Leinster Rugby vs Glasgow Warriors

Debbie Carty welcome
PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2022/23
On behalf of Leinster Rugby, I would
like to welcome you all to the RDS
Arena for this afternoon’s match
against Glasgow Warriors in Round
8 of this season’s BKT United Rugby
Championship.
In particular, I wish to extend a
warm welcome to Dublin to our
Glaswegian visitors, to the squad,
their Head Coach, Franco Smith
and their management team and
hope you are enjoying your visit
here for this URC match.
Leinster have won their last seven
matches in the URC and I would like to
congratulate the Leinster squad captained
by Rhys Ruddock on their win over
Scarlets in Round 7 back in October.
As a result, Leinster have stretched their
lead in the competition to 12 points
and they will be confident heading
into tonight’s match, but we cannot be
complacent with the Glasgow Warriors
who have had three big wins in the
competition so we expect tonight to be a
challenging and physical match.
I have no doubt that Leo and his squad
are up for the challenge and we look
forward to the season ahead.
Having just finished up a successful
autumn internationals series where a
number of Leinster players both played
and captained the Irish squad, it is a
great time to be a Leinster and Ireland
supporter.
But the business end of the season is
still ahead and I know you will join me
in wishing Andy and his squad, every
success this season.
Before moving on from matters green,
I would like to personally congratulate
Tadhg Furlong, who hails from my own
home county of Wexford, on his recent
captaincy of the Irish team against Fiji.
What a lift a moment like that gives to all
of us down in the sunny south east and
to the clubs and to the player pathway
for youths. A great day and what an
ambassador he is.
On the domestic front, all competitions
are up and running. The Bank of Ireland
Leinster Leagues, the Energia AIL for
the men and the women and everything
in between have all kicked off as the
teams start the task of taking their squads
toward promotion from their divisions. It is
great to see most clubs fielding 2nd and
3rd teams this year. It promises to be an
exciting season ahead.
I am delighted to see that the first few
rounds of the Bank of Ireland Sarah
Robinson Cup is under way, with wins
for North Midlands over Midlands and
the Southeast over Metro. And we look
forward to the next few rounds of this
great competition in the months ahead.
On the interpros side, I look forward to
the Women’s Series in January and the
junior interpros that will also start their
campaign early in the new year.
I would like to welcome to the RDS
Arena this evening the mini rugby teams
who will play at half time in the Bank of
Ireland Mini Games. To the players from
Stillorgan-Rathfarnham RFC, North Meath
RFC, Kilkenny RFC and Navan RFC, the
very best of luck. 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.
Over the last few months, we have
lost two stalwarts of the game in
Leinster Rugby in Ken Ging and Paul
McNaughton. With the team of 2011
and 2012 being celebrated this
afternoon at half-time, I think it is fair to
say that much of the success in those
years and indeed since, was built on the
great work of people like Ken and Paul.
They, their families, and their friends,
remain in all our thoughts. May they rest
in peace.
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 evening will be no different
as you get the roar going and the flags
waving to cheer on the boys in blue to
another victory.
Let us hope for an energetic, exciting and
injury free match tonight.
Debbie Carty
Leinster Rugby President 2022/23
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