club meeting in which 

it became clear that the struggle for 

numbers could well force the club to pull 

out of senior rugby. 

The message was stark and clear. 

Something dramatic had to take place or 

there might not be a club to come to. 

“One of our members, Bryan Quirke, 

went away from that meeting unwilling to 

accept the worst scenario. He spent the 

next day, calling everyone and anyone 

connected to the club,” states Fergus. 

When a good man calls, it is hard to say 

no. Athboy withdrew from the Leinster 

League and committed to the Metro 

League, moving from playing on Sunday 

to Saturday. 

“We know we have to make things 

happen on and off the pitch,” he says. 

“We ended up with a 15-man committee, 

including finance and development 

committees to get the club up and moving 

again. 

“There is a Three-Year plan. It all begins 

on the park. There is a focus on our U-12s 

to bring them up through the grades, 

eventually making that connection to 

senior rugby. 

“Adult-wise, at the moment, we are 

limited to social rugby in Division 10 of 

the Metro League. We start from there, 

seeing how our numbers stack-up. We 

want to attract new players to the club. 

“In terms of club development, we are 

currently changing out of shipping 

containers for the dressing-room and 

shower block. They have reached their 

sell-by date whereby they owe us nothing. 

“We want to build permanent dressing 

rooms to provide the facilities to help 

attract new players and keep our current 

ones at the club. 

“The beauty of the cub is that we don’t 

actually owe anyone anything. The land 

is owned by the club. 

“Maybe, it has led us to sit on the fence 

and not push ourselves into getting into 

the sort of financial commitment that 

means better facilities. 

On Saturday, October 1st, Athboy 

played their first League match since 

October 4th, 2020, when recording a 

double-scores 14-7 victory over their 

guests Athy at Townspark. 

It was a first-taste of life in Metro 

League Division 10, the lowest level of 

competition in the province, a sign of 

where the club stands at present. 

“It was lovely to be back as ourselves. 

The pitch was immaculate. An hour 

before kick-off, Owen Kerrane put an 

extra coat of white to make the pitch 

markings stand out even more,” shares 

Fergus. 

“When you think of Athboy, it is one 

of the smallest towns in Leinster and, 

thus, one of the smallest clubs too. The 

population is somewhere around 2,500- 

3,000. 

“Here, we have the GAA disciplines, 

hurling and football, a soccer club, the 

rugby club and a community centre 

that hosts 35 different sporting/activity 

organisations. 

“It is a well-supported sporting town. 

However, it is like your St Patrick’s Day 

parade, you can’t get enough kids to run 

from one group to the next, to the next. 

The numbers only stretch so far. It is very 

parochial. 

“It wasn’t that long ago that we were one 

of three rugby clubs in Meath, alongside 

Navan and Ashbourne. Ratoath and 

North Meath were set up recently.” 

The fact Fergus was listed as the Club 

President, Coaching Co-Ordinator and 

Youth Co-Ordinator in the Leinster Rugby 

Handbook for 2020/2021 speaks to a 

man who has given back. And then some. 

“I enjoyed my 20-odd years playing 

rugby in Athboy, meeting really good 

friends, making strong bonds over the 

years. 

“It is that desire to give back to a club 

that has given me so much that keeps me 

going.” 

It looks like others feel the same way. 


Try Leinster’s Next Big Dish 

from Mao At Home today

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IS ESSENTIAL IN THIS GAME. 

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Beauchamps LLP | Riverside Two | Sir John Rogerson’s Quay | Dublin 2 | D02 KV60 

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Carlingford Knights 

Under Lights! 

BY CAROLINE MCFADDEN 

The Carlingford 

Knights U12’s 

team have had 

sleepless nights 

waiting for their 

big day in the 

Aviva! They are 

really excited 

to be playing 

their half-time 

exhibition match 

at a Leinster 

game. 

Ahead of the big day, Jack 

Redpath, Director of Rugby at 

Carlingford Knights RFC, said, “It 

is such a wonderful occasion for 

our little club and the Carlingford 

and Cooley community. We hope 

to have well over 200 people at 

the match to support our U-12s 

team.” 

It’s been a long road but a fruitful one for 

this team. 

“This is the first age group in the club that 

has come through from mini rugby U-7s 

and U-8s when the club officially started 

over four years ago. 

“The team has worked its way up through 

the age grades and very few players 

have left the team. Full credit to our 

coaching team, who have come through 

with this group since they were six and 

seven year olds.” 

But this isn’t the only good news story out 

Cooley way, as Redpath again explains. 

“The club continues to grow. We had 

in excess of 200 registered players last 

year, in our mini and youth sections 

and playing on our adult tag rugby 

team. Adult tag rugby is where the club 

originally started out. We draw our 

players from the whole Cooley Peninsula, 

from Bellurgan, Lordship, Cooley and 

Carlingford right as far as Omeath. Most 

of the players in the club are completely 

new to rugby. 

“This year we are fielding U-14 and U-16 

youth boys teams and our youth girls 

continue to grow every week. We now 

have over 24 female players in that 14 to 

16 age group. The girls have played in 

7s competitions already and we hope to 

be playing competitive girl’s fixtures in the 

coming month.” 

All involved at Carlingford Knights RFC 

have made great strides in progressing 

the club and endeavouring to provide 

rugby for more and more people in the 

community. 

Today’s half-time exhibition match is a 

testament to all the work that has been 

put in to date, and how far the club has 

come in a relatively short space of time. 



Aitzol 

King 

The Bank of 

Ireland Shane 

Horgan Cup 

is the first 

opportunity 

for club 

players to play 

representative 

rugby within 

Leinster. 

THE ACADEMY 

INTERVIEW 

BY PAUL CAHILL 

The U-16 boys competition was 

named after a well-known 

back from Meath who had a 

tremendous career in the blue of 

Leinster, the green of Ireland and 

indeed the red of the British & 

Irish Lions. 

Indeed Horgan, remains to this day, 

Leinster’s all-time leading try scorer. 

It would be quite the journey to emulating 

the heroics of Meath’s famous son, but 

maybe, just maybe, another Meath native 

could be the one to do just that. 

Aitzol King is a year one Leinster Rugby 

Academy winger. 

Like Horgan, he played multiple sports 

growing up and played with the Meath 

Gaelic football team until U-18. 


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While King has progressed through 

the Leinster Rugby pathway, it was his 

exploits with the Irish U-20s that brought 

him national attention. 

Having beaten Wales and France in their 

first two games of the 2022 Six Nations 

tournament, the Irish side faced a tough 

test away to England at Saracens StoneX 

Stadium. King was brought off the bench 

on the hour mark with Ireland holding a 

slender lead. Just a minute later, he had 

added his name to the scoresheet. 

From an Irish lineout, the ball fell to scrumhalf 

Ethan Coughlan, who popped the 

ball back inside to King who timed his 

run perfectly to split the English defence. 

With three English players on his back, 

he powered over to give Ireland a tenpoint 

lead. 

While that was a well worked training 

ground move, we saw a piece of 

individual brilliance just five minutes 

after that, as a loose ball in midfield was 

picked up by Reuben Crothers who then 

passed to King who was 30 metres from 

the English line. He had plenty of work 

to do. 

After negotiating the full back, a further 

two covering defenders couldn’t stop the 

Balbriggan RFC man whose acrobatic 

dive got him over the line. 

An incredible moment for King who 

helped push Ireland to a 42-27 win, but 

the winger isn’t as quick to take praise for 

his performance. 

“The forwards gave me a nice platform 

in fairness to them,” says King, rather 

modestly. 

“I was just happy I was able to help 

the team get the win. Getting a win in 

England is a great feeling. For the second 

try, I felt that I had scored, but I wasn’t 

sure. I was just delighted when it was 

given and that I was able to push the 

team ahead.” 

While that evening will stand out in his 

rugby career, his story begins in 2002. 

In June of that year, as most of the 

country was getting ready to cheer 

on Ireland at the FIFA World Cup 

in Korea and Japan, the King 

household suddenly became a very 

busy place. 

Victor and Amaia celebrated the birth 

of their triplets. Iker, Kealan and Aitzol 

joined older sister Uxoa. Later, they 

would welcome younger brother, Jon. 

While some of those names might not 

seem too familiar to readers, there is a 

nice Leinster Rugby connection. 

Amaia is from Bilbao and gave each of 

her children a Basque name. The city 

where Leinster Rugby claimed their fourth 

European Champions Cup. 

Back in Meath, their father, Victor, had 

played rugby with Delvin RFC and was 

keen to get his boys involved in the game 

and as they grew up, little by little they 

took their first steps into rugby and into 

sport. 


For a young, Aitzol, he just wanted to 

play as much sport as he could. 

“We grew up in Gormanston in Meath. I 

played Gaelic football there and I played 

rugby and soccer with Balbriggan. I was 

in the North Dublin Schoolboy League 

Academy side too.” 

Despite having a clear talent for a 

number of sports, he knew from an early 

age which one he would pursue. 

“To be honest, I was always leaning 

towards rugby. Once I got into the player 

pathway scheme with the North-East, 

I just loved it. I was still playing Gaelic 

football at the time, but it was just for fun. 

I really enjoyed the football and it was 

good for fitness, but I always preferred 

rugby.” 

Aitzol was certain of one thing; he 

wanted to play sport at the highest level 

he could. Exposing himself to as much 

high-performance facilities as possible. 

“When I was with the Meath county 

setup, it was always high intensity and 

professionalism was a big thing around 

our team. The High Performance Centre is 

in Dunderry, just outside Navan, so it was 

quite a drive away, but it was worth it.” 

His first opportunity to play representative 

rugby came in the form of the 

aforementioned, Shane Horgan Cup. 

This U-16 competition brings the best 

club players together in the five regions 

of Leinster. 

His region – or Area as its properly 

known – is the North-East and he was 

selected to play, thus starting his Leinster 

Rugby journey. 

“I loved my time playing in the Shane 

Horgan Cup. I actually came in as an 

out-half, but, they had one look at me and 

said, ‘no, you’re going out on the wing’. 

“Ever since then, I’ve just been a winger. 

I’m glad it happened because I love 

playing on the wing now. It was my first 

time in a representative rugby shirt and I 

absolutely loved it.” 

When he was U-18, King was named on 

the Meath Gaelic football panel as well 

as the Leinster Rugby U-18 club side. 

Lady luck was with King as the GAA 

season was due to finish just before the 

rugby interpros were due to take place. 

So, with a lot of training already done, 

and fitness levels as strong as they could 

be after a full GAA season, King hit the 

ground running with the oval ball. 

“It was a really good experience with 

Joe Carbery as our coach. He was big 

on brotherhood, and having a tight 

knit group. That’s what we had and we 

ended up going on to win all of our 

games. 

“Those experiences really help you 

prepare for being a rugby player. We 

stayed in the University of Limerick for 

a week and it was basically like being 

a professional player. We stayed in 

dorms and played rugby, eat together, 

rest together and just lived the lives of 

professionals for a while and we all 

loved it.” 

After his success with the Leinster Rugby 

U-18 club side, King was selected for 

the Leinster Rugby U-19s, however, no 

games were played that summer due to 

Covid-19. 

King doesn’t see this as a missed 

opportunity, instead it was another 

stepping stone to where he wanted to be 

and more exposure to high performance 

coaching. 

He was now fully immersed in the Leinster 

Rugby Sub-Academy down in the Ken 

Wall Centre of Excellence in Energia Park. 

“Obviously, it can be very tough at times, 

but everyone is working to a common 

goal. You’re in early in the morning 

before college, but the coaches were 

amazing. 


I actually came in as 

an out-half, but, they 

had one look at me and 

said, ‘no, you’re going 

out on the wing’. 

“Kieran Hallett and Trevor Hogan are 

such great coaches and have been a 

huge help to me. Dave Fagan in the gym 

really helps prepare you for anything as 

well.” 

All of that hard work paid off as he was 

selected on the Irish U-20s squad that 

would claim the 2022 Six Nations Grand 

Slam. 

It’s a couple of weeks that the young 

winger will never forget. 

“It changed me as a player. Mentally 

and obviously physically, and how we 

worked day in day out on our drills. Living 

and training with the best players in the 

country, you are learning all of the time 

and I just loved it.” 

All squads back themselves going into a 

tournament, but when did it really hit home 

that this was a special group of players? 

“When we won away in France, we knew 

we had a chance. To win over there is a 

big achievement. That was a moment that 

brought us all closer. We kept building 

off each win and each performance, but 

that 17-16 win in France in Round 2 was 

special.” 

Following that, King hit the headlines 

with his wonderful two tries in ten minutes 

against England. 

He started the final game against 

Scotland in a packed Musgrave Park 

which was live on RTÉ television as Ireland 

secured the Grand Slam. 

While this was the biggest moment of his 

short career to date, it was still a stepping 

stone to where King wants to be; earning 

a living from the game he loves. 

But there are never any guarantees in life, 

much less sport, and like all players, it 

was a nervy time coming off the back of 

a successful campaign with the U-20s and 

then hoping for the phone to ring. 

Thankfully, he hadn’t long to wait. 

A week after the U-20 Six Nations 

campaign, the players had individual 

meetings with their Academy managers. It 

was a day worth waiting for. 

“My dad drove me to Donnybrook for 

my meeting with Dave Fagan and Simon 

Broughton. I walked in and they told me 

that I was going to be offered a contract. I 

was so happy. 

“I just walked back to the car and said to 

my dad, “I’ve been offered a contract”, 

so it was a nice moment with him. I’m very 

close with him and we’ve been through it 

all together. 

“He was my underage coach in 

Balbriggan, so it was great. Then we both 

rang my mam to tell her.” 

King was given another opportunity to 

wear an Irish Jersey this summer as he was 

selected for the Irish U-20 side for the Six 

Nations Summer Series in Italy, where he 

scored tries against France and Scotland. 

With all young athletes who sign their first 

contract, there is a fear that they might 

lose a little bit of motivation and start 

easing off a little. 

Not so here. 

Now a few months into his first year as 

a Leinster Rugby Academy player, and 

playing with Clontarf in the Energia All- 

Ireland League, King is still fully focused 

on pushing on reaching his ultimate goal. 

“The main aim is to get my first cap for 

Leinster. In the meantime, I just want to 

keep playing well and keep improving.”


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 (6) #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 (10) #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 (6) #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 (8) #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 


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 




IRELAND ‘A’ IRELAND 

ELAND ‘A’ IRELAND ‘A’ 


ELAND ‘A’ IRELAND ‘A’ 


I R E L A N D ‘ A ’ 


fixtures and 

results 2022/23 

Date 

17/09 

23/09 

30/09 

08/10 

14/10 

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 

W 

54-34 

URC 

CELL C 

SHARKS 

O’BRIEN LARMOUR RINGROSE HENSHAW KEARNEY 

RDS Arena O’BRIEN LARMOUR 

HENSHAW 

1T 

NGATAI 

RUSSELL 

1T 

R. BYRNE 

2C 2P 

SEXTON 

1T, 7C 

W 

0-10 URC CONNACHT Sportsground O’BRIEN TURNER RINGROSE NGATAI RUSSELL R. BYRNE 

1C 

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 

MCGRATH 

1T 

MCGRATH 

1T 

MCGRATH 

MCGRATH 

FOLEY 

1T 

E BYRNE 

PORTER 

PORTER 

PORTER 

1T 

KELLEHER 

SHEEHAN 

4T 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

SHEEHAN 

E. BYRNE SHEEHAN 

03/12 19:35 URC ULSTER RDS Arena 

10/12 14:00 HCC RACING 92 

Stade 

Océane 

16/12 20:00 HCC GLOUCESTER RDS Arena 

26/12 19:35 URC MUNSTER 

Thomond 

Park 

01/01 19:35 URC CONNACHT RDS Arena 

07/01 19:35 URC OSPREYS 

Swansea. 

com Stadium 

14/01 13:00 HCC GLOUCESTER Kingsholm 

21/01 15:15 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 

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 

ALAALATOA 

MOLONY 

JENKINS 

2T 

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 

BAIRD CONNORS RUDDOCK 

MCKEE 

1T 

HEALY ABDALADZE RYAN MOLONEY FOLEY BYRNE 

FURLONG MOLONY RYAN DORIS VAN DER FLIER CONAN MCKEE PORTER ALAALATOA MCCARTHY MOLONEY MCCARTHY 

FRAWLEY 

1P 

RINGROSE 

2T 

HENSHAW 


*Restrictions apply. 

*

Leinster vs Munster

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