Leinster Rugby v Dragons

JOHN WALSHWEL COME
We extend a warm welcome to
rugby fans joining us at the RDS
Arena for our final game in the
Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup
against Welsh visitors Dragons.
Our recent clashes with Dragons have
resulted in Leinster victories with a 35-
29 win in their historic Rodney Parade
grounds in February of this year and a
35-5 win at the RDS in October 2020.
The ‘local derbies’ element to the
competition has provided some
outstanding games with very close
outcomes. The excellent coverage of
these games has been a major bonus
for us fans who have been unable to
attend to give our players our passionate
support.
Thank you to eir Sport for all you have
done for the coverage of the games.
This is the last Leinster Rugby game to
be shown on your channel and we wish
your staff and team the very best of
luck for the future with eir Sport winding
down. We have enjoyed immensely the
coverage and the professionalism that
you have brought to the Guinness PRO14
and you will be missed.
On behalf of Leinster Rugby we welcome
the Dragons Management team of David
Buttress (Chair), Dean Ryan (Director of
Rugby) and Rhodri Williams (Captain)
and travelling squad to the RDS.
The restructured 2020/21 season has
been a difficult one for Dragons but with
Dean Ryan at the helm and young Welsh
talent coming through better days are
only around the corner.
As we bring the curtain down on the
2020/21 season, I’m sure that Dean
Ryan and Williams will be motivating
their players to avail of the opportunity
to deliver a fitting performance against
the reigning Guinness PRO14 Champions
Leinster in our home here at the RDS.
“Oh hard times come again no more”
I am doubtful that since Leinster’s
foundation in 1879 if we have ever
encountered a 15-month period that
has decimated our domestic rugby
programmes to the extent that it has
during this Covid pandemic.
As the nationwide vaccination
programme is making significant progress
we are more optimistic than ever that
there is a possibility that we can get
back playing soon. We have effectively
lost two playing seasons that involved in
excess of 10,000 club and school fixtures
that have impacted on our 73 clubs,
120 schools and 13 third level colleges/
universities.
The pandemic also brought into focus the
important role that sport plays in our lives
and communities both in terms of physical
and mental wellness.
All involved in Leinster Rugby are very
appreciative of the Irish Government’s
support for sporting organisations during
this pandemic period and in particular
to the financial support that they have
allocated to the sector (€85 million to 42
sporting organisations which included a
sum of €18 million for distribution to the
Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster
provinces).
A total of 59 Leinster based clubs have
availed of approximately €2 million in
grants and this is most appreciated by all
as we face the challenge of re-energising
and re-financing our domestic game,
which serves as the bedrock from where
our success has been achieved.
During 20 seasons of representing my
club, Naas RFC, on the various Leinster,
IRFU and Area Committees I have to state
that Leinster Rugby has always strived to
be an inclusive and progressive outward
looking sporting organisation.
Leinster have had considerable success
in developing the game of rugby in its
many formats throughout our 12-county
province. “From The Ground Up” is
not a clever marketing statement that
Leinster Rugby has adopted but it outlines
our total belief that in order to have
a progressive and sustainable rugby
game in place we must establish a solid
foundation from which to build on.
Success is not a destination but a
continuous journey and Leinster’s success
record is the envy of many as we have
developed and continue to expand our
mini, youths, schools, U-20, third level
colleges and mixed-ability programmes
for boys and girls, men and women.
To accomplish these progressive
programmes Leinster Rugby has in excess
of 300 elected individuals who serve on
our 21 Leinster Committees and on the
five Area Committees. These volunteers
are so generous with their time and
expertise in giving back to our sport the
benefit of their knowledge and I wish to
acknowledge and thank them on behalf
of Leinster Rugby for their support during
the past two seasons.
A special word of thanks to Leinster’s
Inclusivity Committee Members (Chaired
by Moira Flahive) for the outstanding
work that they have undertaken against
the background of the pandemic in
engaging with all our stakeholders in
Leinster and in bringing forward several
key amendments to our bye-laws for
consideration at our recent Annual
General Meeting.
I am pleased to report that these changes
received overwhelming acceptance by
all our delegates. This will result in three
additional Leinster Rugby clubs gaining
direct representation on the Executive
Committee for 2021/22.
We extend a welcome to Railway Union
(Founded 1905), Suttonians (1924)
and Wicklow (1963) as they join the
18 existing Energia All-Ireland League
club delegates, as well as additional
club, schools, youths, women’s rugby
delegates that will see our Executive
Committee expanded to 45 members,
who serve all the stakeholders of Leinster
Rugby.
Wishing you and all associated with
Leinster and Dragons Rugby the very best
for the future.
John Walsh
PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2020/21
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 5 | From The Ground Up