Leinster Rugby v Munster

ISSUE 11 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 

HUGH 

O'SULLIVAN 

ED 

BYRNE 

DAN 

SHEEHAN 

Larmour 

Jordan 

APR 

24 

20 

21 

KICK OFF 19:35

READY 

FOR 

ACTION 

A sea of blue 

rising since 1879.

#LEIVMUN 

Newstead Building A, UCD, 

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Telephone: 

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E-mail: 

information@leinsterrugby.ie 

www.leinsterrugby.ie 

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT 

President: John Walsh 

Chief Executive: Michael Dawson 

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: Felipe Contepomi 

Kicking Coach: Emmet Farrell 

Contact Skills Coach: Hugh Hogan 

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www.leinsterrugby.ie | 3 | From The Ground Up

JOHN WALSH 

WEL COME 

We extend a warm welcome to 

rugby fans joining us for today’s 

game and in particular we 

acknowledge the magnificent 

contribution that our worldwide 

supporters, and our partners 

and sponsors, have made during 

the past year as the Covid-19 

pandemic has impacted on our 

daily lives. 

We all have had to adapt, be creative 

and innovative during these past 14 

months in our own lives and so has the 

sport of rugby. 

The creation of the Guinness PRO14 

Rainbow Cup is one such competition 

that has evolved that involves 16 

representative teams from Ireland, Italy, 

Scotland, South Africa and Wales. It is 

a pity that the four South African teams 

will not be able to venture north just yet 

and will instead play a version of the 

Rainbow Cup on home soil but we know 

that a huge amount of logistical and 

operational work went on behind the 

scenes to make this competition happen. 

Like many things over the last 14 months, 

time and Covid-19 worked against the 

best endeavours of all concerned. 

Of course come the start of next season, 

and all going well, we will indeed be 

launching a new PRO16 tournament 

and won’t that be a brilliant boost for 

everyone involved. 

We look forward to the visits of the Lions 

from Johannesburg in the Transvaal 

under coach Ivan Van Rooyen, the Bulls 

from Pretoria in the Northern Transvaal 

under coach Jake White, the Sharks 

from Natal under coach Sean Everitt 

and the Stormers from Cape Town in 

the Western Cape under coach John 

Dobson. 

Since the game of rugby went 

professional at the highest level, we in 

Leinster have succeeded in attracting 

greater participation levels to our clubs 

with development initiatives within 

our schools, third level colleges and 

universities, and this work continues to 

encourage the further development of 

the girls and women’s game. 

Given the population of Ireland and the 

participation playing levels compared to 

other European nations that we compete 

against, the provincial Irish rugby teams 

have punched way above their size in 

winning a total of 21 European rugby 

titles to date with all four provinces 

recording success at domestic or 

European level. 

It is stated that success is not a 

destination but an ongoing journey 

so all our provinces must continue to 

develop the existing pathway and 

coaching programmes to attract players 

to the game at all levels. 

We commence our Guinness PRO14 

Rainbow Cup journey with a home 

fixture with what has been described as 

one of the biggest provincial rivalries in 

world rugby and which has captivated 

rugby fans with its intensity and passion 

since it first commenced in 1879. 

Since 1946 the Leinster-Munster fixture 

has been played on 104 occasions 

with just five draws, 56 victories to 

Leinster and 43 to Munster. These 

numbers include two European Cup 

semi-finals, five Celtic League semi-finals 

and three Celtic League finals including 

this season’s. The clash of Leinster blue 

with Munster red is undoubtedly on the 

same level of passion as that generated 

between those great Liverpool rivals, 

Everton and Liverpool. 

I wish to extend a warm welcome to 

Munster President Sean McCullough, 

who is the first President of the Branch 

to hail from Nenagh Ormond RFC 

and the officers of the Munster Branch, 

Chief Executive, Ian Flanagan, head 

coach Johann van Graan, players and 

management to the RDS for today’s 

game. 

Our mutual friendship extends way 

beyond our rivalry as it should be 

for a sport that values it’s ethos of 

sportsmanship. 

As we approach the final few months 

of the season we wish to thank and 

acknowledge the contributions that 

departing players from both our sides 

have made to enriching our clubs. 

In Leinster we bid farewell to Michael 

Bent (155 Leinster caps) and Scott 

Fardy (76 caps) and from Munster the 

departing Billy Holland (245 Munster 

caps), Tommy O’Donnell (186), C J 

Stander (152), JJ Hanrahan (141) and 

Darren Sweetnam (92). 

Congratulations to Leinster players 

Tadhg Furlong, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo 

Keenan and Josh van der Flier on their 

nomination for European Player of the 

Year for 2021. They are the only Irish 

players among the 15 nominees with 

the remainder coming from the French 

clubs of La Rochelle, Toulouse, Clermont 

Auvergne and Bordeaux Begles. 

Irish players to have won the award 

previously are Rob Kearney (2012), 

Sean O’Brien (2011) and Ronal 

O’Gara (2010) so I would urge all Irish 

rugby fans to log on to epcrugby.com 

and vote for one of our Leinster players. 

John Walsh 

PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2020/21 


Leo Cullen 

HEAD COACH WELCOME 

GOOD 

EVENING 

EVERYONE! 

WE’RE BACK 

AT THE RDS 

ARENA FOR 

ANOTHER 

ENCOUNTER 

WITH 

MUNSTER 

RUGBY – OUR 

FIFTH OUTING 

AGAINST OUR 

SOUTHERN 

NEIGHBOURS 

SINCE 

THE POST- 

LOCKDOWN 

RESUMPTION. 

So, a warm welcome back to Dublin 

to Johann van Graan and his team for 

what I’m sure will be another closelycontested 

battle. 

We were delighted to hold on and seal a tight 

win against tonight’s opponents in the final of 

the Guinness PRO14 a couple of weekends ago. 

And even amid the strangeness of sport these 

days, it was still great to see our elder statesmen 

– Scott Fardy, Michael Bent and Devin Toner – 

getting up on stage to raise the trophy together. 

Those three lads have been outstanding leaders 

in our group throughout a challenging season 

and the news that Scott and Michael will be 

retiring at the end of the season is sad for 

everyone. 

I have already paid tribute to Fards, but Michael 

too will go down as one of the unsung heroes of 

Leinster Rugby. 

After arriving in Ireland and shortly after going 

on to make his Ireland debut, Michael has gone 

on to represent Leinster on 155 occasions. With 

so many demands on our squad, especially 

in recent times and with players away on 

international duty, Benty has consistently 

delivered rock-solid performances as well as 

much-needed leadership and guidance for the 

younger players. 

Everyone will have seen what a popular figure 

he is within the group during the trophy lift 

recently, and we would like to wish Michael, his 

wife Celyse and their two children Emme and Eli 

safe travels and the best of luck as they begin 

the next phase of their life back in New Zealand. 

We are losing two great Leinstermen and I know 

I speak on behalf of all Leinster supporters in 

hoping that we’ll get to see Fards and Benty 

back at the RDS at some point in the future. 

Back to the season at hand, and of course our 

Heineken Champions Cup game against Toulon 

was cancelled, which meant we had a ‘free 

pass’ into the quarter-finals, where we had a real 

battle against the reigning champions Exeter. 

Thankfully, we are still in the fight and we now 

have a really exciting challenge to look forward 

to next week when we head to the west coast of 

France to play La Rochelle. 

They are a highly-skilled outfit, coached by 

an ex-Leinsterman in Jono Gibbes, and an ex- 

Munsterman in Ronan O’Gara. The bar is high 

against one of the best teams in Europe, but 

that’s exactly where we want to be. 

Last week, we had the positive news of a 

number of contract extensions as well as the 

new signings of Nick McCarthy and Michael 

Ala’alatoa. We have an exciting group taking 

shape for next season, with lots to look forward 

to. 

We couldn’t do it without the support and 

backing of our sponsors, in particular Bank of 

Ireland, who have stuck with us throughout these 

challenging times. A big thank you to all our 

partners and we look forward to brighter days 

ahead when we can get together with sponsors, 

season ticket-holders and friends at the RDS and 

elsewhere. 

We were hugely encouraged to see fans back in 

Wembley Stadium last weekend and the hope is 

that our own turnstiles will be open in time for the 

start of next season. Touch wood! 

We’ve been intrigued and looking forward to 

the start of the Guinness Rainbow Cup ever since 

it was announced. It was a little disappointing 

– but understandable – to hear that the South 

African teams won’t be travelling north for the 

competition, but hopefully all parties will be 

good to go next season. The inclusion of so 

many good teams and international players can 

only strengthen our competition in the future. 

As for tonight, we know what to expect and I 

hope you enjoy the game for what it is – an 

80-minute showdown between two highly 

competitive teams, battling it out for their 

respective provinces. 

Thanks for tuning in and for your support, as 

always. 

Leo 


JOANN 

HOSEY 

PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR 

BANK OF IRELAND DUBLIN 

WELCOME 

TO THE RDS 

ARENA FOR 

THE START 

OF AN 

EXCITING NEW 

COMPETITION, 

THE GUINNESS 

PRO14 

RAINBOW CUP. 

It’s not that long ago since Leinster 

last played Munster at the RDS Arena, 

but this new competition marks the 

beginning of a fresh adventure for 

both sides. 

Battles between these teams are always closely 

fought, as the two teams know each other 

inside out, and we wish them both well again 

for this evening’s clash. 

Teams that previously competed in the 

Guinness PRO14 will now welcome four new 

teams from the home of the reigning World 

Cup holders South Africa, as the Rainbow 

Cup comes into being. While the four South 

African teams will be based at home for this 

new competition, it is only a few months from 

the start of a new season and these four great 

teams making the trip north for the PRO16. 

And with this fresh start we maintain hope that 

we will soon have some supporters back in 

our stadiums. Only last week Leinster Rugby 

announced plans to trial Antigen Testing at 

a forthcoming fixture, which is a step in the 

right direction with regards to allowing fans 

experience live action once again. 

Being able to watch teams like Leinster Rugby 

and Munster Rugby from a safe distance 

has provided great excitement over the last 

12 months, and we are very grateful for the 

distraction that these games laid on. 

We must remember the incredible work 

carried out by administrators, medics, security 

personnel and the Covid-19 officers that 

ensured these games could go ahead on a 

weekly basis. 

Our sincere thanks go to all the people who 

played a role in keeping the show on the 

road. Everyone involved was confronted with 

a stark new reality, but to have come through 

11 games at the RDS Arena with no issues is a 

credit to everyone. 

For the first time in quite a while we can see 

some light at the end of the tunnel, and in the 

meantime we must redouble our efforts ahead 

of what we hope will be an exciting summer. 

Enjoy the game, 

JH 


FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION ON 

PRO14.RUGBY 

YOUR GUINNESS 

PRO14 HOME 

LATEST NEWS, LIVE MATCH 

CENTRES, STATS & MORE 

VISIT NOW 

WWW.PRO14.RUGBY

DUAL TOURNAMENT 

APPROACH TO GUINNESS 

PRO14 RAINBOW CUP 

With no formal approvals in place 

to allow the South African teams 

to enter the UK & Ireland for 

their Guinness PRO14 Rainbow 

Cup fixtures, PRO14 Rugby and 

SA Rugby will operate dual 

tournaments with no crosshemisphere 

fixtures. 

Despite a colossal effort, the South 

African teams were not granted the 

permission to travel in time to allow 

the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup to 

be played as originally planned. Such 

challenges are not unique to rugby as 

many international sports have found the 

Covid-19 pandemic a difficult landscape 

to plan for. 

All options for the South African teams 

to travel to Europe safely were explored 

and exhausted by the league, this is due 

to the heightened restrictions caused by 

South Africa’s presence on the red list of 

the territories involved. 

DUAL TOURNAMENTS 

The ‘northern’ Guinness PRO14 Rainbow 

Cup will still take place on the dates 

previously published as teams from 

across Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales 

aim to take upset eight-time title winners 

Leinster Rugby. The fixtures for Rounds 

4, 5 and 6 had already been scheduled 

and provided to clubs, but will now have 

the South African teams removed and 

kick-off times may be modified ahead of 

publishing. 

The ‘southern’ tournament will be called 

Rainbow Cup SA and will include the 

very best of what South African club 

rugby has to offer; Cell C Sharks, DHL 

Stormers, Emirates Lions and Vodacom 

Bulls, whose World Cup winning 

Springboks are priming themselves for 

the arrival of the British & Irish Lions. 

These games will be available in the 

UK and Ireland with PRO14 Rugby’s 

current TV partners and full details of 

this competition will be confirmed by SA 

Rugby shortly 

ALL AVENUES EXHAUSTED 

A wide stakeholder group, led by a 

working group between the tournament 

team at PRO14 Rugby and SA Rugby, 

produced a long list of various options 

for entry of the teams, base camps and 

high-standard medical protocols across 

the past four months to cater for different 

scenarios. 

In total, 12 venues across the UK, Ireland 

and Europe were considered as base 

camps for the South African teams to 

operate out of or to use as a quarantine 

destination before entering the UK and 

Ireland. SA Rugby also explored another 

four locations separate to this. Further, 

destinations in the Middle East were also 

explored as potential hosts for fixtures 

involving South African teams. 

This process produced project plans for 

each venue to include suitable training 

and accommodation facilities and charter 

travel schedules under the constant 

guidance of a Medical Management 

Committee, consisting of the PRO14 

medical consultant, tournament staff 

and union Chief Medical Officers. This 

group tracked the status of Covid-19 in 

the various territories and advised on the 

strategic approach to governments at all 

times. 

Throughout this process, PRO14 Rugby 

has had great support of governments 

and health authorities in all jurisdictions. 

NO IMPACT ON LONG- 

TERM PARTNERSHIP 

This decision will have no impact on the 

long-term partnership between PRO14 

Rugby and SA Rugby and more details 

about those plans and league structure 

for the ground-breaking 2021/22 season 

onwards will be made public shortly. 

Martin Anayi, CEO of PRO14 Rugby, 

said:“A staggering volume of work has 

been undertaken to provide a number of 

proposals and options to accommodate 

this – all as we navigated the challenges 

of the second and third waves of 

Covid-19 as well as the South African 

variant which constantly changed the 

landscape we were operating in. 

“Among our unions, our own staff and SA 

Rugby there is no more that could have 

been asked in terms of designing plans 

that were medically sound, however, 

there has been no perfect solution found 

in time to allow for South African teams’ 

entry into our territories. 

“Whilst the outcome is clearly different 

from what we had intended, our 

relationship and partnership with SA 

Rugby has been greatly strengthened and 

enhanced by this experience. We are 

looking forward to the two Rainbow Cup 

competitions and in due course sharing 

our intentions about our future partnership 

that will be boosted by the experiences 

and project-planning involved to this point 

ahead of the 2021/22 season. 

Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby, said: “This 

is a huge disappointment, but time had 

simply run out.” 

“No stone was left unturned to try 

and find a solution to the challenges – 

including basing our teams for 10 days 

in locations in the Middle East or Europe. 

But the pieces of the jigsaw would not fall 

into place in time to allow us to put those 

plans into action.” 

The full fixture schedule for the Guinness 

PRO14 Rainbow Cup, including kick-off 

times and broadcaster information, will 

be released shortly. 


Did you 

know? 

• Leinster Rugby lost just 

two matches en route to 

becoming the Guinness 

PRO14 champions for 

2020/21 with both defeats 

coming at the RDS Arena 

against Connacht and 

Ospreys. 

• The Leinstermen have 

lost just one of their last 

fourteen fixtures against 

fellow Irish provinces. 

• Munster’s six game 

winning run in the Guinness 

PRO14 ended with their 

6-16 reversal to Leinster in 

the final at the RDS Arena 

on 27 March. 

• The Munstermen’s 

record in their last sixteen 

clashes away at fellow Irish 

provinces is won four, lost 

twelve, with all four victories 

coming against Connacht. 

• Leinster have won their 

last six fixtures against 

Munster since their 17-26 

defeat at Thomond Park in 

December 2018. 

#LEIVmun 

Overall Guinness 

PRO14 head to head 

record: 

42 28 14 0 

PLAYED Leinster won Leinster lost DRAWs 

COMPARISON 

Last 3 PRO14 results: 

LEINSTER 

12 Mar - Zebre (A) 

W 48-31 

19 Mar - Ospreys (H) 

L 19-24 

27 Mar - Munster (H) 

W 16-6 

Conf A: 

1st - W14 D0 L2 - 71pts 

WWWWWL 

(26pts) 

Scott Penny 9 

Harry Byrne 91 

OSPREYS 

PRO14 

2020/21 

PRO14 

form 

Top try 

scorer 

Top points 

scorer 

12 Mar - Scarlets (H) 

W 28-10 

19 Mar - Benetton (H) 

W 31-17 

27 Mar - Leinster (A) 

L 6-16 

Conf B: 

1st - W14 D0 L2 - 64pts 

WWWWWW 

(26pts) 

8 Gavin Coombes 

85 JJ Hanrahan 

Date Venue L M Leinster scorers Munster scorers 

Sat 18 May 19 RDS Arena (SF) 24 9 James Lowe(T) 

Ross Byrne(C/4P) 

Sean Cronin(T) 

Sat 28 Dec 19 Thomond Park 13 6 Ross Byrne(C/2P) 

Ed Byrne(T) 

Sat 22 Aug 20 Aviva Stadium 27 25 James Lowe(T) Ross Byrne(P) 

Cian Healy(T) Garry Ringrose(T) 

Johnny Sexton(3C/P) 

Fri 4 Sep 20 

Aviva Stadium 

(SF) 

13 3 Ronan Kelleher(T) 

Johnny Sexton(C/2P) 

Sat 23 Jan 21 Thomond Park 13 10 Ross Byrne(C) Jordan Larmour(T) 

Johnny Sexton(2P) 

Sat 27 Mar 21 

RDS Arena 

(TF) 

16 6 Jack Conan(T) 

Ross Byrne(C/3P) 

Joey Carbery(3P) 

JJ Hanrahan(2P) 

Andrew Conway(2T) 

Keith Earls(T) 

JJ Hanrahan(2C/2P) 

JJ Hanrahan(P) 

Tadhg Beirne(T) 

JJ Hanrahan(C/P) 

Joey Carbery(2P) 


Larmour 

jordan 

A NEW COMPETITION BUT A VERY FAMILIAR FOE. 

AS JORDAN LARMOUR PREPARES FOR THE 

OPENING GAME OF THE GUINNESS PRO14 

RAINBOW CUP AGAINST MUNSTER RUGBY, THERE 

ARE ANY NUMBER OF MOVING PARTS THIS WEEK. 

BUT AS ALWAYS, HE PREFERS TO FOCUS ON 

WHAT HE DOES KNOW AND THAT IS THAT 

MUNSTER ARE COMING TO TOWN. 

From The Ground Up | 14 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


“It’s disappointing that the South 

African teams can’t travel up at 

this point in the season. I think 

we were all looking forward to 

playing them but we understand 

the issue, of course we do. 

“A lot of work has gone on behind the 

scenes to try to make it happen but like 

everyone in society dealing with this over 

the last year, Covid-19 and the pandemic 

has other thoughts and you just have to 

adapt as best you can. 

“Hopefully when all this calms 

down and the new season gets 

underway in late September or 

early October we will have the 

four teams in and off we go with 

a PRO16. 

“This isn’t the first time that 

Covid has impacted on sport 

or on us and it probably won’t 

be the last. It’s all about how you 

deal with it.” 

Indeed, the impact of Covid on their 

European preparations is still relatively 

fresh in his mind with the game against 

Toulon falling foul of Covid and contact 

tracing issues on the part of the French 

club. 

There was also the December game 

against Munster and also the game 

against the Scarlets. 

So not the first time their plans have 

been left in tatters. 

While the Munster and Scarlets games 

were postponements, the Toulon game 

was a cancellation and it meant a 

weekend without a hit-out. 

For some commentators, that 

cancelled game against Toulon 

was almost their undoing as a 

bye into the quarter-finals away 

to Exeter left Leinster without 

a game in two weeks and in 

some people’s eyes a little 

under-cooked. 

As the 23-year-old winger 

stood under the posts in a 

huddle and his team 14-0 down 

after eight minutes away to the 

reigning champions, is that how it 

looked to him? 

“Possibly. It’s the conversation 

everyone was having before the 

game, wasn’t it? Would the weekend 

off do us good or stand against us! 


“We got off to a slow start alright but 

I don’t think it was anything major that 

went wrong just a few mistakes that let 

them into the game and credit to Exeter 

they really executed those chances that 

we gave them. That’s why they are the 

double champions. 

“I thought we did really well though as 

a group. Came together under the sticks 

and identified what we needed to do and 

then set about doing it.” 

What did they identify in those two posttry 

huddles? 

“We hadn’t really played so it was about 

sticking to the game plan, there was 

plenty of time left in the game and to be 

fair I think in the remaining minutes of that 

first half we did that really well. 

“Leading into half-time we felt really good 

and look, of course, a team of Exeter’s 

quality aren’t going to lie down and they 

came out in that second half and again 

had us under pressure and went ahead 

again and it was a little bit of déjà vu. 

“We again had to take stock I suppose 

and just take a breath and see what was 

unfolding in front of us. Again, I think 

it was a serious effort from everyone 

to get back into our rhythm, regain 

that composure and I suppose that last 

quarter we finished off the game really 

well. 

“Exeter never gave up and the back 

three in particular, the wingers and then 

Stuart Hogg as well at full back. We had 

to stay switched on for the full 80 minutes 

but when we got back into the changing 

rooms after, it was a brilliant feeling 

because we knew how hard we had 

to work to get the win. 

“We had to figure it out for 

ourselves out there a few times 

and we came out the right side so 

yeah, it was a very enjoyable trip home 

to Dublin.” 

He may have 29 Ireland caps to his 

name and 56 Leinster caps but he is 

very much in the early days of his 

professional career, so when he is 

in that huddle what is he looking 

out for and what does he hope 

to hear? 

“I think it’s a credit to the leaders 

in our team and also the coaching 

team and the messages that they 

brought on to us when we were in 

those sticky moments. 


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“Cool heads. You look all around you 

and you just see calm. You see players 

who have seen this before and come out 

the other side. 

“We knew it was a shaky start, but there 

was little point worrying about that. We 

knew we had barely touched the ball 

yet and if we could just get our hands on 

the ball and start to build that there was 

plenty of time as I said before. 

“AS I LOOK BACK AND IF I WAS A FAN 

I’D SAY IT WAS ONE OF THOSE GAMES 

YOU WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE 

WATCHED. TWO GOOD TEAMS JUST 

GOING AT IT.” 

“But the leadership and the players 

definitely felt confident in what we could 

do so it was straight away, next job, next 

moment so we focused on winning that 

next ball and not going off script. If we 

stuck to the plan, we were confident we 

would come out the right side of it.” 

Interestingly after the game the Exeter 

Head Coach Rob Baxter bemoaned his 

own side and their inability to stick to the 

Exeter script when things were going well 

for his side and it was that drifting offscript 

that maybe opened the door for a 

Leinster side and a back three in blue that 

was ready to pounce. 

“We saw in those opening minutes 

how dangerous they could be and Tom 

O’Flaherty was lively every time he got 

the ball, line breaks and half breaks most 

times and obviously, he took his two tries 

well but we definitely felt that there would 

be chances for us. 

“Hugo did so well for Lowie’s try and 

drawing in those defenders and then 

getting the ball away with two players 

hanging off him and then for my try just 

sucking Henry Slade in long enough to 

allow me the space to go outside and dot 

down in the corner. Little things but Hugo 

did brilliantly for both of those scores. 

“So yeah, I think we worked well as 

a three and it was great to be able to 

finish some of those tries because a lot 

of the hard work had been done by the 

forwards before that so it was good to get 

the five points. 

“As I look back and if I was a fan I’d say 

it was one of those games you would 

have loved to have watched. Two good 

teams just going at it. Hopefully the 

supporters enjoyed it anyway. It was 

definitely a good one to play in and to 

come through.” 


After the quarter-final win over Exeter it 

was time to put the feet up for a week of 

rest and recovery and it was a welcome 

break for Larmour and in particular the 

players who had also been away with 

Ireland. 

“It’s always nice to recharge the 

batteries. OK there was a down weekend 

because of the Toulon game being pulled 

but we still had to prep all that week as 

normal and then straight into Exeter. That 

was obviously off the back of the PRO14 

Final and the few months away with 

Ireland so it was a pretty intense 

time. 

“Definitely a good time to 

get away and get the body 

feeling good again which 

I think we made good 

use of because it was 

interesting everyone 

coming in this 

week on 

Monday, 

everyone was 

buzzing to 

go. Another 

trophy to win and 

Munster tonight. 

“What’s not to get excited about?” 

Interestingly this will be the fifth time these 

sides will have locked horns since the 

sport resumed in August. 

Add to that the familiarity of Ireland camp 

and the smattering of former Leinster 

players now in Munster red, there is not 

much that they don’t now know about 

each other. 

“It’s my third time playing them just this 

year. And I played them in the two games 

in August and September as well so we 

definitely know each other very well. 

“It’s exciting though because this Leinster 

team is about winning trophies and 

competing in finals rugby and for us we 

look at this block and with or without the 

South African teams, there is a trophy 

there to win and that is our aim. 

“Obviously you take it game by game 

but the reality is that with the top two 

teams going into a final there is very little 

margin for error so for us this week, we 

want to prep well and see where that 

leaves us as we head into the inter-pros 

after that in rounds two and three. 


“HE LEADS 

BY EXAMPLE. 

WHENEVER 

HE PLAYS, HE 

ALWAYS STEPS 

UP OR MAKES A 

GOOD SHOT OR 

CARRIES WELL. 

JUST THE RIGHT 

DECISIONS ALL 

THE TIME.” 

“But we know we want to be competing 

for this trophy in a few months’ time.” 

As someone who has played them four 

times in the last seven months, what has 

Larmour made of Munster? 

“They’re a quality team and I think they 

are moving the ball better, they’ve got 

nice starter plays and their phased attack 

and their unstructured play is evolving all 

the time. 

“So we know we have to be at our best 

to compete with them but that’s always 

been the case. There is never much 

between us. We saw how good they 

were against Toulouse and any team that 

can score four tries against that Toulouse 

defence, you know they have something 

special. 

“We’ll prepare as best we can for that 

and hopefully, we’ll have something that 

we can bring to the party as well and we 

can perform to our abilities.” 

Larmour doesn’t turn 24 until June and 

is very much in the younger bracket of 

Leinster players and while he would 

have been looking to elder statemen like 

Johnny Sexton, Scott Fardy and Devin 

Toner under the sticks in Sandy Park, this 

weekend he’ll be looking to a 26-yearold 

captain in Garry Ringrose. 

At such a young age he is clearly 

earmarked as a future leader of this team 

having already captained them to the 

Guinness PRO14 title last year against 

Ulster. 

“He leads by example. Whenever he 

plays, he always steps up or makes a 

good shot or carries well. Just the right 

decisions all the time. And then off the 

pitch he gets his detail nailed on and then 

speaks when the time is right and always 

seems to say the right things. 

“It’s great to have him back too not just 

because of his leadership abilities. He’s 

been unlucky with injury but it’s a mark 

of the man that he is straight back in and 

starts as captain. 

“It shows the respect that the coaches 

have for him but the wider group too.” 

Deep down Larmour will hope that there 

isn’t too much need for Ringrose to rally 

the troops under the posts tonight, but 

if there is that need, Leinster supporters 

can rest assured, that the skipper will 

command his players’ full respect. 

And then it will be a trip to France and a 

shot at a place in a final and a potential 

fifth star. 

“That would be great but we have too 

much respect for La Rochelle to be 

thinking that far ahead. First we have to 

do well this weekend and show Leo and 

the coaches that we are good to go and 

then we can focus on that challenge next 

week. 

“It’s a great time to be involved though 

and the type of games we all love. 

Players, coaches and supporters.” 


HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP 

SANDY PARK 

10 APRIL 2021 

REF: MATHIEU RAYNAL 

22 

34 

Stuart Hogg; Olly Woodburn 

(Ian Whitten 60), Henry Slade, 

Ollie Devoto, Tom O’Flaherty; 

Joe Simmonds, Jack Maunder 

(Stu Townsend 57); Ben Moon 

(Alec Hepburn 50), Luke Cowan- 

Dickie (Jack Yeandle 63), Tomas 

Francis (Harry Williams 50); 

Jonny Gray (Sam Skinner 57), 

Jonny Hill; Dave Ewers, Jacques 

Vermeulen (Jannes Kirsten 51), 

Sam Simmonds. 

SCORERS 

TRIES: Tom O’Flaherty (2), Dave 

Ewers. CONS: Joe Simmonds (2). 

PEN: Joe Simmonds. 

Hugo Keenan; Jordan Larmour, 

Rory O’Loughlin, Robbie 

Henshaw, James Lowe (Dave 

Kearney 79); Johnny Sexton 

(Ross Byrne 27), Luke McGrath 

(Hugh O’Sullivan 79); Cian 

Healy (Ed Byrne 50), Rónan 

Kelleher (James Tracy 70), Tadhg 

Furlong (Andrew Porter 55); 

Scott Fardy (Ryan Baird 50), 

Devin Toner (Ross Molony 70); 

Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier, 

Jack Conan. 

SCORERS 

TRIES: James Lowe, Jordan 

Larmour (2). CONS: Johnny 

Sexton, Ross Byrne. PENS: Ross 

Byrne (5). 

“WE’RE 

RELIEVED TO 

BE IN THE 

NEXT ROUND. 

A SHAKY 

START BUT WE 

RECOVERED 

WELL AND 

TOOK OUR 

OPPORTUNITIES 

WHEN THEY 

CAME ALONG.” 

Head coach Leo Cullen 



BANK OF IRELAND LEINSTER RUGBY 

Summer Camps 

And I nclusion Camps 

LIMITED PLACES STILL REMAIN ON SELECTED BANK OF 

IRELAND LEINSTER RUGBY SUMMER CAMPS FOLLOWING 

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THEIR LAUNCH RECENTLY. 

Subject to a green light from 

Government and NPHET, the Bank 

of Ireland Leinster Rugby Summer 

Camps and Inclusion Camps 

will run in a Covid-19 compliant 

manner in 29 venues across the 

province with 37 camps in total, 

including five inclusion camps 

taking place simultaneously 

in five of our clubs in July and 

August. 

Our summer camp programme is aimed 

at girls and boys aged between six and 

12, while our inclusion camps are open 

to all children with disabilities aged 

between eight to 12. 

Limited places remain on the following 

summer camps: 

July 12-16: 

Longford RFC 

August 9-13: 

Tallaght RFC 

August 23-27: 

Cill Dara RFC 

The following camps are now sold 

out: Ashbourne RFC, Balbriggan RFC, 

Barnhall RFC, Blackrock RFC, Boyne RFC, 

Clondalkin RFC, Clontarf FC, Coolmine 

RFC, DLSP FC, Dundalk RFC, Enniscorthy 

RFC, Greystones RFC, Kilkenny RFC, 

Mullingar RFC, Navan RFC, Newbridge 

RFC, North Kildare RFC, Portlaoise 


RFC, St Mary’s College RFC, Terenure 

College RFC, Tullamore RFC, Tullow RFC, 

Wanderers FC, Westmanstown RFC, 

Wexford Wanderers RFC and all four 

camps in Energia Park. 

Places still remain on our five inclusion 

camps which will take place in 

Greystones RFC, Mullingar RFC, Navan 

RFC, Coolmine RFC and Newbridge 

RFC in July and August. The Bank of 

Ireland Leinster Rugby Inclusion Camps 

provide children with all disabilities aged 

between eight and 12, with a fun-filled 

three days of rugby during the summer 

holidays. The camps are focused on 

adapting rugby to meet the needs of 

camp-goers to maximise enjoyment and 

learning to play the Leinster Way. 

Due to Covid-19 and with the health 

and safety of attendees and staff of 

paramount importance, similar to last 

summer, there will though be a number 

of changes to the camps from previous 

years. 

There will be no visit 

from professional 

Leinster Rugby players. 

Every camp goer will 

receive an adidas 

training top, Rhino 

rugby ball and 

drawstring bag. 

The Summer Camps will 

be held from 9.30am- 

1pm over five days and 

the Inclusion Camps 

over three days from 

10.30am-12.30am and 

a daily Covid-19 health 

sign-off will be required. 

The summer camps will be held from 

9.30am-1.00pm over five days and are 

aimed at girls and boys aged six to 12 

and a daily COVID-19 health sign-off will 

be required. 

The inclusion camps will be held from 

10.30am-12.30pm and run over three 

days, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and 

Thursdays, and are open to all children 

with additional needs aged between 

eight to 12. A daily COVID-19 health 

sign-off will also be required. 

The camps will be offered on a modified 

basis and there will be changes to 

the rugby activities in accordance to 

government guidelines at the time of the 

camp. 

For a full list of Summer 

Camp venues and dates 

and to book your place, 

click here… 

For a full list of Inclusion 

Camp venues and dates 

and to book your place, 

click here… 


EVERY FIXTURE 

EVERY TRY 

EVERY TACKLE 

ALL IN 

ONE APP

Three innovative law variations 

have been approved by World 

Rugby for use in the Guinness 

PRO14 Rainbow Cup – Red 

Card Replacements, Captain’s 

Challenge and Goal-line dropouts. 

The law trials were proposed by 

the PRO14’s Sports and Regulatory 

Committee and will be implemented from 

next weekend when the Guinness PRO14 

Rainbow Cup kicks off presenting teams 

with new dynamics that allow for positive 

play and enhanced decision-making 

outcomes. 

These law variations are already in 

use across Super Rugby Aotearoa and 

Super Rugby AU and their use has been 

encouraged by World Rugby to improve 

the game. 

REPLACEMENT FOR RED 

CARD PLAYER AFTER 20 

MINUTES 

For red cards the offending player will 

be removed from the field for 20 minutes. 

After this time the team can replace 

this player with one of their nominated 

substitutes. The player who is given the 

red card will not be able to return to the 

pitch. 

Just like the awarding of a yellow card, 

the 20 minutes will be measured in ‘game 

time’ meaning that the clock will not 

run during stoppages in play. The Red 

Card Replacement law will also apply 

to players who receive two yellow cards 

(which results in an automatic red). 

Players who have been substituted for 

tactical reasons may be used to replace a 

player who has received a red card. The 

usual replacement laws continue to apply 

in that a replaced player may return for 

an injured front rower, injury due to foul 

play, HIA or blood. 

LAW TRIALS CONFIRMED 

FOR GUINNESS PRO14 

RAINBOW CUP 

CAPTAIN’S CHALLENGE 

The Captain’s Challenge is aimed at 

enhancing the accuracy of decisions 

already under the remit of the match 

officials. Each team is allowed one 

captain’s challenge in the match. These 

can be used for try-scoring and foul play 

incidents, or to challenge any refereeing 

decision in the last five minutes of a 

match. 

The challenge will be referred to the 

TMO who will review the footage with 

the match referee making the final 

decision. If a challenge is successful, then 

the team keeps their challenge but if it 

is unsuccessful then the team loses the 

challenge. 

Challenges can only be made up to 20 

seconds after the referee has blown his 

whistle for a stoppage in play and only 

incidents from the last passage of play 

can be challenged. 

Prior to the 75-minute mark, the Captain’s 

Challenge can only be used to check 

for an infringement in the lead up to a 

try or to review foul play. The Captain’s 

Challenge will be applied more broadly 

from the 75-minute mark in any match at 

which point the captain, provided they 

have not already lost their Challenge, 

can use it to check any whistled decision 

regardless of whether a try has been 

scored. Injury time is included in the post 

75-minute period. 

•TMO’s will be able to go back to the 

last stoppage in play, regardless of how 

many phases have been played 

• Foul play challenges can be made 

after any stoppage in play if the captain 

believes foul play has been missed by the 

match officials 

• Captains must reference ‘specific’ 

incidents or infringements 

• Footage must be ‘clear and obvious’ 

for a challenge to be upheld 

Captains cannot refer a scrum or lineout 

penalty, where the referee’s decision will 

be final 

For the avoidance of doubt, there is 

no extra challenge available after 75 

minutes. Teams receive one challenge per 

match and will only retain it if they are 

successful in a previous challenge. 

WHAT CANNOT BE CHALLENGED: 

• A restart in play has happened 

including a quick tap or quick throw-in 

has been taken, so the team has chosen 

to play quickly 

• Non-decisions – where a referee does 

not blow their whistle for a decision and 

play continues (unless there is foul play) 

• Set-piece decisions cannot be 

challenged because they are technical 

decisions that could provide multiple 

outcomes based on the interpretations of 

players and referees 

GOAL-LINE DROP-OUT 

For held-up over the line, knock-ons 

that occur in goal or when the ball is 

grounded by a defending player in the 

in-goal area after a kick through, the 

defending team will take a drop-out from 

anywhere on the goal line. 

The drop-out must be taken on or behind 

the defending team’s goal line and it 

must occur without delay. The ball must 

cut across the goal line and travel five 

metres. If this does not occur a sanction 

will apply and the non-kicking team may 

request the kick to be retaken or receive 

a five metre scrum in line with where the 

kick was taken. 

For the avoidance of doubt, a missed 

penalty kick at goal or a missed dropgoal 

attempt will still result in a 22m dropout 

for the defending team. 


Leo 

Kids 

the Lion's 

Corner 

spot the 

differences 

ANAGRAMS 

Can you un-jumble 

the names of these 

academy players? 

SHAMROCK 

TALONS 

ME 

ASSERTIVE 

CHILL 

GUESS 

WHO? 

Can you name these 

three academy 

players? 

ANSWERS 

ANAGRAMS 

Thomas Clarkson 

Michael Silvester 

GUESS WHO? 

Seán O’Brien 

David Hawkshaw 

Aaron O’Sullivan 


AJ Products provides unique 

solutions for office, 

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environment 

www.ajproducts.ie

QUEST10NS 

with... 

Garry Ringrose 

1. What do you remember about your 

first day at Leinster Rugby? 

Getting fitness tested. At that time 

it was the YoYo Test and as a first 

year Academy player I was very 

nervous to do well. 

2. What has been your most 

memorable moment playing with 

Leinster Rugby? 

I am lucky to have a few memorable 

moments that rank equally. My 

debut against Cardiff is special. 

Then winning the Heineken 

Champions Cup in Bilbao and 

winning the Guinness PRO14 the 

following week and celebrating with 

both trophies at the Aviva Stadium. 

3. If you had to pick a teammate to 

be CEO of Leinster Rugby, who 

would it be? 

It would have to be Rob Kearney. 

Although he recently finished I still 

consider him a team mate. And he’d 

be my pick for CEO! 

4. What piece of advice would you give 

to your 18-year-old self now? 

Give it everything, enjoy it as much 

as possible and embrace the ups 

and downs. 

5. What is a clever life-hack 

that you use? 

Battery phone case for my phone. I 

get two days out of the phone then! 

6. Who were your top five artists on 

Spotify Wrapped 2020? 

Drake, The Coronas, Billie Eilish, 

Somebody’s Child, Kanye West. 

7. What's the best nickname you've 

heard? And what's the origin? 

I don’t know if it’s the best but 

Ringer is my own nickname. My 

dad and uncles were called that 

and it’s passed on now to the next 

generation. 

8. What fictional TV/book character 

would you most like to meet in 

real life? 

The Genie (Aladdin) 

9. If you could know the absolute 

truth to any question, what would 

you want to know? 

Next week’s Euro Millions 

numbers. 

10. What have you been binging 

on TV lately? 

The Boys - Amazon Prime 



DISCOVER THE 

SPIRIT WITHIN. 

“ THE INDOMINABLE SPIRIT OF OUR PEOPLE 

IS THE VERY SOUL OF OUR WHISKY” 

Product available to purchase at 

WWW.LOCHLOMONDWHISKIES.COM 

@lochlomondmalts @lochlomondwhiskies 

THE SPIRIT OF PRO14 RUGBY 

Enjoy Responsibly

CULLEN WELCOMES 19 NEW CONTRACTS 

Ahead of 2021/22 Season 

Leo Cullen has given his thoughts 

following the 17 new contracts 

announced this week by Leinster 

Rugby. 

It’s been a busy few months at the club with 

Cullen confirming his own new contract last 

month, in addition to Leinster securing the 

services of coaches Stuart Lancaster, Felipe 

Contepomi and Robin McBryde. 

Speaking to leinsterrugby.ie, Cullen was 

delighted with the additional news this week 

and the players confirmed and, while conscious 

of the difficult contracting environment, he 

very much welcomed the news ahead of the 

2021/22 season. 

“This has been a challenging few months on 

the contracting front so I think it’s important 

to acknowledge the role of the IRFU and our 

own Mick Dawson and Guy Easterby and their 

work in managing a very difficult period. 

“We look forward to welcoming Michael 

(Alaalatoa) and Nick (McCarthy) to the club 

in the coming months and to have retained 

17 players, 16 of whom came through our 

Academy system, is a huge boost for everyone 

LEINSTER RUGBY 

CONTRACTS: 

1. Michael Alaalatoa 

JOINING FROM 

CRUSADERS 

2. Thomas Clarkson 

PROMOTED FROM 

THE ACADEMY 

3. Jack Conan 

4. Seán Cronin 

5. David Hawkshaw 

PROMOTED FROM 

THE ACADEMY 

6. Dave Kearney 

7. Hugo Keenan 

8. Rónan Kelleher 

9. Dan Leavy 

10. Nick McCarthy 

JOINING FROM 

MUNSTER RUGBY 

11. Luke McGrath 

12. Michael Milne 

PROMOTED FROM 

THE ACADEMY 

13. Ross Molony 

14. Jimmy O'Brien 

15. Scott Penny 

16. Devin Toner 

17. James Tracy 

as we look forward to next season and 

hopefully supporters being back at the RDS 

Arena. 

“That 16 players came through the Leinster 

Rugby player pathway is a testament to the 

hard work that underpins our identity as a 

club and I’d like to acknowledge the role 

of our clubs and our schools in the players’ 

development. 

“The role of Noel McNamara, Trevor Hogan 

and all the team down in the Ken Wall Centre 

of Excellence in Energia Park and all across the 

12 counties should also be acknowledged for 

their work in identifying and developing these 

players. 

“Finally, congratulations to Thomas Clarkson, 

David Hawkshaw and Michael Milne on their 

first professional contracts. Three players that 

have taken their opportunities when presented 

over the last few years and I am delighted for 

them and wish them well. 

“We have much to do still this season but 

announcements like these are important as we 

plan for the future and we hope the supporters 

are as excited about what’s ahead as we are.” 

IRFU 

CONTRACTS: 

1. Cian Healy 

2. Johnny Sexton 


2020/21 squad 

VAKH ABDALADZE - #1263 

DOB 6 FEBRUARY 1996 

From KUTAISI, GEORGIA 

Height 1.85M (6’ 1”) 

Weight 117KG (18st 6lbs) 

Position PROP 

Club CLONTARF FC 

Leinster Debut 2 DECEMBER 2017 

Honours IRELAND U20S (2 caps) 

MICHAEL BENT - #1212 

DOB 25 APRIL 1986 

From HAWERA, NEW ZEALAND 

Height 1.85M (6’ 1”) 


Position PROP 

Club DUBLIN UNIVERSITY FC 


Honours IRELAND (4 caps) 

ED BYRNE - #1222 

DOB 9 SEPTEMBER 1993 

From CARLOW 

Height 1.80M (5’ 11”) 


Position PROP 

Club UCD RFC 

Leinster Debut 9 FEBRUARY 2014 


ROSS BYRNE - #1236 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.88M (6’ 3”) 


Position OUTHALF 

Club UCD RFC 

Leinster Debut 4 SEPTEMBER 2015 


WILL CONNORS - #1264 


From DONADEA, KILDARE 

Height 1.94 (6’ 4”) 


Position BACK ROW 

Club UCD RFC 



RYAN BAIRD - #1278 

DOB 26 JULY 1999 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.98M (6’ 6”) 


Position SECOND ROW 


Leinster Debut 27 APRIL 2019 


ADAM BYRNE - #1213 


From KILDARE 

Height 1.93M (6’ 4”) 


Position WING / FULL BACK 

Club UCD RFC 


Honours IRELAND (1 cap) 

HARRY BYRNE - #1280 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.88M (6’ 2”) 



Club LANSDOWNE 



JACK CONAN - #1223 


From BRAY, WICKLOW 

Height 1.93M (6’ 4”) 


Position NO. 8 

Club OLD BELVEDERE RFC 



SEÁN CRONIN - #1202 

DOB 6 MAY 1986 

From LIMERICK 

Height 1.80M (5’ 11”) 


Position HOOKER 

Club ST. MARY’S COLLEGE RFC 

Leinster Debut 28 OCTOBER 2011 



MAX DEEGAN - #1256 

DOB 1 OCTOBER 1996 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.93M (6’ 3”) 


Position NO. 8 

Club LANSDOWNE FC 



CAELAN DORIS - #1268 


From MAYO 

Height 1.94M (6’ 4”) 




Leinster Debut 28 APRIL 2018 


SCOTT FARDY - #1257 


From SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 

Height 1.98 M (6’ 6”) 

Weight 111 KG (17st 7lbs) 


Club UNASSIGNED 


Honours AUSTRALIA (39 caps) 

TADHG FURLONG - #1220 

DOB 14 NOVEMBER 1992 

From WEXFORD 

Height 1.85M (6’ 1”) 


Position PROP 

Club NEW ROSS RFC / CLONTARF FC 

Leinster Debut 1 NOVEMBER 2013 


AND BRITISH & IRISH LIONS (6 caps) 

CIAN HEALY - #1142 

DOB 7 OCTOBER 1987 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.85M (6’ 1”) 


Position PROP 


Leinster Debut 5 MAY 2007 



DAVE KEARNEY - #1158 

DOB 19 JUNE 1989 

From LOUTH 

Height 1.81M (5’ 11”) 






CIAN KELLEHER - #1234 

DOB 7 AUGUST 1994 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.85M (6’ 0”) 


Position WINGER/FULL BACK 




PETER DOOLEY - #1230 

DOB 4 AUGUST 1994 

Birthplace OFFALY 

Height 1.85M (6’ 1”) 


Position PROP 




JACK DUNNE - #1276 


From DUBLIN 

Height 2.02M (6’ 7”) 



School ST. MICHAEL’S COLLEGE 




CIARÁN FRAWLEY - #1265 

DOB 4 DECEMBER 1997 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.92M (6’ 3”) 

Weight 95.6KG (15st 1lbs) 


Club UCD RFC 



JAMISON GIBSON-PARK - #1247 


From GREAT BARRIER ISLAND, NEW 

ZEALAND 

Height 1.76M (5’ 9”) 


Position SCRUM HALF 

Club UNASSIGNED 



ROBBIE HENSHAW - #1251 


From ATHLONE 

Height 1.91M (6’ 3”) 


Position CENTRE / FULL BACK 

Club BUCCANEERS RFC 




HUGO KEENAN - #1253 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.85M (6’ 1”) 


Position FULL BACK 

Club UCD RFC 



RÓNAN KELLEHER - #1277 

DOB 24 JANUARY 1998 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.85M (6’ 0”) 







JORDAN LARMOUR - #1258 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.78M (5’ 10”) 


Position WING 




JAMES LOWE - #1262 


From NELSON, NEW ZEALAND 

Height 1.88M (6’ 2”) 



Club CLONDALKIN RFC 



ROSS MOLONY - #1233 

DOB 11 MAY 1994 

From DUBLIN 

Height 2.00M (6’ 6”) 



Club UCD RFC 



ROWAN OSBORNE - #1281 


From EADESTOWN, KILDARE 

Height 1.71M (5’ 7”) 





Honours IRELAND SCHOOLS 

JIMMY O'BRIEN - #1272 


From KILDARE 

Height 1.84M (6’ 0”) 


Position CENTRE 

Club NAAS RFC 



RORY O'LOUGHLIN - #1248 

DOB 21 JANUARY1994 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.88M (6’ 2”) 



Club OLD BELVEDERE RFC 



CIARAN PARKER* - #1288 

DOB: 5 OCTOBER 1995 

From: STOCKPORT, ENGLAND 

Height: 1.88M (6’ 2”) 

Weight: 120KG (18st 10lbs) 

Position: PROP 

Club: UNASSIGNED 

Leinster Debut: 23 OCTOBER 2020 

Honours: ENGLAND U20S 

*on loan from Jersey Reds September – December 2020 

DAN LEAVY - #1231 

DOB 23 MAY 1994 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.91M (6’ 3”) 


Position FLANKER 

Club UCD RFC 



LUKE McGRATH - #1206 


From ONTARIO, CANADA 

Height 1.75M (5’ 9”) 



Club UCD RFC 



JOSH MURPHY - #1261 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.96M (6’ 5”) 



Club UCD RFC 



CONOR O'BRIEN - #1260 


From WESTMEATH 

Height 1.90M (6’ 3”) 






TOMMY O'BRIEN - #1283 

DOB 28 MAY 1998 

From DUBLIN 

Height 1.83M (6’ 0”) 



Club UCD RFC 



HUGH O'SULLIVAN - #1270 


From MEATH 

Height 1.79M (5’ 9”) 






SCOTT PENNY - #1271 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.85M (6’ 0”) 



Club UCD RFC 




ANDREW PORTER - #1246 


Birthplace DUBLIN 

Height 1.84M (6’ 1”) 


Position PROP 

Club UCD RFC 



RHYS RUDDOCK - #1167 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.91M (6’ 3”) 






JOHNNY SEXTON - #1127 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.88M (6’ 2”) 




Leinster Debut 27 JANUARY 2006 



DEVIN TONER - #1128 


From MEATH 

Height 2.08M (6’ 10”) 




Leinster Debut 27 JANUARY 2006 


JOSH VAN DER FLIER - #1228 


From WICKLOW 

Height 1.87M (6’ 2”) 



Club UCD RFC 



GARRY RINGROSE - #1237 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.87M (6’ 2”) 



Club UCD RFC 



JAMES RYAN - #1259 


From DUBLIN 

Height 2.04M (6’ 7”) 



Club UCD RFC 



DAN SHEEHAN - #1286 


From DUBLIN 

Height 1.91 M (6’ 3”) 






JAMES TRACY - #1211 


From KILDARE 

Height 1.85M (6’ 1”) 



Club UCD RFC 



Coaching Staff 

LEO CULLEN 

HEAD COACH 

STUART LANCASTER 

SENIOR COACH 

ROBIN MCBRYDE 

ASSISTANT COACH 

FELIPE CONTEPOMI 

BACKS COACH 

EMMET FARRELL 

KICKING COACH AND 

LEAD PERFORMANCE ANALYST 

GUY EASTERBY 

HEAD OF RUGBY OPERATIONS 

HUGH HOGAN 

CONTACT SKILLS COACH 


do.ie 

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advisory 

consulting 

C 

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Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K 

For further information contact: 

Michael Costello, Managing Partner, 

on 01 470 0130 or email mcostello@bdo.ie 

Mark Hamilton, Head of Business Development, 

on 01 470 0541 or email mhamilton@bdo.ie 

Click here to visit bdo.ie 

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Delivering bespoke IT services from concept, delivery and support 

support@lantech.ie 

www.lantech.ie 

OFFICIAL 

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Official Health and Wellbeing Partner 

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The North Midlands 

Rugby Revolution 

BY PAT COSTELLO, SPORTS EDITOR, KILDARE NATIONALIST 

HAVE YOU NOTICED, OF LATE, THE NUMBER OF YOUNG AND 

TALENTED RUGBY PLAYERS FROM THE NORTH MIDLANDS RUGBY 

CLUBS, AND IN PARTICULAR KILDARE RUGBY CLUBS, WHO HAVE BEEN 

MAKING THE GRADE WITH THE PROVINCES, MAINLY LEINSTER BUT 

MUNSTER AND CONNACHT TOO? 

That’s no pure coincidence or 

fluke but rather it’s down to the 

excellent and hard work of the 

North Midlands Coach and Player 

Development team, led by John 

Bagnall, and including his wife 

Jenny (Women’s Development 

Officer) and Joey Carbery Snr, 

father to the Joey of Munster and 

Ireland fame. 

MU Barnhall clubman, John Bagnall, has 

been in the role for the past 10 years 

now having been the Rugby Development 

Officer for NUI Maynooth and one of the 

selectors for North Midlands squad prior 

to that. 

“The role is primarily around improving 

the performance of players and coaches 

and we work with the Community Rugby 

Staff of 11/12 in the area along with 

Joey and Jen to drive promotion and 

participation,” Bagnall explains about the 

role of the programme. 

“We work with the coaches on different 

courses targeting club coaches as well 

as giving a lot of support up to the 

adult game in the area. Alongside that 

we identify players and bring them to 

different programmes for the three area 

squads in the North Midlands region at 

U-16 and 18 boys U-18 girls,” he added. 

“We organise workshops at U-16 level 

to let them experience involvement with 

players from other clubs. I am lucky in the 

number of volunteers I have who have 

worked really hard on the programme. 

The U-16 squad has five coaches with a 

head coach and they look at how they 

are going to play, presentations on the 

game and on practical knowledge such 

as positional play as well as basic and 

technical skills of the game are included. 

As much as possible we give them a 

rounded attitude of knowledge in learning 

and education,” John Bagnall further 

explained. 

The programme was primarily developed 

for the North Midlands area which has 

now expanded to 10 clubs with the 

inclusion of Blessington as a new club. 

The Coach and Player Development 

Programme is supported by the Club 

Community Rugby Officer (CCRO) 

Programme which has been on the go for 

up to 20 years now and whose work is 

around promotion and participation out in 

local primary schools and local clubs to 

help and improve them and to get people 

into the game. 

There are nine CCROs in the North 

Midlands area who are funded through 

Leinster Rugby and some of the clubs 

although some funding also comes from 

the Local Sports Partnerships in Kildare 

and Laois. 

The Coaching Courses on the programme 

cover three development stages. The 

Children’s Coaching Course covers up to 

12 years of age, the Youth’s Course is for 

U-13 to U-15 while the Senior Coaching 

Course covers U-16 to adults. On top of 

that, the Performance Coaching Course 

would involve coaches of first teams with 

clubs. 

Leinster also had a couple of projects on 

different courses including a partnership 

with St Mary’s University in London on 

teaching games for understanding so it 

became game-based coaching. 

“We developed our own coaching 

programme around that with the research 

behind it from St Mary’s,” Bagnall says. 

“Very much the main part of our coaching 

is all about making sure it is coaching 

through games rather than going through 

the technical process and that has been a 

big game changer for us.” 

Bagnall is not one to take the limelight 

for himself and credits the success of the 

programme on the environment created 

and on the volunteers he works with. 

“We judge our success on the number 

of players we have going through to the 

adult game as well as getting through to 

the professional game. In Cill Dara RFC 

at the moment 80 per cent of their first 

team players have come through the Area 

Programme, in Newbridge RFC it is over 

50 per cent, and in Naas RFC, across 

their three teams it is 80 per cent. 

“And it’s very similar with girls 

programmes,” Bagnall tells us. “That’s 

success for me and it shows. I don’t take 

too many of the plaudits. We just provide 

an opportunity for the players and the 

good players will make it themselves.” 


Bagnall praises the work ethic, hard work 

and attitude of the players who have 

come through in recent times such as the 

Osbornes, Jamie and Rowan, Marcus 

Hanan, Jordan Duggan, Mark Moloney, 

Cormac Daly, the Mastersons, Eoghan 

and Sean, as well as Joey Carbery and 

Jeremy Loughman, among others, who 

are all involved with Leinster, Munster or 

Connacht. 

“We went into a lot of schools as well 

over seven or eight years ago on a 

Transition Year project and we did a lot 

of video analysis and technical skills with 

a lot of players. At that time, we had 

Jimmy O’Brien and Will Connors in that 

programme. Players in Clongowes and 

Newbridge were given an extra bit of 

work and they are now coming through 

as well.” 

“The work going on at Naas CBS is 

phenomenal,” the MU Barnhall clubman 

says. “They work so hard and a lot of club 

coaches are in there. I think they will go 

after the Junior Cup and then see what 

happens. I don’t think the Senior Cup is a 

priority for them yet. They want to make 

sure that the club players aren’t leaving.” 

Covid-19 of course poses challenges 

for Bagnall and his team with the IRFU 

aspiration of running Interpros in the 

summer meaning that squad selections 

for Leinster’s U-18s, Schools, Youths and 

U-19s will be from players who haven’t 

played a match this year and are going 

to be selected based on a previous year’s 

form. 

He sees his work and that of his team 

being very much in transition at the 

moment. 

“We have a lot of really good 16-yearolds 

and I think our next focus is going 

to be about trying to better support the 

volunteer coaches in the clubs to make 

sure we can keep numbers high. We 

are constantly trying to improve and to 

keep the standard high and get more 

club players through to the professional 

game.” 

“We are also constantly striving to bridge 

the gap from U-16 to the adult game at 

club level. The quality of the competition 

that they have in the schools game, the 

intensity and the fact that they have 

professional coaches all helps there. 

In the club game we have volunteer 

coaches doing the best they can so we 

are looking at different ways to improve 

that competition and to keep the standard 

high and improve standards.” 

The North Midlands Programme has also 

been successful from a women’s rugby 

point of view with Eimear Corri going to 

the Ireland Sevens and Emma Hooban on 

to the Irish XVs. 

“The standard in rugby has hugely 

improved over the last couple of years 

in the girls’ game and the opportunities 

for these girls are massive because 

there’s scholarships to universities or the 

professional route with the Irish Sevens 

team,” Bagnall adds. 

“Erin King of Naas, who has been part of 

programme for two years, is now trying 

it with the Ireland Sevens on a full-time 

basis. I suppose from my point of view it’s 

trying to get the consistency in the clubs 

so the priority is to keep it mirrored with 

the boys’ game, so all those opportunities 

stay there and improve.” 

The balance between normal 

participation levels at clubs and catering 

for the more elite player is another 

challenge to be faced. “My conversation 

with the clubs is to make sure when 

they send players on that the players 

want to be there and are comfortable 

in the environment and have the mental 

capacity to be able to deal with the 

pressure of mixing with new people.” 

“People have to enjoy what they are 

doing. Some people want to push on and 

be professional players and some people 

just want to be there for social things. I’ve 

got three girls in mini rugby and they are 

only interested in social rugby.” 

Facilities of course are increasingly 

becoming an issue according to Bagnall 

but he says clubs have been proactive 

in this area citing the good work of the 

likes of Cill Dara, Naas and Newbridge 

in recent times although as participation 

levels grow there is a danger of there 

being a lack of pitches. 

Speaking of the future is there anything 

that John Bagnall would like to see? 

“I’m dying for the day when I can actually 

see a full professional team from the 

North Midlands. That would be amazing 

to sort of say, look we’ve achieved that!” 


Leinster Player Statistics 

SQUAD 

CAP 

NO 

DEBUT 

2020/21 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER 

ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR 

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

SINCE LAST TRY 

CAPS 

VAKH ABDALADZE 1263 2 DEC 17 - - - - - - - - - 0+11 1 5 0+11 1 5 - - - 10 - 

RYAN BAIRD 1278 27 APR 19 6+4 2 10 5+3 2 10 1+1 - - 9+12 5 25 8+9 5 25 1+2 - - 5 IR 3 

MICHAEL BENT 1212 1 DEC 12 12+3 3 15 11+2 3 15 1+1 - - 91+64 7 35 86+41 7 35 5+23 - - 3 IR 4 

ADAM BYRNE 1213 29 DEC 12 - - - - - - - - - 49+8 20 100 39+8 14 70 10 6 30 5 IR 1 

ED BYRNE 1222 9 FEB 14 3+5 2 10 3+5 2 10 - - - 17+49 10 50 17+39 9 45 0+9 1 5 3 IR 4 

HARRY BYRNE 1280 28 SEP 19 10+2 3 96 10+1 3 91 0+1 - 5 13+9 6 154 13+8 6 149 0+1 - 5 1 - 

ROSS BYRNE 1236 4 SEP 15 7+2 - 77 5+2 - 57 2 - 20 65+34 5 612 54+18 2 451 11+15 3 144 20 IR 13 

THOMAS 

CLARKSON 

1285 29 AUG 20 2+7 - - 2+7 - - - - - 2+8 - - 2+8 - - - - - - - 

JACK CONAN 1223 20 FEB 14 5+3 1 5 5+3 1 5 - - - 78+24 22 110 58+14 15 75 19+10 7 35 2 IR 20 

WILL CONNORS 1264 9 FEB 18 2+1 - - 2+1 - - - - - 17+6 2 10 16+6 2 10 1 - - 10 IR 9 

TIM CORKERY 1298 12 MAR 21 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - - 

SEAN CRONIN 1202 28 OCT 11 4+4 1 5 4+4 1 5 - - - 119+74 42 210 75+53 25 125 43+19 16 80 5 IR 72 

MAX DEEGAN 1256 3 DEC 16 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 35+30 18 90 32+22 16 80 3+8 2 10 7 IR 1 

PETER DOOLEY 1230 31 OCT 14 11+3 3 15 10+2 3 15 1+1 - - 39+51 5 25 37+45 5 25 2+6 - - 5 - 

CAELAN DORIS 1268 28 APR 18 4 - - 3 - - 1 - - 29+8 5 25 23+6 3 15 6+2 2 10 6 IR 7 

JACK DUNNE 1276 16 FEB 19 1+7 - - 1+7 - - - - - 2+13 - - 2+13 - - - - - - - 

SCOTT FARDY 1257 2 SEP 17 10+4 - - 9+4 - - 1 - - 61+15 10 50 45+10 6 30 15+5 4 20 19 AU 39 

CIARAN FRAWLEY 1265 17 FEB 18 7+1 1 19 6 - 14 1+1 1 5 16+18 4 143 15+14 3 132 1+4 1 11 4 - 

TADHG FURLONG 1220 1 NOV 13 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - 71+40 7 35 41+32 3 15 29+8 4 20 7 IR 49 

JAMISON GIBSON-PARK 1247 2 SEP 16 4+3 1 5 3+2 - - 1+1 1 5 48+52 17 85 43+28 14 70 5+24 3 15 4 IR 9 

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

DAVID HAWKSHAW 1290 2 NOV 20 0+7 1 11 0+7 1 11 - - - 0+7 1 11 0+7 1 11 - - - 3 - 

CIAN HEALY 1142 5 MAY 07 4+3 1 5 3+2 - - 1+1 1 5 153+75 26 130 88+48 12 60 62+26 13 65 5 IR 109 

ROBBIE HENSHAW 1251 8 OCT 16 6 1 5 4 1 5 2 - - 54+1 10 50 24 4 20 29+1 6 30 4 IR 52 

DAVE KEARNEY 1158 16 MAY 09 16 10 50 14 8 40 2 2 10 144+22 51 255 118+15 44 220 25+5 7 35 4 IR 19 

HUGO KEENAN 1253 5 NOV 16 7 - - 5 - - 2 - - 23+3 1 5 19+3 1 5 3 - - 23 IR 11 

CIAN KELLEHER 1234 16 MAY 15 9+1 6 30 9 6 30 0+1 - - 15+10 11 55 15+9 11 55 0+1 - - 1 - 

RONAN KELLEHER 1277 22 FEB 19 3+2 - - 2+1 - - 1+1 - - 17+4 9 45 12+2 8 40 4+2 1 5 9 IR 11 

JORDAN LARMOUR 1258 2 SEP 17 5 2 10 5 2 10 - - - 48+8 17 85 28+5 12 60 19+3 3 15 1 IR 29 

DAN LEAVY 1231 31 OCT 14 4+5 3 15 4+3 2 10 0+2 1 5 43+29 17 85 35+19 13 65 8+10 4 20 1 IR 11 

JAMES LOWE 1262 2 DEC 17 2 3 15 2 3 15 - - - 50 34 170 33 25 125 16 8 40 1 IR 6 

GREG MCGRATH 1293 2 JAN 21 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - - - 

LUKE MCGRATH 1206 5 MAY 12 14+4 7 35 13+3 7 35 1+1 - - 98+48 38 190 66+42 30 150 31+6 8 40 3 IR 19 

MICHAEL MILNE 1279 28 SEP 19 1+4 - - 1+4 - - - - - 1+13 2 10 1+13 2 10 - - - 12 - 


SQUAD 

CAP 

NO 

DEBUT 


ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR 

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

SINCE LAST TRY 

CAPS 

ROSS MOLONY 1233 20 FEB 15 9+7 - - 9+6 - - 0+1 - - 61+52 3 15 59+37 3 15 2+14 - - 75 - 

JOSH MURPHY 1261 3 NOV 17 10+2 3 15 9+2 2 10 1 1 5 38+7 5 25 37+6 4 20 1+1 1 5 5 - 

JAMIE OSBORNE 1294 30 JAN 21 2+4 1 5 2+4 1 5 - - - 2+4 1 5 2+4 1 5 - - - 1 - 

ROWAN OSBORNE 1281 4 OCT 19 1+4 - - 1+4 - - - - - 2+8 1 5 2+8 1 5 - - - 9 - 

CONOR O'BRIEN 1260 3 NOV 17 - - - - - - - - - 16+7 6 30 16+6 6 30 0+1 - - 9 - 

JIMMY O'BRIEN 1272 23 NOV 18 12+2 3 17 10+2 2 12 2 1 5 23+9 6 32 21+9 5 27 2 1 5 8 - 

SEAN O'BRIEN 1297 12 MAR 21 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - - 

TOMMY O'BRIEN 1283 20 DEC 19 3+1 2 10 3+1 2 10 - - - 4+3 3 15 4+3 3 15 - - - 3 - 

RORY O'LOUGHLIN 1248 2 SEP 16 9 - - 9 - - - - - 61+20 21 105 54+13 18 90 6+7 3 15 24 IR 1 

MAX O'REILLY 1291 2 JAN 21 6+1 1 5 6+1 1 5 - - - 6+1 1 5 6+1 1 5 - - - 6 - 

HUGH O'SULLIVAN 1270 15 SEP 18 0+8 - 2 0+8 - 2 - - - 2+27 1 7 2+24 1 7 0+2 - - 13 - 

CIARAN PARKER 1288 23 OCT 20 0+3 1 5 0+3 1 5 - - - 0+3 1 5 0+3 1 5 - - - 3 - 

SCOTT PENNY 1271 23 NOV 18 10+1 9 45 10+1 9 45 - - - 20+5 15 75 20+5 15 75 - - - 4 - 

ANDREW PORTER 1246 2 SEP 16 4+2 - - 3+1 - - 1+1 - - 26+47 10 50 21+29 7 35 5+17 3 15 8 IR 37 

GARRY RINGROSE 1237 12 SEP 15 4 1 7 3 1 7 1 - - 78+2 26 132 47+1 15 77 31+1 11 55 4 IR 34 

RHYS RUDDOCK 1167 6 DEC 09 12+1 1 5 10+1 1 5 2 - - 142+45 11 55 106+31 9 45 34+12 2 10 3 IR 27 

JAMES RYAN 1259 2 SEP 17 5+1 1 5 4 1 5 1+1 - - 39+6 3 15 18+1 1 5 21+5 2 10 5 IR 35 

JOHNNY SEXTON 1127 27 JAN 06 4+1 - 10 4+1 - 10 - - - 148+25 26 1507 87+19 13 833 58+6 12 641 13 IR 99 

DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 2+8 6 30 2+8 6 30 - - - 2+8 6 30 2+8 6 30 - - - 2 - 

MICHAEL SILVESTER 1289 23 OCT 20 0+2 1 5 0+2 1 5 - - - 0+2 1 5 0+2 1 5 - - - 1 - 

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

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

DEVIN TONER 1128 27 JAN 06 9+4 - - 8+4 - - 1 - - 205+58 4 20 140+40 4 20 61+18 - - 46 IR 70 

JAMES TRACY 1211 4 NOV 12 10+5 5 25 9+4 5 25 1+1 - - 56+70 13 65 49+43 12 60 7+26 1 5 6 IR 6 

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

JOSH VAN DER FLIER 1228 11 OCT 14 7+1 2 10 5+1 1 5 2 1 5 72+21 11 55 43+15 7 35 28+6 4 20 3 IR 31 

KICKING 


ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR OVERALL 

SUCCESS 

RATE 

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

% 

- - - HARRY BYRNE 84.44% 33 5 - 32 4 - 1 1 - 53 6 52 5 1 1 74 79.73% 

ROSS BYRNE 89.19% 22 11 - 18 7 - 4 4 - 184 72 1 144 50 1 39 17 - 334 76.65% 

CIARAN FRAWLEY 63.64% 7 - - 7 - - - - - 51 7 - 48 7 - 3 - - 72 80.56% 

DAVID HAWKSHAW 75.00% 3 - - 3 - - - - - 3 - - 3 - - - - - 4 75.00% 

LUKE MCGRATH 0.00% - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 0.00% 

JIMMY O'BRIEN 33.33% 1 - - 1 - - - - - 1 - - 1 - - - - - 3 33.33% 

HUGH O'SULLIVAN 50.00% 1 - - 1 - - - - - 1 - - 1 - - - - - 2 50.00% 

GARRY RINGROSE 100.00% 1 - - 1 - - - - - 1 - - 1 - - - - - 1 100.00% 

JOHNNY SEXTON 57.14% 2 2 - 2 2 - - - - 234 292 11 120 169 7 106 119 4 660 79.70% 


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Given the time of the year and it being almost the 

end of April it does seem strange to be writing 

about how we're all looking forward to the 

start of a new rugby competition. 

In times gone by (aka pre-Covid), 

this time of year would be 

when the focus would be on the 

business end of the competitions 

and looking to once again stake 

your claim in achieving the 

pinnacle of European rugby glory. 

This thankfully is still the case for 

us as semi-finals are around the 

corner but we’re also gearing 

ourselves up for something new, 

and a bit different. 

As we have seen throughout the last year, 

nothing is currently what we would like it 

to be and so given the ups and downs of 

recent rugby, this weekend sees the start 

of the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup 

which sees the existing 12 teams joined 

by four South African teams for what 

promises to be a very interesting and 

exciting series of rugby over the coming 

weeks. The existing European based 

teams will now be joined by the Stomers, 

the Sharks, the Bulls and the Lions which 

will see teams face off against both 

familiar and unfamiliar opponents before 

we see the action culminating in a June 

final. 

Not only will this competition see new 

faces taking to the field as we look to 

welcome new opponents from South 

Africa but there are also three new 

law variations being trialled during 

the Rainbow Cup. These variations will 

see the introduction of the Red Card 

Replacement, Captain’s Challenge as 

well as Goal Line drop-outs so not only 

the new teams, but new law trials which 

should make for a thoroughly enjoyable 

set of fixtures. 

We start with Munster tonight in the 

first of our three interprovincial games, 

with Connacht away and Ulster, again 

at home, to follow quickly before we 

branch into the newcomers. Fixtures for 

the remaining rounds have yet to be 

confirmed but we await these with baited 

breath and cannot wait to welcome the 

new teams to the RDS. We know it won’t 

be the same if fan attendance is limited or 

continues in the same format as currently, 

but the RDS is a formidable place full 

or empty and we know Leinster will be 

relishing this opportunity. 

This past year has been especially 

challenging, both for players and all 

those involved in Leinster Rugby but for 

the fans, not being there is the hardest pill 

to swallow. We on the OLSC have been 

continually working tirelessly behind the 

scenes since attendance at grounds was 

sidelined to ensure the team know that 

we the fans are continuing to support 

them 100 per cent in their quest for both 

domestic and European glory. As always 

we ask that if you are on social media 

that you follow and engage with us and 

stay up to date with team news and 

where you can help us in getting behind 

the team. 

Our online store for OLSC merchandise is 

open for business and it’s here you’ll be 

able to see our existing range as well as 

getting advance notice of special items 

we plan to launch. Our YouTube channel 

is where you’ll find interviews with players 

and we look forward to continuing these 

throughout the season. We’ll also be 

working with our charity partner for this 

season, the Gavin Glynn Foundation, and 

we’ll be letting you know how you can 

help support this great cause. 

Aside from all that, there is a flotilla 

of rugby matches this weekend, so sit 

yourself down, get comfy and enjoy. 

We know it’s tough not being there, but 

brighter days are ahead for us supporters 

so for now let’s continue to stay safe, look 

after each other, and roar on the Boys on 

Blue from wherever we can. 

Yours in rugby, 

OLSC Committee 


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ONE FROM 

The Vaults 

Leinster 27 Munster 25 

Guinness PRO14 | Aviva Stadium | 22 August 2020 | Ref: Andy Brace 

Leinster Rugby staved off a fastfinishing 

Munster as Guinness PRO14 

rugby returned to Irish shores in 

August of last year, with Cian Healy, 

Garry Ringrose and James Lowe all 

crossing in a 27-25 home win at the 

Aviva Stadium. 

Almost six months on from their last game of 

the coronavirus-disrupted season, Ringrose’s 

late first-half try snatched a 17-13 lead and 

put Leinster on their way in an exciting six-try 

shootout. 

JJ Hanrahan’s reliable right boot had Munster 

13-10 ahead, with Andrew Conway and Healy 

swapping early tries. However, their hopes 

of improving their second-place standing in 

Conference B were hit by injuries. 

Lowe finished off some slick interplay to put 

Leinster 11 points clear with half-an-hour 

remaining. Keith Earls and Conway crossed in 

a stirring Munster fight-back, but replacement 

Ross Byrne’s 69th-minute penalty ultimately 

proved vital for Leinster. 

RG Snyman’s Munster debut cruelly lasted just 

seven minutes, the South African behemoth 

jarring his left knee when stealing a lineout. 

Injury also ended Dave Kilcoyne’s night 

prematurely, but the visitors responded in 

brilliant fashion. 

A flurry of forward pressure allowed Chris 

Farrell and new signing Damian de Allende 

to go close before Conway, with 12 minutes 

on the clock, had a simple finish on the 

left. Hanrahan provided the assist and the 

conversion. 

However, de Allende’s late tackle on Jonathan 

Sexton – followed by a speedy Ringrose 

break – saw Leinster end the first quarter level. 

A muscular 19th-minute maul ended with prop 

Healy scoring. 

Hanrahan and Sexton then exchanged 

penalties, the lively CJ Stander winning the 

LEINSTER: 

Jordan Larmour; Dave 

Kearney (Jamison 

Gibson-Park 60), 

Garry Ringrose, Robbie 

Henshaw, James 

Lowe; Johnny Sexton 

(Ross Byrne 58), Luke 

McGrath (Max Deegan 

66); Cian Healy (Ed 

Byrne 56), Rónan 

Kelleher (Seán Cronin 

58), Andrew Porter 

(Michael Bent 58); Ryan 

Baird, Scott Fardy (Devin 

Toner 52); Caelan 

Doris, Josh van der Flier 

(Will Connors 56), Jack 

Conan. 

MUNSTER: 

Shane Daly; Andrew 

Conway, Chris Farrell, 

Damien de Allende, 

Keith Earls; JJ Hanrahan, 

Conor Murray (Craig 

Casey 69); Dave 

Kilcoyne (Jeremy 

Loughman 7), Niall 

Scannell (Rhys Marshall 

52), Stephen Archer 

(John Ryan 53); RG 

Snyman (Jean Kleyn 

7), Billy Holland; Peter 

O’Mahony, Tommy 

O’Donnell, CJ Stander. 

first at the breakdown and then coughing up 

the second. Stander got over the ball again to 

force the lead 35th-minute penalty, Hanrahan 

nailing a fine long-range kick. 

Yet, it was a Stander maul infringement which 

cost Munster just before half-time. Peter 

O’Mahony almost thwarted Leinster at the 

lineout, but with possession won back, Robbie 

Henshaw’s delicate grubber kick was expertly 

dotted down by his centre partner Ringrose. 

Having tucked away the extras for a four-point 

differential, Sexton increased his influence 

during the third quarter. The Leinster captain 

was at the heart of a choke tackle and then his 

beautifully-delayed pass allowed Ryan Baird to 

launch Lowe free from 40 metres out, leaving 

it 24-13. 

Although Jean Kleyn’s injury left them with 

only seven forwards, Munster lifted the tempo 

and an outstretched Earls finished superbly 

past Luke McGrath, who was covering for the 

injured Dave Kearney, in the left corner. 

Hanrahan converted with aplomb, and 

suddenly, Leinster were under immense 

pressure with Devin Toner in the sin-bin. Leo 

Cullen’s men then set up Byrne to drive home 

his all-important penalty from past the 10-metre 

line. 

Conway managed to cut in past Lowe to notch 

his second try in the 71st minute, only for 

Hanrahan to fail with the conversion. A timely 

Toner interception settled the issue late on. 



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Virtual Mascots 

Mark 

Bryson 

Age: 10 

School: Carysfort NS 

Hobbies: Rugby with his club Old Belvedere, 

GAA, Soccer, Xbox! 

Favourite Player: 

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Age: 8 

School: Scoil San Treasa in Mount Merrion. 

Hobbies: Along with rugby, his hobbies 

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building in Minecraft. 

Favourite Players: James Lowe and 

of course Big Dev. 


Where are they now? 

By Des Berry 

DOMINIC 

RYAN 

THEN: DOMINIC RYAN PLAYED FOR EIGHT SEASONS AT LEINSTER FOR 113 CAPS, 

WHILE WEARING THE GREEN OF IRELAND ONCE AGAINST GEORGIA IN 2014. 

NOW: HE WORKS AS AN ASSOCIATE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE FOR TECH 

COMPANY MONGODB, LIVING IN CHURCHTOWN WITH HIS WIFE KATE AND 

THEIR DAUGHTER CLEO, BORN ON DOMINIC’S BIRTHDAY LAST MONTH. 

Thirty-one-year-old Dominic Ryan 

doesn’t miss the game he could 

still be playing. 

That is the biggest takeaway from 

warm minutes passed in easy, honest 

conversation with the eight-season 

veteran of Leinster Rugby. 

Concussion forced the flanker to leave 

the pitch for good in 2018, the optimist 

inside of him getting a head-start on his 

second career. 

When Ryan examined his playing 

curriculum vitae, it wasn’t long before he 

could see the advantages already in his 

locker. 

“I captained Ireland ‘A’ on a Nations 

Cup tour to Romania. I captained the 

province as a temporary captain a 

handful of times. 

“You take for granted that for a threeweek 

tour to Romania, you led an 

international team,” he says. 

“Putting that into work, it goes back to 

understanding people, understanding 

how to develop inter-personal skills and, 

then, not being afraid to do something 

wrong.” 

He explains: “In rugby, you might be 

running through a play during a midweek 

meeting, an hour later you will have to 

execute that out on the training pitch. 

“If you don’t perform your role exactly 

right, you look like an idiot. You learn to 

put your hand up and admit you need 

further explanation or to go through it 

again. 

“The same thing now at work, if you don’t 

know what’s going on, you don’t bluff it. 

That won’t work. 

“For instance, I could be on a Zoom 

call at work and put my hand up to ask, 

‘Sorry, can you explain that again?’ or, 

‘What does that acronym mean?’ 

“I find it is then you can best put into 

practice what you have done wrong 

or how to do something right in the first 

place.” 

There is the downside of ending a 

career you love weighed against starting 

something new and interesting. 

“It is probably only when you get into 

the working world, life after rugby, that 

you realise laying foundations for your 

second career which is going to be 35 

years long, starting that earlier, can also 

be beneficial.” 


The brutal honesty of the Leinster environment, 

where the weekly video review sessions left 

no one untouched, meant Ryan came out of 

rugby with rhinoceros skin when it came to 

accountability. 

“I went back and did a masters in Aviation 

Finance at the Smurfit Business School in my 

year following retirement,” he says. 

“I went into a company called Avolon, an 

aircraft leasing company, and then made the 

move into the tech world with MongoDB. 

“In terms of what I took away from rugby, you 

come out of professional sport thinking you 

don’t have a whole lot that is transferable into 

the office world. 

“When you actually sit down and drill into it, 

there is so much you have experienced that 

other people wouldn’t have. 

“It stems from very basic elements like building 

personal skills and relationships. You have to 

get on with people in a team. 

“In team sport, relationships have to work 

whether you like or don’t like someone. You 

do build up thicker skin. 

“Now, I find myself saying to my manager, 

‘Just tell me what I’m doing wrong, don’t let it 

drag on,’” he admits. 


“You know, tell me if I can do something 

better immediately because, in rugby, 

there is a constant feedback loop to push 

improvement. 

“If you are doing something wrong, a 

coach isn’t going to let you do it for four 

weeks. That won’t benefit you or the 

team. 

“I ask my managers to give me that 

honest feedback as I can take it no 

problem, I am used to it from a life of 

professional sport. 

“In rugby, you have to learn quickly and 

be very coachable. The feedback I have 

gotten in the last couple of years is that I 

am very coachable. I can put into action 

what I’m told to do. 

“You also have the team-building and 

leadership part of it to take away and 

you do build up a resilience that you 

probably take for granted. That is 

important, that thick skin.” 

This outward expression of honesty, an 

admission to not holding all the answers, 

was there long before Ryan retired from 

the game. 

“The reality of it is you are in a bubble. 

You think this is your world. Nothing else 

matters as much. It is everything to you. 

There is no life after rugby. 

“In reality, rugby is a very small portion 

of your life - 10-15 years if you get a 

good run at it. When I look back at it, 

what do I see? 

“It has given me incredible experiences, 

incredible friendships and, financially, 

there is no doubt about it, it gives you 

somewhat of a head-start in life.” 

Those champagne moments, the interprovincial 

rivalries, the trophies and the 

day-to-day battle to be better were all 

devoured by Ryan. 

He sees no value in looking back when 

there is so much to look forward to, 

his baby daughter Cleo arriving on his 

birthday last month. 

“When I was 21, I played in Leinster vs 

Munster, the first professional game in 

the Aviva, in front of a record crowd. That 

experience, money can’t buy that. 

“The way I look at it, a lot of people in 

the crowd watching the game, would like 

to be on the pitch. They want to know 

what it feels like to be out there. 

“People ask me ‘Do you miss it? Are you 

sad it ended early? Do you still want to 

be out there?’ I don’t. I really don’t. 

“I count myself very grateful for actually 

knowing what it’s like to be out there in 

the first place and, now, a lot safer, not 

running into people. 

“That is the way I look at my time in the 

game.” 

In hindsight, the concussion that forced 

Ryan’s premature retirement has enabled 

a level-headed recall on stepping away 

from the game. 

“Put it this way, I have symptoms now that 

I wouldn’t have if I didn’t play rugby,” 

he said. 

He also draws an interesting analogy 

when looking back on his last year in the 

game and the impact that year has had 

as he looks back on his rugby career as 

a whole. 

“If someone is living abroad for eight 

years and the last year of that is 

absolutely horrendous, it is probably 

going to taint their view of their whole 

time away to some degree. 

“That has undoubtedly happened to me. 

I had a miserable last 12 months. That 

made it easier for me to step away. 

“I don’t miss it. I’ve never missed it. I feel 

very fortunate to be able to say that, as I 

know plenty of people who had to retire 

through injury or other reasons and they 

do miss it a lot.” 

Ryan’s positive attitude is partly down to 

the way his playing career ended and 

partly down to his foresight. 

“I always had one eye on life after rugby, 

keeping my education going, keeping 

work experience going because I knew 


the game could be taken away from me 

at any time. 

“When I was told to retire, it felt like 

a weight off my shoulders, I feel like I 

escaped something, you know, what 

could have been if I had continued 

playing.” 

There is another factor playing into 

Ryan’s lack of emotion towards leaving it 

all behind. 

“Some people may not like hearing this. 

I was actually never a huge rugby ‘fan’ 

growing up. I did go to the odd Irish or 

Leinster game though; I was just never in 

touch with the game week-to-week. 

“I remember when I was 18, walking 

through Dundrum one day, my mate 

turned and said, ‘Oh my God, there’s 

Jamie Heaslip!’ I said, ‘Who?’ I hadn’t 

a clue. 

“This was a bit of an ongoing joke when 

I started out. I didn’t know anyone we 

played against.” 

It wasn’t the big names and the big 

possibilities that drew Ryan to the sport. It 

was far more fundamental than that. 

“The reason I got to where I got to is I just 

absolutely loved playing rugby,” he says. 

“In the early years, you are playing with 

all these stars. It wasn’t long before I 

knew who they were. 

“It was a little like being in first year at 

school when all the fifth and sixth years 

are cool. You know, you soon look up 

to them. 

“It was so exciting in those early days. 

You are fit and free of injury. You are 

making a name for yourself, getting 

chance-after-chance in all sorts of 

matches.” 

Through it all, as selection and injury 

became problems that led to frustration, 

he never lost a sense of who he was. 

He was always forthcoming in his 

opinion. This did not always serve him 

well. 

“People used to ask me, ‘Should you 

have said this or that,’” he acknowledges. 

“I remember when Joe Schmidt left 

Leinster, I was asked in an interview 

how it would impact Leinster, I said he 

wasn’t everything that made Leinster. The 

players were still there. Some of the other 

coaches were still there. We would be 

fine without Joe. 

“Some of the lads joked, ‘He is the 

Ireland coach and you just bagged him.’ 

“It is probably just my personality. I feel 

the magic of rugby, those real characters 

that once made a changing room 

are being lost in this world of ‘ultraprofessionalism’. 

“That is one thing that is sad to see go 

from the game. I am happy to have 

experienced the tail end of those times in 

my early years. 

“It was inevitable as the stakes continue 

to get higher and more money is involved 

etc. There is so much on the line these 

days. 

“People do and say what they think is the 

right thing to do or say to fit the mould,” 

he says. 

“I am quite an honest person in all walks 

of life. 

“If I was advised to say something but I 

didn’t necessarily hold the same opinion, 

I wouldn’t go along with it.” 

It serves him well. 


When I started out refereeing 

in 2002 I ran into Martin Dunne, 

who had been refereeing a few 

years at that stage and we’ve 

been friends ever since. Martin 

left Ireland in 2008 with his wife 

Tina and is currently President of 

the Chicagoland Area RFU Referee 

Society. I was delighted that I had 

a chance to catch up with him over 

the last few weeks. 

The last game Martin refereed for 

Leinster was the Bingham Cup Plate final. 

Currently alongside being President, 

he is a Midwest Evaluator and assists 

with the training and education of the 

new referees. He was a World Rugby 

Educator, something he would like to get 

restored when USA Rugby gets back 

on track. He was also appointed as 

the Midwest representative to the USA 

Referee and Laws committee. 

Martin got involved in CARFU Referees 

on arrival in Chicago. 

“I arrived in Chicago on September 23, 

2008 and refereed my first game for 

CARFU a week later. It was more of an 

accidental appointment,” he says. 

“The referee assigned to the game had a 

family emergency and I just happened to 

be there. Little did I know it was a derby 

game between the two main Chicago 

teams.” 

How did it all begin? 

“I started my rugby career in Coolmine. 

The club had one referee, Ray Mooney. 

Ray would almost referee every 

single game in Coolmine that was 

not appointed to a Leinster Referee. 

His hard work was an inspiration, he 

encouraged me to take up the whistle. 

Kurt McQuilken came in one weekend to 

teach an introduction to mini-rugby. The 

final component of that class was how to 

BY DAN WALLACE 

referee mini-rugby. I was invited over to 

Seapoint to referee a mini-festival. After 

that I was put in touch with Owen Doyle 

who was starting up a new IRFU referee 

program with Dave Keane. Before I knew 

it, I found myself out in Clontarf for the 

visit of Trinity College in a J4 game. “ 

What is your role as president of 

CARFU Referee Society? 

“Like many referee presidents/ 

administrators right now, I find myself 

trying to understand the return-to-play 

protocols following the pandemic. 

In Illinois for example, the health 

department currently requires referees 

and players to wear masks when 

playing. Keeping our referees safe is 

the top priority. I am concerned that 

we are going to see referees not return 

and as a result, we may not be able to 

meet the demands of the competitions. 

CARFU Referee Society elects a new 

President every other year. I am midway 

through my second term. CARFU is one 

of the strongest Midwest Refereeing 

societies and I am honoured to serve the 

membership in whatever manner they 

see fit.” 

What is the biggest thing you 

have learned since you started? 

“A visiting international referee once 

made a statement during a Leinster 

Referees meeting: “No one comes to see 

you referee a match. They come to see 

the players play.” At the time this was 

a profound statement to me early in my 

refereeing career.” 

Becoming a referee in Chicago is much 

the same as we see in Leinster. The USA 

Rugby education model follows World 

Rugby guidance. New referees take the 

Level 1 course. As the referee continues 

to develop, they move to Level 2. As 

a referee reaches the pinnacle of their 

development, the US has hosted a few 

Level 3 referee courses. Martins says they 

are fortunate to have two World Rugby 

Educators based in Chicago which aids 

them in the hosting their own referee 

courses. 

Chicago referees cover a large 

geographic region. If they send a referee 

to Peoria it is three hours each way. Most 

Chicago teams are within an hour’s drive. 

The next level up is the territorial union 

which in their case is the Midwest. The 

Midwest Union covers mainly Illinois, 

Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, 

Iowa, Allegheny and Indiana. Cincinnati, 

OH is five hours away. Rugby is not a 

main stream sport in the US. You often 

find yourself changing at the side of the 

pitch, and if you are not staying overnight 

in a city, be prepared to be driving back 

home in your match-worn kit. 

USA Rugby has been going through a 

reinvention over the past couple of years. 

The national panel as it was known was 

disbanded about four years ago and 

referees were assigned to panels based 

on the competition they were refereeing. 

These panels include the D1A collegiate 

rugby and Women’s Premier League. For 

club championships, USA Rugby would 

engage with the territorial unions for their 

top referees to go to work these games. 


Prior to the disbanding of the National 

Panel, CARFU was well represented with 

three referees on the panel. Martin says 

that currently they have approximately 

60 referees in CARFU although they 

often find themselves short during the 

season. Two of the top referees in CARFU 

are female and they have eight others 

with enormous potential for the future. 

What kind of education processes 

do you have in CARFU? 

“On any given Saturday, which is when 

rugby is played in the US, generally 

teams will have an A-side match, 

followed by the B-side. We recommend 

that the B-side referee arrives early and 

runs touch for the A-side referee. We then 

ask our senior referees (A-side) to mentor 

the junior refs and provide feedback. 

This is in addition to referee coaching 

activities. Given the logistics involved, 

monthly meetings are not feasible. 

We host Zoom meetings to cover law 

refreshers. For the annual seminar, that is 

generally organized by the Midwest. It 

has workshops delivered by experienced 

referees and encompasses the AGM for 

the region.” 

Martin’s favourite thing about 

refereeing? 

“When you are a player, you generally 

associate with your own team. You may 

have a drink with your opposing number 

or have the honour to represent your 

club on a select side where you get to 

meet some new mates. When you are a 

referee, you get to meet 30 new people 

every week. You might not remember 

everybody’s name, and resort to calling 

them ‘Mush’, but through refereeing you 

will develop relationships that go beyond 

your individual club.” I think Mush 

Sheridan can relate to that!! 

His favourite referee? 

“When Ireland 

beat the Black 

Ferns at Rugby 

World Cup 

2014, the game 

was refereed by 

American Leah 

Berard. During 

a match, the 

crowd only gets 

to see the referee on the day. What the 

crowd does not see is the person behind 

the whistle, the training, the studying, the 

personal sacrifices. 

From a local referee in 2010, to 

international Sevens and then on to full 

internationals, Leah has refereed Six 

Nations matches and at the Women’s 

World Cup, including the Women’s 

World Cup Sevens final in 2013. As 

someone who watched Leah take 

each step in her refereeing career, she 

continually raised the bar and set a 

standard for future referees to aspire to 

reach.” 

Want to get involved? 

Feel free to make contact with the Leinster Rugby 

Referees at hayley.whyte@leinsterrugby.ie. 

If you are interested in becoming a referee get in 

contact with us through our Facebook and Google + 

pages, our website www.arlb.ie or through twitter 

@leinsterreferee. 

Thanks to Martin for his time, it 

was great to catch up and great 

to hear about refereeing in the 

US. We wish Martin well in his 

final year as President. 

There is more to this Q&A over 

at www.arlb.ie 


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AsI Am 

LEINSTER RUGBY ANNOUNCE 

AS LATEST CHARITY PARTNER 

Leinster Rugby has announced 

AsIAm as its latest charity 

affiliate as part of the charity 

partner programme for the 

2020/21 season. 

Established in 2014, AsIAm is Ireland’s 

national autism charity. 

It is estimated that one in 65 people 

in Ireland are autistic people, this 

means that there are approximately 

41,000 autistic people living in the 12 

counties of Leinster and some 163,000 

immediate family members. 

For the month of April, Leinster Rugby 

will lend its digital support to AsIAm and 

its considerable efforts working with 

and supporting autistic people in our 

communities. 

AsIAm was suggested as a charity 

affiliate by Energia, Leinster Rugby’s 

official energy partner. 

Speaking to leinsterrugby.ie, AsIAm 

founder and CEO, Adam Harris, said, 

“At AsIAm, we are humbled that Energia 

and Leinster Rugby have chosen us as a 

charity affiliate for this season. 

“This will go a long way in assisting us 

with our goals in the field of acceptance 

and inclusion for the autism community 

in Ireland. One in 65 Irish people are 

autistic and over 50 per cent of them 

experience bullying in education, 85 

per cent experience unemployment and 

eight in 10 experience a mental health 

condition. 

“Throughout Covid-19, AsIAm has seen 

a 280 per cent increase in queries from 

families. The autism community will need 

significant support to come through 

Covid-19 which is why this affiliation is 

so important at this time.” 

Autism was first formally classified in the 

1940s and is as a neurodevelopmental 

condition which means that the way 

a person communicates, interacts and 

understands other people and the world, 

is different to those who do not have the 

condition. 

The partnership with Leinster Rugby for 

the month ahead is timely as April is also 

World Autism Month and AsIAm are 

driving a number of initiatives including 

the Say Yes to Autism Acceptance 

campaign. 

Leinster Rugby head coach Leo Cullen 

is an Ambassador for AsIAm and 

welcoming the partnership said, “We 

at Leinster Rugby are delighted to have 

AsIAm as our affiliate partner for the 

month of April considering it is World 

Autism Month. 

“I have been fortunate to encounter 

their CEO, Adam Harris, on a number 

of occasions and what he has achieved 

along with all the people in his 

organisation since its establishment 

in 2014 is truly inspiring. AsIAm has 

had a very positive impact on many 

communities and families all across the 

country. 

“As a club, we would urge supporters to 

help AsIAm in any way that you can.” 

The partnership would not have been 

possible without the support of Energia 

and speaking on behalf of Energia, 

Amy O’Shaughnessy, the Marketing 

Acquisition and Sponsorship Manager 

of Energia, said, “We at Energia are 

delighted to lend our support to AsIAm 

this month. Their campaigns and 

initiatives are driving meaningful change 

for the autism community. 

“Together with Leinster Rugby supporters 

we hope to lend some positive energy to 

the work they’re doing and help get one 

step closer to making Ireland the world’s 

most autism friendly country.” 

Like all of the charities selected, AsIAm 

was selected by Leinster Rugby after 

a consultation process involving the 

leadership group of the men, women’s 

and Academy teams and consultation 


with our premium sponsors and partners 

and the Official Leinster Supporters 

Club. 

In addition, two premium partners of 

Leinster Rugby, Bank of Ireland and 

BearingPoint, have pledged their support 

to the charities chosen. 

Bank of Ireland has confirmed that its 

Player of the Month Award donation 

will now be made to the monthly charity 

affiliate, rather than the player in 

question, a move that is also supported 

by the Leinster Rugby players. 

In addition, BearingPoint has also 

agreed to make a donation to each 

charity partner chosen by Leinster Rugby 

in lieu of support normally provided to 

the club pre-Covid. 

For more information, please visit 

www.AsIAm.ie 

Further information about AsIAm 

and the Leinster Rugby Charity 

Affiliate Programme: 

• AsIAm is Ireland’s national 

autism charity 

• AsIAm was founded in 2014 

by CEO, Adam Harris 

• It has 14 staff members, half 

of whom are on the autism spectrum 

• The organisation is committed to 

supporting Ireland in becoming 

autism-friendly – that is a society 

where every autistic person is 

accepted and included in the 

community 

• AsIAm carry out work in two key 

areas: Community Support (advice, 

guidance, advocacy and capacity 

building within the autism community 

and Training and Accreditation 

(working with businesses, public 

services and communities to help 

them become more inclusive) 

• Over the last year, since Covid-19 

began, AsIAm have: 

· Provided direct support, 

guidance and advocacy to over 

1,000 families across Ireland 

Delivered support and 

information to over 12,000 

people across Ireland through 

AsIAm-SuperValu Community 

Support Webinars 

· Supported 2,000 people to 

explain their needs to others 

using our AsIAm ID card 

· Working in partnership with 

SuperValu, we have supported 

over 20,000 families to 

manage the return to the 

classroom with our “Bridge 

Back to School Resource” 

· Worked to educate the 

Government and communities 

on the needs of autistic people 

during the pandemic and 

advocated for reasonable 

accommodations to be made 

and for supports to be provided 

• AsIAm is the fifth charity affiliate 

announced by Leinster Rugby and 

will be supported by Leinster Rugby 

for the month of April 

• Another charity will be announced 

by Leinster Rugby for May 

• Women’s Aid (November), Debra 

Ireland (December), numerous local 

causes supported by Bank of 

Ireland (January), ALONE 

(February) and Pieta (March) have 

received Leinster Rugby support 

so far 

• The selection process for all 12 

charities includes the Leinster Rugby 

players, Leinster Rugby sponsors 

and partners and also the Official 

Leinster Supporters Club (OLSC) 


BEING AUTISTIC 

IS PART OF WHO GAVIN IS. 

BEING IGNORED OR SPOKEN 

OVER SHOULDN’T BE. 

A text donation of just 

€4 to AsIAm, Ireland’s National 

Autism Charity, will go directly 

to help children like Gavin 

navigate a world where autistic 

people face huge barriers, 

from making friends to finding 

a job in the future. Please text, 

knowing your donation can 

help ensure Gavin, and others, 

aren’t left behind. 

TEXT ASIAM TO 

50300 

TO DONATE € 

4 

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IN OPPOSITION 

Munster Rugby 

Last Time Out 

Munster 33 Toulouse 40 

Thomond Park | Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 | April 3, 2021 

FOUNDED 

TOULOUSE DEFEATED MUNSTER IN A FANTASTIC CONTEST 

AT THOMOND PARK TO ADVANCE TO THE CHAMPIONS CUP 

QUARTER-FINALS IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE’S LAST GAME. 

1879 

HOME GROUND 

THOMOND PARK 

CAPACITY: 

25,600 

Keith Earls and Gavin Coombes scored 

a pair of tries each in a game that 

could have gone either way but the 

visitors’ power in the final quarter just 

about shaded it. 

Munster led 26-23 after 65 minutes but a late 

Toulouse surge gave the visitors victory. 

Toulouse came flying out of the traps and led 

after three minutes when Chris Farrell was 

sin-binned for a trip on Pita Ahki and Romain 

Ntamack kicked the resulting penalty. 

Fourteen-man Munster managed the next 10 

minutes expertly with Conor Murray and Tadhg 

Beirne prominent in defence before Murray 

was taken out at the base of a ruck to give 

Munster their first opportunity after a great 

phase of attacking play. 

Carbery made no mistake to level the scores 

just as Farrell returned. 

Ntamack made it 6-3 to Toulouse after making 

a good break with Murray making a try-saving 

tackle before being penalised for not rolling 

away. 

Munster scored the first try on 24 minutes after 

a move that started with Conway claiming 

a box kick with nearly every Munster player 

carrying before Damian de Allende made the 

all-important line break to set up Earls to finish 

in the left corner. 

Carbery’s touchline conversion was just off 

target. 

Earls made it a double when Coombes and 

Jack O’Donoghue won back possession with 

MUNSTER: 

Mike Haley; Andrew 

Conway, Chris Farrell, 

Damian de Allende, Keith 

Earls; Joey Carbery (JJ 

Hanrahan 62), Conor 

Murray (Craig Casey 75); 

Dave Kilcoyne (James 

Cronin 59), Niall Scannell 

(Kevin O’Byrne 34-40, 

75), Stephen Archer 

(John Ryan 59); Jean 

Kleyn (Fineen Wycherley 

66), Tadhg Beirne 

(inj, Billy Holland 36); 

Gavin Coombes, Jack 

O’Donoghue (Chris Cloete 

69), CJ Stander. 

TOULOUSE: 

Maxime Medard (Dimitri 

Delibes 63); Cheslin 

Kolbe, Zack Holmes, 

Pita Ahki, Matthis Lebel; 

Romain Ntamack, 

Antoine Dupont (Baptiste 

Germain 77); Cyril 

Baille (Clement Castets 

48), Julien Marchand 

(Peato Mauvaka 55), 

Charlie Faumuina (Dorian 

Aldegheri 48); Rory 

Arnold, Richie Arnold (Joe 

Tekori 51); Francois Cros 

(Tolofua 70), Selevasio 

Tolofua (Alban Placines 

52), Jerome Kaino 

(Thibaud Flament 54). 

Words: munsterrugby.ie 

de Allende streaking clear before passing for 

Stander to be dragged down just short. 

Murray looped a ball left for Earls to dot down 

again in the left corner. Carbery was unable to 

land the touchline conversion but Munster led 

13-6 after an absorbing 29 minutes. 

A Jack O’Donoghue lineout steal and then 

a Stander turnover helped Munster march 

up the field and ended with Carbery kicking 

his second penalty to give Munster a 16-9 

advantage. 

Toulouse hit back with their first try two minutes 

after the break as Ntamack’s kick-pass gave 

Matthis Lebel the chance to score in the left 

corner. Ntamack converted and the sides were 

level. 

Coombes powered over off a five-metre tap on 

50 minutes for his 10th try of the season with 

Carbery converting for a 23-16 lead. 

Ntamack then kicked in behind for Cheslin 

Kolbe with the winger knocking on but 

was caught by Earls’ hand with the penalty 

awarded. 


Ntamack kicked to the corner and Toulouse 

did well to power over. Ntamack’s conversion 

made it 23-all. 

Replacement JJ Hanrahan kicked Munster 

back in front on 66 minutes after an absorbing 

spell of possession in the Toulouse 22 with the 

French side guilty of repeat infringements. 

Toulouse were back in front on 68 minutes after 

Lebel showed great feet to escape down the 

left wing before passing inside for Dupont to 

go in under the posts. 

Ntamack converted and then kicked a penalty 

to give Toulouse a 33-26 lead after 72 

minutes. 

Antoine Dupont was in for the killer Toulouse 

try with 77 minutes gone. We went to the TMO 

and when no clear knock-on could be seen, the 

score was awarded. 

Munster kept going and Coombes was over for 

his second try just past the 80-minute mark with 

Craig Casey drop-kicking the conversion but 

time had run out and Toulouse advanced. 


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Squad | Positions 2020/21 

Head Coach | Johann van Graan 

South African native Johann van 

Graan took over as head coach 

of Munster in November 2017, 

replacing compatriot Rassie 

Erasmus. 

His previous experience had seen him 

work with the Blue Bulls and Bulls at 

Vodacom Cup, Currie Cup and then 

Super Rugby level. 

In 2012, he joined the Springboks as a 

technical adviser before later taking on 

the role of forwards coach. 

Captain | Peter O'Mahony 

Munster captain Peter O’Mahony 

has been with the province since 

working his way through the 

Academy programme to make his 

senior debut in 2010. 

He first captained the province in 2011 

during an international window before 

being named as permanent successor to 

Doug Howlett in 2013. 

He has made 142 appearances for 

Munster, scoring 15 tries, in addition to 

75 caps for Ireland. 

FORWARDS 

THOMAS AHERN 

LOCK 

STEPHEN ARCHER 

PROP 

DIARMUID BARRON 

HOOKER 

TADHG BEIRNE 

LOCK 

CHRIS CLOETE 

FLANKER 

GAVIN COOMBES 

BACK ROW 

JAMES CRONIN 

PROP 

JACK DALY 

BACK ROW 

JAMES FRENCH 

PROP 

JOHN HODNETT 

BACK ROW 

BILLY HOLLAND 

LOCK 

CIAN HURLEY 

BACK ROW 

ALEX KENDELLEN 

NO. 8 

DAVE KILCOYNE 

PROP 

JEAN KLEYN 

LOCK 

KEYNAN KNOX 

PROP 

JEREMY LOUGHMAN 

PROP 

RHYS MARSHALL 

HOOKER 

KEVIN O’BYRNE 

HOOKER 

LIAM O’CONNOR 

PROP 

TOMMY O’DONNELL 

FLANKER 

JACK O’DONOGHUE 

BACK ROW 

PETER O’MAHONY 

FLANKER 

JACK O’SULLIVAN 

BACK ROW 

JOHN RYAN 

PROP 

ROMAN SALANOA 

PROP 

NIALL SCANNELL 

HOOKER 

RG SNYMAN 

LOCK 

CJ STANDER 

BACK ROW 

FINEEN WYCHERLEY 

LOCK 

JOSH WYCHERLEY 

PROP 

BACKS 

JOEY CARBERY 

FLY HALF 

CRAIG CASEY 

SCRUM HALF 

ANDREW CONWAY 

WINGER 

LIAM COOMBES 

WINGER 

NEIL CRONIN 

SCRUM HALF 

JACK CROWLEY 

FLY HALF 

SHANE DALY 

CENTRE 

DAMIAN DE ALLENDE 

CENTRE 

KEITH EARLS 

WINGER 

CHRIS FARRELL 

CENTRE 

JAKE FLANNERY 

FLY HALF 

SEAN FRENCH 

CENTRE 

MATT GALLAGHER 

FULL BACK 

DAN GOGGIN 

CENTRE 

MIKE HALEY 

FULL BACK 

JJ HANRAHAN 

CENTRE 

BEN HEALY 

FLY HALF 

NICK MCCARTHY 

SCRUM HALF 

ALEX MCHENRY 

CENTRE 

CONOR MURRAY 

SCRUM HALF 

CALVIN NASH 

WINGER 

PATRICK PATTERSON 

SCRUM HALF 

RORY SCANNELL 

CENTRE 


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St Mary's 

College 

It is one of the great challenges 

for rugby clubs in Dublin. 

What do they do when families decide 

to send their children to rugby-playing 

schools after completing mini rugby at 

club level? 

St Mary’s College RFC is one such feeder 

club as many of their boys make the move 

from Templeville Road to neighbouring 

local rugby-playing schools. 

Therefore, club President Vinnie 

Cunningham, former Ireland and British 

and Irish Lions centre, has put in place a 

plan to hold onto children as they move 

from minis through youths and into senior 

adult rugby. 

St Mary’s Youths Director Robbie 

O’Neill has taken on the responsibility 

of embracing the roadmap in the name 

of growing the community feeling of a 

lifelong family. 

“We have started a ‘Cradle to Grave’ 

plan, designed to take care of our 

members’ journey through rugby, when 

they come to us from age six to when 

they retire from the game at, say, 36,” 

he says. 

“We currently have six youths teams, 

running from two U-13s, one U-14s, one 

U-16s and one U-17s for the boys and 

one U-18s for the girls, the latter coached 

by Sarah Fallon, daughter of club legend 

Sam Brennan. 

“We want to take in players, develop 

them and keep them all the way through 

their playing careers and, long after 

that, encourage them to give back to the 

club as coaches, supporters, ongoing 

members. 

“Our President Vinnie Cunningham has 

been putting a strong onus on putting a 

plan in place for what that should look 

like in practice,” he continues. 

“We have over 350 boys and girls in 

the minis section of the club. It is great to 

see on a Sunday morning, the energy is 

incredible. Of course, the club has been 

missing out on that during the lockdown. 

“Those huge numbers can dwindle when 

the players move from minis to youths 

because it is a competitive world out 

there with the draw of schools rugby and 

the attraction of other sports, like gaelic 

games and football. 

“What we try to do is make sure we have 

a constant supply of players and coaches 

going up into senior rugby, developing 

the coaches and the players along the 

way, while installing the correct culture”. 

It is the goal of the club to slowly build 

in a deep feeling of belonging that will 

attract teenagers and young adults back 

to Templeville Road when their school 

days have ended. 

“The biggest drop-off in players comes at 

two points along the road. First, it is when 

the children move from minis to youths. 

Second, it is that point from youths to the 

Junior adult game. 

“We are trying to limit the loss of players 

at those two key points,” says O’Neill. 

The minis are run as a self-fulfilling 

prophecy because they can move 

naturally into the schools’ system that 

takes the players on a path through the 

Schools Cups. 

St Mary’s is continuing to work with the 

teenage boys and girls that are not part of 

the schools system, by going out into local 

schools including non-traditional schools 

like Templeogue College, St MacDara’s 

College and St Benildus College. 

It is there they uncover hidden gems that 

can become core parts of the youths 

cycle. 

For instance, out-half Senan Phelan is the 

current poster boy for what youths rugby 

at St Marys RFC can become for those 

willing to commit to coming up through 

minis and all the way through youths. 


“Senan is representing the Leinster 

Metropolitan U-17s and the club is very 

proud of what he is achieving. 

“He is an example of what can 

be achieved through hard work, 

determination, discipline and an excellent 

attitude. 

“Senan, along with his peers in the 

club, are an example of what can be 

achieved. With his teamwork, honesty, 

drive, passion and knowledge of the 

game, he truly epitomises what it takes 

to be a St Mary’s boy.” 

The reach into the non-traditional 

rugby playing schools has been 

augmented with invaluable 

help from Leinster Rugby 

Community Officers, 

Rob Mullen and Glenn 

Predy, who carry out 

demonstration sessions 

within the schools. 

There are probably 

10-12 schools they 

will canvas for 

coaching in the 

local vicinity, 

both boys and girl schools,” adds 

O’Neill. 

“Upon request, one or two of our 

coaches will go down to help, to forge 

that connection between those schools 

and the club, introducing boys and girls 

to what we are all about. 

“Once that contact is made, we let the 

players of the future know how we would 

love to have them up to the club. 

“At the moment, we are looking 

to push the Leinster Rugby 

Summer Camps. Of course, this 

is all dependent on when the 

restrictions will be eased enough for 

those to take place. 

“We hope to host a camp 

towards the end of August. 

We plan a major recruitment 

drive to get girls and boys 

into the club. 

“The first team is the flagship 

of any club. We look at 

the bigger picture to make 

sure that we bridge the 

gaps which lead to players, 

coaches and volunteers staying with the 

club. 

“We try to provide the right culture, right 

attitude, right training and right skillset to 

move on when the players progress from 

youths for the adult game. 

“If or when they leave, we have to leave 

the door open for them to return to the 

club where they started playing the 

game. 

“Part of that is creating a culture where 

they feel an attachment to St Mary’s 

RFC,” says O’Neill. 

“We are looking for areas of growth in 

the club, from minis into youth and from 

there upwards.” 

The fastest-growing branch of the youths 

game is the girls’ section and St Mary’s 

are keen to push the numbers and the 

positivity in this area. 

“We can see how some clubs are having 

huge success attracting girls into their 

clubs. 

“We are striving to become one of 

those.” 


These clubs have chosen Macron 

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Corkery 

Tim 

WORDS: RYAN CORRY 


RECENT 

DEBUTANT 

TIM CORKERY 

CHATS 

ABOUT 

CHOOSING 

BETWEEN 

RUGBY AND 

HURLING, 

HIS PATHWAY 

AND 

COMING 

FROM A 

MUNSTER- 

SUPPORTING 

HOUSE. 

With their success and tradition across 

the code, Kilkenny is often viewed as a 

purely hurling county. 

Viral pictures of bundles of hurleys gathered at 

the doors of churches, shops and classrooms 

are a testament to the reverence the game 

holds for the people of Kilkenny. 

So, when it comes to being asked 

to pull on the black and amber 

jersey, it’s not often that the 

opportunity gets passed on. 

In recent Leinster debutant, Tim 

Corkery, one of the rare few who 

has done exactly that has been 

unearthed. 

The Bennettsbridge man grew up 

playing hurling with his club and 

school, St Kieran’s College, famed 

for its production of top-level 

talent. 

He donned the county shirt at 

U-14/15/16 and minor level before 

the conflict with his rugby commitments 

presented him with a decision to make. 

As the inter-county campaign edged ever 

closer, the clashes with the Leinster U-18 

Youths interprovincial series were made 

clearer and clearer. 

“Kilkenny were starting off just before summer 

and later that summer I would have been 

playing Leinster Youths interpros so I talked to 

the minor coach and we knew I had to pick 

one,” Corkery explains. 

“That was a really tough decision. There’s not 

many lads from Kilkenny who would leave the 

minor team. In the end, I said I’d go for the 

rugby.” 

But why rugby? Was it a chance to make 

it as a professional? In a word – No. 

Corkery just loved his rugby, a love 

that had been borne out of his 

time with Kilkenny RFC that also 

provided him with his first RDS 

visit, to feature in a half-time 

minis clash. 

“I definitely enjoyed 

playing rugby more 

than I enjoyed playing 

hurling. 

“And the other thing 

then was that I could see 

the pathway, from Youths to 19s 

to 20s and then further on from 

that. With hurling, it was just play 

minor and then maybe go in with 

the seniors but there wasn’t too 

much in terms of development. 


Find your escape 

this weekend

“You could only go to a certain point.” 

And so the decision was made. Corkery opted 

against pursuing either of the corner back 

jerseys for the Kilkenny minor team and set his 

sights on the blue number 10. 

As he outlines himself, the pathway was there, 

the model from club to Area and then through 

age-grade sides into the sub-Academy or 

Academy was laid out for him by coaches. 

However, it’s one thing to know how to do it, 

it’s another to get it done. 

For a short period, it appeared as if the young 

out-half would fall short of the Leinster U-19 

squad, a huge blow for any aspiring player. 

Having left behind his other love of hurling, he 

was suddenly now surplus to requirements for 

the province. 

“There was a few ups and downs along the 

way. I played for the Youths and then before 

the Leinster 19s squad was picked, I actually 

got dropped,” he adds. 

“It was a really strange time. I kind of swept it 

under the carpet. I didn’t want to talk about it 

or think about it. 

“There’s no rugby during the summer so I was 

kind of thinking, I’ll go back into the hurling 

and see if I can get anywhere with that.” 

“I was dropped in May, I was doing my 

Leaving Cert in June and I got a phone call 

before my last exam and it was the 19s coach 

saying that they had an injury and asking if I’d 

come in.” 

That setback was an eye-opener for Corkery 

who has since not looked back. His approach 

to his own development was justified earlier this 

year when he was named in Leo Cullen’s 

matchday squad for the Guinness 

PRO14 clash with Zebre. 

He would later come off the bench 

in Parma to replace Harry Byrne 

who, along with David Hawkshaw 

despite their own relatively novice 

ages, Corkery has already learned 

plenty of his trade from during his 

time training with the Senior squad. 

“I got a phone call from Noel McNamara 

saying there was a few injuries in the backs 

so myself and Chris Cosgrave went up and 

trained for six weeks with them. 

“In the weeks before, the training we were 

doing was just six or seven of us doing 

conditioning and not really rugby specific 

games. So the first day was a shock to the 

system, especially the Stus-day sessions which 

you hear a lot of lads talking about. 

“When I got the first week under my belt, it was 

a bit easier and you get used to it. Once you 

get the running into your legs, it’s grand. 

“Then, I was just doing a gym session one 

morning and Leo gave me the tap on the 

shoulder and said you’ll be on the bench this 

week. 

“It was a shock but I was very excited. Some 

nerves crept in but then I just made sure I got 

my detail done early in the week and knew my 

job so that come gameday I could relax a bit 

more and know that the work is done, and just 

enjoy it.” 


It was a huge moment for Corkery but 

the excitement always trickles back to the 

beginnings, in this case as a mini with Kilkenny 

RFC. 

He was soon inundated with messages of 

goodwill from around the club, including from 

the coaches who had guided him throughout 

his Youths rugby. 

“I had the same coaches from U-10 to U-18 so 

I would have been close with them. They were 

sending texts wishing me luck, Mick McGrath 

and Barry Daly. 

“A lot of people say Kilkenny is just a one-sport 

county. It was great for the club, there’s not 

many people that come out of Kilkenny but 

now you can see that there is a clear pathway 

and hopefully more young people will follow.” 

While his hope now is that more players can 

come through Kilkenny RFC seeing that there is 

a way to the top level for them, he himself was 

following in footsteps very close to home. 

Older brother Hugh joined the club first before 

then going on to feature in the Shane Horgan 

Cup. 

He was later unfortunate with shoulder injuries 

that prevented him from going on to higher 

levels. 

“IT’S QUITE 

WEIRD PLAYING 

IN EMPTY 

STADIUMS 

WITHOUT ANY 

FANS BUT 

YOU GET USED 

TO IT FROM 

A PLAYER’S 

PERSPECTIVE. 

THE FANS ARE 

DEFINITELY 

IMPORTANT 

FOR ALL GAMES 

REALLY.” 

Corkery views the introduction of the Shane 

Horgan Cup as being a key player in the influx 

of players from outside of the schools system 

starting to appear in Leinster squads. 

This year alone, Greg McGrath, Marcus 

Hanan, Jamie Osborne and himself have all 

made their maiden bows for the province 

having come through the Youths system, and he 

credits it to exposure to more rugby. 

“The Shane Horgan is a big stepping stone 

for the club lads. When you compare the club 

players to the school players, most school 

players would be training four or five days a 

week probably,” he outlines. 

“Whereas with the club, you train on Tuesday 

and Thursday before a match on Saturday. 

With the Shane Horgan Cup then, there’s 

another session in the week so you’re getting 

more rugby training into you. 

“The games then are a higher level than club 

so you get a bit more exposure.” 

While not involved in the squad this week, 

Leinster v Munster fixtures are always an 

interesting occasion for the UCD engineering 

student. 

Parents, Finbarr and Marie, from Cork and 

Donegal, typically would be found on the red 

side of the divide in these weeks. 


Because of that, many of Corkery’s early 

memories of the game are of Thomond Park 

and a trip to a Heineken Cup final in the midnoughties. 

“They are both big fans. The weird thing is 

that they actually support Munster,” he laughs. 

“It’s always a strange one when they play 

each other. My mother would be trying to say 

she’s a neutral now. 

“When I was like eight or nine, myself and my 

brother and my parents would have went to 

one of the Heineken Cup finals that Munster 

won. I went to a lot of their games when I was 

younger.” 

Luckily for Leinster Rugby, the youngest family 

member is firmly attached to the province and 

still holds the ambition of running out into a 

packed RDS when restrictions are lifted. 

“I’d love to play a game in a packed-out RDS. 

I’m not sure when or if that might happen. 

“But, it’s definitely a goal that I have for future 

years. Even just to have my family and a few 

close friends there. 

“They were very disappointed that they 

weren’t able to travel over to Italy for my 

debut. That was tough on them. 

“It’s quite weird playing in empty stadiums 

without any fans but you get used to it from a 

player’s perspective. The fans are definitely 

important for all games really.” 

Here’s hoping that occasion is sooner rather 

than later. 


Academy squad 

2020|21 

DOB: 15 December 1999 

From: Hampshire, England 

Height: 1.88m (6’ 2”) 

Weight: 92kg (14st 5lbs) 

Position: Back Three 

School: Henley College 

Honours: Ireland U20 (1 cap) 

AARON O’SULLIVAN 

Did You Know: Aaron was signed from Wasps where 

he made two appearances for the Senior team in the 

2017/18 Anglo Welsh Cup. Aaron’s dad, Barry, had trials at 

Newcastle and his grandad, at the age of 80, completed 

five stages of the Tour de France in 2011. 

Instagram: aaron_sullivan11 

DOB: 02 March 2000 

From: Wexford 

Height: 1.99m (6’ 6”) 


Position: Second Row 

School: St Peter’s College 

Club: Clontarf FC 

Honours: Ireland U20 (8 caps) 

BRIAN DEENY 

Did You Know: Brian played youth rugby with Wexford 

Wanderers RFC. He got his first Irish cap playing for 

Ireland Under-18 Sevens. Brian played midfield for his 

school St Peter’s College in Gaelic football and reached the 

All-Ireland Colleges Final in 2017. He is currently studying 

Science in Trinity and lives in Abbey House B&B, Wexford... 

if you are looking for a room?! Instagram: brian_deeny 

DOB: 03 July 1999 

From: Dublin 

Height: 1.77m (5’ 10”) 


Position: Centre/Outhalf 

School: Belvedere College 

Club: Clontarf RFC 


& Leinster Rugby (7 caps) 

DAVID HAWKSHAW #1290 

Did You Know: David started playing rugby at Coolmine RFC before 

joining Belvedere College and won two Schools Senior Cup titles. He has 

represented Ireland U18 Schools and was selected as Ireland U20s captain 

for the 2019 Grand Slam winning campaign only to have his season cut 

short after three games. He played hurling and Gaelic football for St Brigid’s 

GAA club and also represented Dublin minors, winning a Leinster hurling 

title. Currently studying humanities in DCU. Instagram: davidhawkshaw99 

DOB: 30 November 1998 

From: Dublin 

Height: 1.72m (5’ 8”) 


Position: Scrum Half 

School: Blackrock College 

Club: UCD RFC 

Honours: Ireland U20 (1 cap) 


PATRICK PATTERSON #1274 

Did You Know: Paddy made his debut for Leinster during 

the 2018/19 season when only in the first year of the 

Leinster Academy. He also scored his first Senior try for 

Leinster off the bench against Southern Kings during that 

maiden campaign. 

Instagram: paddypatterson 

Academy squad 

2020|21 

DOB: 24 October 1999 

From: Newtownmountkennedy, Wicklow 

Height: 1.81m (5’ 9”) 


Position: Scrum Half 

School: St. Gerard’s School 

Club: Lansdowne FC 


CORMAC FOLEY 

Did You Know: Started playing rugby with Greystones 

RFC when he was nine. Growing up, Cormac did a lot of 

show jumping and he is now studying Economics and 

Finance in UCD. 

Instagram: cormacfoley6 

DOB: 05 February 1999 

From: Birr, Offaly 

Height: 1.82m (6’ 0”) 


Position: Prop 

School: Cistercian College, Roscrea 

Club: Birr RFC/UCD RFC 



MICHAEL MILNE #1279 

Did You Know: Michael has won two All-Ireland hurling 

titles, one with his school in Roscrea and another with 

Offaly Under-17s. 

Instagram: michael_milne 

DOB: 04 June 1998 

From: Dublin 

Height: 1.83m (6’ 0”) 



School: Clongowes Wood College 

Club: Dublin University FC 



MICHAEL SILVESTER #1289 

Did You Know: Started playing rugby with Wanderers 

RFC before playing in school with St. Michaels and then 

Clongowes. Played competitive tennis from the age of nine, 

winning a national championship at age 12, before focusing 

on rugby after moving to Clongowes. Graduated from 

Trinity with a BESS degree. 

Instagram: msilvester98 


From: Dublin 

Height: 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Position: Prop 





THOMAS CLARKSON #1285 

Did You Know: Thomas studies Human Health and Disease 

in Trinity College. He played underage rugby for Wicklow 

RFC before moving to Dublin to attend Willow Park 

primary school. 

Instagram: tclarkson37 

DOB: 19 October 1999 

From: Athy, Kildare 

Height: 1.88m (6’ 2”) 


Position: Back Row 

School: Clontarf FC 

Club: Old Belvedere RFC 


MARTIN MOLONEY 

Did You Know: Martin played hurling for Kildare and played 

GAA and basketball for his secondary school, Knockbeg 

College, and local GAA club, St Laurence’s. He played his 

youth rugby with Athy RFC. He is now studying Business 

and Law in UCD, He also enjoys working on the family farm. 

Instagram: martin_moloney 



From: Dublin 

Height: 2.01m (6’ 7”) 

Weight: 108kg (17st) 



Club: UCD RFC 


CHARLIE RYAN 

Did You Know: Charlie played youth rugby at Blackrock 

College RFC while also attending the school since Senior 

Infants. He captained Ireland to the U20 Grand Slam in 

2019 and again for the U20s World Cup. His friends call 

him Chuck! He is currently studying Business and Legal 

Studies in UCD. 

Instagram: chuck_ryan5 

Academy squad 

2020|21 


From: Belfast 

Height: 1.82m (6’ 0”) 


Position: Hooker 

School: Campbell College 

Club: Old Belvedere RFC 


JOHN McKEE 

Did You Know: John grew up in Belfast going to school 

at Campbell College where he won a Senior Cup. He was 

involved with Ulster at age grade level until moving to 

Dublin after school. He also has multiple medals from 

Northern Irish Schools Judo competitions. 

Instagram: johnmckee_ 

DOB: 21 July 2000 

From: Dublin 

Height: 1.83m (6’ 0”) 



School: St Michael’s College 

Club: Clontarf FC 



ANDREW SMITH #1292 

Did You Know: Andrew is currently studying Quantity 

Surveying and Construction Economics in TUD. In 2019, 

he won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup with St Michael’s 

College. Andrew also played Gaelic football with his local 

club - Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA Club. 

Instagram: andrew.sm1th 

DOB: 14 July 1999 

From: Dublin 

Height: 173cm (5’ 9”) 


Position: Centre 





LIAM TURNER #1287 

Did You Know: Liam started to play rugby at the age 

of six at Blackrock College RFC. He later joined Blackrock 

College and was part of the 2018 Senior Cup winning team. 

He was also part of the Ireland U20 team that went on to 

win the 2019 Grand Slam. Liam currently studys BESS in 

Trinity College. 

Instagram: liamtn123 

DOB: 06 April 2000 

From: Dublin 

Height: 1.83m (6’ 0”) 


Position: Wing 


Club: UCD RFC 

Honours: Ireland U20 

NIALL COMERFORD 

Did You Know: Niall played both hurling and Gaelic 

football with Kilmacud Crokes for 14 years. He also 

represented Dublin in Gaelic football in the U17 Leinster 

Championship. He is currently studying Commerce in UCD. 

Instagram: niall_c123 

DOB: 31 July 2000 

From: Pittsburgh, USA 

Height: 1.90m (6’ 3”) 

Weight: 102kg (16st 1lb) 



Club: UCD RFC 



SEÁN O’BRIEN #1297 

Did You Know: Seán started playing rugby at age six 

with Greystones RFC where he played up until Under-13. 

He then played on the Junior and Senior Cup teams in 

Blackrock College. He is currently studying Economics and 

Finance in UCD 

Instagram: seanobrien456 


From: Pearse St, Dublin 

Height: 1.95m (6’ 5”) 

Weight: 104.5kg (16st 6lbs) 


School: Belvedere College 




ALEX SOROKA #1296 

Did You Know: Alex’s family moved to Ireland from 

Ukraine shortly before his birth. He was born in Cork 

before moving to Dublin. 

Instagram: alex._.soroka 

DOB: 26 March 2001 

From: Manhattan, NY 

Height: 1.95m (6’ 5”) 






JOE McCARTHY 

Did You Know: Joe started playing rugby with Blackrock 

College RFC at the age of six before moving to Willow Park 

and then Blackrock College. He was also on the Blackrock 

swim team for five years. He’s currently studying Global 

Business in Trinity College Dublin. 

Instagram: joetmmcc 


From: Enniskerry, Wicklow 

Height: 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Position: Full Back 

School: St Gerard’s School 




MAX O’REILLY #1291 

Did You Know: Max is currently in his third year of Business 

and Management in DIT. His preferred sport was soccer 

until about the age of 15, which he had played at centre 

midfield with Enniskerry FC for over 10 years and also 

for Wicklow. 

Instagram: max_oreilly 


© 2020 adidas AG 

READY 

FOR 

ACTION 

LEINSTER RUGBY 

TRAINING 20/21

Fixtures & 

results 

2020/21 

Fri 2 Oct 20:15 

Guinness PRO14 

W 35-5 

Sat 10 Oct 18:15 


W 37-25 

FRI 23 Oct 19:35 


W 63-8 

MON 2 Nov 20:15 


W 32-19 

KEENAN 

LARMOUR 1T 

RINGROSE 1T 2C 

FRAWLEY (T O'BRIEN 9) 

LOWE 2T 

SEXTON 1C (R BYRNE 23 3C) 

GIBSON-PARK (MCGRATH 67) 

E BYRNE (HEALY 49) 

R KELLEHER (CRONIN 49) 

BENT (PORTER 49) 

FARDY 

RYAN 

RUDDOCK 

VAN DER FLIER 

CONAN (DEEGAN 49 (BAIRD 62 1T)) 

KEENAN 

LARMOUR (J O'BRIEN 48) 

RINGROSE 

HENSHAW 

LOWE 1T 

R BYRNE 3C 3P (H BYRNE 79) 

GIBSON-PARK (MCGRATH 56) 

E BYRNE (HEALY 52) 

TRACY 1T (CRONIN 53) 

BENT (CLARKSON 63) 

BAIRD (MOLONY 64) 

RYAN 1T 

DORIS 

CONNORS 

CONAN 

J O'BRIEN 

T O'BRIEN 2T 

TURNER 

FRAWLEY (SILVESTER 64) 

KEARNEY 1T 

H BYRNE 9C 

MCGRATH (H O'SULLIVAN 56) 

DOOLEY (MILNE 52) 

SHEEHAN 2T (TRACY 51) 

BENT 1T (PARKER 51 1T) 

MOLONY 

TONER (DUNNE 56) 

MURPHY 1T (FARDY 69) 

PENNY 1T 

RUDDOCK (LEAVY 51) 

J O'BRIEN 1T (HAWKSHAW 71) 

C KELLEHER 

O'LOUGHLIN 

T O'BRIEN 

D KEARNEY 

H BYRNE 3C 2P 

MCGRATH 1T (H O'SULLIVAN 76) 


TRACY (SHEEHAN 54) 

BENT 1T (CLARKSON 60) 

MOLONY (FARDY 60) 

TONER 

MURPHY (DUNNE 71) 

PENNY 1T 


SUN 8 Nov 15:00 


W 26-7 

J O'BRIEN 

C KELLEHER 

O'LOUGHLIN (TURNER 59) 

T O'BRIEN (H O'SULLIVAN 65) 

KEARNEY 1T 

H BYRNE 3C (HAWKSHAW 61) 

MCGRATH 

MILNE (DOOLEY 51 1T) 

TRACY 1T (SHEEHAN 51) 

BENT (PARKER 51) 

MOLONY 

FARDY (TONER 72) 

MURPHY (LEAVY 54) 

PENNY 1T 

RUDDOCK 

MON 16 NOV 20:15 


W 50-10 

J O'BRIEN 

C KELLEHER 3T 

TURNER 

FRAWLEY 5C 

KEARNEY 1T 

H BYRNE (HAWKSHAW 54) 

MCGRATH 2T (H O'SULLIVAN 57) 

RUDDOCK (MURPHY 50) 

PENNY 

LEAVY 1T (BAIRD 58) 

FARDY 

TONER (MOLONY 68) 

BENT (PARKER 50) 

TRACY (SHEEHAN 50) 

DOOLEY 1T (MILNE 50) 

Sun 22 Nov 17:15 


W 40-5 

J O'BRIEN 1T (SILVESTER 41 1T) 

C KELLEHER 

TURNER 

FRAWLEY 

KEARNEY 1T 

H BYRNE 5C 

MCGRATH (OSBORNE 67) 


TRACY 1T (SHEEHAN 58) 


MOLONY (TONER 62) 

BAIRD 

MURPHY (PENNY 52 2T) 

LEAVY (DUNNE 70) 

RUDDOCK 

Sat 12 Dec 17:30 

Champions Cup 

W 35-14 

J O'BRIEN 1T 

KEENAN 

HENSHAW 

FRAWLEY 1T 

KEARNEY 1T 

R BYRNE 1C 1P (H BYRNE 61 1C 1P) 

MCGRATH (GIBSON-PARK 69) 

DOOLEY (HEALY 46) 

TRACY (KELLEHER 46) 

BENT (PORTER 46) 

TONER (BAIRD 69) 

FARDY (RYAN 52) 

RUDDOCK 

VAN DER FLIER 1T 

DORIS (LEAVY 59 1T) 


Sat 19 Dec 13:00 

Champions Cup 

W 35-19 

Sat 2 Jan 19:35 


L 24-35 

Fri 8 Jan 19:35 


W 24-12 

J O'BRIEN (C KELLEHER 8) 

KEENAN 

RINGROSE (FRAWLEY 75) 

HENSHAW 

KEARNEY 1T 

R BYRNE 3C 3P 

GIBSON-PARK 1T (MCGRATH 56) 

HEALY 1T (DOOLEY 56) 

R KELLEHER (TRACY 56) 

PORTER (BENT 56) 

BAIRD 

RYAN 

MURPHY 1T (MOLONY 66) 

VAN DER FLIER 


O'REILLY 

SMITH 

J O'BRIEN 1C (O'SULLIVAN 62) 

O'LOUGHLIN (HAWKSHAW 56 1C) 

KEARNEY 

SEXTON (TURNER 23) 

L MCGRATH 1T 

DOOLEY (E BYRNE 51 1T) 

TRACY (CRONIN 51) 

BENT (G MCGRATH 69) 

MOLONY 

TONER (CONAN 51 (CONNORS 57)) 

BAIRD 1T 

PENNY 1T 

LEAVY (CONAN 61) 

KEENAN 

LARMOUR 

R BYRNE 1C 

R HENSHAW 1T 

KEARNEY 1T (J O'BRIEN 80) 

SEXTON 1C 

GIBSON-PARK (L MCGRATH 60) 

HEALY (E BYRNE 56) 

CRONIN 1T (TRACY 56 1T) 

PORTER (BENT 66) 

FARDY (MOLONY 66) 

J RYAN 

RUDDOCK (CONAN 62) 

VAN DER FLIER 

DORIS 

Northampton 

Saints v 


Friday 

January 15 

Franklin's Gardens 

postponed 

Sat 23 Jan 19:35 


W 10-13 

Sat 30 Jan 19:35 


W 25-52 

Fri 19 Feb 19:35 


W 29-35 


v Montpellier 

Friday 

January22 

RDS Arena 

postponed 

KEENAN 

LARMOUR 1T 

RINGROSE 

HENSHAW 

J O'BRIEN (GIBSON-PARK 58) 

SEXTON 2P (R BYRNE 53 1C) 

L MCGRATH 


CRONIN (R KELLEHER 50) 

PORTER 


J RYAN 

RUDDOCK (CONAN 68) 

CONNORS (VAN DER FLIER 59) 

DORIS 

O'REILLY 1T 

C KELLEHER 1T 

TURNER (J OSBORNE 46) 

FRAWLEY (HAWKSHAW 71 1T) 

KEARNEY 

H BYRNE (6C 1P) 

L MCGRATH 1T (H O'SULLIVAN 67) 

DOOLEY (E BYRNE 54) 

TRACY 1T (CRONIN 54) 

FURLONG (CLARKSON H-T) 

MOLONY 

BAIRD 

MURPHY 

LEAVY 1T (FARDY 77) 

CONAN (DUNNE 60) 

O'REILLY 

C KELLEHER 

O'LOUGHLIN 

R BYRNE 4C (HAWKSHAW 77) 

KEARNEY 

H BYRNE (J OSBORNE 63) 

L MCGRATH (R OSBORNE 67) 

DOOLEY 1T (HANAN 65) 

TRACY (SHEEHAN 57 1T) 

CLARKSON (G MCGRATH 65) 

MOLONY (TONER 57) 

BAIRD 

MURPHY 1T (FARDY 67) 

PENNY 1T 

CONAN 


Fixtures & 

results 

2020/21 

Sun 28 Feb 17:30 


W 40-21 

Sat 6 Mar 19:35 


W 19-38 

Fri 12 Mar 17:45 


W 31-48 

Fri 19 Mar 20:15 


L 19-24 

J O'BRIEN 

C KELLEHER 1T (O'REILLY) 

J OSBORNE 

O'LOUGHLIN 

KEARNEY 

H BYRNE 1T 2C (HAWKSHAW 33 2C) 

L MCGRATH 1T (R OSBORNE 75) 

DOOLEY (G MCGRATH 74) 

CRONIN (SHEEHAN 59 1T) 


TONER 

FARDY 

MURPHY (SOROKA 57) 

VAN DER FLIER 

PENNY 2T (DUNNE 74) 

O'REILLY 

C KELLEHER 

J O'BRIEN (J OSBORNE 73) 

O'LOUGHLIN 

KEARNEY 

R BYRNE 5C 1P 

L MCGRATH (R OSBORNE 76) 

E BYRNE 1T (DOOLEY 57) 

TRACY (SHEEHAN 57 1T) 

BENT 1T (CLARKSON 57) 

TONER (DUNNE 73) 


RUDDOCK 1T 

VAN DER FLIER 1T 

PENNY 

O'REILLY 

C KELLEHER 1T 

J O'BRIEN (J OSBORNE 52) 

O'LOUGHLIN 

KEARNEY 3T 

H BYRNE 4C 1P (CORKERY 65) 

L MCGRATH 1T (H O'SULLIVAN HT 1C) 

DOOLEY 

SHEEHAN 2T (TRACY 55) 

CLARKSON (BENT 55) 

MOLONY 

DUNNE 

MURPHY 

PENNY (TONER 65) 

SOROKA (S O'BRIEN 48) 

O'REILLY 

O'LOUGHLIN 

J OSBORNE 1T 

FRAWLEY 2C (CORKERY 79) 

KEARNEY (SMITH 64) 

H BYRNE 2T 

R OSBORNE (O'SULLIVAN HT) 

DOOLEY (HANAN 62) 

CRONIN (PENNY 74) 


MOLONY 

TONER 

FARDY (SHEEHAN 46) 

PENNY (DUNNE 63) 

MURPHY (O'BRIEN 19) 

Sat 2 Mar 17:00 

Guinness PRO14 final 

W 16-6 

sat 10 apr 17:30 

Heineken Champions Cup 

W 22-34 

KEENAN 

LARMOUR 

O'LOUGHLIN 

HENSHAW 

KEARNEY 

R BYRNE 3P 1C (SEXTON 60) 

L MCGRATH (GIBSON-PARK 76) 



PORTER (FURLONG 53) 

TONER 

FARDY (BAIRD 60) 

RUDDOCK (MOLONY 74) 

VAN DER FLIER 

CONAN 1T 

round of 16 


v RC Toulon 

friday 

2 april 

RDS Arena 

cancelled 

KEENAN 

LARMOUR 2T 

O'LOUGHLIN 

HENSHAW 

LOWE 1T (KEARNEY 79) 

SEXTON 1C (BYRNE 27 1C 5P) 

L MCGRATH (H O'SULLIVAN 79) 



FURLONG (PORTER 55) 

FARDY (BAIRD 50) 

TONER (MOLONY 70) 

RUDDOCK 

VAN DER FLIER 

CONAN 

semi-final 

LA ROCHELLE v 


sunday 

may 2, 2021 

Marcel Deflandre 

ko 15:00 


ROUND 

01 

Leinster 

v Munster 

saturday 

april 24, 2021 

RDS Arena 

ko 19:35 

ROUND 

02 

Connacht 

v Leinster 

saturday 

may 8, 2021 

The Sportsground 

ko 19:35 

ROUND 

03 

Leinster 

v Ulster 

friday 

May 14, 2021 

RDS Arena 

ko 20:15 

ROUND 

04 

TBC 

Weekend of 

May 29 

ROUND 

05 

TBC 

Weekend of 

June 5 

ROUND 

06 

TBC 

Weekend of 

June 12 


At Sword we know how important the Game is. 

We know how important your memories are ....so relax 

and enjoy yourself, you're in safe hands. 

LEINSTER RUGBY FANS .... Secured by the team at Sword 

Dublin: 01-6688220 

info@swordsecurity.com 

www.swordsecurity.com 

Securing Sports Fans around the World.

Coronavirus 

COVID-19 

Coronavirus 

COVID-19 

Public Health 

Advice 

Stay safe. 

Protect each other. 

Continue to: 

Wash 

your hands well 

and often to avoid 

contamination. 

Cover 

your mouth and nose 

with a tissue or sleeve 

when coughing or 

sneezing and discard 

used tissue safely 

Distance 

yourself at least 

2 metres (6 feet) away 

from other people, 

especially those who 

might be unwell 

Avoid 

crowds and 

crowded places 

Know 

the symptoms. If you 

have them self isolate 

and contact your GP 

immediately 

COVID-19 symptoms include 

> high temperature 

> cough 

> breathing difficulty 

> sudden loss of sense of smell or taste 

> flu-like symptoms 

If you have any symptoms, self-isolate to 

protect others and call your GP for a 

COVID-19 test. 

#holdfirm 

For more information 

www.gov.ie/health-covid-19 

www.hse.ie 

Ireland’s public health advice is guided by WHO and ECDC advice

Jordan Larmour 

Dave Kearney 

Garry Ringrose [C] 

Rory O’Loughlin 

James Lowe 

Harry Byrne 

Hugh O’Sullivan 

15 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

FULL BACK 

RIGHT WING 

OUTSIDE CENTRE 

INSIDE CENTRE 

LEFT WING 

FLY HALF 

SCRUM HALF 

Mike Haley 

Keith Earls 

Chris Farrell 

Damien de Allende 

Shane Daly 

Joey Carbery 

Conor Murray 

Ed Byrne 

Dan Sheehan 

Andrew Porter 

Ross Molony 

Ryan Baird 

Josh Murphy 

Scott Penny 

Caelan Doris 

Seán Cronin 

Peter Dooley 

Michael Bent 

James Ryan 

Scott Fardy 

Cormac Foley 

Ciarán Frawley 

Tommy O’Brien 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

LOOSE HEAD PROP 

HOOKER 

TIGHT HEAD PROP 

SECOND ROW 

SECOND ROW 

BLINDSIDE FLANKER 

OPENSIDE FLANKER 

NUMBER 8 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

Dave Kilcoyne 

Niall Scannell 

Stephen Archer 

Jean Kleyn 

Tadhg Beirne 

Peter O’Mahony [C] 

Jack O’Donoghue 

CJ Stander 

Diarmuid Barron 

Jeremy Loughman 

Keynan Knox 

Fineen Wycherley 

Gavin Coombes 

Craig Casey 

Ben Healy 

Calvin Nash 

Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 8th competition game) 

Assistant Referee 1: Sean Gallagher (IRFU) 

Assistant Referee 2: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) 

TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU) 


FULL MATCH REPLAYS 

NOW AVAILABLE 

WITH XTRA 

MEMBERSHIP. 

SIGN UP FOR FREE AT 

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MAKE IT A GAME 

YOU’LL REMEMBER. 

MODERATE YOUR DRINKING. 

MAKE YOUR NEXT PINT TAP WATER. 

SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE 

#GUINNESSCLEAR

Leinster Rugby v Munster

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