Leinster Rugby v Ulster Rugby

ISSUE 12 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 

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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: 

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Assistant Coach: Robin McBryde 

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

We extend a warm welcome 

to rugby fans joining us for 

tonight’s game at the RDS 

Arena for our third fixture in the 

Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup. 

With the initial stages of the competition 

featuring what are ‘local derbies’ we 

have been reminded that there are 

extra ingredients to these games. 

An intense rivalry with passion and 

pride in abundance and these traits 

have been associated with players and 

supporters for generations. It is a great 

achievement for a player, their family 

and club to wear a provincial jersey no 

matter at what level. The Irish derbies 

frequently produce results that are 

classified by the media as upsets but for 

players on the receiving end of these 

defeats it can be a painful experience 

and the equivalent of visiting a dentist 

who is skimping on the anaesthetic! 

Leinster’s first fixture in this competition 

resulted in a 27-3 defeat at the RDS 

at the hands of long-standing rivals 

Munster in what was revenge for our 

Guinness PRO14 Final victory by 16-6 

in March and our victory in Thomond 

Park by 13-10 in January. 

Likewise Ulster suffered a defeat in their 

first fixture in the competition when they 

lost at home 26-24 in a spectacular 

and thrilling game to a never say die 

Connacht team. We know that feeling! 

Connacht also inflicted a memorable 

35-24 victory over Leinster at the RDS 

in the Guinness PRO14 in January. 

Revenge though was very sweet in 

our recent Guinness PRO14 Rainbow 

Cup clash when we comprehensively 

defeated Connacht at the Showgrounds 

with a score of 50 points to 21 points 

and in the process scored eight tries. 

The facial expressions on the 

vanquished players in these fixtures 

reveals that there is emotional and 

physical pain involved. 

On behalf of Leinster Rugby we 

welcome the Ulster management 

team of Gary Leslie (President), Philip 

Gregg (Senior Vice-President), Denis 

Gardiner (Junior Vice-President) and 

Jonny Petrie (CEO). We also welcome 

JOHN WALSHWEL COME 

Dan McFarland (Head Coach), Ulster 

skipper Iain Henderson and players for 

their second visit of the year to the RDS. 

Congratulations to Iain Henderson on 

his selection for the British and Irish 

Lions squad. 

I am reminded that the Leinster and 

Ulster fixture is the oldest fixture in Irish 

Rugby with the first ever interprovincial 

match between the sides having taken 

place in 1875. 

This fixture marks the 103rd occasion 

that we have met with Leinster winning 

61 of those encounters and Ulster with 

35 wins and just six draws. 

Dan McFarland’s side are playing 

a very attractive brand of rugby this 

season and all Irish rugby fans were 

disappointed for the side that they 

lost their European Challenge Cup 

semi-final to Leicester at Welford Road 

having dominated the game for the 

first half and remained in contention ‘til 

late on. They will be endeavouring to 

recover their away winning form in this 

fixture against Leinster. 

The British and Irish Lions squad of 

37 players sees eight Irish players 

selected and we congratulate them 

and wish them good fortune in the 

tour to South Africa. The four Leinster 

players selected are Robbie Henshaw 

(who commenced his rugby career 

with Ballinasloe RFC and also featured 

for Marist College, Buccaneers and 

Connacht), Tadhg Furlong (New Ross 

RFC, Good Counsel College and 

Clontarf FC), Andrew Porter (Old 

Wesley RFC, St Andrew’s College and 

UCD), Jack Conan (Greystones RFC, 

St Gerard’s School and Old Belvedere 

RFC) while former Leinster player 

Tadhg Beirne commenced his rugby 

career with Naas RFC and Clongowes 

Wood College. 

All of those Irish players selected will 

no doubt reflect on their journeys in 

rugby and acknowledge with gratitude 

all those individual coaches at their 

clubs and schools who guided and 

mentored them. Their achievement in 

being selected for the Lions will no 

doubt inspire the new generations of 

players, coaches and club volunteers. 

This season a record number of 59 

players represented the senior Leinster 

team, with 15 players making their 

debuts for Leinster. A total of six Leinster 

players also made their debuts for 

Ireland and we wish Will Connors, 

Ryan Baird, James Lowe, Hugo Keenan, 

Ed Byrne and Jamison Gibson-Park 

every success in their future careers in 

green. All Leinster Rugby fans would 

have wished to be present to show 

their support for the players these 

past 14 months and also to thank the 

players, coaches, team management, 

medical and physios and supporting 

administrators for their outstanding 

commitment and endeavours for what 

has been another highly successful 

season. 

During this pandemic period of 14 

months the burden of dealing with its 

consequences for Leinster Rugby have 

fallen on the shoulders of over 300 

dedicated volunteers who serve on 

the 21 Leinster Committees and also to 

our loyal staff and I wish to personally 

convey Leinster Rugby’s thanks for their 

support. 

Wishing you and all associated with 

Leinster and Ulster Rugby the very best 

for the future. 

John Walsh 

PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2020/21 


Leo Cullen 

HEAD COACH WELCOME 

A WARM 

WELCOME 

TO DAN 

McFARLAND 

AND HIS ULSTER 

TEAM FOR 

TONIGHT’S 

GAME. IT’S 

BEEN A 

CHALLENGING 

SEASON FOR 

EVERYONE BUT 

LOTS OF GREAT 

WORK HAS 

MANAGED 

TO GET BOTH 

SQUADS TO 

THIS POINT. IT’S 

AMAZING TO 

THINK WE MET 

ULSTER AT THE 

AVIVA BACK IN 

AUGUST! AND 

THEN WENT ON 

TO PLAY EACH 

OTHER AGAIN 

IN THE FINAL OF 

LAST SEASON’S 

GUINNESS 

PRO14 JUST 

A COUPLE 

OF WEEKS 

LATER. BOTH 

TEAMS KNOW 

EACH OTHER 

PRETTY WELL 

SO I’M SURE 

TONIGHT WILL 

BE ANOTHER 

HIGHLY 

COMPETITIVE 

ENCOUNTER. 

We’ve had a fair bit to digest over the 

past couple of weeks. After losing at 

the RDS in the opening round of the 

Rainbow Cup, our quest to win the 

Heineken Champions Cup again ended 

the following week in La Rochelle. 

Europe means so much to Leinster and 

it really hurt to lose that one. We’ll 

try to channel the pain of defeat into 

making sure we are all better in the 

future. 

Before moving on from Europe, I would like to 

acknowledge the work of the Official Leinster 

Supporters Club committee for their efforts in 

making sure we had a welcome in La Rochelle. 

A warm welcome at the airport from the 

Leinster ex-pat community in La Rochelle, flags 

in and around the hotel and even supporters in 

blue jerseys dotted around the town on match 

day and outside the stadium. It was very much 

appreciated and gave us all a lift and just 

a taste of what is ahead of us as supporters 

return soon at home and away. Thank you. 

I think the players had a positive response 

last week away in Galway (admittedly after 

weathering an early onslaught!) with a good 

win over Connacht, which hopefully sets us up 

for this evening. 

The past few weeks have seen more Leinster 

Academy players make their Senior debuts, so 

a big congratulations to Martin Moloney and 

Cormac Foley who both came off the bench 

in the Munster game. I’m sure the lads greatly 

missed not having their friends and families 

with them to savour the occasion, but we hope 

to have you all back very soon. 

Congratulations also to Ross Byrne on making 

his 100th appearance for the club. Ross has 

been such an important part of our success 

in recent times and 100 caps is a great 

achievement. 

We were delighted with the news that four 

Leinster players have been selected for the 

Lions. It’s such an honour for any player to 

be selected so congratulations and good 

luck to Jack Conan, Tadhg Furlong, Robbie 

Henshaw and Andrew Porter. We had a few 

disappointed players here after the squad 

announcement but as we know, lots can 

happen between now and the start of the Test 

series! We’ll continue to focus on training and 

playing well. 

I am optimistic for the future in terms of 

getting people back into stadiums and it’s 

been hugely encouraging to see the slow but 

steady return of supporters to different sports 

in other countries. Fingers crossed we are not 

too far away and judging by the early uptake 

of season tickets, there’s plenty of optimism 

among our supporters too. 

Thanks as always to the team’s sponsors, in 

particular Bank of Ireland, for your continued 

support. It feels like we are getting ever closer 

to normality and we look forward to seeing 

you back on match days soon. 

Finally, a huge thanks to everyone who 

supported our April charity partner, AsIAm, 

Ireland’s national autism charity. AsIAm works 

incredibly hard to create a society in which 

every autistic person is empowered to reach 

their own personal potential. This is very 

similar to what we are trying to achieve here 

at Leinster, where we want all players, boys 

and girls, to come through and achieve their 

potential. The challenge continues! 

Many thanks to everyone for tuning into 

tonight’s game, for supporting us on social 

media, and for remaining patient while we 

await the green light. We’ll see you soon and, 

in the meantime, enjoy the rugby. 

Leo 


JOANN 

HOSEY 

PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR 

BANK OF IRELAND DUBLIN 

A WARM 

WELCOME TO 

THE RDS ARENA 

THIS EVENING 

FOR THE 

GUINNESS PRO14 

RAINBOW CUP 

CLASH BETWEEN 

LEINSTER RUGBY 

AND ULSTER 

RUGBY, THE 

FINAL OF THREE 

INTERPROVINCIAL 

GAMES FOR THIS 

COMPETITION 

AND INDEED 

THIS REGULAR 

SEASON. 

The intense domestic rivalry that drives 

rugby on this island has already been 

evident over the last two weekends 

and no doubt will be visible again this 

weekend as Munster and Connacht 

also lock horns. 

In Bank of Ireland, we have focused on that 

unique rivalry as part of our Never Stop 

Competing campaign, for it is that sense of 

identity that drives all four provinces and keeps 

rugby in Ireland competitive. At the heart of 

these provincial rivalries is also a great respect 

and a friendship that has been forged over 

many years, from youth age grades as far as 

the senior Ireland squads. 

And now, eight Irish players will have the 

chance to pull on the hallowed red Lions jersey 

together. Irish rugby stood tall and proud as 

these names were read out by Jason Leonard, 

the chairman of the British and Irish Lions on 

May 6. It is a fantastic achievement, from 

a Leinster Rugby perspective, to have four 

players named in the Lions squad, and our 

congratulations go to Jack Conan, Andrew 

Porter, Tadhg Furlong and Robbie Henshaw. 

Closer to home it has been brilliant to see 

the Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Summer 

Camps sell-out for all 32 camps, with the 

Inclusion Camps not far behind. The School 

of Excellence programme has also gone 

live and it is really encouraging to see these 

camps filling up as quickly as they have. Our 

clubs and their playing pitches have been 

empty for far too long, and it will be great to 

have children running around and enjoying 

their rugby in a safe and Covid-19 compliant 

manner very soon. 

We have been looking forward to that day for 

some time now. And we can also look forward 

to a further easing of restrictions in the coming 

weeks, which raises the prospect of supporters 

returning to the RDS Arena to cheer on the 

team. A spectator filled RDS Arena will be a 

sight to behold, and I can only imagine the 

noise as Leinster run out once again on the 

Ballsbridge soil. 

We look forward to that day, but for now, best 

of luck to both teams and enjoy the game. 

Enjoy the game, 

JH 


Did you 

know? 

• Leinster Rugby’s two 

game losing run in all 

tournaments came to an 

abrupt halt with their 50-21 

victory over Connacht in 

Galway on Saturday. 

• The Leinstermen have 

lost two of their last three 

matches played at the RDS 

Arena. 

• Ulster Rugby have lost 

their last three matches in all 

tournaments while they have 

not lost four in succession 

since January 2017. 

• Ulster’s most recent 

victory was 35-27 at 

Northampton Saints in the 

quarter-final of the European 

Challenge Cup. 

• Leinster have won 

their last five matches 

against Ulster, whilst the 

Ulstermen’s only success 

over the Leinstermen in any 

tournament since May 2017 

was by a single point at 

Kingspan Stadium in April 

2019. 

• Ulster have won only 

once in eighteen previous 

visits to the RDS Arena: 22- 

18 in March 2013. 

#LEIVuls 

Overall Guinness 

PRO14 head to head 

record: 

42 32 8 2 

PLAYED Leinster won Leinster lost DRAWs 

COMPARISON 

Last 3 PRO14 results: 

LEINSTER 

27 Mar - Munster (H) 

W 16-6 

24 Apr - Munster (H) 

L 3-27 

8 May - Connacht (A) 

W 50-21 

Pool N: 

5th - W1 D0 L1 - 5pts 

WWWLLW 

(21pts) 

Hugo Keenan 3 

Hugo Keenan 15 

ULSTER 

PRO14 

2020/21 

PRO14 

form 

Top try 

scorer 

Top points 

scorer 

19 Mar - Zebre (H) 

W 49-3 

23 Apr - Connacht (H) 

L 24-26 

7 May - Munster (A) 

L 10-38 

Pool N: 

12th - W0 D0 L2 - 2pts 

WLWWLL 

(16pts) 

Date Venue L U Leinster scorers Ulster scorers 

Sat 27 Apr 19 

Kingspan 

Stadium 

13 14 Ross Byrne(P) Fergus McFadden(T) Jimmy 

O'Brien(T) 

Fri 20 Dec 19 RDS Arena 54 42 Robbie Henshaw(T) Max Deegan(2T) Harry 

Byrne(7C) Scott Penny(2T) Cian Kelleher(T) 

Rob Kearney(T) Fergus McFadden(T) 

Sat 29 Aug 20 Aviva Stadium 28 10 Ross Byrne(C/3P) Harry Byrne(T/C) Scott 

Penny(T) Ed Byrne(T) 

Sat 12 Sep 20 

Aviva Stadium 

(TF) 

27 5 James Lowe(T) Robbie Henshaw(T) Ross 

Byrne(2C/2P) Caelan Doris(T) Johnny 

Sexton(C) 

Fri 8 Jan 21 RDS Arena 24 12 Robbie Henshaw(T) Ross Byrne(C) James 

Tracy(T) Sean Cronin(T) Dave Kearney(T) 

Johnny Sexton(C) 

Sat 6 Mar 21 

Kingspan 

Stadium 

38 19 Michael Bent(T) Ross Byrne(5C/P) Rhys 

Ruddock(T) Ed Byrne(T) Dan Sheehan(T) Josh 

van der Flier(T) 

1 

7 Michael Lowry 

Dave Shanahan(T) Johnny McPhillips(C) Peter 

Nelson(C) Marcus Rea(T) 

Craig Gilroy(T) Matt Faddes(T) Angus 

Kernohan(T) Bill Johnston(6C) Johnny 

Stewart(T) Greg Jones(2T) 

Rob Herring(T) John Cooney(C/P) 

James Hume(T) 

John Cooney(4P) 

Dave Shanahan, Rob 

Herring, Iain Henderson, 

Billy Burns, Jacob Stockdale 

Nick Timoney(T) Robert Baloucoune(T) John 

Cooney(C) Marcell Coetzee(T) Michael 

Lowry(C) 


van der 

Josh 

Flier 

KEEP YOUR FRIENDS 

CLOSE, BUT YOUR 

ENEMIES CLOSER! 

AS LEINSTER RUGBY GET 

SET TO FACE ULSTER RUGBY 

FOR THE FIFTH TIME SINCE 

AUGUST, IT’S FAIR TO SAY, 

THAT BOTH TEAMS HAVE 

DONE AS GOOD A JOB AS 

POSSIBLE OF STICKING TO 

THE OLD IDIOM. 

THEY KNOW EACH OTHER 

INSIDE AND OUT AND 

THERE CAN’T BE TOO 

MANY SURPRISES LEFT IN 

EITHER LOCKER. 

From The Ground Up | 12 | www.leinsterrugby.ie


Looking back on the last few 

years, you could argue that no 

other team has pushed Leinster 

closer in the Guinness PRO14 

and again, this season, Leinster 

had their work cut out to claw 

back the Ulstermen at the top of 

Conference A, before overtaking 

them following a hard-fought win 

in Belfast. 

Josh van der Flier was involved that 

night and remembers well the fight Dan 

McFarland’s side put up before Leinster 

pulled away in the second half. 

“There was one defensive set in particular 

in that first half and they threw everything 

at us and they just kept coming at us in 

waves,” he reminisces. 

“It actually stood to us because we came 

through it and that gave us belief. But 

we knew how good they were from that 

opening and how they came at us. A 

really good team. They were capable 

of asking questions on both sides of 

the ball and they showed it that 

night up in Belfast. 

“Up until that point they 

were the team to catch 

in our Conference as obviously we 

had slipped up in the RDS against 

Connacht so we knew we had to 

get the win. We both knew that the 

Conference would come down to 

that night and who came out on top. 

Thankfully that was us.” 

They didn’t have it their own way and 

Ulster raced into an early 12-3 lead with 

Leinster also picking up two yellow cards. 

But a burst from van der Flier and a 

superb take in the air from Scott Fardy, 

were the moments that swung the 

momentum back Leinster’s way in a nervy 

opening 20 minutes. 

Since then, Ulster, like Leinster, have 

fallen at the semi-final stage in Europe 

and while the opening two rounds of the 

Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup haven’t 

gone their way, van der Flier has seen 

plenty to be wary about. 

“Absolutely. That back row in particular 

from my point of view. Jordi Murphy and 

Nick Timoney, (Marcus) Rea, (Sean) 

Reidy, whoever they pick really. They are 

really powerful and dynamic and if you 

don’t get the start you want it can be a 

long night and for us it’s about making 


sure that it doesn’t play out like that 

tonight.” 

Whatever the outcome this evening it will 

bring the curtain down on an interpro 

season like no other, crossing two 

variations of the PRO14 tournament. 

While the opening round of the Rainbow 

Cup didn’t go to plan for Leinster against 

Munster, the win against Connacht last 

weekend was more like it. 

Not that the opening 13 minutes was 

anything like it. 

Trailing 16-0 against a buoyant homeside 

did not augur well. But then the 

fightback started. A strong carry from 

Scott Penny and then the backs did the 

rest with a lovely flat pass from Ciarán 

Frawley putting Hugo Keenan away for 

their first of eight tries on the night. 

They didn’t look back from there but five 

tries in 26 minutes before the break was 

some going. 

Van der Flier started on the bench, 

but with 25 minutes gone in Galway, 

Jack Conan went for a Head Injury 

Assessment and with that van der Flier 

was called into the fray. 

Thankfully by then Leinster had in fact 

gone ahead through James Tracy’s try in 

the 22nd minute. 

Looking on from the bench made for 

interesting viewing. 

“Sometimes when things are not going 

well, it is definitely easier looking on 

from the bench because you can see 

what is unfolding in front of the lads. You 

also have other players around you and 

coaches in constant chat teasing things 

out. 

“As a sub you never know when you 

will be called into action but I suppose 

I went from being anxious about how it 

was playing out, and trying to see a way 

back to then being very proud of the way 

the boys dug in there and stuck to the 

game plan regardless of what Connacht 

were doing. 

“Unlucky for Jack with his injury but 

obviously I was delighted to get the nod 

and then I wanted to contribute as best 

as I could to what the team had started 

to do, which was to claw back the deficit 

and then to go into the lead before 

half-time.” 

A notable aspect of the performance was 

some of the anger and the frustration that 

maybe boiled over at times, but for the 

31-times capped Ireland back rower, it’s 

part and parcel of the rivalry. 

“We have such respect for the other Irish 

provinces. Not only because of what 

they represent, which is our biggest rivals 

every season, but also beyond that. 

“These are the lads that you are 

competing with for Ireland jerseys and 

also these are lads that we know very 

well and I think you often see that spark. 

You sometimes spark more off lads you 

know very well than other lads! 

“But that’s a very healthy part of the 

rivalry. When that whistle goes, there is 

that local element and wanting to get one 

over your nearest rivals. Knowing them 

too and everything that goes with that, 

playing against mates, lads that you’ve 

played with in Leinster or with Ireland. 

“There is so much that goes into the mix, 

that it is bound to spill over at times but 

it’s all forgotten about after the game.” 

One of those mates is Tom Daly, who 

shared a house with van der Flier, Peter 

Dooley and Adam Byrne for nearly six 

years while in Dublin together. 


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They came through the Leinster 

Academy together and shared the field 

together in blue. But here they were 

squaring up against each other. 

He enjoyed a few gallops down Daly’s 

channel. But Daly got his own back in 

spades too! 

“I actually really enjoy playing against 

Tom! He’s been brilliant for Connacht 

and is playing really well for them but 

I love that you can have a bit of craic 

with him and off him during the game. 

“There was a push and a shove or two 

also thrown in for good measure and he 

made sure I knew he was coming at me! 

But after the game it was great to catch 

up because with Covid we haven’t 

been able to do that. This was a great 

excuse to have a chat because we just 

haven’t been able to do it with all the 

restrictions. 

“But yeah, delighted that Tom is going 

so well there. He would have enjoyed 

the win at the RDS but I suppose this 

one went our way.” 

Daly is now being spoken about in the 

context of an Ireland call-up during the 

summer in much the same way that van 

der Flier is being spoken about in terms 

of the Lions and being in contention 

should a spot open up. 

The 28-year-old though knows that 

all that matters is the here and now 

because one performance slightly 

below par and you can be caught on 

the hop, regardless of whether you 

agree or not. 

Like we have seen with the selection of 

the British and Irish Lions this last week, 

the only opinion that matters, ultimately, 

is that of the head coach. 

In his case Andy Farrell and Leo Cullen. 

“It’s been a strange season. I suppose 

I was in and out with Ireland during the 

Autumn Series and then the same during 

the Six Nations but I have managed 

to hit a nice run of form over the last 

few months and thankfully I have been 

given opportunities because I know how 

tough the competition is for those spots 

with Leinster and Ireland.” 

“I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A LOT 

OF TALK ABOUT THE NEGATIVES OF 

COVID BUT ACTUALLY I THINK SOME 

OF THAT TIME AWAY MAY HAVE 

HELPED ME AND JUST HELPED TO 

GET MY BODY TO A BETTER PLACE.” 


“WHEN THE TIME COMES TO GO 

AGAIN AND TO TRY TO WIN THAT 

FIFTH STAR, WE’LL BE READY.” 

The Wicklow native started the first 

two games against Wales and France 

but was a frustrated bystander for the 

wins against Scotland and Italy, but an 

opportunity presented itself again for 

the final game against England and he 

grasped it with both hands. 

“These chances when they do come 

you just have to take them. I was happy 

enough with my form and how I was 

playing and then it is very disappointing 

when the calls don’t go your way but 

all you can do is get back to Leinster 

and put the head down and perform. 

Thankfully Leo and the coaches gave me 

that chance and then it was about being 

ready if Ireland came calling again. 

Thankfully that call came from Andy for 

the England game. 

“But I definitely feel that the last few 

months my body has started to feel 

as good as it ever has. 

“I know there has been a lot of 

talk about the negatives of Covid but 

actually I think some of that time away 

may have helped me and just helped to 

get my body to a better place. 

“I feel as good as I have for quite some 

time and yeah, since that England game 

things have gone well and while the La 

Rochelle game could have gone better, 

overall it’s been a positive few months 

finishing the Six Nations strong and then 

winning the PRO14 title.” 

His form was recognised with a European 

Player of the Year nomination by the 

EPCR and while he would have 

preferred a win against La Rochelle and 

to be preparing for a European final in 

Twickenham, it was due recognition for 

a solid few months’ work on the field 

and for a man who made sure to do all 

he could to turn his fortunes around. 

As he now reflects on those ups and 

downs, he takes comfort in some lessons 

learned away from the action. 

While he finished his most recent college 

course last September in Business 

Management, before that he had taken a 

Certificate in Sports Psychology. 

Some of the tools learned during his time 

studying have been useful during some of 

the more testing times. 

“I think the big thing was perspective. You 

learn a lot about the theory about sports 


psychology and then you also pick up 

coping mechanisms and tools to help you 

through those difficult moments. 

“I found the course very useful in that 

regard from a practical point of view and 

it has definitely helped me to understand 

the whole area and the importance of 

preparing the mind and putting effort into 

the mental side of the game.” 

For now though, the studies are done, 

or the more formal side certainly as he 

hasn’t turned his back on the learning 

altogether. 

He has taken up French to keep him 

distracted off the field but he is 

certainly happy to leave the study, 

the exams and the pressure of 

learning behind for now. 

But the lessons of those courses 

he’ll take with him a while 

more. 

“Absolutely. Most of the lads 

have something outside of 

rugby to keep them busy and 

occupied. I’m lucky that mine 

came in useful over the last few 

years in a practical sense. 

“There are so many ups and downs in 

sport, that I am sure I will need them 

again but for now, I’m happy to be 

enjoying my rugby, my body feels great 

and enjoying where we are at as a 

team. 

“Of course, we would have loved 

another crack at a European final but 

we gave it our very best and we came 

up short. The margins at this level are so 

tight. Good luck to La Rochelle. But we 

have seen it before in 2017 when the 

motivation of two semi-final losses drove 

on what was to come a year later. So, 

who knows? Maybe that will be the same 

again? 

“You’d be getting excited even thinking 

about the chance to go again next 

season! But for now, we just want to 

finish the season strong with Leinster 

starting this week against Ulster 

and after that, who knows. 

“When the time comes to go 

again and to try to win that 

fifth star, we’ll be ready.” 

The words of a man who 

has certainly taken lessons 

from the books he has 

studied, but also the many 

trials and tribulations of 

life in the number seven 

shirt. 


GUINNESS PRO14 RAINBOW CUP 

THE SPORTSGROUND 

8 MAY 2021 

REF: FRANK MURPHY 

21 

50 

John Porch (Sam Arnold 

54); Peter Sullivan, Sean 

O’Brien, Tom Daly, Matt 

Healy (Oran McNulty 29); 

Conor Fitzgerald, Caolin 

Blade (Kieran Marmion 64); 

Denis Buckley (Matthew 

Burke 56), Dave Heffernan 

(Jonny Murphy 64), Finlay 

Bealham (Dominic Robertson- 

McCoy 56); Niall Murray, 

Gavin Thornbury; Eoghan 

Masterson, Conor Oliver 

(Cian Prendergast 54), Jarrad 

Butler (Abraham Papali’I 29). 

SCORERS 

TRIES: Caolin Blade, Peter 

Sullivan. CON: Conor 

Fitzgerald. PENS: Conor 

Fitzgerald (3). 

Hugo Keenan; Cian Kelleher, 

Garry Ringrose, Ciarán 

Frawley (Rory O’Loughlin 

36), Dave Kearney; Ross 

Byrne (Jordan Larmour 

55), Luke McGrath (Rowan 

Osborne 61); Peter Dooley 

(Ed Byrne 54), James Tracy 

(Dan Sheehan 54), Andrew 

Porter (Tadhg Furlong 54); 

Ross Molony, Scott Fardy; 

Josh Murphy (Ryan Baird 63), 

Scott Penny, Jack Conan (Josh 

van der Flier 24). 

SCORERS 

TRIES: Hugo Keenan (3), 

James Tracy, Ross Molony, 

Cian Kelleher, Andrew Porter, 

Scott Fardy. CONS: Ross 

Byrne (5). 

“IT WAS A 

LITTLE BIT 

CHAOTIC AT 

THE START 

BUT ONCE WE 

SETTLED IN, 

WE TOOK OUR 

OPPORTUNITIES 

VERY WELL.” 

Leo Cullen 


“THE SPORTSGROUND IS AN 

INCREDIBLY TOUGH PLACE 

TO COME TO BUT WE’RE 

DELIGHTED THAT OUR HARD 

WORK ALL WEEK HAS NOW 

PAID OFF.” 

Andrew Porter 


YOUR 2021 LEINSTER LIONS 

Who Are They? 

LAST THURSDAY, 

THE BRITISH AND 

IRISH HEAD COACH, 

WARREN GATLAND, 

NAMED A 37-MAN 

SQUAD TO TOUR 

SOUTH AFRICA FOR 

THE 2021 CASTLE 

LAGER LIONS 

SERIES. 

Included in his 37-man squad 

were eight Irish players and 

four from Leinster Rugby – Jack 

Conan, Tadhg Furlong, Robbie 

Henshaw and Andrew Porter. 

Furlong and Henshaw were part of 

the last squad in New Zealand, but 

for Conan and Porter this will be a 

completely new experience. 

Of course, Leinster Rugby assistant 

coach Robin McBryde is also part of the 

coaching team selected by Gatland so 

the four players will have at least one 

familiar face to welcome them when the 

squad meets up for the first time. 

Congratulations from all in Leinster Rugby 

to all five! 

Robin McBryde 

McBryde joined Leinster Rugby 

after his duties with Wales were 

complete at the 2019 Rugby 

World Cup. 

He is a former Llanelli and later Scarlets 

hooker who played over 250 games for 

his region. In an 11-year international 

career he was capped 37 times by 

Wales, was a British and Irish Lion himself 

in 2001 and played in the 2003 Rugby 

World Cup. 

Since retiring in 2005, McBryde has 

immersed himself in coaching initially with 

Scarlets and then with Wales as forwards 

coach to the senior national squad. Since 

joining Leinster Rugby, the club has won 

two Guinness PRO14 titles. 

He was appointed Forwards Coach of 

the British and Irish Lions in April 2021. 

Jack Conan 

Wicklow native Jack Conan 

started out his rugby journey 

with Greystones RFC before 

representing Old Belvedere in the 

AIL. 

He attended St. Gerard’s School in Bray 

and made his Leinster Rugby senior debut 

in a man-of-the-match and try-scoring 

performance away to Cardiff Blues in 

February 2014. 

His Ireland debut came at blindside 

flanker in a Rugby World Cup warm-up 

game against Scotland in August 2015 

and he has since pulled on the green of 

Ireland a further 19 times. 

Most recently he returned from injury to 

play a leading role for Ireland in their 

win against England in the Guinness Six 

Nations, won his 100th cap for Leinster 

and won his fourth Guinness PRO14 title. 

DOB: 29 July 1992 

Birthplace: Wicklow 

Height: 1.93m (6’ 4”) 

Weight: 114kg (17st 11lbs) 

Position: Back Row 

Club: Old Belvedere RFC 

Honours: Ireland (20 caps and 7 tries) and 

Leinster Rugby (103 caps and 22 tries) 


Tadhg Furlong 

Having come through the Leinster 

Youths system with New Ross and 

representing the South-East Area 

in the Shane Horgan Cup, Tadhg 

Furlong made his Leinster debut 

in 2013 and has so far made 112 

appearances for the province. 

The Wexford native made his European 

debut off the bench a year later against 

Wasps but it would be January 2016 

before he would make his first start in the 

Heineken Champions Cup against Bath in 

the RDS Arena. 

He made his debut for Ireland in August 

2015 in a World Cup warm up match 

against Wales and has gone on to 

represent his country on 49 occasions. 

He has six caps for the British and Irish 

Lions from the 2017 tour to New Zealand 

including caps in all three tests. 

DOB: 14 November 1992 

Birthplace: Wexford 

Height: 1.85m (6’ 1”) 

Weight: 123kg (19st 5 lbs) 

Position: Tighthead Prop 

Club: New Ross RFC/Clontarf FC 



Robbie Henshaw 

Westmeath man Robbie Henshaw 

joined Leinster Rugby in the 

summer of 2016 and has since 

represented Leinster on 56 

occasions scoring 10 tries so far. 

In his time with Leinster Rugby he has won 

a Heineken Champions Cup and four 

Guinness PRO14 titles. 

The six-foot-three centre has represented 

Ireland on 52 occasions since his debut 

in June 2013 against the United States. 

He started all five of Ireland’s games in 

the 2021 Guinness Six Nations. 

Like Furlong, Henshaw was also named 

in the 2017 Lions squad to tour New 

Zealand and while he would be capped 

on four occasions on tour he had to 

return home early with a significant 

pectoral muscle injury. 

DOB: 12 June 1993 

Birthplace: Athlone 

Height: 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


Position: Centre 

Club: Buccaneers RFC 



Andrew Porter 

Andrew Porter started his rugby 

journey with the minis in Old 

Wesley and has since gone on 

to represent Leinster Rugby and 

Ireland with distinction. 

He went to school in St. Andrew’s 

College, and since his Leinster debut 

in September 2016, has made 75 

appearances for his home club scoring 

10 tries. 

Porter started out with Leinster as a 

loosehead prop but in May 2017, he 

made his first appearance as a tighthead 

prop off the bench against Ulster Rugby. 

A few months later he came off the bench 

to make his Irish debut away to the USA 

also with the number 18 on his back. 

He started his first game for Leinster 

Rugby as a tighthead away to the 

Southern Kings in September 2017 and 

has since become an ever present in the 

blue and green on the right hand side of 

the front row. 

DOB: 16 January 1996 

Birthplace: Dublin 

Height: 1.84m (6’ 1”) 


Position: Prop 

Club: UCD RFC 

Honours: Ireland (37 caps and 1 try) and 



FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION ON 

PRO14.RUGBY 

YOUR GUINNESS 

PRO14 HOME 

LATEST NEWS, LIVE MATCH 

CENTRES, STATS & MORE 

VISIT NOW 

WWW.PRO14.RUGBY

Speaking at the announcement 

of his squad Gatland said, “We 

believe we’ve picked a squad 

capable of winning a Test series in 

South Africa. 

“Selecting a Lions squad is never easy 

and, in many ways, this has been the 

most challenging selection I have been 

involved in. Over the course of the last 

three weeks the coaches and I have 

rigorously debated each position. We 

saw some outstanding performances in 

the recent Six Nations, so competition 

for places has been tough with some 

incredibly tight calls to make. 

“However, we are very happy with 

the squad we have assembled and 

look forward to meeting up in Jersey 

in just over a month’s time to start our 

preparation to take on the World 

Champions. We’ve left out some very 

talented players which gives an indication 

to the strength of this squad and we know 

how important that stand-by list will be. 

“Being selected for a Lions Tour is the 

greatest honour for a British and Irish 

player and I congratulate everyone 

named today.” 

BACKS (16): 

Josh Adams 

(CARDIFF RUGBY, WALES) – WING 

Bundee Aki 

(CONNACHT RUGBY, IRELAND) – CENTRE 

Dan Biggar 

(NORTHAMPTON SAINTS, WALES) – FLY-HALF #821 

Elliot Daly 

(SARACENS, ENGLAND) – CENTRE #822 

Gareth Davies 

(SCARLETS, WALES) – SCRUM-HALF 

Owen Farrell 

(SARACENS, ENGLAND) – FLY-HALF #780 

Chris Harris 

(GLOUCESTER RUGBY, SCOTLAND) – CENTRE 


(LEINSTER RUGBY, IRELAND) – CENTRE #824 

Stuart Hogg 

(EXETER CHIEFS, SCOTLAND) – FULL-BACK #783 

Conor Murray 

(MUNSTER RUGBY, IRELAND) – SCRUM-HALF #790 

Ali Price 

(GLASGOW WARRIORS, SCOTLAND) – SCRUM- 

HALF 

Louis Rees-Zammit 

(GLOUCESTER RUGBY, WALES) – WING 

Finn Russell 

(RACING 92, SCOTLAND) – FLY-HALF #835 

Duhan van der Merwe 

(EDINBURGH RUGBY, SCOTLAND) – WING 

Anthony Watson 

(BATH RUGBY, ENGLAND) – WING #816 

Liam Williams 

(SCARLETS, WALES) – FULL-BACK #833 

FORWARDS (21): 

Tadhg Beirne 

(MUNSTER RUGBY, IRELAND) – SECOND ROW 

Jack Conan 

(LEINSTER RUGBY, IRELAND) – BACK ROW 

Luke Cowan-Dickie 

(EXETER CHIEFS, ENGLAND) – HOOKER 

Tom Curry 

(SALE SHARKS, ENGLAND) – BACK ROW 

Zander Fagerson 

(GLASGOW WARRIORS, SCOTLAND) – PROP 

Taulupe Faletau 

(BATH RUGBY, WALES) – BACK ROW #779 

Tadhg Furlong 

(LEINSTER RUGBY, IRELAND) – PROP #818 

Jamie George 

(SARACENS, ENGLAND) – HOOKER #819 

Iain Henderson 

(ULSTER RUGBY, IRELAND) – SECOND ROW #808 

Jonny Hill 

(EXETER CHIEFS, ENGLAND) – SECOND ROW 

Maro Itoje 

(SARACENS, ENGLAND) – SECOND ROW #825 

Alun Wyn Jones 

(OSPREYS, WALES) (CAPTAIN) – SECOND ROW #761 

Wyn Jones 

(SCARLETS, WALES) – PROP 

Courtney Lawes 

(NORTHAMPTON SAINTS, ENGLAND) – 

SECOND ROW #826 

Ken Owens 

(SCARLETS, WALES) – HOOKER #829 

Andrew Porter 

(LEINSTER RUGBY, IRELAND) – PROP 

Sam Simmonds 

(EXETER CHIEFS, ENGLAND) – BACK ROW 

Rory Sutherland 

(EDINBURGH RUGBY, SCOTLAND) – PROP 

Justin Tipuric 

(OSPREYS, WALES) – BACK ROW #786 

Mako Vunipola 

(SARACENS, ENGLAND) – PROP #787 

Hamish Watson 

(EDINBURGH RUGBY, SCOTLAND) – BACK ROW 


EVERY FIXTURE 

EVERY TRY 

EVERY TACKLE 

ALL IN 

ONE APP



Leo 

Kids 

the Lion's 

Corner 

spot the 

differences 

ANAGRAMS 

Can you un-jumble 

the names of these 

academy players? 

A MINT 

RULER 

CHIME ALL 

MINE 

GUESS 

WHO? 

Can you name these 

three academy 

players? 

ANSWERS 

ANAGRAMS 

Liam Turner 

Michael Milne 

GUESS WHO? 

Max O’Reilly 

John McKee 

Thomas Clarkson 


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QUEST10NS 

with... 

Joe McCarthy 

1. What do you remember about your first 

day at Leinster Rugby? 

Running a ‘Bronco’ fitness test for Dave Fagan. 

Bleak! 

2. What has been your most memorable moment 

playing with Leinster Rugby? 

This last year has been difficult with the impact of 

Covid-19 on games and competitions but winning 

the U-19 Interpros is definitely a highlight. 

3. If you had to pick a teammate to be CEO of 

Leinster Rugby, who would it be? And why? 

Martin Moloney would run a tight ship! 

4. What piece of advice would you give to 

your 18-year-old self now? 

Just make sure to remember to always enjoy 

every session I take part in and game I play. 

5. What is a clever life-hack that you use? 

Perfecting the power-nap! Very useful! 

6. Who were your top five artists on 

Spotify Wrapped 2020? 

Post Malone, Drake, Juice WRLD, Gaullin, 50 

Cent. 

7. What's the best nickname you've heard? 

And what's the origin? 

Meatball! I am still unsure to this day of its origin 

just glad it’s not mine. And no… I’m not giving 

the name of the player! 

8. What fictional TV/book character would 

you most like to meet in real life? 

Ron Burgundy 

9. If you could know the absolute truth to any 

question, what would you want to know? 

Have aliens visited earth? 

10. What have you been watching on 

Netflix/TV lately? 

The Queen’s Gambit. 


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



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 


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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 7+7 2 10 5+3 2 10 1+3 - - 10+14 5 25 8+9 5 25 1+4 - - 8 IR 3 

MICHAEL BENT 1212 1 DEC 12 12+4 3 15 11+2 3 15 1+1 - - 91+65 7 35 86+41 7 35 5+23 - - 4 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 4+8 2 10 3+5 2 10 0+2 - - 18+51 10 50 17+39 9 45 0+11 1 5 6 IR 4 

HARRY BYRNE 1280 28 SEP 19 11+2 3 96 10+1 3 91 0+1 - 5 14+9 6 154 13+8 6 149 0+1 - 5 2 - 

ROSS BYRNE 1236 4 SEP 15 9+3 1 122 5+2 - 57 3+1 1 55 67+34 6 640 54+18 2 451 12+16 4 179 2 IR 13 

THOMAS 

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

CLARKSON 

JACK CONAN 1223 20 FEB 14 8+3 1 5 5+3 1 5 2 - - 80+24 22 110 58+14 15 75 21+10 7 35 4 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+5 1 5 4+4 1 5 - - - 119+75 42 210 75+53 25 125 43+19 16 80 6 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 12+4 3 15 10+2 3 15 1+1 - - 40+52 5 25 37+45 5 25 2+6 - - 7 - 

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 12+6 1 5 9+4 - - 2+1 - - 62+17 11 55 45+10 6 30 16+6 4 20 1 AU 39 

CORMAC FOLEY 1299 24 APR 21 0+1 - - - - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - - 

CIARAN FRAWLEY 1265 17 FEB 18 8+1 1 19 6 - 14 1+1 1 5 17+18 4 143 15+14 3 132 1+4 1 11 5 - 

TADHG FURLONG 1220 1 NOV 13 3+2 1 5 1+1 - - 2 1 5 72+41 8 40 41+32 3 15 31+8 5 25 2 IR 49 

JAMISON GIBSON- 

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 

PARK 

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

DAVID HAWKSHAW 1290 2 NOV 20 0+8 1 14 0+7 1 11 - - - 0+8 1 14 0+7 1 11 - - - 4 - 

CIAN HEALY 1142 5 MAY 07 6+3 1 5 3+2 - - 3+1 1 5 154+75 26 130 88+48 12 60 64+26 13 65 6 IR 109 

ROBBIE HENSHAW 1251 8 OCT 16 8 1 5 4 1 5 4 - - 55+1 10 50 24 4 20 31+1 6 30 5 IR 52 

DAVE KEARNEY 1158 16 MAY 09 18+1 10 50 14 8 40 2+1 2 10 146+22 51 255 118+15 44 220 25+6 7 35 6 IR 19 

HUGO KEENAN 1253 5 NOV 16 10 3 15 5 - - 4 - - 25+3 4 20 19+3 1 5 5 - - 1 IR 11 

CIAN KELLEHER 1234 16 MAY 15 10+1 7 35 9 6 30 0+1 - - 16+10 12 60 15+9 11 55 0+1 - - 1 - 

RONAN KELLEHER 1277 22 FEB 19 5+2 - - 2+1 - - 3+1 - - 18+4 9 45 12+2 8 40 6+2 1 5 10 IR 11 

JORDAN LARMOUR 1258 2 SEP 17 8+1 4 20 5 2 10 2 2 10 50+9 17 85 28+5 12 60 21+3 5 25 4 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 5 4 20 2 3 15 2 1 5 52 34 170 33 25 125 18 9 45 3 IR 6 

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

LUKE MCGRATH 1206 5 MAY 12 17+4 7 35 13+3 7 35 3+1 - - 100+48 38 190 66+42 30 150 33+6 8 40 5 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 

MARTIN MOLONEY 1300 24 APR 21 0+1 - - - - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - - 

ROSS MOLONY 1233 20 FEB 15 11+8 1 5 9+6 - - 0+2 - - 63+52 4 20 59+37 3 15 2+15 - - 1 - 

JOSH MURPHY 1261 3 NOV 17 12+2 3 15 9+2 2 10 1 1 5 40+7 5 25 37+6 4 20 1+1 1 5 7 - 

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+5 - - 1+4 - - - - - 2+9 1 5 2+8 1 5 - - - 10 - 

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+2 2 10 3+1 2 10 - - - 4+4 3 15 4+3 3 15 - - - 4 - 

RORY O'LOUGHLIN 1248 2 SEP 16 11+2 - - 9 - - 1+1 - - 62+22 21 105 54+13 18 90 7+8 3 15 27 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 1+9 - 2 0+8 - 2 0+1 - - 3+27 1 7 2+24 1 7 0+3 - - 14 - 

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 12+1 9 45 10+1 9 45 - - - 22+5 15 75 20+5 15 75 - - - 6 - 

ANDREW PORTER 1246 2 SEP 16 6+4 1 5 3+1 - - 1+3 - - 28+48 11 55 21+29 7 35 5+19 3 15 1 IR 37 

GARRY RINGROSE 1237 12 SEP 15 7 1 7 3 1 7 2 - - 81+2 26 132 47+1 15 77 32+1 11 55 7 IR 34 

RHYS RUDDOCK 1167 6 DEC 09 14+1 1 5 10+1 1 5 4 - - 143+45 11 55 106+31 9 45 36+12 2 10 4 IR 27 

JAMES RYAN 1259 2 SEP 17 7+1 1 5 4 1 5 2+1 - - 41+6 3 15 18+1 1 5 22+5 2 10 7 IR 35 

JOHNNY SEXTON 1127 27 JAN 06 5+1 - 12 4+1 - 10 1 - 2 148+25 26 1507 87+19 13 833 59+6 12 643 13 IR 99 

DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 3+9 6 30 2+8 6 30 - - - 3+9 6 30 2+8 6 30 - - - 4 - 

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 11+4 - - 8+4 - - 3 - - 206+58 4 20 140+40 4 20 63+18 - - 47 IR 70 

JAMES TRACY 1211 4 NOV 12 11+7 6 30 9+4 5 25 1+3 - - 57+71 14 70 49+43 12 60 7+28 1 5 1 IR 6 

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

JOSH VAN DER FLIER 1228 11 OCT 14 9+2 2 10 5+1 1 5 4 1 5 73+22 11 55 43+15 7 35 30+6 4 20 5 IR 31 


ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14 EPCR OVERALL 

KICKING 

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 87.50% 30 19 - 18 7 - 7 12 - 191 75 1 144 50 1 42 25 - 346 76.88% 

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

DAVID HAWKSHAW 66.67% 3 1 - 3 - - - - - 3 1 - 3 - - - - - 6 66.67% 

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 33.33% 1 - - 1 - - - - - 1 - - 1 - - - - - 3 33.33% 

JOHNNY SEXTON 62.50% 3 2 - 2 2 - 1 - - 234 292 11 120 169 7 107 119 4 660 79.70% 




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The third round of the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup is upon 

us and after a shaky start to the competition for us, coupled 

with a disappointing exit from Europe, we got ourselves 

back on track with a crushing 50-21 victory over Connacht. 

This week sees us welcome Ulster 

to the RDS Arena for what is sure 

to be another highly entertaining 

game of rugby. Both sides are 

coming into this fixture having 

played two games apiece, 

however whereas we have won 

one and lost one, our visitors have 

lost both of theirs so there is no 

doubt they will be looking to get 

their form up and running. 

In the Guinness PRO14, we secured 

victory both home and away over Ulster 

with the first of these victories coming on 

January 8 in the RDS where we ran 

out winners on a scoreline of 24-12 

whilst the return fixture in Kingspan 

on March 6 saw us secure the 

second of our victories on a scoreline 

of 38-19. 

We’ve just noticed that the trend 

seemed to be whatever our 

opponents scored we doubled it for 

good measure, however if this new 

competition has shown us anything 

after only two rounds, it’s to take 

nothing for granted so let’s go and 

look to secure the win first, and then 

look to add the icing on the cake 

afterwards if possible. 

The game last week against 

Connacht from the first whistle took 

a lot of us by surprise given how 

quickly Connacht shot out of the blocks, 

however our grit and determination 

slowly but surely brought us back into the 

game before some memorable displays 

of both individual and team skill saw us 

run out comfortable winners on what 

looked to be a lovely evening for a game 

of rugby in Galway (we can’t wait to be 

back in the stands cheering on a game 

again soon). 

Once again, as is always the case 

when these two face off, this has all the 

hallmarks of a fantastic game in store 

Leinster 

Ulster 

53 Points Scored 34 

8 Tries Scored 5 

9 Offloads 11 

623 Metres Gained 713 

36 Defenders Beaten 49 

8 Clean Breaks 12 

8 Points Conceded 64 

6 Tries Conceded 10 

317 Tackles Made 337 

87% Tackle Success 87% 

13 Turnovers Won 11 

42 Total Tackles Missed 45 

29 Turnovers Lost 32 

Hugo Keenan (15) Leading Points Scorer Michael Lowry (7) 

Hugo Keenan (3) Tries Scored Rob Herring (1) 

Dave Kearney (90) Metres Gained Jacob Stockdale (107) 

Scott Penny (21) Number of Tackles Andrew Warwick (24) 

Dave Kearney Tackle Success John Cooney 

Josh van Der Flier (2) Turnovers Won Marcus Rea (3) 

with so many quality players looking to 

ensure they remain front and centre for 

the picking order amongst the coaching 

staff whilst other teammates, who have 

been selected for the upcoming Lions 

tour, will look to further prove that they 

are deserving of their place in this 

illustrious 37-man squad. 

There is no doubt, after the 

disappointment of Europe, that the new 

focus is the Rainbow Cup final so plenty 

of opportunities for players both regular 

and up-and-coming to ensure they do 

what they can to put themselves in 

the selection thoughts of Leo and co. 

All of us on the OLSC committee 

are mindful of the fact that we are 

all still unable to attend games and 

therefore by putting together some 

material for you to peruse over, we 

hope it keeps you in the rugby mind 

frame as the season rolls along! 

As always we’re thankful for the 

support we get from Leinster Rugby 

as a whole as well as yourselves 

and we encourage you to continue 

to show your support for the team 

through social media and the posts 

on our pages. 

Yours in rugby, 

OLSC Committee 


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ONE FROM 

The Vaults 

Ulster 10 Leinster 28 

Guinness PRO14 | Aviva Stadium | 29 August 2020 | Ref: George Clancy 

Ahead of the 2019/20 Guinness PRO14 

play-offs, Leinster Rugby completed 

their regular season with a 28-10 

victory over Ulster Rugby at Aviva 

Stadium. 

Captaining Leinster for the first time in a 

competitive game, Ed Byrne led by example 

with an early try and Ross Byrne kicked the 

other points for a 13-0 half-time lead. 

The two provinces were already assured of 

their semi-final places, and Ulster battled back 

with a Rob Herring maul try to make it 16-7. 

John Cooney’s 67th-minute penalty reduced the 

deficit further but Leo Cullen’s men produced 

a clinical two-try finish as replacements Scott 

Penny and Harry Byrne both crossed during 

the closing eight minutes. 

The ‘away’ team were quickest out of the 

blocks, eventual man-of-the-match Ciaran 

Frawley managing to scramble onto his own 

grubber kick before prop Byrne, with solid 

support from Max Deegan and Will Connors, 

burrowed over for a second-minute converted 

score. 

Costly penalties and turnovers hampered 

Ulster’s progress, although a strong Jacob 

Stockdale run sparked some quicker ball. Yet, 

entering the second quarter, Leinster were 

already 13 points up after out-half Ross Byrne 

had landed two well-struck penalties. 

A fine steal by Ross Molony foiled a five-metre 

lineout for Ulster, whose talismanic scrum half 

Cooney also endured a couple of frustrating 

errors. The kicking battle was even enough, 

but Leinster were leaving the physical imprint 

with Connors driving Ian Madigan backwards 

and Josh Murphy’s excellent maul defence 

thwarting a late Ulster attack. 

Successive scrum penalties, either side of the 

interval, kept Leinster on course with Byrne 

opening the second half with three more points. 

Ulster could not profit from a Cooney break, 

ULSTER: 

Jacob Stockdale; Matt 

Faddes, James Hume, 

Stuart McCloskey 

(David Shanahan 73), 

Rob Lyttle; Ian Madigan 

(Bill Johnston 62), John 

Cooney; Eric O’Sullivan 

(Kyle McCall 70), Rob 

Herring (John Andrew 

62), Tom O’Toole 

(Marty Moore 54); Sam 

Carter, Kieran Treadwell 

(David O’Connor 54); 

Matthew Rea, Jordi 

Murphy (Nick Timoney 

62), Marcell Coetzee. 

LEINSTER: 

Rob Kearney; 

Hugo Keenan, Rory 

O’Loughlin, Ciarán 

Frawley (Jimmy O’Brien 

73), Cian Kelleher; Ross 

Byrne (Harry Byrne 62), 

Jamison Gibson-Park 

(Rowan Osborne 70); 

Ed Byrne (Michael Milne 

62), Seán Cronin (James 

Tracy 51), Michael Bent 

(Thomas Clarkson 57); 

Ross Molony, Devin 

Toner; Josh Murphy 

(Rhys Ruddock 54), Will 

Connors (Scott Penny 

70), Max Deegan. 

set up by an otherwise well-marshalled Marcell 

Coetzee. 

Things clicked for Ulster in the 53rd minute, 

a penalty kicked to the corner and a wellexecuted 

catch and drive seeing hooker 

Herring power over for Cooney to convert. 

Responding to injuries picked up by Stockdale 

and Jordi Murphy, Ulster’s bench drove on 

their comeback bid, the faster ruck ball and 

improved angles of running leading to a 

Cooney three-pointer for 16-10. 

Harry Byrne steered Leinster home though. The 

then 21--year-old’s inviting cross-field kick found 

open territory and the fresh-legged Penny 

finished well past Louis Ludik. 

Cooney did all the hard work in running in a 

terrific intercept try from 65 metres out – only 

to be ruled offside on the TMO review – and 

it was left to the younger Byrne to crash over 

from a few metres out in the 77th minute, 

adding the conversion himself for an 18-point 

winning margin. 

It was a memorable night for Leinster Academy 

tighthead Tom Clarkson who came on to make 

his senior debut, on the hour mark. 



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Sarah 

Quinlan 

Age: 8 

Class & School: 

First Class, Carysfort National School, 

Blackrock 

Hobbies & Interests: 

Reading, rugby, GAA, gymnastics 

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Age: 9 

Class & School: 

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Favourite Player: 

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Where are 

they now? 

By Des Berry 

JAMES 

DOWNEY 

THEN: JAMES DOWNEY PLAYED ONE SEASON FOR 

LEINSTER, TURNING OUT NINE TIMES FOR GARY ELLA 

IN 2003/04 BEFORE MOVING ON TO A SOLID CAREER 

AT SEVEN CLUBS, THE HIGHLIGHT OF WHICH WAS AN 

IRELAND CAP AGAINST CANADA IN 2013. 

NOW: JAMES IS A PLAYER MANAGER WITH SPORTS 

MANAGEMENT COMPANY ESPORTIF AND LIVES WITH 

HIS PARTNER KATE IN PORTMARNOCK. 

It is a story often told about how 

Leinster Rugby used the protective 

shell of the half-time dressingroom 

to bring about ‘the greatest 

comeback’ in the 2011 Heineken 

Cup final. 

In the immediate aftermath, Brian 

O’Driscoll loaded the ‘kudos’ onto 

Jonathan Sexton, while the forwards 

were more inclined to heap praise on 

Greg Feek’s ability to adapt to what was 

happening to the Leinster scrum. 

Whatever about the truth of the matter, 

what about the other side of the story, at 

the other side of the wall. 

Northampton were taking a moment 

to inhale the audacity of having wiped 

the Millennium Stadium’s surface with 

Leinster, drilling them into a 16-point 

(22-6) hole. 

And there was a Dubliner right there in 

the middle of it all. Leinster old boy James 

Downey was four seasons into his stay at 

the Saints. 

Did the Saints think they had it won? 

Were they undone by their own faulty 

belief system? 

“We never thought we were home and 

hosed. We knew the calibre of Leinster. 

We knew they were going to hit back. 

“We were pretty relaxed. I remember just 

saying, ‘We need to get the next score’,” 

James recalled. 


www.leinsterrugby.ie | 65 | From The Ground Up 

“I THOUGHT I 

WAS THE MOST 

PREPARED PERSON 

TO FINISH UNTIL I 

SAT DOWN IN AN 

OFFICE IN A SUIT. 

I FOUND THAT SO 

HARD.”

“In the second-half, we just had to 

stem the tide. We needed to stop the 

momentum, settle down, kick three points. 

We had to weather the storm. But, the 

storm kept blowing. 

“It was just one thing after another. We 

were on the ropes taking punches until 

we were on the floor.” 

He chose to leave that memory behind 

a long time ago because moving on 

is partly about not looking over your 

shoulder. 

“During lockdown, they have been 

showing replays of that final all the time 

on Sky Sports. 

“I won’t lie. I have never watched the 

game back. I have no interest in that, 

whatsoever,” he admits. 

Downey was, literally, at the centre of the 

argument, in teaming up with Jon Clarke 

to subdue and stress the vaunted pair of 

Gordon D’Arcy and Brian O’Driscoll. 

There was a time when the Drumcondra 

man was vying for match minutes with 

D’Arcy and O’Driscoll. 

In 2003, it came on the back of 

Downey’s form for Clontarf in the All- 

Ireland League, new coach Phil Werahiko 

adding to the squad and to the centre’s 

confidence. 

‘Tarf got on a roll that only stopped when 

they were beaten 18-8 by Ballymena in 

the All-Ireland League final. 

The profile the AIL offered was high 

enough to make Downey a person of 

interest to Leinster coach Matt Williams 

and discussions took place 

“I remember Ken Ging, the Leinster 

Manager, rang me and asked me to 

come into training towards the end of that 

season,” says James. 

“At the time, I had talked to Conor 

O’Shea at London Irish and there was 

a loose agreement made to move to 

London. 

“But, I talked to Matt Williams and I 

wanted to stay home and play for my 

province. A contract was verbally agreed 

for the next season. 

“When Matt left, I fell between two 

stools, going from having two offers to 

none.” 

The best Downey could do was to secure 

a training contract for 2003/04, his only 

season to play for Leinster. 

“It was a couple of hundred quid-a-week. 

All the young lads were praying for win 

bonuses and match fees, sitting on the 

bench counting the money in your head 

as you waited for a chance to play. 

“They were different times, very different.” 

It was a World Cup season. While 

the Ireland headliners were away, the 

youngsters could play. 

Downey made his Leinster debut as a 

79th-minute replacement against Cardiff 

Blues in October 2003. 

From there, there were three straight starts 

in the same month against Connacht, 

Border Reivers and Glasgow. That was 

as good as it got, the remaining five caps 

coming off the bench. 

“It was the year Gordon D’Arcy moved 

to centre because there was a shortage 

there with just Dave Quinlan, Gary 

Brown and myself. Brian O’Driscoll and 

Shane Horgan were at the World Cup. 

“I do remember my first start in an 

interpro against Connacht. That meant 

a lot. It is just the crowds in Donnybrook 

weren’t anything like they are now at the 

RDS. 

“I was very nervous that day. What made 

it slightly easier was the fact I knew some 

of the Connacht guys because I had 

played against them in the AIL.” 

By the conclusion of the month, Downey 

had racked up three starts, going the full 

80 minutes twice and 68 minutes once. 

“I felt comfortable in that environment 

and with those players. It was a case of 

‘stay and see what happens’ or move for 

more opportunities to play. 

“You always wanted to wear that blue 

and I loved wearing it. I would have 

loved to have been a one-club man, 

stayed there my whole career. But, that 

wasn’t realistic. 

“I have a personality where I wouldn’t 

have been happy within myself to have 

stayed and sat on the bench. I was 

conflicted. 

“Should I have been more patient? Was 

I too impulsive? In the end, it came back 

to one thing. I needed to move to play,” 

he says. 

“It took me a while to come to that 

decision. Look, I don’t think Leinster were 

too worried about losing me.” 

It led to the first of many moves to 

Connacht (2004-2006), Munster 

(2006), Calvisano (2006-2007), 

Northampton Saints (2007-2012), 

Munster (2012-2014), Glasgow Warriors 

(2014-2015) and Wasps (2015-2016). 

In 2006, Connacht were struggling in the 

Celtic League when Downey’s contract 

was not renewed after two seasons. 

“I was thinking if the club that is near rock 

bottom of the league doesn’t want me, 

where am I going to go?” 

He salvaged a dying career by calling 

his old Ireland U-19 coach Declan 

Kidney and offering to train-for-free at 

Munster. 

It provided enough playing experience 

from three appearances to make his way 

to Italy where he got back his love for the 

game with 18 caps for Calvisano. 

Even so, he was contemplating retirement 

when the chance came along to move to 

Northampton in 2007. 

“David Quinlan, my Leinster teammate, 

was there. He had to retire with a neck 

injury and he was kind enough to 

recommend me. 

“When I went to Northampton, I clicked 

with the coaches Jim Mallinder, Dorian 

West and Paul Grayson straight away,” 

he states. 

“I loved it there, from winning promotion 

out of the chammpionship to playing 

week-in, week-out in the Premiership and 

in the Heineken Cup.” 


It lasted five years. Why leave? 

“I could have stayed. I got to the stage 

where I wanted to give it a shot to play 

for Ireland. Munster came in. And that 

was it.” 

The lure of an Ireland cap grew stronger 

over time and three appearances for 

the Irish Wolfhounds further fed the 

temptation to return home. 

“When I came back in 2012, I got 

one cap against Canada on the 2013 

summer tour. That was unbelievable. That 

was, to me, the ultimate,” declares James. 

“It reinforced the journey I had been on, 

showing the resilience to keep going. 

It made the decision to come back, the 

right decision.” 

When the end came, Downey thought he 

was ready for a career move. He wasn’t. 

One day a week in an insurance 

company in his last year of playing at 

Wasps and a year in an investment firm 

in London told Downey all he needed to 

know about ‘the office’. 

“I thought I was the most prepared 

person to finish until I sat down in an 

office in a suit. I found that so hard.” 

He fell into the trap of doing what he 

thought he should do, not what he loved 

to do. He wasn’t going to make that 

mistake again. 

When Downey really thought about his 

future, it all came back to the game 

itself. He sought advice from long-time 

sports consultant Dave McHugh and, 

eventually, an opening came for a 

Player Manager, or rugby agent, in 

sports management company Esportif 

in 2018. 

“Personally, my experiences as a 

professional player are huge for my 

work,” he shares. 

“When players are going through a bad 

time or they need to resolve a problem 

with a coach or they are thinking of 

moving clubs, I know what it is like. I have 

been there. 

“I can give my advice, oftentimes, from 

personal experience, and I like to think 

players can trust that. 

“This job is all about trust and building 

relationships. I have a widespread list of 

contacts from my playing days. I like to 

think I have a good name in the game. I 

really do.” 

“I can talk to a player and empathise 

with what they are going through. I had 

my share of injuries, selection issues and 

setbacks. 

“It is crucial to be able to show how you 

have been in their boots and, maybe, 

how you can help them make the best of 

their careers.” 

It all comes back to making a difference. 

“I love what I do. I absolutely do.” 


BY DAN WALLACE 

Welcome to another edition 

of Referees Corner. Thanks for 

all the great feedback on our 

interview with Martin Dunne of 

CARFU Referee Society. 

The Leinster Rugby Referees held their 

AGM towards the end of April. David 

Robb of Railway Union RFC has been 

returned as President of the Association 

for another year. 

The overall committee remains the same 

with one exception - Helen O’Reilly has 

stepped down as Junior Vice President 

and has been replaced by Tom Touhy, 

former Honorary Secretary. 

Gordon Condell - Senior Vice President, 

Barry Armstrong - Honorary Secretary, 

Keith Spendlove - Honorary Treasurer, 

Peter Donnelly and Denis Collins - Former 

Referees, and Rose Alice Murphy and 

Grahame Douglas - Active Referees are 

all also returned due to non-rugby activity 

during the Covid-19 Pandemic. 

Tom Colton, John Dunne, Joe Mc Dermot, 

Paddy Curran and Kevin McDermot have 

all been returned as area representatives. 

Law Trials 

Three innovative law variations 

have been approved by World 

Rugby for use in the Guinness 

PRO14 Rainbow Cup as you will 

have seen from previous rounds – 

red card replacements, captain’s 

challenge, and goal-line dropouts. 

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. 

LAW VARIATION TRIALS EXPLAINED: 

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 

replacements. 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. 

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. 

TMOs 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 drop goal attempt will 

still result in a 22-metre dropout 

for the defending team. 

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. 


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School of Excellence 

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The Bank of Ireland Leinster 

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back for its 23rd year and will be 

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Following the disappointment of last 

summer’s camp cancellation, we 

are looking at making this School of 

Excellence programme the biggest and 

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enjoyable manner in line with the latest 

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The first week of the Bank of Ireland 

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Note: Boys and Girls camps are 

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The Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby 

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LauraLynn 

LEINSTER RUGBY ANNOUNCE 

AS LATEST CHARITY PARTNER 

Dear Leinster Supporter, 

You’d like my son Alex, he’s brilliant. 

He’s a Leinster Supporter too. 

Like most children his age, he’s funny, loving, and he’s always smiling. 

But unlike most children, Alex has a life-limiting condition. 

He has microcephaly, meaning his head is smaller than it should be, which damaged his 

brain as it grew. He has severe cerebral palsy and scoliosis too. 

Alex is blind, but he can see light and dark. And while he can’t move himself, he does 

smile – a lot. 

Especially when he’s in LauraLynn. 

Alex’s favourite part of LauraLynn is the sensory room. It’s full of bright lights, soothing 

sounds and sensations. He’s transported to a magical world – his very own Wonderland. 

It wasn’t until Alex was a few days old that we found out he had a life-limiting 

condition. They didn’t believe he’d survive past the age of three. 

Alex is 11-years-old now and he’s proving everyone wrong. 

But he does need a lot more care than other children his age. I feed him through a tube in 

his stomach every two hours, 24 hours a day. I’m with Alex day and night. 

But when we go to LauraLynn, it’s as if the daily challenges just melt away. 

While the staff look after Alex and keep him entertained, I can take a little break for 

myself. On the opposite page, you can see a picture of Alex meeting some well-known 

figures during a visit to LauraLynn before lockdown. 

I use our time in LauraLynn to catch up with friends or go out for a meal. But mostly I 

just head upstairs to the family accommodation and get some much needed sleep. 

As you can probably imagine, the last year has been especially hard for both Alex and 

myself being isolated at home. 

I can’t tell you how much we’re looking forward to our next visit to LauraLynn. In the 

meantime, I know that thanks to supporters and donors like you, LauraLynn is there if 

we need them. 

I can tell you without a doubt that another child like Alex desperately needs LauraLynn. 

Thank you, 

Nicola 

Alex’s mum 


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KNOW? 

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adulthood because of a 

life-limiting illness. 

Close to 700 of these 

precious children need 

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need round the clock 

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on the child and family’s 

preference. 

LauraLynn is the only children’s 

hospice in the Republic of Ireland, 

providing palliative care to children 

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0-17 years) and their families from all 

across Ireland. 

The national service focuses on enhancing 

quality of life, which includes the physical 

comfort and wellbeing, as well as the 

emotional, social and spiritual aspects of 

care of the child and family; supporting them 

from the point of diagnosis to end of life, 

and throughout bereavement, with a range 

of nursing, practical, emotional and medical 

care. Services are provided free of charge to 

children and families across Ireland incl: 

• Short Breaks (Respite). 

• Symptom Management. 

• Family Support. 

• End-of-Life Care. 

• Bereavement Support. 

105 Families from across EVERY county in 

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Care can be availed of in our hospice in 

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For further details or to make a donation visit 

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(01) 2893151. 


KNOWING WHAT ADVICE TO TAKE 

IS ESSENTIAL IN THIS GAME. 

beauchamps.ie 

OFFICIAL LEGAL ADVISOR 

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

TO MAXIMISE YOUR SPORTS AND EXERCISE 

PERFORMANCE THROUGH NUTRITION 

Optimum Nutrition and Leinster Rugby have partnered to help share good nutrition tips throughout 

the season to help you achieve your performance goals. Here are some simple tips and things to 

remember to help maximise your performance and help you recover quickly to come back stronger. 

Protein Rich. 

Protein provides your muscles with 

the building blocks to repair & grow. 

Carb-Up. 

Carbohydrate foods are king as they 

power high intensity play. 

Fuel-Up. 

Consume the majority of your 

carbohydrates around training to 

support fuelling and recovery. 

Recover. 

Quality rest & nutrition between 

training sessions is the key to 

recovery. Remember to: 

Repair with protein, 

Refuel with carbohydrate, 

Rehydrate with fluid. 

Hydrate. 

Dehydration can lead to a drop in 

exercise intensity & can impact your 

decision making. Drink 2-3 litres of 

fluid each day to ensure hydration. 

Game Day. 

To fuel performance on the field, 

consume a large carbohydrate rich 

meal 2-3 hours before kick-off, i.e. 

chicken & pasta, turkey bolognaise 

wraps. 

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IN OPPOSITION 

Ulster Rugby 

Last Time Out 

Munster 38 Ulster 10 

Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup | Thomond Park | 7 May 2021 

COUNTRY 

IRELAND 

HOME GROUND(S) 

KINGSPAN STADIUM 

FOUNDED 

IT WAS A TOUGH GAME FOR ULSTER LAST FRIDAY EVENING, 

AS THEY WERE OVERPOWERED BY MUNSTER AT THOMOND 

PARK IN ROUND 2 OF THE GUINNESS PRO14 RAINBOW CUP. 

1879 

Ulster started brightly, first registering 

on the board after just two minutes. 

Tadhg Beirne was pinged for not 

rolling away and Michael Lowry 

obliged with the well-struck penalty. 

The home side started to make territory, 

benefiting from a couple of Ulster infringements 

in quick succession. Rory Scannell breached 

the Ulster defensive line to claim Munster’s first 

try, and JJ Hanrahan added the conversion. 

Munster continued to test Ulster, and eventually 

got a second score through Conor Murray 

picking up the ball off the back of the ruck to 

touch down in the left corner after a period of 

sustained pressure. Hanrahan was unable to 

make the conversion from the touch line. 

MUNSTER: 

Mike Haley; Andrew 

Conway, Dan Goggin 

(Damian de Allende 72), 

Rory Scannell, Shane 

Daly; JJ Hanrahan (Ben 

Healy 66), Conor Murray 

(Nick McCarthy 66); 

Dave Kilcoyne (Jeremy 

Loughman 55), Niall 

Scannell (Kevin O’Byrne 

59), John Ryan (Roman 

Salanoa 59); Fineen 

Wycherley (Jean Kleyn 

55), Tadhg Beirne; Peter 

O’Mahony, Chris Cloete 

(CJ Stander 55), Gavin 

Coombes. 

ULSTER: 

Jacob Stockdale; Rob 

Lyttle, Will Addison 

(James Hume 59), 

Stuart McCloskey, Ethan 

McIlroy; Michael Lowry 

(Angus Curtis 62), Alby 

Mathewson (David 

Shanahan h-t); Andrew 

Warwick (Callum Reid 

h-t), John Andrew (Rob 

Herring h-t), Tom O’Toole 

(Marty Moore h-t); Alan 

O’Connor, Iain Henderson 

(Sam Carter 67); Jordi 

Murphy, Marcus Rea, 

David McCann (Nick 

Timoney h-t). 

Words: ulsterrugby.com 

Ulster’s fortunes took a downward turn when 

Will Addison was shown red for a high hit 

on Shane Daly, and the hosts immediately 

benefited from the man advantage. Fullback 

Mike Haley found his way through 

for Munster’s third. Hanrahan fired over the 

conversion to put them 19-3 up at the break. 

The visitors rung in the changes for the second 

half. Marcus Rea was prominent through his 

excellent work at the breakdown and Ulster 

soon struck through skipper Iain Henderson 

after Ulster went on the charge with the maul 

and built the pressure. Lowry drilled over the 

tricky conversion. 

Munster got their bonus-point try in the 54th 

minute, Rory Scannell claiming a brace after 

making the intercept to run in under the posts. 

Hanrahan landed the easy conversion. 

The hosts struck again four minutes later, when 

JJ Hanrahan threw the dummy and slipped 

through Ulster’s defences to dot down. The 

out-half converted his score to put Munster 23 

points ahead. 

Ulster went back up to a full complement on 

61 minutes, after 20 minutes elapsed from Will 

Addison’s red card – James Hume coming on 

to replace him under the Rainbow Cup law 

variation. The Ulster men really dug in and 

enjoyed a spell of possession and territory but 

were just unable to convert it into points. 

In the dying minutes of the game, Munster 

dealt the final blow when they made a break 

for Andrew Conway to collect the cross-field 

kick and breach the whitewash for their sixth 

try, which went unconverted. 



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Squad | Positions 2020/21 

Head Coach | Dan McFarland 

Ulster head coach Dan McFarland, 

originally from Oxfordshire in 

England, has been with the club 

since joining from the Scottish 

national side in 2018. 

With Scotland, he had worked as an 

assistant coach under Gregor Townsend, 

a role he had previously held with 

Glasgow Warriors. 

His coaching career also begun in 

Ireland where he spent 15 years with 

western province Connacht as both a 

player and a coach. 

Now in his third season as Ulster head 

coach, he has led them to the knockout 

phases of both the Guinness PRO14 and 

Heineken Champions Cup. 

Captain | Iain Henderson 

FORWARDS 

JOHN ANDREW 

HOOKER 

SAM CARTER 

LOCK 

MARCELL COETZEE 

FLANKER 

IAIN HENDERSON 

LOCK 

ROB HERRING 

HOOKER 

GREG JONES 

LOCK 

ROSS KANE 

PROP 

ADAM MCBURNEY 

HOOKER 

KYLE MCCALL 

PROP 

DAVID MCCANN 

BACK ROW 

JACK MCGRATH 

PROP 

ERIC O’SULLIVAN 

PROP 

TOM O’TOOLE 

PROP 

MARCUS REA 

FLANKER 

MATTHEW REA 

FLANKER 

CALLUM REID 

PROP 

SEAN REIDY 

BACK ROW 

BRADLEY ROBERTS 

HOOKER 

NICK TIMONEY 

BACK ROW 

KIERAN TREADWELL 

LOCK 

ANDREW WARWICK 

PROP 

BACKS 

WILL ADDISON 

WINGER 

MATT FADDES 

UTILITY BACK 

CRAIG GILROY 

WINGER 

JAMES HUME 

WINGER 

BILL JOHNSTON 

FLY HALF 

MICHAEL LOWRY 

FLY HALF 

LOUIS LUDIK 

FULL BACK 

ROB LYTTLE 

FULL BACK 

IAN MADIGAN 

FLY HALF 

LUKE MARSHALL 

CENTRE 

ALBY MATHEWSON 

SCRUM HALF 

STUART MCCLOSKEY 

CENTRE 

Twenty-nine-year-old second row 

Iain Henderson was named as 

Ulster captain last season, taking 

the reins from the recently retired 

Rory Best. 

The 63-times capped Ireland international 

has spent his entire professional career 

with the province, amassing 119 

appearances across the back-five of the 

scrum since his debut in 2012. 

He was also a part of Ireland’s 2018 

Grand Slam and the Six Nations 

championship wins in 2014 and 2015. 

He was also recently called up to Warren 

Gatland’s British and Irish Lions squad for 

this summer’s tour of South Africa. 

GARETH MILASINOVICH 

PROP 

MARTY MOORE 

PROP 

JORDI MURPHY 

BACK ROW 

ALAN O’CONNOR 

LOCK 

DAVID O’CONNOR 

LOCK 

ROBERT 

BALOUCOUNE 

WINGER 

BILLY BURNS 

FLY HALF 

JOHN COONEY 

SCRUM HALF 

ANGUS CURTIS 

FLY HALF 

NATHAN DOAK 

SCRUM HALF 

ETHAN MCILROY 

FULL BACK 

STEWART MOORE 

CENTRE 

BEN MOXHAM 

CENTRE 

AARON SEXTON 

WINGER 

DAVID SHANAHAN 

SCRUM HALF 


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Naas RFC 

Jamie Osborne is just the latest 

example of how Naas RFC is 

keeping its promise to produce 

from within. 

This is the case at all levels of the club, 

flourishing from minis right up to the All- 

Ireland League and even as a feeder to 

the professional game. 

Nineteen-year-old Osborne comes with 

a point of difference, shared by Adam 

Byrne, in that his skills were not honed 

at a rugby-playing school like Naas old 

boys Jamie Heaslip, Geordan Murphy, 

James Tracy and Jimmy O’Brien at 

Newbridge or Tadhg Beirne and Jamie’s 

cousin Rowan Osborne at Clongowes 

Wood. 

He played his way through the game 

at Naas from the minis to the Leinster 

Academy, making his Guinness PRO14 

debut against Scarlets in late January. 

“Jamie played all his rugby in Naas RFC 

and learnt his trade with us. He is not 

long off the training pitches here,” says 

club President Barry Brophy. 

This connection from within gives kids 

the benefit of seeing how hard work and 

commitment can be the fuel for getting 

better. 

“The drive within all our minis and Juniors 

comes from the talk on the training 

pitches, about what match they watched 

on TV, how someone played and, of 

course, “I know him” or “His brother is on 

my team”. 

“It makes the dream more possible,” adds 

Brophy. 

More than that, Jamie is the latest in a 

line of Osbornes to start out at Naas, 

pushing the meaning of family in the local 

community. 

His dad Joe is not long finished playing 

with the Naas Over-35s, eventually 

bowing to father time in his late-40s. 

“Jamie is a prime example of tradition in 

the club,” adds Brophy. 

There had been rugby played at Naas in 

the 1880s. It was a garrison town with a 

lot of British soldiers. For one reason or 

another, the club was disbanded for a 

period of time. 

In 1922, Michael Conway, Laddy 

Mooney and Bill Osborne, a brother 

to Jamie’s great-grandfather Joe, reestablished 

Naas RFC. 

“In fact, Bill Osborne was Rowan’s greatgrandfather 

and his grandfather Michael 

Osborne, who played for the club, was 

President of Naas from 1969 to 1973. 

“Being a great all-round sportsman, 

Michael was instrumental in getting Kerry 

GAA legend Mick O’Dwyer to come and 

coach Kildare and was part of setting up 

the Kildare GAA Supporters Club to raise 

money for Kildare Gaa. 

“Rowan’s father John Osborne is also 

well known in equine circles having held 

many senior roles in the racing industry in 

Ireland. Another generation who played 

for Naas. 

“This is no different from any local rugby 

club. Each club has families who are third 

or fourth generation.” 

The seeds of Naas’ club success were 

sown before both Jamie (19) and Rowan 

(24) were even born. 

“Naas RFC has grown exponentially over 

the last 25 years due to the population 

increase in the nearby town and 

surrounding areas,” says Brophy. 

In this time, the club earned the move into 

the All-Ireland League in 2000 and they 

haven’t looked back, currently residing in 

Division 1B. 

“If we in Naas RFC want to go from 

Division 1B to 1A, which will put us in 

the top 10 clubs in Ireland, then there is 

only one way we can do this which is 

sustainable. 

“That is through homegrown players.” 

Success on the pitch has led to success in 

building the numbers all the way down 


the playing ladder to the mini and junior 

sections at the club. 

“It seemed people came back to the club 

as the standard slowly improved. Then, 

the same people brought their sons and, 

in more recent years, their daughters to 

play under the stewardship of fullyqualified 

coaches,” says Brophy. 

In fact, there are more than 750 

members in the mini, Junior and mixedability 

sections, who are guided by over 

100 coaches in those early years. 

“The children in our care are taught 

the basic rugby skills. Also, key to any 

player, we coach respect and humility in 

winning alongside dignity in losing. 

“Inclusion is also very important. Once 

you drive through the gates, we are 

all equal and respectful to both fellow 

members and also travelling teams who 

visit us in Forenaughts.” 

The consistent flow of players from Naas 

to Leinster, Ireland and even the British 

and Irish Lions Heaslip (2009 and 2013) 

and Murphy (2005) is a bonus that 

comes from a vibrant environment. 

“In a recent Junior coaches planning 

meeting for the upcoming season, rugby 

was well down the list of priorities, 

behind fun, friendship and children 

safety. 

“The way we judge our success in Naas 

is not whether we win or lose, but how 

many children return in September to 

play with us for another season. 

“In a recent socially-distanced 

presentation to our U-13s last September 

- these were the children who lost out on 

our annual tour to St David’s in Wales 

due to Covid - the coaches still did the 

tour programme and also presented the 

squad with their kit bags etc. 

“I noticed in the programme most of the 

50 players when asked: ‘What do you 

want to do when you finish school?’ The 

answer was: ‘I want to play for Leinster 

or Ireland.’ 

“This is, in no small part, because of 

the great marketing Leinster Rugby 

do, coupled with children who see for 

themselves, it is possible to make that 

leap. 

“This is where Jamie and Rowan, Adam 

and James, Jimmy and Tadhg come into 

it,” he says. 

“We believe all children have potential. 

They can and do improve at different 

rates and, sometimes, players who do 

not shine out as they start their rugby can 

develop into great players over time.” 

“Naas will not survive without the new 

people joining and the freshness this 

brings to any club. 

“Our future is in the hands of great 

people. We hope the minis and Juniors, 

boys and girls playing today will one day 

run this great club.” 

The ‘Welcome Back’ sign that sits at the 

club is there for everyone young and old, 

new and returning. 

“Naas RFC are very proud of our new 

Naas Vipers mixed-ability players. These 

new members have added another 

element of community to our club and 

the standard these players are playing at 

gets better every week. 

The club is still managing to walk that 

fine line between striving for promotion 

and keeping in touch with their traditional 

roots too. 

“We are lucky to still play in the North 

Midlands competitions as well as the 

Provincial Towns Cup,” he shares. 

“There is something special about playing 

against friends in local clubs, Newbridge, 

North Kildare, Clane, Athy, Portlaoise, 

Portarlington, Cill Dara, Clondalkin etc. 

“The lads we played against then are 

more likely to have sons and daughters 

playing at this stage. 

“Each of those clubs makes you feel 

welcome, and of course, the memories 

of past games are recalled and perhaps 

exaggerated. 

“Lifelong sporting friendships start on a 

pitch, fighting for an oval ball and ends 

after many encounters, where we prefer 

to meet and argue about who will pay for 

the refreshments.” 

Long may it last. 


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LEINSTER 

RUGBY PROP 

MICHAEL 

MILNE CHATS 

ABOUT HIS 

HURLING UP- 

BRINGING 

AND 

KICKING ON 

NEXT YEAR 

AS A SENIOR 

PLAYER. 

The story of the impact of Covid-19 on 

society has been told over and over, 

and will continue to be a talking point 

for many years to come. 

It has caused irreparable damage across a 

host of different industries, sport included, while 

we’ve also seen older sportspeople call time 

on careers due to the duration of the seasons 

and the lost year of 2020. 

Leinster Rugby prop Michael Milne has been 

one of those to suffer misfortune on the field at 

the hands of the global pandemic. 

The young prop made his Senior bow for 

the province during the Guinness PRO14 

clash with Benetton Rugby in Treviso in late 

September 2019. 

Speaking after that game, he told Leinster 

Rugby TV, “I can’t stop smiling at the minute. 

It’s the most physical game I’ve ever played. 

“My sister and her boyfriend are here so it’s 

great that they could be here too. It’s been 

such a long journey and I don’t think I ever 

thought I would be here but I’m unbelievably 

happy that I am. I’m enjoying every minute of 

it.” 

He soon followed that up with seven further 

appearances before rugby ground to a halt in 

February of 2020 for what everyone suspected 

initially would be a break of just a few weeks. 

Those weeks turned to months and that 

breakthrough season for the young loosehead 

slowly started to escape him. 

When the game did eventually return, he was 

able to line out against Ulster Rugby in the final 

regular season contest of the PRO14 at Aviva 

Stadium last August. 

“It was funny really. I made my debut, I had six 

or seven appearances then after that and I felt 

happy enough with how things were going,” 

Milne outlines. 

“Covid came in and the season comes to a halt 

then. I got a few games early this year too and 

then I get the quad injury that keeps me out. 

Darragh Curley was my physio through it. He’s 

a top bloke.” 

So, it happened again, only this time the game 

continued without Milne. 

After another promising start to the season with 

five more Leinster caps under the belt for the 

Birr man, including a first start against Ospreys 

in November, suddenly the chance to progress 

is taken away. 

His last appearance came against Cardiff 

Blues, also in November 2020, but tonight 

he’s included among the replacements for the 

clash with Ulster in the Rainbow Cup at the 

RDS Arena. 


Milne 

Michael 

WORDS: RYAN CORRY 


Find your escape 

this weekend

And his goals are straightforward ones. First, 

he wants a win for the team. Secondly, he’d 

like to put his best foot forward. 

“I’m really looking forward to being back out 

there now tonight. An interprovincial against 

Ulster which is a big game to play in and one 

we always want to win. I’m just hoping to fit in 

well again. 

“After that, it’s about slotting back in and 

knowing your role again.” 

That’ll be a start for Milne in getting back on 

track but it hasn’t all been bad news lately. 

The Offaly man was recently announced as 

one of three Academy players who had signed 

Senior contracts with the province ahead of the 

2021/22 season. 

A reward for the solid performances and eye 

for the try-line that he showed in his 14 Senior 

appearances to date. 

And, as with his debut, the first thoughts 

that spring to mind for Milne are his roots in 

his local club and then Cistercian College, 

Roscrea – the teams and coaches that laid 

the foundations for him in becoming a Leinster 

player. 

“I was delighted to be honest. It’s been a long 

old journey from Birr RFC into Roscrea and 

then Leinster. Guy (Easterby) called me up to 

the office and told me what the intention was – 

that I’d be offered the Senior contract. 

“Even around the same time, I got injured, I 

ended up out for around five months but they 

“HE’S 

COMING FROM 

CRUSADERS 

SO HE’LL 

BRING A LOT 

IN TERMS 

OF BALL 

HANDLING 

AND SOME OF 

THEIR STYLE.” 

were very good to reassure me that they still 

wanted me to sign. So, any fears I might have 

had were quickly put to bed.” 

As a fresh face in the front row, Milne will 

be joined by tighthead Michael Alaalatoa 

next year who joins from Crusaders in New 

Zealand while, in the other direction, Michael 

Bent is returning home after a trophy-laden 

spell at the RDS. 

Bent, as Milne describes him, is a ‘legend’ in 

the province, providing the base of the scrum 

for close to a decade, and someone that the 

young loosehead will be sad to see leaving. 

“He’s a legend, isn’t he? He’s just a Leinster 

Rugby stalwart,” he says. 

“He’s held down the scrum there for so many 

years, particularly when other lads are away. 

“As someone on the other side, scrummaging 

against him, you’ll know you’re not far off 

when you start to get a handle on him now 

and again. 

“I haven’t seen a whole lot of Alaalatoa really. 

I was able to watch the Super Rugby final 

recently and we know how good he is. 

“I’m looking forward to seeing him training 

and getting to know him. He’s coming from 

Crusaders so he’ll bring a lot in terms of ball 

handling and some of their style.” 

Bent is just one of the positive front row 

influences that Milne has been exposed to 

during his rugby days. 

Another of those that has offered guidance 

throughout his career is the late Gary Halpin, 


a former Leinster and Ireland international 

tighthead who played in the 1995 World Cup. 

Halpin was a staff member of the Roscrea 

school during Milne’s final year there, working 

as Head of Boarding having previously worked 

as a teacher in England after finishing his 

rugby career which included stints at London 

Irish and Harlequins. 

Halpin sadly passed away in February at 

the age of 55 but is still fondly remembered 

by those who he came into contact with in 

Roscrea. 

“It was awful to hear that. Gary was there for 

my last year in school and, while he wasn’t 

coaching the team, he was great to share 

any knowledge about rugby, particularly 

playing in the forwards. 

“There’s nobody down there who has 

a bad word to say about him. He 

was loved and is going to be missed 

in Roscrea.” 

That connect with his school and the personnel 

that allows Milne and others to hold on to fond 

memories of Halpin, their own playing days 

and all that comes with being part of a team 

also exists for his own local area of Crinkill 

and his days as a young hurler. 

Coming from a town steeped in GAA tradition, 

and having won schools and U-17 All-Irelands 

with Offaly, he still keeps in touch with 

the small ball and the fortunes of Michael 

Fennelly’s team. 

“The club (Birr) won a few All-Irelands when 

I was younger (2002 and 2003) and my 

introduction to sport was that and the stories 

about it. I would have played it then growing 

up and all the lads at home would still play,” 

he explains. 

“Offaly have had a tough couple of years 

now. It’s mad. They’ll want to be winning a Joe 

McDonagh Cup or a league this year.” 

Sport and family aren’t the only reasons he’s 

keen to stay in touch with home though. 

“I came out of the first lockdown with a 

huge mop of hair, you probably saw 

that,” he laughs. 

“I’ve been texting my barber back 

in Birr every few weeks asking him if 

there’s any word. Ciarán Frawley is my 

roommate, he cut it for me a while back 

so it’s not too bad now but still…” 

Here’s hoping we can see more of the prop 

before the season’s end, and maybe even with 

the fresh trim. 


www.leinsterrugby.ie | 91 | From The Ground Up 

“I’VE BEEN 

TEXTING MY 

BARBER BACK 

IN BIRR EVERY 

FEW WEEKS 

ASKING HIM IF 

THERE’S ANY 

WORD. ”

Academy squad 

2020|21 

DOB: 15 December 1999 

From: Hampshire, England 

Height: 1.88m (6’ 2”) 


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 (8 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 


& Leinster Rugby (1 cap) 

CORMAC FOLEY #1299 

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”) 



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”) 







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”) 



School: Clontarf FC 


Honours: Ireland U20 (5 

caps)& Leinster Rugby (1 cap) 

MARTIN MOLONEY #1300 

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 



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) 




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) 


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 


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 

Sun 2 May 15:00 

Heineken Champions Cup 

L 23-32 

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 

KEENAN 

LARMOUR (O'LOUGHLIN 75) 

RINGROSE 

HENSHAW 

LOWE 

R BYRNE 1T 2C 3P 

L MCGRATH 



FURLONG 1T (PORTER 56) 

TONER (FARDY 71) 

RYAN 

RUDDOCK (BAIRD 28) 

VAN DER FLIER 

CONAN 


Sat 24 Apr 19:35 

Rainbow Cup 

L 3-27 

LARMOUR 

KEARNEY 

RINGROSE (T O'BRIEN 58) 

O'LOUGHLIN 

LOWE 

H BYRNE (HAWKSHAW 5 1P) 

H O'SULLIVAN (FOLEY 65) 

E BYRNE (DOOLEY 57) 

SHEEHAN (CRONIN 57) 


MOLONY 

RYAN (FARDY 60) 

BAIRD (MOLONEY 71) 

PENNY 

MURPHY 

Sat 8 May 19:35 

Rainbow Cup 

W 50-21 

KEENAN 3T 

C KELLEHER 1T 

RINGROSE 

FRAWLEY (O'LOUGHLIN 36) 

KEARNEY 

R BYRNE 5C (LARMOUR 55) 


DOOLEY (E BYRNE 54) 


PORTER 1T (FURLONG 54) 

MOLONY 1T 

FARDY 1T 

MURPHY (BAIRD 63) 

PENNY 

CONAN (VAN DER FLIER 24) 

ROUND 

03 

Leinster 

v Ulster 

friday 

May 14, 2021 

RDS Arena 

ko 20:15 

ROUND 

04 

GLASGOW V 

LEINSTER 

friday 

june 4, 2021 

Scotstoun Stadium 

ko 20:15 

ROUND 

05 

LEINSTER V 

DRAGONS 

friday 

june 11, 2021 

RDS Arena 

ko 20:15 


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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

Jimmy O’Brien 

Jordan Larmour 

Garry Ringrose 


Dave Kearney 

Ross Byrne 

Luke McGrath [C] 

15 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

FULL BACK 

RIGHT WING 

OUTSIDE CENTRE 

INSIDE CENTRE 

LEFT WING 

FLY HALF 

SCRUM HALF 

Jacob Stockdale 

Robert Baloucoune 

James Hume 

Stuart McCloskey 

Craig Gilroy 

Billy Burns 

David Shanahan 

Cian Healy 

Seán Cronin 

Tadhg Furlong 

Ryan Baird 

James Ryan 

Josh Murphy 

Josh van der Flier 

Caelan Doris 

Rónan Kelleher 

Michael Milne 

Michael Bent 

Devin Toner 

Jack Conan 

Cormac Foley 

Rory O’Loughlin 

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 

Eric O’Sullivan 

Rob Herring 

Marty Moore 

Sam Carter 

Iain Henderson [C] 

Marcus Rea 

Sean Reidy 

Nick Timoney 

Brad Roberts 

Callum Reid 

Tom O’Toole 

Alan O’Connor 

Greg Jones 

Nathan Doak 

Ian Madigan 

Rob Lyttle 

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 53rd competition game) 

Assistant Referee 1: Chris Busby (IRFU) 

Assistant Referee 2: Rob O’Sullivan (IRFU) 

TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU) 


FULL MATCH REPLAYS 

NOW AVAILABLE 

WITH XTRA 

MEMBERSHIP. 

SIGN UP FOR FREE AT 

PRO14.RUGBY

MAKE IT A GAME 

YOU’LL REMEMBER. 

MODERATE YOUR DRINKING. 

MAKE YOUR NEXT PINT TAP WATER. 

SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE 

#GUINNESSCLEAR

Leinster Rugby v Ulster Rugby

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