Leinster Rugby vs Cardiff Rugby

VSLEINSTER

ISSUE 09 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

VS

cardiff

rugby

SAT 28 th JANUARY

RDS ARENA

KO 5.05PM

Our People, Our Home

TWELVE COUNTIES. ONE SHIRT.

Aaron Craig

From a lad wearing Leinster blue to the RDS, to

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

been amazing. The adidas Designer talks us through

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

boyhood club.

How did you begin working with adidas?

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

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

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

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

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

What drew you to this project?

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

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

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

grandfather even worked the entrance gates the RDS and Donnybrook

for years.

What was your inspiration for the design?

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

represented equally with their heraldic crests – instantly recognisable

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

meant introducing the darker blue sleeves and the collegiate gold

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

generation, from O’Driscoll to Sexton.

How do you keep designs fresh year on year?

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

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

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

Which design excited you the most?

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

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

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

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

might just be level with the World Cup.

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

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

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

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

pinch yourself moment for sure.

Newstead Building A,

UCD,

Belfield,

Dublin 4

#LEIVCAR

The Line up

Telephone:

012693224

Fax:

012693142

E-mail:

information@leinsterrugby.ie

www.leinsterrugby.ie

10

34

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT

President: Debbie Carty

Chief Executive: Shane Nolan

Honorary Secretary: Stuart Bayley

Honorary Treasurer: Michael McGrail

RUGBY MANAGEMENT

Head Coach: Leo Cullen

Senior Coach: Stuart Lancaster

Head of Rugby Operations:

Guy Easterby

Assistant Coach: Robin McBryde

Backs Coach: Andrew Goodman

Kicking Coach: Emmet Farrell

Contact Skills Coach: Seán O’Brien

14

PROGRAMME CREDITS

Editorial Team: Marcus Ó Buachalla

& Daniel Kelly

Advertising: Gary Nolan

Design: Julian Tredinnick,

Ignition Sports Media

Photography: Sportsfile

Chief Steward: Sword Security

Ambulance: St. John’s Ambulance

Medilink

Event Control & Safety Services:

Eamonn O’Boyle & Associates

62

86

STAY

CONNECTED

& KEEP

UP-TO-DATE

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 3

Debbie Carty welcome

PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2022/23

On behalf of Leinster Rugby, I

would like to welcome you all to

the RDS Arena for this afternoon’s

match against Cardiff in round

thirteen of this season’s BKT

United Rugby Championship.

In particular, I wish to extend a

warm welcome to Dublin to our

Welsh visitors, to Alun Jones their

Chairman, to the squad, their

Head Coach Steve Law and their

management team and hope you

are enjoying your visit here for

the URC competition.

Leinster have won their last twelve

matches in the URC and their last four

matches in the Heineken Champions

Cup against Racing 92 and Gloucester,

I would like to congratulate the Leinster

squad captained by Garry Ringrose over

the last while, on their EPCR and URC

wins to date.

Leinster are leading in the URC, and will

be confident heading into tonight’s match

but the loss last year over in Cardiff will

no doubt be still fresh in the minds of

these players. We also expect Cardiff

to be confident after having won three

rounds in the Challenge Cup and seven

of their matches in the URC. We expect

tonight to be a challenging and physical

match as it always is against the team in

the light blue jerseys.

On the domestic front, it’s going to be

a busy few weeks ahead as we get into

the business end of the leagues and I

would like to congratulate North Meath

on winning Leinster League Division 3 last

Sunday, and I would personally like to

thank their minis girls who presented me

with a bunch of flowers. I was delighted

with the girls and the flowers!

The draws for the Band of Ireland

Provincial Towns Cup and the Metro

Cup have both been drawn with some

interesting games and local derbies

coming from it. The Towns Cup will

be starting on the 12th February, with

the start of the Metro Cup still to be

confirmed at the time of writing. I would

advise you all to get down to your local

club for what will be some cracking

games of rugby.

On the interprovincials side, the women’s

competition has finished, with Leinster

winning two of their three matches but

unfortunately, they lost against Munster

who went on to win the series. I’m sure

the team under the steerage of Tania

Rosser will have learned from their

three games and it will all stand to them

going forward. With so many positive

performances and debuts, it’s a great

foundation for this coaching group and

squad of players.

The Seán O’Brien Hall of Fame Awards

and lunch hasn’t been on for the last

few years because of Covid but I am

delighted to say that it was back this

year at a sold out Bective Rangers RFC.

I look forward to attending a great lunch

where we will celebrate Junior Rugby

in our province and I look forward also

to meeting the nominees that are up

for the award. I would like to sincerely

thank Bective Rangers for giving us their

function room for the day.

I would like to welcome to the RDS this

evening the mini rugby teams who will

play at half time in the Bank of Ireland

Mini Games. To the players from Arklow,

Boyne, Mullingar and Seapoint, 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 this evening.

Debbie Carty

Leinster Rugby President 2022/23

4 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

I would

like to

congratulate

the Leinster

squad

captained

by Garry

Ringrose

over the last

while, on

their EPCR

and URC wins

to date.


Leo Cullen

head Coach Welcome

A warm welcome to the RDS Arena for this

evening’s BKT United Rugby Championship

game against Cardiff. We all remember

that Dai Young’s team managed to get one

over on us this time last season so we

know we’re in for a stiff challenge today.

A special thanks to everyone who

turned out at the Aviva Stadium

last week for our Heineken

Champion’s Cup fixture against

Racing 92.

We feel very lucky to have the

opportunity to play a home group stage

game in front of more than 43,000

people in such a special atmosphere. It

was a hard-fought win for us in the end,

but thankfully we now have a home draw

in the next round against Ulster on 1

April, at 5.30pm.


That’s a really exciting prospect but it’s

not for a few weeks yet, and we have

plenty of work to do in the URC before

then.

As I say, the atmosphere last weekend

was cracking, and I’d like to thank all

the OLSC volunteers for their time and

effort in creating the ‘Sea of Blue’ that

greeted us at the Aviva. I can’t tell you

what a lift it gives to the entire group to

get a welcome like that, and hopefully

we’ll have a few more before the end of

the season.

Congratulations to Scott Penny who

made his Champions Cup debut against

Racing. Well done also to Luke McGrath

who made his fiftieth appearance in the

competition.

A big thanks to all the team’s sponsors,

especially Bank of Ireland. Stability

behind the scenes plays a hugely

important part in our (and every team’s)

success and we’re really lucky to have

strong relationships with some of Ireland’s

best brands. I say it all the time but only

because it’s true – we couldn’t do it

without you!

On a less happy note, this week we also

had to absorb the sad news of Charlie

Ryan’s retirement due to knee

injury. Charlie has been a fantastic

leader throughout his underage

career and a great character to

have in any team. We will miss

him greatly and wish him every

success in the future – he’ll be an asset

wherever he goes.

With a good chunk of our squad away

in Portugal on Ireland duty, today’s game

will see a few of our younger players

getting an opportunity.

These are great weeks for coaches,

families and friends as nothing beats

seeing players make their debuts for

Leinster. Good luck to the lads and well

done to everyone along the line who

contributed to the career paths of all

these players.

This ten-game block, stretching back

to late November, has thrown up all

sorts of challenges and I’d like to

pay tribute to our backroom team

who have managed the group

brilliantly.

We are lucky to have some

outstanding coaches and

support staff whose hard

work and dedication ensures

that every match day squad

is primed and ready to go.

Whatever we achieve this

season, our backroom team

will have played an integral

role.

In the meantime, enjoy this

evening’s game and here’s to

the younger players getting their

chance!

Leo

Thanks for your support,

Charlie

has been a

fantastic

leader

throughout

his underage

career and

a great

character to

have in any

team.


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laura

lynch

BANK OF IRELAND

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

A very warm

welcome to the rds

arena from Bank

of Ireland as we

look forward to

this 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


Did you

know?

• Leinster Rugby have won

all twelve fixtures they

have played so far in this

season’s BKT United Rugby

Championship only missing

out on a try bonus on four

occasions.

• The Leinstermen’s solitary

defeat at the RDS Arena in

the Championship since

November 2021 was in last

season’s semi-final to the

Vodacom Bulls.

• Leinster’s only defeat in

their last seven fixtures

against Welsh regions was to

today’s opponents, Cardiff,

at the Arms Park almost

exactly twelve months ago.

• Cardiff Rugby have won

just one of their last

four BKT United Rugby

Championship matches: 29-24

at Dragons RFC on Boxing Day.

• The Welshmen have won

three of their last four away

games in the Championship.

• Cardiff’s last six fixtures

against Irish opponents have

all been won by the home side

on the day whilst their most

recent victory away at an

Irish province was on a trip

to Connacht in September

2017.

• The most recent encounter

between the two sides was

a Cardiff victory at the

Arms Park last January but

the Welshmen have not won

successive Championship

games against the

Leinstermen since 2004.

COMPARISON

Overall URC head-to-head record:

Played 32, Leinster won 24, Cardiff won 6 with 2 matches drawn.

Last 3 URC results:

26 Dec - Munster (A) W 20-19 26 Dec - Dragons (A) W 29-24

1 Jan - Connacht (H) W 41-12 1 Jan - Ospreys (H) L 19-22

7 Jan - Ospreys (A) W 24-19 7 Jan - Scarlets (H) L 22-28

URC 2022/23

1ST - W12 D0 L0 - 56PTS

10TH - W6 D0 L6 - 29PTS

WWWWWW (28pts)

URC form

LWLWLL (12pts)

Top try scorer

8 - Dan Sheehan 5 - Josh Adams

Top points scorer

67 - Ross Byrne 89 - Jarrod Evans

Date Venue L C Leinster scorers Cardiff scorers

Sat 1 Oct 16 Cardiff Arms Park 16 13 Rhys Ruddock(T) Johnny Sexton(C/3P) Gareth Anscombe(T/C/2P)

Sat 25

Mar 17

Fri 8

Sep 17

Fri 31

Aug 18

Sun 22

Nov 20

Sat 29

Jan 22

RDS Arena 22 21 Ross Byrne(2C/P) Dan Leavy(T) Luke

McGrath(T) Ross Molony(T)

RDS Arena 37 9 Ross Byrne(4C/3P) Barry Daly(T) James

Tracy(T) Sean Cronin(T) Nick McCarthy(T)

Cardiff Arms Park 33 32 Ross Byrne(2C/2P) James Tracy(T) Bryan

Byrne(2T) Jamison Gibson-Park(T) Fergus

McFadden(P)

RDS Arena 40 5 Harry Byrne(5C) James Tracy(T) Scott

Penny(2T) Dave Kearney(T) Michael

Silvester(T) Jimmy O'Brien(T)

Cardiff Arms Park 27 29 Adam Byrne(T) Ross Byrne(3C/2P) James

Tracy(T) Scott Penny(T)

Sion Bennett(T) Tomos Williams(2T) Steve

Shingler(3C)

Steve Shingler(3P)

Rey Lee-Lo(2T) Jason Harries(2T) Jarrod

Evans(3C/2P)

Aled Summerhill(T)

Hallam Amos(T) Owen Lane(T) Ben

Thomas(P) Jarrod Evans(2C/4P)



scott

penny

the big interview

BY DANIEL KELLY

Earlier

this week, a

segment from

an interview

with Scott

Penny from

last August

was shared

on Leinster

Rugby’s social

media accounts.


Whenever

you play for

Leinster, you

want to put

the best foot

forward, and

build on the

work done

previously.

Interviewer: “Personally, have

you any goals for next season?”

Penny: “Yeah! I want to kick on and try

and play in the European Champions

Cup this year.”

The 23-year-old makes his 50th

appearance for Leinster this evening, but

last weekend’s appearance off the bench

against Racing 92 was his first time

experiencing European action.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do since

I came into Leinster”, Penny reaffirmed

earlier this week.

Although he almost brought up the halfcentury

of caps last weekend, a mixture

of events meant he had to wait longer

than he hoped to test himself in Europe.

“I had to wait a long time for various

different reasons, like injury and Covid.

It was great to finally get the chance to

play in Europe. Doing it once is great, but

it’s about trying to be in the team for the

remaining games of the season, and for

seasons to come.

Penny had previously been given the nod

by Leo Cullen to make his debut in 2021,

before Covid-19 dashed those hopes.

“Covid was something new for all of

us, when games were getting canceled.

I was meant to play in the Montpelier

game that was canceled. It was

annoying, but when it’s out of your

control, you cant get too bogged down

by it, or let it distract you.”

Penny will make his ninth appearance of

the season this evening, with six of those

as starts. He impressed in both BKT URC

wins over Munster, including a try-scoring

performance in the Aviva, and a Player of

the Match showing in Thomond Park.

“It’s been a good season so far. We’ve

had some great URC wins. The win

against Munster in the Aviva stands out

for me, but it’s brilliant to get back to the

RDS this weekend. It’s our home. There’s

always a brilliant atmosphere there, and I

can’t wait for the weekend.”

The St. Michael’s man was part of the

Emerging Ireland team that traveled to

South Africa at the start of the season,

meaning his time at Leinster lessened


in the opening months. Despite that, he

was delighted to get the call to travel to

Bloemfontein, where he scored twice in

the win over Griquas.

“It was great being exposed to the

Irish coaches, and seeing their systems

and how they play. I was named in the

Ireland ‘A’ squad too, and although I

didn’t get to play, it was great being

in camp and working with the

players, especially those from

the other provinces.”

With less than 90 minutes

of action under his belt

in 2023, Penny feels the

upcoming matches are

a brilliant opportunity to

show what he is capable of

for Leinster, and he hopes at

international level too!

“I feel like I’m in pretty good form at the

moment, but it’s all about pushing to get

into the European matchday squads.

“You always want to put your best foot

forward. Whenever you hear from the

Ireland coaches - whether it’s at training

here when they come to watch, or when

in the Ireland squads - it’s all about

showing you’re a good player, but also

a good person, and you can be a good

benefit to the squad.

This evening’s game with Cardiff, is the

first of three that will take place during

the Six Nations, before a home game

with Dragons in mid-February,

followed by a trip to Edinburgh in

early March.

“We got three big games in the

Six Nations block. We’re lucky at

Leinster to have so many players

away with Ireland, Other teams don’t

have that many missing.

“I think Cardiff have six or seven in the

Wales squad, so they will be really

strong. It’s up to us to try and keep the

unbeaten run going.


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“We’re good at Leinster to constantly

change the team, and there is a major

cohesion there when players come in

and out.

“Whenever you play for Leinster, you

want to put the best foot forward, and

build on the work done previously.”

Cardiff lie in tenth place in the URC, and

lead the standings in the Welsh Shield.

The team are only a point outside the

Play-Off positions, and Penny has been

impressed by what he has seen from the

team from the Arms Park.

With the game coming one week before

Wales and Ireland meet on the opening

weekend of the Six Nations, he feels

there is an added impetus for both teams

this evening.

“Cardiff are really good. They play

good, expansive rugby. We need to be

switched on in defence. They have a lot

of experience.

“Plenty in that team will want to be in the

Wales camp so they will be fired up and

will want to prove a point that they should

be in the squad.

“It’s the same for us though! A lot of us

want to be in the Ireland squad - and to

put our foot forward.

“Cardiff are really attacking - no matter

who is on the pitch. There are always

injuries in the Six Nations so everybody

will want to play well on both sides, and

put themselves in the shop window.”

While there is excitement around Leinster

Rugby HQ after an impressive Pool Stage

in the Heineken Champions Cup, there

was sadness on Monday morning, with

the news of Charlie Ryan’s retirement.

It’s all the

memories the

place brings. I

made my debut

in the RDS.

Anytime you go,

there is always

a good crowd.


An Ireland U-20 Grand Slam-winning

captain, Ryan was forced into retirement

at the age of 23. Penny played with Ryan

in that Ireland team, and the news this

week gave him perspective on his own

career.

“I was devastated to hear Charlie had to

retire. He worked so hard over the last

few years to try and get back right. He

gave it everything he could, and I’m sure

he has no regrets over the work he put in.

“It was sad to see - you don’t wish it upon

anyone - but at the same time you

have to be thankful for where

you are and be grateful.”

“We always get annoyed

with injuries and when

you’re not selected, but

when you see the likes of

Charlie and James [Tracy]

having to retire - you see

the bigger picture and

be thankful you’re still

playing.”

In those

tough games,

when things

are tough -

you feel the

crowd, and

they get you

through it,

especially

in the

second half.

When they’re

on your side,

it feels like

an extra

player.

Penny has played four

home games this season,

with those being split in the

RDS and the Aviva. He has

fond memories of playing in the


RDS, and also seeing his St Michaels win

the Leinster Senior Cup in 2019.

“It’s all the memories the place brings. I

made my debut in the RDS. Anytime you

go, there is always a good crowd.

“In those tough games, when things are

tough - you feel the crowd, and they get

you through it, especially in the second

half. When they’re on your side, it feels

like an extra player.”

While he hopes there will be no need

to call on the proverbial extra player

this evening, he hopes performances in

matches like this lead to greater rewards

in the weeks and months to come.

“It’s all about taking each game as it

comes, and putting the best foot forward.

If I play well, hopefully an opportunity

comes up for me to play in the Round of

16 in the Champions Cup.

“There is a World Cup coming around

the corner too - so it’s all about trying to

earn team selections.”

He played the long game to wait for a

chance in Europe. International honours

hopefully aren’t too far away!


36 10

Action

replay

SATURDAY, 21ST JANUARY 2023

AVIVA STADIUM

ATTENDANCE: 43,560

REFEREE: MATTHEW CARLEY (RFU)

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP

LEINSTER RUGBY

Keenan, Larmour, Ringrose (capt), Osborne,

O’Brien, R Byrne, Gibson-Park; Porter,

Kelleher, Ala’alatoa, McCarthy, Ryan, Doris,

van der Flier, Conan

REPLACEMENTS: Sheehan, Milne, Healy,

Molony, Baird, McGrath, H Byrne, Penny

TRIES: O’Brien (2), Keenan (2),

van der Flier, Ringrose

CONVERSIONS: R Byrne (2), H Byrne

RACING 92

Gelant, Wade, Klemenczak, Fickou (capt),

Dupichot, Russell, Le Garrec; Ben Arous,

Tarrit, Nyakane, Chouzenoux, Palu, Lauret,

Coulibaly, Kamikamica

REPLACEMENTS: Narisia, Gogichashvili,

Kharaishvili, Hemery, Baudonne, Gibert,

Saili, Spring

TRIES: Tarrit, Wade

We made hard work of it out

there today. In fairness to Racing,

they stuck in there for the whole

game. It was really tough, but we’re

delighted to win and get a home

game in the next round.

Jack Conan


It didn’t feel

like a 26-point

win... Eventually,

we started to ware

them down, but it

took a fair chunk

of time. The

lads stuck

to the

task well!

Leo Cullen


21 Leinster players selected in

Celtic Challenge squad

21 Leinster players have been

selected in the 43-player squad for

the forthcoming Celtic Challenge

competition.

Ireland Head Coach Greg McWilliams

and the National Coaching Team have

named a panel that will compete against

sides from Scotland and Wales.

Leinster’s Hannah O’Connor and

Munster’s Enya Breen have been named

co-captains for the Celtic Challenge

campaign.

The Combined Provinces XV will play in

two home and two away games over

a six-week period. The first game of the

competition took place last weekend with

WRU Development XV defeating The

Thistles 29-27 at Scotstoun Stadium.

The Combined Provinces XV will play their

two home games at Kingspan Stadium,

facing the Scottish Thistles on Saturday

4th February and the WRU Development

XV on Saturday 18th February.

The Irish sides’ first fixture of the

competition is away to their Welsh

counterparts tomorrow at the Cardiff Arms

Park.

The competition concludes four weeks

prior to the start of the 2023 TikTok

Women’s Six Nations Championship.

Greg McWilliams, Ireland Head

Coach, commented, “This is an exciting

new competition that provides a really

excellent opportunity for our extended

squad of players to prepare for the TikTok

Women’s Six Nations and gain valuable

competitive experience and exposure to

high level competition.

recent Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial

Championship.

“It is an exciting group of players,

combining youth and experience, and it

will be invaluable for us to come together

as a group for an extended period to

build cohesion and connections ahead of

the Six Nations campaign. We’re looking

forward to the challenge over the coming

weeks.”

“The Celtic Challenge provides us as a

national coaching group with a window

to work closely with players we’ve

been tracking throughout the Women’s

Energia All-Ireland League and the

Celtic Challenge Fixtures & Results

The Thistles 27 WRU Development XV 29

Sunday 22nd January 2023 – Scotstoun Stadium

WRU Development XV v Combined Provinces XV

Sunday 29th January 2023 – Cardiff Arms Park (KO: 11.00am)

Combined Provinces XV v The Thistles

Saturday 4th February 2023 – Kingspan Stadium, Belfast (KO: 4.30pm)

WRU Development XV v The Thistles

Saturday 11th February – Cardiff Arms Park (KO: 4.30pm)

Combined Provinces XV v WRU Development XV

Saturday 18th February 2023 – Kingspan Stadium, Belfast, (KO: 4.30pm)

The Thistles v Combined Provinces XV

Saturday 25th February 2023 – DAM Health Stadium (KO: 1.30pm)


CLARA BARRETT

(Connacht/UL Bohemians RFC)

SOPHIE BARRETT

(Ulster/Enniskillen RFC)

CLAIRE BENNETT

(Munster/UL Bohemians RFC)

CHLOE BLACKMORE

(Leinster/Railway Union RFC)

MOLLY BOYNE

(Leinster/Railway Union RFC/Dublin University FC)

NATASJA BEHAN

(Leinster/Blackrock College RFC)

ENYA BREEN

(Munster/Blackrock College RFC)

(Co-Captain)

MEGAN LOUISE COLLIS


EIMEAR CORRI


NICOLE CRONIN


INDIA DALEY

(Ulster/Cooke RFC/Enniskillen RFC)

AOIFE DALTON

(Leinster/Old Belvedere RFC)

MEABH DEELY

(Connacht/Blackrock College RFC)

ORLA DIXON

(Connacht/Galwegians RFC)

LINDA DJOUGANG


ANNA DOYLE


AOIFE DOYLE

(Munster/Railway Union RFC)

ELLA DURKAN

(Ulster/Blackrock College RFC)

CHRISTY HANEY


MARY HEALY

(Leinster/Naas RFC/Suttonians RFC)

EMMA HOOBAN


AILSA HUGHES


Combined Provinces Squad

2023 Celtic Challenge

BRITTANY HOGAN

(Ulster/Old Belvedere RFC)

JESS KEATING


MAEVE NUALA LISTON

(Ulster/Blackrock College RFC)

MOLLY SCUFFIL McCABE

(Leinster/Railway Union)

KELLY McCORMILL

(Ulster/Cooke RFC)

SADHBH McGRATH

(Ulster/Cooke RFC)

RACHEL McILROY

(Ulster/QUB RFC)

DEIRBHILE NIC A BHAIRD

(Munster/Old Belvedere RFC)

DANNAH O’BRIEN


HANNAH O’CONNOR


(Co-Captain)

NIAMH O’DOWD


CLODAGH O’HALLORAN


MAEVE OG O’LEARY


ELLA ROBERTS

(Leinster/Wicklow RFC)

STACEY SLOAN

(Ulster/Cooke RFC)

LEAH TARPEY


FIONA TUITE

(Ulster/Old Belvedere RFC)

AOIFE WAFER


KAYLA WALDRON

(Connacht/Galwegians RFC)

DOROTHY WALL


KATIE WHELAN


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A – Action: If you could be a superhero,

which would you be?

Spiderman

B – Boyhood: Who was your favourite

sporting idol growing up?

Brian O’Driscoll

C – Childhood: What is your favourite

childhood memory?

Getting a go-kart for Christmas one of the

years

D – Dish: What’s your go-to pre-match

meal?

Pancakes

E – Education: What was your favourite

subject in school?

Woodwork

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

I Am Legend

G – Groove: Who is the best dancer in the

squad?

Hard one that. All hopeless!

H – Holiday: What’s your favourite

holiday destination?

Italy

I – Inside: Who is the worst to sit beside

in the dressing room?

Brian Deeny

J – Joker: Who is the funniest in the

squad?

Joe McCarthy

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

of the day to play a match?

Evening

L – Languages: How many languages can

you speak?

I can barely speak English!

M – Music: Your favourite artist and song

right now?

Malaki

N – Number: Do you have a lucky

number?

Not really


O – Others: What’s your

favourite sport outside of

rugby?

Motorsport

P – Pal: Who is your best mate

in the squad?

All de lads!

Q – Quirky: Who has the most

interesting fashion sense?

Brian Deeny

R – Red Carpet: Who is the most

famous contact in your phone?

Jamie Osborne

S – Superstitions: Do you have

any matchday routines?

None

T – Trim: What’s the worst

haircut you’ve ever had?

Blonde hair

U: Under pressure: Who in the

squad would be the best in a

bad situation?

Charlie ‘Chuck’ Ryan

V – Verified: How often do you

use social media?

Every day

W – Worst fear: What are you

most scared of?

Spiders

X – X-ray: Have you ever broken

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Yes

Y – Youth: Where did you grow

up?

Clane

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Dog


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As the Vodafone Women’s Interpro Series concluded last weekend, Leinster

Rugby is continuing 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.

She had played a bit of

everything as a child, narrowing

her focus to softball, until knee

trouble made her look for an

alternative way of competing.

“Oddly enough, I wanted to take up a

sport that would be easier on them, so I

took up rugby,” she laughs.

Five days and two training sessions later,

she turned up to her first match and was

immediately placed at prop forward as

an introduction to the game.

“I think when you don’t know anything

about the sport, it doesn’t matter where

you start playing. It was nearly better that

I didn’t know what I was getting into.

“I rocked up on the first Saturday and

soon asked a girl: ‘so, how long are these

games?’

“80 minutes.”

CHRISTY HANEY BY DES BERRY

“There is no way I am running for 80

minutes.”

“It wasn’t too bad because I got a

10-minute yellow card break in the

middle of the match for boring in at a

THE CO-CAPTAIN

Ten years ago, at a sports

fair at the University of

Virginia (UVA), the presence

of “a really cute, fluffy

dog” drew Christy Haney to

the rugby table.

scrum. I didn’t have a clue what that was,

but a moment to catch my breath in the

sin-bin did me no harm.”

In her first experience, Christy was

fortunate to come across two tremendous

coaches Julie Comer and Nancy

Kechner, who was USA’s 2018 Women’s

Coach of the Year.

Christy knew she was made for the game

when Nancy shared how “the prop Gods

are smiling down on us” in reference to

her progress at UVA.

The UVA squad would get into local

derbies with Virginia Tech and James

Madison University, also routinely driving

four-to-five hours to play matches in

Pennsylvania or North Carolina and

driving back home on the same day.

“It was all an adventure back then. We

would wake up at 4am, meet at the

coach’s house where we would have

bagels and cream cheese and lash

ourselves into the cars,” she says.

“The team bonding that happened on

those road trips was invaluable. We were

truly a family and we knew everything

about each other,” recalls Christy.

“Nancy would make Friday night team

dinners for us all and we would return the

favour by walking the dogs or helping out

around the house.

“There’s nothing that Nancy and Comer

wouldn’t have done for us. I think they

exemplify what rugby culture is to me

- that willingness to be there, no matter

what, for your teammates on and off the

pitch.”

In 2012, 2013 and 2015, the off-season

was used to get in better shape with the


NOVA Women’s 7s, under the guidance

of Dana Creager.

In the summer of 2014, Christy traveled

to Canada with the US All-Collegiate

team to play in a two-game series, taking

the opportunity to meet and play with

incredible women from all across the

states, some of whom are now currently

playing on the US 15s and 7s teams.

In 2016, Christy ended her time at UVA

as the captain of Nancy and Comer’s

first-ever team to make it to the USA

Rugby Women’s College Elite D1

Championship Final.

“We were the underdogs going into

the match and surprised even ourselves

when we took and maintained an early

lead. In the 79th minute, an intercepted

pass, leading to a converted try was

our downfall. It’s up there with one

of the most devastating losses I’ve

experienced.”

When the time came to leave UVA,

Christy moved to Ireland to pursue a

Master’s degree in Structural Engineering

at UCD, captaining ‘College’ to win the

annual colours match against Trinity in

2017.

“I had never been to Europe. I had

never really travelled outside of the US.

My comfort zone was rugby, so when

I arrived my first thought was to find a

team.

“During one of my first UCD training

sessions, I met St Mary’s prop Leah

Hayden, who invited me the next evening

down to one of their sessions.

“It was such a welcoming club. I got to

play with Ireland internationals Paula

Fitzpatrick and Orla Fitzsimons. I didn’t

even know who they were at the time,”

she admits.

Two seasons were spent at St Mary’s

College where the low of relegation in

2016/2017 was followed by the high of

promotion in 2017/2018.

At the end of the Masters, Christy had a

decision to make, stay in Ireland or return

home.

“I had come to Dublin for a year. But I

had made the mistake of coming to a

country that used millimetres and metres

for work and was terrified of going back

to feet and inches.

“I was enjoying my rugby and committed

to staying for three-to-five years to earn

my ‘chartership’ and try to play for

Ireland. Having achieved both goals

in 2022, I’ve now bumped that out to

another three-to-five years.

“God only knows how long I will be here

now.”

In 2017, Leinster coach Adam Griggs

invited Christy to join the provincial set-up

in a whirlwind appreciation for what Irish

rugby looked like at that level.

“That was really cool. There was such

a feeling of family at Leinster, a feeling

that has only grown in the last five

years.”

In 2018, Christy moved to her current

club Blackrock College where she was

welcomed by Phillip Doyle, aka Goose.


“It was at a time I was struggling with

rugby. Goose helped me to remember my

love for the game”.

Four years later, under Ben Martin and

Goose’s coaching, Christy was recently a

part of Blackrock’s All-Ireland League title

win over Railway Union.

A change of Leinster coach to Phil de

Barra led to a change of captaincy in

2021, Christy sharing the responsibilities

of leadership with Michelle Claffey and

Nikki Caughey.

“I was completely floored. It was such

an honour to be even considered. Only

the week before, I had asked our lineouts

coach, Maz Reilly, who she thought

would be captain.

“‘What about you?’ She said”

‘No, I’m sure he’ll pick someone with a

higher rugby IQ than me.’ I said at the

time.

“But there’s a lot more to leadership

than that. It’s about setting and driving

standards by working hard and setting

an example, whether you’re a ‘captain’

or not.

“I try to be the leader that is needed in

the situation that arises. Different girls

need different things, whether it’s a

calming influence or someone to rile them

up, and I like to think that’s something I’m

good at.”

This season, the co-captaincy has been

retained by new coach Tania Rosser,

Christy sharing the accolade with

Hannah O’Connor.

She has even been attracted into

coaching the Blackrock Minis U8s, U10s,

and U12s, in a sign of her deepening

love of the game.

“To see contracts being offered and

coaching 10 year-olds that, maybe, could

be offered contracts in 10 years’ time is a

cool concept for me,” she states.

“I am so excited for them to inherit the

rugby that we are building on top of the

foundation of the game already created

in Ireland by the amazing women who

have worn the jersey before us.”

Grandmother Gertrude Torpey from

Borrisokane, north of Nenagh, moved

to the United States in her twenties,

marrying a man from Glasgow.

The Scots-Irish heritage is deeply

ingrained, Christy’s family even streaming

TG4’s broadcasting of matches.

“My family doesn’t know much about

rugby, and they certainly don’t speak

Irish,” she laughs,

“My Dad, Sean, came over for the Six

Nations match against Scotland last

year.”

In typical Irish fashion, Sean has

kept quiet his ‘Irish pride’ at Christy’s

achievements in collecting five Ireland

caps, saving those garlands for strangers.

His daughter only learned of his feelings

when bumping into a woman who had

met Sean at the Six Nations match.

“Oh my gosh, I met your dad at the

Scottish match. I never met a man as

proud,” she told Christy.

“Oh my God, I was mortified.”

There’s nothing more Irish than that.


leinster

squad 2022/23

season

Vakhtang Abdaladze #1263

Prop

DOB 6 Feb 1996

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)

WEIGHT 121kg (19st 1 lb)

1

CAP

Michael Ala’alatoa #1301

12

CAPS

Prop

DOB 28 August 1991

HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)

WEIGHT 126kg (19st 11lbs)

Ryan Baird #1278

Second Row

DOB 26 July 1999

HEIGHT 1.98m (6’ 6”)


8

CAPS

Ed Byrne #1222

Prop

DOB 9 September 1993

HEIGHT 1.80m (5’ 11”)

WEIGHT 115kg (18st)

6

CAP

Harry Byrne #1280

2

CAPS

Outhalf

DOB 22 April 1999

HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)


Ross Byrne #1236

Out-half

DOB 8 April 1995

HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)


14

CAPS

Thomas Clarkson #1285

Prop

DOB 22 February 2000

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)


Jack Conan #1223

33

CAPS

7

CAPS

No 8

DOB 29 July 1992

HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”)

WEIGHT 110kg (17st 4 lbs)


Will Connors #1264

9

CAPS

Max Deegan #1256

2

CAPS

Brian Deeny #1306

Caelan Doris #1268

23

CAPS

Back Row

DOB 4 April 1996

HEIGHT 1.96 (6’ 5”)


No 8

DOB 1 October 1996

HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”)


Second Row

DOB 2 March 2000

HEIGHT 1.99m (6’ 6”)


Back Row

DOB 2 April 1998

HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”)


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”)


Tadhg Furlong #1220

63

CAPS

13

CAPS

Prop

DOB 14 November 1992

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)


Jamison Gibson-Park #1247

Scrum-half


HEIGHT 1.76m (5’ 9”)


23

CAPS

Cian Healy #1142

121

CAPS

2

CAPS

Robbie Henshaw #1251

61

CAPS

9

CAPS

Jason Jenkins #1310

1

CAP

Dave Kearney #1158

19

CAPS

Prop

DOB 7 October 1987

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)


Centre / Full Back

DOB 12 June 1993

HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)


Lock

DOB 2 December 1995

HEIGHT 2.03 m (6’ 8”)


Wing / Full Back

DOB 19 June 1989

HEIGHT 1.81m (5’ 11”)


Hugo Keenan #1253

25

CAPS

Rónan Kelleher #1277

18

CAPS

Jordan Larmour #1258

30

CAPS

James Lowe #1262

15

CAPS

Full Back

DOB 18 June 1996

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)


Hooker

DOB 24 January 1998

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”)


Wing

DOB 10 June 1997

HEIGHT 1.78m (5’ 10”)


Wing / Full Back

DOB 8 July 1992

HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”)



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”)


Scrum Half

DOB 25 March 1995

HEIGHT 1.8m (5’ 11”)


Hooker

DOB 16 June1997

HEIGHT 1.78m (5’ 10’)

WEIGHT 103kg (16st, 2lbs)

Scrum Half

DOB 3 February 1993

HEIGHT 1.75m (5’ 9”)


Michael Milne #1279

Martin Moloney #1300

Ross Molony #1233

Charlie Ngatai #1311

1

CAP

Prop

DOB 5 February 1999

HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”)


Back Row

DOB 19 October 1999

HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”)


Lock

DOB 11 May 1994

HEIGHT 2.00m (6’ 6”)


Centre / Full Back

DOB 17 August 1990

HEIGHT 1.87 m (6’ 2”)


Jimmy O’Brien #1272

3

CAPS

Tommy O’Brien #1283

Jamie Osborne #1294

Scott Penny #1271

Back Three


HEIGHT 1.84m (6’ 0”)


Wing

DOB 28 May 1998

HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”)


Centre


HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”)

WEIGHT 97.5kg (15st 5lbs)

Flanker


HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)


Andrew Porter #1246

48

CAPS

Garry Ringrose #1237

47

CAPS

Rhys Ruddock #1167

27

CAPS

Charlie Ryan

Prop

DOB 16 January 1996

HEIGHT 1.84m (6’ 1”)


Centre

DOB 26 January 1995

HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”)


Back Row


HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)


Lock

DOB 3 February 1999

HEIGHT 2.01m (6’ 7”)



James Ryan #1259

48

CAPS

Johnny Sexton #1127

109

CAPS

14

CAPS

Dan Sheehan #1286

13

CAPS

James Tracy #1211

6

CAPS

Lock

DOB 24 July 1996

HEIGHT 2.00m (6’ 7”)


Out-half

DOB 11 July 1985

HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”)


Hooker


HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)


Hooker

DOB 2 April 1991

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)


Liam Turner #1287

Centre

DOB 14 July 1999

HEIGHT 1.73m (5’ 8”)


Josh van der Flier #1228

45

CAPS

Flanker

DOB 25 April 1993

HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”)


for full squad profiles

please scan this qr code

Coaching

Staff 2022/23

Stuart

Lancaster

Senior Coach

season

Leo Cullen

Head

Coach

Emmet

Farrell

Kicking Coach and

Lead Performance Analyst

Robin

McBryde

Assistant Coach

SEÁN

O’BRIEN

CONTACT SKILLS Coach

ANDREW

GOODMAN

ASSISTANT COACH

Guy

Easterby

Head of Rugby Operations


We always strive to be

A beat ahead

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

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

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

Boyne RFC

25-years-old and thriving!

While the success of Leinster

Rugby is truly enormous and

there for all to enjoy, it is also

true to say that this success has

filtered down through the clubs in

Leinster and none more so than in

Boyne Rugby Club in the town of

Drogheda.

In June 1997, a decision was taken

by Delvin Rugby Club and Drogheda

Rugby Club to pool their resources and

amalgamate both clubs into one. Youth

rugby was strong in both clubs and this

was a factor in prompting them to take

this decision.

The river Boyne divides the town and with

one club situated on either side it was

decided to call the club “Boyne RFC”. In

choosing the club colours a decision was

taken to adopt the colours of the world

champions at the time. Hence, the green

and gold of South Africa.

It was the youth section that showed the

most progression in the early years. The

club had teams from U8 to U18 and

began to win Leinster competitions at all

age groups.

After a couple of seasons the adult

section began to improve greatly to

the point where Boyne RFC won the

Provincial Towns Cup in 2009 and

again in 2010. In 2011, the club won

the Leinster Junior One League and

gained entry into the AIL League. While

it was hard to maintain this level, the

club did manage to retain its AIL status

for a further six years. Boyne RFC is

currently playing in Leinster Division 1A,

and almost all of its adult players came

up through the club’s youth section and

continue to do so.

Over the years, many players from the

club were selected to represent Leinster

and Ireland at youth level. Most recently

Ronan Mahon has represented Ireland

at Youth level, following on from similar

achievements by clubmen such as Conor

Maguire, Jeffrey Finnegan, Brian Davis,

Oisin Lynch and Karl Martin (Currently

playing with Montpellier in France).

The club also produced three players to

play full senior international for Ireland.

They were Shane Horgan, Niall Ronan

and Mark McHugh. Shane Horgan also

went on to play with the British and Irish

Lions.

There was also a successful Ladies team

in the club for a number of years. The

first ladie’s team was formed in 1997 by

Sandra McAleer and Mick and Vivienne

Quinn. Quite a few of them made it to the

Leinster Ladies and three, Vikki McGinn,

Grace Davitt and Maura Coulter played

full Internationals for Ireland.

Boyne RFC’s catchment area covers both

Louth and Meath and caters for upwards

of 400 children and 200 adult members.

To cater for these numbers, the club has

continued to develop its playing facilities

and a state-of-the-art all weather training

area was recently developed to cater

for the army of young players coming

through the club.

To summarise, Boyne RFC was two clubs

with great rivalry that became one club

with great unity, and we look forward to

continued success in the years ahead.


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 12+1 1 5 8+1 - - 4 1 5 24+14 4 20 19+7 2 10 5+7 2 10 2 WS 12

RYAN BAIRD 1278 27 APR 19 8+2 2 10 6+1 2 10 2+1 - - 27+21 9 45 23+15 9 45 4+6 - - 3 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+5 - 19 1+2 - 9 0+3 - 10 22+20 6 202 22+16 6 187 0+4 - 15 21 IR 2

ROSS BYRNE 1236 4 SEP 15 11+4 - 99 7+4 - 67 4 - 32 96+47 9 925 78+25 4 663 18+22 5 262 26 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 6+4 - - 4+2 - - 2+2 - - 97+30 25 125 67+18 16 80 30+12 9 45 20 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 8+1 2 10 4+1 - - 4 2 10 55+9 10 50 37+7 6 30 18+2 4 20 2 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 5+1 - - 2 - - 3+1 - - 65+57 22 110 51+30 15 75 14+27 7 35 8 IR 23

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

CIAN HEALY 1142 5 MAY 07 4+6 - - 4+2 - - 0+4 - - 164+95 30 150 97+58 16 80 65+36 13 65 11 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 7 4 20 3 1 5 4 3 15 48+3 13 65 31+3 6 30 17 7 35 1 IR 25

RONAN KELLEHER 1277 22 FEB 19 6+3 4 20 4+1 1 5 2+2 3 15 35+10 17 85 20+6 12 60 15+4 5 25 2 IR 18

JORDAN LARMOUR 1258 2 SEP 17 8+1 4 20 6 2 10 2+1 2 10 72+11 31 155 46+7 22 110 26+4 9 45 2 IR 30

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

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

JOE MCCARTHY 1303 29 JAN 22 3+3 - - 2+2 - - 1+1 - - 11+6 1 5 10+2 1 5 1+4 - - 8 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 - - - - - - -


SQUAD

CAP

NO

DEBUT


ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR

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

SINCE LAST TRY

CAPS

LUKE MCGRATH 1206 5 MAY 12 8+3 4 20 7+1 3 15 1+2 1 5 122+64 45 225 86+50 36 180 36+14 9 45 3 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+6 1 5 1+4 1 5 0+2 - - 2+22 3 15 2+20 3 15 0+2 - - 5 -

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

ROSS MOLONY 1233 20 FEB 15 10+5 - - 8+3 - - 2+2 - - 92+62 5 25 80+45 4 20 12+17 1 5 31 -

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 8+2 1 5 6+1 - - 2+1 1 5 21+8 2 10 19+7 1 5 2+1 1 5 2 -

JIMMY O'BRIEN 1272 23 NOV 18 12 3 15 8 1 5 4 2 10 55+10 19 99 42+9 11 59 13+1 8 40 1 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+2 2 10 6+1 2 10 0+1 - - 40+9 25 125 40+8 25 125 0+1 - - 4 -

ANDREW PORTER 1246 2 SEP 16 8+4 3 15 4+4 2 10 4 1 5 49+54 17 85 33+35 12 60 16+19 5 25 6 IR 48

GARRY RINGROSE 1237 12 SEP 15 10+1 6 30 6+1 4 20 4 2 10 110+3 36 188 66+2 23 123 44+1 13 65 1 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 8+3 1 5 4+3 - - 4 1 5 60+9 4 20 31+4 1 5 29+5 3 15 5 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+3 9 45 7+1 8 40 2+2 1 5 18+23 25 125 15+14 21 105 3+9 4 20 3 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 9+1 7 35 5+1 2 10 4 5 25 99+25 25 125 57+19 10 50 42+6 15 75 1 IR 45

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

DEVIN TONER 1128 27 JAN 06 6+8 - - 6+5 - - 0+3 - - 212+68 4 20 146+47 4 20 63+21 - - 63 IR 70

JAMES TRACY 1211 4 NOV 12 7+5 4 20 7+4 4 20 0+1 - - 64+77 18 90 57+48 17 85 7+29 1 5 5 IR 6

LIAM TURNER 1287 23 OCT 20 - - - - - - - - - 4+2 - - 4+2 - - - - - - -

JOSH VAN DER FLIER 1228 11 OCT 14 15+1 7 35 7+1 1 5 8 6 30 90+24 18 90 52+18 8 40 38+6 10 50 4 IR 43

KICKING


ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR OVERALL

SUCCESS

RATE

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

%

- - - HARRY BYRNE 69.23% 8 1 - 3 1 - 5 - - 71 10 65 9 6 1 105 77.14%

ROSS BYRNE 83.93% 42 5 - 26 5 - 16 - - 296 95 1 221 66 1 75 29 - 496 78.83%

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%


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Bank of Ireland

Match Day Mascots

Lara

Kilcline

Age: 10

School: Our Lady’s Grove, Goatstown

Class: 4th Class

Hobbies/Interests: Camogie, Hockey, Football,

Reading, Singing, Lego

Favourite Player: James Lowe and Leo the Lion

Darragh

McConnell

Age: 10

School: St Pius X BNS

Class: 4th Class

Hobbies/Interests: Rugby, GAA, Soccer

Favourite Player: James Lowe


ig picture

21 January 2023

Bobby McGrath joins the Leinster

players to celebrate the win over

Racing 92 last weekend


Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile


Thank you

to all the rugby volunteers

& behind-the-scenes heroes.

You make the

game we love possible.

Think of the Possibilities

offical leinster

supporters club

It’s great to be back in the RDS today as we welcome

our Celtic cousins Cardiff Rugby to our home

ground for the 13th game in the URC this season.

We go into this game on top

of the table and unbeaten

with 56 points. However, this

last time last year we played

Cardiff away, in the Arms Park

unfortunately losing 29-27 due

to a stoppage-time penalty,

successfully kicked by Jarrod

Evans.

We expect a spirited Welsh side to

come to Dublin to try and reduce the

margin gap of 11 points we currently

enjoy on top of the table. As we move

into the business end of the season, and

with the Guinness Six Nations around

the corner a win today is crucial in

order to maintain that coveted spot.

It’s great to see all the Cardiff fans

who have made the trip and we are

delighted to welcome them to the RDS.

It was a fantastic day at Aviva last

Saturday securing that important and

hard-fought bonus point win against a

very competitive Racing 92 side. The

reward is a home advantage for all

games as we aim to progress through

the Heineken Champions Cup knockout

stages. It was also a very poignant

day as we recognised a true stalwart of

the Leinster senior squad, James Tracy

who unfortunately had to retire before

Christmas due to a persistent neck

injury.


The OLSC were delighted to present JT

and his family with a piece of crystal

on behalf of you, the supporters, to

recognise his amazing contribution

to the club for the last 10 years. JT

debuted against Ospreys in 2012,

secured a senior contract in 2014,

winning a Champions Cup medal

in 2018 against Racing 92, and

represented Ireland six times during that

period. We wish James and his family

the very best of luck in the next chapter

of his career.

We had an army of volunteers who

came out to help last weekend, flagging

an empty Aviva early on Saturday

morning, handing out flags outside

the stadium, and lining the streets to

welcome the team through a fantastic

Sea of Blue. A big OLSC thank you to

everyone who helped out, we cannot

do it without you, and we’ll need more

help over the coming weeks so please

reach out via mail or Social Media if

you would like to volunteer and help.

It’s a busy matchday today, we have

The Bank of Ireland family day with lots

of activities, pre and post-match player

Q&As and live music in the Guinness

Fanzone, Autograph Alley, flags, and

lots more. Watch out for the Laya

Bodhrans in the crowd as they make

lots of noise.

The OLSC is now based in the Guinness

Fanzone so please stop by and say

hello, for those of you who don’t know

we have a well-stocked supporter’s

shop, matchday flags, and a wall full of

legendary player t-shirts that we have

produced for the last 21 years. Please

tag us in any of your photos from the

day #OLSC.

As always, we’re thankful for the

support we as a committee get from

Leinster Rugby, Bank of Ireland, Laya,

Guinness, and all our other sponsors

and we encourage you to show your

support through our social media

channels.

Be loud, be true, be blue!

Yours in Rugby,

The OLSC Committee

olsc@leisterrugby.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.

Pres Bray and St. Fintan’s

to meet in Fr Godfrey

Junior Cup Final

BY DES BERRY

The Bank of Ireland Leinster

Schools Fr Godfrey Junior Cup

produced two entertaining Semi-

Finals in which Pres Bray and St

Fintan’s made the Final.

In addition, they earned the right to a

Junior Cup first-round tilt at St Gerard’s

School and Castleknock College,

respectively.

PRESENTATION COLLEGE,

BRAY 17

NAAS CBS 13

A late try by Ronan Hogan was

the decisive factor in Pres Bray

qualifying for the final in a terrific

tussle to open the afternoon.

Certainly, Naas had no trouble settling

into the game, moving onto the front-foot

through their forwards and half-backs

Jack Mullins and Cian McKevitt.

Indeed, it took a tremendous sequence

of phases for Pres to complete a

breakthrough, flanker Alex O’Dowd

grounding the ball in the left corner in the

14th minute.

Straight away, the Kildare boys were

back on the attack, eventually recouping

a penalty by Mullins in the 19th minute.

Pres took that on the chin and moved

methodically forward for hooker Eoin

Croysdil to touchdown at the posts,

Tiernan Guilfoyle converting for 12-3 at

the break.

At last, Naas found a way through a

stacked defence when full-back Charlie

Croke blazed a trail from 35 metres out

for Mullins to convert.

Two minutes later, they were in front from

a Mullins penalty after another quickhitting

attack.

Fortified by this, Naas showed added

line-speed in defence and the ability to

counter at pace.

However, Pres’ were always capable

of doing damage too, a powerful maul

setting up lock Hogan for the finish in the

58th minute.

SCORERS

Pres Bray – A O’Dowd, E Croysdil, R

Hogan try each; T Guilfoyle con.

Naas CBS – C Croke try; J Mullins 2

pens, con.

Pres Bray – Simon O’Brien; Joseph

Byrne, Liam Mooney (Capt), Matthew

McGovern, Shane McDonald; Tiarnan

Guilfoyle, Luca Nolan; Marcus Murphy,

Eoin Croysdil, Harry Graham, Tiernan

Lynch, Ronan Hogan, Alex O’Dowd, Max

Tully Walsh, Rory Wrafter.

Replacements – Artem Kelly, Daniel

Corrigan, Conor Haines, Robert Brennan,


Tiernan Ryan, Daniel Hannon, Ethan

O’Neill, Phelim Doyle.

Naas CBS – Charlie Croke; Conor

Marron, Darragh Culligan, Matthew

Costello, Tadhg Kruger; Cian McKevitt,

Jack Mullins; Alan Malone, Rian Cullen,

Philip Sammon, Aidan Tamming, Max

Kavanagh, Zach Carville, Padraic

Dignam, Oisin Brien.

Replacements – Colm Gibbons, Adam

Sargent, Cein Meade, Bruno McCann,

Daniel Sargent, Charlie Reid, Harry

Ward, Phillip Brannigan.

ST FINTAN’S HIGH

SCHOOL 35

TEMPLE CARRIG 19

A power-packed second period

was the key to St Fintan’s getting

the better of Temple Carrig.

Initially, the winners were sparked by

towering number eight Michael Bolger,

applying enough concerted pressure

for lock Frank Quinn to claim a try, Ben

Barnes converting in the ninth minute.

Temple was faring well enough at the

ruck to draw on penalties, the lineout and

centre Ben Griffiths for a way forward.

They mixed up their attack well enough

to move inside the 22 where flanker Matt

Smullen burst past two tacklers for Corey

O’Brien’s conversion to level it up in the

20th minute.

Agility at the breakdown was a feature

of the contest with prop Evan Coyne

and lock Lukas O’Gorman using perfect

technique to frustrate the opposition.

Centres Griffiths and Ryan Morgan

were posing problems through the

middle, creating a second-wave attack

which Smullen exploited to the fullest for

Lambert to convert for 14-7 on the halftime

whistle.

It didn’t take the Sutton school long to

get back on terms, the forwards taking

control for Oisin Kelly to crash over at

the posts, Barnes converting in the 34th

minute.

They had the momentum to roll forward

in impressive fashion, manufacturing

a third try for Tadhg Young which

Barnes immaculately converted from the

touchline.

St Fintan’s seemed to have taken over,

forcing the pace for Quinn to pick up his

second try, Barnes adding another two

on top for 28-14 in the 54th minute.

Yet again, Smullen was the forward on

the end of Temple’s next drive, punching

in his hat-trick to narrow the gap to nine

points.

Then, Bolger blasted over after a series of

quick rucks for Barnes to make it five from

five conversions.

SCORERS

St Fintan’s – F Quinn 2 tries; T Toung,

O Kelly, M Bolger try each; B Barnes, 5

cons.

Temple Carrig – M Smullen 3 tries; C

Lambert 2 cons.

St Fintan’s – Fionn Heaney; Alex

Gallagher, Tadhg Young, Samuel

O’Leary, Fionn MacDonald; Ben Barnes,

Oisin Kelly; Evan Coyne, Luca Macari-

Kelly, Keith Bonar, James Nixon, Frank

Quinn, Brendan Dillon, Adam Coffey,

Michael Bolger.

Replacements – Fionn Cullen, Zachary

Newson, Conor Cogan, Cillian

McLaughlin, Conor Wilson, Nicky

Sheridan, Simon Fogarty, Shane Hanratty.

Temple Carrig – Marco Romeral Roe,

Ryan Griffiths, Ryan Morgan, Ben Griffiths

(Capt), Fionn Moriarty; Corey O’Brien

Charles Lambert; Daniel Cunningham,

Oskar Riordan, Tom Scully, Oliver

Warnock, Lukas O’Gorman, Matt

Smullen, Ryan Morgan, Charlie Sammon.

Replacements – Lewis Jones, Daniel

Garvey, Jake McDonald, Brendan

Harrison, Hugo King, Luke McKeever,

Luke Rowlett, Oscar Murphy-Dowling.


Leinster Rugby Schools

Senior Cup to be broadcast

on tv and online

Leinster Rugby has confirmed

that 13 games in the 2023

Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby

Schools Senior Cup will be

available to view either on

Premier Sports or via a Leinster

Rugby live stream.

Premier Sports have once again

confirmed they will broadcast eight

Schools Senior Cup games, continuing

a long-standing partnership, with a

further five first round games also

available on a streaming service

provided by Leinster Rugby.

The competition kicks-off this Sunday,

29 January, at Energia Park with St

Michael’s College taking on Belvedere

College in the opening game, which

will be streamed by Leinster Rugby.

The first game to be shown live by

Premier Sports will see last year’s

champions Blackrock College meeting

Presentation College Bray, on Monday

30, January, in Energia Park.

All four quarter-finals, both semi-finals

and the final will be live and exclusive

on Premier Sports.

Leinster Rugby, in partnership with

Videos On The Net, will be live

streaming an additional five first round

games played in Energia Park, not

covered by Premier Sports, on

www.irishrugbylive.ie

Speaking about the announcement,

Michael O’Rourke, CEO of Premier

Sports, commented, “Premier Sports has

a proud long-term association with the

Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools

Senior Cup and we’re delighted that

the association will continue this season

and beyond.

“Once again the very best this

wonderful competition has to offer will

be live and exclusive on Premier Sports

and we’re really looking forward to

the matches getting under way in the

coming weeks.”

The five games streamed live by

Leinster Rugby, will be available on

a subscription basis with each game

costing €7.99 for the live and €8.99

for the VOD (video on demand) option.

There is also a five-match bundle that

can be purchased for €35.00 and the

subscription can be purchased through

the Videos on the Net platform,

www.irishrugbylive.ie

Videos on the Net, based in Wicklow,

are long-standing suppliers to both the

IRFU and Leinster Rugby and will use

commentators and contributors from the

competing schools to add an additional

level of insight and analysis.

The First Round game between

Blackrock College and Presentation

College, and indeed all games shown

by Premier Sports, will be broadcast live

on Premier Sports 1 and 2 (Sky channel

412 and 421) and also with a ‘Sports

Extra’ Membership on NOW.

Premier Sports has been broadcasting

in the Republic of Ireland since 2019,

and televise games from the BKT United

Rugby Championship and also hold

rights including TOP14 rugby, Premier

League, FA Cup, La Liga, Scottish Cup

and Premier Sports Cup, Coppa Italia

and more.

New customers wishing to sign up to

Premier Sports can do so via Sky and

NOW.

BANK OF IRELAND

LEINSTER RUGBY

SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP,

FIRST ROUND:

Sunday, 29 January

St Michael’s College v

Belvedere College

at 3pm in Energia Park

(Streaming Available)

Monday, 30 January

Blackrock College v

Presentation College, Bray


(Live on Premier Sports)

Tuesday, 31 January

Newbridge College v

Kilkenny College



Wednesday, 1 February

Terenure College v

Clongowes Wood College



Thursday, 2 February

St Mary’s College v

Wesley College



Friday, 3 February

CBC Monkstown v

St Vincent’s Castleknock College



Cistercian College, Roscrea v

Catholic University School (CUS)

at 2:30pm in Lakelands

Gonzaga College v

St Andrew’s College

at 2:30pm in Clontarf FC


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GETTING

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SOCIAL

the 12 counties

WHERE

ARE

THEY

NOW?

BRIAN BY DES BERRY

CUSACK

THEN: Brian

played for

Leinster in two

stints between

1994-1996 and

1999-2000.

NOW: He is Head

of Trading at

PointsBet, living

in Eadestown

in Kildare with

his wife Heather

with two girls

Lauren (12) and

Alex (10).


It wouldn’t happen

these days.

Back in 1994, Brian Cusack had

just gone through 80-minutes

of All-Ireland League action for

Bective Rangers.

The thirst to unwind and relax usually

started by settling in for a scatter of pints

in the clubhouse bar.

On this occasion, a tap on the shoulder

was followed by an invitation to make his

debut for Leinster against The Exiles at

Donnybrook the next day.

He put his drink down and went home for

an early night.

“I was training with the national squad

at that stage as one of the youngsters,

purely used as a tackle bag handler,”

says Brian.

“There was a lot of experience in the

Leinster team at that stage with ‘Franno’

(Neil Frances) playing in the second row

Phil Lawlor at number eight, Alain Rolland

at nine. Props Angus McKeen and Henry

Hurley were there too.

“It appeared to me to be a late decision

to drop me in there from the start to see

how I would go and it turned out to be a

great experience.

“Probably, in the early days, playing

with big personalities, you just wanted

to survive rather than putting your best

foot forward and having the utmost

confidence in your ability to impact the

game.”

In 1990, on the basis of Clongowes

Wood’s run to the Senior Cup final, Brian

made his way into the Ireland Schools

squad where Neil Nolan and Roger

Wilson stood in his way.

The Ireland U21s gave Brian the chance

to play alongside Gary Longwell in

1992-1993 and Jeremy Davidson in

1993-1994 in the second row.

This was long before the Leinster

Academy swung into view, even before

the Irish Academy started.

Thus, the muck and bullets of the All-

Ireland League served as Brian’s true

apprenticeship in dealing with the tricks

of gritty, gnarled veterans.

“I went straight into the first team at

Bective where Ireland internationals

Kurt McQuilkin and Phil Lawlor were

playing,” he says.

“The club was in Division Two of the AIL.

We also had a group of experienced


heads, like Maurice Mortell, and Trevor

Brennan arrived the next year.

“We had a very good side, good enough

to be in the lower half to be competitive in

Division One, I would say,” he states.” But

we couldn’t make the next step.

“You did your own rugby work on

Monday and Wednesday, trained with

the club on Tuesday and Thursday and

played on Saturday.

“You learned the grizzly old way of

playing every week. You picked things up

as you went along, often getting beaten

up by the older, more mature players in

what was an old-school apprenticeship.

“You were purely amateur. There were

certainly people at Bective, who would

help you along and they brought in

Doctor Liam Hennessy. to support that

development.

“There are a lot of people like Liam

around now. Back then, he was one of the

few who knew the why behind what he

was doing, bringing his experience from

athletics and his academic background.

“If you ask me ‘who were the first players

to come through to be properly strong

early adopters of strength training?’

“It would have been Jonathan Bell and

David Corkery. When you played against

them, you knew they were properly strong

people.”

Brian’s long, lean 6’7” frame did not

accept muscle readily, although there was

an advantage in athleticism.

“The bigger, heavier guys tended to last

longer But, this was pre-lifting weights.

You could get away with not having the

muscle back then. Could you get away

with it now? No, you just can’t.

“It was when you came up against

players who were bigger and athletic

that you ran into the possibility of being

dominated.”

Gabriel Fulcher became a person of

interest to Brian in that the fellow second

row wasn’t the biggest lock in the world.

“‘Fulch’ was quite clever in what he did

and he was one I would watch to see

how he did it. I saw him as similar to me

as a player, someone I could learn from.”

In February of 1995, he partnered with

Malcolm O’Kelly in the engine room

against Northern Transvaal, getting a

glimpse of the shape of things to come, in

terms of personal competition.

“Mal was just a fantastic athlete with

a massive engine and one of a limited

number of really top-class players we

have reproduced over the years. A great

fella too.

“You see him in operation - he was

slightly younger than me - and you

realise, ‘oh, this is what is coming.’”

The game turned professional in 1995

and the Irish Rugby Football Union did

not exactly embrace it immediately.

“Back then, in my experience, you didn’t

know what professionalism was until you

had been through it. It was only then you

knew what was required.

“In 1996, It just meant you got paid and

had more time to train,” he shares.

“But, there wasn’t anything smart about it

because no one had gone through it. You

trained harder and took contact four or

five times a week. That would be unheard

of today.

“You certainly got bigger and stronger

and faster. That was clear early on when

you went full-time. Your statistics went

through the roof because you could train,

rest and recover.

“Did our diets change? Not particularly.

The support structure around that was


very limited. I would say it took at

least 15 years for proper professional

structures to be put in place.

“When the players come in these days,

everything is in place for them. There is

a long history, maybe 20-odd years, of

getting it right.

“In that time, the good and bad decisions

taken and lessons learned have led

Leinster to where they are, right at the top

of the professional game.”

In 1996, Leinster was uncertain of where

the game was going, and Brian took an

offer to play for English kingpins Bath,

leaving his job as a mortgage broker for

a significant pay rise.

“There was no decision to be made

really. Leinster were trying to figure

out how they wanted to handle

professionalism and Bath were just further

down the road.

“Clubs were moving extremely quickly,”

he says.

“When there is no organisation, there

tends to be a vacuum and all the English

clubs were trying to put businesses

together overnight, put structures in place,

put people in place, scale the clubs up

into success.”

Brian signed a one-year contract and

stayed for 2 ½ years, playing with

Mike Catt, Jerry Guscott, John Mallett,

Victor Ubogu, Federico Mendez, Nigel

Redman, Martin Haag, Andy Robinson,

Gary French and Steve Ojomoh at The

Recreation Ground where they won the

Heineken Cup in 1998 while he was

there.

He moved to Richmond for seven months

only for the club to go into administration

in the same way Wasps and Worcester

have fallen apart.

In 1999, Jim Glennon and Mike Ruddock

reached out and Brian returned home to

play one more season with Leinster, his

final cap coming off the bench against

Munster.

“There had been changes. But, it was

still back in the dark ages, playing out of

portacabins in Anglesea Road. It wasn’t

overly glamorous.

“At that stage, I played for Lansdowne

and I found the clubs were better

organised than the provinces.”

Now Head of Trading at PointsBet, he

found the benefits taken from rugby into

his post-playing career matched by the

costs he had to shake.

“There are some really good things you

can take into your career and some

really bad habits you have to change,”

he warns.

“Creating a good atmosphere for people

to work to their optimum ability, that does

take time to get right.

“Some sporting teams have it; some

struggle with it. It can take a couple of

years, in rugby and in business, to get it

right.

“The hard thing is getting to that place.

Once you are there, it is easier to keep

it going.”

“However, he traced back negatives

accrued from rugby that had to be

overcome

“Things don’t get fixed overnight like they

do in rugby,” he adds.

“Stuff goes on on the pitch, you fix it

quickly and bluntly for the following

week. That doesn’t work in business.

Often you need to be more patient.

“The right tone of communication is really

important and that is not something rugby

is good at because it is not needed.

“On a Monday, a rugby player takes

really harsh, brutal criticism as a platform

to learn from. Generally, you can’t do

that with a team in business.

“Criticism needs to be delivered

constructively and encouragingly.

“Even in rugby now, Eddie Jones got

away with a brutally hard regime

because he was having success. When

that success stopped happening, it came

back to bite him.

“You need to bring people along

with you. Your tone and ability to

communicate well are really important.”


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Referees

Corner

BY DAN WALLACE

A warm welcome to today’s issue of Referee’s

Corner. Today’s match official team is Jaco

Peyper (SARU) in the middle, ably assisted by

Joy Neville and Andrew Fogarty with South

Africa’s Marius Jonker in the TMO box.

Peyper is a long serving

member of the World Rugby

International Referees panel.

He made his refereeing

debut in Super Rugby in 2008

but took charge of his first

Test match in 2011. In 2012,

Peyper was promoted to the

International Rugby Board’s

elite panel and was tasked

with refereeing Scotland’s 2012

tour of Oceania. This included

Scotland’s 6-9 away win over

Australia, 25-37 away win over

Fiji and 16-17 away win over

Samoa. In 2015, Peyper was

selected as one of the twelve

referees for the 2015 Rugby

World Cup. In 2019, he was

selected as one of the twelve

referees and only South African

referee for the 2019 Rugby

World Cup.

A trained lawyer, Peyper also refereed

a British & Irish Lions Test in their 2017

tour of New Zealand. His comments

during the 2021 Currie Cup Final

went viral. Scrum-half Jaden Hendriske

challenged a call the referee made

during the match to which Peyper

said: “You’ve got a lot of advice for

your first Currie Cup (final)”.

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 turnout

of almost 20 new referees. One

important factor in this course was that

it was the first one to be held outside

of Dublin and in the South East.

President Gordon Condell said he

was delighted with the great turnout,

the enthusiasm and wished those

new referees well in their upcoming

refereeing careers. Sean Gallagher

led the session and talked the referees

through the finer points of refereeing,

the laws, and the art of refereeing.

Referees will receive mentoring and

support on an ongoing basis once

they begin the trial member process.

This will include three follow up

workshops which usually run for 90

minutes once a month. Progression

to full membership is based on a

combination of ability, commitment

and fitness.

We held our mid-season seminar on

Tuesday 17th January in the Green

Isle Hotel. Over 100 of our active

referees attended the course. Mick

Dawson, former CEO of Leinster

Rugby, and honorary Leinster Rugby

Referee was the special guest and

spoke about his time at Leinster from

the beginning in Donnybrook to the

fantastic club it has become today. He

took the time out to answer some of

the referee’s questions ranging from

European Competitions to his favorite

memories at Leinster. Sean Gallagher

introduced some IRFU content, law

updates and also helped Dave

MacDonald run some roundtable

discussions on the future and

enhancing Leinster Rugby Referees. A

great night was had by all, it is always

a pleasure for our referees to be able

to connect with each other.

Recently, Leinster Referee Dave Wilson

and his daughter Hannah Wilson

traveled to South Africa for Hannah

to take part in a Tens Tournament

in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Hannah had just finished her second

year playing on the Leinster U18 Girls

Rugby team and also got her first cap

playing on the Irish U18 Girls Rugby

team in the Six Nations Tournament in

Murrayfield.

During the trip to South Africa, all the

players and coaches involved in the

tournament got the chance to visit

local townships outside Johannesburg

and Cape Town as part of the

community work that was such an

integral part of the trip. Dave as a

Leinster Rugby Referee brought two

large Leinster kit bags with gear, one

for each of the townships that they

were to visit. Dave said; “If ever there

was a moment that pictures speak a

thousand words well this was one of

those moments”.

One of the coaches involved in the

Tens Tournament was the “King of

Sevens”, the one and only Waisale

Serevi. He was made an “Honorary

Leinster Rugby Referee” during this

trip and received his kit from Dave

Wilson, Waisale is just awaiting his

first appointment from Hayley White!

You can read more on the trip on our

website www.leinsterrugbyreferees.ie

Want to get

involved?

Referees provide a vital

function in servicing all

levels of the game. Whether

you aspire to referee at

the highest level or to

referee locally, there is a

place for you. There are

excellent support structures

to develop referees and a

thriving social aspect too.

Feel free to make contact

with the Leinster

Rugby Referees at

hayley.whyte@leinsterrugby.ie

If you are interested in

becoming a referee get in

contact with us through our

Facebook, our website

www.leinsterrugbyreferees.ie

or through twitter

@leinsterreferee.


ank of ireland

MATCHDAY minis

Arklow RFC

Players: Ethan Hamilton, Scott Simmons, Dan Robinson,

Henry Neill, Jude Ivanoff, David Quinn, Kyle O’Reilly,

Louis Ralph, Isaac Brennan, Sean Baguley, Eoghan Killoran,

Julian Heath, Jack Henry, Antek Pawlowski, Matt Stevens,

Alex Garvey, Nojus Lipsas, John O’Neill, Faolain Merrigan

and Morgan Tracey

Coaches: Michael Hamilton, Ger Brennan and Paul Neill

Boyne RFC

Players: Oliver Grimson, James Berney, Luke Farrell,

Liam Johnson, Noah Daly, Lucas Lavery, Micheál O Mathúna,

Fiachra Brodigan, Sean Clarke, Conor Mac Donald,

Dan Harkin, Donnacha Tierney, Noah Lynch, Cian Wall,

Cian Dunne, Martin Kral, Finn Faulkner, Charlie Black,

Saul Sarsfield and Cillian Coleman

Coaches: Paul Grimson and Neil Berney

Mullingar RFC

Players: Harry Zalgevicius, Ben Denning, Cody McKeown,

Sam McPhillips, Declan Bourke, Charlie Bohan, Davy Judge,

Callum Cleary, Ben Loughlin, Jamie Clear, Charlie Clear,

Cathal Kealy, Ciarán Weblin, Casey O’Prey, Joshua Hunter,

Daire Jackson, Ratmir Gindra, Matthew Kiernan,

Noah Duncan, Luke Moynagh, Oliver Hughes, Peter Young,

Kyle Zalgevicius, Cormac Maguire, Colm O’Rourke,

Conor Walters, Aonghus O’Reilly, Finn Jacob, Mikey Forde,

Eddie Leavy, Óran Shaw Cunniffe, Max McGauran, Joel Kelly,

Eoin McGinley, Eoin Smyth, Louis Kiernan, Conor Donohoe,

Robert Whelan, Donnacha Farrell, Killian Dardis,

Michael Malone and Setanta Bowers

Seapoint RFC

Players: Amaury Journée McKeown, Bobby Cave,

Ciaran Roche, Charlie Hughes, Daniel McLoughlin,

Dexter Sweeney, Dylan O Malley, Eoghan Collins,

James Clinch, Jamie Finnie, Luca Leech, Luke D’Arcy,

Matthew McLoughlin, Paddy O’Brien, Rory McLoughlin,

Ross O’Donnell, Sam Byrne, Sean Cosgrave,

Senan Corcoran and Tom Quinn

Coaches: Mark Sweeney and Jaime McKeown


Wexford Wanderers

set to host Open

Training Session

Leinster Rugby has

announced an open

training session for

February, in Wexford

Wanderers RFC.

The latest open training session

follows similar sessions over

the summer and indeed before

Christmas in the home of Seán

O’Brien, in Tullow RFC.

The squad visited 12 locations in two

action-packed summer days as part of

The 12 County Tour, along with an open

training session in November in Tullow,

and Leo Cullen has now confirmed that

the squad are once again hitting the

road.

Leinster Rugby will host the open training

session at Wexford Wanderers RFC, on

Thursday 9 February from 3pm.

Wexford Wanderers is the home club of

current player, Brian Deeny, as well as

former Leinster and Ireland star Gordon

D’Arcy, and it is also the club of Leinster

Rugby President, Debbie Carty.

The open session will be another

opportunity for the public to meet with

Cullen, his coaches and players as well

as to see them training up close.

Commenting on the news, Cullen said,

“The tour during the summer and the trip

to Tullow, was brilliant. The lads really

enjoyed it and not just the players but the

coaches and the staff as well.

“During Covid-19 it was so difficult to

connect with people, with our clubs and

our communities and re-connecting is

something that we are very keen to do

now that things have returned to normal.

“The impact of Wexford Wanderers on

Leinster and Irish rugby is clear for all to

see and it’s great to get down there and

show some appreciation for all the work

that they do on the ground.”

Local hero, Brian Deeny, is similarly

looking forward to the event and

welcoming the team back to his home

club and to meeting some familiar faces.

“We all started in a club and wherever

the journey takes us after that, you never

forget that. For all of us players, it all

started with minis in some club in Leinster.

“For me, that’s Wexford Wanderers and

it’s great people like Bobby Cummings,

Colm Mahon, James O’Connor, Jim

Ryan, Martin Fenlon, Donal McDonald. I

could go on.

“All of us players have a list like that of

people that give so much time to their

club and it’s pretty special to be now

heading there to train with the rest of the

Leinster lads in a few weeks to a place

where I was training and playing for my

club only a few years ago.

“I know the club will put on a great

welcome and I look forward to it.”

The open training session will take place

in Wexford Wanderers RFC, on Thursday,

9 February at 3pm.

There will be opportunities for autographs

and photography with the players and

coaches after the training session, and of

course, everyone is welcome to attend.


CUS and St Andrews

to meet in Vinnie Murray

Cup decider

BY DES BERRY

The Bank of Ireland Leinster

Schools Vinnie Murray Senior

Cup Semi-Finals took place in a

double-header at Energia Park on

Tuesday.

There was also a place in the Leinster

Senior Cup First Round at stake as well,

CUS and St Andrew’s accounting for St

Fintan’s and Temple Carrig, respectively.

CUS 46

ST FINTAN’S HIGH SCHOOL,

SUTTON 17

Holders Catholic University School

will take all the beating in the

final.

They put eight tries past competitive St

Fintan’s to earn a Senior Cup First Round

crack at Cistercian College, Roscrea

at Lakeland’s Park on Friday week

(February 3rd).

St Fintan’s love of width paid early

dividends when full-back Finn McDonald

could have put Joshua Hansen in on the

left and Shane Patterson did put Conor

Toomey over on the right in the third

minute.

CUS were on the verge of hitting back

immediately when they were turned over

close to the whitewash.

No matter, they came again, the centre

combination proving the difference as

Sean Byrne sent Rian Treacy hurtling to

the line, Niall Cox converting for 7-5 in

the ninth minute.

They wasted no time in threatening again

until Lucas Maguire had the ball ripped

away by Robert Harvey and Jack Grant

couldn’t connect with Senan Campbell on

the overlap.

The speed of ball for CUS was troubling

the defence. Quick passes put wing Sean

Turner on the outside, Treacy’s support

earning a second try for the centre in the

28th minute.

When Dylan McNeice broke the gain

line, the recycle came at speed for

Campbell to claim a try for 17-5 at

half-time.

The Leeson Street school took greater

command with a Conall Lohan-Kilraine

finish from close range.

St Fintan’s were causing problems when

they got into their flow, Tadhg O’Connor-

O’Hehir finding the line in the 44th

minute.

But, CUS always had an answer,

sweeping up the left for scrum-half

Charlie O’Byrne to touchdown for 27-10

in the 47th minute.

However, the Sutton school was back

for more soon enough, flanker Tadhg

O’Connor-O’Hehir grounding for his

second, Oscar McCormack converting.

The back and forth continued as

replacement Eoghan O’Reilly sliced

through the cover for the clinching score.

Sean Turner picked off a lovely individual

effort, chipping and gathering his kick,

and Eamon McNicholas closed the show,

Cox adding the extras to both.

SCORERS

CUS – R Treacy 2 tries; S Campbell, C

O’Byrne, C Lohan-Kilraine, E O’Reilly, S

Turner, E McNicholas try each; N Cox

3 cons.

ST FINTAN’S – T O’Connor-O’Hehir 2

tries; C Toomey try; O McCormack con.

CUS – Jack Grant; Senan Campbell,

Rian Treacy, Sean Byrne, Sean Turner;

Niall Cox, Charlie O’Byrne; Aidan

Walsh, Lucas Maguire (Capt), Conall

Lohan-Kilraine, Dualta Larkin, Oliver

Manks, Hugh Quigley, Ruben Maguire,

Dylan McNeice.


Replacements – Leo Beary, Evan

Judge, Cathal Lynch, Eoghan O’Reilly,

Jude Barrett; Josh Gordon, Eamon

McNicholas, Oran Redmond.

ST FINTAN’S – Finn McDonald; Conor

Toomey, Shane Patterson, Conor

Cribbin (Capt), Joshua Hansen; Cillian

Cleary, Oscar McCormack; Ponamu

Palazzetti, Cian Macari-Kelly, Robert

Harvey, Marcel Haas, Luke Ingle, Tadhg

O’Connor-O’Hehir, Simon Cantwell, Rory

O’Connor-O’Hehir.

Replacements – Conor McGloughlin,

Donagh Walsh, Scott Ecock, Brandyn

Dromgoole, Simon Cunningham, Hugh

Dummer, Nathan Clarke, Rohan O’Shea.

ST ANDREW’S COLLEGE 20

TEMPLE CARRIG SCHOOL,

GREYSTONES 13

St Andrew’s College forged a firsthalf

lead they needed to repel

tenacious Temple Carrig in the

second semi-final.

It was also good enough to set up a

Leinster Senior Cup First Round tie against

Gonzaga at Castle Avenue next Friday

week.

The frantic opening skirmish was

punctuated by mistakes and indiscipline

between two teams a little over-eager in

their play.

Once the initial adrenalin rush subsided,

Temple Carrig moved into position to

strike, prop James Noonan being held up

over the line

The Greystones school played through

their forwards, Dylan Potts leading the

charge, to provide the platform for backs

Rhys Morgan, Rhys Gamble and Jack

Ward to threaten.

St Andrew’s were restricted to defensive

duties, hitting anyone with a ball as

flankers Josh Perrem and Rocco Hill

waded into the breakdown.

Their first serious attack brought maximum

reward when Francis Manzocchi

launched a crossfield kick that bounced

up beautifully for Harry MacChesney to

grab.

From there, the right-wing avoided the

first tackle and ducked out of a second

to score against the run of play for Joe

Ballance to convert in the 28th minute.

They were back on the front-foot to force

a penalty at a ruck. Centre Ballance

stepped up to make it a 10-point lead.

Temple deserved better. They just could

not put the finishing touch to their fine

work, settling for an Ollie Barr penalty.

However, the Booterstown school reacted

calmly, Adam Tobin moving well from a

scrum and Charlie Byrne flinging a pass

for wing Jake Dolly to reach the corner,

Ballance converting from the touchline for

17-3 at the break.

The application of pressure produced a

penalty for Barr to narrow the gap before

Ballance pinged a penalty in the 41st

minute.

Temple number eight Adam Williams

and centre Morgan almost unlocked the

defence. Flanker Lukas Zdunek did just

that from a Barr break for the latter to

convert in the 45th minute.

It was all about composure from there

on, Temple carrying from deep and

St Andrew’s looking to mine the wide

channels.

In the end, neither one could impose their

game enough to change the course of

the game, leaving St Andrew’s relieved to

hear the final whistle.

SCORERS

ST ANDREW’S – H MacChesney, J Dolly

try each; J Ballance 2 pens, 2 cons.

TEMPLE CARRIG – L Zdunek try; O Barr

2 pens, con.

ST ANDREW’S – Kiran Byrne; Harry

MacChesney, Conn Doherty, Joe

Ballance, Jake Dolly; Francis Manzocchi,

Charlie Byrne; Jude McCrea, Partick

McIlduff, Jack Bourke, Thomas Ryan,

James O’Donoghue, Josh Perrem (Capt),

Rocco Hill, Adam Tobin.

Replacements – Ryan Browne, Adam

O’Toole, Nathan Kennedy, Conor Roche,

Killian Bradley, Karl Deegan, Simon

O’Kelly, Max Kickham.

TEMPLE CARRIG – Jack Ward; Matthew

Stewart, Rhys Morgan, Ollie Barr, 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, Tom

Doyle, Kallum McCormack, Andrew

Kieran, Daniel Stewart, Daniel Mooney,

Sam Farrar, Jack Caffrey.


COUNTRY: WALES HOME GROUND: CARDIFF ARMS PARK FOUNDED: 1876 CAPACITY: 12,000

last time out

CA Brive 37

Cardiff rugby 24

SATURDAY 21 JANUARY 2023 | EPCR CHALLENGE CUP | ROUND 4 POOL A STADIUM DE BRIVE | REF: ANTHONY WOODTHORPE

Cardiff miss chance

to top Pool A

Cardiff fell to

their first European

Challenge Cup defeat

of the season as

they paid the price

for a scrappy first

half in France.

BRIVE: Ferte, Bonneval, Tuicuvu, Bituniyata, Fabien, Sanchez, Sanga; Tapueluelu,

Matu’u, Coria Marchetti, Delannoy, Paulos, Ratuva, Hireche (capt), Marais

Replacements: Fraissenon, Brennan, Tuimauga, Rixen, Gue, Carbonneau, Herve,

Douglas.

CARDIFF: Liam Williams, Summerhill, Grady, Thomas, Harries, Priestland, Tomos

Williams (capt); Carré, Myhill, Assiratti, Timani, Teddy Williams, Botham, Jenkins, Ratti

Replacements: Daniel, Thyer, Davies-King, Thornton, Davies, Lewis-Hughes, Lloyd

Williams, Evans


The Blue and Blacks trailed 17-3

at the break with Brive claiming

three tries after kicking penalties

to corner.

Cardiff battled back in the second-half

and even took the lead at one stage

following tries from James Botham, Rhys

Priestland and Jason Harries.

However, Brive hit back with two

further tries from Arthur Bonneval and

Wesley Douglas to secure the win and

qualification for the knockout stages.

Cardiff meanwhile, will now face Sale

Sharks in the Round of 16, after the

English side dropped down from the

Heineken Champions Cup.

Dai Young’s side went into the encounter

with a place in the Round of 16 assured

following three consecutive bonus-point

wins previously.

However, by winning in Brive they knew

they could guarantee a home quarterfinal

and even semi-final should they

progress in the competition.

images: inpho.ie

Brive claimed the first try of the game

after Ellis Jenkins was penalised for

collecting a deflected kick from an offside

position.

The hosts went to the corner and

displayed plenty of patience as their maul

creaked forward before Motu Matu’u

pivoted away to score.

They threatened on numerous occasions

before claiming a second try on 20

minutes. Again, it came from a penalty

kicked to the corner. On this occasion

they attempted a slick play off the top,

designed to put Arthur Bonneval away.

He was caught but the ball was spread

left and after holding the defence,

Sanchez lofted a deft offload over the

top to Mathis Ferte.

Cardiff had their own opportunities, and

at times, Brive appeared loose in defence

but mistakes continually thwarted the

visitors’ attempts.

Matters were made worse for the Blue

and Blacks when Brive claimed a third

try on the half-hour mark. They had

hammered at the Cardiff line for long

periods before Sanchez grubber to the

corner for Kevin Fabien.

On this occasion, Sanchez converted to

give his side a commanding 17-3 lead.

Cardiff battled to finish the half with a

score but were unable to snatch anything

and went into the break trailing by 14.

Whatever Young said at the interval did

the trick as Cardiff came flying out of the

blocks.

Sanchez was first to get on the

scoreboard but Cardiff then replied with

three unanswered tries.

Botham scored the first following a huge

carry from Rhys Carré and a sumptuous

offload out the back to maintain

momentum. Lopeti Timani also carried

hard before the flanker crashed over.

Priestland converted as his next action

was to launch a monstrous 50-22 to lay

the foundations for a second try in as

many minutes.

The pack rumbled towards the line and

just as it began to run out of steam, Tomos

Williams broke to the right and put his

half-back partner away.

Priestland converted and while Sanchez

responded with another penalty, Cardiff

soon took the lead.

Mason Grady, fresh from his inclusion

in Wales’ Six Nations squad, made an

impressive outside break combining

foot-work with power and he then fired a

miss-pass to Harries.

The wing had plenty left to do but he

powered over and Priestland added the

extras to give his side the lead.

Cardiff now had all the momentum but

mistakes crept back into the game and

Brive hit back through Bonneval and

Douglas.

Aled Summerhill thought he had scored

in the closing stages, only for the try to be

ruled out for a forward pass and Lloyd

Williams crossed in the final play but lost

the ball in contact, as Cardiff left France

frustrated and empty handed.


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Director of Rugby

Dai Young

Dai Young rejoined Cardiff for his second

spell in the Coache’s Box in 2021, after

leaving the side a decade earlier to work

at Wasps. A Wales international in both

Rugby Union and Rugby League, and the

only player to play on three Lions tours in

three difference decades.

Captain

Josh Turnbull

Josh Turnbull was named captain of

Cardiff ahead of the 2021-22 season,

having previously led the team on a

number of occasions. Turnbull has

played over 230 times in the BKT United

Rugby Championship, as is second in the

all-time appearances list, behind John

Muldoon.

cardiff squad

FORWARDS

RHYS ANSTEY

LOCK

DIMITRI ARHIP

PROP

KEIRON ASSIRATTI

PROP

RHYS BARRATT

PROP

LIAM BELCHER

HOOKER

JAMES BOTHAM

FLANKER

GWILYM BRADLEY

FLANKER

RHYS CARRE

PROP

KRISTIAN DACEY

HOOKER

EFAN DANIEL

HOOKER

SEB DAVIES

LOCK

WILL DAVIES-KING

PROP

COREY DOMACHOWSKI

PROP

TAULUPE FALETAU

FLANKER

ELLIS JENKINS

FLANKER

DILLON LEWIS

PROP

SHANE LEWIS-HUGHES

FLANKER

ALEX MANN

FLANKER

SEAN MOORE

LOCK

KIRBY MYHILL

HOOKER

JOSH NAVIDI

FLANKER

JOE PEARD

LOCK

JAMES RATTI

LOCK

OLLY ROBINSON

FLANKER

RORY THORNTON

LOCK

BRAD THYER

PROP

LOPETI TIMANI

LOCK

JOSH TURNBULL

LOCK

TEDDY WILLIAMS

LOCK

THOMAS YOUNG

FLANKER

BACKS

JOSH ADAMS

WING

ASHLEY BECK

CENTRE

JACOB BEETHAM

FULLBACK

ELLIS BEVAN

SCRUM-HALF

BEN BURNELL

FLY-HALF

THEO CABANGO

WING

DEWI CROSS

WING

JARROD EVANS

FLY-HALF

DAN FISH

FULLBACK

JOE GOODCHILD

WING

MASON GRADY

CENTRE

TOM HABBERFIELD

SCRUM-HALF

UILISI HALAHOLO

CENTRE

JASON HARRIES

WING

JAMIE HILL

SCRUM-HALF

OWEN LANE

WING

REY LEE-LO

CENTRE

MAX LLEWELLYN

CENTRE

ETHAN LLOYD

SCRUM-HALF

HARRI MILLARD

CENTRE

MATTHEW MORGAN

FULLBACK

RHYS PRIESTLAND

FLY-HALF

ALED SUMMERHILL

WING

BEN THOMAS

CENTRE

RYAN WILKINS

CENTRE

LIAM WILLIAMS

FULLBACK

TOMOS WILLIAMS

SCRUM-HALF

LLOYD WILLIAMS

SCRUM-HALF

CAM WINNETT

FULLBACK


BY DES BERRY

RAILWAY UNION

This was the big sell by Irishman

John Cronin that convinced New

Zealander Dee Roberts, the girl

from Palmerston North, the next

move she would make would be

from Wasps to Railway Union.

The charm and charisma of Cronin were

backed-up by delivering on a promise

made to the Kiwi, making it easier to see

why the club has been at the top of the

Women’s game in Ireland.

“I think it comes down to the performance

aspect,” says Dee.

Club in

Focus

“We treat our players like

professional athletes, and we

expect them to perform like

professional athletes.”

- John Cronin, Railway Union.

“Three years ago, I moved over from

Wasps to play here and there are high

standards demanded in preparation and

performance.

“For instance, we follow a Strength and

Conditioning gym programme twice a

week. We have three pitch sessions a

week. We have a physio and an analysis

team coding all our games as we play

them. We even get fed after training.

“We are just treated very well. With that

respect comes a responsibility to perform

at a high level.”

Twenty-seven years old Dee bases

some life decisions on a deep love of

rugby, traveling when and where the

opportunities arise.

There is something about Railway that

fosters a sense of belonging, comradery

and a want to stay.

“I plan to stay on for another couple of

years and apply for my citizenship. I am

no spring chicken. But, I would love to get

the opportunity to potentially play at the

highest level,” she states.

In the meantime, Dee is working at a

club that houses two senior men’s and

women’s teams at a venue that houses

multiple sports in hockey, cricket, tennis,

bridge, bowls, football and rugby.

“Looking at the pitch, it is difficult to see

it as the home of a Senior club that has

won two All-Ireland League titles,” Dee

says.


“Our success has to do with our

background supports and volunteers who

give up their time to seek sponsorship,

recruitment, analysis and registration to

name a few.

“As well as our social media presence,

the support of our past players and that

of our men’s teams. They are our bigger

fans.

“We run a President’s lunch for our first

All-Ireland League home game each

season which lends to more supporters

in through the gate and active talk on the

women’s game.

“I know there are bigger clubs out there

with larger facilities. But, we focus on the

players and give them what they need to

play the game whether in the All-Ireland

League or the Metro League.”

Although Railway is primarily known for

its exploits in the Women’s game, the

men have always been supportive, often

showing up to cheer them on.

“Right now, we have two men’s teams

with 82 registered players and two

women’s teams with 59 registered

players, quite an even split.”

There is recognition around how Railway

Union has to build from the grassroots up

or risk losing its’ status and its’ profile in

the long-term.

The numbers at the minis and the youths

levels are skinny as the club only offers

training for girls.


Try Leinster’s Next Big Dish

from Mao At Home today

Consequently, Railway has initiated

an underage participation-based

programme in the last two years, slowly

growing from two girls in 2021 to 20

girls in 2023, front-lining the programme

is Claire Bryne with assistance from other

players on the senior women’s teams.

Already, it is a project which has seen

Sarah Emerson play Tag and Touch for

Ireland U18s and for the Metro area in

the Sarah Robinson Cup.

There has also been the delivery of

the first junior player crossing over to

the senior team this season, bringing

excitement at what is possible in the years

to come

“Our 12s combine forces with Lansdowne

Rugby Club and play lots of fun games

each week. Our U16s play with the

Sharks which is all of the Dublin clubs

combining forces,” issues Dee.

“Our U18s play with the Panthers which

again is all of the Dublin teams playing

together. Training is once a week with an

additional session on the weekend with

their combined mini teams.”

Railway is also committed to reaching

schools around the city, not just in the

immediate Dublin 4 area.

“We also run programmes with some of

our local secondary schools,” adds Dee.

“We’ve been involved with St. Louis

High School, The Kings Hospital, The

High School, St. Andrew’s College and

Loreto on the Green, which has been a

big benefit to getting girls down to their

local clubs.

“We are also working with others in our

community, our senior women’s players

giving back by coaching in junior clubs.

“Emerson Allen and Daisey Earle have

coached Lansdowne RFC girls and Nikki

Caughey has helped with St Mary’s RFC

underage girls. ”

In September 2021, the holistic approach

of the club led to the creation of the

Railway Union Inclusion Tag team,

offering tag rugby to children 5-18 years

with additional support needs.

“Throughout our training sessions,

children with additional support needs

learn a new skill, such as catching,

running and tagging, as well as a new

sport and have fun while socializing with

peers.

“Recruitment began with three taster

sessions on Sundays. It allowed coaches

to get an understanding of how the

sessions would run and for children to

familiarise themselves with Railway.

“Sundays are traditionally one of our

busiest mornings with Junior soccer also

happening. It was important to us to have

our training on at times that the club was

busy so it was all-inclusive.

“We have engaged with our local sports

partnership, local schools, disability

services and other inclusive teams to

encourage participation.”

In terms of the Inclusion Programme, there

is beauty in the eyes of all the beholders

as newcomers blend in with those

already bitten by the bug that is rugby.

“Ten players signed up and come

regularly on Wednesday nights, training

alongside the players in the underage

girls’ program,” says Dee.

“Often the younger group of girls mix in

for skills and drills before breaking away

to practice in a tag game.

“This encourages peer-to-peer mentorship

and neurodiversity from an early age,”

says Dee.

The IRFU and Leinster Branch has been

fantastic in providing clubs around Dublin

that we can meet, mix with and play

against.

“There are currently seven blitzes

planned throughout the Leinster region

for this year.”


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

Beef to the heels like

a Mullingar Heifer

Shay Murtagh

Park, the

home of MRFCs

“Heifers”

provided an

enjoyable

day of female

rugby in

November.

The club hosted a “Heifers Day”

in celebration of all our female

players past and present. Our

little ones had fun and frolics

galore, face painting, games,

obstacle courses competitions

then with all our girls fed and

watered and donning their

Mullingar attire they took over

our brand spanking new stand.

On the day, Mullingar’s U15s played

Creggs in a fine display of skill and

power, a prime example of the quality

rugby being played by young girls all

over Ireland.

With senior and junior players out

supporting, they didn’t fail to enthral the

crowed with some fantastic rugby, they

are one of many exciting girls’ youths

teams in MRFC.

The senior women had a tough act

to follow and a crowd they hoped to

impress. Meeting the standards our

younger players had set on the day and

make all their supporters tall and small

proud would not be an easy task but

through pure grit and determination they

did not disappoint.

Some very influential past players also

came out to show their support, the day

shaped up nicely. The goal for the day

was to recognise the strong “Heifer spirit”

at the core of girls and womens rugby

in the club and how it plays a pivotal

role, in the development of the game, the

individual and the club on a whole.

Heifers tall and small, old and young

flew their flags chanted their chant and

enjoyed the beauty that is rugby. With the

core values of rugby Respect, Inclusivity,

Integrity, Fun and Excellence entrenched

in the club ethos our girls and women

continue to drive forward carving out

exciting futures in Irish rugby.

With regular displays of brute strength,

determination and resilience these young

girls and women are going from strength

to strength, the future of Mullingar rugby

is bright.



John

Mckee

THE ACADEMY

INTERVIEW

BY PAUL CAHILL

The end of

January is a

time of great

opportunity

in a rugby

season.


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.

Some players will be looking to

impress in green ahead of the Six

Nations, while those with their

provinces might finally get the

chance they have been waiting

for.

Of the 20 Leinster Rugby players involved

with Ireland right now, you can be sure

they all needed a similar opportunity to

get their first chance in a blue jersey.

Academy hooker, John McKee was no

different.

Last year, he began the season behind

the likes of Rónan Kelleher, Dan Sheehan,

Seán Cronin and James Tracy.

But, he knew that if an opportunity arose,

he would take it.

“Leo always says that everyone has to

stay ready,” says McKee.

“I was very aware that last year I was

number five in the depth chart. I also had

Lee Barron coming up behind putting

pressure on me as well.

“I knew that if I got any kind of chance,

I had to make sure there wouldn’t be a

drop in standard.

“I took the advice on board and spent all

of last year ready in case I got the call.”

When the call did finally come, it was in

far grander surroundings than is usually

the case.

If you look through the Leinster Rugby

history books, most players have made

their debut on cold, heavy pitches in the

winter months when the internationals

are away.

John McKee didn’t pull the short straw for

his debut.

McKee travelled with the squad for the

two-game tour of South Africa as cover

to Rónan Kelleher and James Tracy. The

young hooker travelled in the hope of

getting a few minutes in either game.

But, the mantra of staying ready was

put to the test in two of the most iconic

stadiums in world rugby.

“I thought I might get some time in

the second game in Cape Town, but

everything changed pretty quickly.

“James Tracy unfortunately got injured

early on while we were over there so I

was moved onto the bench.

“Rónan Kelleher was only due to be

there for the first game, but he pulled up

beforehand. Then it hit me, ‘oh my god.

I’m starting here’. It all happened very

fast.

“Then I realised, I’m starting next week

too. Let’s go.”

Without much time to think about it,

McKee was making his full debut against

the Cell C Sharks in Kings Park in

Durban.

Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbonambi and

Makazole Mapimpi were just some of

the South African stars lining up to face

Leinster that night.

A daunting prospect to make your debut

against World Cup winners, surely?

“It probably helped that I didn’t have too

much time to think about it.

“The pressure was definitely on, but when

you’re straight in, you just get on with it.”

A young Leinster team fell to a narrow

28-23 defeat against the Sharks.

“I thought the first game went ok.

Nothing amazing but I felt I had gained

a bit more trust from the coaches.


“We knew we had another opportunity

against the Stormers a week later.”

The team moved to Cape Town and the

incredible 55,000-seater DHL Stadium.

Not a bad spot to make your

second senior appearance.

Again, the young Leinster side

picked up a very credible

losing bonus point in a 20-13

defeat.

“The Stormers game was tough

but the lineout was functioning

so I was quite happy.

“It was a brilliant experience with a

great group of lads.”

While it took a few injuries for McKee to

get his chance, he is quick to point out

how helpful the other hookers were in

getting him ready for his first appearance.

“Whenever Rónan Kelleher and Dan

Sheehan went into Ireland camp, I

was third choice behind James Tracy

and Seán Cronin. So I was going as

a travelling reserve to games. I wasn’t

playing but I was delighted to be

involved.

“It was absolutely horrible that James

Tracy picked up the injury in South Africa,

and I knew that Seán Cronin was going

to finish up either way at the end of last

season, but they were great with me.

“When I travelled with the squad, they

always kept me involved. I was always

learning from them and they helped me

so much.”

Not long after returning from South

Africa, John McKee got another

opportunity. This time against Munster at

Aviva Stadium.

Unbelievably, having already played in

Durban and Cape Town, Aviva Stadium

was the smallest stadium that McKee

played in last season.


It was

such a big

game for

me because

my friends

and family

were there

in Aviva

Stadium

and it was

such a big

crowd.

But, for him, it was certainly the biggest

game.

“I was happy that I did enough to earn

a spot on the bench against Munster

because it showed I did ok in South

Africa.

“It was such a big game for me because

my friends and family were there in Aviva

Stadium and it was such a big crowd.

“I felt like I played well when I came off

the bench and I was brought on quite

early.

“It was a surreal moment when they

called out for Cian Healy, Peter Dooley

and John McKee to get ready on 48

minutes. OK, let’s go. We’re on early

here.

“That was probably more enjoyable than

South Africa because there were a lot of

nerves for the first two games.

“I felt more comfortable going into the

Munster game. I felt I played well too.”

As McKee came into this season, his third

in the Leinster Academy, he has been a

regular name in the matchday squads.

The Cardiff game this evening will be his

ninth game of the season.

It’s a run he is certainly enjoying.

“It’s been class this year. I feel like I have

more confidence and I feel like I can

impact games more.

“The whole matchday is a bit more

enjoyable when you have a bit more

confidence. There’s still nerves, but I

really enjoy arriving at the stadium and

seeing the crowd and my family.

“I didn’t come off the bench in two

games which was hard, but you have to

understand when Dan Sheehan is playing

so well.”

It’s clear that the McKee family are there

for as many big moments of John’s career

as they can possibly get to.

They are certainly making the most of his

run in the team this year.

“My family come to every home game.

My mum Dawn, my dad Mark, my aunt

Audrey, my grandad Derek and one of

my brothers Andrew. My other brother

Daniel is living in England but he’ll be

over next month for a game.

“My girlfriend and her family like coming

down too, so I’m usually running around

looking for tickets quite often.

“My grandad loves matchdays. It’s a

great day out for him. I rang him during

the week to tell him I’ll be involved again

this week against Cardiff.

“I think he was happier that he gets

another day trip than me getting another

cap. It’s great having them in the stadium

with me.”

The young Belfast man, who joined the

Leinster Sub-Academy after leaving

Campbell College, has taken every step

in his stride.

Like many young players, he has had to

bide his time. But, he also seems to be

taking his opportunity with both hands.

Here’s to many more days out for the

McKee family.


Leinster

Rugby

Academy

Year

Three:


Marcus Hanan (3) #1295

DOB 3 July 2000

FROM Clane, Co Kildare

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”)


POSITION Loosehead prop

SCHOOL Salesian College, Celbridge

CLUB Clane RFC

HONOURS Ireland U-20 (2 caps)

John McKee (11) #1307


FROM Belfast

HEIGHT 1.85m ( 6’ 0”)


POSITION Hooker

SCHOOL Campbell College

CLUB Terenure College RFC


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


Max O’Reilly (10) #1291


FROM Long Island, USA

HEIGHT 1.86m (6’ 1”)


POSITION Full-back

SCHOOL St Gerard’s School

CLUB DUFC


Andrew Smith (2) #1292

DOB 21 July 2000

FROM Dublin

HEIGHT 1.8 m (5’ 11”)


POSITION Back Three

SCHOOL St Michael’s College

CLUB Clontarf FC


Leinster

Rugby

Academy

Year

Two:

Alex Soroka (7) #1296


FROM Cork

HEIGHT 1.95m (6’ 5”)


POSITION Back Row

SCHOOL Belvedere College

CLUB Clontarf FC


Jack Boyle

DOB 10 March 2002

FROM Dublin

HEIGHT 1.86m (6’ 1”)


POSITION Loosehead prop


CLUB UCD RFC


Lee Barron (2) #1308


FROM Dublin

HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 3”)


POSITION Hooker


CLUB DUFC


Chris Cosgrave (4) #1305

DOB 24 July 2001

FROM Dublin

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”)


POSITION Back Three


CLUB UCD RFC


Temi Lasisi (1) #1304

DOB 9 May 2001

FROM Enniscorthy, Co Wexford

HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0 “)


POSITION Tighthead prop

SCHOOL CBS Enniscorthy

CLUB Lansdowne FC/Enniscorthy RFC


(3) = Leinster Rugby Senior caps

Ben Murphy (1) #1309

DOB 23 April 2001

FROM Bray

HEIGHT 1.76m (5’ 8”)


POSITION Scrum-half

SCHOOL Presentation College, Bray

CLUB Clontarf FC


Leinster

Rugby

Academy

Year

One:

Rob Russell (13) #1302

DOB 13 January 1999

FROM Dublin

HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”)


POSITION Back Three


CLUB DUFC


Ben Brownlee (1) #1313


FROM Dublin

HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”)


POSITION Centre


CLUB UCD RFC


James Culhane

DOB 22 October 2002

FROM Enniskerry, Co Wicklow

HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”)


POSITION Back Row


CLUB UCD RFC


Aitzol Arenzana-King

DOB 15 June 2002

FROM Gormanston, Co Meath

HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)


POSITION Back Three

SCHOOL Gormanston College/CUS

CLUB Clontarf FC/Balbriggan RFC


Diarmuid Mangan

DOB 6 March 2003

FROM Kildare

HEIGHT 1.93 m (6’ 4”)


POSITION Back Row

SCHOOL Newbridge College

CLUB UCD RFC


Rory McGuire

DOB 26 August 2002

FROM Dublin

HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”)


POSITION Tightead prop


CLUB UCD RFC


Sam Prendergast


FROM Kildare

HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”)


POSITION Out-half

SCHOOL Newbridge College

CLUB Lansdowne FC


Charlie Tector (2) #1314

DOB 28 March 2002

FROM Wexford

HEIGHT 1.89 m (6’ 2”)


POSITION Out-half

SCHOOL Kilkenny College

CLUB Lansdowne FC



fixtures and

results 2022/23

Date

17/09

23/09

30/09

08/10

14/10

22/10

28/10

26/11

03/12

10/12

16/12

26/12

01/01

07/01

14/01

21/01

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)

W

36-10 HCC RACING 92 Aviva

Stadium

28/01 17:05 URC CARDIFF

RUGBY

18/02 19:35 URC DRAGONS

RFC

04/03 17:05 URC EDINBURGH

24/03 19:35 URC DHL

STORMERS

01/04 17:30 HCC ULSTER

15/04 14:00 URC EMIRATES

LIONS

22/04 16:05 URC VODACOM

BULLS

RDS Arena

RDS Arena

DAM Health

Stadium

RDS Arena

Aviva

Stadium

Emirates

Airline Park

Loftus

Versfeld

KEENAN

(2T)

TURNER

(1T)

NGATAI

LARMOUR OSBORNE NGATAI

LARMOUR

(1T)

LARMOUR

RINGROSE

RINGROSE

(1T)

OSBORNE

(1T)

OSBORNE

RUSSELL

(1T)

O’BRIEN

(1T)

O’BRIEN

O’BRIEN

(2T)

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)

R. BYRNE

(2C)

MCGRATH

1T

MCGRATH

1T

MCGRATH

MCGRATH

FOLEY

1T

MCGRATH

1T

E BYRNE

PORTER

PORTER

PORTER

1T

KELLEHER

SHEEHAN

4T

SHEEHAN

1T

SHEEHAN

E. BYRNE SHEEHAN

HEALY

SHEEHAN

1T

MCGRATH E. BYRNE MCKEE

MCGRATH E. BYRNE KELLEHER

GIBSON-PARK

GIBSON-PARK

MCGRATH

1T

N MCCARTHY

HEALY

PORTER

1T

PORTER

PORTER

KELLEHER

1T

SHEEHAN

1T

KELLEHER

2T

SHEEHAN

1T

GIBSON-PARK MILNE KELLEHER

FOLEY

HEALY

SHEEHAN

(1T)

GIBSON-PARK PORTER SHEEHAN

GIBSON-PARK PORTER KELLEHER


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

ALA’ALATOA J MCCARTHY RYAN DORIS

VAN DER FLIER

(1T)

VAN DER FLIER

(1T)

DORIS

(1T)

KELLEHER

(1T)

MILNE HEALY DEENY CONAN MCCARTHY

CONAN SHEEHAN MILNE HEALY MOLONY BAIRD MCGRATH

H. BYRNE

(1C)

R. BYRNE

(2C)

H. BYRNE

(2C)

H BYRNE

(1C)

OSBORNE

RUSSELL

TURNER

PENNY


matchday

Squads

officials

Chris COSGRAVE

Max O’REILLY

Liam TURNER

Ben BROWNLEE

Dave KEARNEY

Harry BYRNE

Luke McGRATH

15

14

13

12

11

10

9

FULL BACK

RIGHT WING

OUTSIDE CENTRE

INSIDE CENTRE

LEFT WING

FLY HALF

SCRUM HALF

Rhys PRIESTLAND

Owen LANE

Rey LEE-LO

Ben THOMAS

Jason HARRIES

Jarrod Evans

Lloyd WILLIAMS

REFEREE:

JACO PEYPER

(SARU, 13TH COMPETITION GAME)

ASSISTANT REFEREE:

JOY NEVILLE (IRFU)

ASSISTANT REFEREE:

ANDREW FOGARTY (IRFU)

TMO:

MARIUS JONKER (SARU)

Michael MILNE

John McKEE

Michael ALA’ALATOA

Ross MOLONY

Brian DEENY

Rhys RUDDOCK [C]

Scott PENNY

Max DEEGAN

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

LOOSE HEAD PROP

HOOKER

TIGHT HEAD PROP

SECOND ROW

SECOND ROW

BLINDSIDE FLANKER

OPENSIDE FLANKER

NUMBER 8

Brad THYER

Kirby MYHILL

Keiron ASSIRATTI

Lopeti TIMANI

Seb DAVIES

Josh TURNBULL [C]

James BOTHAM

James RATTI

Tadgh McELROY

Marcus HANAN

Thomas CLARKSON

James CULHANE

Will CONNORS

Nick McCARTHY

Charlie TECTOR

Aitzol KING

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

REPLACEMENT

Kristian DACEY

Corey DOMACHOWSKI

Will DAVIES-KING

Rory THORNTON

Shane LEWIS-HUGHES

Ellis BEVAN

Aled SUMMERHILL

Matthew MORGAN

*Restrictions apply.

*

Parting Shot

21 January 2023

Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Hugo Keenan celebrates with

Luke McGrath, Jordan Larmour

and Dan Sheehan after scoring

their side’s fourth try during the

Heineken Champions Cup Pool A

Round 4 match between Leinster

and Racing 92 at Aviva Stadium

in Dublin.


Leinster Rugby vs Cardiff Rugby

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