Leinster Rugby v Dragons

Leo Cullen
HEAD COACH WELCOME
THE DAY HAS
FINALLY COME!
IT’S BEEN A
LONG WAIT
BUT TODAY WE
ARE OVERJOYED
TO HAVE OUR
SUPPORTERS
BACK AT THE
RDS ARENA.
YOU ARE ALL
SO WELCOME
AND THANK
YOU FOR YOUR
PATIENCE AND
SUPPORT THESE
PAST LONG
MONTHS.
WE’D ESPECIALLY
LIKE TO
WELCOME OUR
SPECIAL GUESTS,
100 FRONTLINE
WORKERS FROM
ST VINCENT’S
UNIVERSITY
HOSPITAL, WHO
HAVE RISKED
SO MUCH
TO KEEP OUR
COMMUNITY
SAFE AND WELL.
A warm welcome also to Dean Ryan
and his Dragons team for this, the final
game of the season. Every club has
had to battle through adversity this
season and we feel a lot of solidarity
with our fellow players and coaches,
understanding more than ever how
much we all rely on one another to
keep the wheels turning.
It’s almost a year now (22 June 2020)
since we returned to training after the initial
lockdown. So much work has gone into getting
us to where we are today, and so many people
have played a part in that journey. Thanks
to everyone at the IRFU for helping us get so
many games played, and to all the tournament
organisers who had to juggle with scenarios
none of us could ever have anticipated.
Thanks to all the media for keeping the
spotlight on our sport and helping to maintain
awareness and interest among the rugby
public. And thanks to our sponsors, especially
our premium partners, Bank of Ireland, for their
wonderful backing.
Most importantly, thanks to our loyal supporters
who stuck with the team throughout the dark
days, keeping our spirits up with messages
of support, and whose return to action this
evening is the reward we’ve all been waiting
for. It’s really gratifying how many of you
have signed up as Season Ticket Holders for
the year ahead and we are beyond grateful
to have some of you here in the flesh with us
today.
In that sense, even though it’s the final game of
the season, tonight feels like a new beginning.
However, it also marks the end for a few
players, most notably Michael Bent and Scott
Fardy who have both decided to retire after
this evening’s game.
Benty and Fards, on behalf of the entire
group, we wish you and your respective
families health, happiness, and every success
in the future. You have both been exceptional
servants to the club and it’s been a pleasure
having you around. I’m sure the fans who are
here this evening will give the boys a proper
send-off.
To other players who are moving on to new
challenges such as Rowan Osborne, Hugh
O’Sullivan, Cian Kelleher and Greg McGrath,
we wish you the very best and thank you for
everything you have done for the club. Every
player has contributed in their own way to the
legacy of the team.
Since we restarted last summer, we’ve had
16 players make their Leinster debuts which is
a brilliant reflection of the work that goes on
all around the province. Our game has faced
significant challenges at all levels, but we hope
that the future will be bright and we can get out
and about among clubs and communities to
continue promoting and growing the game that
we love so much.
We would like to wish our Lions trio the best of
luck on tour this summer. We were all gutted
to hear that Andrew Porter will miss the tour
through injury and I’m sure you join me in
wishing him a speedy recovery. Good luck also
to the Irish squad who will meet up soon to
take on Japan and the United States at the start
of next month.
We also have a number of staff that will be
departing and taking on new challenges and
we would like to wish every one of them the
very best for the next steps in their careers.
There is one person who has contributed
perhaps more than anyone else, our esteemed
baggage master, the great John O’Hagan.
Hago has been taking care of me since 1996
when I was a player for the Leinster U-20s and
he has been there every step of the way in
my Leinster career, cleaning up many messes
along the way! Johnny, we love you dearly and
thank you for the most amazing memories over
the last 25 years.
This evening marks the end of a strange and
unforgettable 2020/21 season. In spite of the
difficulties, the group has managed to share
some great experiences and we look forward
to starting afresh after the summer break.
Thank you all so much for your support, your
kind messages, your interest and your love of
Leinster Rugby.
We can’t wait to see you at a packed RDS next
season as we go in search of a fifth European
star and a fifth consecutive PRO rugby title!
Enjoy the game.
Leo
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 7 | From The Ground Up