Leinster vs Racing 92

VSLEINSTER
€6 | ISSUE 08 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
VS
racing 92
SAT 21 st JANUARY
AVIVA STADIUM
KO 3.15PM

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

Newstead Building A,
UCD,
Belfield,
Dublin 4
#LEIVR92
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,
Paul Cahill & 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
62
Stay
connected
& keep
up-to-date
86
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 3

EPCR
WELCOME
MESSAGE
Dominic McKay
EPCR Chairman
A warm welcome
to this Round
4 match in
the 2022/23
Heineken
Champions Cup
and a Happy
New Year to
all as we reach
the business
end of the
tournament’s
pool stage.
Following the historic introduction
of the leading South African clubs,
it comes as no surprise that the
Cell C Sharks, Vodacom Bulls and
DHL Stormers have already made
a major impact and all remain in
contention to book coveted places
in the knockout stage.
With the top eight clubs in each pool
guaranteed qualification, there’s an
important incentive in that the four
highest-ranked clubs in each pool will
earn home matches in the Round of 16.
In addition, the clubs which finish ninth
and 10th in each pool will qualify for the
Round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup.
So, after what promises to be more
world-class action this month, we’ll have
a clearer idea of the pathway to the
eagerly-anticipated Finals weekend
at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium next May
for which nearly 70,000 tickets have
already been sold.
We are delighted to be joined on the
journey to Dublin by our long-standing
title partner, Heineken, by our official
partners, DHL, IHG and Tissot, by our
official supporters, Gilbert and Kappa,
and also by our official airline partner in
South Africa, Qatar Airways.
Our long-standing broadcast partners,
BT Sport, beIN SPORTS and France
Télévisions, continue to provide superb
coverage of the Heineken Champions
Cup in the UK, Ireland and France
respectively, while SuperSport in South
Africa, ITV and RTÉ in the UK and
Ireland, S4C in Wales and FloRugby
in the USA and Canada are already
making valuable contributions to the
growth of tournament.
We hope that you enjoy the match and
best wishes to you, the fans, as well as
to your club’s players and staff as we
anticipate the joy and the occasional
heartache that comes when qualification
for the Heineken Champions Cup
knockout stage is on the line!
Yours in rugby,
Dominic McKay
EPCR Chairman

Every great match
starts with 0.0

HEINEKEN WELCOME MESSAGE
Happy New
Year and a
very warm
welcome to
everyone
attending
Rounds 3
and 4 of the
2022/2023
Heineken
Champions Cup.
We witnessed
some
fantastic
rugby in the
opening two
rounds of
this season’s
tournament.
Last year’s beaten finalists
Leinster have made an incredibly
strong start to the tournament
with comprehensive wins over
both Racing 92 and Gloucester.
Munster Rugby bounced back
from their narrow defeat versus
a very strong Stade Toulousain,
with a hard-fought win over
Northampton Saints. Whilst
Ulster Rugby suffered back-toback
defeats versus Sale Sharks
and last year’s winners, Stade
Rochelais, there is still a huge
amount to play for.
We will of course be supporting Leinster,
Munster and Ulster Rugby and would
Maarten Schuurman
Managing Director, HEINEKEN Ireland.
dearly love to see an Irish side or two, in
this season’s final in the Aviva Stadium on
the 20th May. However, all teams face
tough opposition again in Rounds 3 and
4. Some truly exciting fixtures await with
Leinster Rugby travelling to Gloucester
before taking on Racing 92 in what is
sure to be a packed Aviva Stadium.
Munster Rugby will no doubt be looking
to complete a double over Northampton
Saints in Thomond Park before heading
to France to take on Stade Toulousain –
hopefully the fog isn’t as bad as it was
in Limerick back in December! Finally, I
have no doubt Ulster Rugby will be doing
all they can to get their 2022/ 2023
Heineken Champions Cup season back
on track as they head to Stade Rochelais
before completing their pool games in
what is sure to be a packed Kingspan
Stadium in Belfast, against Sale Sharks.
There is much to look forward to as we
move ever closer to what is going to be
a great occasion in Dublin on the 20th
May.
Enjoy the upcoming games with a cold,
refreshing Heineken® or Heineken®
0.0% and as always, please do so
responsibly.
I look forward to seeing you all when the
2022/2023 Heineken Champions Cup
returns in early April.
Maarten Schuurman
Managing Director, HEINEKEN Ireland.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 7

Debbie Carty welcome
PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2022/23
On behalf of Leinster Rugby, I would like
to welcome you all to the Aviva Stadium
for this evening’s match against
Racing 92 in round four of this season’s
Heineken Champions Cup competition.
In particular, I wish to extend
a warm welcome to Dublin to
our Racing 92 visitors, to Jacky
Lorenzetti their President, to the
squad, their Head Coach Laurent
Travers and their management
team and hope you are enjoying
your visit here for the Champions
Cup.
Leinster have won their last twelve
matches in the BKT United Rugby
Championship and in particular their last
match in the URC against Ospreys was
hugely satisfying in the manner of their
win and the way they found a way to
grind down a very good Ospreys team
in Swansea. Our last home URC game
was at a sold out RDS Arena on New
Year’s Day, and what a brilliant sight
it was to see the players run out at the
Ballsbridge venue bursting at the seams!
After their win against Gloucester last
week, Leinster will be confident heading
into tonight’s match, as we also expect
Racing 92 to be confident after their
win over Harlequins in the third round.
We expect this afternoon to be a
challenging and physical match as we
strive to get back to the latter stages of
the competition.
Congratulations to Cian Healy on
winning his 100th Champions Cup cap,
and at the other end, to Liam Turner,
Michael Milne and Wexford man,
Brian Deeny, for winning their very
first European caps for Leinster. What
a special day for all four players, their
families and friends.
I have no doubt that Leo and his squad
are up for the challenge today of facing
an excellent Racing 92 side and we
look forward to the rest of the season
ahead.
On the domestic front, it’s going to be a
busy few weeks ahead as we go into the
youths, men’s and women’s finals.
I would like to thank SETU Carlow for
the use of their grounds and facilities
and would like to congratulate Wicklow,
Athy, Dundalk, Portarlington and
Mullingar on their cup wins on the 17th
January for the Bank of Ireland Girls’
Finals Day. These finals had previously
been cancelled due to frozen pitches so
a massive thank you to SETU Carlow for
being able to reschedule the day for us
and for allowing us the use of its brilliant
grounds. A fitting arena and setting to
have all the finals held on in one day.
On the interprovincial side, the Vodafone
Women’s Interprovincial Series is up
and running. Well done to Tania Rosser
the women’s head coach on getting
their first win against Connacht. A very
comprehensive 38-10 win in front of a
packed Energia Park crowd. Despite
losing to Munster last week, I know the
team are preparing well this week and
are full of confidence before their match
also today against Ulster.
A reminder to all, that the Seán O’Brien
Hall of Fame Awards and lunch will be
held in Bective Rangers next Saturday
28th January. It plans to be a great day
with a number of people nominated for
the award and I will certainly be there
on the day and once the celebrations
are over we can all head over to the
RDS for the Cardiff match. Please see
your Hon Sec to organise seats or a
table on the day.
I would like to welcome to the Aviva
Stadium this afternoon, Blackrock,
Midland Warriors, St. Brigid’s and
Westmanstown who will play at half
time in the Bank of Ireland Mini Games.
To the players from all four rugby clubs,
your coaches and parents, I know you
will all enjoy the occasion. I would ask
all supporters to show your appreciation
and cheer on these young stars of the
future.
To our title sponsor Bank of Ireland,
great patrons of both our professional
and domestic games, who along with all
our premium partners and suppliers, who
do so much to support Leinster Rugby, I
offer my sincere thanks.
Finally, to you the fans, our season ticket
holders, members of the Official Leinster
Supporters Club and friends of Leinster.
I thank you for the contribution you make
on match days. I am sure this evening
will be no different as you get the roar
going and the flags waving to cheer on
“the boys in blue” to another victory.
Let us hope for an energetic, exciting
and injury free match tonight.
Debbie Carty
Leinster Rugby President 2022/23
8 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Congratulations
to Cian Healy on
winning his 100th
Champions Cup
cap, and at the
other end, to Liam
Turner, Michael
Milne and Wexford
man, Brian Deeny,
for winning
their very first
European caps for
Leinster.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 9

Leo Cullen
head Coach Welcome
Good afternoon and a
warm welcome to everyone
for today’s game against
Racing 92.
We have a lot of respect for
Laurent Travers’ team, especially
having met them in the nail-biting
final of 2018 when the game came
right down to the wire in Bilbao.
I’ve no doubt that today’s fixture
will test us on a number of fronts
once again.
10 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
A big thanks to everyone who made the
trip over to Gloucester last Saturday. It
really was a special feeling to be greeted
by such a large crowd when we arrived
at Kingsholm and it was brilliant to see
and hear so many of the Leinster faithful
around the ‘Shed’ as the game unfolded.
Congratulations to Michael Milne, Liam
Turner and Brian Deeny who all made
their Leinster debuts in the Champions
Cup (or European Cup as many of us
still say!).
The three lads have each had a very
different journey to get to this point in
their rugby careers, which is a great
reflection on all the people who have
helped to nurture them along their
respective paths.
A special congratulations also to
Cian Healy who made his hundredth
appearance in the competition
last weekend – a truly remarkable
achievement, and even more so when
you consider some of the setbacks that
Cian has had to face along the way.
It’s been a really busy period
for the group and I wanted to
say thank you to our fantastic
backroom team who continue
to work tirelessly behind the
scenes, ensuring the team is
in the best possible place
to perform on any given
weekend. We are lucky
to have so many talented
people working together to give the team
a platform for success.
A big well done to all Leinster players
selected in the Six Nations squad -
both Senior and Under 20s - that was
announced earlier in the week.
We would like to wish Andy Farrell,
Richie Murphy and their teams the very
best of luck for the challenges that lie
ahead over the next two months.
Thanks to all the team’s sponsors, in
particular to Bank of Ireland, for your
ongoing support. It’s great to see so
many of you on match days, both here
in Dublin and for some of our recent
trips on the road.
It’s taken a lot of hard work to
get us to this point of the season
and we’re keen to maintain our
challenge on every front.
Today, that means fighting with
everything we’ve got to try and
win the game and secure a top
seeding for the later rounds.
We need your support today
as much as ever, and we in
turn will try and play a brand of
rugby you can get behind.
Thanks for getting behind the team
and I hope you enjoy the game.
Leo

A big well
done to all
Leinster
players
selected
in the Six
Nations
squad - both
Senior and
Under 20s
- that was
announced
earlier in
the week.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 11

Bank breaking up with you?
Time to find someone new.
To get over your old banking partner, download
our step-by-step guide to moving banks.
Search Bank of Ireland Big Move
Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

laura
lynch
BANK OF IRELAND
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
A very warm
welcome to the
aviva stadium from
Bank of Ireland as
we look forward to
this afternoon’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
afternoon.
We wish Leinster Rugby every success, and hope that you
enjoy the game.
Laura Lynch.
BANK OF IRELAND
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 13

14 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
o

Jamie
sborne
the big interview
BY DANIEL KELLY
It’s been
a week to
remember
for Jamie
Osborne,
both on
and off
the pitch.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 15

On Saturday, he started his first
game for Leinster in the Heineken
Champions Cup, scoring a try
against Gloucester and being
named the Player of the Match.
What could top that?
Five days later, Andy Farrell called the
Kildare man into Ireland’s Six Nations
squad for the first time, as the only
uncapped player selected.
Overall, not a bad few days!
Speaking earlier this week, Osborne
was taking everything in his stride, when
remembering his standout performance
in Kingsholm last weekend, which earned
him rave reviews both in Ireland and
the UK.
“It was a good trip. We go over the day
before on European trips, and do the
Captains’ Run in the stadium. It was good
to get the feel of Kingsholm the day
before the match.”
The 21-year-old made his European
debut earlier this season away to Racing
92 in Le Havre, but he admitted this
was the first time he experienced the
‘textbook’ setup for an away European
match.
“I traveled to Marseille last year as the
24th man for the Champions Cup Final. It
was a very good experience to be there,
but with a very disappointing result.
“I made my European debut away
to Racing, and traveled over the day
before, but we had a few issues with the
travel arrangements, so it was nice to get
the Captains’ Run in, in Gloucester.”
So far, this season has seen Osborne
excel in both blue and green. Selected
on the Emerging Ireland squad to
travel to South Africa in September and
October, he also played on home soil
in the RDS for Ireland A against an All
Blacks XV in November.
“The Emerging Ireland tour was really
good”, he revealed. “We had an
opportunity to mix with players we have
played with at underage level, but had
senior coaches with us.
“It was a great way to see how they like
things done, what’s expected and to get
16 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Any time I go
back there, I
always get a
great welcome.
I’m proud to be
from there.
introduced to the setup. Thankfully the
three games went well.”
In November, he got a front-row seat
to how the Ireland team prepared for
a Test Match when he was with Ireland
A. It’s an experience he will relive in the
coming weeks over the five matches in
the Six Nations.
“We were brought into camp in
November of the South Africa week. We
were playing the All Blacks team, and it
was insightful to see how the Test team
is managed throughout the week, while
we were preparing for the game in the
RDS.”
Speaking before he got the callup.
Osborne was remaining coy on his
hopes, but did admit he would love to
be capped, whenever the opportunity
arose.
“Everyone would dream of that call. I
haven’t thought about it that much. I’ve
been playing a lot in the past few weeks,
so there is enough time to prepare
for those games, without focusing on
anything else.”
A product of Naas RFC, Osborne has
taken the road less traveled, to get to
where he is today. Despite that, he has
never forgotten his roots.
“It’s where I grew up and started playing
rugby there, and haven’t stopped. I
managed to play for the club in the AIL
last year. All the support I get from the
club is amazing.
“Any time I go back there, I always get
a great welcome. I’m proud to be from
there.”
While his time playing in the AIL is over,
he still keeps an eye on the club’s results,
with younger brother Andrew lighting it
up in Division 1B.
Such is the quality for the Osbornes,
Andrew trained with Leinster recently,
before suffering a finger injury. Leo
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 17

MORE
for our planet
Many organisations have sustainability goals but
struggle to have clear pathways to reach them.
BearingPoint’s Sustainability 360 service can help
with taking those first steps.
Contact us to learn more
01 418 1111
www.bearingpoint.com
ireland@bearingpoint.com
@bearingpoint_ie

Cullen also said Jamie’s younger brother
was looking like “a very good prospect”.
The family remain actively involved in the
club, with father Joe getting the Osborne
boys hooked on the game.
“He played club rugby with Bective, but
never played to the highest of levels. He
got us into it, but we also loved playing
gaelic football. Andrew played soccer
too.
“It was rugby and gaelic football until I
was 16. Rugby was always my number
one. It was great playing both sports.
“My school Naas CBS would have
been a big GAA school when I was
there. They are the current All-Ireland
champions. Rugby wouldn’t be too big
there.
“When Andrew was in Third Year, the
school made the Junior Cup Quarter-
Final, so it’s growing in the school.
Osborne’s path to Leinster saw him play
for Naas, before moving on to North
Midlands in the Shane Horgan Cup.
It was from there he caught the eye of
Leinster selectors, earning a place in the
Under-18 Club team.
When I played in the Shane Horgan
Cup, I only thought about getting to
the next stage. After Under-19s - you’re
looking at guys going into the Sub-
Academy, and thinking; ‘hopefully that’s
me next year’.
“Once you get through the Leinster
Under-20s, you believe you have a
chance of making it and giving yourself
a shot.
“Leinster have done a great job around
the province, to let any players show
what they are capable of. Hopefully
there will be more players coming
through that pathway in the next five to
ten years.”
Osborne lives in a house of nine - with
all his housemates also being work
colleagues. Despite that, he says the
arrangement works well.
“We have lads like Max [Deegan],
Marty [Moloney], Brian [Deeny] in the
house and some like Temi [Lasisi] and
Sam [Prendergast] in the Academy.
There’s plenty of us!
Leinster have done a
great job around the
province, to let any
players show what
they are capable of.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 19

“We can switch off, and there is a great
balance in the house.
“It’s easier to switch off, because we
have our work done during the day. We
all fancy a bit of a rest. Marty has got a
dartboard for the house, so that’ll keep
us occupied for a while.”
With over 40,000 expected in the
Aviva Stadium, it’s going to be another
experience ticked off for Osborne, and
he cannot wait to get a full runout after
lasting less than a half against Munster
earlier in the season.
“I got a taste of it against Munster
earlier in the season. I went off in the first
half, but it was amazing. Playing in front
of a crowd like that gives you so much
energy.
“It’ll be my first experience of the Aviva
in Europe. The Champions Cup is the
biggest competition in the world, and to
get an Aviva experience for one of those
games will be special. I’m really looking
forward to it!”
It’s almost two years to the day since
the-then 19-year-old made his debut off
the bench in the last 30-minutes away to
Scarlets. Two years is a long time in any
20 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Playing in
front of a
crowd like
that gives
you so much
energy.
sport, but Osborne is delighted with the
progress he has made.
“It’s going well so far! I’ve managed to
play quite a lot in those two years. It’s
more than I would have imagined two
years ago.
“I’ve been involved in some good wins,
and some tough losses. You learn more
from the losses. I went to South Africa
last year where we had two tough
defeats, but we were proud of the
performances.
“Everything has been going well, and
hopefully I can keep it up. In two years’
time there hopefully will be another
progression, from where I am now.”
With qualification already assured
for the Champions Cup Round of 16,
European focus after today’s game will
switch to the clash in the first week of
April.
With a Dublin Final already pencilled in
for 20 May in Aviva Stadium, Osborne
is well aware of the pressures of what
is a terrific opportunity for Leinster to
potentially play in a Final on home soil.
“We all know about the bigger picture,
but we know by preparing each week,
as if it’s the last game, the results
should take care of themselves to get to
those types of days. It’s still feeling like
preparing one week at a time though.”
After today’s game, preparations for
Osborne will switch from blue to green
and the excitement of a first Six Nations
Championship in a World Cup year.
The dartboard will have to wait.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 21

14
Action
49 replay
SATURDAY 14TH JANUARY 2023
KO 13:00 | KINGSHOLM STADIUM
ATTENDANCE: 15,469
HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP
SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR
THE FULL MATCH REPORT
SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR
THE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
GLOUCESTER
Barton, May, Harris, Atkinson, Thorley,
Carreras, Meehan; Rapava-Ruskin,
McGuigan, Gotovtsev, Clarke, Alemanno,
Ackermann, Ludlow (capt), Morgan
REPLACEMENTS: Blake, Elrington, Knight,
Jordan, Clement, Varney, Twelvetrees,
Seabrook
TRIES: Penalty (2)
LEINSTER
Keenan, Larmour, Ringrose (Capt), Osborne,
O’Brien, R. Byrne, Gibson-Park; Porter,
Sheehan, Ala’alatoa, Molony, Ryan, Baird,
van der Flier, Doris
REPLACEMENTS: Kelleher, Milne, Healy,
Deeny, Conan, N. McCarthy, H. Byrne,
Turner
TRIES: Larmour, Ala’alatoa, Osborne, Doris,
Keenan, van der Flier, Kelleher
CONVERSIONS: R. Byrne (5), H. Byrne (2)
We always want to come away
from home and start fast. The
crowd can be a great asset for a
home team. We did that, but there
were times Gloucester came back
and got on top. We did well to finish
on top, with a few tries.
Jamie Osborne
22 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Kingsholm is
a tough place to
come. It was nice
to get over for
the early scores.
Gloucester were a
constant threat
today. We’re
delighted to get
the win. It was
job done and we
bagged the five
points.
Leo Cullen
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 23

Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby
Girls Cup and Plate Finals Day
The Bank of Ireland Leinster
Rugby Girls Cup and Plate finals
day took place at SETU Carlow
sports campus, on Saturday, 7
January with a host of silverware
up for grabs. The finals day saw
six finals played across the day,
both plate and cup finals in the
three age groups, U14, U16 and
the U18s.
LEINSTER U18 CUP FINAL
WICKLOW 36
SOUTH-EAST LIONS 17
Wicklow made amends for losing
last year’s final by powering
away in the second-half of the
Leinster U18 Cup final.
The South-East Lions, an amalgamation of
Wexford and Enniscorthy, recovered from
an early setback when Prudence Isaac
claimed a try in the ninth minute.
The Lions forwards took a firm grip on
the game, using their forwards Melissa
Quirke, Orla Wafer and Carla Cloney to
carry through tough conditions.
The problem is it took them too long
to make the wind work for them, only
getting alongside on the scoreboard from
full-back Robyn O’Connor’s try in the
23rd minute.
Wicklow were able to strike when Aoife
Nixon barged to the whitewash to hold
the lead at 10-5 on the half hour.
Two tries in three minutes by out-half
Molly O’Gorman and prop Quirke, the
first converted by O’Gorman, did give
Wexford hope.
They set their stall out to show discipline
in defending a 17-10 lead at the interval.
As it turned out, it wasn’t nearly enough
in the face of a super-focused Wicklow
outfit who looked to their bench for
impact.
In truth, it turned into the Abby Healy
show as the talented back pounced for
tries in the 40th and 51st minutes.
The second was a classy individual effort
from a chip, chase and gather before
knocking over the conversion.
The onslaught never relented as full-back
Clara Dunne and centre Healy punched
in two more, Healy converting both to
finish the afternoon with 21 points.
SCORERS: WICKLOW – A Healy 3 tries,
3 cons; P Isaac, A Nixon, C Dunne try
each
LIONS – M O’Gorman try, con; R
O’Connor, M Quirke try each
LEINSTER U18 PLATE FINAL
ATHY 48
PORTDARA 17
Awesome Athy completed a
tremendous afternoon for the club
in the Leinster U18 Plate final.
They started by using the heavy wind to
win the territorial battle and didn’t get
frustrated when the scores didn’t come in
the first quarter.
They consistently applied pressure
to scoop up tries by Julie Nolan, Lily
Cunningham and Amy Larn, Emma Henry
converting the third, for 17-0 on 23
minutes.
There was light at the end of the tunnel
for PortDara when the excellent Niamh
Murphy stole home in the 33rd minute.
Any notions of a comeback were quickly
put to rest when Abigail Keatley-
Kindregan burst through for the fourth
and scrum-half Nolan went the length of
the pitch, Henry converting, for 29-5 at
the interval.
The clinical nature of Athy’s play meant
they added further tries by Allie Henry,
Larn and Amy Wright, even into the
elements.
It was to PortDara’s credit that they had
enough spirit about them to produce
scores from Murphy and Orla McDonald,
the latter converted by Eleanor Scully.
SCORERS: ATHY – J Nolan, A Larn 2
tries each; A Henry, L Cunningham, A
Wright, A Keatley-Kindregan try each; E
Henry 4 cons
PORTDARA – N Murphy 2 tries; O
McDonald try; E Scully con
LEINSTER U16 CUP FINAL
ATHY 33
GOREY 15
Athy secured their first-ever
Leinster Girls U16 Cup in fine
fashion against Gorey.
The Kildare side was never headed from
Anna Harrington’s try, converted by
Vivienne Harris in the sixth minute.
Gorey had been in great form all season
and struck back from a try by Siofra
Higgins.
However, Athy’s Ella Murphy stepped a
defender for a try, converted by Harris,
for 14-5 at the break.
Out-half Murphy was on the mark again
for her second try, Harris adding the
extras, to give the winners 21-5 breathing
room in the third quarter.
There was no subduing the brilliance of
Gorey’s Cadi Kehoe-Lloyd, who simply
sped away from the defence.
24 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

The game was suddenly back in the
melting pot when Gorey wing Ailbhe
Byrne burst over to make it 21-15 in the
46th minute.
At this point in proceedings, Laura Walsh
stepped forward to start and finish a
move out wide for Athy to regain control.
As if that wasn’t enough, the scrum-half
nipped in for her second to secure the
title.
SCORERS: ATHY – E Murphy, L Walsh
2 tries each; A Harrington try; V Harris
4 cons
GOREY – S Higgins, C Kehoe-Lloyd, A
Byrne try each
LEINSTER U16 PLATE FINAL
MULLINGAR 24
WEXFORD 22
A late try by Charlotte Butler-
Clyne gave Mullingar the edge
over Wexford in a back-and-forth
battle for the Leinster U16 Plate.
In fact, it was a story of hat-tricks as the
Mullingar centre and Wexford’s Viktorija
Kubiliute shared six of the eight during
the hour.
Mullingar moved in front from Butler-
Clyne’s first breakthrough, converted by
Emily Murtagh. Charlotte Young’s try,
converted by Clodagh Kiernan, doubled
the lead to 14 points in the 18th minute.
Wexford were not without possession
and hinted at their potential when Sarah
O’Mahony sniped for a try before
Butler-Clyne’s second made it 19-5 at the
halfway point.
The advantage of the strong wind at
their backs enabled Wexford to apply
pressure from which Kubiliute used the
pick and go in the 36th and 41st minutes
to narrow the difference.
The Wexford number eight was no one
trick pony breaking for her third try,
Naomi Pettitt converting, to put them in
front for the first time in the 51st minute.
It was at this point Mullingar showed
commendable spirit to defy the
conditions, driving upfield for the heroine
of the hour Butler-Clune to come up
trumps.
SCORERS: MULLINGAR – C Butler-
Clyne 3 tries; C Young try; E Murtagh, C
Kiernan con each.
WEXFORD – V Kubiliute 3 tries; S
O’Mahony try; N Pettitt con.
LEINSTER U14 CUP FINAL
PORTLAOISE 34
GREYSTONES 20
Portlaoise pack-power was the
key to overcoming Greystones in
the Leinster U14 Cup final.
The front row of Jessica Delaney, Erin
Powell and Daisy Whitten had a strong
influence on the game, prop Delaney
providing the first try in the fifth minute.
Greystones were far from out of it, Anna
Holland showing prominently and centre
Darcy Hingerty pierced the cover to level
it up in the 14th minute.
Wing Molly-Jane Dempsey scooted
over on the left and out-half Lilly Brophy
crashed over at the posts for the second
and third tries to make it 15-5 at the
interval.
Hooker Powell was next on the score
sheet as a reward for stellar play by the
forwards.
‘Stones responded well, their outstanding
full-back Thea Sterritt hitting back with
two tries in three minutes to make it a onescore
game (20-15).
It was then scrum-half Molly Kelly took
over with a brace of tries, both converted
by Saffron Adams before Sterritt
completed a superb hat-trick in the last
minute.
SCORERS: PORTLAOISE – M Kelly 2
tries; J Delaney, MJ Dempsey, L Brophy, E
Powell try each; S Adams 2 cons.
GREYSTONES – T Sterritt 3 tries; D
Hingerty try.
LEINSTER U14 PLATE FINAL
DUNDALK 29
WICKLOW 19
Dundalk showed all the resolve
in the world, coming from behind
to claim the Leinster U14 Plate
against Wicklow.
It didn’t look too good for them when
Wicklow struck for tries by Maeve
Ledesma, converted by Flo Dunne, and
Alannah Delahunt to make it 12-0 by the
14th minute.
However, the Louth club were able to
steady the ship with a try in the last play
of the half when Helena Zucchini won a
turnover.
It turned defence into attack, good ruck
work enabling Maggie Kerin to ground
the ball at the posts and the out-half
converted for 12-7 at the break.
It was back-to-back tries from the restart
that catapulted them into the driving seat,
Anna Cosgrove pouncing for Kerin’s
extras to give Dundalk the lead for the
first time.
Straight away, the athletic Zucchini broke
the line and showed the speed to make
it home from long range for 19-12 in the
32nd minute of the 50-minute match.
Left-wing Lana Cunningham put the
finishing touch to good work by the
forwards to stretch the lead to 12 points.
The competitive nature of the Wicklow
girls shone through, led by Aoife Jo
McCormack, staying positive to register
a second try by Ledesma to make for a
thrilling climax.
Ultimately, a neat move to the front of
a lineout allowed Cosgrove to ghost
through in the final play of the game.
SCORERS: DUNDALK – A Cosgrove 2
tries; M Kerin try, 2 cons; L Cunningham,
H Zucchini try each.
WICKLOW – M Ledesma 2 tries; A
Delahunt try; F Dunne 2 cons.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 25

COMPARISON
Played
191
(99 home, 92 away)
Wins
132
(80 home, 52 away)
Losses
54
(18 home, 36 away)
Draws
5
(1 home, 4 away)
Average points
27
Biggest win
89 - 7
Heaviest defeat
10 - 51
head-to-head
record:
Played 4, Leinster won 4
LAST 3 MEETINGS:
10/12/2022
10 RACING 92 VS
LEINSTER RUGBY 42
12/05/2018
15 LEINSTER RUGBY VS
RACING 92 12
21/01/2011
11 RACING VS
LEINSTER RUGBY 36
Season so far:
TOTAL TRIES
22 5
METRES GAINED
1514 973
PASSES
493 241
TACKLES MADE
266 308
PENALTIES CONCEDED
28 43
TURNOVERS WON
28 43
Played
86
(45 home, 41 away)
Wins
47
(30 home, 17 away)
Losses
35
(15 home, 20 away)
Draws
4
(0 home, 4 away)
Average points
24
Biggest win
56 - 3
Heaviest defeat
10 - 42

leo
the lion’s
kids
corner
ANAGRAMS
Can you un-jumble
the names of these
academy players?
A LIME
CHIN ELM
NARROW
RED PET
spot the difference!
Can you find all six?
zoomed in!
WHo is this leinster player
having an extreme close-up?
how did you do?
ANAGRAMS
Michael Milne, Andrew Porter
ZOOMED IN!
Ross Molony
a...
...maze...
...ing
can you make
your way
through the
maze to the
ball?
28 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Effective teamwork begins and
ends with communication.
Communication
plays a vital role
in any team,
in any field.
Communication plays a vital role in any team, in any field. Resilient, reliable, unified comms
facilitates interaction, exchange of information and form a stronger team bond, leading
your business to achieve results.
That’s the magical formula for winning, for success.
DigitalWell.
Communication without complexity.
www.digitalwell.com
01 254 1800
info@digitalwell.com
OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS PARTNER
OFFICIAL SECURE COLLABORATION PARTNER

AZTO
with
Josh van der Flier
A – Action: If you could be a superhero,
which would you be?
Superman
B – Boyhood: Who was your favourite
sporting idol growing up?
My dad and Dennis Bergkamp
C – Childhood: What is your favourite
childhood memory?
Playing sport in the back garden at home
with my dad and brother.
D – Dish: What’s your go-to pre-match
meal?
Pasta bake!
E – Education: What was your favourite
subject in school?
P.E. Without a doubt. After that I loved
woodwork/construction studies.
F – Film buff: What’s your favourite film?
Secondhand Lions
G – Groove: Who is the best dancer in the
squad?
Josh Murphy used to be…we need to find
a new one.
H – Holiday: What’s your favourite holiday
destination?
South of France or Spain. I’m not not
fussy! If we were allowed to ski that
would be up there too!
I – Inside: Who is the worst to sit beside in
the dressing room?
A few smelly lads I won’t name!
J – Joker: Who is the funniest in the squad?
Rhys Ruddock
K – Kick-off: What’s your favourite time of
the day to play a match?
Not too late, not too early. 3-5 is a nice
time!
L – Languages: How many languages can
you speak?
Just English but learning some French and
did a bit of German in school.
M – Music: Your favourite artist and song
right now?
Boney M - Going Back West
N – Number: Do you have a lucky number?
Nope, I like 7 because I play there but no
lucky number!
O – Others: What’s your favourite sport
outside of rugby?
Some days I wish I was a professional
golfer. I’m a big golf fan.
P – Pal: Who is your best mate in the squad?
Very hard to pick one now. I lived with
Adam Byrne and Peter Dooley for six
years so I was very close to them when
they were here.
30 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Q – Quirky: Who has the most
interesting fashion sense?
Seán Cronin was definitely up
there. He was a regular jeans
and runners man.
R – Red Carpet: Who is the most
famous contact in your phone?
Cooley Gaelic football star, Rob
Kearney!
S – Superstitions: Do you have
any matchday routines?
I have quite a structured warmup
that I do but I try not to get
too fussy about it. I have music I
listen to and a couple of rugby/
sporting videos that get my
focussed.
T – Trim: What’s the worst haircut
you’ve ever had?
I got a blade four all over for 15
years!
U: Under pressure: Who in the
squad would be the best in a bad
situation?
Luke McGrath. He’s very calm
and composed.
V – Verified: How often do you
use social media?
I use it a bit, for watching sports
highlights mostly! I am trying
to be more productive with my
down time so keeping it to a
minimum.
W – Worst fear: What are you
most scared of?
Nothing I’m too bad about.
Wouldn’t be a big fan of snakes
or rats.
X – X-ray: Have you ever broken
any bones?
Chipped my elbow when I was
very young but that’s about it.
Y – Youth: Where did you grow
up?
Wicklow town
Z – Zoo: What’s your favourite
animal?
Bear or lion
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 31

© 2022 adidas AG

North Midlands
Area Final return
to traditional slot
The North
Midlands
Area Finals
returned
to their
traditional
date of New
Year’s Eve
in 2022-23
season.
This year we all headed to the
Showgrounds, home of Athy
Rugby Club. The Hosie and Lalor
Cup Finals were supported by the
U18 Area Final.
Despite the rain and frost in the weeks
before Christmas the ground conditions
were perfect for good open rugby. There
was no sign of wind or rain, so everyone
was looking forward to the games.
An attendance of well over 1,000 came
from across the Area along with a long
list of Leinster dignitaries.
The U18 final opened proceedings
with hosts Athy and Naas. The opening
half was well contested, however Athy
playing a very physical game proved
stronger in the second half ultimately
winning 40-17. Karl O’Neill, Chair of
Leinster Rugby Committee, presented to
Cup and the medals to the winners.
Tom Satchwell received
Lalor Cup from Brian Lalor
The day also saw the presentation of
the Devin Toner Award, to John Delany
(Johnny). Johnny has nearly 50 years of
contribution to rugby at his home Club
Portlaoise, the North Midlands Area,
Leinster Youths Committee, the IRFU
Youths Committee not only as a coach,
committee member, selector but also as a
mentor of many well-known former youth
players who have gone on to play for
Leinster and Ireland.
Athy celebrate with the Cup
34 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

North Kildare win the Lalor Cup 2022
Among the audience at the presentation
were Des Kavanagh, past President of
Leinster Rugby and IRFU, John Walsh
past President of Leinster Rugby, Jim
Pepper (Dundalk RFC), Mick McCoy
and Hugh Woodhouse who worked with
Johnny over the last 30 years.
The Hosie Cup Final was played between
the holders Naas who had won five times
in the last ten years facing Athy who
last won in 1986. This Cup had been
presented to the Area by Bill Hosie, past
President of Athy Rugby Club and is the
premier Competition in the Area. Athy
are having a good season, currently 3rd
in Division 1B of the Leinster League, two
points behind the leaders.
A stiff challenge was an ideal
preparation for the upcoming phase two
of the League and the Provincial Towns
Cup. The Game was a battle between
a strong physical Athy side and a free
moving, but young, Naas side. While
very close early on Athy eventually
pulled away to win, bringing the Cup
home for the first time in 36 years.
The Lalor Cup Final saw North Kildare
face off against Portlaoise. The Cup was
presented to the North Midlands Area in
memory of Fintan Lalor by North Kildare
RFC in 1977.
Since North Kildare last won this Cup
in 2004, Portlaoise have contested five
Carl O’Neill and Athy Capt
finals winning in 2012. Both sides were
seeking success to give their players
and supporters a boost heading into the
second part of the season.
The game was closely contested from
the outset, however in the end a young
Portlaoise wilted, allowing North Kildare
to take home their first Area Cup in
18 years. The Cup was presented to
Captain Tom Satchwell by Brian Lalor,
representing the Lalor Family.
Congratulations to Athy President, David
Hendy, and his superbly committed team
of volunteers for a highly successful event.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 35

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”)
WEIGHT 113kg (17st 9lbs)
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”)
WEIGHT 95kg (14st 11lbs)
Ross Byrne #1236
Out-half
DOB 8 April 1995
HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)
WEIGHT 92kg (14st 5lbs)
14
CAPS
Thomas Clarkson #1285
Prop
DOB 22 February 2000
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)
WEIGHT 118kg (18st 7lbs)
Jack Conan #1223
33
CAPS
7
CAPS
No 8
DOB 29 July 1992
HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”)
WEIGHT 110kg (17st 4 lbs)
36 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Will Connors #1264
9
CAPS
Max Deegan #1256
2
CAPS
Brian Deeny #1306
Caelan Doris #1268
23
CAPS
Back Row
DOB 4 April 1996
HEIGHT 1.96 (6’ 5”)
WEIGHT 99kg (15st 8lbs)
No 8
DOB 1 October 1996
HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”)
WEIGHT 110kg (17st 4lbs)
Second Row
DOB 2 March 2000
HEIGHT 1.99m (6’ 6”)
WEIGHT 118kg (18st 8lbs)
Back Row
DOB 2 April 1998
HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”)
WEIGHT 106kg (16st 10lbs)
Cormac Foley #1299
Scrum-half
DOB 24 October 1999
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”)
WEIGHT 98kg (15st 5lbs)
Tadhg Furlong #1220
63
CAPS
13
CAPS
Prop
DOB 14 November 1992
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)
WEIGHT 125kg (19st 8lbs)
Jamison Gibson-Park #1247
Scrum-half
DOB 23 February 1992
HEIGHT 1.76m (5’ 9”)
WEIGHT 80kg (12st 8lbs)
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
DOB 7 October 1987
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)
WEIGHT 116kg (18st 4lbs)
Centre / Full Back
DOB 12 June 1993
HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)
WEIGHT 99kg (15st 8lbs)
Lock
DOB 2 December 1995
HEIGHT 2.03 m (6’ 8”)
WEIGHT 124kg (19st 5lbs)
Wing / Full Back
DOB 19 June 1989
HEIGHT 1.81m (5’ 11”)
WEIGHT 90kg (14st 2lbs)
Hugo Keenan #1253
25
CAPS
Rónan Kelleher #1277
18
CAPS
Jordan Larmour #1258
30
CAPS
James Lowe #1262
15
CAPS
Full Back
DOB 18 June 1996
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)
WEIGHT 92kg (14st 4lbs)
Hooker
DOB 24 January 1998
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”)
WEIGHT 110kg (17st 5lbs)
Wing
DOB 10 June 1997
HEIGHT 1.78m (5’ 10”)
WEIGHT 88kg (13st 12lbs)
Wing / Full Back
DOB 8 July 1992
HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”)
WEIGHT 105kg (16st 7lbs)
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 37

Joe McCarthy #1303
1
CAP
Nick McCarthy #1241
Tadgh McElroy #1312
Luke McGrath #1206
19
CAPS
Second Row
DOB 26 March 2001
HEIGHT 1.98m (6’ 6”)
WEIGHT 119kg (18st 8lbs)
Scrum Half
DOB 25 March 1995
HEIGHT 1.8m (5’ 11”)
WEIGHT 84kg (13st 3lbs)
Hooker
DOB 16 June1997
HEIGHT 1.78m (5’ 10’)
WEIGHT 103kg (16st, 2lbs)
Scrum Half
DOB 3 February 1993
HEIGHT 1.75m (5’ 9”)
WEIGHT 82kg (12st 12lbs)
Michael Milne #1279
Martin Moloney #1300
Ross Molony #1233
Charlie Ngatai #1311
1
CAP
Prop
DOB 5 February 1999
HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”)
WEIGHT 115kg (18st 1lbs)
Back Row
DOB 19 October 1999
HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”)
WEIGHT 104kg (16st 5lbs)
Lock
DOB 11 May 1994
HEIGHT 2.00m (6’ 6”)
WEIGHT 116kg (18st 4lbs)
Centre / Full Back
DOB 17 August 1990
HEIGHT 1.87 m (6’ 2”)
WEIGHT 102kg (16st 1lbs)
Jimmy O’Brien #1272
3
CAPS
Tommy O’Brien #1283
Jamie Osborne #1294
Scott Penny #1271
Back Three
DOB 27 November 1996
HEIGHT 1.84m (6’ 0”)
WEIGHT 89kg (14st 0lbs)
Wing
DOB 28 May 1998
HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”)
WEIGHT 95kg (14st 3lbs)
Centre
DOB 16 November 2001
HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”)
WEIGHT 97.5kg (15st 5lbs)
Flanker
DOB 22 September 1999
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)
WEIGHT 104kg (16st 4lbs)
Andrew Porter #1246
48
CAPS
Garry Ringrose #1237
47
CAPS
Rhys Ruddock #1167
27
CAPS
Charlie Ryan
Prop
DOB 16 January 1996
HEIGHT 1.84m (6’ 1”)
WEIGHT 114kg (17st 13lbs)
Centre
DOB 26 January 1995
HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”)
WEIGHT 96kg (15st 1lbs)
Back Row
DOB 13 November 1990
HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)
WEIGHT 113kg (17st 9lbs)
Lock
DOB 3 February 1999
HEIGHT 2.01m (6’ 7”)
WEIGHT 115kg (18st 1lbs)
38 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

James Ryan #1259
48
CAPS
Johnny Sexton #1127
109
CAPS
14
CAPS
Dan Sheehan #1286
13
CAPS
James Tracy #1211
6
CAPS
Lock
DOB 24 July 1996
HEIGHT 2.00m (6’ 7”)
WEIGHT 115kg (18st 1lbs)
Out-half
DOB 11 July 1985
HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”)
WEIGHT 90kg (14st 2lbs)
Hooker
DOB 17 September 1998
HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)
WEIGHT 110kg (17st 5lbs)
Hooker
DOB 2 April 1991
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)
WEIGHT 106kg (16st 9lbs)
Liam Turner #1287
Centre
DOB 14 July 1999
HEIGHT 1.73m (5’ 8”)
WEIGHT 93kg (14st 9lbs)
Josh van der Flier #1228
45
CAPS
Flanker
DOB 25 April 1993
HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”)
WEIGHT 103kg (16st 3lbs)
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
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 39

We always strive to be
A beat ahead
layahealthcare.ie

Midland Warriors RFC -
Growth, Support & Community.
A club with passion for rugby and
community. The Midland Warriors
are a rugby club from Moate, Co.
Westmeath and the surrounding
areas. The club have girls and
boys from U10’s right through to
our Men’s Senior team.
Growth
The teams have continued to grow over
the past number of years. This year they
saw double the amount of U17s and
U14s at training, the ladies youths grew
by 15 and the minis welcome new kids
regularly.
Warriors have a Men’s 1st team and a
Metro team which between the two, huge
bonds and friendships have formed. So
much so, that a “Warriors Better Halves”
group have come together to travel to
matches for support and organise walks
while the men train.
This shows that the club naturally brings
together groups of people from kids and
their parents, teens, both boys and girls,
right through to the senior team and their
other halves. During the off-season, social
tag rugby allows all of these to come
together once more for fun & fitness.
Supporting Charities
St. Stephen’s Day is a very special day
for the Midland Warriors as every year
they remember Tim Ross, son, nephew
and friend, who tragically lost his life in
September 2016 at age 11. The Midland
Warriors host a memorial match every
year and in December just gone by,
raised €1137 for The Olive Branch for
Children and St Vincent de Paul. The
minis, youths and mens teams all played
on the day.
Community
The Midland Warriors have formed a
community that welcomes every single
person that gets involved. They are a
growing club both on and off the field
and pride themselves in the growing
talent and camaraderie each year. Win
or lose, you will always see a smiling
face in The Gap House, Moate after a
match.
Sponsorship has grown and they would
like to thank all those involved. Bridge
Transition, Zenith, Steiner Chiropractic,
MMA Architects, Tus Nua, The Gap
House, Centra Moate, Nick Linnane &
Co, Riverpark Kennels & Cattery, J&L
Supplies, Don’s Bar, Lillymay’s Cafe, Tuar
Ard Coffee Shop, Tana Creative Studio,
Midlands Physio & Back Pain Clinic and
Niall G Lynch Financial Services.
Warriors have a committee that puts in so
much work behind the scenes and without
them they wouldn’t have the club we
have today. To each and every parent/
guardian that brings their children to and
from training and matches, they thank
them.
The players show up each week to not
just train but to socialise and enjoy rugby.
Supporters who come to games whether
there is sunshine, wind or rain, it makes all
the difference.
So as you can see, the Midland Warriors
have become a family, where senior
players contribute at training to help each
other play better, where minis have the
chance to play for fun but also follow in
their hero’s footsteps and where young
girls and boys boost their confidence
and skills.
“The whole point of rugby is that it is, first
and foremost, a state of mind, a spirit.”
—Jean-Pierre Rives
42 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

As the Vodafone Women’s Interpro Series finishes this weekend, Leinster
Rugby is focusing 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.
Tania Rosser
The Head Coach
For some, the announcement
of Tania Rosser as the first
female head coach of the
Leinster Women is another
sign of changing times.
BY DES BERRY
For Tania, growing up in New
Zealand, rugby has always been
close to her heart and coaching
was a natural next step for the
former teacher.
“I just think I’m honoured and proud to be
coach of Leinster,” she says. To be honest,
it doesn’t really matter to me whether I
am the first female coach or not.
“I really hope it helps female coaches
have more opportunities. Even at the
provincial level, they might be able to
envision a route for themselves in the
game.
Is it a good time to be a woman coach
in Ireland?
“I believe that the time is right to work as
a coach in Ireland. Is that acceptable? I
see myself as a coach.
“I don’t consider myself to be a female
coach. Just like I saw myself as an
athlete, not as a woman playing sport.”
The ten-year veteran ex-player of Leinster
and three-tournament World Cup
starter for Ireland celebrated her 50th
international cap by being central to a
first-ever win over New Zealand in 2014.
One season later, Ireland made a clean
sweep of the Six Nations to gather in the
garland of Grand Slam champions.
Tania hasn’t changed her outlook: “I am
the same as I was as a player and as a
coach. I simply want the ideal candidate
for the position.
“If female coaches are good enough and
willing to stretch themselves, there are
opportunities for them.
“Getting out of your comfort zone may
be the most important thing. I’ll take a
chance on myself. There’s a chance that
not everyone will agree with me and I’m
alright with that.
“But, I am willing to put myself in an
uncomfortable position in order to learn.
That is a hard thing for some people to
do.”
She worked with the senior men’s team in
Clontarf for a while, getting the chance to
be on Andy Wood’s coaching staff and
leading the J1s at the Castle Avenue club
through 2019.
Since then, there has been time spent with
the Metro U18s and the Old Belvedere
Women.
“At Clontarf, I had the opportunity to
observe and learn from Andy and Aaron
Dundon, James Downey, and Simon
(Broughton), and Brett Igoe served as
my mentor as I pursued my World Rugby
High-Performance Coaching credential.
I’ve therefore been very lucky to be
surrounded by very good coaches.”
44 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Then, there is the additional experience of
living with her partner Simon Broughton,
the Leinster Academy Manager.
“There is a lot of rugby in the house.
Sometimes it is hard to switch off. But, we
do, to make sure we are focussed on our
son Serge and his hockey for St Andrew’s
College and Monkstown Hockey Club.
“It makes life easier at home when you
understand what the other person is
going through,” adds Tania.
“It is good to thrash out ideas to see if
I am moving in the right direction and,
vice versa, Simon comes looking for my
thoughts and opinions.
“We mightn’t always agree on
everything. That is one of the joys of
coaching. We all have our own views.
“We have that appreciation for each
other in that we understand the demands
of the game on each other.”
Declan Kidney, Stuart Lancaster, Joe
Schmidt are just some of the coaches who
started out as teachers, perhaps because
coaching is teaching.
“I tend to try and learn from a lot of
different people. Learning is key,” stresses
Tania.
“I am quite lucky in that I came into
coaching from a teaching background.
Dealing with people is what I have been
trained to do around education.
“It is knowing how to get your message
across to different players because not
everyone learns or plays the same.
“I suppose, I’m at an advantage there,
knowing how people learn and how I
can adapt my coaching to reach the
different learners within my cohort.”
The many influences have been taken in
and Tania the coach is still a teacher at
heart, one who governs by collaboration
rather than domination.
“My biggest thing is to make sure
I recognise players as people first,
knowing they come from all walks of life,”
she says.
“Everyone has issues, the things that
are important to them. If players are
not happy, how can I expect them to
perform?
“I try to get to know them as people first.
That is really important to me.
“I base a lot of my work around
identifying as a family. I want players to
know that if they need me, I will be there
at the end of the phone.
“A lot of it is based around making sure
they are learning, having fun and, also,
being challenged. It is also important that
they have a say in what they want to do
as well.”
Tania is an advocate of long-term
planning over short-term gains, careful
in how exciting teenagers are gamemanaged
when it comes to making the
leap from Age Grade to senior rugby.
“I have been looking into that a lot,
talking to other coaches in other sports as
far away as America and New Zealand.
“The teams that have been successful in
nurturing young talent have been those
who have looked after them.
“Instead of throwing them into a full
senior training programme, you need to
build up their resilience for training and
playing.
“It is really important because they are
still at a very young training age and we
don’t want them to break down.
“It is just being aware of where they are,
how long they have been in the gym,
what kind of physicality have they been
exposed to.
“There has to be a holistic approach
towards the young ones. Don’t get me
wrong, some of them are fabulous and
they are ready to run.
“In the long run, we want to find out what
they will be like in three or four years.
We need to be careful. We want them
playing at the top level for years, not
breaking down early.
“There is so much work to be done in that
area around women in sport.”
In terms of the Interprovincial Series,
Tania has encouraged Leinster to play
what they see.
“We are very lucky at Leinster. We have
got great pathways from our five area
teams, Metro, Midlands, North Midlands,
North East and South East into the
Leinster U18s.
“We are in a good place when it comes
to Leinster and how the Women’s game
is developing. There is plenty of good
coaching out on the ground around the
province.
“I think we have some young, bright
talent coming through which is nice.
“My biggest thing is to allow them to take
risks, be open and free to have a crack,
the system/structure is only there to guide
them. I want them to show their flair.”
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 45

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+8 - - 0+8 - - - - - 0+25 2 10 0+24 2 10 0+1 - - 10 GEO 1
MICHAEL ALA'ALATOA 1301 25 SEP 21 11+1 1 5 8+1 - - 3 1 5 23+14 4 20 19+7 2 10 4+7 2 10 1 WS 12
RYAN BAIRD 1278 27 APR 19 8+1 2 10 6+1 2 10 2 - - 27+20 9 45 23+15 9 45 4+5 - - 2 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 1+4 - 17 1+2 - 9 0+2 - 8 22+19 6 200 22+16 6 187 0+3 - 13 20 IR 2
ROSS BYRNE 1236 4 SEP 15 10+4 - 95 7+4 - 67 3 - 28 95+47 9 921 78+25 4 663 17+22 5 258 25 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 5+4 - - 4+2 - - 1+2 - - 96+30 25 125 67+18 16 80 29+12 9 45 19 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 2+3 1 5 2+2 1 5 0+1 - - 4+3 1 5 4+2 1 5 0+1 - - 3 -
CAELAN DORIS 1268 28 APR 18 7+1 2 10 4+1 - - 3 2 10 54+9 10 50 37+7 6 30 17+2 4 20 1 IR 23
CORMAC FOLEY 1299 24 APR 21 2+4 1 5 2+4 1 5 - - - 4+7 2 10 4+7 2 10 - - - 4 -
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 4+1 - - 2 - - 2+1 - - 64+57 22 110 51+30 15 75 13+27 7 35 7 IR 23
MARCUS HANAN 1295 19 FEB 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - - -
CIAN HEALY 1142 5 MAY 07 4+5 - - 4+2 - - 0+3 - - 164+94 30 150 97+58 16 80 65+35 13 65 10 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 6 2 10 3 1 5 3 1 5 47+3 11 55 31+3 6 30 16 5 25 1 IR 25
RONAN KELLEHER 1277 22 FEB 19 5+3 4 20 4+1 1 5 1+2 3 15 34+10 17 85 20+6 12 60 14+4 5 25 1 IR 18
JORDAN LARMOUR 1258 2 SEP 17 7+1 4 20 6 2 10 1+1 2 10 71+11 31 155 46+7 22 110 25+4 9 45 1 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+8 - - 1+7 - - 0+1 - - 10+45 5 25 10+38 5 25 0+7 - - 15 -
TADGH MCELROY 1312 28 OCT 22 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - -
46 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

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
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+7 2 10 1+7 2 10 - - - 3+8 2 10 3+8 2 10 - - - 3 -
MICHAEL MILNE 1279 28 SEP 19 1+5 1 5 1+4 1 5 0+1 - - 2+21 3 15 2+20 3 15 0+1 - - 4 -
MARTIN MOLONEY 1300 24 APR 21 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - 2+8 - - 2+8 - - - - - - -
ROSS MOLONY 1233 20 FEB 15 10+4 - - 8+3 - - 2+1 - - 92+61 5 25 80+45 4 20 12+16 1 5 30 -
BEN MURPHY 1309 21 MAY 22 - - - - - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - -
CHARLIE NGATAI 1311 17 SEP 22 9+2 - - 7+2 - - 2 - - 9+2 - - 7+2 - - 2 - - - NZ 1
JAMIE OSBORNE 1294 30 JAN 21 7+2 1 5 6+1 - - 1+1 1 5 20+8 2 10 19+7 1 5 1+1 1 5 1 -
JIMMY O'BRIEN 1272 23 NOV 18 11 1 5 8 1 5 3 - - 54+10 17 89 42+9 11 59 12+1 6 30 2 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 6+1 2 10 6+1 2 10 - - - 40+8 25 125 40+8 25 125 - - - 3 -
ANDREW PORTER 1246 2 SEP 16 7+4 3 15 4+4 2 10 3 1 5 48+54 17 85 33+35 12 60 15+19 5 25 5 IR 48
GARRY RINGROSE 1237 12 SEP 15 9+1 5 25 6+1 4 20 3 1 5 109+3 35 183 66+2 23 123 43+1 12 60 4 IR 47
RHYS RUDDOCK 1167 6 DEC 09 6 2 10 6 2 10 - - - 162+54 14 70 124+35 12 60 37+17 2 10 6 IR 27
ROB RUSSELL 1302 3 OCT 21 6+2 7 35 6+2 7 35 - - - 9+4 7 35 9+4 7 35 - - - 2 -
CHARLIE RYAN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
JAMES RYAN 1259 2 SEP 17 7+3 1 5 4+3 - - 3 1 5 59+9 4 20 31+4 1 5 28+5 3 15 4 IR 48
JOHNNY SEXTON 1127 27 JAN 06 3+2 1 32 3+1 1 30 0+1 - 2 159+30 27 1646 92+22 14 887 65+8 12 728 4 IR 109
DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 9+2 9 45 7+1 8 40 2+1 1 5 18+22 25 125 15+14 21 105 3+8 4 20 2 IR 13
ANDREW SMITH 1292 2 JAN 21 - - - - - - - - - 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - - -
ALEX SOROKA 1296 28 FEB 21 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 2+5 - - 2+5 - - - - - - -
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 4+2 1 5 4+1 1 5 0+1 - - 8+4 1 5 8+3 1 5 0+1 - - 2 -
JOSH VAN DER FLIER 1228 11 OCT 14 8+1 6 30 5+1 2 10 3 4 20 98+25 24 120 57+19 10 50 41+6 14 70 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
2022/23 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER
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 72.73% 7 1 - 3 1 - 4 - - 70 10 65 9 5 1 103 77.67%
ROSS BYRNE 86.54% 40 5 - 26 5 - 14 - - 294 95 1 221 66 1 73 29 - 492 79.07%
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 68.42% 12 1 - 11 1 - 1 - - 277 308 11 140 172 7 130 132 4 733 79.81%
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 47

TITLE PARTNER
OFFICAL KIT PARTNER
PREMIUM PARTNERS
PARTNERS & SUPPLIERS
MEDIA PARTNERS
48 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Bank of Ireland
Match Day Mascots
LAUREN
CAMPION
Age: 11
School: Loreto Junior College, St. Stephens Green
Class: 5th Class
Hobbies and interests: Rugby, Golf, Soccer
and Hockey
Favourite Players: Johnny Sexton & Garry Ringrose
JACK
BYRNE
Age: 8
School: Sandford National School
Class: 2nd Class
Hobbies and interests: Rugby, Gaelic Football
and Soccer
Favourite Player: Garry Ringrose
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 49

Squads
matchday
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
Hugo KEENAN
Jordan LARMOUR
Garry RINGROSE [C]
Jamie OSBORNE
Jimmy O’BRIEN
Ross BYRNE
Jamison GIBSON-PARK
FULL BACK
RIGHT WING
OUTSIDE CENTRE
INSIDE CENTRE
LEFT WING
FLY HALF
SCRUM HALF
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Andrew PORTER
Rónan KELLEHER
Michael ALA’ALATOA
Joe McCARTHY
James RYAN
Caelan DORIS
Josh VAN DER FLIER
Jack CONAN
LOOSE HEAD PROP
HOOKER
TIGHT HEAD PROP
SECOND ROW
SECOND ROW
BLINDSIDE FLANKER
OPENSIDE FLANKER
NUMBER 8
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Dan SHEEHAN
Michael MILNE
Cian HEALY
Ross MOLONY
Ryan BAIRD
Luke McGRATH
Harry BYRNE
Scott PENNY
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT

officials
REFEREE: MATTHEW CARLEY (ENGLAND)
ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: CRAIG MAXWELL-KEYS (ENGLAND)
ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: GARETH HOLSGROVE (ENGLAND)
TMO: IAN TEMPEST (ENGLAND)
FULL BACK
Warrick GELANT 15
RIGHT WING
OUTSIDE CENTRE
INSIDE CENTRE
LEFT WING
FLY HALF
SCRUM HALF
Christian WADE
Olivier KLEMENCZAK
Gael FICKOU [C]
Louis DUPICHOT
Finn RUSSELL
Nolann LE GARREC
14
13
12
11
10
9
LOOSE HEAD PROP
HOOKER
TIGHT HEAD PROP
SECOND ROW
SECOND ROW
BLINDSIDE FLANKER
Eddy Ben AROUS
Janick TARRIT
Trevor NYAKANE
Baptiste CHOUZENOUX
Boris PALU
Wenceslas LAURET
1
2
3
4
5
6
OPENSIDE FLANKER
Mahamadou COULIBALY
7
NUMBER 8
Kitione KAMIKAMICA
8
REPLACEMENT
Péniami NARISIA
16
REPLACEMENT
Guram GOGICHASHVILI
17
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
REPLACEMENT
Gia KHARAISHVILI
Anthime HEMERY
Maxime BAUDONNE
Antoine GIBERT
Francis SAILI
Max SPRING
18
19
20
21
22
23

COMMUNITY RUGBY UPDATE
THE WORK CONTINUES ON THE GROUND
THROUGHOUT THE 12 COUNTIES
There is a considerable amount of
work done on the ground around
the 12 counties, by Leinster
Rugby community rugby staff.
We currently have 17 Community
Rugby Officers (CRO’s) including
four Women Development
Officers (WDO’s), along with 49
Club Community Rugby Officers
(CCROs), who work around the
province with our clubs and
schools. Also working with
the local community groups,
through our county council
partners, to deliver tailored
rugby programmes and expand
the game of rugby around the
province.
Through these ongoing relationships
with County Councils, Leinster Rugby run
programmes throughout the season and
provide staff for community programmes,
such as tag rugby for rehabilitation and
recovery services, wheelchair rugby,
walking rugby for older members of
the community and working with young
offenders to support their rehabilitation
through rugby and the values attached
strongly to the game.
Along with these programmes, we work
closely with the County Councils, we
also run inclusion camps across the
province during the summer. Programmes
and camps are staffed with our CROs
(Community Rugby Officers) and CCROs
(Club Community Rugby Officers) who
have close ties and knowledge of the
community.
The purpose of our Leinster Rugby
Community Officers is to affect and
support high quality sustainable rugby
environments for all by encouraging,
promoting, growing and organising the
participation in, and playing of, rugby in
the 12 counties of Leinster.
In recent months, our community officers
have completed 19 more primary school
blitzes, 11 secondary school blitzes,
which are split into junior and senior
sections. Along with two Transition
Year coaching training courses, to help
develop more young coaches around the
province.
To help benefit our club and school
coaches, coaching courses are delivered
through our Community Officers and
our Coach Development Officers
(CDOs). In recent months, our officers
have completed 18 coaching courses,
this includes our senior coach awards,
children’s coach awards and youth
coach awards, along with four player
development sessions in our clubs. On
top of these, our community rugby officers
also help run our area side competitions,
such as the Sarah Robinson Cup (girls)
and Shane Horgan Cup (boys).
With girls’ rugby growing year on year,
our Women Development Officers
(WDOs) since October, have also
ran girls-only rugby events around the
province such as, 1st Year touch rugby
programmes and junior and senior X7s
blitzes.
If you would like our rugby officers to
deliver a programme to your school visit
the Leinster Rugby website, to contact
your local Community Rugby Officer and
Club Community Rugby Officers.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 53

offical leinster
supporters club
We are delighted to be back in Aviva Stadium
today for our final Heineken Champions Cup pool
game against French side Racing 92. A win today
will hopefully guarantee us home advantage for
the remainder of the competition.
We welcome our visitors from
Paris and it’s been six weeks
since we last played against
each other at the start of the
competition. The visit to Le Havre
did not go without drama, a
hellish journey of 16 hours for the
team and some lucky supporters,
leaving most of the travelling
support disappointed and stuck
in Ireland due to the adverse
weather conditions.
Despite this upset, we convincingly
secured victory over our hosts at the
Stade Océane on 10 December - the
prize, a bonus point win over the hosts.
Prior to this season, we have played
against Racing 92 three times since 2009
in European competition winning each
time. We beat the newcomers 38-22 at
home in 2010, and followed it up in Paris
in early 2011 with a 36-11.
Our most famous battle came in May
2018 when we secured our fourth star in
Champions Cup Final in Bilbao, winning
15-12 in a very tight and competitive
game. We go into the game today on top
with maximum match points. Our visitors
sit eighth in Pool A and know that a win
away could keep them in contention for
the next round of the competition, both
sides have so much to play for.
Our aim today is to sing, be loud and
keep the stadium Blue. We want to
create a cauldron of noise, colour, and
atmosphere. For those of you who were
in Gloucester at Kingsholm last weekend,
you will have witnessed the very early
#SeaOfBlue, following the reversing
bus into the ground and welcoming the
players as they walked in.
The Sea of Blue, from the flags throughout
the stadium was fantastic, including in
the hallowed ground of the Shed where
a huge amount of Leinster Supporters
were made feel very welcome by the
hospitable Gloucester fans. What a day!
We work hard to ensure that we can help
as many fans as possible to travel and
last week proved that when we travel we
travel in large numbers. We thank all
the travelling fans for making the trip. It’s
really great to hear Leo make reference
to the Sea of Blue, and that the players
love seeing it, and getting a boost from
it. The infiltration of the Shed did not go
unnoticed by the media and certain TV
presenters, it was a fantastic trip securing
another bonus point win.
It’s great to see over 40,000 supporters
here today, we know that you will get
behind the team, and all of us need to
put in a big performance. Last May, in
Marseille was a tough game to come
away from with a loss, and we know
how much harder it becomes as the
competition progresses. Let’s not dwell
on history today, instead get behind
the team helping them to keep the top
spot on the Road to Dublin and get that
elusive fifth star. It’s becoming an even
busier season and we will need more
help over the coming weeks and months.
If you would like to volunteer in any way
please reach out, we need you!
As always we’re thankful for the support
we as a committee get from Leinster
Rugby, Bank of Ireland, and all the
corporate sponsors. As always we
encourage you to show your support
through our social media channels.
Be loud, be true, be blue
Yours in Rugby,
The OLSC Committee
54 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Mental health support...
CHARITY PARTNER
2022/23
At Jigsaw, we understand and support young
people’s mental health.
Both online and in person, we give advice and support to
help young people aged 12 to 25 years-old.
jigsaw.ie
Jigsaw is a registered charity in Ireland.

DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION
Get your hands on the
best rugby analysis
With a digital subscription to The Times and
The Sunday Times you have access to the latest match reports,
interviews and analysis from our expert team of writers.
Subscribe at thesundaytimes.ie/join
ROI residents only, aged 18 or over. This offer is subject to availability. New subscribers only. Visit store.thetimes.ie for full terms and conditions.

Age is just a number
in Old Wesley
Growing up as young rugby
players and fans in Leinster we all
dreamt of the days running out
on the hallowed turf of Energia
Park in Donnybrook but some
members of Old Wesley show that
those dreams never fade even
with age.
As rugby returned in 2021 a new
generation of players emerged in Old
Wesley - over 40’s tip rugby. Looking to
find a way to give more of the club to its
members or all ages and abilities, Old
Wesley have used it as a way for the
club to open up more to the parents and
grandparents of their younger players
and also some retired players to make
more use of the club, have a little fun and
get some exercise at the same time.
The beauty of tip rugby is its simple you
just need a ball, a pair of boots and a
few cones and that’s it! Everyone can
play and everyone is equal. Teams are
set weekly to insure an even split of age
and ability and across each game.
With over 60 players playing since
it started 18 months ago, it’s been
deemed a huge success at 8:30pm on
Wednesday nights when the lights shine
bright in Energia Park. It’s been running
non-stop bar a couple of week off at
Christmas since May in 2021 all the
way through winter with players from
their early 40s right up to the age of 69
togging out each week. It’s been a mix
of players who never played rugby, to
players who played at on various Wesley
teams over the past four decades and
even a couple of former Leinster players
putting their boots back on.
Speaking to Leinster Rugby, Rodger Laird
of Old Wesley said “It’s been a great
way to get out get some exercise but
also immense fun linking back up with
guys you would have played with years
ago, along with renewing old friendships
on and off the pitch. It can get very
competitive over the hour of play most
weeks which is great fun too”.
“It’s been amazing to see the
development of old skills coming back,
the pace of the games has increased over
the first few months as players grew in
confidence and muscle memory starts to
kick back in”
If you would like to get involved get the
boots back on or give it a try just get in
touch with Old Wesley via any of their
social media channels.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 57

Portlaoise’s Delany wins
Devin Toner Award
Portlaoise’s
Johnny Delany
is the winner of
the Devin Toner
Perpetual Award.
The criteria for the Award
states it will be made to a
person in recognition of the
significant contribution this
individual has made to the
development of Rugby in the
North Midlands Area, with the
extensive engagement of many
individuals, over the last 40 years,
in the development of rugby
in the North Midlands, across
the many fields, Adult Men/
Women: Youths/Girls, Referees:
Mini Rugby along with their
participation, where appropriate,
in the many opportunities arising
through their involvement in the
area at Leinster Branch levels.
John (Johnny) Delany joined Portlaoise
Rugby Football Club shortly after its
foundation in 1966. He held many
positions within the club and played
for many years with Portlaoise Rugby
Club. Delany always willing to play on
whichever team he was selected on,
sometimes maybe playing in two side
over the weekend, and was always
available to assist where ever required,
whether it be marking a pitch or assisting
at the club’s social dances on a Friday
Night in the County hotel, John was also
renowned for his rendering of “Eskimo
Nell” at the regular after match sing
song’s which was part of rugby in days
gone by.
During his playing John became
instrumental in the setting up of the youth
structure in the Club during the 70’s and
80’s . He coached many youth teams
during his tenure.
John was nominated to represent the club
on the North Midland Youth Committee
where again he gave many years of
commitment to the youth’s structure in
the area, and assisted with the setting
up and maintaining the structure that we
now have.
John did not limit his volunteer
commitment to the North Midlands
Area. Having initially become a member
of the Leinster Youths Committee he
became a significant part of the group
who developed the Leinster Youths sides.
Johnny went on to be a selector for the
Leinster Youths. Among his players at the
time were Niall Ronan, Shane Horgan
and Niall “Bressie” Breslin.
During this this period John was elected
as President of Portlaoise where he
served from 1987 to 1989.
His expertise and commitment to the
development of the game saw him invited
to join the IRFU Youths Committee where
he played an active role in many tours
to UK, France and Italy. It should be
noted that the Italian/Irish connection
came into being through the auspices of
John. He also played a significant role in
organising a incoming trips by teams from
Spain and Portugal back in the 1990s.
A frequent traveller with the North
Midlands International Brigade attending
many Leinster and Ireland games across
Europe with Harry Nicholls, Tom Ashe
and our Youths Committee Registrar Hugh
Woodhouse who is with us today. John is
currently a Trustee with Portlaoise Rugby
Club and can often be seen at the club
attending games and functions.
Speaking about Delany’s win, Colm
Rigney said; Congrats Johnny! I for
one owe you a massive amount of
gratitude, without your support I wouldn’t
have played a fraction of the rugby I
did. You’re a brilliant rugby man and
a gentleman too. I’m sure there are
hundreds of kids you influenced with your
support and I will never forget it for sure.
Johnny drove me all over the province
as a kid to make sure I never missed out,
well done North Midlands Rugby and
congratulations again John.
Ciaran Reilly added; Congratulations
John, you contributed so such to youth
rugby in Leinster Rugby and Irish Youth
Rugby over the past 40 years. A great
Portlaoise RFC clubman and espouses
all that makes youth rugby so strong in
Leinster.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 59

GETTING
We check social media
for the latest views
and thoughts across
SOCIAL
the 12 counties

WHERE
ARE
THEY
NOW?
STEVE BY DES BERRY
JAMESON
THEN: Steve
played more than
20 times for
Leinster from
1995-1997.
NOW: He works as
Facilities and
Events Manager
with Leinster,
living with his
wife Emer in Dun
Laoghaire and
has two children
Lauren (27) and
Dylan John (21).
62 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Where: Donnybrook.
When: July 17th, 1997.
There were two dressing
rooms at the Old Wesley end of
Donnybrook. The spillover from
numbers meant Steve Jameson,
Shane Byrne and Shane Horgan
had to change together alone
after another gruelling pre-season
session.
“Jamo, are you going to buy me a pint?”
asked Shane Byrne.
“No problem, what’s the occasion?”
answered Steve.
“It’s my birthday tomorrow.”
Out of the blue, the usually quiet Shane
Horgan piped up: “It’s my birthday
tomorrow too.”
“What? Guys, you won’t believe this,
it’s my birthday as well tomorrow,”
added Steve in acknowledgement of an
astonishing coincidence.
Steve and Shane Byrne went for a pint
and Shane Horgan went his own way,
perhaps an indication of the emerging
line drawn between the old and the new,
the amateur and the professional.
It was Leinster’s struggle to come to
terms with the all-in demands of the
professional era that delayed the coming
of age of a European superpower.
******
Steve played for Monkstown for three
years, losing some friends when he
decided to leave for St Mary’s in 1989
where the Cavan man felt right at home.
He played what was then a record 85
consecutive AIL matches. Paul Dean,
Declan Fanning, Kevin Potts were some of
the club icons that wore that blue shirt.
“I loved playing rugby and I lived for the
game for a long time,” he says.
“In those days, club rugby was king so
joining St Mary’s was a major step-up
for me to play with interprovincial and
international players and in doing so
testing my ability to play interprovincial
rugby” he says.
The introduction of the AIL brought club
rugby to a whole new level and with it
some brutal battles in Munster.
“Going down to the likes of Young
Munster back then was different.
Anything went. I enjoyed the
confrontation and the challenge,” he
says.
Sometimes it got out of hand.
“I recall an occasion whilst captain of St
Mary’s when a teammate approached
me, carrying an ear injury. He asked me
how it looked. The injury resulted in him
having to have surgery that evening. Let’s
just say he was lucky to keep his ear.”
Steve gave as good as he took. But, there
was a line he wasn’t willing to cross.
“When you are in the trenches during
some of the tougher games and you look
your teammates in the eye, you certainly
know who you can trust at the end of the
80 minutes,” he says.
In one particular game, he was on the
receiving end of a stamp to the head,
going off to get bandaged up. Coming
back on, five minutes later, he was at the
bottom of another ruck and his head was
stood on again.
“You really get a feeling for a man’s
character from being in a dark place
on a rugby field and, dare I say it, there
were more dark places in those days than
there are now.
“Don’t get me wrong, I was no angel. I
used the slipper a lot and threw and took
my share of punches. It was part of the
game. You didn’t complain about those
things.”
To this day, Steve jokingly says that
when he visits Limerick he rarely
gets down O’Connell Street without
acknowledgement from a stranger about
who he was and what he did.
Down there, it is known as respect: “To
this day, I am almost always taken back
whenever I meet a rugby person, who I
played against when the conversation
starts off with some memory of me
standing on them or punching them.
“It gets me to thinking, ‘I couldn’t have
been that bad, could I?.’”
In 1990, Steve declared for Connacht
on the basis of his mother coming from
Tubbercurry in Sligo, when he wasn’t
winning the attention of Leinster’s
decision-makers.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 63

“I do have some really great memories
from playing with Connacht with the
highlight playing against Australia when
they were on tour.
“However I never really felt settled there,
despite the presence of Noel McCarthy,
Tom Clancy, Eric Elwood, Noel Mannion,
Mick Fitzgibbon, Simon Geogeghan, etc
- great players.
“I suppose the difference was that when
I played against Leinster, I was playing
against my pals, guys like Kevin Potts,
Brian Keane, Declan Fanning, Michael
Corcoran, Vinny
Cunningham, clubmates of mine in St
Mary’s.
“At Connacht, I was used to driving
to training in Athlone on a pitch with
floodlights like four candles in the corner
of the field. The facilities then are not like
they are today.
“You got a bowl of soup and a sandwich
and you drove back to Dublin, got up
and went to work the next morning and to
training with your club the next night.
“You’ve got to love the game to do that,”
he says.
After serving Connacht, Ciaran Callen
and Jim Glennon made contact to attract
Steve and Victor Costello back to Leinster
in 1995, making their debuts against
South African tourists Griqualand West
that summer.
His impact was rewarded with Leinster
Player of the Year for the 1996/97
season.
“I was tremendously proud to play
for Leinster and some of my happiest
rugby memories stem from Leinster
performances, none more so than the
time we beat Leicester Tigers in the
European Cup at Donnybrook in 1997.
“It happened just at the crossover into
professionalism. I had just got my first
contract for Leinster.
“In those days, Leicester had letters rather
than numbers on their backs. Bob Dwyer
was their coach. Martin Johnson was my
opposite number.
“They came with a star-studded side,
Richard Cockerell, Graham Rowntree
and Darren Garforth in the front row.
Dean Richards was at number eight and
out-half Joel Stransky had just dropped
the goal to win the 1995 World Cup.
“I remember walking around before the
game on a pitch that looked like a billiard
table on a beautiful September evening,
feeling, ‘wow, how good is this?’
“The place was heaving, packed to the
rafters. Anyway, we rose to the occasion
and beat Leicester that evening.
“I remember Victor and I decided to skip
the formalities and retired to the back bar
in Long’s Pub, where Arthur Mayne now
stands, something we didn’t fully shake
from the amateur era.
A few hours later, one of the lads arrived
at the door and sat down.
“Jamo, did you know you got £1,250 for
that game tonight?”
“What?”
64 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

“Yeah, £1,250 for playing in the
European Cup and a win bonus on top
of it.”
“That was the moment I fully realised
I was a professional rugby player - I
would have paid £1,000 to play for
Leinster in the game. That is a fact.”
In 1997, Mike Ruddock blew into
Leinster like a hurricane, determined
to make ruthless professionals out of
hard-playing, hard-partying amateurs. It
took time.
“Mike realised straight away we hadn’t
made the step from amateur to fully
professional because we were lacking
fitness,” says Steve.
“In pre-season, we trained Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday with ‘optional
scrummaging’ on Wednesday which, in
reality, we had to go to and a timed 5k
run on Saturday morning.
“We were much fitter, much stronger
than we had been in previous years.”
Two months later, Steve’s “over-zealous”
use of the boot late on caused a penalty
which Milan converted for a 23-22
victory in the European Cup at the Pata
Stadium in Calvisano.
“Mike didn’t say anything to me
personally, but he was livid,” says Steve.
“We still had a couple of pints in the
clubhouse after the game. On the bus,
he said: ‘everyone, in the foyer, in your
running gear at 6 o’clock in the morning.
Have a good night! So, we had a few
more drinks.”
By 6 o’clock the next morning, he had
sourced a cabbage patch and we were
ordered to run for 45 minutes.
“Victor (Costello) was struggling at
the back of the pack on this horrible
paddock and Mike was shouting,
‘Victor! Up the front! Up the front!”
The appropriate athletic response was
not forthcoming.
“Victor, that is a £500 fine!”
“Who do I make the cheque out to?”
replied Victor.
The sacrifices made to be on the pitch
meant sacrifices off it too. Some still sting
to this day.
In 1999, a persistent shoulder injury and
the grind of playing senior rugby for
over 15 years, captaining St Mary’s for
three seasons, Steve decided it was time
to hang up his boots.
“I must say that after being involved
at such a level for so long retiring from
the game does come as a shock to the
system. You have no training during the
week, no match at the weekend. It does
take a while to adapt to life after rugby.”
In the meantime, Steve built and sold a
business, lived abroad with his family
for ten years between Beijing, China
and Singapore before returning home to
take on the role of Facilities and Events
Manager with Leinster Rugby.
“It’s really great to be back in Ireland
and I really enjoy working for Leinster
rugby and with some exceptional
individuals, some I overlapped with
during my time playing.
“For example - Leo Cullen, we shared a
place on the squad together when Leo
was at the beginning of his remarkable
rugby career.
“Dave Fagan was our strength and
conditioning coach when I was playing
and now holds the same position with
the Leinster Academy which is fantastic.
“I really admire what Leinster have done.
It is such a well-oiled machine. I see how
hard they train and how professional it is
from top-to-bottom,” he shares.
“In our day, the rewards were there
in the friends you made and the
camaraderie generated.”
And that is good enough for the man
from Ballyjamesduff.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 65

ENTER THE CODE BELOW
LEIN15
OFF
Until December 31st 2023
T&Cs Apply
ONLINE ONLY SHOP NOW
W W W . B E S T M E N S W E A R . C O M

© 2022 adidas AG

Today’s match referee is no
stranger to Leinster - Matthew
Carley (England). Matthew is
a member of the RFU Referees
Panel and refereed his first
professional game in 2013. He
has been an active official in the
Six Nations since 2017. His first
European match was in 2015
between Munster and Benetton.
This was quickly followed by
World Rugby appointing him
for his first international fixture,
between Russia and USA.
Referees
Corner
BY DAN WALLACE
A warm welcome to today’s issue of Referee’s
Corner. It is always an exciting day when
European Rugby arrives at the Aviva. I hope
everyone is looking forward to today’s game.
His first Tier One match was in 2017,
between Scotland and New Zealand.
Matthew also officiated the opening
round of the 2021 Six Nations
Championship fixture between Italy and
France. His first Six Nations game as
referee was in the same fixture in 2019.
He was also a reserve/assistant referee
at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. He was
the man in the middle when Toulon
visited us in 2021.
Mathew will be assisted by Craig
Maxwell-Keys (England), Gareth
Holsgrove (England) and TMO: Ian
Tempest (England).
We have a couple of Leinster Rugby
Referees out officiating today. Andrew
Cole and Paul Haycock are in Bordeaux
assisting Frank Murphy in the Bordeaux
v Gloucester game. We wish them well
also.
Finbar Murphy
RIP.
We were extremely saddened
to hear of the passing of our
refereeing colleague Finbar
Murphy on 26th December.
Finbar refereed with distinction
for the ARLB in the 1990’s &
2000’s out of the Midlands Area
and Longford RFC. He was also
a distinguished GAA referee.
To Finbar’s wife, Geraldine, his
daughter, sons and extended
family, we at the Leinster Rugby
Referees offer our sincerest
condolences. Ar dheis Dé go
raibh a anam.
North
Midlands
Refereeing
Update
The North Midlands area has
now expanded to include
Blessington RFC, so it is now
nine clubs and we are always
looking for more referees in the
area. The refereeing team in the
North Midlands referred three
finals on December 31st including
the U18 Area final along with
the Lalor and Hosie Cups. We
provided teams of five for all
68 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

finals. Otherwise it has been a
very busy season on the pitch
with most youth games and all
adult requests covered which is a
great achievement. We also have
one new trainee due to do his
trial shortly. We wish him well.
Speaking of trials and new referees
Leinster Rugby Referees held a New
Referees Course in the Riverside Park
Hotel, Enniscorthy on Saturday 14,
January 2023. The course was open
to those aged 18 – 59, who would like
to take up refereeing as a hobby and
become members of Leinster Rugby
Referees. We had a superb turnout and
will provide a report on same in due
course. Thanks to Sean Gallagher of the
IRFU for running the show.
Katie Byrne
As the Vodafone Women’s
Interpro Series is
underway, Leinster Rugby
is focusing on some of the
unsung heroes making
the girls and the women’s
game tick across the 12
counties of Leinster. There
is a great interview with
our referee Katie Byrne on
our and the Leinster Rugby
website, it is well worth a
read. One of my favorite
quotes from the interview
is…
“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.”
Keep up the great work Katie!!!
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.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 69

ank of ireland
MATCHDAY minis
Blackrock College RFC
Players: Mark Kelly, Charlie Pattison, Jamie Cox, Oisin Healy,
John Paul O’Grady, Calum Duffy, Seb Kelly, Andy Dredge,
Ollie D’Alton, Richard Gough, Harry Keenan, AJ Williams,
Josh Murphy, Peter Twomey, Jack O’ Halloran, Conall O
Suilleabhain, Ethan Farrell, Conor Emerson and Luca Barrett
Coaches: Andrew Kelly and Brian Cox
Midland Warriors RFC
Players: PJ Geoghegan, Mila Falkova, Paudie Molloy, Michael
Finan, Ben O’Grady, Tadgh Smyth, Cillian Walsh, Evan
Costello, Ollie Browne, Eoghan Minnock, Cian Browne, Sean
Burke, Conor Fox, Ben Claffey, Jamie Rosney, Cormac Murray,
Oisin Daly, Jack Daly, Ethan McArdle, Ciara Nally, Andy
Molloy, Thomas Lynam and Devon Martin
Coaches: Thomas O’Shaughnessy and Roger Quinn
St Brigid’s RFC
Players: Caolan Duff, Charlie Berkery, Conor McKiernan,
David Kosmala, Denis Cremin, Eoin White, Evan Gill, Harry
O’Shaughnessy, Luca Byrne, Luke Grennan, Minglang Li,
Oscar Johnsson Byrne, Sean Donohoe, Luke Haslam, Philip
Hayes, Lochlann Hurley, Con Twomey, Evan Stack.
Coaches: John White, James Cremin, Mike McKiernan and
Dan Twomey
Westmanstown RFC
Players: Ciaran Boland, Conor Brady, James Iredale, Sean
Keegan, Daniel Connolly, Liaden Kelly, Ruairi Dowling, Adam
Dziworski, Logan Moss, Finn Hooper, Braiden Smyth, Lachlan
Finlay, Conor Dooley, Rian McMahon, Adan Tabakovic, Ted
McHugh, Matthieu Higgins Portet, Cormac Finnerty, Conor
Nolan, Harry Atkinson, Ethan Smith, Conor Shirley, Sean
Collopy, Christopher Carolan, Cillian Linnane, Daniel Small,
Noa Larsen and Damien Suriakas
Coaches: Seamus Small, Enda Linnane, Brian Dooley,
Stephane Portet and Brian Brady
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 71

New Nissan Qashqai
coming soon with e-POWER
A unique electric experience, now unplugged.
Order now for 2023 with flexible finance
packages to suit you!
Find out more at www.windsor.ie

Four teams remain in the
Vinnie Murray Senior Cup
BY DES BERRY
There were no surprises in the
Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools
Vinnie Murray Senior Cup
Quarter-Finals, played out over
two double-headers at Energia
Park on Tuesday and Wednesday.
CUS 53
The King’s Hospital 0
Holders Catholic University School
will boldly bid to go back-to-back
in the Vinnie Murray on Tuesday’s
evidence of the second quarterfinal.
Captain Lucas Maguire shot from the
back of a maul for the perfect start and,
straight away, their defence turned away
a series of drives at the line.
KH could not escape their 22 as CUS
pummelled away, finally moving left for
wing Sean Turner to double the lead to
ten in the 17th minute.
They were methodical in probing the
fringes for lock Dualta Larkin to claim
the third try and number eight Dylan
McNeice the fourth, both converted by
Niall Cox, for 24-0 at the interval.
Even KH out-half Luke Fogarty’s flashes
of brilliance were not enough to
prevent Rian Treacy from grabbing an
interception to stretch the lead.
Replacement Oran Redmond had the
power to make the right corner, while
Treacy’s pace and strong-arm fend were
the centre’s avenue to the left corner in
the 61st minute.
The breakaway speed of Treacy was
good enough for a hat-trick and Turner
picked up his second as KH tired towards
the end.
SCORERS:
CUS – R Treacy 3 tries; S Turner 2 tries; L
Maguire, D Larkin, D McNeice, O Redmond
try each; N Cox 4 cons.
CUS - Jack Grant; Sean Turner, Rian Treacy,
Sean Byrne, Senan Campbell; Niall Cox,
Charlie O’Byrne; Aidan Walsh, Lucas
Maguire (Capt), Conal Lohan-Kilrane, Dualta
Larkin, Cathal Lynch, Hugh Quigley, Ruben
Maguire, Dylan McNeice.
Replacements - Leo Beary, Evan Judge,
Ollie Manks, Eoghan O’Reilly, Jude Barrett;
Josh Gordon, Eamon McNicholas, Oran
Redmond.
KING’S HOSPITAL - John O’Meara; Luca
McNally, Edward Nuzum, Cian Behal-Valle,
Faizal Omotayo; Luke Fogarty (Capt), Euan
Batt; Roger Doyle, Cian Smith, Sam Davis,
Michael Ohoka, Maksym Oshodi, Henry
Seebach, Tomás Ó Súilleabháin, James
Sugrue.
Replacements - Keith Johnson, Charlie Ingle,
Aaron Wilson, Marcus Adedapo, Shaun
Kessington-Momoh, Elliott Pratt, Stephen
Crowe, Chinedu Okwara.
St Andrew’s College 43
St Columba’s College 0
Wing Harry MacChesney picked
up a brace of tries as St Andrew’s
cruised into the semi-finals on
Wednesday.
The Booterstown school moved quickly
into rhythm in a sweet move, initiated
by Adam Tobin, concluding with
MacChesney’s knife-through-butter finish,
converted by Joe Ballance in the second
minute.
From there, St Columba’s fared well
enough as Tomas Casado, Benedict
Huessen and Caleb Owen carried hard
into the teeth of a sharp defence.
All the while, they were not able to
threaten points, St Andrew’s Kiran Byrne
piercing the first line of defence to create
the second try for Francis Manzocchi,
Ballance’s conversion doubling in the
19th minute.
Then, there were two quickfire strikes
by Charlie Byrne and MacChesney to
stretch the advantage to 26 points at the
interval.
St Columba’s enjoyed their best period
of play in the third quarter, peppering
the line with runners without making the
breakthrough.
As is so often the case, St Andrew’s
bounded upfield for Kiran Byrne to
finish out wide, added on a penalty try
and another from replacement Adam
O’Toole.
SCORERS:
ST ANDREW’S – H MacChesney 2 tries; F
Manzocchi, C Byrne, K Byrne, A O’Toole try
each; Pen try; J Ballance 3 cons.
74 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

ST ANDREW’S – Kiran Byrne; Harry
MacChesney, Conn Doherty, Joe Ballance
(Capt), Jake Dolly; Francis Manzocchi,
Charlie Byrne; Jude McCrea, Partick
McIlduff, Charles Beck, Thomas Ryan, James
O’Donoghue, Josh Perrem (Capt), Rocco Hill,
Adam Tobin.
Replacements - Jack Bourke, Hugh Brownlee,
Ryan Browne, Adam O’Toole, Karl Deegan,
Arthur Forrest, Max Kickham, Simon O’Kelly.
ST COLUMBA’S – Kieran Ovenden; Camilo
Nordmann, Marco Trolese, Aubrey Gardner,
Thomas Dwyer; Tomas Casado, Nikolai
Foster; Solomon Babajide (Capt), Ben
Patterson, Benedict Huessen, Aaron Murray,
Ned Chambre, Cameron McKinley, Noah
Kutner, Caleb Owen.
Replacements - Hugo Laurenceau, Pavlo
Shavlov, Gabriel Murphy, Gavin O’Dowd,
Monty Walsh, Carl Krenshi, Rory O’Dowd,
George Priestley
St Fintan’s High
School 63
St Mary’s, Drogheda 0
St Fintan’s got the first of the
quarter-finals underway with a
dominant display on Tuesday.
The Sutton school was able to dominate
territory partly due to their game
management and partly due to St Mary’s
insistence on taking risks from deep.
The back three of Finn McDonald, Joshua
Hansen and Conor Toomey all breached
the cover in a reflection of St Fintan’s
eagerness to spread the ball.
St Mary’s matched that ambition to
play, just not the execution, inviting more
pressure for hooker Conor McGloughlin
to beat two defenders for the fourth try.
Scrum-half Oscar McCormack landed
his second conversion to go beside an
earlier penalty for 27-0 at the break.
The outlook didn’t get any brighter for St
Mary’s when Hansen scooted over for his
second, converted by McCormack.
The Drogheda school’s captain Luke
Carley and centre Charlie Toolan kept
looking for the ball, only to be met with a
brick wall defence.
Rory O’Connor-O’Hehir, replacement
Cian Macari-Kelly, Luke Ingle and
McDonald all troubled the scoresheet
before Twomey completed the set of ten
tries.
SCORERS:
ST FINTAN’S – F McDonald, C Twomey J
Hansen, 2 tries each; R O’Connor-O’Hehir,
C Macari-Kelly, C McGloughlin, L Ingle try
each; O McCormack pen, 4 cons; H Dummer
con.
ST FINTAN’S – Finn McDonald; Conor
Toomey, Shane Patterson, Conor Cribbin
(Capt), Joshua Hansen; Cillian Cleary, Oscar
McCormack; Ponamu Palazzetti, Conor
McGloughlin, Robert Harvey, Marcel Haas,
Brandyn Drumgoole, Tadhg O’Connor-
O’Hehir, Simon Cantwell, Rory O’Connor-
O’Hehir.
Replacements - Cian Macari Kelly, Donagh
Walsh, Scott Ecock, Luke Ingle, Simon
Cunningham, Hugh Dummer, Haitz Aiartza,
Daniel Butler.
ST MARY’S – Rory Kelly; Tom Stanley, Rian
Kindlon, Charlie Toolan, Senan Gough;
Luke Carley (Capt), Adam Dooley; Darragh
Martin, Sean Flaherty Jamie Manning, Conor
Moroney, Darragh Kessie, Obinna Nkpa,
Lincoln de Year, Hugh Sowray.
Replacements – Evan Darcy, Christopher
Thornton, Daniel O’Neill, Max Lennon,
Christopher Quinlan, Lorcan Smyth.
Temple Carrig Grammar
School 22
Wilson’s Hospital 19
Two late tries by the outstanding
Callum Mulligan were not enough
to salvage a place in the semifinal
for Wilson’s Hospital on
Wednesday.
It was nip and tick for most of the first-half,
Temple moving ahead from an early
penalty by Jack Ward.
Then, Wilson’s began to find their feet,
centre Mulligan causing havoc and
hooker Matthew Bruton almost getting
through a thicket of defenders..
The grinding work of the TC forwards
paid dividends when flanker Nathan
Griffiths grounded from close range for
8-0 at the break.
It looked even better the next time Temple
came calling for left wing Rhys Gamble
to cross and for Ward to convert.
Undeterred, Wilson’s came storming
back through a bullocking burst from
Mulligan, Ciaran McKenna picking and
placing for the try, converted by Tom
Wheeler in the 41st minute.
But, the long arms of centre Matthew
Stewart were good for a block and
gather to accelerate to the posts for
Ward to convert.
The energy of Sam Mills was infectious
and Mulligan rumbled over from the side
of a ruck to close the gap.
Another burst from Mills created a sliver
of a gap which Mulligan took on his way
to a tremendous individual try, converted
by Wheeler.
SCORERS:
TEMPLE CARRIG – N Griffiths, R Gamble, M
Stewart try each; J Ward pen, 2 cons.
WILSON’S HOSPITAL – C Mulligan 2 tries;
C McKenna try; T Wheeler 2 cons.
TEMPLE CARRIG - Jack Ward; Sam Farrar,
Rhys Morgan, Matthew Stewart, Rhys
Gamble; Darragh Shanahan, Killian Hingerty;
James Noonan, Max Sproul, Cathal Kirby,
Dylan Potts, Nathan Ross, Nathan Griffiths,
Lukas Zdunek, Adam Williams.
Replacements - Daragh Keogh, Andrew
Kieran, Kallum McCormack, Frank O’Shea,
Daniel Stewart, Daniel Mooney, Ryan
McCormack, Jack Caffrey.
WILSON’S - Stephen Cahill; Scott O’Boyle,
Michael Cruise, Callum Mulligan, Jude
Auld; Tom Wheeler, Ciaran McKenna; Joel
Gillanders, Matthew Bruton, Ciaran Byrne,
Finn Davitt, Dan Farrell, Max Ripley, Sam
Mills, Matthew Conlon (Capt).
Replacements – George Flower, Yaw
Appiah, Ross Ashmore, Kevin Donnelly, John
Zumerchik, Joshua Salley, Malcolm O’Boyle,
Eoghan Murray.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 75

FOUNDED: 1892 GROUND: PARIS LA DEFENSE ARENA CAPACITY: 30,000
last time out
Racing 92 30
Harlequins 29
SUNDAY 15 JANUARY 2023 | HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP | ROUND 3 POOL A PARIS LA DEFENSE ARENA | REF: ANDREW BRACE
Le Garrec proves the hero as
Racing defeat Harlequins
Harlequins recovered from
18 points down to lead
Racing 92 in the Heineken
Champions Cup last Sunday,
but a last-gasp Nolann Le
Garrec penalty snatched a
30-29 victory for the TOP
14 side in Paris.
RACING 92: 15. Warrick Gelant; 14. Donovan Taofifenua, 13. Francis Saili, 12.
Gael Fickou (capt), 11. Juan Imhoff; 10. Finn Russell, 9. Nolann Le Garrec; 1. Guram
Gogichashvili, 2. Camille Chat, 3. Cedate Gomes Sa, 4. Cameron Woki, 5. Boris Palu,
6. Ibrahim Diallo, 7. Baptiste Chouzenoux, 8. Maxime Baudonne.
Replacements: 16. Peniami Narisia, 17. Eddy Ben Arous, 18. Trevor Nyakane, 19.
Anthime Hemery, 20. Kitione Kamikamica, 21. Antoine Gibert, 22. Olivier Klemenczak,
23. Max Spring.
HARLEQUINS: 15. Nick David; 14. Cadan Murley, 13. Joe Marchant, 12. Andre
Esterhuizen, 11. Aaron Morris; 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Danny Care; 1. Joe Marler, 2.
Jack Walker, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Stephan Lewies, 5. Irne Herbst, 6. Luke Wallace, 7. Will
Evans, 8. Alex Dombrandt (capt).
Replacements: 16. George Head, 17. Jordan Els, 18. Simon Kerrod, 19. George
Hammond, 20. Tom Lawday, 21. Lewis Gjaltema, 22. Oscar Beard 23. Will Edwards.
A penalty try completed Quins’
remarkable turnaround with five
minutes to go, with prior scores
Cadan Murley (2) and Danny Care
helping them on their way.
But Racing, who crossed through Gael
Fickou, Kitione Kamikamica and Francis
Saili, hit back seconds later through Le
Garric’s effort despite having 12 men on
the pitch amid three late yellow cards,
one of which went to fly-half Finn Russell
after he had tallied 12 points from the
tee.
Racing struck first after a series of
offloads eventually released full-back
Warrick Gelant on the right, who
unselfishly laid the ball back inside for
centre Fickou to finish.
In contrasting conditions to their Round
2 encounter at a sodden Twickenham
Stoop, both sides were looking for the
offload on the dry, artificial turf at Paris
La Defense Arena, though try-line action
was at premium over the 20 minutes
following Racing’s score.
Fly-half Marcus Smith put Quins on the
board with a penalty on 24 minutes, but
he couldn’t repeat the feat from halfway
76 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

moments later after the Racing front row
was dismantled in a scrum.
Quins then looked to have notched their
first try of the game on half an hour
as wing Aaron Morris bundled over
out wide, but a late TMO intervention
chalked the score off amid no clear
grounding.
In a cruel blow for the visitors, Racing
then marched down the other end to
cross for a second time, replacement
back-row forward Kamikamica hitting a
brilliant line to dive over unchallenged.
The hosts took a 14-3 lead into the
second half, and that was increased
20 seconds after the restart as they
exploited a dog leg in the Quins defence
with some fast hands and put centre Saili
over.
Moments after the TMO ruled out
another score, Quins finally dotted down
for the first time on 45 minutes, scrum-half
Care darting round the corner after a
maul was halted just short.
The breathless start to the second half
continued as Racing almost found an
instant response through Juan Imhoff, but
the wing grounded just beyond the Quins
dead-ball line as he raced onto a kick in
behind.
Quins then cut the gap to four points
as Smith threw a brilliant dummy and
scythed through the Racing defence
before teeing up wing Murley, who
finished clinically.
There was a setback moments later,
though, as Morris was sin-binned for
taking Racing counterpart Donovan
Taofifenua out in the air, with a Russell
penalty then extending the home team’s
lead on 55 minutes.
Quins were down to 13 men on 58
minutes as a breathless passage of
play ended with No.8 Alex Dombrandt
infringing metres from his own line, but
they defended heroically to keep Racing
out during their two-man disadvantage.
With 14 men on the pitch, Quins then
produced some scintillating running
rugby to release Murley for his second of
the afternoon, but Smith couldn’t convert
to leave his side trailing 24-22.
Another Russell penalty increased
Racing’s lead to five points, but after
Dombrandt returned, Quins piled on the
pressure.
Taofifenua and replacement prop Eddy
Ben Arous were both sin-binned for
Racing, with Russell then also seeing
yellow as his deliberate knock-on handed
Quins a penalty try.
With three minutes to play against
12 men, Quins led 29-27, but an
infringement seconds after the restart
handed Le Garrec the chance to put
Racing back in front, which he duly took
before his side held on for a dramatic
win.
Both teams’ knockout stage hopes go
down to the final round of pool stage
games next weekend as Racing visit
Leinster Rugby and Harlequins host Cell
C Sharks, both on Saturday.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 77

Reduce your home energy
consumption with solar.
Our range of Solar PV panels, batteries and hot water diverters
means we’ve something to suit every home. Solar battery storage
means that energy generated by Solar PV panels during the day
isn’t wasted, as it is stored to power your home in the evening
and overnight.
Choose from a solar add-on to maximise your home
energy efficiency:
A hot water diverter to heat your hot water
Battery storage to store any excess electricity your
panels generate. If you export this excess electricity
back to the grid you could be eligible for a payment
through the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) scheme.
energia.ie/cosy-homes/solar

Head Coach
Laurent Travers
Travers joined Racing 92 in 2013 after
spells as Head Coach at Montauban and
Castres. Along with Laurent Labit, the duo
led Racing to the Top 14 title in 2016 and
Heineken Champions Cup Finals in 2016
and 2018. Travers took over sole duties
in 2019 and led the team to another
Champions Cup Final the following
season.
Captain
Gaël Fickou
Fickou joined Racing ahead of the 2021-
22 season after spells with Toulouse
and Parisian rivals Stade Francais. The
28-year-old made his international debut
for France as a teenager in 2014, and
he remains a crucial part of Les Bleus as
they continue preparations for this year’s
Rugby World Cup.
racing 92 squad
BIYI ALO
Tight Head Prop
MAXIME BAUDONNE
Back row
EDDY BEN AROUS
Loose Head Prop
ENZO BENMEGAL
Wing
ALEX BONNARD
Hooker
ANTON BRESLER
Lock
NILS CHALIES
Outside half
CAMILLE CHAT
Hooker
HENRY CHAVANCY
Centre
BAPTISTE CHOUZENOUX
Back row
LOUEN COUGOULIC
Scrum half
MAHAMADOU COULIBALY
Flanker
ABEL DA CUNHA
Loose Head Prop
IBRAHIM DIALLO
Back row
ANTOINE DOMERCQ
Outside half/Scrum half
LOUIS DUPICHOT
Full back/Wing
ARTHUR ESPEUT
Centre
GAEL FICKOU
Centre
WARRICK GELANT
Full back
ANTOINE GIBERT
Outside half/Scrum half
GURAM GOGICHASHVILI
Loose Head Prop
CEDATE GOMES SA
Tight Head Prop
ANTHIME HEMERY
No 8
JUAN IMHOFF
Wing
TEDDY IRIBAREN
Scrum half
KITIONE KAMIKAMICA
Flanker
GIA KHARAISHVILI
Tight Head Prop
OLIVIER KLEMENCZAK
Centre
HASSANE KOLINGAR
Loose Head Prop
WENCESLAS LAURET
Back row
NOLANN LE GARREC
Scrum half
BERNARD LE ROUX
Back row
PAUL LERAITRE
Full back
JONATHAN MAÏAU
Hooker
KILIEMO MANUOPUAVA
Tight Head Prop
MARTIN MELIANDE
Outside half
THOMAS MOUKORO
Lock
PÉNIAMI NARISIA
Flanker
TREVOR NYAKANE
Loose Head Prop
ROMAN OUPIN
Wing
ALI OZ
Tight Head Prop
BORIS PALU
Back row/Lock
VEIKOSO POLONIATI
Lock
FINN RUSSELL
Outside half
JASSEM SAGHRI
Back row
FRANCIS SAILI
Centre
SPIKE SALMAN
Tight Head Prop
FABIEN SANCONNIE
Flanker
PHILIPPE SAVELLI
Centre
NAËL SOUID
Back row
MAX SPRING
Full back
LOGAN TABET
Centre
INIA TABUAVOU
Centre
DONOVAN TAOFIFENUA
Full back
JANICK TARRIT
Hooker
ASAELI TUIVUAKA
Full back/Wing
ASTON VAIOTU
Lock
BEN VOLAVOLA
Outside half/Full back
CHRISTIAN WADE
Wing
CAMERON WOKI
Flanker
NOA ZINZEN
Flanker
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 79

12 counties
Club in Focus
BY DES BERRY
Portarlington RFC
Portarlington was chosen as
Leinster Junior Club of the
Year for 2021/2022.
And with good reason.
Whenever so many others were
inside sheltering from the monster
Covid became, members of the
club used it as an opportunity to
sink their teeth into some of the
issues that needed resolution.
It is that get-up-and-go attitude that is
a hallmark of a small club with a big,
beating heart.
“If you are not going forward then you
are going backwards and so we are
constantly looking to improve things,
both on and off the pitch,” says Barry
Lambkin, the Director of Rugby.
“We recently installed new LED training
lights and a huge digital scoreboard and
upgraded the showers, while plans are in
place to increase the car parking space
and develop a new outdoor facility for
both training and match catering.
“We recently opened a walking track
which circles our playing pitches and is lit
by motion-activated LED lights. The track
is used by parents during training.
“It is also available for members of the
public to use as part of our campaign
to make Portarlington RFC the centre
of healthy activity for everyone in our
community.
“We have recently built a new gym at
the club which is used by senior and
youths’ teams and all members can
access in their own time.”
It is not just about what Portarlington has
to offer. It is also about what the club has
plans to do.
“We have received planning permission
to extend the dressing rooms and install
match lights to go with the dugouts we
have built on two of the three pitches,”
he adds.
The Laois club is all about the
development of facilities and of people,
reaching out to the community.
The mantra is ‘if your child plays in the
club, this is your family’s club, not just
your child’s club.’
80 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

“We encourage families to make use
of the club’s facilities for kids’ birthday
parties or adult celebrations, all aimed at
making people feel that it is a place for
their families to socialise,” adds Barry.
“This develops a feeling of ownership of
the club and makes it easier for them to
step forward as volunteers.”
Putting families at the club’s centre
prompted a recent club trip to the
Leinster-versus-Munster game at the Aviva
Stadium.
Eight coach loads of families from
Portarlington made their way up to
Dublin to cheer on Leo Cullen’s Boys
in Blue and also their U12s boys who
were participating in the half-time minis
exhibition matches.
With 400 people on the trip, it was the
club’s biggest-ever family trip and they
hope to build on it in the future.
Of course, none of the success on the
pitch could be possible without the
army of volunteers who work in the
background.
“Our Chairman David Hainsworth,
Secretary Jackie McNulty and Treasurer
Aidan Egan ensure that the club is
managed in a professional manner,”
says Barry.
“Paul Mannion looks after long-term
planning, Kevin Hyland, Conan Uphill
and Alan Hainsworth ensure that the
clubhouse and grounds are constantly
being developed and maintained to
meet the needs of everyone at the
club.”
Minis blitzes, post-match catering,
teenage discos and social and
fundraising events all require huge
numbers of volunteers.
“Parents and members are always
willing to do their bit to ensure that these
occasions are a huge success,” he shares.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 81

Try Leinster’s Next Big Dish
from Mao At Home today

“Apart from the minis teams for girls,
we have mixed teams for u5s and u7s
and boys teams from u8s to u12s and
numbers are growing consistently thanks
to the hard work of our CCRO Páidí
Mahon.
“Minis in Portarlington is all about
inclusion and fun and so we run some
‘themed’ training sessions including our
Movember Fundraiser which involves
kids wearing fake moustaches at training
and our Santa Hat Day.
“We currently have over 200 minis
at the club. One of the nicest parts of
Minis Rugby in Port is after training on
Wednesdays when parents serve free hot
chocolate to the kids in the clubhouse to
warm them up.
“This gives the kids and parents and
great opportunity to chat and strike up
friendships off the field.”
It says so much about the people in the
club that it also provides a lot of support
to the Leinster Branch in another area.
“We contribute a disproportionately
high number of referees into the Leinster
system for a small club,” he says.
Niall Behan, Clive Wardrop, John
Dunne, Fiona McConn and Keith
Shanahan have committed to playing
their part in supporting the game by
taking up the whistle.
The club has gone out of its way to build
relationships with the local football and
gaelic games clubs to make sure there
is an attitude of cooperation rather than
competition for the time and talent of the
players.
Another sign of Portarlington’s
co-operative outlook is present in
the development of the girls youths
and women’s rugby through an
amalgamation with Cill Dara to form
PortDara, providing success as a club
and producing Leinster and Ireland
players.
“Portarlington is somewhere anyone
in the community can take part in an
inclusive, positive sporting environment,
regardless of ability or economic
circumstances,” says Barry.
“Until there were teams for girls of every
age, it wasn’t entirely inclusive for some
girls. Even when we got to that point.
There wasn’t anywhere for kids in the
club with additional needs.”
Improving the facilities and the
atmosphere of inclusion has clearly
rubbed off on the clubs players too.
Last season, Portarlington’s senior men’s
first team, led by coach Ross Doyle,
managed to win Division 3 of the Leinster
League with an unbeaten campaign,
while the second team also claimed
silverware winning Metro Division 10.
Last summer, Barry and his wife Andrea,
a special needs assistant, invited support
from the locals in starting up Port Eagles
– an inclusion tag rugby team for adults
and kids from our community.
“Led by head coach Mark Murphy
and his team of coaches the group has
around 16 participants at the moment,”
Barry says.
“We also have a Social Inclusion Group
for adults and kids called Bravehearts,
which offers weekly general activities, fun
sessions at the clubhouse for members
of our community. Bravehearts is run
by Therese Doody and many of our
Bravehearts also play with the Eagles.
“We can now finally say there is a team
for everyone in the community.”
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 83

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

Leinster players feature strongly
in Under-20 Six Nations squad
16 Leinster Rugby players have
been included in the 32-man
squad selected by Richie Murphy
for the upcoming Under-20 Six
Nations.
Leinster’s Gus McCarthy (pictured)
has been named as captain ahead of
Ireland’s opening fixture against Wales in
Colwyn Bay on Friday, 3 February (Kickoff
7pm, live on Virgin Media).
Leinster duo Diarmuid Mangan and
Conor O’Tighearnaigh (pictured),
as well as Ulster back row James
McNabney, were part of last season’s
Grand Slam-winning squad, while a
further four players are named in the
2023 Championship squad having
featured during the U20 Summer Series
in Italy last June, including Leinster’s Sam
Prendergast and George Hadden.
The Ireland squad have been building
towards the Six Nations through a series
of camps at the IRFU High Performance
Centre, while Challenge Matches against
Italy, Munster Development and Leinster
Development over the Christmas period
have aided preparations.
Ireland kick off the Six Nations away in
Wales, before hosting France in Round 2
at Musgrave Park on Friday, 10 February
(Kick-off 8pm, live on RTÉ 2).
Murphy’s side will then go head-to-head
with Italy on Friday, 24 February in
Treviso (Kick-off 7.15pm, RTÉ 2), before
concluding the Championship away to
Scotland on Friday, 10 March (Kick-off
7.15pm, RTÉ 2) and at home to England
in Cork on Sunday, 19 March (Kick-off
5pm, Virgin Media).
Ireland U20s Squad:
Forwards
Backs
George Morris (Lansdowne/Leinster) Jack Oliver (Garryowen/Munster)
George Hadden (Clontarf/Leinster) Oscar Cawley (Naas/Leinster)
Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)(captain) Fintan Gunne (Terenure/Leinster)
Conall Henchy (DUFC/Munster) Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Danny Sheahan (UCC/Munster) Matthew Lynch (DUFC/Leinster)
Ronan Foxe (Old Belvedere/Leinster) Harry West (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Fiachna Barrett (Corinthians/Connacht) Sam Berman (DUFC/Leinster)
Paddy McCarthy (DUFC/Leinster) Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht)
Conor O’Tighearnaigh (DUFC/Leinster) Hugh Cooney (Clontarf/Leinster)
Charlie Irvine (Queen’s University/Ulster) John Devine (Corinthians/Connacht)
Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemians/Munster) Ike Anagu (La Rochelle/IQ Rugby)
Joe Hopes (Queen’s University/Ulster) James Nicholson (UCD/Leinster)
Jacob Sheahan (UCC/Munster)
Rory Telfer (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Diarmuid Mangan (UCD/Leinster) Henry McErlean (Terenure/Leinster)
Ruadhán Quinn (Old Crescent/Munster) Noah Sheridan (Clontarf/Leinster)
James McNabney (Ballymena/Ulster)
Brian Gleeson (Garryowen/Munster)
Ireland U20 Fixtures:
Friday, 3 February: Wales v Ireland, Colwyn Bay, 7pm (Virgin Media)
Friday, 10 February: Ireland v France, Musgrave Park, 8pm (RTÉ)
Friday, 24 February: Italy v Ireland, Stadio Comunale di Monigo, 7.15pm (RTÉ)
Friday, 10 March: Scotland v Ireland, Scotstoun Stadium, 7.15pm (RTÉ)
Sunday, 19 March: Ireland v England, Musgrave Park, 5pm (Virgin Media).
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 85

86 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
M

Rory
cGuire
THE ACADEMY
INTERVIEW
BY PAUL CAHILL
Every players path
into the Leinster Rugby
Academy is unique and has
different twists and turns
along the way. Not many
started their journey in
the game at 14 after living
abroad for eight years.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 87

PROUD TO BE OFFICIAL
BUSINESS ADVISORS
TO LEINSTER RUGBY
For further information contact:
Michael Costello, Managing Partner,
on 01 470 0130 or email mcostello@bdo.ie
Visit www.bdo.ie
BDO is authorised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland to carry on investment business. BDO, a partnership established under Irish Law, is a
member of BDO International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, and forms part of the international BDO network of independent members firms.

But, Rory McGuire isn’t fazed
by much. He doesn’t get carried
away with the highs, and he
doesn’t let the setbacks drag him
down either.
A pretty good mindset for an aspiring
athlete.
When Rory was just six years of age,
his father, Hugh, relocated to Chicago
for work. So, the whole McGuire family
packed up and moved to a small town
north of the windy city.
Along with mum, Sue, brother Donnacha
and sisters Aoife and Grace, they began
their adventure in the USA.
While he couldn’t start his rugby
journey in Chicago, there were plenty
of other sports that would help in his
development.
“I played all of the classic American
sports,” says the Leinster Rugby Academy
prop.
“I played American football, ice-hockey
during the winter, basketball and
volleyball in the spring. Those were the
main sports in my school.”
Without knowing it, McGuire was putting
in good groundwork for becoming a
rugby player.
“There are lots of skills you can pick up
from other sports that are transferable.
The physicality of American football, the
hand eye co-ordination you learn from
basketball and volleyball.
“Although, I wasn’t very good at
volleyball,” he quicky adds.
Despite being on the other side of the
Atlantic Ocean, rugby was still a big
presence in the McGuire house.
“My dad played club rugby when
he was younger and he has always
been big into it. So we watched
a lot of rugby when we were in
America.
“We’d get up early to watch
the big games. I remember
when Ireland played Wales
in the 2011 World Cup, it
was a 3am kick off and our
house was packed with Irish
people. That was great.
“We always had a rugby ball in our
house but there were no clubs near us so
we never had a chance to play.
“We would always come home for the
whole summer so we always went to a
few games while we were back. In 2015
we were in Ireland and we flew over to
two Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
“Dad and I went over to Cardiff for the
weekend and we caught the Ireland
v Argentina game and the New
Zealand v France game so that was
amazing.”
In the summer of 2016, the
McGuire family were ready to
return to Ireland.
Rory, who was now 14 years
old, was enrolled in Blackrock
College. He knew he wanted
to play rugby from day one, and
despite being a bit green behind the
ears, there’s no doubt the coaches
were excited by the large frame of the
now ex-American footballer.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 89

“I was quite big when I went into second
year. I was probably 6’ 2” and pretty
heavy for my age.
“When I started playing rugby I knew
how to tackle and how to carry and I
knew most of the rules from watching so
many games, but I just learned as I went.
I made a lot of mistakes in my first year
but I really enjoyed it.”
Having become used to the speed of a
Blackrock College training session and
having learned from his mistakes, it wasn’t
long until McGuire was impressing.
“I was with the ‘A’ team for the second
half of the year. The following year I
started in the second row for the Junior
Cup team. When I was in fourth year,
I was moved to the front row. So it all
progressed along quite quickly.”
It didn’t take too long for representative
honours to come Rory’s way.
In transition year, which was just his third
year playing the game, he was selected
on the Irish Schools and Clubs side.
“I was a year younger than the others
but there were a few injuries so I got my
chance. Joe McCarthy was on the team
who was in 6th year at the time.
“We played two games against England
Counties. One game was in Ashbourne
and the other was in Donnybrook. They
were a lot bigger than I was but it was a
great experience.
“That was my last representative rugby
because Covid meant that there was no
U-18s or U-19s teams. My next selection
was for the Irish U-20s.”
The Covid delay meant that there was no
Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools
Senior Cup in 2021. Even with this blow,
McGuire still took the positives.
“I only got to play one game of rugby
in 6th year. We were able to train right
through the year and that really stood
to me.”
That following year was to be particularly
memorable for the young prop.
The first task at hand was to get noticed
by the Irish U-20s coaches despite not
getting to play any competitive rugby for
quite some time.
“After we finished school, I went straight
into the Ken Wall Centre of Excellence
for an Irish U-20s camp which was on all
summer.
“We trained through July and then had a
trial game in August against the Leinster
U-19s. We had three more challenge
games. At the end of that cycle we all
went back into our clubs.
“I went to UCD. I was usually subbing
for the seniors on a Saturday and then
playing with the U-20s on the Sunday.
“Halfway through that season, the Irish
U-20 camps kicked off again and that
was an intense few months but it was
incredible.”
After all of that hard work, McGuire was
selected for the U-20s Six Nations squad
who would go on to claim a Grand Slam.
“Winning that at home was a special
day. It was a full house in Cork, live on
TV and I had a lot of my family there. We
have a big family and they’re great. They
come to so many of my games.
90 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

Winning that
at home was
a special day.
It was a full
house in Cork,
live on TV and I
had a lot of my
family there.
“When I think back to it, you don’t really
take in what a big deal it all is. When
you’re on the pitch you’re just focused.
But, the experience at the end was
amazing.
“Even throughout the tournament, just
living with the lads in hotels. You’re just
with your mates for months on end. I’ll
never forget it.”
While that tournament brought memories
that will last a lifetime, it was only a
stepping stone to the ultimate goal;
becoming a professional rugby player.
Luckily for McGuire, that next step didn’t
take long in coming.
“After the Six Nations we were given a
week off. We all had meetings with our
provinces after that. I came in to meet
Dave Fagan and Simon Broughton and
they offered my an Academy contract,
so I quickly said yes.
“I didn’t know if I would get one
because there was a lot of competition
last year.”
Being told that you are getting a Leinster
Rugby Academy contract is the dream
for so many young rugby players, and
everyone reacts differently.
Some are overwhelmed. Some can’t wait
to get out and tell everyone they know.
But, Rory McGuire once again showed
how level headed he really is.
“I don’t think I rang anybody. I think I just
went home,” he says with a laugh.
“My mum and dad were at home when I
got there, so I told them when I got in. I’m
not a big man for celebrating. My parents
told the extended family so they all knew
but I was just happy with myself.”
A number of the Leinster based members
of the 2022 Ireland U-20s Grand Slam
winning team make up the current year
one Academy players.
But, Rory has a lot in common with two
players in particular as he has rarely
stepped on a rugby pitch without Ben
Brownlee and James Culhane.
“I was in school with Ben and James and
we all got offered the Academy contract
around the same time.
“I’ve been on the same team as Ben
and James since we were 14 so we’ve
done it all together which is cool. We’ve
basically played on the same teams
every single year.”
Since entering the Leinster Rugby
Academy, Rory has picked up a few
niggly injuries which have prevented him
from getting much game time.
Now that he is back fit, he isn’t worried
about any time lost.
“There’s always a few small setbacks but
there’s no point in getting annoyed about
it. That never helps.”
Wise words from the 20-year-old.
So after a whirlwind 2022, what are the
plans for 2023?
“The aim is to get a good stretch of
games with UCD in the Energia All-
Ireland League. We’re mid-table at the
moment so I hope to help them up the
table a bit. We’re not that far off it at all.
“I will be moving up to UCD to train in
the senior setup next week and I’m really
looking forward to that.
“So if I can get plenty of games under my
belt and some training with Leinster up in
UCD, I’ll be quite happy.”
With a cool head on his shoulders, you
can be sure he’ll take each step as it
comes.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 91

Leinster
Rugby
Academy
Year
Three:
92 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Marcus Hanan (3) #1295
DOB 3 July 2000
FROM Clane, Co Kildare
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”)
WEIGHT 112kg (17st 9 lbs)
POSITION Loosehead prop
SCHOOL Salesian College, Celbridge
CLUB Clane RFC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (2 caps)
John McKee (11) #1307
DOB 15 February 2000
FROM Belfast
HEIGHT 1.85m ( 6’ 0”)
WEIGHT 108kg (17st 0lbs)
POSITION Hooker
SCHOOL Campbell College
CLUB Terenure College RFC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (10 caps)
Seán O’Brien (3) #1297
DOB 31 July 2000
FROM Pittsburgh, PA, USA
HEIGHT 1.91m ( 6 ’ 3”)
WEIGHT 106kg ( 16st 10lbs)
POSITION Back Row
SCHOOL Blackrock College
CLUB UCD RFC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (3 caps)
Max O’Reilly (10) #1291
DOB 26 February 2000
FROM Long Island, USA
HEIGHT 1.86m (6’ 1”)
WEIGHT 90kg (14st 2lbs)
POSITION Full-back
SCHOOL St Gerard’s School
CLUB DUFC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (3 caps)
Andrew Smith (2) #1292
DOB 21 July 2000
FROM Dublin
HEIGHT 1.8 m (5’ 11”)
WEIGHT 93kg (14st 9lbs)
POSITION Back Three
SCHOOL St Michael’s College
CLUB Clontarf FC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (3 caps)
Leinster
Rugby
Academy
Year
Two:
Alex Soroka (7) #1296
DOB 19 February 2001
FROM Cork
HEIGHT 1.95m (6’ 5”)
WEIGHT 107kg (16st 12lbs)
POSITION Back Row
SCHOOL Belvedere College
CLUB Clontarf FC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (8 caps)
Jack Boyle
DOB 10 March 2002
FROM Dublin
HEIGHT 1.86m (6’ 1”)
WEIGHT 108kg (17st 0lbs)
POSITION Loosehead prop
SCHOOL St Michael’s College
CLUB UCD RFC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (9 caps)
Lee Barron (2) #1308
DOB 15 February 2001
FROM Dublin
HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 3”)
WEIGHT 107kg (16st 12 lbs)
POSITION Hooker
SCHOOL St Michael’s College
CLUB DUFC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (2 caps)
Chris Cosgrave (4) #1305
DOB 24 July 2001
FROM Dublin
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”)
WEIGHT 86kg (13st 7lbs)
POSITION Back Three
SCHOOL St Michael’s College
CLUB UCD RFC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (3 caps)
Temi Lasisi (1) #1304
DOB 9 May 2001
FROM Enniscorthy, Co Wexford
HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0 “)
WEIGHT 116.5kg (18st 5lbs)
POSITION Tighthead prop
SCHOOL CBS Enniscorthy
CLUB Lansdowne FC/Enniscorthy RFC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (3 caps)
(3) = Leinster Rugby Senior caps

Ben Murphy (1) #1309
DOB 23 April 2001
FROM Bray
HEIGHT 1.76m (5’ 8”)
WEIGHT 80kg (12st 8lbs)
POSITION Scrum-half
SCHOOL Presentation College, Bray
CLUB Clontarf FC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (3 caps)
Leinster
Rugby
Academy
Year
One:
Rob Russell (13) #1302
DOB 13 January 1999
FROM Dublin
HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”)
WEIGHT 91kg (14st 5lbs)
POSITION Back Three
SCHOOL St Michael’s College
CLUB DUFC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (5 caps)
Ben Brownlee (1) #1313
DOB 28 September 2002
FROM Dublin
HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”)
WEIGHT 100kg (15st 11lbs)
POSITION Centre
SCHOOL Blackrock College
CLUB UCD RFC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (3 caps)
James Culhane
DOB 22 October 2002
FROM Enniskerry, Co Wicklow
HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”)
WEIGHT 110kg (17st 5lbs)
POSITION Back Row
SCHOOL Blackrock College
CLUB UCD RFC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (5 caps)
Aitzol Arenzana-King
DOB 15 June 2002
FROM Gormanston, Co Meath
HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)
WEIGHT 97.5kg (15st 5lbs)
POSITION Back Three
SCHOOL Gormanston College/CUS
CLUB Clontarf FC/Balbriggan RFC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (8 caps)
Diarmuid Mangan
DOB 6 March 2003
FROM Kildare
HEIGHT 1.93 m (6’ 4”)
WEIGHT 106kg (16st 10lbs)
POSITION Back Row
SCHOOL Newbridge College
CLUB UCD RFC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (6 caps)
Rory McGuire
DOB 26 August 2002
FROM Dublin
HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”)
WEIGHT 118kg (18st 8lbs)
POSITION Tightead prop
SCHOOL Blackrock College
CLUB UCD RFC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (5 caps)
Sam Prendergast
DOB 12 February 2003
FROM Kildare
HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”)
WEIGHT 91kg (14st 5lbs)
POSITION Out-half
SCHOOL Newbridge College
CLUB Lansdowne FC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (4 caps)
Charlie Tector (2) #1314
DOB 28 March 2002
FROM Wexford
HEIGHT 1.89 m (6’ 2”)
WEIGHT 94kg (14st 11lbs)
POSITION Out-half
SCHOOL Kilkenny College
CLUB Lansdowne FC
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (5 caps)
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 93

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
01/01
07/01
14/01
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
W
41-12 URC CONNACHT RDS Arena O’BRIEN LARMOUR
(2T)
W
19-24 URC OSPREYS Swansea.
com Stadium
LOWE
1T
LOWE
KEENAN O’BRIEN RINGROSE OSBORNE LOWE
KEENAN
(1T)
W
14-49 HCC GLOUCESTER Kingsholm KEENAN
(1T)
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
TURNER
(1T)
NGATAI
LARMOUR OSBORNE NGATAI
LARMOUR
(1T)
RINGROSE
OSBORNE
(1T)
RUSSELL
(1T)
O’BRIEN
(1T)
O’BRIEN
SEXTON
2C, 1P
R. BYRNE
3C
R. BYRNE
4C
R BYRNE
5C, 1P
R BYRNE
4C
R BYRNE
5C
R BYRNE
2P, 2C
SEXTON
(2C)
H. BYRNE
(1P, 1C)
R. BYRNE
(5C)
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
GIBSON-PARK MILNE KELLEHER
FOLEY
HEALY
SHEEHAN
(1T)
GIBSON-PARK PORTER SHEEHAN
94 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

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
ALA’ALATOA
DEENY
(1T)
RYAN
BAIRD
(1T)
VAN DER FLIER
2T
VAN DE FLIER
1T
PENNY
1T
VAN DER FLIER
(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
DORIS MCKEE PORTER ABDALADZE SOROKA PENNY FOLEY
ALA’ALATOA MOLONY DEENY RUDDOCK PENNY CONAN MCKEE MILNE ABDALADZE RYAN VAN DER FLIER MCCARTHY
ALA’ALATOA
(1T)
MOLONY RYAN BAIRD
VAN DER FLIER
(1T)
DORIS
(1T)
KELLEHER
(1T)
MILNE HEALY DEENY CONAN MCCARTHY
H. BYRNE
(1C)
R. BYRNE
(2C)
H. BYRNE
(2C)
OSBORNE
RUSSELL
TURNER
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 95

Parting Shot
14 January 2023
Cian Healy speaks to BT Sport’s
Jill Douglas after being presented
with his EPCR 100th cap, following
the Heineken Champions Cup
win against Gloucester Rugby last
weekend.

TISSOT SUPERSPORT CHRONO.
SWISS MADE CHRONOGRAPH
WITH INTERCHANGEABLE STRAPS.
TISSOTWATCHES.COM

Your perfect match.
Until the match