Leinster Rugby vs Connacht Rugby

LEINSTER 

VS 

ISSUE 07 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 

connacht 

rugby 

SUN 1 st JANUARY 

RDS ARENA 

KO 7.35PM

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 

#LEIVCON 

The Line up 

Telephone: 

012693224 

Fax: 

012693142 

E-mail: 

information@leinsterrugby.ie 

www.leinsterrugby.ie 

10 

24 

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT 

President: Debbie Carty 

Chief Executive: Shane Nolan 

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 & 

Daniel Kelly 

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 

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CONNECTED 

& KEEP 

UP-TO-DATE 

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 3

Debbie Carty welcome 

PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2022/23 

On behalf of Leinster Rugby, 

I would like to welcome you 

all to the RDS Arena for this 

evening’s match against 

Connacht in Round 11 of this 

season’s BKT United Rugby 

Championship. 

In particular, I wish to extend a 

warm welcome to Dublin to our 

Connacht visitors, to Padraic their 

President, to the squad, their 

Director of Rugby Andy Friend 

and their management team and 

hope you are enjoying your visit 

here for the match. 

Leinster have won their last ten matches in 

the URC and I would like to congratulate 

the Leinster squad captained by 

Garry Ringrose on their two Heineken 

Champions Cup wins over Racing 92 in 

Round 1 and over Gloucester in Round 

2. December was topped off with a 

tight win over Munster in the URC on 

St. Stephen’s Day to a sell-out crowd in 

Thomond Park. 

Leinster are leading in the URC, after 

their win against Munster last week and 

will be confident heading into tonight’s 

match. Hopefully they didn’t over-indulge 

on the turkey and chocolates over the 

Christmas period so we could make it 

three out of three in the Christmas period. 

We expect tonight to be a challenging 

and physical match as we strive to win 

the URC later this year. 

I have no doubt that Leo and his squad 

are up for the challenge and we look 

forward to the year ahead. Having 

recently finished up a successful Autumn 

Internationals where a number of 

the Leinster squad both played and 

captained the Irish squad and a Six 

Nations to come, it will be a busy rugby 

season but I know you will join me in 

wishing Leo and the squad every success 

for the rest of the season. I look forward 

to meeting our many supporters of the 

Leinster team be it in Energia Park, the 

RDS Arena, the Aviva Stadium and 

beyond. 

On the domestic front, a lot of matches 

were cancelled last week due to the 

frozen pitches, but a few got played and 

I would like to personally congratulate 

Blackrock’s Women’s team for winning 

their conference in the WAIL competition 

last month. 

On the Youth’s side the Girls’ Finals 

also had to be called off due to the 

freezing weather conditions but has 

been re-scheduled in SETU Carlow 

on the 7th January and I would 

encourage supporters to attend this great 

competition finale of the U14s, U16s 

and U18s starting at 12pm with the last 

matches starting at 4pm, I would like to 

thank SETU Carlow for allowing us to use 

their fantastic facilities again. 

On the Interpros side, the first Women’s 

match v Connacht will be held in Energia 

Park on Saturday 7th January, I wish the 

women’s team all the best in their Interpro 

competition. 

I would like to welcome to the RDS 

this evening the mini rugby teams who 

will play at half time in the Bank of 

Ireland Mini Games. To the players from 

Coolmine, Greystones, Lansdown and 

Wanderers rugby clubs, your coaches 

and parents, I know you will all enjoy 

the occasion. I would ask all supporters 

to show your appreciation and cheer on 

these young stars of the future. 

To our title sponsor Bank of Ireland, great 

patrons of both our professional and 

domestic games, who along with all our 

premium partners and suppliers, 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 injuryfree 

match tonight. 

Debbie Carty 

Leinster Rugby President 2022/23 

4 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

...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. 


Leo Cullen 

head Coach Welcome 

Happy New Year to all rugby 

supporters and a warm 

welcome to the RDS Arena for 

our first home game of 2023. 

This is a great time of year for 

followers of Irish provincial rugby 

as we get to see four proud 

teams from north, south, east 

and west going hard at it for their 

respective jerseys. 

Today will be no different as Andy 

Friend looks to sign off his last season 

with Connacht in style. Today is our sixth 

interpro derby of the season and these 

games bring a very special dimension as 

the teams and players know each other 

so well. 

Many thanks to everyone who made the 

trip to Limerick on St Stephen’s Day. 

It was brilliant to be back at a packed-out 

Thomond Park and I think everyone in the 

ground had tingles down the spine when 

Munster ran out to ‘Zombie’. 

Thankfully, our players were able to 

rise to the challenge and we were very 

happy to come away with a valuable 

four points on the night. 

Congratulations to Andrew Porter who 

made his hundredth appearance for 

Leinster Rugby in Limerick. Andrew 

has become such a key member of 

the group and we hope he can 

go on to enjoy many more great 

days in a Leinster jersey. 

Unfortunately, we also had 

some sad news recently 

with the announcement 

that James Tracy has been 

forced to retire from the 

game through injury. 

James has been a fantastic member of 

the Leinster playing group and a hugely 

positive influence over the last ten-plus 

seasons, and we will all miss him greatly. 

We wish James, his wife Ashley and their 

young family every success for the future. 

A big thanks to all the team’s sponsors, 

especially Bank of Ireland, who play 

such a key supporting role in our 

ability to be competitive on the field. 

We hope you all got to enjoy some of 

the Christmas festivities, including the 

rugby! 

We have lots of exciting games 

coming up over the next few 

weeks that will go a long way 

in defining how our season 

ends up. 

We really hope you come 

along with us for the journey. 

There has been a lot of really 

positive energy created by our 

supporters this season and we 

hope to bring that to a new 

level in 2023. 

After today, we are on the road 

for a couple of weeks, starting 

with Ospreys, then Gloucester 

in Kingsholm for the next round of 

European action, before returning to the 

Aviva Stadium for our last game of the 


There has been 

a lot of really 

positive energy 

created by our 

supporters this 

season and we 

hope to bring 

that to a new 

level in 2023. 

pool stage of the Heineken Champions 

Cup against Racing 92. 

How good would it be to be able to 

pack out the stadium that day? 

We need to try and maximise every 

single point as we try to secure a 

top seeding ahead of the knock-out 

stages later in the season, which I’m 

sure you are all aware culminates in 

the Aviva Stadium in May. Exciting 

times! 

Many thanks again for being here. 

Your support means everything to the 

team. Have a great evening and an 

even better 2023. 

Leo 


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laura 

lynch 

BANK OF IRELAND 

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 

A very warm 

welcome to the 

RDS Arena from 

Bank of Ireland as 

we look forward 

to this evening’s 

fixture. 

Bank of Ireland are proud partners to Leinster 

Rugby. Like us, they are rooted in local communities 

across the 12 counties of Leinster. 

We are delighted to support Leo Cullen and his coaching 

team in building Leinster Rugby through clubs and schools, 

developing home grown talent and always ensuring that 

Leinster #NeverStopCompeting. 

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

evening. 

We wish Leinster Rugby every success, and hope that you 

enjoy the game. 

Laura Lynch. 

BANK OF IRELAND 

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 


Did you 

know? 

• Leinster’s perfect start to 

the 2022/23 BKT United Rugby 

Championship campaign 

continued with their nail 

biting 20-19 victory at 

Munster on St. Stephen’s Day. 

• The Leinstermen’s only 

loss at the RDS Arena in any 

tournament since November 

2021 was by a solitary point 

in last season’s semi-final 

against the Vodacom Bulls. 

• Leinster have won their 

last ten fixtures against 

fellow Irish provinces in 

all competitions since 

Ulster beat them in Belfast 

in March. 

• Connacht’s three game 

winning run in all 

tournaments ended with 

their 20-22 defeat to Ulster 

at the Sportsground last 

weekend. 

• Connacht have won just 

once away from home in 

the BKT United Rugby 

Championship since April: 

22-19 at Ospreys in Round 7. 

• Connacht have beaten 

fellow Irish provinces only 

twice in 2022, both against 

Munster in Galway, on New 

Year’s Day and in early 

October. 

• Leinster have won their 

last four fixtures against 

Connacht in the United 

Rugby Championship since 

the western province won 

35-24 at the RDS Arena on 2 

January 2021. 

COMPARISON 

Overall URC head-to-head record: 

Played 41, Leinster won 31, Connacht won 10. 

Last 3 URC results: 

26 Nov - Glasgow (H) W 40-5 26 Nov - Munster (A) L 17-24 

3 Dec - Ulster (H) W 38-29 3 Dec - Benetton (H) W 38-19 

26 Dec - Munster (A) W 20-19 23 Dec - Ulster (H) L 20-22 

1ST - W10 D0 L0 - 47PTS 

WWWWWW (28pts) 

URC 2022/23 

URC form 

Top try scorer 

12TH - W4 D0 L6 - 20PTS 

LWWLWL (16pts) 

7 - Dan Sheehan 4 - Caolin Blade 

Top points scorer 

63 - Ross Byrne 38 - Jack Carty 

Date Venue L C Leinster scorers Connacht scorers 

Sat 4 Jan 20 RDS Arena 54 7 Max Deegan(2T) Ciaran Frawley(T/6C) 

Harry Byrne(C) Joe Tomane(T) Dave 

Kearney(T) Garry Ringrose(2T) Luke 

McGrath(T) 

Sat 2 Jan 21 RDS Arena 24 35 Scott Penny(T) David Hawkshaw(C) Ryan 

Baird(T) Ed Byrne(T) Luke McGrath(T) Jimmy 

O'Brien(C) 

Sat 8 May 21 Sportsground (RC) 50 21 Ross Byrne(5C) Andrew Porter(T) James 

Tracy(T) Scott Fardy(T) Cian Kelleher(T) Ross 

Molony(T) Hugo Keenan(3T) 

Fri 3 Dec 21 RDS Arena 47 19 Ross Byrne(C) Max Deegan(T) Harry 

Byrne(5C) Rhys Ruddock(T) Ryan Baird(T) 

Garry Ringrose(T) Caelan Doris(T) Jordan 

Larmour(T) Dan Sheehan(T) 

Sat 26 Mar 

22 

Sportsground 45 8 Ross Byrne(C) Max Deegan(T) Ciaran 

Frawley(T) David Hawkshaw(T/4C) 

Tommy O'Brien(2T) Luke McGrath(T) Rory 

O'Loughlin(T) 

Fri 14 Oct 22 Sportsground 10 0 Ross Byrne(C) Ciaran Frawley(P) Cormac 

Foley(T) 

Conor Fitzgerald(C) Tom McCartney(T) 

Tom Daly(T) Jack Carty(2T/3C/3P) Alex 

Wootton(T) 

Caolin Blade(T) Peter Sullivan(T) Conor 

Fitzgerald(C/3P) 

Sammy Arnold(T) Jack Carty(2C) Mack 

Hansen(T) Conor Oliver(T) 

Tiernan O'Halloran(T) Jack Carty(P) 

John Cooney(C/2P) John Andrew(T) 


charlie 

ngatai 

the big interview 

BY DANIEL KELLY 

What does a 

Gisborne man from 

the North Island 

do for his first 

Christmas in 

Dublin? For Charlie 

Ngatai, it was 

one of the easiest 

questions he will 

answer all season. 



The crowd in the 

RDS - especially a big 

one - has a special 

atmosphere. The crowd 

really get amongst it. 

The 32-year-old All Black joined 

Leinster in the summer, after 

spending four years in France 

with Lyon and is settling into life 

with his family in Dublin. 

Although Christmas Day, was a time to 

be spent with his wife Gaynor and their 

four children, Christmas Eve was a time to 

invite some friends around for a touch of 

Christmas that felt a little closer to home. 

James Lowe (dressed up as Santa 

Claus), Jamison Gibson-Park, 

Michael Ala’alatoa and Leinster’s 

Assistant Coach Andrew 

Goodman all came to the 

Ngatai household to celebrate 

together with their families, while 

thinking about their loved ones on 

the far side of the world. 

While a traditional meal could 

not be had, one thing that was off 

the menu was rugby, while time was 

spent with family. 

“This is your family, when you’re away 

from family”, Ngatai said, ahead of the 

Connacht game. “Back home, family is 

big. To have a connection off the field 

with these guys, is as important as having 

one on the field.” 

“For our partners, it’s great having friends 

and it’s important to get together as much 

as possible.” 

Back home, most New Zealanders cook 

their Christmas dinner in a hangi, but 

while that was not possible last week, 

a “nice glazed ham” did the trick on 

Christmas Eve. 

Ngatai was not involved in 

Leinster’s one-point win away 

to Munster on St. Stephen’s 

Day, but despite that, it 

was still nice to be at 

home, not focusing on 

the match. 

“Christmas Day was 

pretty quiet really” he 


admitted. “The kids opened their presents. 

They loved it!” 

Ngatai was one of Leinster’s marquee 

signings ahead of this season. Capped 

by New Zealand, and a regular for the 

Maori when playing back home, he 

was part of the Lyon team that won the 

Challenge Cup last year. 

It can be a challenge to move countries 

(and languages) with a new family, but 

Charlie says the family have settled in 

well in Dublin since moving over in July. 

“Dublin has been good, but I’m still 

getting used to the weather! When we 

first arrived, it was beautiful, but now I’m 

still getting used to the rain and frost. My 

family has settled in well, which can be 

the hardest part of any move. They’re 

comfortable here thankfully.” 

“The kids love Dublin. They were in 

France for four years. It’s a big change, 

especially in school. It feels like we made 

the right move coming here.” 

With nine games played already this 

season, Ngatai has become a fixture 

in the Leinster midfield, after making his 

debut in Round 1 of the URC away to 

Zebre. 

“I started slowly. It’s a new team, and it 

took time to get to know the players and 

the culture. I’m finding my feet now and 

enjoying it.” 

Only Brad Thorn had previously 

played for the All Blacks and Leinster, 

and Ngatai hopes he can bring many 

learnings with him from throughout his 

career to his time in blue. 

“I’m trying to bring experience. I’ve 

played a lot of rugby back home in New 

Zealand, and in France. I try to focus on 

what I do well, and where that fits into the 

team. It’s now about fitting that into our 

systems.” 

Tonight will be Ngatai’s second time 

facing Connacht, after playing in the 

10-0 win in The Sportsground in mid- 

October. He knows tonight’s match will 

be a tough one, against a resurgent team 

from the West. 

“Most Interpro games feel like Test 

matches. It’s the Irish boys going at it, 


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and most of the players know each 

other. Everyone knows everyone, and 

the weaknesses are known by each other 

too.” 

“You always want to come out on top 

against teams from your own country. 

Connacht will be tough this week, the 

same way as Munster were.” 

Ngatai has yet to score for Leinster, 

but his value has been seen close to 

the tryline on numerous occasions. In 

Kingspan Stadium, he somehow knocked 

the ball out of Aaron Sexton’s hands as a 

try looked all but certain. 

In the RDS, he also showed his attacking 

prowess, setting up Rob Russell to score 

against Glasgow with one of the finest 

offloads seen in the shadows of the 

Anglesea Stand in many a year. 

“It was a spur of the moment”, he says 

of his tackle in Belfast, that even had 

the tv commentators sure it was a try. “I 

love watching the NFL, and see players 

always trying to knock the ball out of the 

offensive players hands. If you can get in 

near the ball, you never know what might 

happen.” 

A fan of the LA Rams, Ngatai used his 

hands in a way that would impress their 

quarterback Matthew Stafford, with his 

pass to Russell, that took three Glasgow 

players out of the game. 

“With the offload, it was a situation 

where you never know if you are in touch 

or not. You might as well throw it back 

and see what happens. Thankfully it paid 

off!” 

The RDS has yet to cheer a Ngatai try, 

but they have seen moments of genius in 

both attack and defence. For a player 

who has graced some of the world’s 

best rugby stadia, he says the RDS has a 

unique place in the rugby world. 

quote. 

“The crowd in the RDS - especially a 

big one - has a special atmosphere. 

The crowd really get amongst it. The 

stands are pretty close, and it helps the 

atmosphere massively!” 

While some of Leinster’s players went off 

with Ireland, Georgia, Samoa and South 

Africa in the November Internationals, 

Ngatai found himself under the radar 

going face to face with some familiar 


faces as he made his Barbarians debut 

against an All Blacks XV, in London. 

“It was awesome. The Barbarians have a 

long history, and to play for the BaaBaas 

was one to tick off the bucket list. I 

played with some of the guys in the New 

Zealand team when I was at the Chiefs. It 

was good to see them again” 

That day, Ngatai led a Haka with his 

fellow New Zealanders in the Barbarians 

team, wearing the socks of Leinster, and 

Gisborne Boys’ High School. While the 

Leinster socks were easy to find thanks 

to kitman Jim Bastick, it was a little more 

difficult to get those of his alma mater. 

“It’s hard to find club socks on this side 

of the world, but I managed to find one 

to pay tribute to the school that set me on 

my way. It meant a lot for Leinster to let 


The Barbarians 

have a long history, 

and to play for the 

BaaBaas was one to 

tick off the bucket 

list. 

me play with the BaaBaas, so it was nice 

to represent them too.” 

When Ngatai’s arrival in Leinster was 

announced, Leo Cullen said; “Charlie will 

be an ever-present figure around UCD 

and will be a great asset to our younger 

players in terms of his leadership and 

experience.” 

Despite that ringing endorsement, Ngatai 

feels he is only a cog in the bigger wheel 

within the squad. 

“The coaches drive the standards. They 

keep the edge in the team, along with 

the senior players. The mindset never 

changes. It’s all about trying to be the 

best.” 

“You need to bring that mindset every 

week. If so, you generally can’t go 

wrong. The team have been together for 

a long time, and know how each other 

play.” 

“If you build on those connections, the 

trust in the team will only get better!” 

He’s only been here since July, but 

it’s clear Ngatai is building those 

connections both on and off the field. 

Whether it’s quality time at Christmas 

with family and friends, or an improbable 

offload on the field, the 32-year-old is 

settling into life in Dublin in the best way 

possible. 


19 

20 

Action 

replay 

MONDAY 26TH DECEMBER 2022 

THOMOND PARK, LIMERICK 

REFEREE: CHRIS BUSBY (IRFU) 

BKT UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 

MUNSTER: 

Daly, Nash, Frish, Crowley, Earls, Carbery, 

Murray; Kilcoyne, N. Scannell, Ryan, Kleyn, 

Beirne, O’Donoghue, O’Mahony (capt), 

Coombes. 

REPLACEMENTS: Barron, Wycherley, 

Salanoa, McDonald Seren, Kendellen, 

Casey, R. Scannell, Campbell 

TRIE: Coombes, Penalty, Campbell 

CONVERSION: Russell 

LEINSTER: 

Keenan, Larmour, Ringrose (capt), Osborne, 

Lowe, R. Byrne, N. McCarthy; Porter, 

Sheehan, Healy, Baird, J. McCarthy, 

Ruddock, Penny, Deegan. 

REPLACEMENTS: McKee, Milne, 

Abdaladze, Molony, Conan, McGrath, H. 

Byrne, Turner 

TRIES: Penny, Sheehan 

CONVERSIONS: R. Byrne (2) 

PENALTIES: R. Byrne (2) 

It’s an incredibly proud day for 

myself, my family and friends and 

everyone who has got me to 100 

caps. I’m very grateful to them and 

everyone who helped me reach this 

point. 

Andrew Porter 


It was a tight 

game with an 

unbelievable 

atmosphere. It 

was far from 

the perfect 

performance, but 

we showed lots of 

good character at 

different stages. 

It was really 

pleasing. 

Leo Cullen 


Leinster Women’s 

Competitions reach the 

Christmas break 

There has been a tremendous 

growth in the number of women’s 

teams and players taking part 

in Leinster Competitions over 

the last number of years. This 

season there are five divisions 

in the Leinster Rugby Women’s 

Section League Competition in 

which 35 teams representing 36 

clubs are competing – with two 

teams being a combination from 2 

different clubs - Port Dara Falcons 

is a combination of Portarlington 

RFC and Cill Dara RFC, and South- 

East Lions is a combination of 

Enniscorthy RFC and Wexford RFC. 

As we head into the Christmas and New 

Year break we are halfway through the 

competition so is a good point at which 

to review how teams are getting on in 

their respective divisions. 

Division 1 

Last season’s winners, Railway Union J1s, are setting the pace closely followed by MU 

Barnhall with one loss each – Railway Union J1s losing to Blackrock College RFC J1 

and MU Barnhall losing to Railway Union J1s. 

Position Team Played Win Draw Loss Points 

1 Railway Union J1s 7 6 0 1 31 

2 MU Barnhall 7 6 0 1 29 

3 Tullamore 6 3 1 2 19 

4 Tullow 7 3 0 4 14 

5 Old Belvedere J1 7 2 1 4 13 

6 Blackrock College RFC J1 6 4 0 2 10 

7 Dublin University 7 1 0 6 5 

8 DCU 7 1 0 6 5 

Division 2 

There are seven teams in this division due to one of the original eight teams having 

to withdraw at the start of the competition due to challenges with player numbers. 

Mullingar RFC are the leaders at this stage with one loss in their first match away to 

Clondalkin but have remained unbeaten since. Port Dara Falcons are hoping to have 

a quick return to Division 1 after their relegation last season. Last season’s winners of 

Division 3, Naas, are looking to continue their progress through the divisions. 


1 Mullingar RFC 6 5 0 1 25 

2 Port Dara Falcons 6 4 0 2 21 

3 Naas 5 4 0 1 20 

4 Clondalkin 6 4 0 2 20 

5 CYM 6 2 0 4 11 

6 Balbriggan 6 1 0 5 8 

7 Portlaoise 5 0 0 5 -3 

Division 3 

After winning Division 4 in the 2019/2020 season to gain promotion, New Ross 

finished mid-table last season but have certainly found their way this season remaining 

unbeaten to date. Clontarf, who were relegated from Division 2 following a loss to 

Portlaoise in the end of season Promotion/Relegation are looking to put themselves in a 

position of moving straight back. 


1 New Ross 7 7 0 0 33 

2 Clontarf 7 6 0 1 28 

3 Wicklow J1 7 5 0 2 24 

4 Athy 7 4 0 3 21 

5 Longford 7 3 0 4 18 

6 Arklow 7 2 0 5 12 

7 Greystones 7 1 0 6 5 

8 Gorey 7 0 0 7 0 


Division 4 

Kilkenny are continuing on from where they left off last season after being promoted 

from Division 5 as runners-up to Navan. MU Barnhall J1 are having a strong season 

following their mid-table finish in 2020-2021. This season we welcome the return of St. 

Mary’s College RFC to Leinster Rugby Women’s Section competitions after a break of 

a number of seasons. 


1 Kilkenny 7 6 0 1 24 

2 MU Barnhall J1 7 5 0 2 20 

3 Wanderers 7 4 1 2 18 

4 Navan 7 4 0 3 16 

5 South East Lions 6 3 1 2 14 

6 Garda 7 2 0 5 8 

7 St Marys College RFC 7 1 0 6 0 

8 Tullamore J1 6 1 0 5 0 

Division 5 

Tallaght are getting the benefit of their great run to the final of the inaugural Division 

5 Cup last season where they lost out narrowly to Kilkenny, and have had very strong 

start to the season. Ashbourne RFC are having a great start to the season following 

close behind. Both Ashbourne RFC and Newbridge RFC are new participants in the 

Division 5 competition. 


1 Tallaght 4 4 0 0 16 

2 Ashbourne RFC 4 3 0 1 12 

3 De La Salle Palmerston 4 2 0 2 8 

4 Swords 4 1 0 3 4 

5 Newbridge RFC 4 0 0 4 0 

The League Competitions will 

recommence after the Christmas and 

New Year break on the weekend of 

January 8th and continue to the final 

round of matches on the weekend of 

March 5th. There will be no breaks for 

the clubs as the Paul Flood Cup (Division 

1 and 2), Paul Cusack Cup (Division 3 

and 4) and the Division 5 Cup will kick 

off the weekend of March 12th. The finals 

of these cups together with the finals of 

the Paul Flood and Paul Cusack Plates 

will take place on Saturday, April 23rd. 

At the end of the League Competition, the 

top two teams in Division 1 that are not 

the second team of a club in the Energia 

Women’s AIL, will be the Leinster Rugby 

representatives in the IRFU Junior Cup 

competing against six teams representing 

the other three provinces – a great 

opportunity to test themselves against the 

best of the rest with the chance of some 

additional silverware to bring home. 

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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ZOOMED IN! 

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Brian Deeny 

A – Action: If you could be a superhero, 

which would you be? 

Thor 

B – Boyhood: Who was your favourite 

sporting idol growing up? 

Matty Forde – a brilliant Wexford 

footballer for those that don’t know! 

C – Childhood: What is your favourite 

childhood memory? 

Winning county championship with 

the Volunteers Gaelic football team. 

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

meal? 

Spag Bolognese 

E – Education: What was your favourite 

subject in school? 

History 

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

Forest Gump 

G – Groove: Who is the best dancer in 

the squad? 

Martin Moloney 

H – Holiday: What’s your favourite 

holiday destination? 

Gran Canaria 

I – Inside: Who is the worst to sit beside 

in the dressing room? 

John McKee 

J – Joker: Who is the funniest in the 

squad? 

Max O’Reilly 

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

of the day to play a match? 

12 

L – Languages: How many languages 

can you speak? 

Two 

M – Music: Your favourite artist and 

song right now? 

Lil Nas x That’s What I Want 

N – Number: Do you have a lucky 

number? 

13 


O – Others: What’s your favourite 

sport outside of rugby? 

Gaelic football 

P – Pal: Who is your best mate in 

the squad? 

Rob Susslar 

Q – Quirky: Who has the most 

interesting fashion sense? 

Martin Moloney 

R – Red Carpet: Who is the most 

famous contact in your phone? 

Alice Teng 

S – Superstitions: Do you have 

any matchday routines? 

Caffeine chewing gum 

T – Trim: What’s the worst haircut 

you’ve ever had? 

Skin head 

U: Under pressure: Who in the 

squad would be the best in a bad 

situation? 

Thomas Clarkson 

V – Verified: How often do you 

use social media? 

Every day unfortunately 

W – Worst fear: What are you 

most scared of? 

Snow and skiing 

X – X-ray: Have you ever broken 

any bones? 

Nose 

Y – Youth: Where did you grow 

up? 

The bold streets of Wexford 

town 

Z – Zoo: What’s your favourite 

animal? 

Red panda 


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As the Vodafone Women’s Interpro Series comes sharply into view in the next 

few months, Leinster Rugby will focus on some of the unsung heroes making 

the girls and the women’s game tick across the 12 counties of Leinster. 

These are their stories and 

their work. These are, The 

Women of Leinster Rugby. 

“I suppose, I played camogie, 

gaelic football, squash, swimming 

and plenty of other sports when I 

was younger,” she says. 

Rugby just wasn’t an option that was ever 

put in front of her until moving on to study 

Marketing, Innovation and Technology at 

Dublin City University in 2011. 

“I don’t know what it was exactly, but 

something around the physicality of the 

sport appealed to me,” she says. 

KATIE BYRNE BY DES BERRY 

THE REFEREE 

Katie Byrne has a familiar 

sports-loaded childhood 

story from those early 

years in Tullamore. 

“It was similar enough to football in terms 

of the skill element, but just more physical. 

In female sport, typically, the referees 

tend to be softer on you, as in they 

wanted less contact”. 

“Back then, there was no women’s rugby 

team in Tullamore. It was taking off, from 

an international perspective when I went 

to college at DCU. 

“I even remember checking to see if there 

was a team there before I moved up, and 

there was. That was how I got into it, in 

the first place. 

“I remember my very first game in 

Queens University in Belfast. Maybe, it 

did point to me becoming a referee on a 

subconscious level. 

“A girl on my team was given a yellow 

card for pulling another girl’s hair. It was 

my first experience of a 10-minute sin bin. 

It wasn’t a part of the other sports I had 

played. 

“Straight away, it gave me a glimpse of 

the values of rugby and how important 

discipline was to the game” 

Katie is a rule-follower, not a rule-breaker, 

and always abhorred those who like to 

take shortcuts to an end goal. 

“The coaches would introduce games 

into pre-season training with simple rules 

to encourage better play, like you have 

to pass the ball five times before you can 

score. 

“I hated when people cheated. I hated 

when players cut corners. The rules are 

put in place to push for fairness. I just 

hated when players didn’t follow them. 

“It is also part of my make-up to have 

very good attention to detail. That helps 

on the pitch, in terms of spotting things. 

It is the same in my job in marketing, 

spotting mistakes. 

“It translates into reffing. You are 

watching the finer details of the game all 

the time on the pitch, things other people 

might not notice.” 

For seven years, Katie played rugby, two 

of the three seasons at DCU overlapping 

with six seasons playing for Tullamore 

where women’s rugby started-up in 2012. 


In the final year in DCU, she only had 

one day-a-week not involved in rugby 

between coaching an Under-10 girls 

team, gym work, training and playing for 

both DCU and Tullamore. 

All this onfield work was done, in 

addition to being a member of the rugby 

committee in DCU as treasurer and Public 

Relations Officer in Tullamore. 

There was also an overlap in the move 

from playing to refereeing, beginning on 

September 24th, 2017. 

“I remember that was the day I did the 

Leinster Referees Induction Course in 

Terenure College,” she says. 

“It was the final year I played rugby. On 

the same day, Tullamore were playing 

Railway Union in the All-Ireland League 

in the afternoon. 

“I was late coming from the course to the 

game. When I got there, Tullamore were 

60 points down and it finished 105-0.” 

That was the infamous match which 

attracted an avalanche of criticism 

around the standard of the Women’s AIL. 

“Later in the season, my love for the 

game had diminished. We ended up 

being demoted. I just wasn’t enjoying it. 

I was picking up injuries and decided to 

pack it in. That was the end of my playing 

days.” 

The playing boots were hung up for the 

final time in April 2018, leaving Katie 

relatively free to pursue refereeing on a 

more serious level. 

“When playing lost its appeal, I made the 

decision to focus on refereeing to a great 

extent. In October 2018, I did my trial 

match as a Leinster Rugby referee. 

“It happened to be my first adult men’s 

game. It was a Metro 5 fixture between 

Wanderers and Greystones on a Friday 

night in October 2018. I had only done 

a couple of Women’s and youths’ games 

before that. 

“The respect that was shown in that 

game, their knowledge of the rules and 

their response to me as a referee made a 

big impression on me.” 

The motivation to make it as a referee 

comes down to the self, especially when 

there aren’t too many others around to 

lean on. 

“In Tullamore, you are probably a little bit 

more isolated than you are in the Metro 

area. So much of it comes down to the 

individual because people are more 

spread out in the country. 

“It isn’t as easy to come together as 

a group. There is a lot of onus on the 

individual. You have to take it into 

your own hands, in terms of personal 

development and training and the laws of 

the game.” 

There have been corners turned on the 

path, the first match handled, the first 

men’s match handled, the first feel of 

confidence from knowing what you are 

doing. 

“In October 2019, in a Metro 2 

match between St Mary’s and Naas, I 

remember feeling confident in what I was 

doing because I was getting the respect 

and I was getting the buy-in from the 

players. It was a pivotal moment for me 

as a referee. 

“You were feeding off their energy 

and they were feeding off yours. It was 

mutually beneficial and made everything 

more enjoyable on the pitch. 

“As a whole in rugby, the players respect 

the fact you are there, that you have 

given up your time to facilitate a game 

for them.” 

In time, refereeing has become more than 

a search for respect. The competitive spirit 

has allowed Katie to consider what can 

be achieved. 

“I am a competitive person. But, I never 

set out to get to where I am,” she adds. 

“The fact is there aren’t that many female 

referees. That means, in terms of visibility, 

you don’t know what’s possible. I know 

we have Joy Neville. 

“But, you could argue that her skill and 

expertise in the game could be seen as 

a once-off as an outsider. It’s hard to 

quantify what it takes to get to that level. 

“Each season I was on the development 

panel, we had to fill out a personal 

development form in which you stated 

goals. 

“I never once wrote that I wanted to 

get into the AIL. I didn’t think that was 

possible. I didn’t know if I had the 

expertise or the skill or whatever was 

required. 

“Now, I take it on a season-by-season 

basis and every next step is a bonus. 

“Last season, the goal was to get onto the 

National Panel of referees. I have done 

that now. 

“At the start of this season, I was selected 

to referee a Leinster Senior League match 

between Wanderers and MU-Barnhall 

and have been appointed to a number 

of 2C fixtures in the All-Ireland League. 

Once you hit a certain milestone, you 

focus on the next goal. Maybe now I can 

consider making it to 2B and even 2A. 

“In terms of the Women’s game, I did 

a Girls U18 Six Nations match in April 

over in Scotland. A taste of that has made 

me consider whether a senior Women’s 

international is possible. 

“Just to do one and tick it off the bucket 

list would be nice. 


leinster 

squad 2022/23 

season 

Vakhtang Abdaladze #1263 

Prop 

DOB 6 Feb 1996 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 

WEIGHT 121kg (19st 1 lb) 

1 

CAP 

Michael Ala’alatoa #1301 

12 

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”) 


14 

CAPS 

Thomas Clarkson #1285 

Prop 

DOB 22 February 2000 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Jack Conan #1223 

33 

CAPS 

7 

CAPS 

No 8 


HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”) 

WEIGHT 110kg (17st 4 lbs) 


Will Connors #1264 

9 

CAPS 

Max Deegan #1256 

2 

CAPS 

Brian Deeny #1306 

Caelan Doris #1268 

23 

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 

63 

CAPS 

13 

CAPS 

Prop 

DOB 14 November 1992 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Jamison Gibson-Park #1247 

Scrum-half 


HEIGHT 1.76m (5’ 9”) 


23 

CAPS 

Cian Healy #1142 

121 

CAPS 

2 

CAPS 

Robbie Henshaw #1251 

61 

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 

25 

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 

1 

CAP 

Nick McCarthy #1241 

Tadgh McElroy #1312 

Luke McGrath #1206 

19 

CAPS 

Second Row 


HEIGHT 1.98m (6’ 6”) 


Scrum Half 


HEIGHT 1.8m (5’ 11”) 


Hooker 

DOB 16 June1997 

HEIGHT 1.78m (5’ 10’) 

WEIGHT 103kg (16st, 2lbs) 

Scrum Half 


HEIGHT 1.75m (5’ 9”) 


Michael Milne #1279 

Martin Moloney #1300 

Ross Molony #1233 

Charlie Ngatai #1311 

1 

CAP 

Prop 


HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”) 


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”) 


Jimmy O’Brien #1272 

3 

CAPS 

Tommy O’Brien #1283 

Jamie Osborne #1294 

Scott Penny #1271 

Back Three 


HEIGHT 1.84m (6’ 0”) 


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”) 


Andrew Porter #1246 

48 

CAPS 

Garry Ringrose #1237 

47 

CAPS 

Rhys Ruddock #1167 

27 

CAPS 

Charlie Ryan 

Prop 


HEIGHT 1.84m (6’ 1”) 


Centre 


HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”) 


Back Row 


HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


Lock 


HEIGHT 2.01m (6’ 7”) 



James Ryan #1259 

48 

CAPS 

Johnny Sexton #1127 

109 

CAPS 

14 

CAPS 

Dan Sheehan #1286 

13 

CAPS 

James Tracy #1211 

6 

CAPS 

Lock 


HEIGHT 2.00m (6’ 7”) 


Out-half 


HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”) 


Hooker 


HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


Hooker 


HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Liam Turner #1287 

Centre 


HEIGHT 1.73m (5’ 8”) 


Josh van der Flier #1228 

45 

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 

layahealthcare.ie


150 Seasons of ‘fairness and 

inclusivity’ at Lansdowne 

Lansdowne Football Club was 

founded in 1872 by Henry Dunlop 

of Dunlop Tyre Company fame. At 

the time, it was widely regarded 

as Trinity’s second string and in 

fact draws its colours from the 

Red of Trinity and the Black and 

Yellow of the Dunlop family which 

you can still see on the Dunlop 

company logo to this day. 

From its humble beginnings it has 

established itself as one of the top clubs 

in Ireland, attracting players from all 

corners of the country and beyond. Over 

100 of these players have gone on to 

represent their country in International 

Rugby. Devin Toner, Marty Moore, Jordi 

Murphy, David Kearney, Dominic Ryan 

and Matt Healy, while Cian Aherne, Tom 

Daly, Ian Fitzpatrick, John O’Donnell and 

Mark and brother Tom Roche have all 

been capped at 7’s international level in 

the past few seasons. 2023 is going to 

be a big year for Mark Roche as he and 

our long-serving CWO Jen Gleeson have 

plans to marry. The entire club wishes 

them every happiness. 

Currently celebrating their 150th Season 

playing Rugby at their D4 location. This 

is the base where the club have been 

running a successful Minis and Youths 

programme with nearly 400 children, 

both boys and girls competing at all age 

grades from U6s to U17s. Lansdowne is 

proud to have contributed in some small 

way to the sporting successes of the likes 

of Hugo Keenan, James Ryan and Scott 

Penny. We have had great success in 

Leinster League and Cup titles from Under 

13s to Under 18.5 and a solid track 

record of players called up to Leinster 

metro Shane Horgan Cup development 

squads. 

Lansdowne doesn’t have traditional links 

to Schools but draws on its parochial and 

family ties to recruit at minis level. The 

club has a long and close relationship 

with Marian College, Star of the Sea, St. 

Christophers amongst other local schools 

and sees players coming from all the 

various rugby and non-rugby playing 

schools in the vicinity and beyond. 

The club shares the playing facility in 

Lansdowne Road and also operates a 

facility in conjunction with Old Wesley in 

Ballycorus Road. 

Overseas rugby tours are conducted 

annually at Under 13 which regularly 

sees the club bring its players to Spain, 

France and Great Britain and the club 

has a traditional Challenge Cup with 

Scottish side Heriots which is always a 

hugely anticipated and enjoyable event. 

All clubs depend heavily on their 

volunteers and key to this is their 

dedication and passion. Luke Healy 

(Leinster Metro Committee), Jen Gleeson 

(Child Welfare), James Fegan (Referee 

Coordinator), Adam Curry (Coaching 

and coach development coordinator) 

and the 80 coaches, both mums, dads, 

former and current players who turn up 

week on week for the benefit of the kids 

and the sport. 

Lansdowne’s ethos is one of fairness 

and inclusivity. We are a club of many 

counties and countries and we’re looking 

forward to what the next 150 years will 

bring. 


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.

‘One Club, One 

Community’ is the key to 

Wanderers’ success 

Wanderers FC is not only about a 

rugby team, but also about all the 

excitement that team sport brings. 

We pride ourselves on being a 

place where individuals can grow 

and learn some of life’s greatest 

values such as respect, integrity, 

friendship, courage, and dignity, 

while pursuing and promoting a 

healthy lifestyle. 

The club is not just about the players but 

also the very many participants who 

contribute to our community club in 

different ways. All are welcome, and we 

encourage friends to join. Our team of 

coaches, several of whom have played 

rugby at the highest level, do not see 

themselves as Rugby Coaches, but rather 

as the coaches who enable playing 

rugby. This ethos is personified in the 

person who makes all this happen, the 

minis and youths co-ordinator of rugby 

at wanderers Jim Doddy who has been 

doing this thankless task for the last 20 

years! 

Wanderers FC has a proud tradition of 

developing rugby players to the highest 

levels of the game. Most of them began 

playing rugby with our Mini section. From 

little acorns mighty acorns grow, Max 

Deegan, Ben Brownlee and Rob Russell 

being testament to this. We have teams 

from U6 to U18, our most recent success 

was the U17 league win with the U18 

losing out in a cup final. We started mini 

girls, and it is growing from strength to 

strength, hosting a blitz of 80 girls from 

six clubs shows how our underage girls 

are growing. We actively promote all our 

mini teams taking part in blitzes all round 

Dublin and we are fortunate to have the 

Aviva clubhouse to host mini teams, who 

have a fabulous experience playing in 

the home of Irish rugby. 

Playing matches is an important 

developmental element of Mini rugby. 

Our teams play games at home and 

away in Leinster throughout the season. 

Parents participation and help with 

away fixtures is an important element 

of this and will be welcomed. To best 

deliver team spirit and results for our 

mini-rugby players, we focus on fun, 

skills development, and the values of 

participation. Mini members combine 

our motto ‘One Club, One Community’ 

with our brand of expansive rugby with 

pride, and there are always Fergus’s 

famous breakfast rolls in the clubhouse on 

Sundays to keep mum and dad happy. 


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+6 - - 0+6 - - - - - 0+23 2 10 0+22 2 10 0+1 - - 8 GEO 1 

MICHAEL ALA'ALATOA 1301 25 SEP 21 8+1 - - 6+1 - - 2 - - 20+14 3 15 17+7 2 10 3+7 1 5 11 WS 12 

RYAN BAIRD 1278 27 APR 19 6+1 1 5 5+1 1 5 1 - - 25+20 8 40 22+15 8 40 3+5 - - 6 IR 8 

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

BEN BROWNLEE 1313 28 OCT 22 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - - 

ED BYRNE 1222 9 FEB 14 4+4 1 5 4+2 - - 0+2 1 5 31+62 13 65 31+47 11 55 0+15 2 10 2 IR 6 

HARRY BYRNE 1280 28 SEP 19 0+2 - 6 0+1 - 2 0+1 - 4 21+17 6 189 21+15 6 180 0+2 - 9 17 IR 2 

ROSS BYRNE 1236 4 SEP 15 9+3 - 81 7+3 - 63 2 - 18 94+46 9 907 78+24 4 659 16+22 5 248 23 IR 14 

TOM CLARKSON 1285 29 AUG 20 2+1 1 5 2+1 1 5 - - - 8+13 1 5 8+13 1 5 - - - 2 - 

JACK CONAN 1223 20 FEB 14 4+3 - - 3+2 - - 1+1 - - 95+29 25 125 66+18 16 80 29+11 9 45 17 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 5 1+1 1 5 - - - 2+2 1 5 2+2 1 5 - - - 2 - 

MAX DEEGAN 1256 3 DEC 16 5+1 - - 5 - - 0+1 - - 48+42 24 120 45+29 22 110 3+13 2 10 11 IR 2 

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

CAELAN DORIS 1268 28 APR 18 5+1 1 5 3+1 - - 2 1 5 52+9 9 45 36+7 6 30 16+2 3 15 1 IR 23 

CORMAC FOLEY 1299 24 APR 21 1+3 1 5 1+3 1 5 - - - 3+6 2 10 3+6 2 10 - - - 2 - 

CIARAN FRAWLEY 1265 17 FEB 18 2+2 - 9 2+2 - 9 - - - 33+27 7 188 30+19 5 172 3+8 2 16 6 - 

TADHG FURLONG 1220 1 NOV 13 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - 86+43 10 50 48+35 3 15 38+8 7 35 8 IR 63 

JAMISON GIBSON-PARK 1247 2 SEP 16 2+1 - - 1 - - 1+1 - - 62+57 22 110 50+30 15 75 12+27 7 35 5 IR 23 

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

CIAN HEALY 1142 5 MAY 07 3+4 - - 3+2 - - 0+2 - - 163+93 30 150 96+58 16 80 65+34 13 65 8 IR 121 

ROBBIE HENSHAW 1251 8 OCT 16 4+1 1 5 4+1 1 5 - - - 70+3 17 85 33+2 8 40 37+1 9 45 3 IR 61 

JASON JENKINS 1310 17 SEP 22 8+1 2 10 7+1 2 10 1 - - 8+1 2 10 7+1 2 10 1 - - 6 SA 1 

DAVE KEARNEY 1158 16 MAY 09 5 2 10 5 2 10 - - - 155+23 54 270 129+16 47 235 25+6 7 35 1 IR 19 

HUGO KEENAN 1253 5 NOV 16 4 - - 2 - - 2 - - 45+3 9 45 30+3 5 25 15 4 20 6 IR 25 

RONAN KELLEHER 1277 22 FEB 19 4+2 3 15 3+1 1 5 1+1 2 10 33+9 16 80 19+6 12 60 14+3 4 20 1 IR 18 

JORDAN LARMOUR 1258 2 SEP 17 4+1 1 5 4 - - 0+1 1 5 68+11 28 140 44+7 20 100 24+4 8 40 2 IR 30 

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

JAMES LOWE 1262 2 DEC 17 4 3 15 2 1 5 2 2 10 67+2 50 250 41+1 29 145 26+1 21 105 2 IR 15 

JOE MCCARTHY 1303 29 JAN 22 2+3 - - 2+2 - - 0+1 - - 10+6 1 5 10+2 1 5 0+4 - - 7 IR 1 

NICK MCCARTHY 1241 19 DEC 15 1+6 - - 1+6 - - - - - 10+43 5 25 10+37 5 25 0+6 - - 13 - 

TADGH MCELROY 1312 28 OCT 22 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - - 


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 

LUKE MCGRATH 1206 5 MAY 12 8+2 4 20 7+1 3 15 1+1 1 5 122+63 45 225 86+50 36 180 36+13 9 45 2 IR 19 

JOHN MCKEE 1307 23 APR 22 1+5 2 10 1+5 2 10 - - - 3+6 2 10 3+6 2 10 - - - 1 - 

MICHAEL MILNE 1279 28 SEP 19 0+3 1 5 0+3 1 5 - - - 1+19 3 15 1+19 3 15 - - - 1 - 

MARTIN MOLONEY 1300 24 APR 21 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - 2+8 - - 2+8 - - - - - - - 

ROSS MOLONY 1233 20 FEB 15 8+4 - - 7+3 - - 1+1 - - 90+61 5 25 79+45 4 20 11+16 1 5 28 - 

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

CHARLIE NGATAI 1311 17 SEP 22 7+2 - - 5+2 - - 2 - - 7+2 - - 5+2 - - 2 - - - NZ 1 

JAMIE OSBORNE 1294 30 JAN 21 5+1 - - 5 - - 0+1 - - 18+7 1 5 18+6 1 5 0+1 - - 20 - 

JIMMY O'BRIEN 1272 23 NOV 18 8 - - 6 - - 2 - - 51+10 16 84 40+9 10 54 11+1 6 30 10 IR 3 

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 5 2 10 5 2 10 - - - 39+7 25 125 39+7 25 125 - - - 1 - 

ANDREW PORTER 1246 2 SEP 16 6+3 3 15 4+3 2 10 2 1 5 47+53 17 85 33+34 12 60 14+19 5 25 3 IR 48 

GARRY RINGROSE 1237 12 SEP 15 8+1 5 25 6+1 4 20 2 1 5 108+3 35 183 66+2 23 123 42+1 12 60 3 IR 47 

RHYS RUDDOCK 1167 6 DEC 09 5 2 10 5 2 10 - - - 161+54 14 70 123+35 12 60 37+17 2 10 5 IR 27 

ROB RUSSELL 1302 3 OCT 21 5+1 6 30 5+1 6 30 - - - 8+3 6 30 8+3 6 30 - - - 1 - 

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

JAMES RYAN 1259 2 SEP 17 5+2 1 5 3+2 - - 2 1 5 57+8 4 20 30+3 1 5 27+5 3 15 1 IR 48 

JOHNNY SEXTON 1127 27 JAN 06 2+2 1 28 2+1 1 26 0+1 - 2 158+30 27 1642 91+22 14 883 65+8 12 728 3 IR 109 

DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 7+2 8 40 6+1 7 35 1+1 1 5 16+22 24 120 14+14 20 100 2+8 4 20 1 IR 13 

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

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

CHARLIE TECTOR 1314 28 OCT 22 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - - 

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 3+1 - - 3+1 - - - - - 7+3 - - 7+3 - - - - - - - 

JOSH VAN DER FLIER 1228 11 OCT 14 6 4 20 4 1 5 2 3 15 96+24 22 110 56+18 9 45 40+6 13 65 1 IR 45 

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 75.00% 3 - - 1 - - 2 - - 66 9 63 8 3 1 96 78.13% 

ROSS BYRNE 84.44% 33 5 - 24 5 - 9 - - 287 95 1 219 66 1 68 29 - 485 78.76% 

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 73.33% 10 1 - 9 1 - 1 - - 275 308 11 138 172 7 130 132 4 729 79.97% 


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26 December 2022 

Andrew Porter of Leinster runs out to earn 

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Energia All-Ireland Leagues 

reach midway point 

The halfway stage of this season’s 

Energia All-Ireland Leagues was 

due to be complete prior to the 

Christmas and the New Year 

festivities. However, a number 

of the eighteen Leinster clubs 

competing still have one game 

to play before the reverse series 

of matches commence on the 

14th of January. The reason is 

down to the inclement weather 

in December which led to the 

disruption and a number of 

games having to be postponed. 

As a result, there is a series of matches 

taking place next weekend for the AIL to 

get back on track. 

In Division 1A, it is last season’s beaten 

finalists Terenure who pave the way at 

the top of the table having only been 

defeated once in nine games which was 

away to Shannon in their last outing. They 

will aim to get back on track when they 

entertain the Limerick men at home in the 

reverse fixture next Saturday week. 

Clontarf, the League Champions are 

putting up a stiff defence of their title and 

sit in second place and only three points 

behind the leaders with seven victories 

from nine outings to date. Their next 

fixture sees them making the journey to 

Limerick to face Garryowen. 

Dublin University, enjoying a great 

season, are in third place but have a 

game in hand. Their catch-up game is at 

home against Cork Constitution who are 

on the same points in fourth place. The 

two clubs will play each other back-toback 

over the next two weekends. 

Lansdowne find themselves in the 

unusual position of being in the bottom 

half of the table, in eighth position, 

having only tasted victory twice so far 

this season to date. Celebrating their 

150th Anniversary they will be driven 

to change their fortunes around, kick 

starting the second half of the campaign 

with an away game against Shannon. 

UCD, although on the same points as 

Lansdowne are in ninth place, but have 

the luxury of a game in hand. They have 

plenty of time to improve their standings 

starting with a trip to Ballynahinch next 

Saturday before facing them at home the 

following weekend. 

In a tightly competitive Division 1B 

where four Leinster clubs compete, 

it is St. Marys College who lead the 

challenge for honours sitting in third 

place behind leaders Buccaneers. The 

Templeville Road men have a game in 

hand over their rivals and face Highfield 

home and away over the next two 

weekends. 

Old Belvedere are in fourth position and 

will look to surmount a stiff challenge in 

the second half of the campaign. Their 

reverse set of fixtures start with a home 


game against UCC whom they were 

successful against in Cork last time out. 

Old Wesley in sixth place, but also with 

a game in hand, will still hold ambitions 

of a top four finish and face Banbridge 

away next Saturday before entertaining 

them in Donnybrook seven days later. 

Naas, in eighth position, are by no 

means out of the race for honours 

and will be buoyant by the fact they 

accounted for the league leaders, 

Buccaneers, with a great victory in their 

last outing. 

In Division 2A it is Blackrock College 

who are flying high at the top of the 

table. Having only gained promotion this 

season to this division they have been 

successful in seven of their eight games 

to date. 

MU Barnhall are in fourth place with 

Navan just behind them in fifth, so all 

three clubs representing the province will 

head in to the new year in good health 

and will aim to at least be involved in the 

end of season promotion playoffs. 

Blackrock, chasing automatic promotion, 

by winning the league outright, face 

the new year with back-to-back fixtures 

against Cashel over the next two 

Saturdays. Also, next Saturday, MU 

Barnhall face UL Bohemians away 

before entertaining them at home, 

while Navan host Nenagh at home 

before playing them away the following 

weekend. 

Greystones, unbeaten all season top 

the table in Division 2B with nine from 

nine victories. However, they left it until 

injury time to beat archrivals Wanderers 

at home in their last outing before 

Christmas and have to travel to face 

them again next time out on Saturday 

week. Wanderers lie in fourth place and 

if they continue to show current form will 

fancy their chances of a top four finish. 

Malahide are placed in eighth position 

but do have a game in hand to help 

them steer clear of the relegation zone. 

Newly promoted Enniscorthy are finding 

the going tough in this division and have 

yet to taste success. However, there is 

still plenty of time for them to change 

their fortunes around. 

Tullamore and Skerries fly the flag in 

Division 2C lying in second and third 

place respectfully behind runaway 

leaders Instonians. The Offaly men do 

have a game in hand and face bottom 

of the table Ballina twice over the next 

two weekends, the first of which is at 

home. 

Skerries start the second half of the 

season when they travel to fellow 

seasiders Bangor on Saturday week. 

So, plenty of top-class action over the 

coming months across the province 

with clubs vying for honours or fighting 

for survival in this season’s Energia All 

Ireland League. Support your club with 

your attendance at matches, they are 

a great day out and you will not be 

disappointed with what you witness. 


Minis and Youths are 

‘critical’ to Coolmine success 

The core philosophy and aim of 

the Coolmine RFC is to ensure 

that rugby football in the 

Dublin 15 and surrounding 

areas is available and enjoyed 

by all interested young 

players playing within a safe 

and enjoyable environment 

which the Club provides. 

With one of the well-established 

mini-youth sections in Leinster 

Rugby we warmly welcome over 

380 young players to our Club 

across the various age grades at 

Ashbrook. 

As a Club we are critically aware that our 

young players develop in various ways 

and at distinct times as they physically 

develop. We promote an all-inclusive 

policy for player development. Every 

young player at our Club is afforded an 

opportunity to play and participate. 

Our Club players, girls and boys can join 

Coolmine RFC from the age of 6 years up 

and progress up each year up to U20s 

and Adult Teams 

Early years with the mini age grades are 

focussed on learning the foundations of 

the game before progressing upwards as 

the young players develop 

Under the leadership of Donal Garrihy 

who coordinates and manages the 

coaching programmes for nearly 90 

coaches for both boys/girls’ rugby 

ensuring that our playing environment is 

second to none and young players can 

be coached in an atmosphere that fosters 

the values and aims of the game. 

Our safeguarding systems are robust and 

comprehensive. 

The Club Welfare Officers (CWO), 

Karen Carolan and Etain Delaney are 

the responsible persons appointed by a 

Club to implement the directions of the 

National Safeguarding Officer and the 

Branch Welfare Officers and to follow the 

IRFU Safeguarding Policy for Age Grade 

Players. This is a very crucial role in 

ensuring our development of Mini & Age 

Grade Rugby at Coolmine RFC 

This season we reached over 37 years of 

continuous and successful Mini & Youth 

rugby development. 

First established in 1985 by our first coordinators 

and coaches, Chris Cooke, Pat 

Kelly, and Tom Malone. 

One of the early young players who 

graduated from this ambitious group 

was Gerard Garland who sadly passed 

away at a young age but represented 

and played for Ireland Youths in 1992. 

Gerard was our first Irish capped player. 

Coolmine RFC are proud to have 

successfully contributed to the playing 

careers of former Age-Grade Players 

who have gone on to represent Ireland at 

Schools & U20 and our Provinces as well 

as providing 16 players currently with 

AIL Clubs. 

Recently, we were delighted to see one 

of our “graduates” Vakh Abdaladze, 

capped for Georgia in the recent Autumn 

International Series. 

Our Club is delighted to have played a 

role in their early-stage development. 

A few seasons ago we embarked on 

introducing and developing girls’ rugby 

under the leadership of Shauna Peters 

with Monday night devoted to Girls 

Rugby. 

The interest in the Girls game has been 

very strong and each season sees more 

interest and participation amongst girls to 

play female rugby at Coolmine RFC. 

The Club owes a great debt of gratitude 

to all the hard work, persistence and 

commitment to the many parents and 

coaches who have worked with many 

players and their preparation as Adult 

Rugby Players with our Club and 

elsewhere. 

Our future is bright, and we look forward 

to witnessing more success on the pitch. 


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WHERE 

ARE 

THEY 

NOW? 

JACK 

O’CONNELL 

THEN: Jack 

played 14 

times for 


between 2011 

and 2014. 

NOW: He is 

a financial 

advisor in 

Bristol, 

expecting 

his first 

child with 

wife Niamh in 

March. 

62 | www.leinsterrugby.ie 

BY DES BERRY

It was dinner time in Baton Rouge 

in the deep south. Not Kerry. 

Louisiana. 

Jack O’Connell had something to say. 

It was brewing for some time. He knew 

his parents wouldn’t like it. But, it had to 

be done. 

You see, the O’Connell family had 

moved around. Jack was born in Brussels, 

Belgium, moved to Winchester in England 

at the age of two and, at thirteen, moved 

to United States. 

In Winchester, Jack had nursed a love of 

the game that went way beyond being 

with an oval ball. 

“I just loved rugby growing up. It was 

how I made friends. I wasn’t able to 

play the sport I loved in America and, 

subsequently, never felt like I fitted in,” 

he says. 

He pleaded with his parents for the 

chance to travel back across the Atlantic 

Ocean to play rugby in England or 

Ireland. 

The lower financial drain in Ireland 

meant Jack had a look at Blackrock 

and Clongowes Wood. It was the same 

season Gordon D’Arcy had his breakout 

Six Nations in 2004, sealing Jack’s faith 

in the Clane school. 

The Kerry connections are there through 

his Dad, who grew up in London, and his 

grandad, both named Daniel in honour 

of their roots. 

However, his mother is a Kiernan, born 

and raised in Cork, from rugby royalty, 

the lineage including her legendary uncle 

Tom, the full-back, and her decorated 

brother Mick, the Triple Crown-winning 

drop-goal hero of 1985. 

“I remember travelling for hours in 

Louisiana to find the one bar showing 

Munster playing in the Heineken Cup,” 

says Jack. 

In August 2015, as a 15-year-old, it 

should have been a huge adjustment 

moving to the country of his forefathers, 

another new experience, this time without 

his family in tow. 

“It took me 20 minutes to fit in. It was 

perfect. I think my mum was a lot more 

heartbroken than I was,” he states. 

“In fact, Hurricane Katrina hit the day 

she dropped me to school. My Dad, my 

brother and my sister were hiding in the 

closet when it struck. 


“Mum returned from dropping me off to 

find two other families living in the house. 

They had been made homeless in New 

Orleans.” 

The impact of Clongowes was immediate 

and enduring: “They try to make you a 

better person through charity work and 

education and sport and whatever you 

are interested in.” 

In 2007, the Leinster Schools tour to 

South Africa still ranks as one of the best 

experiences of his life. 

“John Cooney, Jack McGrath, Dominic 

Ryan, Darren Hudson, Noel Reid were 

some of the players. It was a hell of a 

tour. 

“That is when you start realising there 

might be a chance to play professionally. 

There could be something more there for 

me,” he says. 

The Ireland Schools and Ireland U20s 

were the stepping stones into the Leinster 

Sub-Academy and a world of pain 

handed down by conditioning guru Dave 

Fagan. 

“He was the bane of my life for three 

years. He taught me harsh, but fair 

lessons because I wasn’t professional in 

any sense early doors. 

“I was living in Trinity Halls in Dartry with 

five other people. I was the only one 

playing. I had a 30-minute walk from 

Dartry to Donnybrook in the mornings. 

“It probably wasn’t a very good 

environment for someone trying to 

become a professional rugby player. 

“When you were leaving the apartment 

complex, you would be able to see 

the parties still going on in the other 

apartments. 

“My discipline definitely strayed one 

time too many and Dave was always 

there to whip me into shape, making me 

run up and down the cement steps in 

Donnybrook until I was on my hands and 

knees. 

“He is the perfect person to have at that 

level because he teaches players who 

are rudderless coming out of school how 

to have structure and discipline.” 

It drilled a level of toughness into Jack 

which he has come to appreciate over 

the years. 

“It gives you resilience,” he notes. 

“There aren’t many jobs out there where 

you are shouted at and someone pinches 

you with fat-testing callipers to tell you 

that you are either overweight or you 

need to eat more. 

“It means when you get into the real 

world and people give you criticism, it is 

1% of what you were once used to.” 

Jack had to persevere and be patient. 

playing in a position that was stacked at 

Leinster in behind Cian Healy, Heinke van 

der Merwe and even Jack McGrath. 

“I probably waited a bit longer than I 

would have wanted to make my Leinster 

debut away to Ospreys. It was almost a 

relief. 

“My biggest regret at Leinster is that I 

never saw myself on the same level as the 

other lads,” he reveals. 

“I put them on too high a pedestal at 

times. It was something I never really got 

to grips with, especially in the early days. 

“You grow up watching them on 

television. Then, you are standing next 

to them. 


“Having said that, the likes of Shane 

Jennings, Isaac Boss and Mike Ross were 

incredible for the young lads coming 

through, really knowledgeable and 

helpful. 

“The coaches were great too, Girvan 

Dempsey, John Fogarty, Colie McEntee, 

Davie Fagan, Tom Turner. You couldn’t 

ask for a better group to train you, to 

push you. 

“It is a gift that you are surrounded by all 

these incredible players that are helping 

to raise your game. 

“But, it is also a curse in that there is a 

reason they are playing on Lions tours, 

ultimately forcing me to move elsewhere.” 

Even so, two memories stand above 

all others. First, Noel Reid slotted a 

late penalty to see Leinster A eclipse 

Newcastle Falcons in the 2013 B&I Cup 

final. 

Second, in 2014, Jack came on late in 

Leinster’s 22-18 victory over Munster in 

front of 51,700 spectators at The Aviva 

Stadium. 

It would have been an evening of mixed 

feelings for his relations in Kerry and 

Cork, emphasised by a revealing story 

involving his granny Angela. 

“She was cold one evening in Kerry. I put 

a Leinster jacket on to keep her warm. 

She threw it off immediately. 

“She said: ‘Jack, if someone sees me 

wearing that, I will never hear the end 

of it.’” 

In the summer of 2014, Jack moved to 

Bristol for more game time. He was there 

for four seasons, playing 63 times before 

one final year at Ealing Trailfinders. 

Living in Bristol with his wife Niamh, 

a Cabinteely girl, and cocker spaniel 

Stella, they are expecting their first child 

in March. 

Working as a financial advisor, Jack is 

keen to replicate the impact made on him 

when playing at Bristol. 

“I had a financial advisor at the club. He 

was really helpful in getting me ready for 

life after rugby,” Jack says. 

“You go from earning decent money to 

being no different to someone coming out 

of University. He helped me to bridge that 

gap, providing some of the tools to make 

the transition easier.” 

Rugby has given Jack resilience and 

above-average communication skills. 

“The benefit rugby gave me is the ability 

to talk to anyone and everyone. 

“It is the confidence to walk into a room 

or strike up an authentic conversation, get 

to know someone on a real level quite 

quickly, rather than a surface level. 

“Say what you want about rugby, you 

are stuck in a room with 30 lads for ten 

or 11 months of the year. 

“You go through some pain together and 

you learn how to deal with people.” 


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Eoghan Cross is a member 

of Ireland’s referee High 

Performance Panel. Cross, born 

in Limerick, and a member 

of Young Munster, has been 

refereeing since 2016, being 

named Munster Rugby Referee 

of the year in 2020. This was 

after a successful playing career 

which saw him play in the AIL 

with the Young Munster from 

2011-2013. Cross also played 

Ireland Schools in 2011 and was 

a member of the Munster Rugby 

Sub-Academy for the 2011/2012 

season. 

He made his debut refereeing in the 

United Rugby Championship in Round 

18 of the 2021–22 United Rugby 

Championship, officiating the fixture 

between Benetton and Cardiff. He 

had previously officiated matches 

during the 2022 Six Nations Under 

20s Championship. He also refereed 

the 2022 AIL Final between Clontarf 

and Terenure College. He was recently 

appointed to the 2023 U20 Six Nations 

game between England and Wales. We 

wish him and his team well today. 

Leinster Rugby will be holding a New 

Referees Course in the Riverside Park 

Hotel, Enniscorthy on Saturday 14, 

January 2023. The course is open to 

Referees 

Corner 

BY DAN WALLACE 

Happy New Year to everyone and welcome to our 

first Referees Corner of 2023!! Leinster welcome 

Connacht to the RDS this evening and our match 

official is Eoghan Cross assisted by Chris 

Busby, Peter Martin with Leo Colgan in the TMO 

box, John Flynn and Mark Gargan as No4 and 5 and 

Dan Wallace on the clock. 


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. 

those aged 18 – 59, who would like 

to take up refereeing as a hobby and 

become members of Leinster Rugby 

Referees. 

Referees provide a vital function in 

servicing all levels of the game. Whether 

you aspire to referee at the highest level 

or to referee locally, there is a place 

for you. There are excellent support 

structures to develop referees and a 

thriving social aspect too. We recently 

welcomed four new referees who went 

through the recruitment process and 

passed their trial in the South East 

Jen Ardill, Co. Carlow FC 

Donal Mitchell, Wicklow RFC 

Niall Neville, Gorey RFC 

Glen Alcock, Co. Carlow FC 

These referees join our Metro referees 

who recently passed their trials and 

became full members of the Leinster 

Rugby Referees. They are Euan 

O’Riordan, Eze Olivera Roldan, Fergus 

Balfe, Owen Keane and Caoimhe 

Morris. These referees attended our 

new referee course in August and 

attended a series of workshops in 

Leinster following on from that, under the 

guidance of Sean Gallagher. 

Please register your interest in attending 

the New Referees Course. Simply 

contact Seán Gallagher on sean. 

gallagher@irfu.ie He is the Referee 

Development Manager and will be 

delighted to talk you through the 

process to get started. 

World Rugby has confirmed the 

Emirates World Rugby Match Official 

appointments for the 2023 Guinness 

Six Nations, which runs from 4 February 

to 18 March. In total, fifteen match 

officials from eight nations will take 

charge of one match each during the 

championship as the road continues 

to Rugby World Cup 2023 in France. 

Ireland’s Andrew Brace will take charge 

of the Scotland v Wales and clash in 

Round 2 with Frank Murphy and Chris 

Busby as AR1 and 2 respectively and 

Leinster Rugby’s own Brian McNeice 

as TMO. Brian is also TMO for Wales 

v England!! Joy Neville is named as 

TMO for the final round game between 

France and Wales. We wish them all 

well. 


ank of ireland 

MATCHDAY minis 

Coolmine RFC 

Players: Hugo Chiswick, Charlie Swan, Zachery Scott, Tomás 

Collum, Senan O’Reilly, Charlie Cassidy, Caelan McDonald, 

Hugo Murphy, Elliot King, Culainn Langan-Given, Macdara 

Hickey, Noah Gormally, Leo Garry, Adam Mannix, Rian 

Mulligan, Connor Byrne, Cillian Fitzsimons. 

Coach: Declan Gormally 

Greystones RFC 

Players: Benen Dallaghan, James Long, Callum Farrell, 

Darragh Guy, Ewan Long, Tom McSherry Tyrell, 

Andrew Hannon, Charlie Moes, Patrick Murray, 

Rory Pappas, Lucas Henrys, Sean Levins, James Brady, 

Pádraig Quinn, Harry Browne, Harry Daly, Rob Cregg, 

Jonah McKeever, Darragh Cullen and Chris O’Brien 

Coaches: Jonathan Browne and Ian Cregg 

Lansdowne RFC 

Players: Matthew O’Sullivan, Ethan Coonan, Willian 

Richardson, James Metcalfe, Bronwyn Boyd, Hugo Eoin 

McGuinness, Jamie Vance, Nicholas Crawley, Tommy Asple, 

Luke Hanratty, Killian Bohan, Felix Fegan, Louis Marsh, Jacob 

McKay, Henry Shackleton, Felix Langan, James Mitchell, 

Nicolas Moran, Harry Keller, Liam McKittrick 

Coaches: Bill O’Sullivan and Ivan Coonan 

Wanderers RFC 

Players: Charlie Bennett, Cayden McBride, Danny Dane, 

Jamie Dunne, Eoin Boland, Cameron King, Paddy Allen, Arlo 

Assonitis, Freddie Fogarty, John Daly, Octave Roche, Jack 

Doyle, Louis Fenlon, Enzo Brennan, Zubin Purser, Harvey 

O’Byrne, Oisin Clarke, Joe Molloy, Bobby Quinn and Marco 

Fraufelter 

Coaches: Len McBride and Andrew Allen 


‘Stones On A Roll 

Into The RDS 

The Greystones U12 are delighted to play at halftime 

in the RDS this evening. It is a great honour 

for the team. Each of the players, their coaches led 

by Jonathan Browne and all the families are very 

appreciative of the kind invitation from Leinster 

Rugby. What a start to the New Year and a wonderful 

memory to have for many a year to come. 

Our Minis and Youths continues 

to expand with 670 players (120 

girls and 550 boys) spread across 

17 teams. Sunday mornings are 

busy in Dr. Hickey Park with so 

many matches across our four 

pitches and visiting teams. It 

is exhilarating to see all these 

young players enjoying the game 

and with family on the sidelines 

supporting them. Afterwards over 

a cup of coffee the laughter and 

the jokes add to the occasion. 

For each home AIL match one of the Mini 

teams provides a Guard of Honour for 

our 1sts and they then play a quick-fire 

match at half-time showing off the skills 

they are acquiring. The feedback from 

the coaches and parents has been 

excellent and many a Mini has waited to 

get his/her Jersey autographed by some 

of our AIL squad at their fulltime. It all 

adds to the occasion as well as being an 

investment in the future. 

None of this could happen without the 

178 managers and coaches who week 

in week out and come rain or shine 

volunteer to grow the game and impart 

skills along with a love of our great sport. 

They give so much but seek nothing other 

than that their teams enjoy their rugby 

whether that is at home in Dr. Hickey 

Park or away. Indeed, away trips are a 

highlight of the season particularly the 

ones abroad at Easter. These are the 

unsung backbone of Greystones RFC and 

indeed all Clubs. Without them rugby as 

we know it would cease to exist. 

We have long standing relationships with 

all the local Schools and not just those 

in Greystones. For many years our Club 

fed into Pres Bray and St Gerard’s and 

in turn those players returned to play 

outside the JCT/SCT cycle and then into 

Adult Rugby. We have and continue to 

share coaches with these Schools. These 

well- established paths are enhanced by 

St David’s and Temple Carrig Schools 

as well as by those who travel further 

along the DART line. We are delighted 

that St. David’s and Temple Carrig use 

our facilities for training and for their 

matches. We will now build on those with 

Greystones Community College which is 

our newest local Secondary School and 

as it grows. 

Our focus on girl’s rugby has led to many 

successes. Amy O’Mahony and Eva 

Sterritt have played at U18 Six Nations 

level for Ireland. Eva was part of the 

Ireland 7’s squad in Dubai in December 

and captained the U18s 7’s in Prague 

during the Summer. Other former Minis 

are now playing with different Clubs in 

the Women’s AIL. That is our next goal- to 

have our own team in that AIL. 

Mini Rugby in Greystones RFC is in good 

hands and thriving. It is the hard work in 

the past by so many and now by even 

more that should make for a bright Green 

& White future.

James Tracy forced into 

retirement due to injury 

On December 22nd, Leinster Rugby hooker James 

Tracy announced he has been forced to retire 

from professional rugby on medical grounds 

due to a neck injury he suffered in April 2022. 

Despite his best efforts and that of 

the Leinster Rugby medical team 

to get back playing again, that 

has not been possible. 

31-year-old Tracy won 141 caps for 

Leinster in a stellar career spanning ten 

seasons, and was also capped six times 

by Ireland. 

The Kildare native won a Champions Cup 

medal in 2018, coming off the bench in 

the final against Racing 92 in Bilbao, and 

has four PRO14 titles and two British & 

Irish cups to his name. 

Tracy issued a statement through 

leinsterrugby.ie this morning, where he 

said, “Today is a day of reflection and 

gratitude. 

“Playing for Joe, Leo and Stu, Leinster 

Rugby, the 12 counties it represents and 

my country, it has been a tremendous 

honour. 

“I have learnt so much from each 

coach and can’t thank them enough for 

believing in me. During my ten seasons 

as a Leinster player, I’ve pursued success 

and became obsessed with winning, 

while being lucky enough to prepare 

and train with the highest calibre of 

players and backroom staff. It has been 

an honour to represent my Leinster family 

and all of the supporters. 

“I say this with a heavy heart: I am 

retiring from rugby as result of injury. I 

cherished every moment of my career, 

and it has been such a blessing to play 

the game for as long as I have. 

“I look forward to next season, but this 

time with the sole focus of being a great 

husband to Ashley and father to my 

children Bay and Riley.” 

The much-respected hooker, also 

acknowledged his family and the clubs, 

school and coaches that have played 

such an important role in his development 

as a player. 

“My mum and dad provided me with 

the perfect combination of love and 

discipline and showed me what hard 

work and sacrifice looks like. All that 

I am, and everything I have done, is 

because of them. I have always strived to 

make them proud and am forever grateful 

for everything they do for me and my 

sisters. 

“My sisters have each greatly helped me 

in a variety of ways. I owe you both a 

great deal and feel very fortunate to have 

you as family. To Sara-Jane and Leanne, 

thank you, and I love you both dearly.” 

Tracy, who came through the Leinster 

Rugby age grade programme, started 

his rugby journey with Naas RFC. He 

later captained Newbridge College 

and played with UCD in the All-Ireland 

League. 

He made his Leinster Rugby debut in 

November 2012 against the Ospreys 

while still in the Academy, and over the 

next few seasons would play a pivotal 

role in the progress made by the club 

under Leo Cullen. 

In the 2015/16 season, he made his 

Champions Cup debut, on the way to 13 

appearances, and that led to selection 

in the Ireland squad and a try-scoring 

debut against Canada in the November 

internationals. 

Tracy was a crucial part of the doublewinning 

success of 2017/18 playing 

in both the European and the domestic 

finals. 

His last appearance for Leinster 

Rugby was in April of this year against 

Connacht Rugby in the Heineken 

Champions Cup. 

Leinster Rugby head coach, Leo Cullen, 

said, “It is always a sad day when a 

player has to retire early due to injury, 

so we were all gutted to hear the news 

that James is being forced to hang up 

his boots. 

“JT was incredibly diligent throughout his 

career and was always looking at ways 

to add to what the group was delivering, 

both on and off the field. It was his 

attention to detail – not many spent more 

time in the analysis room – that served 

James and Leinster so well as he played 

a huge role in the success of the team 

over the past number of seasons. 

“Many of you will have seen the 

commitment that JT delivered on the 

field, but he was also incredibly giving 

of his time off the field and he has been 

a brilliant role model for our younger 

players. 

“We would all like to wish James, Ashley, 

and their young family every success in 

the next phase of their lives and we hope 

to see them all at a Leinster game at the 

RDS, Aviva or somewhere further afield 

in the future. 


“We cherish the fact that we were able to 

share in some great experiences together 

that will live long in the memory.” 

Everyone at Leinster Rugby wishes James 

the very best with his retirement and 

wishes himself, Ashley and their family all 

the best of luck for the future. 

Full Statement – James Tracy 

Today is a day of reflection and 

gratitude. 

Playing for Joe, Leo and Stu, Leinster 

Rugby, the 12 counties it represents and 

my country, it has been a tremendous 

honour. 

I have learnt so much from each coach 

and can’t thank them enough for 

believing in me. During my ten seasons 

as a Leinster player, I’ve pursued success 

and became obsessed with winning, 

while being lucky enough to prepare and 

train with the highest calibre of players, 

medics, physios and backroom staff. 

It’s hard to single out a few but I feel John 

Ryan, Jim McShane, Stuart O’Flanagan, 

Garreth Farrell, Fearghal Kerin, Tommy 

Turner, Cillian Reardon and Joe 

McGinley deserve special praise for their 

help throughout my career. 

It has been an honour to represent my 

Leinster family and all the supporters. 

I say this with a heavy heart: I am retiring 

from rugby as result of injury. I cherished 

every moment of my career, and it has 

been such a blessing to play the game 

for as long as I have. I look forward to 

next season, but this time with the sole 

focus of being a great husband to Ashley 

and father to my children Bay and Riley. 

Reflecting on my eleven years in 

professional rugby, reminds me of the 

many people I owe sincere gratitude to. 

No one has felt the burden of the highs 

and lows of professional sport more 

than my loving wife, Ashley. She has 

been with me throughout the majority of 

senior rugby career, and was completely 

dedicated to helping me become my 

absolute best, on and off the field. 

I would have never played for as long 

as I did without her endless support and 

love. She never complained or voiced her 

displeasure with me, although she had 

every right to do so! She has provided 

unwavering support through winning and 

losing, camps and away trips, missed 

weddings and all the necessary sacrifices 

to allow me to continue playing the game 

I love. 

I will spend the rest of my days trying to 

give back to her all that she has given 

me. 

My mum and dad provided me with the 

perfect combination of love and discipline 

and showed me what hard work and 

sacrifice looks like. All that I am, and 

everything I have done, is because of 

them. I have always strived to make 

them proud and am forever grateful for 

everything they do for me and my sisters. 

My sisters have each greatly helped me 

in a variety of ways. I owe you both a 

great deal and feel very fortunate to have 

you as family. To Sara-Jane and Leanne, 

thank you, and I love you both dearly. 

Naas RFC has had an enormous impact 

on me as a rugby player. 

Playing underage rugby provided the 

foundation for my career. The community 

and the support of the club are what sets 

it apart from most. 

Going to Newbridge College was a 

genuine turning point in my life and I will 

be forever grateful all my teammates and 

coaches. Jon Newsome, Matt O’Shea, 

Dermot Sherlock, Pat O’Brien, Dave 

Brew, to name a few. And to the friends 

and teachers that I had. Thank you. It is a 

special school. 

I would like to offer my deepest thanks to 

Brian Murray. You have given me, and 

my sister Sara-Jane so much and never 

expected anything in return. All the extra 

training you did with myself and Sam 

(Coghlan-Murray), I can honestly say that 

I wouldn’t have had a professional career 

without your help. 

A big thank you to Milena and Victoria 

of Platinum Pilates who played a huge 

role for keeping me fit and available 

throughout my career. Philip Mallon from 

Joe Mallon Motors for having me as one 

of their ambassadors and a big thank 

you also to Niall Woods of Navy Blue for 

representing me throughout my playing 

career. 

Lastly, some of my best memories are from 

my time playing with UCD. I cherish the 

lifelong friendships and the craic on bus 

journeys home after a big away day win! 

To my teammates, former and current, 

forming friendships and unbreakable 

bonds on and off the field is what makes 

rugby so special and so important to me. 

When reminiscing on my career, I won’t 

think about games won or lost, but the 

memories and friendships made. 

Thank you all, 

JT 


COUNTRY IRELAND HOME GROUND SPORTSGROUND FOUNDED 1885 CHAMPIONS X1 [2015-2016] 

last time out 

CONNACHT rugby 20 

ULSTER rugby 22 

FRI 23 DEC 2022 | BKT UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP | ROUND 10 | THE SPORTSGROUND | REFEREE: FRANK MURPHY 

Connacht comeback falls just 

short at home to Ulster 

Hooker Tom Stewart 

scored two tries before 

Ulster held off a late 

Connacht fightback to 

record their seventh win 

in nine BKT United Rugby 

Championship matches 

this season. 

CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran, John Porch, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Mack 

Hansen, Jack Carty (CAPT), Caolin Blade, Denis Buckley, Shane Delahunt, Finlay 

Bealham, Josh Murphy, Niall Murray, Oisín Dowling, Conor Oliver, Cian Prendergast 

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Peter Dooley, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Shamus 

Hurley-Langton, Jarrad Butler, Kieran Marmion, David Hawkshaw, Adam Byrne 

ULSTER: Mike Lowry, Ethan McIlroy, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Lyttle, 

Nathan Doak, John Cooney, Rory Sutherland, Tom Stewart, Marty Moore, Alan 

O’Connor, Iain Henderson (CAPT), David McCann, Marcus Rea, Nick Timoney 

Smarting from three straight 

defeats in all competitions, Ulster 

led by 16 points at one stage, and 

it was 22-8 after John Cooney’s 

71st-minute penalty. 

Connacht stormed back thanks to tries 

from replacements Jarrad Butler and 

Adam Byrne, the latter scoring deep into 

added time to make it 22-20. 

However, Connacht captain Jack Carty 

pulled the difficult conversion wide as 

Ulster claimed a dramatic derby victory 

at the Sportsground. 

A Rob Lyttle try had the visitors leading 

5-3 at half-time, before Tom Stewart 

bagged a brace. Caolin Blade hit back 

on the hour mark, only for Connacht’s 

fightback to fall short. 

There was little to separate the sides in 

the opening exchanges, Carty chasing 

down Ethan McIlroy after his pass had 

been intercepted by the Ulster winger, 

and it was not until the 29th minute that 

Dan McFarland’s side belatedly broke 

the deadlock. 

Replacements: John Andrew, Eric O’Sullivan, Gareth Milasinovich, Sam Carter, 

Greg Jones, Dave Shanahan, Jake Flannery, Stewart Moore 

Stewart and McIlroy showed quick hands 

and although Luke Marshall’s offload 


was blocked by Tiernan O’Halloran, 

Lyttle managed to dribble the loose ball 

through and touch it down. 

Cooney’s missed conversion was 

followed by Carty’s lone penalty as the 

first half finished 5-3 to the visitors. 

It was all Ulster after the restart, though. 

Their reliable maul did the damage for 

21-year-old hooker Stewart to plunge 

over and Cooney made it 12-3. 

Connacht dug in as Bundee Aki turned 

over Marty Moore before a scrum move 

involving McCloskey was well defended. 

Crucially, Stewart struck from another 

close-in drive in the 53rd minute - 

followed by a crisp Cooney conversion 

- to widen the gap to 16 points. 

Blade showed impressive strength 

and speed to snipe over from a maul, 

although Carty badly missed the 

conversion at 19-8. 

Having watched Stewart be held up 

short, former Connacht favourite Cooney 

landed a penalty which should have 

sewn up the result. 

Instead, the Ulstermen had to endure a 

nerve-jangling finish. With replacement 

Greg Jones in the sin bin, they could not 

prevent Butler from crashing over after 

Cian Prendergast had a try ruled out for 

accidental offside. 

Connacht then matched Ulster’s three-try 

tally, a brilliant surge downfield ending 

with Byrne powering over past Lyttle and 

Stewart Moore, but Carty’s kick to draw 

the teams level from a tight angle faded 

away to the left. 


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Andy Friend 

Director of Rugby 

Andy Friend joined Connacht Rugby 

ahead of the 2018-19 season as Head 

Coach, before moving into the Director of 

Rugby role this season. The Australian has 

worked with teams such as Harlequins, 

ACT Brumbies, Suntory Sungoliath and 

the Australian Sevens team. In November, 

it was confirmed that he is to leave 

Connacht at the end of the season. 

Jack Carty 

Captain 

Jack Carty was named captain ahead 

of this season, as he entered his eleventh 

season with the province. The Athlone 

native has scored more than 1,000 points 

for Connacht, and he looks set to become 

the province’s all-time leading points 

scorer before the end of the season, 

overtaking Eric Elwood. He made his 

Ireland debut in 2019, and was part 

of the squad for the Rugby World Cup, 

playing in three matches. 

connacht squad 

FORWARDS 

JACK AUNGIER 

PROP 

FINLAY BEALHAM 

PROP 

CIARAN BOOTH 

FLANKER 

PAUL BOYLE 

FLANKER 

DENIS BUCKLEY 

PROP 

MATTHEW BURKE 

PROP 

JARRAD BUTLER 

FLANKER 

SHANE DELAHUNT 

HOOKER 

PETER DOOLEY 

PROP 

OISIN DOWLING 

LOCK 

JORDAN DUGGAN 

PROP 

LEVA FIFITA 

LOCK 

DAVE HEFFERNAN 

HOOKER 

SHAMUS HURLEY-LANGTON 

FLANKER 

SAM ILLO 

PROP 

SEAN MASTERSON 

FLANKER 

OISIN McCORMACK 

FLANKER 

JOSH MURPHY 

LOCK 

NIALL MURRAY 

LOCK 

DARRAGH MURRAY 

LOCK 

CONOR OLIVER 

FLANKER 

CIAN PRENDERGAST 

FLANKER 

DOMINIC ROBERTSON-McCOY 

PROP 

GRANT STEWART 

HOOKER 

GAVIN THORNBURY 

LOCK 

DYLAN TIERNEY-MARTIN 

HOOKER 

BACKS 

BUNDEE AKI 

CENTRE 

CAOLIN BLADE 

SCRUM-HALF 

SHAYNE BOLTON 

CENTRE 

ADAM BYRNE 

WING 

JACK CARTY 

FLY-HALF 

TOM DALY 

CENTRE 

TOM FARRELL 

CENTRE 

CONOR FITZGERALD 

FLY-HALF 

CATHAL FORDE 

FLY-HALF 

MACK HANSEN 

WING 

DAVID HAWKSHAW 

FLY-HALF 

SHANE JENNINGS 

CENTRE 

DIARMUID KILGALLEN 

FULLBACK 

KIERAN MARMION 

SCRUM-HALF 

ORAN McNULTY 

FULLBACK 

TIERNAN O’HALLORAN 

FULLBACK 

JOHN PORCH 

FULLBACK 

BYRON RALSTON 

CENTRE 

COLM REILLY 

SCRUM-HALF 

ALEX WOOTTON 

WING 


Club in 

Focus 

BY DES BERRY 

PORTLAOISE RFC 

Founded in 1966, Portlaoise 

Rugby Club has been at the 

forefront of rugby in the 

province for seven decades. 

Currently competing in Leinster 

Division 2A, the club also boasts 

a proud Provincial Towns Cup 

record, with a pair of wins in 

1981 and 2003 from seven final 

appearances, losing out in 1980, 

1984, 1988, 2001 and 2004. 

There are plans afoot to mark to 

celebrate those two pivotal victories in 

2023. 

Years ago, the club’s present home in 

Togher, which comprises 19.5 acres, was 

bought for £9,500 (€12,000). 

The grounds have been regularly 

upgraded over the years; there are four 

playing pitches, a training pitch and most 

recently the addition of a walkway on the 

perimeter and a state-of-the-art gym. 

Last season, the Portlaoise senior men 

held their own in Leinster League Division 

2A and the women gained promotion to 

Division 2A. 

However, like many other clubs, it has 

seen difficult challenges emerge over 

the last number of years. Recognising 

these challenges, and that the club is in 

a state of transition at the moment, the 

Executive took a step back and looked 

at the overall structures in the club. This 

was with a view to putting in place a 

comprehensive rugby plan to promote the 

development of rugby for all from minis 

through youths to the senior sides. 

The club has engaged with the players, 

coaches and wider membership to 

develop a plan that also involves RDO, 

Bryan Croke. 

This plan is designed to make progress in 

coach and player development as well as 

school and community work. 

The coach development programme 

involves hosting a total of 10 workshops 

with a wide variety of topics being 

covered such as passing, tackling, 

strength and conditioning, breakdown, 

set piece and an introduction to online 

coaching courses. On average, there 


have been 20 coaches attending each 

session. 

On player development, there are 

sessions held once monthly and during 

mid-term breaks throughout the season, 

catering to both boys and girls. 

It covers positional clinics on kicking, 

lineout throwing, half-back passing, 

scrummaging and the general skills of 

tackling, catch and pass, evasion and 

decision-making. 

The course is run by expert coaches and 

involves Portlaoise players, present and 

past, to test and create an appropriate 

programme for all ‘academy’ players. 

Image: Denis Byrne 

There will also be a nutrition talk, via 

Zoom, for all players, coaches, and 

parents. 

The plan has also identified the need 

to develop a clear rugby plan for a 

pathway from mini’s through to adult 

rugby, emphasising participation, 

enjoyment, player development and 

player retention. 

The pathway will be managed annually 

by a rugby sub-committee to ensure its 

implementation, and the hope is that, 

in the near future, it will ensure the 

successful transition of PRFC youths’ 

players through to the senior teams. 

In parallel to the development of the 

rugby plan, Portlaoise has enhanced 

its community and commercial 

engagements. 

This has allowed the local business 

community to see the club as an 

amenable body for its corporate social 

responsibility endeavours. 

The future is bright and positive and the 

potential to grow is great. The ambition 

is to place Portlaoise Rugby at the centre 

of sporting excellence in the midlands 

area. 

There is an environmentally friendly angle 

to the development of the club too. 

Image: Denis Byrne 

It recently secured funding from Laois 

Partnership Company and LEADER to 

commission a report, produced by Green 

Pine Consultants and RPS, a leading 

global, professional services firm. 


Try Leinster’s Next Big Dish 

from Mao At Home today

The project brief set out to explore 

opportunities using sustainable and 

green infrastructure design principles to 

maximise the economic, sporting, and 

environmental benefits for the club and 

its members. 

The plan is to maximise the grounds’ 

potential for rugby use with any unused 

space used as an opportunity for 

ground sharing with other local sporting 

organisations. 

In 2021, after a period of consultation 

with club members, local stakeholders, 

and the wider public, the plans were 

developed. 

They propose to utilise the existing 

infrastructure and build future facilities 

around them. This will allow the club 

to develop and cater for future growth 

within its long-term budgetary capacity. 

It will also reduce the environmental 

impact and carbon costs associated with 

demolishing and creating new buildings. 

The vision is to develop Togher Sports 

Ground, into a top-class sports facility 

founded on sustainable and low-carbon 

principles. 

Access to high-quality open spaces and 

opportunities for sport and recreation can 

make an important contribution to the 

health and well-being of a community. 

The club recognises that there are many 

improvements that can be carried out, 

consulting with club members, the wider 

community and stakeholders in the 

Midlands to ensure all suggestions are 

considered and that the full potential of 

the site can be recognised in the future. 

Whilst the primary aim of the 

development of the grounds is to benefit 

the members of Portlaoise Rugby Club, it 

wishes to encourage the wider community 

to make the best use of the facilities and 

benefit from the club grounds; “Together 

at Togher” being the motto for this 

collaboration. 

Portlaoise RFC will host the Junior 

Interprovincial game between Leinster 

and Connacht on Saturday 6th of May, 

2023. 

Supporters are encouraged to visit the 

club and see for themselves the massive 

strides being taken there. 


KNOWING WHAT ADVICE TO TAKE 

IS ESSENTIAL IN THIS GAME. 

OFFICIAL LEGAL ADVISOR 

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

beauchamps.ie

Schools Senior and 

Junior Cup Fixture 

Details announced 

The dates 

for First 

Round 

fixtures 

of the 2023 

Bank of 

Ireland 


Rugby 

Schools Cup 

have been 

announced. 

The first round of the Senior Cup 

will begin on Sunday, 29 January. 

While the Junior Cup kicks off on 

Tuesday, 7 February. 

Six of the eight first-round ties in the 

Senior Schools Cup will be played in 

Energia Park, while the other two fixtures 

will be played in Terenure College RFC 

and Clontarf FC. 

The draw for the Second Round of the 

Senior Cup will be conducted in Energia 

Park on Friday, 3 February, immediately 

after the CBC Monkstown v St Vincent’s 

Castleknock College tie. 

The draw for the Second Round of the 

Junior Cup will be conducted in Energia 

Park on Friday, 10 February, immediately 

after the Wesley College v Belvedere 

College tie. 

Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools Senior Cup 2023 

1st Round – Dates, venues and kick off times: 

Sunday, 29 January 

St Michael’s College v Belvedere College (Energia Park, KO 3pm) 

Monday, 30 January 

Blackrock College v Presentation College, Bray (Energia Park, KO 3pm) 

Tuesday, 31 January 

Newbridge College v Kilkenny College (Energia Park, KO 3pm) 

Wednesday, 1 February 

Terenure College v Clongowes Wood College (Energia Park, KO 3pm) 

Thursday, 2 February 

St Mary’s College v Wesley College (Energia Park, KO 3pm) 

Friday, 3 February 

CBC Monkstown v St Vincent’s Castleknock College (Energia Park, KO 3pm) 

Cistercian College, Roscrea v Vinnie Murray Cup Qualifier 1 (Terenure College RFC, KO 2.30pm) 

Gonzaga College v Vinnie Murray Cup Qualifier 2 (Clontarf FC, KO 3pm) 

Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools Junior Cup 2023 

1st Round – Dates, venues and kick off times: 

Tuesday, 7 February 

St Michael’s College v CUS (Energia Park, KO 3pm) 

Wednesday, 8 February 

Kilkenny College v Blackrock College (Energia Park, KO 1.30pm) 

Newbridge College v Terenure College (Energia Park, KO 3.30pm) 

Thursday, 9 February 

St Mary’s College v Gonzaga College (Energia Park, KO 1.30pm) 

Clongowes Wood College v Cistercian College, Roscrea (Energia Park, KO 3.30pm) 

Friday, 10 February 

Wesley College v Belvedere College (Energia Park, KO 3pm) 

St Gerard’s School v Father Godfrey Cup Qualifier 1 (Terenure College RFC, KO 2.30pm) 

Father Godfrey Cup Qualifier 2 v St Vincent’s Castleknock College (Clontarf FC, KO 2.30pm) 



C

James 

ulhane 

It was March 

2018 when this 

writer first 

came across a 

young, a very 

young, James 

Culhane. 

THE ACADEMY 

INTERVIEW 

BY MARCUS Ó BUACHALLA 

Culhane was preparing for 

the biggest week of his young 

sporting life as the captain of 

the Blackrock College junior cup 

team. 

They were facing St Mary’s College in 

the final later that week, but first, there 

were some logistics to look after, namely 

the squad photo and head shots. 

Normally, this is a relatively pain-free 

process and done without any issue, but 

March 2018 brought with it quite a bit of 

snow, and while most had thawed, some 

had not. 

He remembers it well. 

“Freezing. Standing there in a t-shirt and 

shorts, getting our photo taken. Baltic.” 


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He laughs now, we both do, at the 

memory of that day, but neither of us are 

sure how funny it was at the time. 

Yours truly is quick to apportion blame 

elsewhere and the best I can do is to 

blame Evan O’Brien, the Blackrock 

College Games Master, for arranging 

the photocall on a day as cold as it was, 

but either way, it got us both laughing 

and then talking about the extraordinary 

rise of the young Wicklow back row 

from junior cup captain to touring with 

Emerging Ireland in South Africa just over 

four years later. 

His progress to this point started as a 

young lad in Enniskerry FC – not RFC – 

and a love of the round ball growing up 

but soon there was a desire to try other 

sports and dad, Paul, suggested rugby 

and De La Salle Palmerston was where it 

all began. 

“I got a great foundation up there to be 

fair in De La Salle. Brilliant for learning 

the basics and just enjoying it. A great 

club. 

“Great coaching from the likes of Neville 

Verdon, Eoin O’Leary, Aidan Culhane, 

who is no relation funnily enough and 

then Stephen Byrne who was great with 

the forwards and brilliant on the basics 

of the game. 

“Just great people everywhere you went 

and you’d be running out the door to go 

training or playing a game. 

“From there I went to Blackrock College 

which is obviously a great school but also 

puts a lot of emphasis on sport and rugby 

is a big part of that and my interest and 

my enjoyment just took off.” 

Success was soon to follow, captaining 

the junior cup team in 2018 to victory in 

Energia Park. 

However, like many of his generation, 

Covid-19 interrupted a lot of plans. 

“Senior cup was cancelled for my group 

because of the pandemic which was 

hugely disappointing. 

“To think of where I am now, it’s 

unbelievable in many ways. It was just 

such unknown territory with Covid and 

everyone with ambitions to play rugby 

were just unsure. 

“Would you get a shot? Would it ever 

play out the way you’d want it to? 

Nobody knew. 

“When you do get the opportunity then 

and it leads to relative success for the 

teams that I have been lucky enough to 

play with and then to get a chance of a 

Leinster Academy contract, yeah, you do 

feel very lucky or fortunate.” 

He may feel that way, but fortune and 

luck, had little to do with it as those with 

the ambition to chase their dreams stayed 

at it, albeit in very different circumstances 

to what they had planned. 

“It was a lot of hard work. You don’t just 

sit back and wonder will it happen, you 

get after it and you train on your own, 

gym work outside in makeshift gyms or 

with a few weights, and then you train 

with groups but with no contact and no 

huddles and no this or that. 

“It was frustrating. It was great to be out 

and back with your mates but ultimately 

you’re being held back. But it was the 

same regulations and controls that all 

teams had to try to work under. 

“But eventually we were allowed to play 

and then to train as normal and it all 


started to come together, thankfully just 

in time.” 

Covid or no Covid, Culhane had enough 

credit in the bank that even without a 

senior schools cup campaign, he had 

already been spotted and that lead into 

the Leinster U-20s set-up and that set the 

next stage in motion. 

“From the Leinster U-20s, I was called 

into the Ireland U-20s and that was 

again, more of the same. 

“A lot of uncertainty. Disruptions. Covid 

restrictions and just trying to make the 

most of the opportunities that you have 

together as a team and as a group. It 

wasn’t ideal but everyone was in the 

same boat. 

You see some 

of the other 

lads getting 

opportunities 

and you’d 

just love 

to be given 

the chance. 

Hopefully it 

will come my 

way. 

“From there I got my Academy contract 

with Leinster. A first contract with Leinster 

is massive, a huge honour for me and 

from there I obviously got called into the 

Emerging Ireland squad that toured to 

South Africa a few months ago. 

“I was the youngest player there – or 

one of the youngest anyway - so it was a 

brilliant experience. A huge honour again 

to be there with those senior players, 

those senior coaches and just trying to 

learn as much as I possibly could from 

them.” 

He rattles off the last few sentences like 

you might rattle items off a shopping list. 

Barely skips a beat, barely acknowledges 

the enormity of what he has achieved but 

the speed with which he has taken the 

last few steps is mirrored in the speed of 

delivery. 

And then there was the small matter 

of being nominated for the RTÉ Young 

Sports Person of the Year Award for 

2022. 

It was of course in recognition of his 

starring role for the Ireland U-20s in 

their Grand Slam campaign but also in 

the other pieces that he has just flown 

through. 

The tour to South Africa brought about a 

debut performance for Emerging Ireland 

against the Pumas and a two-try debut 

at that. 

There were no family or friends there to 

share the moment – his dad did briefly 

look into a trip down to Bloemfontein 

– but Culhane was more than happy 

to share it with new teammates 

and colleagues, and also, one Paul 

O’Connell. 

“To get the start, then the two tries was 

a dream come true. Just brilliant. But the 

whole tour was. 

“Paul was brilliant. I just really enjoyed 

working with him, and the other senior 

coaches. They were all so open with their 

time but not just that, they were really 

approachable. 

“I’m not sure why but I just thought going 

in there they would all be really strict, all 

the time, but they were really sound and 

just have a passion for the game and for 

the team and then like the players, they 

are relaxed away from the rugby and 

good fun off the pitch. 

“That was important too I think because 

we weren’t allowed away from the hotel 

too much so it was good crack amongst 

the group. Different group activities or 

challenges set and things to keep the 

energy levels up. I met lads that I never 

played with before and I’ve met them 

since, and we still get on great. 

“On so many levels it was brilliant to be 

there. Different perspectives from lads 

from other provinces and clubs on rugby. 

Just great.” 

Paul O’Connell is a name that regularly 

pops up in any post-tour answers from 

players experiencing the former Munster, 

Ireland and Lions legend for the first time. 

What’s the x-factor? 

“He just knows everything! 

“You can ask him the most random 

question and he’ll have an answer, or 

he’ll have a clip for you or he’ll have an 


example for you of where this happened 

or that happened. He has played in so 

many high-level games himself. He’s been 

there. 

“He’s like a rugby version of google! An 

answer for everything. 

“And then it’s the technical stuff but more 

than that it’s tiny details, his attention to 

detail on rucking for example. Also the 

way he analysed things and the way he 

looked at things. That opened my eyes 

to a new perspective and a new way of 

seeing things. 

“He was brilliant for me. All the coaches 

were to be fair.” 

As we catch up in UCD, he is still 

digesting the turkey and the ham from a 

Christmas back home in Enniskerry. 

Mum, Margaret, did most of the heavy 

lifting and then it was all about catching 

up. 

Both of his sisters were home for 

Christmas. 

Rosie didn’t have too far to travel from 

studying medicine in the University of 

Limerick but Lily is back from six months 

in Valencia. 

“It was quite chilled actually. We had 

a hard few weeks of training in Leinster 

so it’s nice just to kick back. There is 

no Santa in our house so there isn’t the 

madness of other houses but it’s still a 

lovely time to catch up. 

“I hadn’t seen my sister, Lily, in about 

six months. She’s away spending all my 

dad’s money so it was good to have 

everyone back and lovely to get us 

all back together and enjoy the day 

together. I see my other sister, Rosie, 

more often as she’s just down the 

road but it was good to just have 

everyone together again.” 

With a new year now upon 

us, his hopes for the months 

ahead are fairly straight 

forward. 

He’s just back from an injury, 

niggly shin splints which came 

at him in South Africa, so getting 

a run of a few weeks training is 

top of the list, as is getting through 

his next few modules of his degree 

in Electrical Engineering in UCD. 

“UCD and Leinster have been great. 

Exams, or labs, or whatever is needed, 

they understand the schedule and they 

understand that it’s difficult to manage 

both so they help me massively just to 

manage it all. 

“Then it’s playing away with UCD in 

the All-Ireland League, getting as many 

games as I can there and then, it’s the 

goal we are all after in the Academy. To 

get the opportunity to pull on a Leinster 

senior jersey for the first time. 

“You see some of the other lads 

getting opportunities and you’d 

just love to be given the chance. 

Hopefully it will come my way.” 

To budge in to a Leinster 

back row jersey in the 

current climate is no easy 

feat but rather than be 

overawed by it all, the 

20-year-old is instead 

taking in as much as 

he can. 

His favourite position 

is No. 8 but he’d like 

a crack at blindside 

flanker and wouldn’t 

say no to the openside 

if given a shot! 

He’s got plenty to look up to and admire 

in those slots, including the current World 

Player of the Year. 

“I just look at Josh van der Flier or Caelan 

Doris and they are winning awards left, 

right and centre. They are incredible 

athletes and just how they go about their 

work is brilliant.” 

What does that mean on a day-to-day 

basis? 

“Consistency. That’s what I see. On a 

match day it means always hitting eight 

or nine out of ten. You never see them 

having an off-day. And then I look at 

them in training and it’s the same. 

“They drive their standards all the time, 

always doing extras, always giving their 

all and their execution of the basics 

is always top drawer. There is huge 

competition here across the back row but 

right now I’m just loving being in here, 

learning from the best and hopefully I will 

get my shot.” 

No need to ask Culhane what his new 

year’s resolution is. 

And if the last 12 months are anything 

to go by, keep an eye on this young 

Wicklow dynamo. 




Academy 

Year 

Three: 


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 (9) #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 




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 (4) #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 





Academy 

Year 

One: 

Rob Russell (11) #1302 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”) 




CLUB DUFC 


Ben Brownlee (1) #1313 


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 (2) #1314 


FROM Wexford 

HEIGHT 1.89 m (6’ 2”) 


POSITION Out-half 

SCHOOL Kilkenny College 

CLUB Lansdowne FC 



fixtures and 

results 2022/23 

Date 

17/09 

23/09 

30/09 

08/10 

14/10 

22/10 

28/10 

26/11 

03/12 

10/12 

16/12 

26/12 

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 

W 

27-13 URC MUNSTER Aviva 

Stadium 

W 

5-35 URC SCARLETS Parc y 

Scarlets 

FRAWLEY O’BRIEN RINGROSE HENSHAW OSBORNE 

COSGRAVE 

1T 

RUSSELL 

1T 

W 

40-5 URC GLASGOW RDS Arena OSBORNE RUSSELL 

3T 

TURNER NGATAI KEARNEY 

TURNER 

W 

38-29 URC ULSTER RDS Arena KEENAN O’BRIEN RINGROSE 

2T 

W 

10-42 HCC RACING 92 Stade 

Océane 

KEENAN 

O’BRIEN 

RINGROSE 

1T 

NGATAI 

OSBORNE 

NGATAI 

KEARNEY 

1T 

W 

57-0 HCC GLOUCESTER RDS Arena KEENAN O’BRIEN RINGROSE NGATAI LOWE 

2T 

W 

19-20 URC MUNSTER Thomond 

Park 

LOWE 

1T 

LOWE 

KEENAN O’BRIEN RINGROSE OSBORNE LOWE 

SEXTON 

2C, 1P 

R. BYRNE 

3C 

R. BYRNE 

4C 

R BYRNE 

5C, 1P 

R BYRNE 

4C 

R BYRNE 

5C 

R BYRNE 

2P, 2C 

MCGRATH 

1T 

MCGRATH 

1T 

MCGRATH 

MCGRATH 

FOLEY 

1T 

MCGRATH 

1T 

E BYRNE 

PORTER 

PORTER 

PORTER 

1T 

KELLEHER 

SHEEHAN 

4T 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

SHEEHAN 

E. BYRNE SHEEHAN 

HEALY 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

MCGRATH E. BYRNE MCKEE 

MCGRATH E. BYRNE KELLEHER 

GIBSON-PARK 

GIBSON-PARK 

MCGRATH 

1T 

N MCCARTHY 

HEALY 

PORTER 

1T 

PORTER 

PORTER 

KELLEHER 

1T 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

KELLEHER 

2T 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

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 

ALA’ALATOA JENKINS RYAN DEEGAN 

CLARKSON 

1T 

PENNY 

1T 

FRAWLEY 

1P 

DORRIS MCKEE PORTER CLARKSON MOLONY CONAN MCCARTHY R. BYRNE 

RINGROSE 

2T 

HENSHAW 

MOLONY JENKINS RUDDOCK PENNY DEEGAN MCELROY MILNE ABDALADZE DEENY MOLONEY MCCARTHY TECTOR BROWNLEE 

CLARKSON MOLONY MCCARTHY RUDDOCK PENNY DEEGAN 

MCKEE 

1T 

ALA’ALATOA RYAN JENKINS BAIRD VAN DER FLIER CONAN SHEEHAN 

ALA’ALATOA RYAN JENKINS BAIRD 

ALA’ALATOA 

MOLONY 

RYAN 

1T 

DORIS 

1T 

HEALY BAIRD J MCCARTHY RUDDOCK 

VAN DER FLIER 

2T 

VAN DE FLIER 

1T 

PENNY 

1T 

DORIS 

KELLEHER 

MILNE 

1T 

PORTER 

1T 

E BYRNE 

1T 

ABDALADZE JENKINS BAIRD FOLEY 

H. BYRNE 

1C 

RUSSELL 

1T 

COSGRAVE 

FURLONG MOLONY DORIS MCCARTHY TECTOR TURNER 

HEALY MOLONY CONAN MCGRATH 

CONAN SHEEHAN E. BYRNE HEALY J MCCARTHY DEEGAN GIBSON-PARK 

H BYRNE 

2C 

SEXTON 

1C 

OSBORNE 

LARMOUR 

1T 

DEEGAN MCKEE MILNE ABDALADZE MOLONY CONAN MCGRATH H BYRNE TURNER 


matchday 

Squads 

officials 

Jimmy O’BRIEN 

Jordan LARMOUR 

Liam TURNER 

Charlie NGATAI 

Rob RUSSELL 

Johnny SEXTON [C] 

Jamison GIBSON-PARK 

15 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

FULL BACK 

RIGHT WING 

OUTSIDE CENTRE 

INSIDE CENTRE 

LEFT WING 

FLY HALF 

SCRUM HALF 

Tiernan O’HALLORAN 

Diarmuid KILGALLEN 

Tom FARRELL 

David HAWKSHAW 

John PORCH 

Jack CARTY [C] 

Caolin BLADE 

REFEREE: 

EOGHAN CROSS 

(IRFU, 7TH COMPETITION GAME) 

ASSISTANT REFEREE: 

CHRIS BUSBY (IRFU) 

ASSISTANT REFEREE: 

PETER MARTIN (IRFU) 

TMO: 

LEO COLGAN (IRFU) 

Michael MILNE 

Rónan KELLEHER 

Michael ALA’ALATOA 

Brian DEENY 

James Ryan 

Ryan BAIRD 

Josh VAN DER FLIER 

Caelan DORIS 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

LOOSE HEAD PROP 

HOOKER 

TIGHT HEAD PROP 

SECOND ROW 

SECOND ROW 

BLINDSIDE FLANKER 

OPENSIDE FLANKER 

NUMBER 8 

Peter DOOLEY 

Dave HEFFERNAN 

Dominic ROBERTSON-McCOY 

Darragh MURRAY 

Niall MURRAY 

Cian PRENDERGAST 

Shamus HURLEY-LANGTON 

Jarrad BUTLER 

John McKEE 

Marcus HANAN 

Vakhtang ABDALADZE 

Alex SOROKA 

Scott PENNY 

Cormac FOLEY 

Harry BYRNE 

Jamie OSBORNE 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

Shane DELAHUNT 

Denis BUCKLEY 

Sam ILLO 

Oisín DOWLING 

Conor OLIVER 

Kieran MARMION 

Tom DALY 

Byron RALSTON

*Restrictions apply. 

*

Parting Shot 

12 May 2018 

James Tracy of Leinster following 

their victory in the European Rugby 

Champions Cup Final match 

between Leinster and Racing 92 at 

the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, 

Spain. 

Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Leinster Rugby vs Connacht Rugby

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