Leinster Rugby vs Munster Rugby

VSLEINSTER 

€6 | ISSUE 15 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 

VS 

munster 

rugby 

SAT 13 MAY 

AVIVA STADIUM 

KO 5:30PM

Our People, Our Home 

TWELVE COUNTIES. ONE SHIRT. 

Aaron Craig 

From a lad wearing Leinster blue to the RDS, to 

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

been amazing. The adidas Designer talks us through 

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

boyhood club. 

How did you begin working with adidas? 

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

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

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

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

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

What drew you to this project? 

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

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

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

grandfather even worked the entrance gates the RDS and Donnybrook 

for years. 

What was your inspiration for the design? 

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

represented equally with their heraldic crests – instantly recognisable 

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

meant introducing the darker blue sleeves and the collegiate gold 

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

generation, from O’Driscoll to Sexton. 

How do you keep designs fresh year on year? 

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

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

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

Which design excited you the most? 

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

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

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

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

might just be level with the World Cup. 

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

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

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

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

pinch yourself moment for sure.

Newstead Building A, 

UCD, 

Belfield, 

Dublin 4 

#LEIVMUN 

The Line up 

Telephone: 

012693224 

Fax: 

012693142 

E-mail: 

information@leinsterrugby.ie 

www.leinsterrugby.ie 

6 

30 

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 

Stay 

connected 

& keep 

up-to-date 

86 

www.leinsterrugby.ie | 3

Debbie Carty welcome 

PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2022/23 

On behalf of Leinster Rugby, I would like 

to welcome you all to Aviva Stadium for 

this evening ’s match against our old 

rivals Munster in the Semi-Final of the 

BKT United Rugby Championship. 

I wish to extend a warm welcome 

to Dublin to our Munster visitors 

in particular Munster President 

Ger McNamara and his wife Edel, 

to the squad, their Head Coach 

and their management team and 

hope you are enjoying your visit 

here for what we hope will be 

an exciting semi-final here in the 

Aviva. 

Leinster have had great results to date 

in the BKT URC, and I would like to 

congratulate the Leinster squad captained 

by Luke McGrath on their great win over 

Cell C Sharks in the URC Quarter-Final 

last week and they will be confident 

heading into today’s match. We can 

never be complacent though around 

Munster especially as they too have a 

proven track record in the URC beating 

Glasgow Warriors in last week’s Quarter- 

Final, and we expect tonight to be a 

challenging and physical match as we 

strive to take back the URC cup that was 

denied to us last year. 

I have no doubt that Leo and his squad 

are up for the challenge and we look 

forward to not only the match today, but 

also the Heineken Champions Cup Final 

where they will take on La Rochelle again 

next week on 20 May. I know you will 

join me in wishing Leo and the squad 

every success for the rest of this season. 

I look forward to meeting our many 

supporters of the Leinster team in Aviva 

Stadium. 

On the domestic front, all competitions 

and cups have reached their finals; Huge 

congratulations to Tullow RFC on winning 

the Second’s Towns Cup just a week 

after their 1st XV won the Bank of Ireland 

Provincial Towns Cup, to Portarlington 

RFC on winning the Michael Dunne Cup, 

Tullamore RFC on winning the Anderson 

Cup and Wicklow for winning the 

Second’s Towns Plate. 

Congrats to Terenure College on winning 

the Energia AIL last week, defeating 

Clontarf in the Final. Also, I’d like to say 

well done to Blackrock College who 

earned promotion to Division 1B and 

to Greystone and Skerries who earned 

promotion to Divisions 2A and 2B 

respectively. 

Many thanks to all the many clubs who 

allowed their grounds and facilities to be 

used to host the many, many finals that 

have been held in the last few weeks, 

without the goodwill of all these clubs it 

would be an impossible task to host all 

these final on neutral ground. 

I would like to thank Steve Jameson from 

Leinster Rugby and Hugh Woodhouse, 

Harry Nichols, Dara Donahoe, Scott 

Ennis and the rest of the Youths committee 

and the referee officials on the hosting 

of the Youths finals in Energia Park last 

weekend. A mammoth 20 finals were 

held in Energia Parkl over two days and 

can I say a huge well done on all the 

people and clubs involved in making it a 

spectacular final event. 

As our Domestic clubs wind down now 

after a long season, I would like to 

thank them and all their volunteers, from 

coaches to groundsmen, referees to 

waterboys, committees and managers 

for everything you have given to the 

Domestic game this season. As a longterm 

volunteer in Domestic and Senior 

Rugby, I would urge any of you who are 

planning on hanging up your boots this 

season to look to volunteering for your 

Club, it is a very rewarding experience to 

give back to your local Club and I highly 

recommend it. 

As this is my last address to you for 

the season, I would like to take this 

opportunity to thank the people involved 

in making my life easier over the last year. 

To all on the Management Committee 

in particular Stuart Bayley, Billy Murphy 

and Karl O’Neill who not only have 

shown me great guidance, they and 

the rest of the Committee have been 

there on hand to help me with the raft of 

appointments, events, matches and finals 

that I need to attend throughout the year, 

I would have been lost without them. 

There are many people who have helped 

throughout the year and while hoping 

I don’t forget anyone, I would like to 

thank Robert Deacon, Michael McGrail, 

Declan Gardiner, Moira Flahive, Colin 

Goode, Patrick Crawford, Pat Carolan, 

Bill Duggan, Rachel O’Brien and Jacinta 

O’Rourke for all their help this year. 

To all the staff at Leinster Rugby under the 

stewardship of our CEO Shane Nolan, 

who have made life as a remote President 

so much easier for me, to the EPO’s, 

CRO’s, CCRO’s and WDO’s who do 

tremendous work throughout the Province 

to promote rugby for boys and girls of 

all ages. 

To Lisa Doyle, Gary Nolan and Eamon 

de Búrca in event planning, I wish to 

thank you, especially Lisa who never 

seems to stop working for all your help 

throughout the year. 

To Marcus Ó Buachalla and Daniel 

Kelly in Communications, thank you for 

your help in with articles and speeches, 

their fact checking for me and of course 

their unbelievable patience with me as 

I constantly push out the deadlines they 

4 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

give me. Thank you so much and I hope 

I didn’t cause you too much grief over 

the year. 

To Claire Kilcline and Niamh Kelly in 

the Ticketing Office, thank you for all the 

work you have done this year, especially 

in recent weeks with so many back-toback 

matches taking place. 

We are very lucky in Leinster Rugby to 

have such dedicated staff who always 

work outside the norm of normal working 

hours; Eleanor Ryan in Finance, Phil 

Lawlor in the Rugby Department and 

Declan Fassbender, Dermot O’Mahony 

who somehow manages to organise all 

the rugby matches all season and Hayley 

White who gets referees for them all, I 

know I’ve forgotten a lot of names so 

please forgive me if your name isn’t on 

the list, with 200 staff in Leinster Rugby it 

could be easy to forget a few, but I would 

like to thank you all. 

To the Leinster Staff and the army of 

volunteers on the dozens of committees 

that are needed in order to keep the 

well-oiled machine that makes Leinster 

Rugby one of the greatest Rugby Club 

and Company in the world, I thank you 

from the bottom of my heart. 

One last person I have to thank is Lisa 

McEntee. Lisa runs the administration in 

Leinster Rugby, but that title doesn’t do 

her justice, she organises everything, and 

I mean everything with a smile on her 

face as she loves her job, she has been 

my right arm during this year and could 

not have done this without her help. 

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, especially 

to Sharon, Laura, Madeleine and 

Patrick. 

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 a 

physical, exciting and injury free 

match tonight. 

...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. 

Debbie Carty 

Leinster Rugby President 2022/23 


Leo Cullen 

head Coach Welcome 

And then there 

were four! 

A warm Aviva welcome to 

Graham Rowntree and his 

Munster team, and to all 

supporters wearing blue and 

red, for this evening’s BKT United 

Rugby Championship semi-final. 

It’s taken so much work, resilience 

and attention to detail to get 

through to this stage of the season 

and we’re delighted to be still 

standing. 

There have been many epic Leinster 

v Munster games over the years, and 

we all hope that tonight will be another 

classic. 

Certainly, we know we have a big 

challenge on our hands. Whatever 

happens, it’s a testament to Irish rugby 

that we have three of the four semifinalists, 

with at least one Irish side 

guaranteed to be in the final later 

this month. 

Many thanks to everyone who 

turned out last weekend for 

our quarter-final against 

the Cell C Sharks. The 

atmosphere was brilliant, 

it gave everyone a lift 

and helped us get over 

the line. It’s non-stop 

at the moment, with 

knock-out games 

coming thick and fast, 

and we really appreciate 

the effort and expense it takes to come 

and support us. 

Thanks again to everyone at the IRFU 

who help facilitate our games here at 

the Aviva Stadium, and who ensure the 

pitch is in such amazing condition. It’s 

a brilliant arena to play rugby, and we 

hope tonight’s game lives up to its billing. 

Congratulations to Terenure RFC 

on winning the Energia All-Ireland 

League last Sunday, after a repeat 

of last season’s final with Clontarf. 

Congratulations also to my own 

Blackrock RFC for clinching promotion 

to AIL Division 1B. It was heartening 

to see such big crowds attending all 

the promotion and relegation battles 

over the weekend and a clear sign of 

all the great work that’s being done 

in rugby clubs across the country. 

Congratulations to our new 

Academy intake for next 

season. It’s always a special 

day when players hear that 

they’ll be joining us in UCD 

on a more permanent basis. 

It’s also another step on the 

ladder in their careers and 

we wish them the very best 

of luck in the seasons ahead. 

How many will go on to play 

in a semi-final or final at the 

Aviva?! 

With new players coming into 

the building, of course we also have 

players leaving, and we’d like to wish 

them all every success in their next 

challenge. 


Leinster have had some incredible 

servants, both players and staff, over the 

years, and at the end of this season we 

have some very special people moving 

on to pastures new. It’s such a privilege to 

serve and represent this club for however 

long we are here, knowing that there is a 

younger generation coming through who 

will build on our legacy. 

A big thanks as always to our loyal 

sponsors, in particular Bank of Ireland, 

who have been with us throughout a 

long and gruelling season and who 

now get to join us at the business end. 

It’s a wonderful time of year to be at the 

games and it’s great to see our partners 

enjoying such positive exposure on 

these big match days. 

To be successful in two competitions 

takes a huge effort from everyone, 

not just players and coaches but 

supporters too. The OLSC has 

been doing Trojan work behind the 

scenes to generate such a cracking 

atmosphere, and we are grateful to 

all volunteers who help make the 

magic happen. There’s nothing like 

arriving at the ground or running out 

onto the pitch in front of our famous 

‘sea of blue’. 

Thanks for being here, enjoy the 

game, and I hope you’ve managed 

to secure a ticket for next weekend! 

Leo 


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laura 

lynch 

BANK OF IRELAND 

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 

A very warm 

welcome to the 

aviva stadium 

from Bank of 

Ireland as we look 

forward to this 

evening’s fixture. 

Bank of Ireland are proud partners to Leinster 

Rugby. Like us, they are rooted in local communities 

across the 12 counties of Leinster. 

We are delighted to support Leo Cullen and his coaching 

team in building Leinster Rugby through clubs and schools, 

developing home grown talent and always ensuring that 

Leinster #NeverStopCompeting. 

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

evening. 

We wish Leinster Rugby every success, and hope that you 

enjoy the game. 

Laura Lynch. 

BANK OF IRELAND 

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 


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Did you know? 

• Leinster’s only defeat this 

season was 7-62 at Vodacom 

Bulls in Round 18. 

• This is Leinster’s fourteenth 

URC semi-final appearance with 

their only two defeats at that 

stage both being at the RDS 

Arena, against Scarlets in 2017 

and Vodacom Bulls last year. 

• Leinster have not lost against 

a fellow Irish province since 

their trip to Ulster in March 

2022. 

• The last time that Leinster 

were defeated by an Irish 

province in the semi-final of 

any competition was in the 

Champions Cup in 2006 with 

Munster winning 30-6 at Aviva 

Stadium/Landsdowne Road. 

• The Leinstermen have played 

twenty-seven previous United 

Rugby Championship fixtures 

at Aviva Stadium with their 

only defeat there being 23-34 to 

Munster in October 2014. 

• Munster have lost just one of 

their last nine BKT United Rugby 

Championship matches: 26-38 at 

home to Glasgow Warriors in 

Round 16. 

• The Munstermen have not 

lost away from home in the 

Championship since their defeat 

to Leinster at Aviva Stadium 

last October. 

• Munster have lost their last 

five semi final matches in all 

competitions since beating 

Ospreys 23-3 in Limerick in the 

United Rugby Championship in 

2017. 

• The Munstermen have won only 

once at Aviva Stadium since 

2014: 49-12 against Connacht in 

August 2020. 

• Leinster’s only defeat in their 

last eleven fixtures against 

Munster since 2018 was 3-27 at 

the RDS Arena in the Rainbow Cup 

in April 2021. 

• Leinster have won their last 

eight clashes against Munster 

at Aviva Stadium. 

COMPARISON 

Overall URC head-to-head record: 

Played 47, Leinster won 32, Munster won 15. 

Last 3 URC results: 

15 Apr - Lions (A) W 39-36 15 Apr - Stormers (A) W 26-24 

22 Apr - Bulls (A) L 7-62 22 Apr - Sharks (A) D 22-22 

6 May - Sharks (H) W 35-5 6 May - Glasgow (A) W 14-5 

URC 2022/23 

1ST - W16 D1 L1 - 79pts 

WWWDWL (23pts) 

URC form 

5TH - W10 D1 L7 - 55pts 

WWWLWD (23pts) 

Top try scorer 

10 - Rob Russell 10 - Gavin Coombes 

Top points scorer 

69 - Ross Byrne 92 - Joey Carbery 

Date Venue L M Leinster scorers Munster scorers 

Sat 27 

Mar 21 

Sat 24 

Apr 21 

Sat 2 

Apr 22 

Sat 21 

May 22 

Sat 22 

Oct 22 

Mon 26 

Dec 22 

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

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

Carbery(2C/2P) Penalty Try(T) 

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

Garry Ringrose(T) Jimmy O'Brien(T) 

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

Scott Penny(T) Rory O'Loughlin(T) 

Penalty Try(T) 

Aviva Stadium 27 13 Scott Penny(T) Rob Russell(T) Luke 

McGrath(T) Dan Sheehan(T) Johnny 

Sexton(2C/P) 

Thomond Park 20 19 Ross Byrne(2C/2P) Scott Penny(T) 

Dan Sheehan(T) 

Damian de Allende(T) Joey 

Carbery(C/4P) 

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

Conor Murray(T) Joey 

Carbery(2C/2P) 

Joey Carbery(C/2P) Liam Coombes(T) 

Joey Carbery(C) Patrick Campbell(T) 

Gavin Coombes(T) Penalty Try(T) 



max 

deegan 

the big interview 

BY DANIEL KELLY 

Max Deegan 

is in line to 

become Leinster 

Rugby’s next 

Centurion. 

But even he’s 

surprised how 

close he is to 

the feat! 


“I know in or around how many 

I have, but I couldn’t tell you 

exactly how many I have though”, 

he said earlier this week, when 

asked how many times he had 

played since making his debut as a 

20-year-old in 2016. 

Deegan will line out for Leinster for the 

98th time this evening. Only he and Ed 

Byrne (96) are currently within touching 

distance of reaching that milestone, 

with Jordan Larmour next in line on 89 

appearances. 

“Oh. Wow! 

“I didn’t realise I was that close to it. I 

knew I was in the nineties.” 

With so many appearances amassed 

for Leinster along with two caps in green 

for Ireland, Deegan is growing into a 

leadership role within the squad. 

“I feel this year especially, I’ve taken on a 

far bigger role! 

“You have a lot of lads that have so much 

more experience than me - international 

experience that I wouldn’t have. But in 

terms of when those players are gone, 

I feel I have stepped up, done well and 

helped lead the team with the likes of 

Rhys Ruddock and players like that.” 

Part of the squad that traveled to South 

Africa, Deegan played against Emirates 

Lions and Vodacom Bulls in games that 

saw Academy player Sam Prendergast 

and Sub-Academy duo Liam Molony and 

Conor O’Tighearnaigh make their debuts, 

while many more players who had only 


That’s five 

games in 

a row! You 

can’t play 

the same 

team in all 

of those 

matches. 

Having 

strength in 

depth is key. 

We all like 

each other, 

get on well, 

and push 

each other. 

played a handful of times for the province 

got valuable game time. 

“A lot of the lads who come in wouldn’t 

be used to playing, training and 

preparing for big games. Even helping 

with the basics like that is useful”, he said 

of his role in the Highveld. 

“The lads are excellent at preparing 

really well. They see us prepare for 

games. It’s all about helping them along 

the way if they have any questions like 

‘What would you do in this situation?’ or 

‘What should we do here? Should we do 

a walkthrough?’ if you’re talking about 

lineouts. 

“Because they are new lads, it’s all about 

making players feel comfortable. It’s 

about having a bit of craic with them on 

the bus on the way back from training. It’s 

about making players feel comfortable, 

and they’ll never be afraid to speak in a 

game, or even outside of it.” 

Over 60 players have featured 

in Leinster’s BKT United Rugby 

Championship run this season, with 

Deegan starting in 12 of those 

matches. The efforts of all the 

players he says are focused on 

a solitary end point. 

“We all have one goal in 

mind. That’s to do the double. 

It’s completely a squad effort. 

Whatever team you are 

playing in, from one week to the 

next, you need to turn up and 

perform. 

“We want all these games at the 

end of the season to be at home. 

It’s a big effort to get to that point. It’s 

not like ‘we’ll play well in the games at 

the end of the season.’ We want to play 

well in every game. These home matches 

make things a little more comfortable at 

this time of year. 

“There is so much competition in the 

squad. You have to turn up and perform, 

or else you won’t be picked for the bigger 

games. You get these chances - the jersey 


is yours for the week. You have to turn 

up and play well, or the jersey won’t be 

yours next week, or the week after.” 

The back-row remains one of Leinster’s 

strongest areas, with a different 

combination being selected again this 

week. 

Despite the changes, Deegan feels the 

group works well, no matter who wears 

numbers six, seven and eight. 

“The strength and the dynamics shows in 

blocks like this. There is a run of games in 

Toulouse, the Sharks, Munster this week, 

La Rochelle next week, and hopefully 

another Final after that. 

“That’s five games in a row! You can’t 

play the same team in all of those 

matches. Having strength in depth is key. 

We all like each other, get on well, and 

push each other. 

“There is always a mixture of who we 

play with. I played with Caelan [Doris] 

last week, and play with Jack [Conan] this 

week. We’re all comfortable playing with 

each other, and enjoying pushing each 

other on.” 

Matches against Munster is something to 

savour in the Deegan household, and this 

evening’s game is no different. 

“My dad Aidan went to school in Sixth 

Year in Rockwell in Tipperary, so he has a 

bit of Munster in him. My granny is from 

Munster, so we would have gone down 

there a lot as kids, and we would have 

gone to games if they were in Thomond. 

“I’ve always known about the rivalry, and 

going to the games. To play in them is 

unbelievably special.” 

It’s 

different from 

other games. 

They feel like 

our version 

of Australia’s 

State of 

Origin 

matches. 


This will be Deegan’s fourth consecutive 

start against Munster, having come off 

the bench in his first four times playing in 

the tie. 

“It’s different from other games. They feel 

like our version of Australia’s State of 

Origin matches. 

“All of the Interpro matches feel like 

Origin games, but I do think Leinster- 

Munster holds something different. The 

rivalry is there, and the levels rise.” 

Having played Munster in both Aviva 

Stadium and Thomond Park this season, 

the 26-year-old knows he’s in for a tough 

evening. 

“Both games this year were tight. There 

was only a point in it in Limerick. Munster 

always turn up in these games against 

Leinster. The way they are playing at the 

moment - they will turn up again.” 

With Munster now fully focused on 

winning the URC title, Deegan says 

Leinster’s focus is fully on beating their 

provincial rivals, and not on what lies 

ahead. 

“We’re fighting on two fronts still, but it’s 

the one goal. It’s not one goal to win the 

Champions Cup, and another to win the 

URC. The goal is to win both! 

“We have to be ready for teams to turn 

up and give their best against us. We’re 

not expecting an average Munster to turn 

up. It’ll be a team playing as good as 

they can that will come to Dublin.” 

Having won on the road last week 

against Glasgow Warriors, Munster’s 

form is something Deegan is wary of. 

“Their backs are against the wall 

currently, yet they turn up and perform 

each week and do well. We expect 

nothing different this week. 

“They are playing really well at the 

moment. The level of cohesion in what 

they are doing is really good at the 

moment. They understand how they want 

to play, and we can see it on the pitch.” 

Munster were the first team to defeat the 

DHL Stormers at home since December 

2021 in the URC, and it’s a performance 

that impressed Deegan. 

“There is an old-school Munster vibe to 

the team, but they have an attacking flair 

that is going really well. 

“In South Africa, they have two massive 

performances, and will want another one 

against us”. 

Earlier this season, Deegan told media 

that he was “managing my knee and the 

pain, not being 100%” last season, after 

returning from an ACL injury he sustained 

in October 2020. 


There is an 

old-school 

Munster vibe to 

the team, but 

they have an 

attacking flair 

that is going 

really well. 

Despite a minor ankle injury earlier this 

season, he’s been delighted with his form, 

which saw him captain the Emerging 

Ireland team in South Africa and earn a 

second Ireland cap, in November. 

“I started the season really well”, he said 

proudly. 

“I was happy with how I was playing. I 

went to South Africa with the Emerging 

Ireland squad, and got another Ireland 

cap in November, which was great. 

“I was going well up to Christmas, and 

then the ankle injury slowed me down a 

bit. I didn’t get into the Six Nations squad, 

but felt I played well in those block of 

games during the tournament, and got 

back up to speed. 

“I’m playing well at the moment, and 

trying to peak at the right time.” 

With a maximum of three games left in 

the season, the finish line is in sight. How 

does a player manage the bumps and 

bruises when May comes around? 

“You can manage players at this time of 

year, with workloads and game time. 

It’s all about recovering in the best way 

we can. 

“We all want to give the best account of 

ourselves on the field. If your body isn’t 

right, you can still perform, but it’s a lot 

more difficult.” 

It’s clear the mantra is all about 

performing to the best of his ability, and 

taking a chance when the opportunity 

arises. 

After an impressive performance last 

week against Cell C Sharks, that included 

a try, Deegan will be hoping for more of 

the same this evening. 


35 5 

Action 

replay 

SATURDAY, 6 MAY 

AVIVA STADIUM 

ATTENDANCE: 14,642 

BKT UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 

QUARTER-FINAL 

SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR 

THE FULL MATCH REPORT 

SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR 

THE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS 

LEINSTER: 

Keenan, Larmour, Frawley, Ngatai, Kearney, 

H Byrne, McGrath (capt); Milne, Sheehan, 

Furlong, Baird, Jenkins, Deegan, 

Penny, Doris. 

REPLACEMENTS: McKee, Porter, Healy, 

J McCarthy, Conan, Gibson-Park, 

R Byrne, Turner. 

TRIES C. Doris (1) M. Milne (1) J. Larmour 

(1) M. Deegan (1) J. Gibson-Park (1) 

CONVERSIONS H. Byrne (4) R. Byrne (1) 

CELL C SHARKS: 

Fassi, Potgieter, Am (capt), Tapuai, Mapimpi, 

Chamberlain, Williams; Nche, Mbonambi, 

du Toit, Rahl, Grobler, Venter, 

Tshituka, Notshe. 

REPLACEMENTS: Mbatha, Mchunu, Sadie, 

Labuschagne, Buthelezi, Wright, Fleurs, 

van Rensburg. 

TRY G. Williams (1) 

YELLOW CARDS M. Mapimp, J. Venter 

The scoreline 

probably flatters 

us a bit, definitely. 

Tough opposition the 

whole way through 

the game, they had 

a disallowed try 

towards the end. 

Some pleasing things 

from us but it was 

definitely scrappy. 

Caelan Doris 


For us it was 

about making 

sure we get 

through to the 

next round, 

and come 

through 

relatively 

unscathed 

with a few 

bangs and 

bumps. 

Leo Cullen 


Leinster clubs succeed in 

the Energia All-Ireland 

League Men’s Divisions. 

Last weekend brought this 

season’s men’s Energia 

All-Ireland League to a 

finish with promotion/ 

relegation playoffs 

across the five divisions 

and which culminated with 

the Division 1A final on 

Sunday afternoon. 

There was success for a number 

of the eighteen Leinster clubs 

competing, with the ultimate 

honour of the Division 1A All 

-Ireland League title going 

to Terenure College RFC who 

defeated Clontarf RFC 5-24 in a 

pulsating final in front of 8,600 

vociferous spectators in the Aviva 

Stadium. 

The result, a reverse of the previous 

season’s final between the two clubs, 

meant that the Lakelands outfit were 

crowned overall champions for the first 

time in their history, a superb achievement 

and no doubt the celebrations will go all 

summer! 


Clontarf put up a stern defence of their 

title and went into the top four playoffs 

having topped the league table ahead 

of Terenure in second place. Both clubs 

prevailed over Munster opposition in the 

semi-finals beating Young Munster and 

Cork Constitution respectively. 

In Division 1B both Old Belvedere 

RFC and Old Wesley RFC finished the 

regular season in the top four, behind 

winners City of Armagh, and both made 

the promotion playoffs. Unfortunately, 

both teams failed to progress with Old 

Belvedere losing out to Highfield and Old 

Wesley to Shannon who went on to retain 

their Division 1A status by beating the 

Cork men in the final. 

Division 2A saw two Leinster clubs, 

Blackrock College RFC and MU Barnhall 

RFC, make the top four. Blackrock finished 

second to winners Queens University 

and saw off the challenge of third placed 

Nenagh to set up a final playoff against 

Barnhall (fourth) who accounted for the 

Division 1B team Banbridge in the other 

semi-final. Again, another exciting final 

in front of a large crowd in Stradbrook, 

it was Blackrock who prevailed, winning 

29-21. And as a result, will ply their trade 

in Division 1B next season. 

Greystones RFC topped the league 

in Division 2B and gained automatic 

promotion to Division 2A for next season. 

The Wicklow men did it in 

style winning sixteen of their eighteen 

matches during the campaign and will 

relish the opportunity to compete at a 

higher level. 

Wanderers FC just missed out on making 

the playoffs finishing in fifth position, 

losing out to Sligo in the last regular game 

of the season. 

Skerries RFC have won promotion from 

Division 2C up to 2B. Having finished 

second to runaway leaders Instonians, 

they played fellow Leinster men Tullamore 

RFC in the semi-final winning 12-3. 

They then faced Munster men Bruff last 

Saturday afternoon, again in front of 

a large crowd at home in the final, a 

match they won by 30-15. So, like fellow 

seasiders Greystones they will look 

forward to new challenges next season. 

Unfortunately, Enniscorthy RFC were 

the only club from the province to suffer 

relegation. The Wexford men dropping 

out of Division 2B into 2C. No doubt they 

will put every effort into bouncing straight 

back next season. 

So, another Men’s Energia All-Ireland 

League season is complete and what an 

excellent campaign it turned out to be 

across all five divisions. 

Congratulations to Terenure as overall 

winners and to the other Leinster clubs 

who gained promotion. ncreased 

attendances at matches across the 

country along with clubs live streaming 

games, the club game is now reaching 

wider audiences who are witnessing an 

ever improving product. 

Long may it continue and roll on next 

season! 


leo 

the lion’s 

kids 

corner 

ANAGRAMS 

Can you un-jumble 

the names of these 

players? 

ARE VAN 

KEYED 

TACK HURL 

GEM 

spot the difference! 

Can you find all six? 

zoomed in! 

WHo is this leinster player 

having an extreme close-up? 

how did you do? 

ANAGRAMS 

Dave Kearney, Luke McGrath 

ZOOMED IN! 

Cian Healy 

a... 

...maze... 

...ing 

can you make 

your way 

through the 

maze to the 

ball? 


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academy 

update 

Leinster 

Rugby have 

confirmed 

that eight 

new players 

will join 

the Academy 

ahead of the 

commencement 

of the 2023/24 

season. 

Speaking to leinsterrugby.ie, 

Leinster Rugby Academy Manager 

Simon Broughton, said, “I’d like 

to congratulate the eight players 

selected to join the Leinster Rugby 

Academy. 

“This is a terrific opportunity for the club 

to continue to help these young men grow 

into excellent members of our community, 

while at the same time supporting them 

to achieve their rugby and academic 

potential. 

“It’s important to acknowledge the 

contribution their clubs, schools and 

pathway coaches have played in 

fostering not only their talents but also 

their love for the game. From the countless 

hours spent on the training pitch to the 

emotional support provided off the field, 

these individuals have been instrumental 

in their development and deserve 

recognition for their efforts. 

“Finally, to their parents and their families, 

thank you for your continued support 

which is greatly appreciated.” 

Andrew 

Osborne 

(Naas RFC) 

DOB - 16 August 2003 

Andrew is currently studying 

Economics, Maths and Statistics in 

UCD and plays in the back three. 

He was a member of the Ireland U-20 

2022 Grand Slam winning team, scoring 

a try in the win over Scotland in Scotstoun 

Stadium, which was also his debut at that 

level. 

Like older brother Jamie, Andrew started 

his rugby with the Naas RFC minis, 

attended Naas CBS and lined out for 

the North Midlands Area in the Bank of 

Ireland Shane Horgan Cup. 

Andrew earned his first Leinster 

representative cap in summer 2019 where 

he played for Leinster U-18s Youths in 

the interprovincial competition in the 

University of Limerick. The same year he 

earned his first Ireland age grade cap for 

Ireland U-18s Clubs against Italy. 

His parents, Joe and Fiona, and his three 

other brothers Jack, Adam and Will are 

all still immersed in sport and in Naas 

RFC with their different age groups. 

Andrew acknowledges his dad, who was 

also his underage coach in Naas RFC, 

with much of the credit for his progression 

so far. 

Conor 

O’Tighearnaigh 

(UCD RFC) 

DOB - 2 April 2003 

Second row Conor made his 

Leinster Rugby senior debut in the 

BKT United Rugby Championship 

game against the Vodacom Bulls 

in Loftus Versfeld Stadium in April 

2023. It capped a remarkable few 

weeks for the young man, having 


also starred for Richie Murphy’s 

Ireland U-20s on their way to the 

Grand Slam. 

It was his second U-20s Grand Slam 

having also played in 2022. 

He started his rugby journey with Bective 

Rangers FC minis before moving to Old 

Belvedere RFC and then attending St. 

Michael’s College where he went to 

school. 

Interestingly, in his first year with the 

Leinster U-18s Schools he didn’t make 

the final panel for the interprovincial 

competition, while his second year was 

cancelled due to Covid-19. However, he 

played in all three interprovincial games 

with the Leinster U-20s. 

Conor is studying Medicine in UCD, and 

names Emmet MacMahon, Andy Skehan 

and Jimmy Duffy as coaches that have 

had an impact on his career to date. 

Fintan 

Gunne 

(Terenure RFC) 

DOB - 28 July 2003 

Fintan was a mainstay of Richie 

Murphy’s Ireland U-20s with the 

all-action number nine a constant 

thorn in the sides of those he met. 

He scored a try against England in 

the Grand Slam decider in Cork. 

In April 2023, he was invited on the 

two-game tour of South Africa by Leo 

Cullen where he picked up valuable 

experience and will now enter the Leinster 

Rugby Academy in time for the 2023/24 

season. 

Fintan is studying Commerce in UCD and 

started his rugby in Old Belvedere RFC, 

before attending St. Michael’s College. 

He now lines out for Terenure RFC in the 

Energia All-Ireland League. 

As a youngster, he was also a talented 

golfer (Leinster development squad at 

U-15s) and swimmer (gold medallist in 

Leinster freestyle gala), before he turned 

his focus towards rugby where his dad 

had also shown promise until a knee 

injury cut short his career shortly after 

leaving Castleknock College. 

He has been capped at age grade level 

by Leinster Rugby at U-18s and U-19s, 

before making his Ireland U-20s debut in 

the 2023 Six Nations. 

Fintan mentions his school coach Andy 

Skehan as having a huge influence on 

his career in particular giving him the 

confidence as a young player to play 

above his age group. 

Gus 

McCarthy 

(UCD RFC) 

DOB - 23 July 2003 

Gus was the captain of the Grand 

Slam winning Ireland U-20s side 

as the UCD RFC hooker led the 

team to a remarkable second title 

in as many years. 


He started out his rugby journey with 

Old Belvedere RFC, before playing in 

Blackrock College, where he captained 

the Senior Cup team to the 2022 Bank of 

Ireland Leinster Rugby Schools Senior title 

after a win over Gonzaga College in the 

RDS Arena. 

He is now studying Commerce in UCD, 

where he is also lining out in the Energia 

All-Ireland League. 

McCarthy played a number of other 

sports growing up, including GAA with 

Kilmacud Crokes, tennis and golf, but it 

was his coach, Bobby O’Brien in Old 

Belvedere that left an indelible impression 

on the youngster, fostering a love of 

rugby that lasts to this day. 

Interestingly, in that Old Belvedere team 

that O’Brien coached, there were four 

of the Academy inductees announced 

today, namely, McCarthy, Gunne, Patrick 

McCarthy and O’Tighearnaigh. 

Henry 

McErlean 

(Terenure RFC) 

DOB - 13 February 2003 

Henry plays in the back three 

and was the starting full back in 

the Grand Slam decider against 

England in the U-20s Six Nations. 

He grew up in Cushendall, in Antrim, 

and played rugby with Ballymena RFC 

and hurling with Ruairí Óg GAA Club 

before his family moved to Dublin, where 

he played Gaelic Football with Clanna 

Gael and rugby in St. Michael’s College. 

He won a Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby 

Schools Junior Cup title in 2019 after 

beating Blackrock College in the final in 

Energia Park. 

He is currently studying Economics in 

UCD, and plays his club rugby with 

Terenure RFC in the Energia All-Ireland 

League. 

Henry’s dad played basketball for 

Ireland and his sister is on the U-19s Irish 

hockey team. His cousin, Harry West, is in 

the Connacht Rugby Academy and was 

a fellow member of the Irish U-20s in this 

year’s Six Nations. 

He mentions Charles Creagan and Ronan 

Joyce for their coaching influence on 

him when starting out with St. Michael’s 

College. 

Hugh 

Cooney 

(Clontarf FC) 

DOB - 26 June 2003 

Hugh is a centre and is currently 

studying Sports and Exercise 

Management in UCD. 

He won a Senior Cup medal with 

Blackrock College in 2022, scoring 

a try in the final against Gonzaga 

College. Later that same year he would 

line out with Leinster ‘A’ in a number of 

interprovincial games before making 

his Ireland U-20s debut in the 2023 Six 

Nations. He played in every game of the 

campaign. 

Growing up he was also a talented 

soccer player with St. James AFC and 

Beechwood FC and he represented 

South Dublin in the renowned Kennedy 

Cup. 

Before attending Blackrock College, 

he played minis rugby with Blackrock 

College RFC in Stradbrook and now 

lines out for Clontarf FC in the Energia 

All-Ireland League. 

Hugh doesn’t need to go far to look for 

inspiration as his second cousin is former 

Leinster, Ireland and British & Irish Lions, 

Jack McGrath. 

He references David van Zuydam his 

underage coach in the club, while John 

Creighton and Justin Vanstone had a 

huge impact on him while in school. 


Liam 

Molony 

(Dublin University FC) 

DOB - 9 November 2003 

Like Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Liam 

also made his Leinster Rugby 

senior debut while still a member 

of the Sub-Academy. The back 

row was invited on to the twogame 

tour of South Africa by Leo 

Cullen and came on in the second 

half against the Vodacom Bulls in 

Pretoria. 

Having attended Blackrock College 

– where he won a Senior Cup title in 

2022 – Liam is now in Technological 

University, Dublin studying Business and 

Management, and wears the Dublin 

University FC colours in the Energia All- 

Ireland League. 

He is a first cousin of Leinster lock Ross 

Molony, and his grandfather, Jack was 

capped by Ireland against Scotland in 

Lansdowne Road in 1950. 

Growing up, he played his minis rugby 

in Blackrock College RFC and his second 

love was soccer, playing with Mount 

Merrion FC. 

Molony was selected for the Scotland 

and England games in the Grand Slam 

winning campaign with the Ireland U-20s 

and has followed that up with a cap for 

the Leinster Rugby senior team in the BKT 

United Rugby Championship. 

He credits Blackrock College coaches, 

Justin Vanstone and John Creighton, as 

two coaches who helped him enormously 

throughout his development. 

Patrick 

McCarthy 

(Dublin University FC) 

DOB - 28 May 2003 

The final member of the Year One 

intake, is prop Patrick McCarthy, 

the younger brother of Leinster 

and Ireland lock, Joe. 

As mentioned earlier, Patrick started out 

his rugby in Old Belvedere RFC minis with 

a number of the other Academy players 

before moving to Blackrock College 

school where he won a Senior Cup title 

in 2022. 

He is now studying Global Business in 

Trinity College and playing for Dublin 

University FC in the Energia AIl-Ireland 

League. 

Patrick played in all five of the games for 

Ireland on their way to the Grand Slam, 

wearing the number three or 18 jersey, in 

all of the games and scored a memorable 

try in the win over France in Musgrave 

Park. 

In terms of coaches, Patrick credits 

Seamus Toomey in Blackrock College 

as a great source of knowledge around 

the scrum and someone that he really 

respects and appreciates for his time with 

him as a young player. 


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leinster 

squad 2022/23 

season 

Vakhtang Abdaladze #1263 

Prop 

DOB 6 Feb 1996 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 

WEIGHT 121kg (19st 1 lb) 

3 

CAPS 

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”) 


11 

CAPS 

Ed Byrne #1222 

Prop 

DOB 9 September 1993 

HEIGHT 1.80m (5’ 11”) 

WEIGHT 115kg (18st) 

6 

CAP 

Harry Byrne #1280 

Out-half 

DOB 22 April 1999 

HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


2 

CAPS 

Ross Byrne #1236 

Out-half 


HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


19 

CAPS 

Thomas Clarkson #1285 

Prop 

DOB 22 February 2000 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Jack Conan #1223 

38 

CAPS 

7 

CAPS 

No 8 


HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”) 

WEIGHT 110kg (17st 4 lbs) 


Will Connors #1264 

9 

CAPS 

Max Deegan #1256 

2 

CAPS 

Brian Deeny #1306 

Caelan Doris #1268 

28 

CAPS 

Back Row 


HEIGHT 1.96 (6’ 5”) 


No 8 

DOB 1 October 1996 

HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”) 


Second Row 

DOB 2 March 2000 

HEIGHT 1.99m (6’ 6”) 


Back Row 


HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”) 


Cormac Foley #1299 

Scrum-half 


HEIGHT 1.81m (5’ 11 ”) 

WEIGHT 90kg (14 st 2 lbs) 

Ciarán Frawley #1265 

Out-half 

DOB 4 December 1997 

HEIGHT 1.92m (6’ 3”) 


Tadhg Furlong #1220 

Prop 

DOB 14 November 1992 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


65 

CAPS 

13 

CAPS 

Jamison Gibson-Park #1247 

Scrum-half 


HEIGHT 1.76m (5’ 9”) 


25 

CAPS 

Cian Healy #1142 

123 

CAPS 

2 

CAPS 

Robbie Henshaw #1251 

63 

CAPS 

9 

CAPS 

Jason Jenkins #1310 

1 

CAP 

Dave Kearney #1158 

19 

CAPS 

Prop 


HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Centre / Full Back 

DOB 12 June 1993 

HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


Lock 

DOB 2 December 1995 

HEIGHT 2.03 m (6’ 8”) 


Wing / Full Back 


HEIGHT 1.81m (5’ 11”) 


Hugo Keenan #1253 

30 

CAPS 

Rónan Kelleher #1277 

21 

CAPS 

Jordan Larmour #1258 

30 

CAPS 

James Lowe #1262 

20 

CAPS 

Full Back 


HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Hooker 

DOB 24 January 1998 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”) 


Wing 


HEIGHT 1.78m (5’ 10”) 


Wing / Full Back 


HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”) 



Joe McCarthy #1303 

1 

CAP 

Nick McCarthy #1241 

Tadgh McElroy #1312 

Luke McGrath #1206 

19 

CAPS 

Second Row 


HEIGHT 1.98m (6’ 6”) 


Scrum Half 


HEIGHT 1.8m (5’ 11”) 


Hooker 

DOB 16 June1997 

HEIGHT 1.78m (5’ 10’) 

WEIGHT 103kg (16st, 2lbs) 

Scrum Half 


HEIGHT 1.75m (5’ 9”) 


Michael Milne #1279 

Martin Moloney #1300 

Ross Molony #1233 

Charlie Ngatai #1311 

1 

CAP 

Prop 


HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”) 


Back Row 


HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”) 


Lock 

DOB 11 May 1994 

HEIGHT 2.00m (6’ 6”) 


Centre / Full Back 


HEIGHT 1.87 m (6’ 2”) 


Jimmy O’Brien #1272 

5 

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 

53 

CAPS 

Garry Ringrose #1237 

50 

CAPS 

Rhys Ruddock #1167 

27 

CAPS 

Charlie Ryan 

Prop 


HEIGHT 1.84m (6’ 1”) 


Centre 


HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”) 


Back Row 


HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


Lock 


HEIGHT 2.01m (6’ 7”) 



James Ryan #1259 

53 

CAPS 

Johnny Sexton #1127 

113 

CAPS 

14 

CAPS 

Dan Sheehan #1286 

17 

CAPS 

James Tracy #1211 

6 

CAPS 

Lock 


HEIGHT 2.00m (6’ 7”) 


Out-half 


HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”) 


Hooker 


HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


Hooker 


HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Liam Turner #1287 

Centre 


HEIGHT 1.73m (5’ 8”) 


Josh van der Flier #1228 

50 

CAPS 

Flanker 


HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”) 


for full squad profiles 

please scan this qr code 

Coaching 

Staff 2022/23 

Stuart 

Lancaster 

Senior Coach 

season 

Leo Cullen 

Head 

Coach 

Emmet 

Farrell 

Kicking Coach and 

Lead Performance Analyst 

Robin 

McBryde 

Assistant Coach 

SEÁN 

O’BRIEN 

CONTACT SKILLS Coach 

ANDREW 

GOODMAN 

ASSISTANT COACH 

Guy 

Easterby 

Head of Rugby Operations 


We always strive to be 

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Welcome to the new weekly rugby newsletter from 

The Irish Times led by rugby correspondent Gerry Thornley. 

This newsletter provides exclusive additional coverage 

of international rugby, the Champions Cup, URC 

and women’s rugby, as well as a selection 

of our best rugby articles from the week. 

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Leinster trio nominated 

for EPCR Player of the 

Year AwarD 

Caelan Doris, 

Garry Ringrose 

and Josh van der 

Flier have all 

been nominated 

for the 2023 EPCR 

Player of the 

Year award. 

The Leinster trio are joined on 

the final shortlist by La Rochelle’s 

Grégory Alldritt and Toulouse’s 

Antoine Dupont. 

The 2022 winner, van der Flier is looking 

to become the first player to win the 

title in back-to-back seasons. Doris and 

Ringrose are looking to become the 

fourth Leinster players to win the award, 

following in the footsteps of Seán O’Brien 

(2011), Rob Kearney (2012) and van der 

Flier (2022). 

The initial 15 nominees have been 

trimmed to five based on the combined 

verdict of a renowned panel of judges 

along with almost 20,000 participants in 

the public vote. 

Voting for one of the most coveted 

individual awards in world rugby has 

now reopened on epcrugby.com/ 

epoty and the winner and recipient of 

the Anthony Foley Memorial Trophy will 

be announced following the Heineken 

Champions Cup final. 

2023 EPCR Player of the Year shortlist 

Grégory ALLDRITT 

(Stade Rochelais) 

Caelan DORIS 

(Leinster Rugby) 

Antoine DUPONT 

(Stade Toulousain) 

Garry RINGROSE 


Josh VAN DER FLIER 


ROLL OF HONOUR 

2022: Josh van der Flier (Leinster Rugby) 

2021: Antoine Dupont (Stade Toulousain) 

2020: Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs) 

2019: Alex Goode (Saracens) 

2018: Leone Nakarawa (Racing 92) 

2017: Owen Farrell (Saracens) 

2016: Maro Itoje (Saracens) 

2015: Nick Abendanon (ASM Clermont Auvergne) 

2014: Steffon Armitage (RC Toulon) 

2013: Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon) 

2012: Rob Kearney (Leinster Rugby) 

2011: Sean O’Brien (Leinster Rugby) 

2010: Ronan O’Gara (Munster Rugby – 

best player of first 15 years of European club rugby) 


Over 2,300 players feature 

at the Seapoint RC Blitz 

Seapoint Rugby Club welcomed 

over 2,300 young rugby players 

from 155 teams and from over 

43 clubs to Kilbogget Park in 

Cabinteely last month for the 

41st Seapoint Rugby Blitz. It’s the 

largest event of its kind in Ireland 

and Europe. 

The event showcased the best of rucking, 

tackling, and passing, creating an electric 

atmosphere for players and spectators 

alike. 

Leinster players Jamison Gibson-Park, 

Charlie Ngatai and Jordan Larmour 

joined Leo the Lion to show their support 

for the young players on the day. 

The boys and girls from Seapoint U10s, 

U11s, and U12s were joined by players 

from all over the country, including clubs 

from Munster, Connacht, Ulster and their 

fellow Leinster clubs to participate in 604 

matches across 31 pitches. 

Over 150 volunteers scheduled the 

matches, coordinated things on the day, 

and arranged an array of family fun 

activities in the park, including a live DJ, 

BBQs, and family games. The event was 

a testament to the club and community 

spirit, which has kept it running for over 

40 years. 

Barry Chadwick, Seapoint RC President, 

said, “The Seapoint RC Blitz is a 

wonderful event that showcases the rugby 

skills of the thousands of boys and girls 

who take part each year. I am personally 

grateful to everyone who works so hard 

to put on this event year after year, and 

I’m particularly proud to be President on 

this our biggest blitz ever”. 

Seapoint RC welcomes new players of 

all levels. For more information, visit their 

website at: www.seapointrugby.com 


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 1+9 1 5 1+9 1 5 - - - 1+26 3 15 1+25 3 15 0+1 - - 1 GEO 3 

MICHAEL ALA'ALATOA 1301 25 SEP 21 16+4 2 10 12+1 1 5 4+3 1 5 28+17 5 25 23+7 3 15 5+10 2 10 5 WS 12 

AITZOL ARENZANA-KING 1316 28 JAN 23 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - - 

RYAN BAIRD 1278 27 APR 19 11+3 3 15 7+1 2 10 4+2 1 5 30+22 10 50 24+15 9 45 6+7 1 5 4 IR 11 

LEE BARRON 1308 23 APR 22 1+4 - - 1+4 - - - - - 1+6 - - 1+6 - - - - - - - 

JACK BOYLE 1317 18 FEB 23 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - - 

BEN BROWNLEE 1313 28 OCT 22 3+1 - - 3+1 - - - - - 3+1 - - 3+1 - - - - - - - 

ED BYRNE 1222 9 FEB 14 5+6 1 5 5+4 - - 0+2 1 5 32+64 13 65 32+49 11 55 0+15 2 10 5 IR 6 

HARRY BYRNE 1280 28 SEP 19 6+8 2 63 6+2 2 53 0+6 - 10 27+23 8 246 27+16 8 231 0+7 - 15 7 IR 2 

ROSS BYRNE 1236 4 SEP 15 14+5 - 150 7+5 - 69 7 - 81 99+48 9 976 78+26 4 665 21+22 5 311 30 IR 19 

TOM CLARKSON 1285 29 AUG 20 3+5 1 5 3+5 1 5 - - - 9+17 1 5 9+17 1 5 - - - 7 - 

JACK CONAN 1223 20 FEB 14 9+5 2 10 4+3 - - 5+2 2 10 100+31 27 135 67+19 16 80 33+12 11 55 2 IR 38 

WILL CONNORS 1264 9 FEB 18 3+7 - - 3+7 - - - - - 21+14 2 10 20+14 2 10 1 - - 22 IR 9 

CHRIS COSGRAVE 1305 26 MAR 22 4+1 2 10 4+1 2 10 - - - 5+2 2 10 5+2 2 10 - - - 2 - 

JAMES CULHANE 1315 28 JAN 23 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - - - 

MAX DEEGAN 1256 3 DEC 16 12+1 4 20 12 4 20 0+1 - - 55+42 28 140 52+29 26 130 3+13 2 10 1 IR 2 

BRIAN DEENY 1306 23 APR 22 6+5 2 10 6+4 2 10 0+1 - - 8+5 2 10 8+4 2 10 0+1 - - 6 - 

CAELAN DORIS 1268 28 APR 18 11+1 3 15 5+1 1 5 6 2 10 58+9 11 55 38+7 7 35 20+2 4 20 1 IR 28 

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 5+5 - 9 5+2 - 9 0+3 - - 36+30 7 188 33+19 5 172 3+11 2 16 12 - 

TADHG FURLONG 1220 1 NOV 13 5+1 - - 2+1 - - 3 - - 90+43 10 50 49+35 3 15 41+8 7 35 12 IR 65 

JAMISON GIBSON-PARK 1247 2 SEP 16 8+2 3 15 2+1 1 5 6+1 2 10 68+58 25 125 51+31 16 80 17+27 9 45 1 IR 25 

MARCUS HANAN 1295 19 FEB 21 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+4 - - 0+4 - - - - - - - 

CIAN HEALY 1142 5 MAY 07 4+10 - - 4+3 - - 0+7 - - 164+99 30 150 97+59 16 80 65+39 13 65 15 IR 123 

ROBBIE HENSHAW 1251 8 OCT 16 6+1 1 5 4+1 1 5 2 - - 72+3 17 85 33+2 8 40 39+1 9 45 5 IR 63 

JASON JENKINS 1310 17 SEP 22 12+5 3 15 11+2 2 10 1+3 1 5 12+5 3 15 11+2 2 10 1+3 1 5 2 SA 1 

DAVE KEARNEY 1158 16 MAY 09 12 3 15 12 3 15 - - - 162+23 55 275 136+16 48 240 25+6 7 35 5 IR 19 

HUGO KEENAN 1253 5 NOV 16 11 4 20 4 1 5 7 3 15 52+3 13 65 32+3 6 30 20 7 35 5 IR 30 

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 21 

JORDAN LARMOUR 1258 2 SEP 17 14+1 6 30 10 4 20 4+1 2 10 78+11 33 165 50+7 24 120 28+4 9 45 1 IR 30 

TEMI LASISI 1304 12 MAR 22 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - - 

JAMES LOWE 1262 2 DEC 17 6 3 15 2 1 5 4 2 10 69+2 50 250 41+1 29 145 28+1 21 105 4 IR 20 


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 

JOE MCCARTHY 1303 29 JAN 22 3+4 - - 2+3 - - 1+1 - - 11+7 1 5 10+3 1 5 1+4 - - 9 IR 1 

NICK MCCARTHY 1241 19 DEC 15 3+12 - - 3+11 - - 0+1 - - 12+49 5 25 12+42 5 25 0+7 - - 21 - 

TADGH MCELROY 1312 28 OCT 22 1+3 - - 1+3 - - - - - 1+3 - - 1+3 - - - - - - - 

LUKE MCGRATH 1206 5 MAY 12 13+6 7 35 12+1 6 30 1+5 1 5 127+67 48 240 91+50 39 195 36+17 9 45 7 IR 19 

JOHN MCKEE 1307 23 APR 22 5+11 3 15 5+8 2 10 0+3 1 5 7+12 3 15 7+9 2 10 0+3 1 5 3 - 

MICHAEL MILNE 1279 28 SEP 19 7+7 7 35 7+5 7 35 0+2 - - 8+23 9 45 8+21 9 45 0+2 - - 1 - 

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

LIAM MOLONY 1319 22 APR 23 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - - 

ROSS MOLONY 1233 20 FEB 15 17+5 - - 12+3 - - 5+2 - - 99+62 5 25 84+45 4 20 15+17 1 5 38 - 

BEN MURPHY 1309 21 MAY 22 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - - - 

CHARLIE NGATAI 1311 17 SEP 22 11+2 - - 8+2 - - 3 - - 11+2 - - 8+2 - - 3 - - - NZ 1 

JAMIE OSBORNE 1294 30 JAN 21 10+2 1 5 8+1 - - 2+1 1 5 23+8 2 10 21+7 1 5 2+1 1 5 4 - 

JIMMY O'BRIEN 1272 23 NOV 18 16 4 20 9 1 5 7 3 15 59+10 20 104 43+9 11 59 16+1 9 45 2 IR 5 

SEAN O'BRIEN 1297 12 MAR 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - - - 

TOMMY O'BRIEN 1283 20 DEC 19 2 - - 2 - - - - - 12+11 6 30 12+9 6 30 0+2 - - 4 - 

MAX O'REILLY 1291 2 JAN 21 2 1 5 2 1 5 - - - 10+1 2 10 10+1 2 10 - - - 1 - 

CONOR O'TIGHEARNAIGH 1320 22 APR 23 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - - 

SCOTT PENNY 1271 23 NOV 18 11+4 6 30 11+1 5 25 0+3 1 5 45+11 29 145 45+8 28 140 0+3 1 5 2 - 

ANDREW PORTER 1246 2 SEP 16 11+5 4 20 4+5 2 10 7 2 10 52+55 18 90 33+36 12 60 19+19 6 30 4 IR 53 

SAM PRENDERGAST 1318 15 APR 23 2 - 16 2 - 16 - - - 2 - 16 2 - 16 - - - - - 

GARRY RINGROSE 1237 12 SEP 15 12+1 8 40 6+1 4 20 6 4 20 112+3 38 198 66+2 23 123 46+1 15 75 2 IR 50 

RHYS RUDDOCK 1167 6 DEC 09 11 3 15 11 3 15 - - - 167+54 15 75 129+35 13 65 37+17 2 10 4 IR 27 

ROB RUSSELL 1302 3 OCT 21 7+6 10 50 7+6 10 50 - - - 10+8 10 50 10+8 10 50 - - - 2 - 

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

JAMES RYAN 1259 2 SEP 17 11+3 1 5 4+3 - - 7 1 5 63+9 4 20 31+4 1 5 32+5 3 15 8 IR 53 

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 I R 113 

DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 13+3 10 50 8+1 8 40 5+2 2 10 22+23 26 130 16+14 21 105 6+9 5 25 2 IR 17 

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

ALEX SOROKA 1296 28 Feb 21 1+3 - - 1+3 - - - - - 3+6 - - 3+6 - - - - - - - 

CHARLIE TECTOR 1314 28 OCT 22 0+7 1 9 0+7 1 9 - - - 0+7 1 9 0+7 1 9 - - - 4 - 

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

LIAM TURNER 1287 23 Oct 20 10+3 3 15 10+2 3 15 0+1 - - 14+5 3 15 14+4 3 15 0+1 - - 3 - 

JOSH VAN DER FLIER 1228 11 Oct 14 11+1 8 40 5+1 2 10 6 6 30 101+25 26 130 57+19 10 50 44+6 16 80 1 IR 50 

KICKING 


SUCCESS 

ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR OVERALL 

RATE C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG ATT Career % 

HARRY BYRNE 66.67% 25 1 - 20 1 - 5 - - 88 10 - 82 9 - 6 1 - 131 74.81% 

ROSS BYRNE 87.34% 57 12 - 27 5 - 30 7 - 311 102 1 222 66 1 89 36 - 519 79.58% 

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

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

SAM PRENDERGAST 87.50% 5 2 - 5 2 - - - - 5 2 - 5 2 - - - - 8 87.50% 

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% 

CHARLIE TECTOR 66.67% 2 - - 2 - - - - - 2 - - 2 - - - - - 3 66.67% 


TITLE PARTNER 

OFFICAL KIT PARTNER 

PREMIUM PARTNERS 

PARTNERS & SUPPLIERS 

MEDIA PARTNERS 


Bank of Ireland 

Match Day Mascot 

William 

Durkan 

Age: 8 

Favourite Player: Johnny Sexton 

School: St. Gerard’s 

Club: De La Salle Palmerston 


Squads 

matchday 

15 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

Jimmy O’BRIEN 

Tommy O’BRIEN 

Robbie HENSHAW 

Charlie NGATAI 

Dave KEARNEY 

Harry BYRNE 

Luke McGRATH [C] 

FULL BACK 

RIGHT WING 

OUTSIDE CENTRE 

INSIDE CENTRE 

LEFT WING 

FLY HALF 

SCRUM HALF 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

Michael MILNE 

Rónan KELLEHER 

Michael ALA’ALATOA 

Ryan BAIRD 

Jason JENKINS 

Max DEEGAN 

Will CONNORS 

Jack CONAN 

LOOSE HEAD PROP 

HOOKER 

TIGHT HEAD PROP 

SECOND ROW 

SECOND ROW 

BLINDSIDE FLANKER 

OPENSIDE FLANKER 

NUMBER 8 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

John McKEE 

Cian HEALY 

Thomas CLARKSON 

Joe McCARTHY 

Josh VAN DER FLIER 

Nick McCARTHY 

Ciarán FRAWLEY 

Liam TURNER 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT

officials 

REFEREE: FRANK MURPHY (IRFU, 75TH COMPETITION GAME, 2ND SEMI-FINAL) 

ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: ANDY BRACE (IRFU) 

ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: CHRIS BUSBY (IRFU) 

TMO: BEN WHITEHOUSE (WRU) 

FULL BACK 

Mike HALEY 15 

RIGHT WING 

OUTSIDE CENTRE 

INSIDE CENTRE 

LEFT WING 

FLY HALF 

SCRUM HALF 

Keith EARLS 

Antoine FRISCH 

Jack CROWLEY 

Shane DALY 

Ben HEALY 

Craig CASEY 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

LOOSE HEAD PROP 

HOOKER 

TIGHT HEAD PROP 

SECOND ROW 

SECOND ROW 

BLINDSIDE FLANKER 

OPENSIDE FLANKER 

NUMBER 8 

Jeremy LOUGHMAN 

Diarmuid BARRON 

Stephen ARCHER 

Jean KLEYN 

Tadhg BEIRNE 

Peter O’MAHONY [C] 

John HODNETT 

Gavin COOMBES 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

Niall SCANNELL 

Josh WYCHERLEY 

Roman SALANOA 

Fineen WYCHERLEY 

Jack O’DONOGHUE 

Neil CRONIN 

Rory SCANNELL 

Alex KENDELLEN 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23

Thank you 

to all the rugby volunteers 

& behind-the-scenes heroes. 

You make the 

game we love possible. 

Think of the Possibilities

As the season rapidly comes to an 

exciting finish, we are now into 

another Semi-Final, and this time 

it’s in the BKT URC against our 

interprovincial rivals Munster. 

offical 

leinster 

supporters 

club 

Should we win here in the Aviva this 

evening, that will take us to another final 

at home on the last weekend of May 

against either DHL Stormers or Connacht. 

By the time you read this, we will all know 

who won in Cape Town. 

Will that weekend be the end of the 

season that we all dreamed of this time 

last year, that cruelly alluded us? Let’s see 

how things stand at 7.30pm this evening. 

So back to tonight, it’s right to say that 

so much has been written about these 

two sides over the years and their many 

head-to-head games, it would certainly 

give Encyclopaedia Britannica a run for 

its money (ask your parents to explain). 

Munster are coming to Dublin on the 

back of a win against the Challenge Cup 

Finalists, Glasgow Warriors, and a win 

here tonight would certainly keep their 

season well and truly on track. We have 

met Munster twice this season already. 

The Aviva in October saw a young and 

spirited Munster side certainly put it up to 

us, however, Leinster secured their bonus 

point win on the night winning 27-13. 

It was a different story for the post- 

Christmas trip to Thomond Park on St. 

Stephen’s Day where the hosts certainly 

kept the pressure on us for 80 minutes, it 

was an intense battle, and even with a 

yellow card, we managed to keep the 

winning streak going with the smallest 

margin possible, 19-20. 

Expect nothing less than another battle 

today, each side knowing what a win 

will mean, a golden ticket to the URC 

final in two week’s time. 

It’s a special evening here tonight, where 

we welcome back one of our Blue 

Legends. On a cold January evening 

in 2006, a young player came off the 

bench to make his debut for Leinster 

against Border Reivers, that was the start 

of an unbelievable career spanning 16 

years, 280 appearances for Leinster, four 

Heineken Cup titles, a Challenge Cup 

title, and seven league titles. 

He also earned 70 caps for Ireland, 

winning the Six Nations three times, and 

was in the 2018 Grand Slam winning 

squad. He decided to hang his boots 

up last June for the final time, and we 

are delighted to honour him here in 

the Aviva tonight. As a massive token 

of our admiration and on behalf of all 

the supporters we will be presenting 

Devin Toner with a piece of crystal on 

the pitch at halftime, please show your 

appreciation for our most capped player 

ever. 

We wish Dev, his wife Mary, 

and children Max and 

Grace the very best of 

luck for the future. We 

thank you sincerely 

for the years you 

gave to Leinster. 

It’s hard to believe another season is 

nearly at the end, and what an amazing 

season it has been so far. We were 

thrilled to work with Leinster Rugby this 

season and move into our new home in 

the RDS Fanzone. It has been a fantastic 

space for our community of Supporters, 

Players, Sponsors, Coaches, Volunteers, 

The OLSC, and everyone involved, to be 

able to come together and celebrate our 

fantastic club. To you all, we sincerely 

thank you all for everything that you have 

helped us with this season. 

One final ask please, for the last number 

of years we have had the most amazing 

support at our Sea of Blue, home and 

away, and next week we need as many 

supporters to help us make this the 

biggest and best #SOB ever. Please 

watch out on social media for our exciting 

plans, please come and show your 

support for the team as they enter the 

stadium for the final. We want to turn 

the Aviva blue next week, so if you can 

bring your own flag, Be Blue, Be Loud, 

Be Proud. 

Yours in Rugby 

The OLSC Committee 

olsc@leinsterrugby.ie 


Mental health support... 

CHARITY PARTNER 

2022/23 

At Jigsaw, we understand and support young 

people’s mental health. 

Both online and in person, we give advice and support to 

help young people aged 12 to 25 years-old. 

jigsaw.ie 

Jigsaw is a registered charity in Ireland.

Leinster Youth 

Finals Weekend 2023 

The May Bank Holiday weekend is a time of the 

season when most competitions are finished 

and everyone is starting to take a well-earned 

breather away from rugby. The opposite is the 

case in Leinster club age grade rugby. 

The May Bank Holiday weekend 

saw Energia Park hosting two 

Finals days –the School-Youth 

Cup Finals on the Sunday and the 

Youth Cup Finals on the Monday. 

This May Bank Holiday weekend saw a 

total of twenty Finals contested, that’s 40 

teams from 25 different clubs, in excess of 

900 players providing us with 19.5 hours 

of the drama & excitement that is Leinster 

age grade rugby. 

The standard of rugby was exceptionally 

high–the future of Leinster and Irish rugby 

shines brightly. Plenty of memories were 

made in Energia park on the May Bank 

Holiday weekend! 


SCHOOL-YOUTH COMPETITION 

FINALS RESULTS 

U13 Plate 

Clontarf 38–20 Suttonians 

U13 George Furlong Cup 

St. Marys 29–7 Seapoint 

U14 Plate 

Terenure 19–8 Seapoint 

U14 Paddy O’Brien Cup 

Birr 12–12 Roscrea 

(Birr win on first try scored) 

U15 Plate 

Coolmine 42–17 Skerries 

U15 Cup 

Newbridge 34–14 MU Barnhall 

U16 Cup 

Suttonians 19–0 Seapoint 

U17 Plate 

Balbriggan 20–3 Greystones 

U17 John Ward Cup 

Wicklow 12–10 Coolmine 

18s Division 1 

Ashbourne 37–19 Newbridge 

18s Premier 

Clontarf 24–12 MU Barnhall 

YOUTH COMPETITION 

FINALS RESULTS 

U13 Plate 

Enniscorthy 48–17 Wicklow 

U13 McGowan Cup 

Tullow 17–12 Naas 

U14 Plate 

Tullow 10–7 Portlaoise 

U14 Coyle Cup 

Kilkenny 32–5 Enniscorthy 

U15 Plate 

Portlaoise 24–10 Tullow 

U15 McAuley Cup 

Navan 31–7 New Ross 

U16 Plate 

Enniscorthy 29–26 Navan 

U16 Cup 

Naas 36–21 Co. Carlow 

18s Tom Darcy Cup 

Athy 45 –43 Dundalk 



Moment in time 

Jonathan Sexton is 

presented with the 

match ball from the 

Guinness Six Nations 

match between 

Ireland and England in 

which he became the 

all-time Six Nations 

record points scorer 

by Diageo President 

for Europe, Turkey and 

India John Kennedy 

before the Heineken 

Champions Cup Semi- 

Final match between 

Leinster and Toulouse 

at the Aviva Stadium in 

Dublin. 

Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile 

Photos by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile 


GETTING 

We check social media 

for the latest views 

and thoughts across 

SOCIAL 

the 12 counties 


WHERE 

ARE THEY 

NOW? 

DEVIN BY DES BERRY 

TONER 

THEN - Devin retired 

last year as 

Leinster’s record cap 

holder (280) after 17 

seasons (2005-2022). 

NOW - He lives in 

Mount Merrion with 

his wife Mary, son 

Max (5) and daughter 

Grace (2), working as 

Head of Partnerships 

at Fairstone Asset 

Management and 

askpaul. 


I was able 

to enjoy 

that final 

year more. 

The pressure 

was off. I 

knew I wasn’t 

playing for 

another 

contract. 

The 

memories 

of those 

longretired 

can 

be hazy and 

indistinct. 

Those of 

Devin Toner 

are more 

clearly 

defined. 

Leinster’s record holder of 280 

caps has placed four Heineken 

Cup and eight League medals 

beside 70 Ireland international 

caps and a Grand Slam in 2018. 

He is fresh from a stellar career. 

“When I left the game first, I didn’t really 

miss it at all,” he says. 

“Over the last couple of weeks, it is the 

big days that are making an impact, like 

the Champions Cup semi-final against 

Toulouse. 

“There was also the Six Nations, seeing 

the boys win the Grand Slam. Those are 

the days when you miss it. 

“You have been through them. You’ve 

experienced them. You know what they 

are feeling after those big games.” 

In 2021, the body and mind had started 

to wane, the wear and tear of an 

unforgiving profession taken its toll. 

In addition, Devin knew the end was near 

as early as that summer because his final 

deal was a one-year offer. 


I would be lying 

if I said it didn’t 

mean a lot to me. I 

am very proud of 

the 280 caps, very 

proud that I am a 

one-club man. 

“I got that contract by the skin of my 

teeth. Originally, I was told there would 

not be a contract for me before I finally 

secured one late into the process. 

“I was able to enjoy that final year 

more. The pressure was off. I knew I 

wasn’t playing for another contract. 

“Any chance I got to play, I tried to do 

the best I could and take the time to 

savour each game. 

“The hardest part was training, knowing 

you are not going to play in the big 

games or be involved in the Champions 

Cup final against La Rochelle. It wasn’t 

demoralising. But, it was hard. 

“The fact you were not playing took 

away your appetite for it. It made it 

easier to leave in the end.” 

A degree in Sports Management from 

UCD was the only paper in his pocket 

and the ‘Will I? Won’t I?’ nature of the 

final contract provided the motivation to 

look beyond the pitch and into his future. 

The uncommon length of Devin’s playing 

career couldn’t last forever. That didn’t 

seem to dawn on the Moynalvey man. 

“I had the longest finger of them all 

when it came to planning for retirement. 

I didn’t think about the end at all. I just 

always presumed something would 

come up. 

“In the second last year, I started talking 

to a career coach about the direction I 

was going to take. 

“The first thing he said to me was I 

needed to sort out my finances. I had 

followed AskPaul.ie, a financial planning 

firm, on Instagram. 

“I reached out to Paul (Merriman) 

and asked about coming in for a 

consultation. That started a relationship 

between the two of us. 

“After a period of time, an opportunity 

arose and I decided to go for it, along 


with completing my QFA (Qualified 

Financial Advisor) and gaining some 

experience in the industry in the final 

year at Leinster.” 

His easy-going nature is reflected in the 

fact there are pins in his ankle since 2010 

which he has not gotten around to taking 

out yet. 

“Looking back, I should have made 

better use of my spare time. But, the kids 

came along and they take up so much of 

your energy.” 

Patience was the key for Devin and for 

those who would work with him through 

the early years. 

“The first person to tell me I could make 

it as a professional was Mick Quinn, my 

coach in Castleknock College. He put 

the idea in my head that rugby could be 

a career.”. 

From there, Leinster Academy Manager 

Colin McEntee, Michael Cheika, 

Jono Gibbes and Leo Cullen played 

significant roles in his development. 

“It happened very gradually for me. In 

my first year (2005-2006), I got two 

caps. In my second year (2006-2007), I 

got four caps. The year after that (2007- 

2008), I got six caps. 

“It was in my fourth year, the first 

Heineken Cup win, when Leo (Cullen) 

got injured and I was able to get real 

experience in big games. 

“Being able to start the Pool games was 

where it all began to change for me. It 

was huge for my development.” 

Devin wouldn’t know then how Cullen 

would come to play such a major role in 

his career. 

“Leo is probably up there at Number 1 

for the impact he had on my career. He 

was a second row. A lineout general. I 

learned everything from him when he 

came back from Leicester. 

“When he transitioned into a coaching 

role, he was always there to bounce 

ideas off. He was huge for me.” 

Devin admits the accolade as Leinster’s 

record cap holder is one he cherishes. 

“I would be lying if I said it didn’t mean 

a lot to me. I am very proud of the 280 

caps, very proud that I am a one-club 

man.” 

The breakaway from rugby is pretty 

clean and complete, all his focus taken 

up by a new career and a young family. 

It hasn’t all been for the best. The lack of 

training has led to an addition of pounds 

to his 127-kilo playing weight. 

“I haven’t even been exercising, not even 

jogging. I have put on 15 kilos since I 

stopped playing. The last time I weighed 

myself, I was 142kilos. 

“But, I don’t look it because I have a lot 

of places to put it.” 

Devin is also extremely thankful for the 

friends collected at Leinster where Kevin 

McLaughlin, Fergus McFadden, Rhys 

Ruddock, Garry Ringrose, Cian Healy, 

Jack McGrath and Mike McCarthy 

number among his best. 

And there have been the skills he has 

taken from rugby into his new role as 

Head of Partnerships at Fairstone and 

askpaul. 

“There is inbuilt stuff. I would always be 

very good at time management. I am 

never late for anything. 

“I like working with people, working in 

teams. I have good communication skills. 

“I am still learning the intricacies and the 

details of my job. I was a very detailedoriented 

player, especially in terms 

of the lineout. I carry that into delving 

into everything in the financial services 

sector, learning all that detail.” 


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Referees 

Corner 

BY DAN WALLACE 

Welcome to the final installment of 

Referees Corner in what has been a long 

and momentous season for Leinster. 

We’re all looking forward to next 

week’s Heineken Champions Cup Final and 

hopefully a BKT URC Final to follow. 

A very warm welcome to Frank 

Murphy, today’s match referee 

and his team. Frank is a former 

rugby player. Originally from 

Cork, Murphy played for his 

native province of Munster 

before moving to the English side 

Leicester Tigers, with whom he 

won a Premiership title, and then 

finished his career with Connacht, 

another Irish province, making 

over 100 appearances for the 

side. 

He began refereeing in the All- 

Ireland League in 2015, progressing 

to referee in the British and Irish Cup 

later that year. He began refereeing 

at international level in 2016, and has 

taken charge of games in the European 

Nations Cup. In November 2016, 

Murphy took charge of his first PRO12 

game, and has since gone on to referee 

in the Challenge Cup at European level. 

Today is Frank’s tenth time refereeing 

Leinster where we have won five and 

lost four. It is his fourth time refereeing 

this fixture, the last being in Round 18 

last season. Today, he is ably assisted 

by his IRFU Referee colleagues Andrew 

Brace of Munster and Chris Busby of 

Ulster with Ben Whitehouse from Wales 

in the TMO booth. We wish them all 

well. 

End of a 

Season 

We’ve had a superb season at 

the Leinster Rugby Referees 

with a full return to normality, 

in person meetings, annual 

dinners, golf outings and 

plenty of fun along the way. 

Our area representatives as 

always are the cornerstone of 

the volunteering effort. From 

selections, talent identification, 

organizing our area meetings, 

attending branch area meetings, 

and attending Executive monthly 

meetings to mention but a few 

of the activities. And on top 

of which several of our area 

representatives are still active on 

the pitch. To David Jenkins, Barry 

Redmond, John Kerr, Paddy 

Curran, and Ian Hayes a massive 

debt of gratitude is owed to 

all of you. Also to mention is 

Trevor McHugh who has been of 

great assistance in the midlands 

supporting Paddy Curran. 


Take Up the 

Whistle 

Have you just finished playing 

and find yourself wondering 

how you can stay involved in 

rugby or planning on retiring 

at the end of this season? Then 

perhaps refereeing is the next 

step for you. Increasingly, 

more and more players who 

have decided to hang up the 

boots are continuing their 

rugby journey by taking up 

the whistle. 

During the season we made over 4,500 

appointments. We now have over 225 

referees, including ten females, who 

are full active members of the Leinster 

Rugby Referees. We brought over 50 

trial members on board of which over 

30 are now full members. We had 28 

mentors in place to support new and 

existing referees completing over 150 

referee reports. During the season, Jim 

Breen and his sub-committee deployed 

approximately 20 evaluators. In 

total we made over 300 evaluation 

appointments for our referees ensuring 

that we maintain high standard and 

accuracy. Jim has been a tremendous 

asset to our evaluation team and is sadly 

stepping down at the end of the season. 

Apart from our 227 active referees, 

our thanks must go to those volunteers 

who gave up their time to support 

the match officials. These number 

about 80 individuals covering 

activities such as panel management, 

mentoring, evaluation, coaching and 

administration. We should also continue 

to acknowledge the work of Hayley 

Whyte and Sean Gallagher, who never 

fail to go above and beyond the call of 

duty in the interests of rugby refereeing 

in Leinster. 

If you are thinking about giving 

refereeing a try, 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 Twitter account 

@leinsterreferee or Instagram 

@leinsterrugbyreferees 


*Restrictions apply. 

*

a look back at some of the 

action from this season’s bank 

of ireland MATCHDAY minis 

www.sportsfile.com www.leinsterrugby.ie | 71

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Leinster make it two 

from two in Junior 

Interprovincials 

Leinster 21 Connacht 16 

Leinster had to survive a furious final quarter 

fightback from Connacht to emerge victorious in the 

Junior Interprovincial Championship at Portaoise RFC 

on Saturday afternoon, to make it two wins from two, 

after the opening win over Munster.. 

Head coach Enda Finn made seven 

changes in a nod to the strength in 

depth of his squad, including two 

new caps in Stephen Meagher and 

Garry Dunne. 

Connacht came into this on the back of 

an encouraging 24-17 defeat to Munster 

the previous week on an afternoon when 

a first-half deluge made positive rugby 

extremely difficult. 

They were keen to make an early 

statement, working their way into the 

game through the grind of their forwards 

and the decision-making of half-backs 

Michael O’Toole and Shane Purcell 

The Leinster attack, so effective in 

administering a bonus-point beatdown 

to Ulster, was compromised by the 

conditions. 

The Blues template for playing fluent, 15- 

man rugby had to be shelved for a more 

pragmatic approach. 

The game was punctuated by mistakes 

and a stop-start flow in which half-backs 

Tristan Brady and Craig Millar did well 

enough to put Leinster in the right areas. 

Centre Mikey Russell and flanker 

Ruadhan McDonnell were prominent in 

keeping the pressure on the men from the 

West. 

The attack finally delivered when wing 

Meagher was the beneficiary of his 

pack’s hard work in cracking the cover for 

Millar to convert in the 34th minute. 

Connacht grabbed back a slight lead 

when full-back Henry O’Toole slotted a 

penalty for 8-7 in the last minute of the 

half. 

The home province bounced out of the 

starting blocks, Millar’s break up the 

middle creating a try for lock Wes Carter 

which was converted by Millar for 14-8 

in the 44th minute. 

The theme of exchanging swings 

continued when Connacht applied 

enough pressure for left-wing Ethan 

Griffiths to kick a penalty in the 46th 

minute. 

For the first time, Leinster looked to have 

seized a decisive lead when Ciaran 

Fennessy weaved through traffic for a 

superb try, converted by Millar for a 

10-point gap. 

This was a considerable advantage in 

light of the conditions, the end of the 

rain leaving a ball more akin to a bar of 

soap. 

Once again, Connacht answered the 

call to dig deeper in carving out a try by 

replacement second row Liam Robinson 

for 21-16 in the 75th minute. 

It prompted a nervy ending in which one 

mistake or one moment of magic could 

make all the difference. 


Indeed, Connacht kept hold of the ball in 

admiral fashion to go close to carrying 

out an unlikely rebound. 

Ultimately, Leinster had the composure 

and character to hold on to what they 

had to make two wins from two to sit top 

of the table. 

Scorers: Leinster – W Carter, S 

Meagher, C Fennessy try each; C 

Millar 3 cons. Connacht – R Murphy- 

Sweeney, L Robinson try each; H 

O’Toole, E Griffiths pen each. 

Leinster: 15. Robbie Vallejo – Boyne 

RFC, 14. Ciaran Fennessy – Athy RFC, 

13. Mikey Russell – Clondalkin RFC, 12. 

Mark Kehoe – Gorey RFC, 11. Stephen 

Meagher* – DLSP FC, 10. Craig Miller 

– Athy RFC (captain), 9. Tristan Brady – 

Monkstown FC; 1. Rob Scully – Cill Dara 

RFC, 2. Graham Reynolds – Balbriggan 

RFC, +3. Hugh Carolan – Boyne RFC, 

4. Wes Carter – Kilkenny RFC, 5. 

Ger Ward – Bective FC, 6. Ruadhán 

McDonnell – Monkstown FC, 7. Garry 

Dunne* – Kilkenny RFC, 8. John Dever – 

Monkstown FC. 

Replacements: 16. James Brennan* 

– Monkstown FC, 17. Mike Tracey 

– Roscrea RFC, 18. Dylan Casey – 

Edenderry RFC, 19. Benny McManus 

– Longford RFC, 20. Mark Bennett* – 

Bective FC, 21. Paulie Tolofua – DLSP FC, 

22. Jake McDonald – Kilkenny RFC, 23. 

Garrett Fitzgerald* – Tullow RFC. 

* Denotes new cap 

Connacht: 15. Henry O’Toole – 

Connemara RFC, 14. Ross Murphy – 

Sweeney, Buccaneers RFC, 13. Eoghan 

Coyle – Creggs RFC, 12. Barry Walsh 

– Castlebar RFC, 11. Ethan Griffiths 

– Connemara RFC, 10. Shane Purcell 

– Creggs RFC, 9. Michael O’Toole – 

Connemara RFC (captain); 1. Aidan 

Healy – Ballyhaunis RFC, 2. Benjamin 

Hynes – Sligo RFC, 3. Ian Staunton 

– Connemara RFC, 4. Rory Murphy 

– Ballinrobe RFC, 5. Oisin Halpin – 

University of Galway RFC, 6. Brian 

Diffney – Creggs RFC, 7. Tommy Mullin 

– Connemara RFC, 8. Fintan Cawley – 

Ballyhaunis RFC. 

Replacements: 16. Jamie Gerathy 

– Dunmore RFC, 17. Stephen O’Toole 

– Dunmore RFC, 18. Craig Hansberry 

– Ballinrobe RFC, 19. Liam Robinson 

– Castlebar RFC, 20. Eoin Sweeney – 

Tuam RFC, 21. Ian Heanue – Connemara 

RFC, 22. Ian Murphy – Tuam RFC, 23. 

Sean O’Sullivan – Tuam RFC, 24. Sean 

O’Grady – University of Galway RFC. 


COUNTRY IRELAND HOME GROUND THOMOND PARK FOUNDED 1879 CHAMPIONS x3 

last time out in the BKT urc 

Glasgow Warriors 5 

munster 14 

SATURDAY 6 MAY | BKT UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP · QUARTER FINAL | SCOTSTOUN STADIUM 

Munster book date with 

Leinster after Glasgow win 

GLASGOW WARRIORS: Ollie Smith, 

Sebastian Cancelliere, Sione Tuipulotu, 

Stafford McDowall, Kyle Steyn (CAPT), 

Tom Jordan, George Horne, Jamie Bhatti, 

Johnny Matthews, Zander Fagerson, Scott 

Cummings, Richie Gray, Matt Fagerson, 

Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey 

REPLACEMENTS: Fraser Brown, 

Nathan McBeth, Simon Berghan, JP du 

Preez, Lewis Bean, Sione Vailanu, Ali 

Price, Huw Jones 

MUNSTER: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, 

Antoine Frisch, Malakai Fekitoa, Shane 

Daly, Jack Crowley, Conor Murray, 

Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, 

Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman, 

Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony (CAPT), 

Gavin Coombes 

REPLACEMENTS: Niall Scannell, Josh 

Wycherley, Roman Salanoa, Fineen 

Wycherley, John Hodnett, Craig Casey, 

Ben Healy, Alex Kendellen 

REFEREE: Andrea Piardi (FIR) 

Munster qualified for the URC 

Semi-Finals after a bruising 

Quarter-Final win over Glasgow 

Warriors at Scotstoun, becoming 

the first away side to win at 

Glasgow all season. 

Malakai Fekitoa and Antoine Frisch 

scored both Munster tries in the first 

half with Jack Crowley kicking the two 

conversions. 

A red card for Glasgow out-half Tom 

Jordan was a blow for the hosts but 

they kept the pressure on Munster in the 

second half with Kyle Steyn touching 

down. 

The victory came at a price with Peter 

O’Mahony, RG Snyman, Conor Murray, 

Diarmuid Barron, Calvin Nash and 

Malakai Fekiota all departing with 

knocks. 

Glasgow started off on the front foot 

with Sione Tuipulotu making a break in 

midfield past the injured O’Mahony but 

Jack Crowley got back to disrupt the 


offload to Jack Dempsey and make the 

clearance. 

O’Mahony departed for Hodnett after 

just five minutes with the returning Tadhg 

Beirne taking over the captaincy. 

Munster repelled a number of Glasgow 

lineout mauls deep in their 22 with the 

defence superb. 

RG Snyman went off for a HIA on 17 

minutes with Fineen Wycherley coming 

on as Glasgow kept attacking with Jack 

Dempsey held up on 19 minutes. 

Fekitoa instigated the first Munster 

try after his well-timed tackle led to 

a turnover and the centre finished off 

Munster’s first attack on 22 minutes, 

spinning to slam down. 

Crowley converted and Munster led 7-0. 

When Murray picked up a loose ball on 

the left wing and raced clear, Glasgow 

out-half Jordan’s high tackle led to a 

red card with Murray going for a HIA 

as Craig Casey entered the fray on 25 

minutes. 

Munster went to the corner and Frisch got 

in for the second Munster try from close 

range on 27 minutes. 

The visitors stayed on top as Calvin Nash 

made a break and chipped over the top 

to earn a five-yard scrum but Glasgow 

defended well against waves of Munster 

pressure and were relieved to only trail by 

14 at the interval. 

A fourth Munster player to be replaced 

due to a knock saw Diarmuid Barron go 

off for Niall Scannell after 41 minutes. 

The majority of the second half was spent 

on the back foot with Glasgow winning a 

number of scrum penalties. 

The tireless Jean Kleyn came up with a 

vital choke tackle to win back possession 

when Glasgow looked dangerous on 45 

minutes. 

Huge Munster defence in the maul and at 

close quarters on 54 minutes eventually 

forced a knock-on but Glasgow then won 

two scrum penalties. 

Craig Casey and Tadhg Beirne wrapped 

up George Horne to earn a scrum with 

replacement Josh Wycherley winning the 

scrum penalty against Zander Fagerson. 

A scrum penalty against Munster on 65 

minutes gave Glasgow another attacking 

opportunity as they kicked up to the 

Munster 22 and mauled to within 10 

metres. 

Calvin Nash departed with a knock 

sustained tackling Tuipulotu with Fekitoa 

returning in the centre as Crowley moved 

to full-back and Haley went to the wing. 

Glasgow were back in the game when 

Kyle Steyn scored in the left corner after 

Beirne nearly intercepted a pass in 

midfield with Huw Jones giving the final 

pass. 

The all-important conversion was off 

target and Munster led 14-5 with 12 

minutes remaining. 

The visitors ended on the front foot with 

Tuipulotu’s high tackle on Fekitoa forcing 

the centre off late on as Munster saw out 

the game on the attack. 


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Graham 

Rowntree 

Head Coach 

Graham Rowntree is a former English 

international and British & Irish Lion. He 

played all his club rugby with Leicester 

Tigers and played an astonishing 398 

times for the Welford Road club. He 

became scrum coach with England in 

2008, before taking on similar roles with 

the Lions in 2009 and later with Munster 

in 2019. He was appointed head coach 

of Munster ahead of the 2022/23 

season. 

Peter 

O’Mahony 

Captain 

Peter O’Mahony has played over 150 

times for his province, as well as 94 times 

for Ireland. He has won four Six Nations 

titles with Ireland, including Grand Slams 

in 2018 and 2023. O’Mahony is also 

a British and Irish Lion, and captained 

the team in the First Test against New 

Zealand in 2017. 

Munster squad 

FORWARDS 

TOM AHERN 

LOCK 

STEPHEN ARCHER 

PROP 

DIARMUID BARRON 

HOOKER 

TADHG BEIRNE 

LOCK 

SCOTT BUCKLEY 

HOOKER 

GAVIN COOMBES 

FLANKER 

JACK DALY 

FLANKER 

EDWIN EDOGBO 

LOCK 

JAMES FRENCH 

PROP 

JOHN HODNETT 

FLANKER 

ALEX KENDELLEN 

FLANKER 

DAVE KILCOYNE 

PROP 

JEAN KLEYN 

LOCK 

KEYNAN KNOX 

PROP 

JEREMY LOUGHMAN 

PROP 

CHRIS MOORE 

HOOKER 

LIAM O’CONNOR 

PROP 

JACK O’DONOGHUE 

FLANKER 

PETER O’MAHONY 

FLANKER C 

JACK O’SULLIVAN 

FLANKER 

RUADHAN QUINN 

FLANKER 

ROMAN SALANOA 

PROP 

NIALL SCANNELL 

HOOKER 

RG SNYMAN 

LOCK 

JOSH WYCHERLEY 

PROP 

FINEEN WYCHERLEY 

LOCK 

BACKS 

PATRICK CAMPBELL 

FULLBACK 

JOEY CARBERY 

FLY-HALF 

CRAIG CASEY 

SCRUM-HALF 

ANDREW CONWAY 

FULLBACK 

LIAM COOMBES 

FULLBACK 

NEIL CRONIN 

SCRUM-HALF 

JACK CROWLEY 

FLY-HALF 

SHANE DALY 

CENTRE 

KEITH EARLS 

WING 

CHRIS FARRELL 

CENTRE 

MALAKAI FEKITOA 

CENTRE 

ANTOINE FRISCH 

CENTRE 

FIONN GIBBONS 

CENTRE 

DAN GOGGIN 

CENTRE 

MIKE HALEY 

FULLBACK 

BEN HEALY 

FLY-HALF 

CONOR MURRAY 

SCRUM-HALF 

CALVIN NASH 

WING 

PADDY PATTERSON 

SCRUM-HALF 

CONOR PHILLIPS 

WING 

RORY SCANNELL 

CENTRE 

SIMON ZEBO 

WING 


BY DES BERRY 

CLONTARF 

Just as Fionn Gilbert was trying 

to figure out how to financially 

supplement an embryonic 

coaching career, his local club 

Clontarf decided to employ a fulltime 

Rugby Development Officer 

as a step forward in the service 

offered to players. 

A curriculum vitae was drawn up and 

sent in. The invitation to interview was 

gratefully accepted and the role was 

offered. 

In September 2022, he started with a 

clean slate and the nervous excitement of 

walking into the unknown. 

“The first role is to bring rugby into the 

primary and secondary schools in the 

area to either start up rugby or ramp up 

the rugby experience. 

CLUB IN 

FOCUS 

Timing can be everything. 

“The second role was to draw up a 

coaching manual, something the coaches 

had never enjoyed access to. 

“I spent the whole of the first term of 

the job sitting at a desk, designing and 

completing the manual which was 

published in December. 

“There are fantastic resources in Leinster 

Rugby and even on YouTube explaining 

drills. We wanted to come up with 

something coaches could have in front of 

them that is readily accessible. 

“There is a section for each age group 

from the basics of having fun and 

learning the core skills, like catch-pass 

and tackling, all the way up to the more 

tactical and technical aspects for U18s. 

“All of the coaches in Clontarf are 

volunteers giving up their free time. They 

mightn’t have the time or the same interest 

as myself in developing as a coach. 

“I spent months creating a handbook 

the coaches could dip in and out of, 

providing drills on the various parts of 

the game. 

“I might also tag along as a facilitator, 

observer or coach on sessions, opening 

up conversations on what the coaches 

need from me moving forward or what 

they need to improve as coaches. 

“We want to keep the players in the sport 

as long as we can and the best way of 

doing that is to make it as enjoyable as 

possible.” 

The overall aim of the role is to promote a 

real interest in and enthusiasm for rugby 


among as many young boys and girls as 

possible to play for Clontarf. 

“Some players will want to test 

themselves for competitive reasons at the 

highest level available to them. Some will 

want to enjoy the game at a more social 

level for participation reasons.” 

It wasn’t that long ago that Fionn was one 

of those kids looking for a place to put 

his energy. 

“I started playing rugby in Clontarf at six 

years of age through my dad Gary, 

who played for the club,” he says. 

“He had a big influence on me 

and my interest in the game. It 

was all I ever did and all I ever 

wanted right up to today.” 

The collection of friends 

from the minis and 

youths level 

includes Alex 

Macari-Kelly, 

Michael 

Fitzpatrick, 

Ed Brennan, 

Caolan 

Mulvaney 

and Killian Hickey. He could go on and 

on. 

“We’re all involved in the Senior squad, 

playing on either the firsts or seconds 

each week. I think it comes from the 

coaches we had as kids. They instilled a 

love of rugby in all of us. 

“It didn’t hurt that we had such a good 

team with so many good players. It was 

a great environment to be in. No one 

wanted to miss a session on a Tuesday or 

Thursday evening.” 

The same theme of good coaching 

and sound friendship pervaded 

Fionn’s time at Mount Temple 

Comprehensive. 

He knew from his time in Transition 

Year that a desk job was not 

for him. 

“I knew I was going 

to have to work at 

something active. 

I was going to 

have to be on 

my feet, be out 

and about.” 

“In my sixth year in school, in 2018, I 

got a phone call from the Clontarf U20s 

coach Brendan Fanning inviting me to join 

the squad. That made me feel valued,” 

he says. 

“I thought coaching might be for me, so I 

studied sports management and coaching 

at TUD (Technological University Dublin) 

out at the Blanchardstown campus,” he 

says. 

The improvement shown by Fionn in two 

years at the U20s was noticed by firstteam 

coach Andy Wood. 

“I went straight into the senior set-up in 

2020 and am now playing in the second 

row for Clontarf in the All-Ireland League. 

It is a full commitment. That is where my 

rugby career is at.” 

In the meantime, he was invited back to 

Mount Temple to coach the first, second 

and third years until Covid meant he was 

unemployed outside of his course. 

Wood reached out to offer a role as the 

forwards’ coach to the Junior Cup Team 

at Belvedere where he has been for four 

years. 


Try Leinster’s Next Big Dish 

from Mao At Home today

Besides that, there have been stints 

working at Leinster Summer Camps and 

with the Metro area squads. 

All of this was the background to being 

an outstanding candidate for his current 

role. 

“I have to mention the fantastic support of 

Leinster Community Rugby Officers in the 

area from Ray McCabe, Stephen Maher, 

Matt Gill and Kevin McCleery. 

“It isn’t just me going into the schools in 

what is a vast area taking in Clontarf, 

Raheny, Killester, Glasnevin, Drumcondra 

etc. 

“I go into the schools and do 4-6 week 

tag rugby in the primaries and contact 

rugby in the secondary as a taster for 

what the game looks like. From there, they 

are invited to a blitz event at Clontarf to 

show what they have learned in a fun 

environment. 

“This year, I have been into twelve 

primary schools and seven secondary 

schools, hosting eight primary schools 

tournament days and six blitzes for 

secondary schools at Clontarf.” 

In real terms, since Christmas, the U14 

and U16 girls’ teams have welcomed 

eight players, who had never played 

rugby. 

The U15s boys’ team had very few 

replacements when they were playing 

matches before Christmas. Now, the 

increase in numbers has gone from 15-20 

to a 23-boy squad with another six or 

seven in the dugout. 

“This role is still very new to me. I felt out 

of my depth in the early weeks. But, once 

I established a routine, it made a big 

difference. 

“To go into a school and see the smiles 

on the faces of boys and girls, who had 

never played with a rugby ball before, 

makes it all worthwhile.” 


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

Bank of Ireland 

Leinster Rugby 

Summer Camps 

launch for 2023! 

The 2023 Bank 

of Ireland 


Rugby Summer 

Camps have 

officially 

launched, with 

over 25 camps 

to choose from 

around the 12 

counties. 

The summer camps are open to 

girls and boys aged six to 12 and 

all of the camps are run by fully 

accredited IRFU coaches. Each 

camp runs from Monday to Friday 

and from 9.30am to 1pm. 

The summer camps, which will take place 

in 28 different locations all across the 

province in July and August, offer children 

the chance to learn to play the Leinster 

way while having plenty of fun! 

Leinster Rugby have also announced that 

with the change in the rugby schedule 

this summer due to the Rugby World Cup, 

Leinster Rugby players will once again be 

available and will make appearances at 

this year’s summer camps. 

There are also a number of new venues 

added reflecting the growth in popularity 

of the camps, including; Rathfarnham/ 

Stillorgan, Birr, Carlingford Knights, 

Carlow and Roscrea rugby clubs. 

Ray McCabe, Leinster Rugby Summer 

Camp Co-ordinator, said, “We’re thrilled 

to have Bank of Ireland on board again 

as the title sponsor of our Leinster Rugby 

summer camps. 

“And it’s brilliant as well to have the 

Leinster Rugby players back visiting 

our camps. The players playing for Leo 

Cullen and for Tania Rosser, they are the 

stars of the show and it’s a real bonus to 

have them back visiting our camps and 

inspiring all the boys and girls. 

“We know from the feedback we receive 

that the kids really enjoy meeting the 

players and we look forward to having 

them back this summer.” 

As well as learning to play the Leinster 

way, making new friends and having lots 

of fun, each child will also receive a pack 

including a rugby training t-shirt, a Rhino 

rugby ball and a boot bag. 

They will also get one free ticket to a 

selected Leinster Rugby game. 

The cost of attending the camp will be 

€90 per child. 

For more information, and to book 

your place before it’s too late, visit 

LeinsterRugby.ie 


CONOR 

O’TIGHEA 

THE ACADEMY 

INTERVIEW 

BY PAUL CAHILL 

Between selection 

and Covid cancelations, 

Conor O’Tighearnaigh 

didn’t get many chances 

to represent Leinster 

Rugby underage. 


RNAIGH 


PROUD TO BE OFFICIAL 

BUSINESS ADVISORS 

TO LEINSTER RUGBY 

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In fact, last season was his 

first opportunity to play in an 

interprovincial series. 

Since then, O’Tighearnaigh has won 

back-to-back U-20 Grand Slam titles, 

earned a spot in the Leinster Rugby 

Academy as well as making his Leinster 

Rugby debut away to the Vodacom Bulls 

in South Africa. 

Quite a whirlwind few months. 

The former St Michael’s College student 

admits that things have progressed quite 

quickly in recent years. 

“I was a bit of a late developer. In school, 

I didn’t start for the Junior Cup team. I 

wasn’t picked when I was in fourth or fifth 

year either. 

“So yeah, I probably was a late bloomer. 

It’s been in recent years that I’ve been 

picked a lot more.” 

After some initial disappointment, the 

second-row has made a lot of selections. 

“I did two years with the Leinster U-18 

Schools squad, but I didn’t get to play. 

In the first year, I was a late call up. 

There was a final squad named for the 

Interpros, but I wasn’t picked for that. 

“In the second year I was picked for the 

squad, but it was all cancelled because 

of Covid. So I didn’t get to play any U-18 

Interpros. 

“Last year, I was picked for the Leinster 

U-20’s so I got to play in all three 

Interpros. 

“We beat Munster and Ulster but we 

were fairly well beaten by Connacht. 

They had a development side which 

included Mack Hansen and a number of 

senior players. But it was a great platform 

to get ready for the Irish U-20’s.” 

He would soon go on a journey with the 

Ireland U-20’s that won’t be forgotten in 

a hurry. 

Last year, despite being U-19, Conor 

O’Tighearnaigh was selected by Richie 

Murphy for the U-20 Six Nations. 

That team would go on to claim a famous 

Grand Slam which culminated in a 59-5 

win over Scotland in front of a packed 

Musgrave Park. 

He was only 18 years old for that first 

campaign, but was suddenly one of the 


most experienced players a year later 

having also played in the U-20 Summer 

Series with Ireland. 

The UCD RFC man is aware that he was 

part of two very special teams. 

“I didn’t know what to expect in the first 

year. I wasn’t really expecting the call-up 

to be honest. It was always a goal, but I 

was still U-19 so I wasn’t really certain I’d 

get the call. 

“I didn’t know much about the other 

teams. We got off to a great start and 

carried that momentum through the 

tournament. It was a great experience. 

“For the second Six Nations campaign, 

I was a bit more ready for it. We had a 

great squad and it was amazing to clinch 

the Grand Slam against England. 

“I’ve certainly been lucky to be a part of 

these two teams.” 

A week after that England game in Cork, 

O’Tighearnaigh was given the news that 

he was being promoted to the Leinster 

Rugby Academy along with seven other 

players from the 2023 U-20 Six Nations 

winning team. 

Incredibly, he has been on a rugby 

journey with some of these players for a 

lot longer than you would imagine. 

“I’ve known so many of the lads for a 

very long time. Four of us were on the 

same Old Belvedere U-13 team. 

“Paddy McCarthy, Gus McCarthy, Fintan 

Gunne and myself were all on that team, 

so it was amazing winning a Grand Slam 

with them. 

“Henry McErlean was on my school 

team too. So it’s great moving up to the 

Academy next year with them.” 

For all of the young players in the Ken 

Wall Centre of Excellence, there is always 

the chance that you might get called up to 

train with the senior team in UCD. 

Many of them got that opportunity at the 

end of last season. 

“Last year, when the team were in South 

Africa, the international players stayed 

behind to prepare for the Champions Cup 

Quarter-Final. That was amazing for all of 

us because we were all called up. 

“We were up there everyday training 

with international players.” 

While last year’s tour to South Africa 

gave Conor O’Tighearnaigh an 

opportunity to train with the seniors. He 

would get a far bigger opportunity for 

this year’s tour. 

“Simon Broughton, the Academy 

Manager rang me to say I was going to 

South Africa. 

“It was incredible news to get. I was 

sitting at home when I got the call and my 

mum overheard. She was delighted and 

then we told the rest of the family.” 

O’Tighearnaigh was named in the 30- 

man panel to take on the Emirates Lions 

and the Vodacom Bulls in two of the most 

iconic stadiums in World rugby. 

The significance of these incredible 

arenas wasn’t lost on the 20-year-old. 

“It was an amazing experience. The first 

game was in Ellis Park and even though I 

didn’t play that game, it was amazing just 

being there. 

“We trained there on the Friday and just 

walking through the halls you can feel the 

history.” 

A week later, O’Tighearnaigh was 

named in the 23-man squad to take on 

the Bulls alongside another uncapped 

player, Liam Molony. 

Having someone feeling the same nerves 

beside him was definitely a benefit. In the 

64th minute, they both received the call to 

get ready. They were about to make their 

Leinster Rugby debut. 

“Liam and I were sitting beside each 

other on the bench trying to guess when 

we might come on. We were both quite 

nervy. It probably helped that we both 

came on together. 

“Even though the scoreboard wasn’t 

in our favour when we came on, that 

probably helped a little bit with the 

pressure. 

“It was a mix of nerves and excitement 

coming on, but it was great to win that 

first cap. 

“There’s probably no better place to 

make your debut.” 

As Ed Byrne said in his post-match 

interview, the squad were in a bit of a 


ush because they had to catch a bus to 

the airport. So did Conor have the usual 

first cap rituals? 

“We did, but because of the rush, we 

were presented our first caps on the bus. 

I was presented mine by Nick McCarthy. 

He is also a Michael’s man and has so 

many Leinster caps. So it was great to get 

it from him. 

“It was something you always dream of. 

“The Bulls were also really nice. They 

presented me with a signed jersey from 

all of their players. That was a really nice 

touch. 

“I have the Bulls jersey, the Leinster 

jersey and the cap. So they are very nice 

mementos to have. 

“My dad was a bit disappointed he 

couldn’t come down, but flights couldn’t 

really be done. He rung me straight 

after the game. The whole family were 

delighted.” 

All families are delighted when a 

child makes their senior debut, but the 

O’Tighearnaigh family had special 

reason to be over the moon. 

They spent many years together as a 

family watching Leinster Rugby as season 

ticket holders. 

“My dad, Lorcan was my first rugby 

coach in Bective Rangers when I was six 

years of age. He’s big into rugby and we 

always went together. 

“For a good few years we had five 

season tickets. My mum Mary wasn’t 

massively into rugby, but it was something 

the whole family got into. 

“My brother Seán and my sister Sorcha 

went as well.” 

Since his second Grand Slam success 

and winning his first senior cap, 

Conor O’Tighearnaigh has been busy 

working away in the Ken Wall Centre of 

Excellence. 

An environment that he believes makes 

everyone better. 

“The staff here in the COE are great. 

Dave Fagan is in charge of the strength 

and conditioning. He certainly makes sure 

you work hard. 

“He can be tough and he doesn’t go easy 

on anyone, but that makes you better. 

There’s times you might think he’s crazy 

when puts his fitness and gym sessions 

together. 

“He sets really good standards and you 

just have to look at the players who have 

come through here during his time. 

“I’ve definitely improved in my time here. 

From an S&C viewpoint but also from 

a skills point of view. Working with the 

likes of Simon Broughton, Aaron Dundon, 

Trevor Hogan and Adam Griggs, the 

standard of coaching is excellent. 

“When you are in four days a week 

working hard with these people, you can 

only get better.” 

Now that he is preparing to move up 

the Leinster Academy full-time, Conor 

O’Tighearnaigh feels he is ready for the 

move. 

“It’s really exciting moving up to UCD. 

It’s going to be a step up but it’s a great 

challenge. 

“It’s an incredible academy and it’s a 

great place to improve as a player. 

“Now that I’ve made my debut, I have 

that out of the way and I can look to build 

on that. I can’t wait to get stuck in.” 



Rugby 

Academy 

Year 

Three: 

92 | www.leinsterrugby.ie 

Marcus Hanan (4) #1295 


FROM Clane, Co Kildare 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”) 


POSITION Loosehead prop 

SCHOOL Salesian College, Celbridge 

CLUB Clane RFC 

HONOURS Ireland U-20 (2 caps) 

John McKee (19) #1307 


FROM Belfast 

HEIGHT 1.85m ( 6’ 0”) 


POSITION Hooker 

SCHOOL Campbell College 

CLUB Terenure College RFC 


Seán O’Brien (3) #1297 


FROM Pittsburgh, PA, USA 

HEIGHT 1.91m ( 6 ’ 3”) 

WEIGHT 106kg ( 16st 10lbs) 

POSITION Back Row 

SCHOOL Blackrock College 

CLUB UCD RFC 


Max O’Reilly (11) #1291 


FROM Long Island, USA 

HEIGHT 1.86m (6’ 1”) 


POSITION Full-back 

SCHOOL St Gerard’s School 

CLUB DUFC 


Andrew Smith (2) #1292 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.8 m (5’ 11”) 


POSITION Back Three 

SCHOOL St Michael’s College 

CLUB Clontarf FC 




Academy 

Year 

Two: 

Alex Soroka (9) #1296 


FROM Cork 

HEIGHT 1.95m (6’ 5”) 



SCHOOL Belvedere College 



Jack Boyle (2) #1317 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.86m (6’ 1”) 


POSITION Loosehead prop 


CLUB UCD RFC 


Lee Barron (7) #1308 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 3”) 


POSITION Hooker 


CLUB DUFC 


Chris Cosgrave (7) #1305 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”) 




CLUB UCD RFC 


Temi Lasisi (2) #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 (3) #1309 


FROM Bray 

HEIGHT 1.76m (5’ 8”) 


POSITION Scrum-half 

SCHOOL Presentation College, Bray 





Academy 

Year 

One: 

Rob Russell (18) #1302 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”) 




CLUB DUFC 


Ben Brownlee (4) #1313 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”) 


POSITION Centre 


CLUB UCD RFC 


James Culhane (3) #1315 


FROM Enniskerry, Co Wicklow 

HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”) 




CLUB UCD RFC 


Aitzol Arenzana-King 

(1) #1316 


FROM Gormanston, Co Meath 

HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 



SCHOOL Gormanston College/CUS 

CLUB Clontarf FC/Balbriggan RFC 


Diarmuid Mangan 


FROM Kildare 

HEIGHT 1.93 m (6’ 4”) 



SCHOOL Newbridge College 

CLUB UCD RFC 


Rory McGuire 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”) 


POSITION Tightead prop 


CLUB UCD RFC 


Sam Prendergast 

(2) #1317 


FROM Kildare 

HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”) 


POSITION Out-half 

SCHOOL Newbridge College 

CLUB Lansdowne FC 


Charlie Tector (7) #1314 


FROM Wexford 

HEIGHT 1.89 m (6’ 2”) 


POSITION Out-half 

SCHOOL Kilkenny College 

CLUB Lansdowne FC 



fixtures and 

results 2022/23 

Date 

17/09 

23/09 

30/09 

08/10 

14/10 

22/10 

28/10 

26/11 

03/12 

10/12 

16/12 

26/12 

01/01 

07/01 

14/01 

21/01 

28/01 

18/02 

04/03 

24/03 

01/04 

07/04 

15/04 

22/04 

29/04 

07/05 

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 J O’BRIEN LARMOUR RINGROSE HENSHAW KEARNEY FRAWLEY 

3C 

W 

13-20 URC ULSTER Kingspan 

Stadium 

W 

54-34 

W 

0-10 

URC 

CELL C 

SHARKS 

J O’BRIEN LARMOUR RINGROSE HENSHAW KEARNEY 

RDS Arena J O’BRIEN LARMOUR 

HENSHAW 

1T 

NGATAI 

RUSSELL 

1T 

URC CONNACHT Sportsground J O’BRIEN TURNER RINGROSE NGATAI RUSSELL 

W 

27-13 URC MUNSTER Aviva 

Stadium 

W 

5-35 

W 

40-5 

URC SCARLETS 

Parc y 

Scarlets 

FRAWLEY J O’BRIEN RINGROSE HENSHAW OSBORNE 

COSGRAVE 

1T 

URC GLASGOW RDS Arena OSBORNE 

RUSSELL 

1T 

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 

W 

57-0 

KEENAN 

J O’BRIEN 

RINGROSE 

1T 

NGATAI 

OSBORNE 

NGATAI 

HCC GLOUCESTER RDS Arena KEENAN J O’BRIEN RINGROSE NGATAI 

W 

19-20 URC MUNSTER Thomond 

Park 

W 

41-12 URC CONNACHT RDS Arena J O’BRIEN LARMOUR 

2T 

W 

19-24 URC OSPREYS Swansea. 

com Stadium 

KEARNEY 

1T 

LOWE 

1T 

LOWE 

LOWE 

2T 

KEENAN J O’BRIEN RINGROSE OSBORNE LOWE 

KEENAN 

1T 

W 

14-49 HCC GLOUCESTER Kingsholm KEENAN 

1T 

W 

36-10 HCC RACING 92 Aviva 

Stadium 

W 

28-14 

W 

43-14 

URC 

CARDIFF 

RUGBY 

URC 

DRAGONS 

RFC 

RDS Arena 

KEENAN 

2T 

COSGRAVE 

RDS Arena J O’BRIEN 

W 

27-47 URC EDINBURGH DAM Health 

Stadium 

D 

22-22 

URC 

DHL 

STORMERS 

RDS Arena 

W 

30-15 HCC ULSTER Aviva 

Stadium 

W 

30-15 

W 

36-39 

L 

62-7 

W 

41-22 

W 

35-5 

HCC 

LEICESTER 

TIGERS 

URC 

EMIRATES 

LIONS 

URC VODACOM 

BULLS 

HCC 

SF 

URC 

QF 

13/05 17:30 URC 

SF 

20/05 16:45 HCC 

F 

TOULOUSE 

CELL C 

SHARKS 

MUNSTER 

STADE 

ROCHELAIS 

94 | www.leinsterrugby.ie 

Aviva 

Stadium 

Emirates 

Airline Park 

Loftus 

Versfeld 

Aviva 

Stadium 

Aviva 

Stadium 

Aviva 

Stadium 

Aviva 

Stadium 

TURNER 

1T 

NGATAI 

LARMOUR OSBORNE NGATAI 

LARMOUR 

1T 

LARMOUR 

O’REILLY 

1T 

LARMOUR 

1T 

RINGROSE 

RINGROSE 

1T 

TURNER 

1T 

OSBORNE 

1T 

OSBORNE 

BROWNLEE 

RUSSELL 

1T 

J O’BRIEN 

1T 

J O’BRIEN 

J O’BRIEN 

2T 

KEARNEY 

TURNER OSBORNE KEARNEY 

FRAWLEY LARMOUR TURNER OSBORNE 

LARMOUR 

RUSSELL 

1T 

KEARNEY 

1T 

TURNER FRAWLEY KEARNEY 

KEENAN LARMOUR J O’BRIEN HENSHAW LOWE 

KEENAN 

COSGRAVE 

1T 

J O’BRIEN 

1T 

T O’BRIEN 

RINGROSE 

2T 

TURNER 

1T 

HENSHAW 

BROWNLEE 

LOWE 

KEARNEY 

COSGRAVE T O’BRIEN TURNER BROWNLEE KEARNEY 

KEENAN LARMOUR RINGROSE NGATAI J O’BRIEN 

KEENAN 

LARMOUR 

1T 

FRAWLEY NGATAI KEARNEY 

R. BYRNE 

2C 2P 

SEXTON 

1T, 7C 

R. BYRNE 

1C 

SEXTON 

2C, 1P 

R. BYRNE 

3C 

R. BYRNE 

4C 

R BYRNE 

5C, 1P 

R BYRNE 

4C 

R BYRNE 

5C 

R BYRNE 

2P, 2C 

SEXTON 

2C 

H. BYRNE 

1P, 1C 

R. BYRNE 

5C 

MCGRATH 

1T 

MCGRATH 

1T 

MCGRATH 

MCGRATH 

FOLEY 

1T 

MCGRATH 

1T 

E BYRNE 

PORTER 

PORTER 

PORTER 

1T 

KELLEHER 

SHEEHAN 

4T 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

SHEEHAN 

E. BYRNE SHEEHAN 

HEALY 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

MCGRATH E. BYRNE MCKEE 

MCGRATH E. BYRNE KELLEHER 

GIBSON-PARK 

GIBSON-PARK 

MCGRATH 

1T 

N MCCARTHY 

HEALY 

PORTER 

1T 

PORTER 

PORTER 

KELLEHER 

1T 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

KELLEHER 

2T 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

GIBSON-PARK MILNE KELLEHER 

FOLEY 

HEALY 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

GIBSON-PARK PORTER SHEEHAN 

R. BYRNE 2C GIBSON-PARK PORTER KELLEHER 

H. BYRNE 

3C 

H BYRNE 

2T, 3C 

H BYRNE 

6C 

H BYRNE 

1C 

R BYRNE 

3C, 3P 

R BYRNE 

6C, 2P 

PRENDERGAST 

4C, 2P 

PRENDERGAST 

1C 

R BYRNE 

5C, 2P 

H BYRNE 

4C 

MCGRATH 

2T 

MCGRATH 

1T 

MCGRATH 

MCGRATH 

GIBSON-PARK 

1T 

GIBSON-PARK 

1T 

N MCCARTHY 

MILNE 

MILNE 

MILNE 

2T 

MILNE 

1T 

PORTER 

1T 

PORTER 

MILNE 

1T 

MCKEE 

MCKEE 

MCKEE 

MCKEE 

SHEEHAN 

SHEEHAN 

BARRON 

N MCCARTHY E BYRNE MCELROY 

GIBSON-PARK 

MCGRATH 

PORTER 

MILNE 

1T 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

SHEEHAN

3 4 5 6 7 8 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 

ALAALATOA 

R. MOLONY 

JENKINS 

1T 

RUDDOCK 

T2 

ALAALATOA R. MOLONY JENKINS BAIRD 

ALAALATOA R. MOLONY JENKINS 

ALAALATOA 

R. 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 R. 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 R. MOLONY CONAN MCCARTHY R. BYRNE 

RINGROSE 

2T 

HENSHAW 

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

CLARKSON R. MOLONY MCCARTHY RUDDOCK PENNY DEEGAN 

MCKEE 

1T 

ALA’ALATOA RYAN JENKINS BAIRD VAN DER FLIER CONAN SHEEHAN 

ALA’ALATOA RYAN JENKINS BAIRD 

ALA’ALATOA 

R. 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 R. MOLONY DORIS MCCARTHY TECTOR TURNER 

HEALY R. 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 R. MOLONY CONAN MCGRATH H BYRNE TURNER 

DORIS MCKEE PORTER ABDALADZE SOROKA PENNY FOLEY 

ALA’ALATOA R. MOLONY DEENY RUDDOCK PENNY CONAN MCKEE MILNE ABDALADZE RYAN VAN DER FLIER MCCARTHY 

ALA’ALATOA 

1T 

R. MOLONY RYAN BAIRD 

ALA’ALATOA J MCCARTHY RYAN DORIS 

ALA’ALATOA 

R. MOLONY 

DEENY 

1T 

ALA’ALATOA MOLONY DEENY 

ALA’ALATOA 

1T 

RUDDOCK 

RUDDOCK 

1T 

JENKINS MOLONY RUDDOCK 

ALA’ALATOA R. MOLONY JENKINS RUDDOCK 

FURLONG R. MOLONY RYAN 

BAIRD 

1T 

VAN DER 

FLIER 1T 

VAN DER FLIER 

1T 

PENNY 

DORIS 

1T 

KELLEHER 

1T 

MILNE HEALY DEENY CONAN MCCARTHY 

CONAN SHEEHAN MILNE HEALY R. MOLONY BAIRD MCGRATH 

DEEGAN 

1T 

MCELROY HANAN CLARKSON CULHANE CONNORS MCCARTHY 

PENNY DEEGAN BARRON BOYLE CLARKSON JENKINS CONNORS N MCCARTHY 

PENNY 

2T 

PENNY 

1T 

DEEGAN 

1T 

DEEGAN 

1T 

FURLONG R MOLONY RYAN BAIRD DORIS CONAN 

ABDALADZE 

1T 

H. BYRNE 

1C 

R. BYRNE 

2C 

H. BYRNE 

2C 

H BYRNE 

1C 

TECTOR 

1C 

TECTOR 

1T, 1C 

OSBORNE 

RUSSELL 

TURNER 

PENNY 

KING 

RUSSELL 

1T 

BARRON BOYLE CLARKSON DEENY CONNORS MCCARTHY N TECTOR RUSSELL 

BARRON E BYRNE ABDALADZE DEENY CONNORS MCCARTHY TECTOR RUSSELL 

VAN DER FLIER CONAN MCKEE HEALY ALA’ALATOA JENKINS PENNY MCGRATH H BYRNE FRAWLEY 

MCKEE 

1T 

HEALY ALA’ALATOA JENKINS 

PENNY 

1T 

MCGRATH H BYRNE FRAWLEY 

DEENY JENKINS RUDDOCK CONNORS DEEGAN MCELROY E BYRNE CLARKSON SOROKA CULHANE MURPHY TECTOR 

CLARKSON SOROKA DEENY CULHANE CONNORS DEEGAN BARRON 

FURLONG R MOLONY RYAN DORIS 

FURLONG BAIRD JENKINS 

DEEGAN 

1T 

VAN DER FLIER 

1T 

PENNY 

CONAN 

2T 

DORIS 

1T 

MILNE 

1T 

MCKEE HEALY ALA’ALATOA 

RUSSELL 

1T 

LASISI O’TIGHEARNAIGH L MOLONY MURPHY TECTOR RUSSELL 

JENKINS 

1T 

MCKEE PORTER HEALY J MCCARTHY CONAN 

BAIRD MCGRATH H BYRNE FRAWLEY 

GIBSON-PARK 

1T 

R BYRNE 

1C 

TURNER 


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Parting Shot 

6 May 2023 

Like a programme on a string! 

Jordan Larmour signs autographs for 

creative Leinster fans after the BKT 

URC Quarter-Final win against Cell 

C Sharks. 

Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Leinster Rugby vs Munster Rugby

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