Leinster vs Cell C Sharks
Leinster | Official Matchday Programme of Leinster Rugby | Issue 02
Leinster Rugby vs Cell C Sharks | United Rugby Championship
Saturday 8th October, 2022 | KO 5.05pm | RDS Arena
Leinster | Official Matchday Programme of Leinster Rugby | Issue 02
Leinster Rugby vs Cell C Sharks | United Rugby Championship
Saturday 8th October, 2022 | KO 5.05pm | RDS Arena
LEINSTER VS ISSUE 02 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME cell c sharks SAT 8 th OCTOBER RDS ARENA KO 5.05PM
- Page 2 and 3: Our People, Our Home TWELVE COUNTIE
- Page 4 and 5: Debbie Carty welcome PRESIDENT, LEI
- Page 6 and 7: Leo Cullen head Coach Welcome Good
- Page 9: Carla Delaney BANK OF IRELAND AREA
- Page 14 and 15: Je 14 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
- Page 16 and 17: But such has been the level of his
- Page 18 and 19: MORE innovation As Official Innovat
- Page 20 and 21: “My parents were also there so we
- Page 22 and 23: 13 20 Action replay FRIDAY 30 SEPTE
- Page 24 and 25: 21 Years of Ladies Rugby Celebratio
- Page 28: leo the lion’s kids corner ANAGRA
- Page 31: O - Others: What’s your favourite
- Page 35 and 36: 5. Ellen Dunne (Portlaoise), 6. Emm
- Page 37 and 38: Will Connors #1264 9 CAPS Max Deega
- Page 39 and 40: Johnny Sexton #1127 108 CAPS 14 CAP
- Page 41 and 42: Your best support every season Mana
- Page 43: New Stand Opened at Mullingar RFC N
- Page 46 and 47: compiled by stuart farmer media ser
- Page 48 and 49: TITLE PARTNER OFFICAL KIT PARTNER P
- Page 50 and 51: ig picture 23 September 2022 Michae
LEINSTER<br />
VS<br />
ISSUE 02 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME<br />
cell c sharks<br />
SAT 8 th OCTOBER<br />
RDS ARENA<br />
KO 5.05PM
Our People, Our Home<br />
TWELVE COUNTIES. ONE SHIRT.<br />
Aaron Craig<br />
From a lad wearing <strong>Leinster</strong> blue to the RDS, to<br />
designing this season’s shirt. Aaron Craig’s journey has<br />
been amazing. The adidas Designer talks us through<br />
his design and what it means to create the shirt for his<br />
boyhood club.<br />
How did you begin working with adidas?<br />
When I was at the National College of Art and Design Dublin, I learned<br />
of adidas’ intern program. A lifelong fan of the brand, I knew it was an<br />
amazing opportunity. Luckily, I got to join adidas as an intern in 2016<br />
and I’ve been in Herzogenaurach (adidas HQ) ever since. I’m now a<br />
licensed apparel designer for some of the biggest teams in the world.<br />
What drew you to this project?<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> asked if there were any Irish designers at adidas HQ they<br />
could collaborate with. For a lad who comes from <strong>Leinster</strong> that grew<br />
up supporting the team, this was a massive bucket list moment. My<br />
grandfather even worked the entrance gates the RDS and Donnybrook<br />
for years.<br />
What was your inspiration for the design?<br />
The inspiration came quite naturally. Each county of <strong>Leinster</strong> was to be<br />
represented equally with their heraldic crests – instantly recognisable<br />
symbols. I wanted to recount my own <strong>Leinster</strong> memories too. That<br />
meant introducing the darker blue sleeves and the collegiate gold<br />
detailing. To me, it’s a design that could be worn by players from any<br />
generation, from O’Driscoll to Sexton.<br />
How do you keep designs fresh year on year?<br />
We work closely with clubs to find authentic and fresh stories. At<br />
adidas, we also want to be at the forefront of performance technologies<br />
and sustainability. So every year we work to combine the two.<br />
Which design excited you the most?<br />
On a professional level, I designed the Spanish national team kits for<br />
the World Cup this season. The biggest sporting event there is. But,<br />
on a personal level, being part of the first adidas Celtic jersey in 2020<br />
and now seeing the framed <strong>Leinster</strong> kits in my parents’ home in Dublin<br />
might just be level with the World Cup.<br />
How does it feel to see your designs worn by thousands of fans?<br />
Seeing your jersey enjoyed by fans is definitely one of the most<br />
rewarding aspects of our jobs. Seeing people of all ages around Dublin<br />
on game day. Outside the pubs and cafés around the RDS. It’s a real<br />
pinch yourself moment for sure.
Newstead Building A,<br />
UCD,<br />
Belfield,<br />
Dublin 4<br />
#LEIVSHA<br />
The Line up<br />
Telephone:<br />
012693224<br />
Fax:<br />
012693142<br />
E-mail:<br />
information@leinsterrugby.ie<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie<br />
6<br />
24<br />
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT<br />
President: Debbie Carty<br />
Chief Executive: Michael Dawson<br />
Honorary Secretary: Stuart Bayley<br />
Honorary Treasurer: Michael McGrail<br />
RUGBY MANAGEMENT<br />
Head Coach: Leo Cullen<br />
Senior Coach: Stuart Lancaster<br />
Head of Rugby Operations:<br />
Guy Easterby<br />
Assistant Coach: Robin McBryde<br />
Backs Coach: Andrew Goodman<br />
Kicking Coach: Emmet Farrell<br />
Contact Skills Coach: Seán O’Brien<br />
14<br />
PROGRAMME CREDITS<br />
Editorial Team: Marcus Ó Buachalla<br />
& Paul Cahill<br />
Advertising: Gary Nolan<br />
Design: Julian Tredinnick,<br />
Ignition Sports Media<br />
Photography: Sportsfile<br />
Chief Steward: Sword Security<br />
Ambulance: St. John’s Ambulance<br />
Medilink<br />
Event Control & Safety Services:<br />
Eamonn O’Boyle & Associates<br />
76<br />
86<br />
STAY<br />
CONNECTED<br />
& KEEP<br />
UP-TO-DATE<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 3
Debbie Carty welcome<br />
PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2022/23<br />
On behalf of <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby, I would<br />
like to welcome you all to the RDS<br />
Arena for this evening’s match<br />
against <strong>Cell</strong> C <strong>Sharks</strong> in Round 4<br />
of this season’s BKT United Rugby<br />
Championship.<br />
In particular, I wish to extend<br />
a warm welcome to Dublin to<br />
our South African visitors, to<br />
the <strong>Sharks</strong> squad, their Head<br />
Coach Sean Everitt and their<br />
management team and hope<br />
you are enjoying your visit here<br />
for the URC match.<br />
Of course a very warm welcome back<br />
to Noel McNamara who did so much<br />
brilliant work with our age grade sides<br />
and of course with the Ireland U-20s<br />
and the <strong>Leinster</strong> Academy.<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> have won their last three<br />
matches and I would like to<br />
congratulate the <strong>Leinster</strong> squad<br />
captained by Garry Ringrose on their<br />
win over Ulster last week and they will<br />
be confident heading into tonight’s<br />
match, but we cannot be complacent<br />
with the <strong>Sharks</strong> also winning their last<br />
two matches so we expect tonight to be<br />
a challenging and physical match as<br />
we strive to get back to the summit of<br />
the URC.<br />
I have no doubt that Leo and his squad<br />
are up for the challenge and we look<br />
forward to the season ahead.<br />
With Emerging Ireland tours, and<br />
Ireland A games, and Autumn<br />
Internationals and of course a Six<br />
Nations it will be a busy rugby season<br />
but I know you will join me in wishing<br />
Leo and the squad every success this<br />
season. I look forward to meeting our<br />
many supporters of the <strong>Leinster</strong> team be<br />
it in Energia Park, the RDS Arena, the<br />
Aviva Stadium and beyond.<br />
On the domestic front, all competitions;<br />
the Bank of Ireland <strong>Leinster</strong> Leagues,<br />
the Energia All-Ireland League for men<br />
and women, they are all up and running<br />
as the teams start the task of taking<br />
their teams towards promotion from<br />
their divisions. With most clubs fielding<br />
second and third teams this year it<br />
promises to be an exciting season<br />
ahead.<br />
Congratulations goes to Wanderers<br />
FC for their win over MU Barnhall in<br />
the Final of the Bank of Ireland <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
Rugby Senior League Division 2, and<br />
to Lansdowne FC for their win over<br />
Terenure in the Senior League Division<br />
1 Final.<br />
I am delighted to see that the first round<br />
of the Bank of Ireland Sarah Robinson<br />
Cup is also underway with wins for<br />
North Midlands over Midlands and the<br />
South-East over Metro. And we look<br />
forward to the next round of this great<br />
competition, named after one very<br />
brave and extraordinary young lady<br />
who lost her life far too soon and far<br />
too young.<br />
On the age grade interprovincial side,<br />
congratulations to <strong>Leinster</strong> U-18 girls<br />
as they won their series with a strong<br />
win over Connacht in Energia Park two<br />
weeks ago.<br />
Our club representative teams – or<br />
youths teams as many of us still call<br />
them – are thriving within <strong>Leinster</strong> and<br />
it is a testament to Phil Lawlor and his<br />
staff and how hard they all work getting<br />
players through the player pathway<br />
that they are succeeding the way that<br />
they are.<br />
I look forward to watching these<br />
players proceed into the Academy and<br />
towards the senior men’s and women’s<br />
teams in the future. <strong>Leinster</strong>’s motto of<br />
‘From The Ground Up’ can be seen in<br />
this framework and I urge everyone to<br />
try to take in a game when they are<br />
playing in Energia Park.<br />
There are a number of pitch and ground<br />
works going on over the last few months<br />
and I would like to thank the clubs for<br />
all their hard work with fundraising and<br />
plenty of red tape and administration<br />
when applying for capital grants.<br />
Well done to Skerries RFC on the<br />
opening of their 3G Pitch, to Stillorgan/<br />
Rathfarnham on their 50th anniversary<br />
celebrations and the opening of their<br />
new pitches and facilities in Heavy<br />
Park, to Wicklow RFC on the opening of<br />
their new gym and dressing rooms and<br />
to Kilkenny RFC on their new dressing<br />
rooms, gym, pitch works and ground<br />
works and all other clubs that are doing<br />
similar projects at the moment.<br />
I would like to welcome to the RDS this<br />
evening the mini rugby teams who will<br />
4 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
With Emerging<br />
Ireland tours,<br />
and Ireland A<br />
games, and Autumn<br />
Internationals<br />
and of course a Six<br />
Nations it will be a<br />
busy rugby season<br />
but I know you will<br />
join me in wishing<br />
Leo and the squad<br />
every success this<br />
season.<br />
play at half time in the Bank of Ireland<br />
Mini Games. To the players from<br />
Monkstown, North Meath, Dundalk<br />
and Clane rugby clubs, your coaches<br />
and parents, I know you will all enjoy<br />
the occasion. I would ask all supporters<br />
to show your appreciation and cheer<br />
on these young stars of the future.<br />
To our title sponsor Bank of<br />
Ireland, great patrons of both<br />
our professional and domestic<br />
games, who along with all<br />
our premium partners and<br />
suppliers, do so much to<br />
support <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby, I<br />
offer my sincere thanks.<br />
Finally, to you the fans, our<br />
Season Ticket Holders,<br />
members of the Official<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Supporters Club<br />
and friends of <strong>Leinster</strong>,<br />
I thank you for the<br />
contribution you make on<br />
match days.<br />
I am sure this evening will<br />
be no different as you get<br />
the roar going and the<br />
flags waving to cheer on<br />
the boys in blue to another<br />
victory.<br />
Let us hope for an energetic,<br />
exciting and injury free<br />
match tonight.<br />
Debbie Carty<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby President 2022/23<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 5
Leo Cullen<br />
head Coach Welcome<br />
Good afternoon to all our supporters and<br />
welcome to the RDS Arena for today’s Round<br />
4, BKT United Rugby Championship clash<br />
against the <strong>Cell</strong> C <strong>Sharks</strong>.<br />
Today’s visitors, led by head<br />
coach Sean Everitt, have had an<br />
unbeaten start to the season so<br />
we know we are in for a very<br />
tough examination.<br />
As many of you will know, the <strong>Sharks</strong><br />
also have some reliable inside<br />
knowledge on all things <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby<br />
due to our former Academy Manager<br />
and Ireland U-20s head coach, Noel<br />
McNamara, being part of their coaching<br />
group.<br />
Noel has pretty much done everything<br />
there is to do in underage coaching<br />
and he was an incredible support to me<br />
during his time here. He has also been<br />
a key influence in the development of a<br />
number of <strong>Leinster</strong> players in our squad<br />
today.<br />
The <strong>Sharks</strong> are a franchise with a very<br />
strong rugby tradition and identity, and<br />
we are really excited to play them on<br />
a regular basis. I hope that some of<br />
our supporters get the opportunity to<br />
follow us down to South Africa at some<br />
stage, because it is such a unique and<br />
passionate environment with some of the<br />
world’s most iconic rugby grounds.<br />
On which note, a big thanks to everyone<br />
who braved the elements at Kingspan<br />
Stadium in Belfast last Friday. It’s hard to<br />
put into words just how bad the rain was!<br />
It absolutely poured, and my sympathies<br />
go out to anyone who was on the<br />
terraces.<br />
Thanks also to everyone who turned out<br />
for our first home game of the season<br />
against Benetton Rugby the weekend<br />
before.<br />
I thought it was a great atmosphere that<br />
really lifted the players. The new fan<br />
zone was also a big success and we<br />
hope to grow that connection between<br />
the team and supporters over the coming<br />
months. If you haven’t experienced it yet,<br />
make sure you get in to see some of the<br />
goings-on pre and post-game.<br />
Thanks as always to our sponsors, in<br />
particular Bank of Ireland. It was nice<br />
to see so many of you on Wednesday<br />
at our sponsors forum which we held<br />
in UCD and it was a reminder of how<br />
deeply professional sport was affected<br />
by the pandemic. I think it’s fair to<br />
say we would not have been able<br />
to survive if not for the support we<br />
receive.<br />
On a sadder note we at <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
were all devasted to hear about<br />
the recent passing of Brian<br />
Mullins.<br />
Brian was one of the great Irish<br />
sports people and he will be<br />
deeply missed by everyone in<br />
UCD where we are based. Our<br />
thoughts are with his family at<br />
this time.<br />
Looking ahead, we have two<br />
interprovincial derbies coming up,<br />
first Connacht in Galway and then back<br />
here at Aviva Stadium for a date with<br />
Munster. How amazing would it be to fill<br />
out the Aviva again?!<br />
6 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
The new fan<br />
zone was also a<br />
big success and<br />
we hope to grow<br />
that connection<br />
between the<br />
team and<br />
supporters<br />
over the coming<br />
months. If<br />
you haven’t<br />
experienced it<br />
yet, make sure<br />
you get in to<br />
see some of the<br />
goings-on pre<br />
and post-game.<br />
Whatever happens, we are hugely<br />
excited by the challenges that lie ahead<br />
this season.<br />
We know already that there will be<br />
changes at the end of this season, in<br />
particular with the news that Stuart<br />
Lancaster will be leaving us to become<br />
director of rugby with Racing 92.<br />
As I said in all my interviews, we are<br />
going to miss Stu and all the qualities he<br />
brings to the group, but change is part<br />
and parcel of every sport. All we can<br />
control is how well prepared the team<br />
is, so they have the best opportunity<br />
to go out and perform on the pitch.<br />
As much as we prepare tactically<br />
for every game, there’s no doubt that<br />
players also feed off the energy and<br />
momentum in any game.<br />
Supporters should never underestimate<br />
how much they can help to make<br />
happen simply by being there, by<br />
getting behind the team, on game day.<br />
Food for thought!<br />
For now, I hope you enjoy your<br />
Saturday evening at the RDS. Thanks<br />
to each and every one of you for<br />
being here.<br />
Leo<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 7
Carla<br />
Delaney<br />
BANK OF IRELAND<br />
AREA EAST DIRECTOR<br />
Bank of lIreland<br />
are proud<br />
partners to<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby.<br />
Like us, they are rooted in local communities<br />
across the 12 counties of <strong>Leinster</strong>.<br />
We are delighted to support Leo Cullen and his coaching<br />
team in building <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby through clubs and schools,<br />
developing home grown talent and always ensuring that<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> #NeverStopCompeting.<br />
Much of that amazing talent will be on display on the pitch<br />
this afternoon.<br />
We wish <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby every success, and hope that you<br />
enjoy the game.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 9
Did you<br />
know?<br />
• <strong>Leinster</strong> have made<br />
a perfect start to the<br />
new BKT United Rugby<br />
Championship season<br />
winning all three<br />
matches so far.<br />
• The <strong>Leinster</strong>men’s<br />
only home defeat in<br />
any competition since<br />
last November was by a<br />
solitary point against<br />
the Vodacom Bulls in last<br />
year’s semi-final in June.<br />
• <strong>Leinster</strong> have lost<br />
their last three fixtures<br />
against South African<br />
opponents since beating<br />
the Emirates Lions 21-<br />
13 at the RDS Arena in<br />
February.<br />
• <strong>Cell</strong> C <strong>Sharks</strong> have won<br />
both matches they have<br />
played so far in the<br />
Vodacom United Rugby<br />
Championship, both away<br />
from home, at Zebre and<br />
at Dragons RFC.<br />
• <strong>Sharks</strong> have faced the<br />
Irish provinces on four<br />
previous occasions last<br />
season, winning their<br />
two home games against<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> and Connacht<br />
but losing the two away<br />
games at Munster and<br />
Ulster.<br />
• The two sides have<br />
met just once before, in<br />
Durban in April, with the<br />
home side running out 28-<br />
23 victors.<br />
COMPARISON<br />
Overall URC head-to-head record:<br />
Played 1, <strong>Sharks</strong> won 1.<br />
Last 3 URC results<br />
17 Sep - Zebre (A) W 33-29 4 Jun - Bulls (A) L 27-30<br />
23 Sep - Benetton (H) W 42-10 23 Sep - Zebre (A) W 42-37<br />
30 Sep - Ulster (A) W 20-13 1 Oct - Dragons (A) W 20-19<br />
1ST - W3 D0 L0 - 14PTS<br />
WWW (14pts)<br />
URC 2022/23<br />
URC form<br />
Top try scorer<br />
5TH - W2 D0 L0 - 9PTS<br />
WW (9pts)<br />
5 - Dan Sheehan 1 - Kerron van Vuuren,<br />
Top points scorer<br />
Reniel Hugo,<br />
Rohan Janse van Rensburg,<br />
Werner Kok, Dan Jooste,<br />
Grant Williams,<br />
Thaakir Abrahams<br />
25 - Dan Sheehan 27 - Boeta Chamberlain<br />
Date Venue L S <strong>Leinster</strong> scorers <strong>Sharks</strong> scorers<br />
Sat 23 Apr 22<br />
Hollywoodbets Kings<br />
Park<br />
23 28 Ciaran Frawley(2C/3P) Scott Penny(T)<br />
Tommy O'Brien(T)<br />
Makazole Mapimpi(T) Phepsi Buthelezi(T)<br />
Bongi Mbonambi(T) Curwin Bosch(4C)<br />
Jaden Hendrikse(T)<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 13
Je<br />
14 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Jason<br />
nkins<br />
the big interview<br />
BY MARCUS Ó BUACHALLA<br />
It was Oscar Wilde that<br />
said that the only thing<br />
worse than being talked<br />
about, was not being<br />
talked about.<br />
You get the sense that<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby lock Jason<br />
Jenkins would be keen to<br />
just get on with things.<br />
Head down. Crack on.<br />
Things to do. Scrums to<br />
lock down. Mauls to hit.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 15
But such has been the level of his<br />
performances over the first three<br />
games of the new BKT United<br />
Rugby Championship season,<br />
that people have finally started<br />
to take note of the big South<br />
African.<br />
Media. Supporters. Fellow players. His<br />
coaches. They are all talking about JJ.<br />
We say ‘finally’ of course because it’s<br />
not today nor yesterday that he landed<br />
onto these shores.<br />
South African international second<br />
row, Jenkins signed for Munster<br />
Rugby in 2021 to much fanfare<br />
but as we now know, injury<br />
issues restricted him to only<br />
ten appearances all season<br />
with only two starts.<br />
When he signed for <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
Rugby, the question on<br />
everyone’s lips was could he put those<br />
injury woes behind him and kick on in<br />
blue?<br />
The answer so far – and touch wood –<br />
has been a resounding, yes.<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> coach Robin McBryde was<br />
effusive in his praise of the giant lock<br />
earlier this week when he said, “he’s<br />
all over his detail in fairness to him. A<br />
big ask to come and learn a different<br />
language, learn a different way of<br />
doing things, but he has taken it in his<br />
stride and I expect him to grow even<br />
further. Really happy with the way Jason<br />
is going.”<br />
After a year of going under the radar<br />
down south, what does the 26-year-old<br />
make of all the talk now coming his way?<br />
“It’s pretty special hearing that kinda stuff<br />
from a legend of the game like Robin but<br />
for me I just have to keep my focus on<br />
16 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Having that<br />
understanding of<br />
the game in South<br />
Africa and the<br />
mentality of the<br />
players and the<br />
coaches, I know<br />
Leo and the rest<br />
of the coaches<br />
are keen to<br />
learn about that<br />
and take some<br />
lessons from my<br />
experiences...<br />
what I am doing and I want to get more<br />
games under my belt and keep doing<br />
what I can to help the team.<br />
“We have started the season well but<br />
it’s a completely new challenge this<br />
weekend at the RDS.”<br />
It could have all been so different of<br />
course if injuries hadn’t got in the way.<br />
He had to be patient from the off.<br />
He made his Munster debut in the<br />
Champions Cup in December 2021<br />
against Castres but would have to<br />
wait a further three months for his next<br />
appearance against Benetton.<br />
His third appearance would be his first<br />
start against <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby.<br />
While the injuries were a source of deep<br />
frustration, it can’t have been all bad if<br />
he chose to stay around a little longer.<br />
“Exactly. On the field there were<br />
frustrations with the injuries especially at<br />
the start but we did everything we could<br />
and I really enjoyed my time at Munster<br />
but I was just unlucky with the injuries.<br />
“But off the field I was really enjoying<br />
my time in Ireland. I love the people<br />
and how friendly they are and whether<br />
it’s a chat or a pint, everyone was very<br />
welcoming whether that be in Limerick or<br />
now in Dublin.<br />
“That on the field piece though, I<br />
definitely felt that there was unfinished<br />
business here in Ireland and when the<br />
opportunity arose to sign for <strong>Leinster</strong>, I<br />
jumped at the chance because as I said,<br />
I’m really loving my time here in Ireland<br />
but maybe just felt that there was more to<br />
give on the field.”<br />
That is now starting to take shape nicely.<br />
He was involved in the pre-season fixture<br />
against Harlequins at the Stoop and has<br />
started all three of <strong>Leinster</strong>’s games in<br />
the URC.<br />
His all-action, 80 minutes performance<br />
against Benetton Rugby was his first 80<br />
minutes in over two years.<br />
It hasn’t been without its challenges<br />
though.<br />
“Getting used to the style of training has<br />
been difficult, for sure.<br />
“At the start, I was looking after a finger<br />
injury so I couldn’t take part in the<br />
contact stuff during pre-season so that<br />
had me on the back foot a little but the<br />
last five or six weeks I’ve been all in and<br />
it takes time.”<br />
What is the biggest difference?<br />
“The sessions are short but intense. There<br />
is a continuity to the training too and you<br />
are always being put under pressure but<br />
I am really starting to enjoy that now.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 17
MORE<br />
innovation<br />
As Official Innovation Partner to <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby,<br />
BearingPoint is embarking on a journey with<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby into the metaverse.<br />
Contact us to learn more<br />
01 418 1111<br />
www.bearingpoint.com<br />
ireland@bearingpoint.com<br />
@bearingpoint_ie
“The main thing that I think it gives<br />
you is that confidence going into the<br />
weekend and the games. It’s taken a<br />
while but I think I have adapted to it<br />
and I’m loving it now.”<br />
There has also been a lot of talk and<br />
focus about what Jenkins himself brings<br />
to the table as a player, but also as a<br />
South African player.<br />
What does he feel a South African<br />
player brings that is maybe different<br />
to a player from another country?<br />
What differentiates a Springbok from<br />
the rest?<br />
“I suppose the South African game is<br />
based around momentum, physicality<br />
and getting over the gainline. Those<br />
are the three elements that I think the<br />
game is based around.<br />
“Having that understanding of the<br />
game in South Africa and the mentality<br />
of the players and the coaches, I<br />
know Leo and the rest of the coaches<br />
are keen to learn about that and take<br />
some lessons from my experiences but<br />
really I think it works both ways.<br />
“I think already my time here is<br />
challenging me to play smarter, to<br />
bring my skills to another level so I<br />
think we are all learning here and<br />
taking bits from each other.”<br />
With the on pitch elements now<br />
looking after themselves, and the body<br />
feeling good, what about matters off<br />
the field?<br />
Jenkins’ move to Dublin coincided with<br />
a rental crisis and a real shortage of<br />
options.<br />
Step forward Gert Smal.<br />
The former Springbok is no stranger<br />
to these parts and served as Ireland’s<br />
forwards coach when they won the<br />
Grand Slam in 2009.<br />
In recent years he’s been coaching in<br />
Japan and it is there that Jenkins and<br />
he formed a close friendship.<br />
“Gert has been coaching in Japan<br />
and that’s where I first came across<br />
him at Toyota Verblitz. We got on<br />
pretty well anyway but then Covid-19<br />
hit and I spent four months pretty much<br />
in his company during lockdown.<br />
I think there is still room<br />
for us to improve as an eight<br />
but we have started the<br />
season well as a unit I feel.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 19
“My parents were also there so we spent<br />
a lot of time with each other. Going<br />
away on weekends together, spending<br />
time together, hanging out or whatever<br />
and became very close.<br />
“When he heard I had an opportunity<br />
to come to <strong>Leinster</strong> he got in touch and<br />
said I’ve a place in Dublin, fully furnished<br />
so yeah, especially in the middle of the<br />
rental crisis that is here at the moment.<br />
I’ve been very lucky.<br />
“Dublin is good. I’ve had a chance<br />
now and the boys have shown me a<br />
few nice lunch spots and coffee spots.<br />
Been looking around a bit now. It’s been<br />
great.”<br />
Another big South African influence on<br />
his Irish adventure is fellow Springbok,<br />
RG Snyman.<br />
Snyman has also been hugely<br />
unfortunate with injuries and two serious<br />
ACL injuries have curtailed his own<br />
Munster adventures.<br />
“I’ve known RG a long time now, maybe<br />
ten years since we started playing<br />
together with the Junior Springboks and<br />
at the Bulls.<br />
“Obviously I spoke to him quite a bit<br />
before I came over and he couldn’t<br />
speak highly enough of the country<br />
and the people. The plan was to play<br />
together and to scrum down together<br />
but it didn’t work out like that but I think<br />
it was brilliant for us both to have each<br />
other last year because it was tough.<br />
“We were both injured and a long way<br />
from home and it’s good to have that<br />
familiar face to support you. It was good<br />
for us both I feel.<br />
“Hopefully he will be back out there<br />
again soon and we might not be able<br />
to scrum down together but we may go<br />
against each other now which would be<br />
pretty cool.”<br />
They had that experience before in<br />
Japan when Snyman was with Honda<br />
Heat RFC and Jenkins at Toyota Verblitz.<br />
If it’s to happen again it will be Munster<br />
red against <strong>Leinster</strong> blue but that will<br />
have to wait.<br />
He mentions missing out on the<br />
opportunity of scrummaging with Snyman<br />
and while his work in the loose has<br />
caught the eye, his work at scrum time<br />
was another facet that drew great praise,<br />
again, from McBryde this week.<br />
For Jenkins though, it’s just part and<br />
parcel of what he does, and a little bit of<br />
the dark arts thrown in for good measure.<br />
“It’s a big part of the game, isn’t it? I<br />
think there is still room for us to improve<br />
as an eight but we have started the<br />
season well as a unit I feel.<br />
“For me, playing in that tighthead lock<br />
position, I just want to give my prop<br />
the best opportunity to deliver the best<br />
version of themselves that they can and<br />
then it’s just about the dark arts at scrum<br />
time!”<br />
He says the last part with more than a<br />
glint in the eye and you can be sure that<br />
the <strong>Cell</strong> C <strong>Sharks</strong> will be coming to the<br />
RDS Arena this afternoon with more than<br />
a glint in the eye themselves and relishing<br />
the thought of coming up against their<br />
fellow countryman.<br />
How does he reflect on their start to the<br />
season so far?<br />
“They’ve been good. Unbeaten and<br />
unbeaten on the road too so you just<br />
know that they will be looking at this and<br />
saying we’re two from two, how good<br />
would it be to go three from three before<br />
we return back home?<br />
“The final leg of the tour, I know myself,<br />
you just want to end it on a high and that<br />
is where their motivation will be. Bringing<br />
They will<br />
certainly pose<br />
a different<br />
challenge to<br />
what we have<br />
seen so far<br />
in the URC<br />
but that’s<br />
been the case<br />
across the<br />
board really.<br />
20 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
that momentum then with them back<br />
home to Durban for the next few rounds<br />
of home games.<br />
“They will certainly pose a different<br />
challenge to what we have seen so far in<br />
the URC but that’s been the case across<br />
the board really. The South African teams<br />
have all started well this season. Only<br />
one loss across all four teams across<br />
the opening three rounds. That’s very<br />
different to last season where they took<br />
time to get going.<br />
“This season they are up and running<br />
and that is why it is such a difficult<br />
challenge for us.”<br />
That challenge against the <strong>Cell</strong> C <strong>Sharks</strong><br />
won’t get any easier with new signing<br />
Eben Etzebeth landing into his new club<br />
only this week but the trip to Dublin will<br />
come too soon for the Springbok star.<br />
Back to today though and to Jenkins,<br />
our own South African 6’ 8’ and 124kgs<br />
powerhouse.<br />
“To run out at the RDS two weeks ago<br />
was special. That was my first time. I<br />
hadn’t played there at all up until then so<br />
it was great.<br />
“It is something we have targeted as a<br />
club and as a group of players, creating<br />
an energy and an atmosphere for the<br />
supporters to get behind in those home<br />
games. Us feeding off them, them<br />
feeding off us and our performances.<br />
“It was phenomenal two weeks ago and<br />
I look forward to more of the same on<br />
Saturday.”<br />
After a difficult start in Ireland, he’s now<br />
got the bit between the teeth and is<br />
loving life. Long may it continue.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 21
13<br />
20<br />
Action<br />
replay<br />
FRIDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2022<br />
KINGSPAN STADIUM<br />
REFEREE: ANDY BRACE<br />
ATTENDANCE:14,477<br />
UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP<br />
ULSTER:<br />
Lowry; Sexton, Marshall, McCloskey,<br />
Stockdale; Burns, Cooney; Warwick,<br />
Herring, O’Toole, O’Connor (capt),<br />
Treadwell; Matty Rea, Marcus Rea, Timoney.<br />
REPLACEMENTS:<br />
Andrew, O’Sullivan, Moore, Carter, Jones,<br />
Shanahan, Curtis, Moxham.<br />
TRY: Andrew<br />
CON: Cooney<br />
PENS: Cooney 2<br />
Ulster got the better of us<br />
twice last year so we knew it was<br />
going to be a tough ask to come here<br />
and win, and then especially in the<br />
conditions, so really happy to<br />
get a win here.<br />
Garry Ringrose<br />
LEINSTER:<br />
O’Brien; Larmour, Ringrose (capt), Henshaw,<br />
Kearney; Byrne, McGrath; Porter, Sheehan,<br />
Ala’alatoa, Molony, Jenkins, Baird, Van der<br />
Flier, Conan.<br />
REPLACEMENTS:<br />
McKee, E Byrne, Abdaladze, J Ryan,<br />
Connors, McCarthy, Sexton, Ngatai.<br />
TRIES: Baird, Sheehan<br />
CONS: R Byrne 2<br />
PENS: R Byrne 2<br />
22 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
We are excited<br />
for the season<br />
but we have to<br />
put the building<br />
blocks in place<br />
and that means<br />
coming away, on a<br />
really ugly night,<br />
and dogging out<br />
a win and to get<br />
four points and<br />
that’s not a bad<br />
outcome for us<br />
here tonight.<br />
Leo Cullen<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 23
21 Years of Ladies<br />
Rugby Celebration<br />
in Navan RFC<br />
A celebration of 21 years of<br />
ladies and girls rugby had been<br />
postponed several times due to<br />
Covid-19. However, it was worth<br />
the wait! The event was sold out<br />
in advance and the huge crowd<br />
enjoyed pre-dinner drinks, dinner,<br />
amazing guest speakers, fantastic<br />
spot prizes and lots of dancing.<br />
Guests included coaches, managers,<br />
supporters, past and present executive<br />
club members. The club were delighted<br />
to see so many past players including<br />
players who represented at <strong>Leinster</strong> and<br />
Ireland along with the current ladies<br />
panel. Youth and minis coaches were well<br />
represented on the night too.<br />
BY EMMA LOUISE KEOGH, LEINSTER WOMEN’S RUGBY PRO<br />
Friday 16 September<br />
was a night to<br />
remember in Navan RFC.<br />
Navan RFC girls rugby has also had<br />
phenomenal success in North East,<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong>, <strong>Leinster</strong> league competitions and<br />
more recently two of their players were<br />
capped for Ireland U-18s.<br />
Minis and youths have flourished thanks<br />
to the dedication and hard work of these<br />
coaches and managers. Thanks to their<br />
efforts over the years, the club is now<br />
fielding girls teams across all the age<br />
grades from minis, U-14, U-16, U-18s<br />
in great numbers and they have had<br />
fantastic success.<br />
The evening began with a message<br />
from Club President Raymond Hannon,<br />
read by the club’s main sponsor Eimer<br />
Hannon, as Raymond was in Boston.<br />
Director of Rugby Niall Hennessey gave<br />
an outline of plans for girls and ladies<br />
rugby in the club. He also welcomed<br />
Paddy Donnelly of Bermingham’s Bar as<br />
the new sponsor of the senior ladies team<br />
and the new jersey was revealed.<br />
Lizzie Oakes, the first ever lady captain<br />
from 2001, gave a speech which had the<br />
audience in stitches and was probably<br />
the most entertaining speech ever made<br />
in the club. Her standing ovation was well<br />
deserved.<br />
After a delicious meal, Michael Connolly,<br />
the Youth Coordinator who first brought<br />
the idea of ladies rugby to the Executive<br />
Committee gave a very eloquent, witty<br />
and informative speech on the history of<br />
ladies rugby in Navan. It was very well<br />
received.<br />
A wave of excitement spread through the<br />
audience when it was announced that<br />
spot prizes were attached under chairs.<br />
The next speaker was Ciara Delahunt,<br />
out-half from the All-Ireland winning<br />
teams of 2003 and 2011. Ciara shared<br />
stories from over the years and paid<br />
tribute to all the coaches, managers, and<br />
supporters. Her words were inspiring as<br />
well as entertaining and gained rapturous<br />
applause.<br />
24 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Paul Beggy, the Head Coach of the<br />
senior ladies team spoke next. Paul spoke<br />
from the heart of the past and the present<br />
and of the bright future that is ahead for<br />
girls and ladies rugby in Navan RFC. The<br />
huge reception and appreciation that<br />
he received illustrated the high esteem<br />
and respect that he has as a coach and<br />
mentor.<br />
The evening continued with banter in the<br />
bar and dancing to DJ Tracy.<br />
The night was a real tribute to all involved<br />
in girls and ladies rugby in Navan RFC. A<br />
fantastic celebration of the past, present<br />
and a toast to a bright future.<br />
And of course, if you or anyone you<br />
know is interested, new members are<br />
always welcome and there is a team and<br />
a training session for all:<br />
Senior Women Training every<br />
Tuesday and Thursday at 7.30pm<br />
U-14 girls train every Wednesday<br />
and Friday at 7.30pm<br />
U-16 girls train every Wednesday<br />
and Friday at 7.30pm<br />
U-18 girls train every Monday and<br />
Wednesday at 7.30pm<br />
Follow us on Facebook & Instagram<br />
@NavanLadiesRugby<br />
& on Twitter<br />
@NavanRFCLadies<br />
and send us a message if you've any<br />
questions, or email us at:<br />
Navanladiesrugby@gmail.com<br />
If you are<br />
interested in<br />
taking up rugby<br />
or you would like<br />
to follow our<br />
updates, check out<br />
our social media<br />
channels:<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Women<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong>Womens<br />
@<strong>Leinster</strong>Women<br />
womenspro@leinsterrugby.ie<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 25
leo<br />
the lion’s<br />
kids<br />
corner<br />
ANAGRAMS<br />
Can you un-jumble<br />
the names of these<br />
academy players?<br />
MERCY<br />
OF COAL<br />
CLOWNS<br />
OR NIL<br />
spot the difference!<br />
Can you find all six?<br />
zoomed in!<br />
WHo is this leinster player<br />
having an extreme close-up?<br />
how did you do?<br />
ANAGRAMS<br />
Cormac Foley, Will Connors<br />
ZOOMED IN!<br />
James Lowe<br />
a...<br />
...maze...<br />
...ing<br />
can you make<br />
your way<br />
through the<br />
maze to the<br />
ball?<br />
28 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
AZTO<br />
with<br />
Rob Russell<br />
A – Action: If you could be a superhero,<br />
which would you be?<br />
Spider Man<br />
B – Boyhood: Who was your favourite<br />
sporting idol growing up?<br />
Alan Brogan, the Dublin Gaelic<br />
footballer<br />
C – Childhood: What is your favourite<br />
childhood memory?<br />
Spending the summers surfing in Clare<br />
D – Dish: What’s your go-to pre-match<br />
meal?<br />
Scrambled eggs and toast<br />
E – Education: What was your favourite<br />
subject in school?<br />
History<br />
F – Film buff: What’s your favourite film?<br />
Inception<br />
G – Groove: Who is the best dancer in<br />
the squad?<br />
Thomas Clarkson<br />
H – Holiday: What’s your favourite<br />
holiday destination?<br />
Italy, Lake Garda<br />
I – Inside: Who is the worst to sit beside<br />
in the dressing room?<br />
John McKee<br />
J – Joker: Who is the funniest in the<br />
squad?<br />
Max O’Reilly<br />
K – Kick-off: What’s your favourite time<br />
of the day to play a match?<br />
3pm<br />
L – Languages: How many languages<br />
can you speak?<br />
One<br />
M – Music: Your favourite artist and<br />
song right now?<br />
Tame Impala, Let It Happen<br />
N – Number: Do you have a lucky<br />
number?<br />
15<br />
30 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
O – Others: What’s your<br />
favourite sport outside of rugby?<br />
Gaelic football<br />
P – Pal: Who is your best mate in<br />
the squad?<br />
Andy Smith<br />
Q – Quirky: Who has the most<br />
interesting fashion sense?<br />
Martin Moloney<br />
R – Red Carpet: Who is the most<br />
famous contact in your phone?<br />
Jamie Osborne<br />
S – Superstitions: Do you have<br />
any matchday routines?<br />
Same music the day of a game<br />
T – Trim: What’s the worst<br />
haircut you’ve ever had?<br />
I had a shaved head in primary<br />
school<br />
U: Under pressure: Who in the<br />
squad would be the best in a<br />
bad situation?<br />
Charlie Ryan<br />
V – Verified: How often do you<br />
use social media?<br />
Daily<br />
W – Worst fear: What are you<br />
most scared of?<br />
Snakes<br />
X – X-ray: Have you ever broken<br />
any bones?<br />
Broken arm<br />
Y – Youth: Where did you grow<br />
up?<br />
Booterstown in Dublin<br />
Z – Zoo: What’s your favourite<br />
animal?<br />
Dog<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 31
Bank of Ireland<br />
Sarah Robinson Cup<br />
The 2022/23<br />
Bank of<br />
Ireland Sarah<br />
Robinson Cup<br />
kicked off<br />
last week<br />
with games<br />
taking place<br />
in Newbridge<br />
and Carlow.<br />
North Midlands<br />
and South-East<br />
secured opening<br />
day wins.<br />
NORTH MIDLANDS 29<br />
MIDLANDS 12<br />
A powerhouse first-half propelled<br />
North Midlands to a comfortable<br />
win over Midlands in the Bank of<br />
Ireland <strong>Leinster</strong> Sarah Robinson<br />
(U18) Cup in Newbridge on<br />
Wednesday evening.<br />
They started as they meant to continue<br />
when Niamh Murphy’s strong running<br />
opened up their opponents for the first<br />
try, expertly converted by Amy Rushton in<br />
the fourth minute.<br />
The solid work of prop Clodagh<br />
Goulding and flanker Emma Jane Wilson<br />
was important in the battle for the gain<br />
line.<br />
The ensuing stalemate was caused by the<br />
impact of Midlands front five forwards<br />
Shannon Doran and Saoirse Guinan and<br />
flanker Claire Burke.<br />
However, North Midland’s cutting edge<br />
was sharper with Heidi Lyons a cause for<br />
concern and captain Julie Nokan stealing<br />
over for the second try in the 28th minute.<br />
The hammer blow arrived just before the<br />
interval when full-back Murphy knifed<br />
through for her second try and Rushton’s<br />
second conversion to make it a 19-point<br />
gap.<br />
Replacement Ellie White didn’t need a<br />
second invitation to pounce for the fourth<br />
try in the 47th minute.<br />
It was at this point Midlands began to<br />
get a better grip on the tussle for territory,<br />
enabling number eight Georgia Young to<br />
ground the ball for Kelly Burke to convert<br />
in the 54th minute.<br />
Suddenly infused with confidence,<br />
Midlands centres Jodie Ahern and<br />
Caoimhe McCormack kept the<br />
momentum going.<br />
They were quickly back on the attack for<br />
replacement Hannah Connon to halve<br />
the deficit before May Kelleher arrived<br />
to seal the issue with the final try of the<br />
night.<br />
SCORERS – North Midlands: N Murphy, 2<br />
tries; J Nolan, E White, M Kelleher try each;<br />
A Rushton 2 cons. Midlands: H Connon, G<br />
Young try each; K Burke con.<br />
NORTH MIDLANDS – 15. Niamh Murphy<br />
(Port Dara), 14. Holly Bale (Port Dara),<br />
13. Sophie Cullen (Naas), 12. Heidi Lyons<br />
(Naas), 11. Faye O’Toole (Clane), 10. Amy<br />
Rushton (Port Dara), 9. Julie Nolan (Athy,<br />
Capt), 1. Aoife Thompson (PortDara), 2.<br />
Lucy Snoddy (Athy), 3. Clodagh Goulding<br />
(PortDara), 4. Alannah O’Brien (Athy),<br />
34 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
5. Ellen Dunne (Portlaoise), 6. Emma-<br />
Jane Wilson (PortDara), 7. Roisin Kehoe<br />
(PortDara), 8. Shauna Healy (Athy).<br />
Replacements: 16. Lizzie Crumpton (North<br />
Kildare), 17. May Kelleher (Naas), 18.<br />
Tegan McCabe (Clane), 19. Orla O’Keeffe<br />
(PortDara), 20. Kate Noons (PortDara),<br />
21. Hannah Kelly (Clane), 22. Emma Henry<br />
(Athy), 23. Ellie White (PortDara).<br />
MIDLANDS – 15. Ellen O’Sullivan-Sexton<br />
(Mullingar), 14. Sorcha Tierney (Birr), 13.<br />
Jodie Ahern (Mullingar), 12. Caoimhe<br />
McCormack (Mullingar), 11. Sinead Bowes<br />
(Mullingar), 10. Aoife Hughes (Tullamore),<br />
9. Aoibhe Kelly (Roscrea), 1. Maebh<br />
Staunton (Edenderry), 2. Dorieann Oman<br />
(Tullamore), 3. Shannon Doran (Edenderry),<br />
4. Clodagh Farrell (Edenderry), 5. Saoirse<br />
Guinan (Tullamore), 6. Claire Burke<br />
(Tullamore), 7. Eve Byrne (Mullingar), 8.<br />
Georgia Young (Mullingar).<br />
Replacements: 16. Kelly Burke (Mullingar),<br />
17. Abigail Johnston (Mullingar), 18. Moya<br />
Murtagh (Mullingar), 19. Anna Mai O’Brien<br />
(Mullingar), 20. Dervela Walsh (Longford),<br />
21. Abigail O’Connor (Mullingar), 22.<br />
Meabh O’Hara (Mullingar), 23. Hannah<br />
Connon (Roscrea).<br />
SOUTH EAST 36<br />
METRO 5<br />
A hat-trick by Kate Corrigan<br />
was the highlight of South East’s<br />
comfortable win over Metro in<br />
the Bank of Ireland <strong>Leinster</strong> Sarah<br />
Robinson (U18s) Cup in Carlow on<br />
Wednesday night.<br />
The South East began at pace, taking the<br />
ball up and forcing the issue to create<br />
the opening try for centre Corrigan in the<br />
fifth minute.<br />
However, the combination of mistakes<br />
made by the winners and tackles put in<br />
by Metro, led by loose forward Emily<br />
Tarrant, prop Hope Lowney and number<br />
eight Isobel O’Sullivan, kept them from<br />
adding to that start.<br />
It looked like it would stay that way<br />
until South-East manufactured a try for<br />
Abby Healy which the out-half herself<br />
converted for 12-0 at the interval.<br />
Better again, SE mirrored the opening<br />
half by getting out of the blocks quickly<br />
to apply pressure for the hard-charging<br />
Corrigan to nab her second in the 40th<br />
minute.<br />
Metro were handed a way back into the<br />
game when hooker Bronagh Boggan and<br />
second row Carla Cloney were binned in<br />
the 44th and 49th minutes, respectively.<br />
This is when the no-nonsense defence of<br />
flanker Ciara Short and number eight<br />
Orla Wafer came to the fore and it was<br />
soon supported by the return of Boggan<br />
and Cloney.<br />
Amid all of the chaos brought on by<br />
the yellow cards, Metro were able to<br />
dominate from hard carries and flanker<br />
Tarrant crashed over for a try.<br />
Healy’s use of the ball from crossfield<br />
kicks and passing was a feature of the<br />
game, particularly aimed for Robyn<br />
O’Connor and Corrigan.<br />
Ireland U18 full-back O’Connor stepped<br />
into the breach to punch in tries in<br />
the 55th and 57th minutes, the latter<br />
converted by Healy.<br />
All the while, Metro scrum-half Charlotte<br />
Nagle, wing Brooke Fagan-Merrigan and<br />
centre Sadhbh Furlong were prominent.<br />
South East emptied the bench, thereafter,<br />
and it was left to Corrigan to complete<br />
her haul in the 66th minute for a night the<br />
Tullow girls won’t forget in a hurry.<br />
SCORERS – South-East: K Corrigan 3 tries;<br />
R O’Connor 2 tries; A Healy try, 3 cons.<br />
Metro – E Tarrant try.<br />
SOUTH EAST – 15. Robyn O’Connor<br />
(Wexford Wanderers), 14. Emily Corrigan<br />
(Tullow), 13. Katie Corrigan (Tullow), 12.<br />
Alannah Dixon (Wicklow), 11. Ciara Byrne<br />
(Tullow), 10. Abby Healy (Wicklow), 9.<br />
Amelie Birrell (Wicklow), 1. Melissa Quirke<br />
(Wexford Wanderers), 2. Bronagh Boggan<br />
(Wexford Wanderers), 3. Aoife Farrell<br />
(Enniscorthy), 4. Carla Cloney (Enniscorthy),<br />
5. Rebecca Brennan (Wicklow), 6. Deirbhile<br />
Gavaghan (Wicklow), 7. Ciara Short<br />
(Wicklow), 8. Orla Wafer (Enniscorthy).<br />
Replacements: 16. Mary Canavan (Gorey),<br />
17. Molly Callery (Wicklow), 18. Sophie<br />
Murphy (Wicklow), 19. Amie O’Brien<br />
(Enniscorthy), 20. Clara Dunne (Wicklow),<br />
21. Doireann Kiloran (Arklow), 22. Sina<br />
White (Gorey), 23. Eve Prendergast (New<br />
Ross).<br />
METRO – 15. Rebecca England<br />
(Greystones), 14. Lucy Nagle (Greystones),<br />
13. Sadhbh Furlong (Greystones), 12.<br />
Millie Merriman-Devlin (Greystones), 11.<br />
Brooke Fagan-Merrigan (Clontarf), 10.<br />
Hannah Scanlan (Clontarf), 9. Charlotte<br />
Nagle (Greystones), 1. Laoise McAuley<br />
(MU Barnhall), 2. Emma Counihan<br />
(MU Barnhall), 3. Hope Lowney (MU<br />
Barnhall), 4. Sadhbh Poullain (DLSP),<br />
5. Kate Colton (MU Barnhall), 6. Emily<br />
Tarrant (MU Barnhall), 7. Sarah Moody<br />
(Greystones), 8. Isobel O’Sullivan<br />
(Greystones).<br />
Replacements: 16. Sophie Leach (MU<br />
Barnhall), 17. Katie O’Driscoll (Suttonians),<br />
18. Mia Gordon (MU Barnhall), 19.<br />
Aoibhe Curran (MU Barnhall), 20. Giselle<br />
O’Donnoghue (Clontarf), 21. Sasha<br />
Sweeney (Greystones).<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 35
leinster<br />
squad 2022/23<br />
season<br />
Vakhtang Abdaladze #1263<br />
Prop<br />
DOB 6 Feb 1996<br />
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)<br />
WEIGHT 121kg (19st 1 lb)<br />
Michael Ala’alatoa #1301<br />
9<br />
CAPS<br />
Prop<br />
DOB 28 August 1991<br />
HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)<br />
WEIGHT 126kg (19st 11lbs)<br />
Ryan Baird #1278<br />
Second Row<br />
DOB 26 July 1999<br />
HEIGHT 1.98m (6’ 6”)<br />
WEIGHT 113kg (17st 9lbs)<br />
8<br />
CAPS<br />
Ed Byrne #1222<br />
Prop<br />
DOB 9 September 1993<br />
HEIGHT 1.80m (5’ 11”)<br />
WEIGHT 115kg (18st)<br />
6<br />
CAP<br />
Harry Byrne #1280<br />
2<br />
CAPS<br />
Outhalf<br />
DOB 22 April 1999<br />
HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)<br />
WEIGHT 95kg (14st 11lbs)<br />
Ross Byrne #1236<br />
Out-half<br />
DOB 8 April 1995<br />
HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)<br />
WEIGHT 92kg (14st 5lbs)<br />
13<br />
CAPS<br />
Thomas Clarkson #1285<br />
Prop<br />
DOB 22 February 2000<br />
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)<br />
WEIGHT 118kg (18st 7lbs)<br />
Jack Conan #1223<br />
30<br />
CAPS<br />
7<br />
CAPS<br />
No 8<br />
DOB 29 July 1992<br />
HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”)<br />
WEIGHT 110kg (17st 4 lbs)<br />
36 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Will Connors #1264<br />
9<br />
CAPS<br />
Max Deegan #1256<br />
1<br />
CAPS<br />
Brian Deeny #1306<br />
Caelan Doris #1268<br />
20<br />
CAPS<br />
Back Row<br />
DOB 4 April 1996<br />
HEIGHT 1.96 (6’ 5”)<br />
WEIGHT 99kg (15st 8lbs)<br />
No 8<br />
DOB 1 October 1996<br />
HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”)<br />
WEIGHT 110kg (17st 4lbs)<br />
Second Row<br />
DOB 2 March 2000<br />
HEIGHT 1.99m (6’ 6”)<br />
WEIGHT 118kg (18st 8lbs)<br />
Back Row<br />
DOB 2 April 1998<br />
HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”)<br />
WEIGHT 106kg (16st 10lbs)<br />
Cormac Foley #1299<br />
Scrum-half<br />
DOB 24 October 1999<br />
HEIGHT 1.81m (5’ 11 ”)<br />
WEIGHT 90kg (14 st 2 lbs)<br />
Ciarán Frawley #1265<br />
Out-half<br />
DOB 4 December 1997<br />
HEIGHT 1.92m (6’ 3”)<br />
WEIGHT 98kg (15st 5lbs)<br />
Tadhg Furlong #1220<br />
60<br />
CAPS<br />
13<br />
CAPS<br />
Prop<br />
DOB 14 November 1992<br />
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)<br />
WEIGHT 125kg (19st 8lbs)<br />
Jamison Gibson-Park #1247<br />
Scrum-half<br />
DOB 23 February 1992<br />
HEIGHT 1.76m (5’ 9”)<br />
WEIGHT 80kg (12st 8lbs)<br />
20<br />
CAPS<br />
Cian Healy #1142<br />
118<br />
CAPS<br />
2<br />
CAPS<br />
Robbie Henshaw #1251<br />
60<br />
CAPS<br />
9<br />
CAPS<br />
Jason Jenkins #1310<br />
1<br />
CAP<br />
Dave Kearney #1158<br />
19<br />
CAPS<br />
Prop<br />
DOB 7 October 1987<br />
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)<br />
WEIGHT 116kg (18st 4lbs)<br />
Centre / Full Back<br />
DOB 12 June 1993<br />
HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)<br />
WEIGHT 99kg (15st 8lbs)<br />
Lock<br />
DOB 2 December 1995<br />
HEIGHT 2.03 m (6’ 8”)<br />
WEIGHT 124kg (19st 5lbs)<br />
Wing / Full Back<br />
DOB 19 June 1989<br />
HEIGHT 1.81m (5’ 11”)<br />
WEIGHT 90kg (14st 2lbs)<br />
Hugo Keenan #1253<br />
23<br />
CAPS<br />
Rónan Kelleher #1277<br />
18<br />
CAPS<br />
Jordan Larmour #1258<br />
30<br />
CAPS<br />
James Lowe #1262<br />
15<br />
CAPS<br />
Full Back<br />
DOB 18 June 1996<br />
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)<br />
WEIGHT 92kg (14st 4lbs)<br />
Hooker<br />
DOB 24 January 1998<br />
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”)<br />
WEIGHT 110kg (17st 5lbs)<br />
Wing<br />
DOB 10 June 1997<br />
HEIGHT 1.78m (5’ 10”)<br />
WEIGHT 88kg (13st 12lbs)<br />
Wing / Full Back<br />
DOB 8 July 1992<br />
HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”)<br />
WEIGHT 105kg (16st 7lbs)<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 37
Joe McCarthy #1303<br />
Nick McCarthy #1241<br />
Luke McGrath #1206<br />
19<br />
CAPS<br />
Michael Milne #1279<br />
Second Row<br />
DOB 26 March 2001<br />
HEIGHT 1.98m (6’ 6”)<br />
WEIGHT 119kg (18st 8lbs)<br />
Scrum Half<br />
DOB 25 March 1995<br />
HEIGHT 1.8m (5’ 11”)<br />
WEIGHT 84kg (13st 3lbs)<br />
Scrum Half<br />
DOB 3 February 1993<br />
HEIGHT 1.75m (5’ 9”)<br />
WEIGHT 82kg (12st 12lbs)<br />
Prop<br />
DOB 5 February 1999<br />
HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”)<br />
WEIGHT 115kg (18st 1lbs)<br />
Martin Moloney #1300<br />
Ross Molony #1233<br />
Charlie Ngatai #1311<br />
1<br />
CAP<br />
Jimmy O’Brien #1272<br />
Back Row<br />
DOB 19 October 1999<br />
HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”)<br />
WEIGHT 104kg (16st 5lbs)<br />
Lock<br />
DOB 11 May 1994<br />
HEIGHT 2.00m (6’ 6”)<br />
WEIGHT 116kg (18st 4lbs)<br />
Centre / Full Back<br />
DOB 17 August 1990<br />
HEIGHT 1.87 m (6’ 2”)<br />
WEIGHT 102kg (16st 1lbs)<br />
Back Three<br />
DOB 27 November 1996<br />
HEIGHT 1.84m (6’ 0”)<br />
WEIGHT 89kg (14st 0lbs)<br />
Tommy O’Brien #1283<br />
Jamie Osborne #1294<br />
Scott Penny #1271<br />
Andrew Porter #1246<br />
46<br />
CAPS<br />
Wing<br />
DOB 28 May 1998<br />
HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”)<br />
WEIGHT 95kg (14st 3lbs)<br />
Centre<br />
DOB 16 November 2001<br />
HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”)<br />
WEIGHT 97.5kg (15st 5lbs)<br />
Flanker<br />
DOB 22 September 1999<br />
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)<br />
WEIGHT 104kg (16st 4lbs)<br />
Prop<br />
DOB 16 January 1996<br />
HEIGHT 1.84m (6’ 1”)<br />
WEIGHT 114kg (17st 13lbs)<br />
Garry Ringrose #1237<br />
44<br />
CAPS<br />
Rhys Ruddock #1167<br />
27<br />
CAPS<br />
Charlie Ryan<br />
James Ryan #1259<br />
46<br />
CAPS<br />
Centre<br />
DOB 26 January 1995<br />
HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”)<br />
WEIGHT 96kg (15st 1lbs)<br />
Back Row<br />
DOB 13 November 1990<br />
HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)<br />
WEIGHT 113kg (17st 9lbs)<br />
Lock<br />
DOB 3 February 1999<br />
HEIGHT 2.01m (6’ 7”)<br />
WEIGHT 115kg (18st 1lbs)<br />
Lock<br />
DOB 24 July 1996<br />
HEIGHT 2.00m (6’ 7”)<br />
WEIGHT 115kg (18st 1lbs)<br />
38 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Johnny Sexton #1127<br />
108<br />
CAPS<br />
14<br />
CAPS<br />
Dan Sheehan #1286<br />
10<br />
CAPS<br />
James Tracy #1211<br />
6<br />
CAPS<br />
Liam Turner #1287<br />
Out-half<br />
DOB 11 July 1985<br />
HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”)<br />
WEIGHT 90kg (14st 2lbs)<br />
Hooker<br />
DOB 17 September 1998<br />
HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)<br />
WEIGHT 110kg (17st 5lbs)<br />
Hooker<br />
DOB 2 April 1991<br />
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”)<br />
WEIGHT 106kg (16st 9lbs)<br />
Centre<br />
DOB 14 July 1999<br />
HEIGHT 1.73m (5’ 8”)<br />
WEIGHT 93kg (14st 9lbs)<br />
Josh van der Flier #1228<br />
43<br />
CAPS<br />
Flanker<br />
DOB 25 April 1993<br />
HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”)<br />
WEIGHT 103kg (16st 3lbs)<br />
for full squad profiles please click here<br />
Coaching<br />
Staff 2022/23<br />
Stuart<br />
Lancaster<br />
Senior Coach<br />
season<br />
Leo Cullen<br />
Head<br />
Coach<br />
Emmet<br />
Farrell<br />
Kicking Coach and<br />
Lead Performance Analyst<br />
Robin<br />
McBryde<br />
Assistant Coach<br />
SEÁN<br />
O’BRIEN<br />
CONTACT SKILLS Coach<br />
ANDREW<br />
GOODMAN<br />
ASSISTANT COACH<br />
Guy<br />
Easterby<br />
Head of Rugby Operations<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 39
We always strive to be<br />
A beat ahead<br />
layahealthcare.ie
Your best support every season<br />
Managed IT Services IT Disaster Recovery<br />
Managed IT Security Services Cloud Services<br />
Delivering bespoke IT services from concept, delivery and support<br />
support@lantech.ie<br />
www.lantech.ie<br />
OFFICIAL<br />
IT PARTNER
RUGBY<br />
YOU KNOW BETTER<br />
BECAUSE YOU GET<br />
Official Media Partner of <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby
New Stand Opened<br />
at Mullingar RFC<br />
Newly elected<br />
IRFU President,<br />
John Robinson<br />
cut the ribbon<br />
at the official<br />
opening of<br />
the newly<br />
constructed<br />
stand in<br />
Mullingar<br />
Rugby Club<br />
last Sunday<br />
week just ahead<br />
of the Bank<br />
of Ireland<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong><br />
League, Round 1<br />
game between<br />
Mullingar and<br />
Carlow.<br />
BY PADRAIG MURPHY<br />
The stand boasts 425 seats<br />
stretching from 22 to 22, that will<br />
greatly enhance the experience of<br />
spectators on match days.<br />
The stand provides an elevated viewing<br />
position and will provide protection from<br />
the elements during the inclement winter<br />
months.<br />
The opening followed two years of<br />
planning including a submission to an<br />
Bord Pleanála and an appeal.<br />
The summer of hard work and activity<br />
in Shay Murtagh Park included the<br />
spectator stand, a 20m long skills wall<br />
and an 800m walking track.<br />
Mullingar President Conal Fitzgerald<br />
complimented all involved in the project<br />
and getting everything done in the offseason<br />
ensured there was no disruption<br />
to rugby. He also wanted to pay tribute<br />
to past-Presidents, committees and<br />
volunteers who, through their great work,<br />
had built Mullingar Rugby Club to where<br />
it is today.<br />
The IRFU President John Robinson<br />
thanked the club for the invitation to<br />
preside on the opening and commented<br />
on the excellent facilities that were<br />
available in Mullingar Rugby Club, how<br />
the spectator experience would be much<br />
improved with the new facility and that<br />
it was one of the best structures in the<br />
country.<br />
Denis McDermott, chair of the<br />
Fundraising Committee outlined the<br />
next phase of the development works in<br />
Shay Murtagh Park which will include<br />
installing solar panels on the roof of the<br />
stand which will allow the club to sell 40<br />
kwh of electricity to the grid, while also<br />
upgrading the lights on the main grass<br />
pitch to 400lux low energy LED lights.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 43
<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Hosts<br />
Annual Sponsors’ Forum<br />
Earlier this<br />
week, <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
Rugby hosted<br />
the annual<br />
sponsors’<br />
forum in the<br />
UCD Club in<br />
Belfield.<br />
The forum was last held in 2019<br />
but because of Covid-19 it has<br />
been missing from the schedule<br />
since then.<br />
In attendance at the event were head<br />
coaches Leo Cullen and Tania Rosser, as<br />
well as representatives from each of the<br />
sponsors and partners of <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby<br />
and members of the OLSC Committee,<br />
including President Bebhinn Dunne.<br />
The event was a welcome opportunity<br />
for people to catch up in person for the<br />
first time in quite a while as well as an<br />
opportunity for those new to their roles<br />
or indeed new partners and sponsors to<br />
the <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby family, to introduce<br />
themselves.<br />
Mick Dawson, the CEO of <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
Rugby, was also in attendance for his last<br />
sponsors’ forum, as was incoming CEO,<br />
Shane Nolan. Dawson addressed those<br />
in attendance and thanked them most<br />
sincerely for their support, in particular<br />
during the Covid-19 pandemic, when all<br />
organisations were under huge financial<br />
pressure.<br />
There was a Q&A with both head<br />
coaches, where they both outlined their<br />
excitement for the season ahead and<br />
indeed for Tania Rosser, her excitement<br />
for what the short and medium-term future<br />
held for the women’s game in Ireland<br />
and indeed further afield with talk of a<br />
potential URC-style competition.<br />
There were also presentations from Bank<br />
of Ireland, Diageo, adidas, Energia,<br />
BearingPoint and LAYA Healthcare,<br />
before the chair of the Commercial and<br />
Marketing Committee in <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby,<br />
Billy Murphy, brought proceedings to a<br />
conclusion.<br />
A great morning of networking, of<br />
sharing ideas and of interaction and most<br />
importantly of meeting the wider <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
Rugby family.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 45
compiled by stuart farmer<br />
media services limited<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Player<br />
Statistics<br />
SQUAD<br />
CAP<br />
NO<br />
DEBUT<br />
2022/23 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER<br />
ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR<br />
App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts<br />
SINCE LAST TRY<br />
CAPS<br />
VAKHTANG ABDALADZE 1263 2 DEC 17 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 0+19 2 10 0+18 2 10 0+1 - - 4 -<br />
MICHAEL ALA'ALATOA 1301 25 SEP 21 3 - - 3 - - - - - 15+13 3 15 14+6 2 10 1+7 1 5 5 WS 9<br />
RYAN BAIRD 1278 27 APR 19 2 1 5 2 1 5 - - - 21+19 8 40 19+14 8 40 2+5 - - 1 IR 8<br />
LEE BARRON 1308 23 APR 22 - - - - - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - -<br />
ED BYRNE 1222 9 FEB 14 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - 28+60 12 60 28+47 11 55 0+13 1 5 5 IR 6<br />
HARRY BYRNE 1280 28 SEP 19 - - - - - - - - - 21+15 6 183 21+14 6 178 0+1 - 5 15 IR 2<br />
ROSS BYRNE 1236 4 SEP 15 2+1 - 24 2+1 - 24 - - - 87+44 9 850 73+22 4 620 14+22 5 230 14 IR 13<br />
TOM CLARKSON 1285 29 AUG 20 - - - - - - - - - 6+12 - - 6+12 - - - - - - -<br />
JACK CONAN 1223 20 FEB 14 1 - - 1 - - - - - 92+26 25 125 64+16 16 80 28+10 9 45 11 IR 30<br />
WILL CONNORS 1264 9 FEB 18 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - 18+10 2 10 17+10 2 10 1 - - 15 IR 9<br />
CHRIS COSGRAVE 1305 26 MAR 22 - - - - - - - - - 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - - -<br />
MAX DEEGAN 1256 3 DEC 16 1 - - 1 - - - - - 44+41 24 120 41+29 22 110 3+12 2 10 6 IR 1<br />
BRIAN DEENY 1306 23 APR 22 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 2+1 - - 2+1 - - - - - - -<br />
CAELAN DORIS 1268 28 APR 18 1 - - 1 - - - - - 48+8 8 40 34+6 6 30 14+2 2 10 3 IR 20<br />
CORMAC FOLEY 1299 24 APR 21 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 2+4 1 5 2+4 1 5 - - - 2 -<br />
CIARAN FRAWLEY 1265 17 FEB 18 1+1 - 6 1+1 - 6 - - - 32+26 7 185 29+18 5 169 3+8 2 16 4 -<br />
TADHG FURLONG 1220 1 NOV 13 - - - - - - - - - 85+42 10 50 47+34 3 15 38+8 7 35 6 IR 60<br />
JAMISON GIBSON-PARK 1247 2 SEP 16 - - - - - - - - - 60+56 22 110 49+30 15 75 11+26 7 35 2 IR 20<br />
MARCUS HANAN 1295 19 FEB 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - - -<br />
CIAN HEALY 1142 5 MAY 07 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 160+90 30 150 93+57 16 80 65+32 13 65 2 IR 118<br />
ROBBIE HENSHAW 1251 8 OCT 16 2 - - 2 - - - - - 68+2 16 80 31+1 7 35 37+1 9 45 3 IR 60<br />
JASON JENKINS 1310 17 SEP 22 3 1 5 3 1 5 - - - 3 1 5 3 1 5 - - - 3 SA 1<br />
DAVE KEARNEY 1158 16 MAY 09 3 1 5 3 1 5 - - - 153+23 53 265 127+16 46 230 25+6 7 35 3 IR 19<br />
HUGO KEENAN 1253 5 NOV 16 - - - - - - - - - 41+3 9 45 28+3 5 25 13 4 20 2 IR 23<br />
RONAN KELLEHER 1277 22 FEB 19 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - 30+8 13 65 17+6 11 55 13+2 2 10 9 IR 18<br />
JORDAN LARMOUR 1258 2 SEP 17 2 - - 2 - - - - - 66+10 27 135 42+7 20 100 24+3 7 35 4 IR 30<br />
TEMI LASISI 1304 12 MAR 22 - - - - - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - -<br />
JAMES LOWE 1262 2 DEC 17 - - - - - - - - - 63+2 47 235 39+1 28 140 24+1 19 95 2 IR 15<br />
JOE MCCARTHY 1303 29 JAN 22 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 8+4 1 5 8+1 1 5 0+3 - - 3 -<br />
NICK MCCARTHY 1241 19 DEC 15 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 9+39 5 25 9+33 5 25 0+6 - - 8 -<br />
LUKE MCGRATH 1206 5 MAY 12 3 2 10 3 2 10 - - - 117+61 43 215 82+49 35 175 35+12 8 40 2 IR 19<br />
JOHN MCKEE 1307 23 APR 22 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 2+2 - - 2+2 - - - - - - -<br />
46 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
SQUAD<br />
CAP<br />
NO<br />
DEBUT<br />
2022/23 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER<br />
ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR<br />
App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts App Try Pts<br />
SINCE LAST TRY<br />
CAPS<br />
MICHAEL MILNE 1279 28 SEP 19 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 1+17 2 10 1+17 2 10 - - - 16 -<br />
MARTIN MOLONEY 1300 24 APR 21 - - - - - - - - - 2+5 - - 2+5 - - - - - - -<br />
ROSS MOLONY 1233 20 FEB 15 3 - - 3 - - - - - 85+57 5 25 75+42 4 20 10+15 1 5 19 -<br />
BEN MURPHY 1309 21 MAY 22 - - - - - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - -<br />
CHARLIE NGATAI 1311 17 SEP 22 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - - NZ 1<br />
JAMIE OSBORNE 1294 30 JAN 21 1 - - 1 - - - - - 14+6 1 5 14+6 1 5 - - - 15 -<br />
JIMMY O'BRIEN 1272 23 NOV 18 2 - - 2 - - - - - 45+10 16 84 36+9 10 54 9+1 6 30 4 -<br />
SEAN O'BRIEN 1297 12 MAR 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - - -<br />
TOMMY O'BRIEN 1283 20 DEC 19 - - - - - - - - - 10+11 6 30 10+9 6 30 0+2 - - 2 -<br />
MAX O'REILLY 1291 2 JAN 21 1 - - 1 - - - - - 9+1 1 5 9+1 1 5 - - - 9 -<br />
SCOTT PENNY 1271 23 NOV 18 1 - - 1 - - - - - 35+7 23 115 35+7 23 115 - - - 2 -<br />
ANDREW PORTER 1246 2 SEP 16 2 - - 2 - - - - - 43+50 14 70 31+31 10 50 12+19 4 20 10 IR 46<br />
GARRY RINGROSE 1237 12 SEP 15 2 - - 2 - - - - - 102+2 30 158 62+1 19 103 40+1 11 55 4 IR 44<br />
RHYS RUDDOCK 1167 6 DEC 09 1 2 10 1 2 10 - - - 157+54 14 70 119+35 12 60 37+17 2 10 1 IR 27<br />
ROB RUSSELL 1302 3 OCT 21 1 - - 1 - - - - - 4+2 - - 4+2 - - - - - - -<br />
CHARLIE RYAN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -<br />
JAMES RYAN 1259 2 SEP 17 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 52+7 3 15 27+2 1 5 25+5 2 10 19 IR 46<br />
JOHNNY SEXTON 1127 27 JAN 06 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 156+29 26 1614 89+22 13 857 65+7 12 726 25 IR 108<br />
DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 2 5 25 2 5 25 - - - 11+20 21 105 10+13 18 90 1+7 3 15 1 IR 10<br />
ANDREW SMITH 1292 2 JAN 21 - - - - - - - - - 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - - -<br />
ALEX SOROKA 1296 28 FEB 21 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 2+4 - - 2+4 - - - - - - -<br />
JAMES TRACY 1211 4 NOV 12 - - - - - - - - - 64+77 18 90 57+48 17 85 7+29 1 5 5 IR 6<br />
LIAM TURNER 1287 23 OCT 20 - - - - - - - - - 4+2 - - 4+2 - - - - - - -<br />
JOSH VAN DER<br />
1228 11 OCT 14 2 1 5 2 1 5 - - - 92+24 19 95 54+18 9 45 38+6 10 50 2 IR 43<br />
FLIER<br />
JOHNNY SEXTON 1127 27 JAN 06 8+3 - 107 2+2 - 24 6+1 - 83 156+28 26 1614 89+21 13 857 65+7 12 726 24 IR 108<br />
DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 6+10 10 50 5+3 7 35 1+7 3 15 9+20 16 80 8+13 13 65 1+7 3 15 1 IR 10<br />
ANDREW SMITH 1292 2 JAN 21 - - - - - - - - - 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - - -<br />
ALEX SOROKA 1296 28 FEB 21 1+2 - - 1+2 - - - - - 2+3 - - 2+3 - - - - - - -<br />
DEVIN TONER 1128 27 JAN 06 6+8 - - 6+5 - - 0+3 - - 212+68 4 20 146+47 4 20 63+21 - - 63 IR 70<br />
JAMES TRACY 1211 4 NOV 12 7+5 4 20 7+4 4 20 0+1 - - 64+77 18 90 57+48 17 85 7+29 1 5 5 IR 6<br />
LIAM TURNER 1287 23 OCT 20 - - - - - - - - - 4+2 - - 4+2 - - - - - - -<br />
JOSH VAN DER FLIER 1228 11 OCT 14 15+1 7 35 7+1 1 5 8 6 30 90+24 18 90 52+18 8 40 38+6 10 50 4 IR 43<br />
KICKING<br />
2022/23 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER<br />
ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR OVERALL<br />
SUCCESS<br />
RATE<br />
C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG ATT Career<br />
%<br />
- - - HARRY BYRNE - - - - - - - - - - 63 9 62 8 1 1 92 78.26%<br />
ROSS BYRNE 91.67% 9 2 - 9 2 - - - - 263 92 1 204 63 1 59 29 - 452 78.54%<br />
CIARAN FRAWLEY 100.00% 3 - - 3 - - - - - 57 12 - 54 12 - 3 - - 83 83.13%<br />
JIMMY O'BRIEN - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - 2 - - - - - 4 50.00%<br />
GARRY RINGROSE - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - 4 - - - - - 6 66.67%<br />
JOHNNY SEXTON - - - - - - - - - - 265 307 11 129 171 7 129 132 4 714 80.11%<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 47
TITLE PARTNER<br />
OFFICAL KIT PARTNER<br />
PREMIUM PARTNERS<br />
PARTNERS & SUPPLIERS<br />
MEDIA PARTNERS<br />
48 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Bank of Ireland<br />
Match Day Mascots<br />
Oran<br />
McConville<br />
Age: 7<br />
School: Scoil Bhríde Athgarvan<br />
Class: 1st class<br />
Sports: Rugby, GAA, soccer, athletics<br />
Favourite players: Johnny Sexton & James Ryan<br />
Max<br />
Kissane<br />
Age: 12<br />
School: St Mary’s College<br />
Class: 6th class<br />
Hobbies and interests: Rugby,<br />
soccer and basketball<br />
Favourite <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby player:<br />
Johnny Sexton<br />
Robyn<br />
Kissane<br />
Age: 10<br />
School: Alexandra College<br />
Class: 5th class<br />
Hobbies and interests: Rugby, soccer and hockey<br />
Favourite <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby player: Johnny Sexton<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 49
ig picture<br />
23 September 2022<br />
Michael Ala’alatoa of <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
warms up with the assistance of<br />
children before the United Rugby<br />
Championship match between<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> and Benetton at the RDS<br />
Arena in Dublin.<br />
50 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 51
Reduce your home energy<br />
consumption with solar.<br />
Our range of Solar PV panels, batteries and hot water diverters<br />
means we’ve something to suit every home. Solar battery storage<br />
means that energy generated by Solar PV panels during the day<br />
isn’t wasted, as it is stored to power your home in the evening<br />
and overnight.<br />
Choose from a solar add-on to maximise your home<br />
energy efficiency:<br />
A hot water diverter to heat your hot water<br />
Battery storage to store any excess electricity your<br />
panels generate. If you export this excess electricity<br />
back to the grid you could be eligible for a payment<br />
through the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) scheme.<br />
energia.ie/cosy-homes/solar
A rugby passion<br />
rekindled at<br />
Longford Rugby Club!<br />
Hearing stories From The<br />
Ground Up is what we are<br />
all about here in <strong>Leinster</strong>,<br />
and we also love hearing<br />
from those within our 12<br />
county-community that find<br />
a home away from home at<br />
their local rugby club.<br />
The Marshall family are one such<br />
family.<br />
In this piece, Allen Marshall, originally<br />
from South Africa, reflects on settling in<br />
Longford and joining Longford Rugby<br />
Club with his family.<br />
Travelling from country to country looking<br />
for greener pastures has not been an<br />
easy process. We wanted a nice place to<br />
settle down and set up for family life. My<br />
wife, Lisa, and I eventually ended up in<br />
Ireland and it has been a true Godsend.<br />
We bought a house at Glen, outside<br />
Edgeworthstown, and pretty soon<br />
were blessed with two kids. Once the<br />
children had started school, it really<br />
did begin to intertwine us with the local<br />
neighbourhood.<br />
Life was passing quickly by, and the little<br />
guys were growing up very fast.<br />
Our son, Aaron, wasn’t participating<br />
into any sporting activity. We took him<br />
to rugby at first, then GAA, both football<br />
and hurling and also soccer. You name<br />
it, we tried it and he refused it. None of<br />
the sports interested him!<br />
It was funny how it all works out over<br />
time.<br />
I then met Longford Rugby Club vice-<br />
President, Donagh outside his vet practice<br />
one afternoon and we chatted about<br />
life’s twists and turns.<br />
Donagh suggested I join Longford Rugby<br />
Club to train and hopefully play for the<br />
seniors.<br />
He phoned several times to encourage<br />
me to come in. Youths coach with the<br />
U-14s at the time, Padraig Murphy, also<br />
phoned enquiring about my son Aaron<br />
and following that, I took that opportunity<br />
to go in and bring Aaron with me.<br />
I realised, knowing how parenting works,<br />
that it's probably a case of monkey-see<br />
monkey-do, so I committed to train with<br />
the seniors.<br />
I soon found that playing really did<br />
remind me how awesome and how much<br />
I missed being part of a broader club<br />
family and community!<br />
The lads in the squad and coaches at the<br />
club welcomed me in with open arms. I<br />
was so grateful to the team coach, Glen<br />
Baskett, and all the lads for having the<br />
54 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
patience with me then and continuing to<br />
do so!<br />
At forty something, keeping up with the<br />
younger lads in the squad is not such an<br />
easy task!<br />
But it’s definitely worth it to push through<br />
the negative thinking that you may not be<br />
capable. My motto is, where the mind<br />
goes, the body will follow.<br />
Playing and training with Longford Rugby<br />
Club is akin to reliving my youth.<br />
OK, I might feel like I look the part at the<br />
time, but definitely don’t feel it when I get<br />
out of bed the following day. Regardless,<br />
in my opinion it’s so worth it!<br />
At the start, Aaron would carry my kit<br />
bag and water bottle. He would sit and<br />
watch. Seeing me hit and tackle a few<br />
players really did change him. He would<br />
be all chat afterwards in the car as he<br />
told me how hard I tackled the lads. It<br />
was such an overwhelming feeling to<br />
have him positively engaging with me<br />
about it!<br />
Aaron is now playing with Longford<br />
youths, much to my delight.<br />
As I started to watch him train and play,<br />
I got to know his coach, Padraig, and<br />
chairperson Gerry Carthy. They both<br />
encouraged me to get involved and to<br />
help out where I could. I was delighted<br />
to be asked and felt that with me giving<br />
Aaron that equal support that he gave<br />
me, we would have an even stronger<br />
father, son bond.<br />
That really did really help me out, both<br />
physically and from a social perspective.<br />
Sitting in the car while Aaron was training<br />
was definitely the boring bit and getting<br />
involved with the team was brilliant for<br />
both that social perspective and was<br />
quite rewarding to be able to contribute<br />
back to the club.<br />
For everyone out there, I would definitely<br />
suggest that you come to Longford Rugby<br />
Club!<br />
Rugby is a sport for all and that’s how I<br />
have rediscovered my love for it, here at<br />
Longford Rugby Club!<br />
They will invite you in and welcome you<br />
with the greatest of acceptance.<br />
For some of the older guys I would also<br />
say that you are far from retirement in the<br />
mind, even if not in body! There is plenty<br />
for players to offer the club after playing<br />
retirement. I definitely believe that.<br />
If I can do it, so can you!<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 55
SUPPORTERS CLUB<br />
Support us by<br />
visiting our<br />
ONLINE<br />
STORE<br />
Keep up to date<br />
OLSC<br />
NEWS<br />
Contact us<br />
olsc@leinsterrugby.ie<br />
#seaofblue<br />
P D E Q
#seaofblue<br />
SUPPORTERS CLUB
The Beachy Cup<br />
by Caroline McFadden<br />
The annual<br />
North-<br />
East Area<br />
Beachy Cup<br />
competition<br />
made a<br />
welcome<br />
return on<br />
Sunday 11th<br />
September<br />
after a Covid<br />
enforced<br />
break.<br />
It was the first time that this<br />
competition was played since<br />
Ashbourne hosted the event in<br />
August 2019. This is the sixth<br />
time the Beachy Cup tournament<br />
has been played since it was first<br />
inaugurated in 2015.<br />
The festival is now recognised as a firm<br />
fixture in the North-East calendar.<br />
The competition is named in memory of<br />
the late John “Beachy” McCreanor who<br />
sadly passed away in 2012. Beachy<br />
played most of his rugby with Boyne RFC,<br />
though he also had a playing connection<br />
with Ardee RFC and, in his youth, with<br />
Delvin RFC.<br />
This year, the competition was held at<br />
Balbriggan RFC having previously been<br />
hosted by Boyne, Balbriggan, Dundalk,<br />
Navan and in 2019 in Ashbourne RFC.<br />
This year, teams from Ardee, Ashbourne,<br />
Balbriggan, Boyne, Navan and Ratoath<br />
participated.<br />
Despite the heavy rain that fell that<br />
afternoon, the day was a great success.<br />
The six participating teams were divided<br />
into two groups of three teams. Each<br />
team played the other two teams in<br />
their respective group in 20-minute<br />
matches. Once the group stages ended,<br />
the winners of the two groups played<br />
each other in the Beachy Cup, whilst the<br />
runners-up played each other in the Plate<br />
final and the third placed teams played<br />
for the Beachy Bowl.<br />
Balbriggan won the Beachy Cup, Boyne<br />
won the Plate and Ashbourne won the<br />
Bowl. The competition was played in<br />
58 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
great spirit with old friendships renewed.<br />
Thanks to Beachy’s family, his partner<br />
Tanya and daughters Kasey and Iona<br />
who were present for the competition.<br />
Kasey and Iona presented the trophies to<br />
the captains of the winning teams.<br />
The referees from the North-East turned<br />
out in great numbers as ever, to officiate<br />
each of the matches. Thanks also to Area<br />
President, David Rowland from Ratoath<br />
and Chairman of the <strong>Leinster</strong> Junior<br />
Committee, Pat Carolan from Wicklow<br />
who were also present.<br />
Finally, a special thanks to North-East<br />
Hon Sec Cathal Myles for all his work in<br />
organising the Beachy Cup this year. It<br />
simply would not have happened without<br />
all his efforts.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 59
THE ULTIMATE<br />
URC EXPERIENCE<br />
JOIN FOR FREE<br />
Personalised team<br />
experience<br />
Exclusive offers<br />
& competitions<br />
Premium opinion<br />
articles & analysis<br />
Match highlights &<br />
exclusive video content<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 61
As Official Clean Air Partner to <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby,<br />
Novaerus by McGreals Health provides both squad and<br />
management with safe, clean, indoor air, 24/7.<br />
Clean air indoors gives <strong>Leinster</strong> the edge, helping to<br />
improve physical performance, cognitive ability, make<br />
healthier bodies, reduce the risk of illness and allergies and<br />
give more energy.
GETTING<br />
We check social media<br />
for the latest views<br />
and thoughts across<br />
SOCIAL<br />
the 12 counties<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 63
WHERE<br />
ARE<br />
THEY<br />
NOW?<br />
64 | www.leinsterrugby.ie<br />
NIALL<br />
BY DES BERRY<br />
RONAN
THEN: Niall<br />
earned 37<br />
caps for<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong><br />
Rugby over<br />
four seasons<br />
(2003-2007).<br />
NOW: The<br />
Managing<br />
Director<br />
of Titan<br />
Wellness<br />
is living in<br />
Meath with<br />
his wife<br />
Jaimie and<br />
two children<br />
Lily (6) and<br />
Felix (3).<br />
Niall Ronan owes <strong>Leinster</strong> a debt<br />
of gratitude for how it prepared<br />
the flanker for the professional<br />
game.<br />
In fairness, the Meathman was turned<br />
from a bundle of raw energy into a<br />
valuable commodity at Munster where<br />
he spent seven seasons, becoming a<br />
centurion and even grabbing four caps<br />
for his country.<br />
“GAA has been my life. It was all I ever<br />
wanted. I would have played Meath<br />
U-14s, U-16s and two years at minor. At<br />
that point, my goal was to play for my<br />
county,” he says.<br />
“Rugby didn’t really register with me. I<br />
played for Boyne Rugby, amalgamated<br />
from Drogheda and Delvin rugby clubs. It<br />
only hit my radar at 17 when I was called<br />
up for the <strong>Leinster</strong> Youths.<br />
“To be honest, I didn’t know what the<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Youths were at the time,” he<br />
declares.<br />
What caused such a drastic change of<br />
course, the dream shifting from Meath in<br />
Croke Park to <strong>Leinster</strong> at The RDS?<br />
“The professionalism of rugby really<br />
opened my eyes to a career in which<br />
you could get paid to play and travel the<br />
world,” he says.<br />
“A big turning point was when I got<br />
picked for Ireland to play in the U-19<br />
World Cup in Chile, a new experience.”<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 65
It was around then that Niall came into<br />
contact with Collie McEntee, the former<br />
Lansdowne and <strong>Leinster</strong> number eight, a<br />
fellow loose forward and Steve Aboud,<br />
an outside-the-box thinker with a drill<br />
sergeant attitude to discipline.<br />
“The detail in the coaching was also an<br />
attraction. It was a lot better than it was in<br />
the GAA. I didn’t know where the journey<br />
would take me. But, I knew I wanted to<br />
go on it.<br />
“Two years later, I went in blind. I would<br />
have known Brian O’Driscoll, but, I didn’t<br />
know many of the other players.<br />
“When you are training with those<br />
international players, you soon get to<br />
know all about what they can do and you<br />
learn so much from the more experienced<br />
players.”<br />
He was offered his first part-time contract<br />
with <strong>Leinster</strong> after impressing at the U-21<br />
World Cup, turning down a full-time deal<br />
to move west to Connacht.<br />
In that first season, Australian Gary Ella<br />
came in as head coach. Niall ended<br />
up playing the last six or seven matches<br />
of the season due to injuries to Keith<br />
Gleeson and Shane Jennings, enough to<br />
earn Young Player of the Year.<br />
“That was my highest moment there.<br />
“It was a dream come true really. I was<br />
playing with a team of internationals. You<br />
had Felipe Contepomi, Gordon D’Arcy,<br />
Brian O’Driscoll, Shane Horgan, Denis<br />
Hickie and Girvan Dempsey.<br />
In the forwards, there was Malcolm<br />
O’Kelly, Victor Costello, Eric Miller, who<br />
I would have looked up to then, Shane<br />
Byrne.”<br />
A breakthrough season brought the<br />
promise of greater things to come.<br />
Afterall, the kid from nowhere had<br />
become a name on the lips of so many.<br />
The lack of top-quality rugby in his early<br />
teenage years left the impression of a<br />
higher ceiling than many of those around<br />
him. It never really turned out that way for<br />
a multitude of reasons.<br />
“In my time there, I had four different<br />
coaches in four seasons. You had Gary<br />
Ella. You had Declan Kidney - he left<br />
early. You had Gerry Murphy in an<br />
interim role. You had Michael Cheika.<br />
“I had Keith Gleeson and Shane Jennings<br />
ahead of me. But I learned a lot during<br />
a frustrating four seasons. I feel a lot of<br />
gratitude towards <strong>Leinster</strong> for how they<br />
moulded me from a raw player to a<br />
professional.<br />
“When a new coach comes in, he will<br />
have his opinion on the way he wants to<br />
play and the players in his squad. You<br />
have to build trust and sometimes change<br />
their opinion of what you can offer.<br />
“When they go, someone else comes<br />
in. That happened every season I was<br />
there and it became harder to generate<br />
continuity, especially when there are<br />
internationals ahead of you in the queue.<br />
That is how it was. That is professional<br />
sport.<br />
“There was a lot of chopping and<br />
changing. It was challenging for me<br />
because I wasn’t at the same level I<br />
reached later on in my career at Munster.<br />
“You have to accept the challenge and<br />
go about proving people wrong. That<br />
was the mindset for most of my career.”<br />
He went on to nurture tremendous<br />
friendships with Ciaran Potts, Simon<br />
Crawford, John Lyne and Gary Brown.<br />
At the end of three years, Cheika shared<br />
the fact Ulster and Connacht were<br />
interested in his signature. He turned<br />
those down.<br />
At the end of four years, Jennings had<br />
re-signed with <strong>Leinster</strong> from Leicester<br />
Tigers. There was no contract on the table<br />
for Niall. There was no choice. He had to<br />
leave <strong>Leinster</strong>.<br />
At 24, he had no interest in moving to the<br />
second tier in England. He was in limbo,<br />
seriously considering retiring from rugby.<br />
Then, Declan Kidney came calling with a<br />
contract for Munster. Now, Niall had not<br />
been selected by Kidney in his short stint<br />
at <strong>Leinster</strong>. There was no guarantee of<br />
playing time.<br />
“If you have a choice between retiring<br />
and playing for Munster, the top club in<br />
European Rugby at the time, what do you<br />
do? You sign for Munster.<br />
66 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
You have to<br />
accept the<br />
challenge and go<br />
about proving<br />
people wrong.<br />
That was the<br />
mindset for most<br />
of my career.<br />
“It turned into a dream come true in my<br />
seven seasons there. My career went on<br />
an upward curve and I played four times<br />
for Ireland.”<br />
In a strange way, <strong>Leinster</strong> had taken<br />
Niall on as a late bloomer, provided an<br />
apprenticeship, fast-tracked his talent,<br />
coached him up to be ready to produce<br />
his best at Munster.<br />
“<strong>Leinster</strong> is a totally different place now<br />
to what it was then. I am sure the players<br />
would agree on that,” states Niall.<br />
“There was dysfunction, coaches and<br />
players coming in and out. There was no<br />
chance to build anything.<br />
“I would be the first to admit that the first<br />
four or five seasons of your career are the<br />
most important, in terms of getting where<br />
you want to get to whether it is playing<br />
international rugby or at the highest club<br />
level for a long time.<br />
“My time at <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby was a great<br />
experience. I loved every minute of it. But,<br />
when you don’t play, you get frustrated.”<br />
In 2014, Niall walked away from the<br />
game due to a knee injury. He had been<br />
smart enough to complete a degree in<br />
strength and conditioning and had all his<br />
coaching badges.<br />
He set up his own company Titan<br />
Wellness, described on its’ website<br />
as “Ireland’s largest fitness facilities<br />
management company and wellness<br />
service provider.”<br />
He also returned to his first love, working<br />
for three years as head of S&C for Andy<br />
McEntee’s Meath senior footballers.<br />
“What I took from rugby was how to<br />
be disciplined, how to work hard, how<br />
to communicate and collaborate with<br />
people,” he says.<br />
“When I retired, I set up a company<br />
called Titan Wellness to provide<br />
workplace well-being solutions to<br />
corporates all over Ireland.<br />
“That means we go into businesses<br />
to support them in creating a positive<br />
environment where productivity improves<br />
by having fitness classes or educational<br />
talks on sleep, nutrition or desktop<br />
massage to reward people for their work.<br />
“It is the same as rugby where good<br />
feedback from a coach on how to work<br />
within a team helps to generate success.”<br />
Long may it last.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 67
W W W . B E S T M E N S W E A R . C O M<br />
OFF<br />
ENTER THE CODE BELOW<br />
LEIN15<br />
Until December 31st 2022<br />
ONLINE ONLY SHOP NOW<br />
T&Cs Apply
Today’s match referee is Craig<br />
Evans from Wales assisted by<br />
Peter Martin and Keane Davison<br />
with John Mason in the TMO<br />
box.<br />
Craig began refereeing on the World<br />
Rugby Sevens Series in 2016. He also<br />
refereed during the 2020 Olympics. He<br />
made his BKT URC / PRO14 refereeing<br />
debut in 2018 and was awarded his<br />
first Six Nations Championship match<br />
for the match between Italy and Ireland<br />
in the 2021 Six Nations Championship.<br />
He was appointed to the Tier One select<br />
group of referees in June 2021.<br />
We wish the team well today in what<br />
should be an entertaining game.<br />
Referees<br />
Corner<br />
BY DAN WALLACE<br />
Welcome to another edition<br />
of referees’ corner!<br />
The season is in full swing with over 100 refereeing<br />
appointments being made for each weekend. This<br />
weekend also sees the start of the Energia All-<br />
Ireland League seeing many referees double up with<br />
touch judging duties. Our monthly education sessions<br />
will also focus on Touch Laws - Law 18.<br />
Our new recruits did their induction<br />
workshop, facilitated by Sean Gallagher<br />
in August and we were delighted to see<br />
over 40 new referees attend the course.<br />
These referees will be sent out to referee<br />
youth games to get match experience<br />
over the coming weeks and months.<br />
Our trainee refs will also receive<br />
mentoring over a number of weeks and<br />
will then do their assessment game. If<br />
they pass the assessment, they are then<br />
put forward to become full members of<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Referees.<br />
One notable thing this season is the<br />
amount of female officials that are<br />
coming through our ranks in <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
and the large amount of women taking<br />
up the whistle around Ireland. In <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
we have been fortunate to have some<br />
excellent referees go through our ranks<br />
and it is great to see more get involved<br />
in our beginners courses.<br />
In last week’s edition I mentioned that<br />
the Global Law trials were adopted into<br />
law. Here is the full and comprehensive<br />
list of those.<br />
Hookers will be required to have<br />
one foot forward as the scrum<br />
sets up (19.10c),which acts as<br />
a brake on the scrum until the<br />
call of ‘Set’ in the engagement<br />
sequence (19.12)<br />
Law 8 – Charging a Conversion –<br />
Chargers must not do so until the<br />
kicker moves in any direction to<br />
begin their approach to kick.<br />
Law 9.11 – Dangerous Play –<br />
Jumping into or over the tackle<br />
explicitly added.<br />
70 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Want to get<br />
involved?<br />
Feel free to make contact<br />
with the <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby<br />
Referees at hayley.whyte@<br />
leinsterrugby.ie<br />
Law 9 – Dangerous Play – Flying<br />
wedge GLT adopted into law –<br />
One latcher permitted pre contact<br />
– must comply with arriving<br />
player laws.<br />
If you are interested in<br />
becoming a referee get in<br />
contact with us through our<br />
Facebook, our website<br />
www.leinsterrugbyreferees.ie<br />
or through twitter<br />
@leinsterreferee.<br />
Law 9 – Dangerous Play – Protect<br />
the jackler – may be levered<br />
away but not dangerously.<br />
Law 12 – Goal Line Drop Out<br />
– Adopted fully into law. Ball<br />
‘played’ into in goal added to<br />
kicked.<br />
Law 15 – Ruck – Diving/falling<br />
on ball near to ruck (1m) as it<br />
emerges is a PK.<br />
Law 16 – Maul – Formation –<br />
Ripper must be bound to ball<br />
carrier.<br />
Law 16 – Maul – Ball carrier<br />
cannot slide or move backwards<br />
– ball must be transferred<br />
backwards.<br />
Law 13.3 – In Goal – Player on<br />
ground may play the ball to<br />
ground it for try or touchdown.<br />
Law 18.8 – 50:22 adopted fully<br />
into Law.<br />
Law 18 – Lineout – Ball<br />
prevented from traveling 5m is a<br />
free kick.<br />
More information on these can be<br />
found in the World Rugby Laws site at<br />
the following link: https://www.world.<br />
rugby/the-game/laws/home<br />
Think you know them all? Why not test<br />
yourself. The World Rugby Laws exam<br />
is available at the World Rugby online<br />
learning system.<br />
On the subject of laws, former top<br />
whistler Nigel Owens does a great<br />
monthly video on Laws, and other rugby<br />
related items called Whistle Watch and<br />
you can see those at the following link:<br />
https://www.world.rugby/<br />
tournaments/videos/733274/whistlewatch/wr-whistle-watch-s4e5<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 71
ank of ireland<br />
MATCHDAY MINIS<br />
Monkstown FC<br />
Players: [Standing] Aidan O’Brien, James Ferris, Sean O’Kelly,<br />
Dylan O’Dwyer, Joshua Gibson, Manny Flogdell, Ross Lyons,<br />
John O’Connor, Emily Liddy. [Kneeling] Daniel Reidy, Fionn<br />
Harney de Vries, Luke Coffey, Danny McCormack, Ben<br />
O’Dwyer, Tod O’Driscoll, Samuel McDonagh, James Mitchell,<br />
Jacob Lee (Mascot - Charlie O’Brien).<br />
Coaches: Alan O’Brien, Chris Flogdell, David Coffey,<br />
Sean O’Kelly, John O’Connor, Daniel Ryan.<br />
Clane RFC<br />
Players front row left to right: Cathal Geelon, Iarla Massarella-<br />
Ferguson, Cian Cahill, Oisín Connolly, Toby O’Shaughnessy,<br />
Shaun Cardwell, Claragh Geelon, Devin Heavey, Stephen<br />
Delaney, Aaron McIllroy, Cillian Berns.<br />
Players Back row left to right: Seán Tansey, Jack Carroll, Tristan<br />
Sheehan, James O’Connor, Myles Heneghan, James Murphy,<br />
Daniel Curran, Ethan Lane, Paraic Kehoe, Peter Jackson.<br />
Coaches left to right: Peter Jackson, Oisín O’Shaughnessy,<br />
Rory Geelon.<br />
North Kildare RFC<br />
Dundalk RFC<br />
Players: Patrick Byrne, Cian Cunningham, James Durnin, Janie<br />
Joyce, Ollie Halpin, Donnchadh Lyons, Darragh O’Neill,<br />
Thomas Sheehy, Sam Whately, Eoin Dillon, Ciaran Maguire,<br />
Oisin Costello, Matthew Dorian, Monty Veale, Alex Brady, Jack<br />
Murdock, Jacob Hamill, Thomas Mullholland, Ewan McCourt,<br />
Theo Hynes.<br />
Coaches: Paul Whately, Cathal O’Neill<br />
Players: Fionn McNerney, Cormac Lane, James Quigley,<br />
Daniel Cunningham, Artúr Helies, Patrick O’Flaherty, Alex<br />
Whittaker, Owen Moran, Noah Deevy, Adam Charles, Seán<br />
O’Toole, Zachary Hyland, Ben Hopper, Harry Whelan, Sean<br />
McLoughlin, Finian Bradley, Donnacha Maguire, Matthew<br />
Fogarty, Fionn Deevy, Daniel Johnston, Ronan Hickey, Dillan<br />
Finn, Conor Landy, Ted Murtagh. Adam Dunne, Adomas<br />
Seskus, Ben Nolan, Cian Hanlon, David Daly, Edward O’Shea,<br />
Ethan O’Neill, Finnan Morrow, Finn Doyle, James McElligott,<br />
Luke Harrington, Rian Mc Cullagh, Ryan Crehan, Tadhg<br />
Bowden, Thimas Healy, Michael Rooney.<br />
Coaches: Brian Hopper, David Hickey, David Whittaker, Jerry<br />
Bradley, John McLoughlin, John O’Toole, Mark Deevy, Rob<br />
Landy, Steven Maguire.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 73
Ed’s jersey<br />
warms Carlow<br />
Hearts<br />
Members of<br />
Carlow Rugby<br />
Club, along with<br />
the wider Carlow<br />
community, were<br />
delighted when<br />
Carlow native Ed<br />
Byrne was called<br />
up to wear the<br />
green jersey of<br />
Ireland.<br />
Their pride and admiration for<br />
the Carlow club man was even<br />
greater when they learned that<br />
Ed had donated his first Irish<br />
jersey to a raffle in support of a<br />
fundraiser for Martin Dunphy a<br />
former Carlow player who had<br />
suffered a life changing accident.<br />
Ed with framed Irish jersey being accepted by Carlow Club President and Edel<br />
Gibbons, Chairperson of the Executive of County Carlow Football Club.<br />
The Carlow Rugby Club Executive then<br />
banded together to raise €2600 to<br />
purchase the jersey at a fundraising<br />
auction. Ed Byrne’s Irish jersey , signed<br />
by the player has been framed and is<br />
now on permanent display in the Carlow<br />
Clubhouse at Oakpark.<br />
The Byrne family have had a long<br />
association with Carlow Rugby Club.<br />
Ed, his twin Bryan, and other brothers<br />
Thomas, Mark and Shane all started<br />
their rugby as minis in Carlow. Their<br />
father Thomas, who has an auctioneering<br />
business in Carlow, is a member of the<br />
club executive.<br />
Since they joined the <strong>Leinster</strong> panel Ed<br />
and Bryan have been most supportive of<br />
their home club and have often helped in<br />
coaching of youth teams. Currently Bryan<br />
is playing his rugby with Bristol in the UK.<br />
Ed’s breakthrough into the Irish team<br />
came after he was out of the game for<br />
28 months with knee surgery. At this<br />
stage he has been capped six times for<br />
Ireland along with 88 caps for <strong>Leinster</strong>.<br />
With <strong>Leinster</strong> Ed has scored a total of 12<br />
tries which is remarkable for a loosehead<br />
prop. As a mini player in Carlow Ed and<br />
Bryan sometimes played in the backs<br />
such was their turn of speed.<br />
Ed has had some amazing experiences<br />
with <strong>Leinster</strong> and Ireland. He has held<br />
his own against the biggest of props<br />
including 140 kg Antonio from La<br />
Rochelle. He was part of the history<br />
making Irish squad that recently beat the<br />
All Blacks in New Zealand.<br />
Currently Ed is enjoying being coached<br />
in <strong>Leinster</strong> by fellow Carlow man Seán<br />
O’Brien.<br />
Alongside his rugby career Ed has<br />
studied for a Commerce degree.<br />
Eventually he would like to be involved in<br />
business but thankfully for all <strong>Leinster</strong> and<br />
Ireland fans, not for a while yet!<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 75
COUNTRY SOUTH AFRICA HOME GROUND HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK FOUNDED 1995<br />
last time out<br />
dragons rfc 19<br />
cell c sharks 20<br />
SAT 1 OCT | 18:35 | RODNEY PARADE | URC<br />
<strong>Sharks</strong> Edge Out<br />
Dragons in Thriller<br />
A late <strong>Cell</strong> C <strong>Sharks</strong> try saw<br />
them edge out the Dragons 20-<br />
19 in the Round 3 BKT United<br />
Rugby Championship clash at<br />
Rodney Parade.<br />
Dragons RFC: Angus O’Brien, Rio Dyer, Sio<br />
Tomkinson, Jack Dixon, Ashton Hewitt (J. Williams<br />
29), Will Reed (Clark 76), Rhodri Williams (Jones 76);<br />
Aki Seiuli (Evans 50), Elliot Dee (Roberts 50), Lloyd<br />
Fairbrother (Coleman 54), Ben Carter, Will Rowlands,<br />
George Nott (Wainwright 63), Taine Basham, Ross<br />
Moriarty<br />
Replacements: Bradley Roberts, Rob Evans, Chris<br />
Coleman, Joe Davies, Aaron Wainwright, Lewis<br />
Jones, Max Clark, Jordan Williams<br />
<strong>Cell</strong> C <strong>Sharks</strong>: Aphelele Fassi, Werner Kok, Rohan<br />
Janse van Rensburg, Ben Tapuai, Thaakir Abrahams,<br />
Boeta Chamerlain, Grant Williams, Ntuthuko Mchunu,<br />
Kerron van Vuuren, Thomas du Toit, Justin Basson,<br />
Reniel Hugo, James Venter, Dylan Richardson, Phepsi<br />
Buthelezi<br />
Replacements: Dan Jooste, Dian Bleuler, Carlu<br />
Sadie, Hyron Andrews, Sikhumbuzo Notshe,<br />
Cameron Wright, Marnus Potgieter, Anthony Volmink<br />
Referee: Ben Blain (SRU, 22nd league game)<br />
Attendance: 4,069<br />
TIMELINE:<br />
09m<br />
Chamberlain p 0-3<br />
12m<br />
Reed p 3-3<br />
15m<br />
Reed p 6-3<br />
29m<br />
Reed p 9-3<br />
33m<br />
Chamberlain p 9-6<br />
40m<br />
Reed p 12-6<br />
48m<br />
Dee t Reed c 19-6<br />
63m<br />
Williams t Chamberlain c 19-13<br />
75m<br />
Abrahams t Chamberlain c 19-20<br />
The home side went toe-to-toe<br />
with the South African giants<br />
and were very much in control<br />
for much of the game before late<br />
heartbreak.<br />
An impressive opening period saw Will<br />
Reed slot four penalties as Dragons<br />
deservedly took a 12-6 lead into the<br />
interval.<br />
The opening try of the game came from<br />
Dragons’ hooker Elliot Dee who touched<br />
down seven minutes in the second period<br />
after a powerful forward surge.<br />
But an intercept from <strong>Sharks</strong>’ Grant<br />
Williams gave the visitors a way back<br />
into the game and the late score from<br />
wing Thaakir Abrahams saw them take<br />
the win.<br />
When the two sides previously met in<br />
Durban in April the home side ran out<br />
51-3 victors so this was a much better<br />
performance from the Dragons.<br />
This was a totally different affair as the<br />
Dragons thrilled the home crowd with a<br />
passionate and spirited show before the<br />
late <strong>Sharks</strong> score sealed it.<br />
76 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Both teams went at it from the first whistle<br />
in a thunderous opening few minutes as<br />
the tackles rained in.<br />
A scrum penalty allowed <strong>Sharks</strong>’ number<br />
ten Boeta Chamberlain to open the<br />
scoring after nine minutes. Will Reed,<br />
though, opened the scoring for the<br />
Dragons with a well struck effort of his<br />
own three minutes later.<br />
Dragons were applying plenty of<br />
pressure and disrupted more <strong>Sharks</strong> ball,<br />
allowing second row pair Will Rowlands<br />
and Ben Carter to rattle up and force<br />
another breakdown penalty that Reed<br />
nudged over.<br />
The South Africans looked to put the<br />
squeeze on at scrum time before Dragons<br />
returned the favour with a big driving<br />
maul as both teams continued to unload<br />
shuddering hits.<br />
A massive scrum penalty on South<br />
African ball was greeted by a huge<br />
ovation by the terraces and Reed stepped<br />
up to make it 9-3.<br />
Just before the half hour, the <strong>Sharks</strong> hit<br />
back with a penalty from Chamberlain.<br />
One last attack in the first half saw<br />
Dragons attempt to shunt a maul over<br />
before patiently working in field and<br />
forcing a penalty for offside that Reed<br />
dispatched.<br />
<strong>Sharks</strong> came out for the second half firing<br />
on all cylinders and the home side had<br />
to stand firm in the opening exchanges<br />
before exploding into life on halfway as<br />
images: inpho.ie<br />
Dyer, O’Brien and Rhodri Williams all<br />
combined.<br />
Rodney Parade was then off its feet as<br />
a monster driving maul was forced over<br />
with Dee the man to dot down to huge<br />
acclaim.<br />
This only spurred the visitors and a<br />
disgruntled <strong>Sharks</strong> team came back with<br />
interest and turned down two kickable<br />
penalties to go to the corner.<br />
Eventually the pressure paid off and the<br />
<strong>Sharks</strong> were gifted a way back as an<br />
intercept on halfway gave scrum half<br />
Grant Williams an easy run in to reduce<br />
the lead to 19-13.<br />
Patient play forced a penalty but Reed<br />
was this time off target as his kick drifted<br />
wide right.<br />
The final act of a brilliant game saw<br />
the <strong>Sharks</strong> break home hearts with<br />
Thaakir Abrahams racing over down<br />
the left wing after a powerful line break<br />
and Chamberlain again adding the<br />
conversion to leave the narrowest of<br />
margins between the two sides.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 77
New Nissan Qashqai<br />
coming soon with e-POWER<br />
A unique electric experience, now unplugged.<br />
Order now for 2023 with flexible finance<br />
packages to suit you!<br />
Find out more at www.windsor.ie
Sean Everitt<br />
Head Coach<br />
Everitt has been coaching at the <strong>Cell</strong> C<br />
<strong>Sharks</strong> for over 14 years, initially with the<br />
age grade sides, before moving up as<br />
an assistant coach, then as coach to their<br />
Currie Cup team, and then finally, head<br />
coach, with the <strong>Sharks</strong>.<br />
He took over the head coach role in<br />
2020 from Robert du Preez. In July<br />
2022, he signed a new contract to keep<br />
him at the club until 2024.<br />
Thomas du Toit<br />
Captain<br />
Thomas du Toit, 27, was born in<br />
Cape Town, but is no stranger to<br />
these shores having represented<br />
Munster Rugby on a short-term<br />
contract in 2016/17.<br />
He is a prop and has played the majority<br />
of his senior club career with the <strong>Cell</strong> C<br />
<strong>Sharks</strong>. He has been capped by South<br />
Africa, and despite not making the<br />
original South Africa World Cup squad in<br />
2019, du Toit was called up to the squad<br />
for the final pool game as a replacement<br />
for the injured Trevor Nyakane.<br />
the sharks squad<br />
FORWARDS<br />
HYRON ANDREWS<br />
LOCK<br />
JUSTIN BASSON<br />
LOCK<br />
THEMBELANI BHOLI<br />
FLANKER<br />
DIAN BLEULER<br />
PROP<br />
PHEPSI BUTHELEZI<br />
NO. 8<br />
THOMAS DU TOIT<br />
PROP<br />
EBEN ETZEBETH<br />
LOCK<br />
GERBRANDT GROBLER<br />
LOCK<br />
MPILO GUMEDE<br />
FLANKER<br />
RENIEL HUGO<br />
LOCK<br />
HANRU JACOBS<br />
PROP<br />
DAN JOOSTE<br />
HOOKER<br />
SIYA KOLISI<br />
FLANKER<br />
JEANDRE LABUSCHAGNE<br />
LOCK<br />
TINO MAVESERE<br />
FLANKER<br />
FEZ MBATHA<br />
HOOKER<br />
BONGI MBONAMBI<br />
HOOKER<br />
KHUTHA MCHUNU<br />
PROP<br />
NTUTHUKO MCHUNU<br />
PROP<br />
KHWEZI MONA<br />
PROP<br />
OX NCHE<br />
PROP<br />
SIKHUMBUZO NOTSHE<br />
NO. 8<br />
DYLAN RICHARDSON<br />
FLANKER<br />
LE ROUX ROETS<br />
LOCK<br />
CARLU SADIE<br />
PROP<br />
VINCENT TSHITUKA<br />
FLANKER<br />
KERRON VAN VUUREN<br />
HOOKER<br />
HENCO VENTER<br />
FLANKER<br />
JAMES VENTER<br />
FLANKER<br />
BACKS<br />
THAAKIR ABRAHAMS<br />
WING<br />
LUKHANYO AM<br />
CENTRE<br />
CURWIN BOSCH<br />
FLY-HALF<br />
BOETA CHAMBERLAIN<br />
FLY-HALF<br />
LIONEL CRONJE<br />
FLY-HALF<br />
APHELELE FASSI<br />
FULLBACK<br />
NEVALDO FLEURS<br />
FLY-HALF<br />
JADEN HENDRIKSE<br />
SCRUM-HALF<br />
ROHAN JANSE VAN RENSBURG<br />
CENTRE<br />
EDUAN KEYTER<br />
CENTRE<br />
WERNER KOK<br />
CENTRE<br />
MURRAY KOSTER<br />
CENTRE<br />
MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI<br />
WING<br />
ZEE MKHABELA<br />
SCRUM-HALF<br />
YAW PENXE<br />
WING<br />
MARNUS POTGIETER<br />
WING<br />
BEN TAPUAI<br />
CENTRE<br />
ANTHONY VOLMINK<br />
WING<br />
GRANT WILLIAMS<br />
SCRUM-HALF<br />
CAMERON WRIGHT<br />
SCRUM-HALF<br />
FRED ZEILINGA<br />
FLY-HALF<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 79
Family Day<br />
at the RDS Arena!<br />
The new fanzone - The Laighin<br />
Den - was launched two weeks<br />
ago ahead of the Benetton<br />
Rugby game and again this<br />
weekend there is plenty for<br />
all...and in particular for the<br />
younger supporters in the<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby family!<br />
Today, as <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby welcome<br />
the <strong>Cell</strong> C <strong>Sharks</strong>, there will<br />
be something for everyone as<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> host a Family Day at the<br />
RDS Arena.<br />
Gates will open from 3pm and from then<br />
on, there will be plenty to see and do!<br />
The Bank of Ireland Family Fun Zone will<br />
be located behind the Anglesea Stand<br />
and will feature a number of games and<br />
activities.<br />
The Catch<br />
The Catch offers supporters the chance to<br />
test their inner Rob Russell, Jimmy O’Brien<br />
or Jordan Larmour and see how they get<br />
on under a high ball.<br />
Elsewhere in the Bank of Ireland Family<br />
Fun Zone, <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby community<br />
coaches will be hosting a skill challenge,<br />
testing the ball accuracy of supporters.<br />
There will also be a full range of<br />
inflatables for children including<br />
bouncing castle, rugby toss, rugby velcro<br />
darts and more.<br />
80 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Face Painting<br />
Novaerus by McGreals will be in the<br />
RDS sandpit with activities including<br />
complimentary face painting, candy floss<br />
& popcorn.<br />
The Laighin Den<br />
After an incredible opening night two<br />
weeks ago, the Laighin Den fanzone is<br />
back again!<br />
Johnny Sexton, Tadhg Furlong and James<br />
Lowe took part in a Q&A before our<br />
game against Benetton, and we will have<br />
three more players taking part before<br />
the game against the <strong>Sharks</strong> today from<br />
4.00pm..<br />
There will also be an opportunity for any<br />
kids in the audience to ask the players a<br />
question.<br />
After the game, a <strong>Leinster</strong> coach and<br />
senior player will be in the Laighin Den<br />
to talk to supporters and give us their<br />
thoughts on the game.<br />
There will also be live music after the fulltime<br />
whistle from the band, Pop Gods.<br />
The RDS is the place to be today and<br />
every match day and the The Laighin Den<br />
will be a regular feature for all match<br />
days going forward!<br />
We hope to see as many of you as<br />
possible there today and every match<br />
day!<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 81
Club in<br />
Focus<br />
BY DES BERRY<br />
swords RFC<br />
The legacy<br />
of Ivan<br />
O’Kelly<br />
lives on<br />
at Swords<br />
Rugby<br />
Club.<br />
In February 2018, the world lost<br />
a wonder far too soon when the<br />
Clontarf and Swords clubman<br />
passed away suddenly.<br />
The shock of the news reverberated<br />
around North Dublin where Ivan had<br />
given so much of his time and energy to<br />
the game he loved.<br />
Two years ago, Swords stalwart Gary<br />
McCormack got a fright when he thought<br />
full sure he had come upon his old coach<br />
and mentor.<br />
“I saw the same short, stocky silhouette of<br />
a man I could have sworn was Ivan. My<br />
heart skipped a beat for a second. I had<br />
a second look and recognised his brother<br />
Warren,” says Gary.<br />
Still, it was enough to remind Gary of the<br />
man, who had played such a central role<br />
in his rugby education and his journey<br />
from teenager to adult.<br />
“Ivan was a rugby advocate for Clontarf<br />
and ourselves, making such a big impact<br />
at both clubs,” he says.<br />
“You could talk to him about everything,<br />
whether it was your rugby life or your life<br />
outside the game.”<br />
The spirit of Ivan has been revived in the<br />
trophy, named in his honour, contested<br />
between Clontarf and Swords, the latter<br />
taking the plaudits when outshining their<br />
rivals 31-14 in a good-natured battle last<br />
month.<br />
Back in 2008, Gary followed his two<br />
friends David Reilly and Conor Glynn out<br />
to Swords in search of a place to play.<br />
“It was just the welcome that was given to<br />
you,” he says.<br />
At that time, the club had just set up<br />
its’ youth structures. This meant strong<br />
investment from funding and strong<br />
support from players and parents as the<br />
82 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
plan to grow from the ground up kicked<br />
into gear.<br />
“Ivan was the senior coach to the first<br />
team and I was playing away with the<br />
U18s. He was the sort of guy who had<br />
one eye on his players and another on<br />
those coming through the club.<br />
“He would always be available to give<br />
his time to the younger players to have<br />
them ready to take the next step up when<br />
the time was right.<br />
“He wasn’t just a coach to one team. He<br />
was a coach for everyone, helping out<br />
wherever he could in the club.”<br />
The experienced heads, like Richard<br />
Cowman, Malachy Bradley, Leo Price<br />
and Gordon Brennan also opened their<br />
arms to any new members.<br />
“There was an established group of<br />
leaders back then, a bunch of really<br />
good characters that you always looked<br />
up to.”<br />
The will-do attitude filtered down from<br />
what the senior players tried to do on the<br />
pitch, all driven by Ivan’s mentality.<br />
“He was a leader among men, wellrespected.<br />
When he spoke, you just<br />
listened,” adds Gary.<br />
In the 2009/2010 season, Gary moved<br />
up to compete for a first team place and<br />
head coach Ivan advised the theretofore<br />
prop to move into the back row where his<br />
short, stocky frame and combative skills<br />
would be better served.<br />
The transition from the front row to the<br />
back was made with Ivan there every<br />
step of the way to guide the young<br />
whipper-snapper through the hard times.<br />
The busy coach set time aside to work<br />
with the developing openside flanker,<br />
honing the basics, advising on where he<br />
needed to be, what to do when he got<br />
there.<br />
“He definitely had shortcuts. One of<br />
them was, as a seven, you should follow<br />
the referee because it was his job to get<br />
to the next breakdown as quickly as<br />
possible,” reveals Gary.<br />
“I would be nearly rubbing shoulders<br />
with the referee because wherever he<br />
was going was the shortest route to the<br />
ball, making me first to the breakdown,<br />
either disturb it or turn it over. I learned so<br />
much from Ivan.”<br />
The experienced coach nurtured the<br />
game of the young player who liked to<br />
tackle more than to carry, who thrived<br />
in the trenches where hitting rucks was a<br />
badge of honour.<br />
“You often hear how when players<br />
played for Sir Alex Ferguson, they felt like<br />
they let him down when they didn’t win or<br />
play up to expectations.<br />
“It was the same with Ivan. If you didn’t<br />
play well, or were binned or red carded,<br />
you would look for Ivan to apologise for<br />
letting him down.<br />
“He would put his arm around you and<br />
say, ‘it is okay, young man.’ He always<br />
called you ‘young man.’<br />
“He always looked ahead, told you to<br />
work on next week what went wrong this<br />
week. You would go away and work on<br />
that part of your game and play for him.<br />
“Ivan never gave you the hairdryer<br />
treatment. He just had so much respect<br />
from the players that he never needed it.”<br />
There is a distinct difference between the<br />
club close to the airport and most others<br />
in that they have stayed consistent to a<br />
clear vision.<br />
“Swords is a small club, fighting against<br />
those around us, like Clontarf, Suttonians,<br />
Malahide, to keep a hold of our players.”<br />
“What makes Swords special is that it has<br />
always been run by the players, for the<br />
players,” states Gary.<br />
“The committee is made up of ex-players<br />
and players. Any decisions taken were<br />
made with the best interests of the players<br />
in mind.”<br />
The sense of family is deep in a club<br />
where small truly is beautiful. The<br />
relationships formed there stretch beyond<br />
the white lines.<br />
“There are no cliques. Everything is done<br />
together which I think is unique. It is a<br />
case of one-in, all-in. It is the same for the<br />
men and our growing group of women.<br />
We all go out together as a club.<br />
Swords has gone through peaks<br />
and troughs, dropping from <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
League Division One at the end of the<br />
2000/2001 season, losing players to<br />
emigration in the recession and climbing<br />
back to competitiveness.<br />
“There are good numbers down at<br />
training and we are on the verge of going<br />
for a second men’s team, providing we<br />
can get to 50-odd players. That would be<br />
a positive.”<br />
Something Ivan would certainly cheer.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 83
KNOWING WHAT ADVICE TO TAKE<br />
IS ESSENTIAL IN THIS GAME.<br />
beauchamps.ie<br />
OFFICIAL LEGAL ADVISOR<br />
Beauchamps LLP | Riverside Two | Sir John Rogerson’s Quay | Dublin 2 | D02 KV60
CPR Training<br />
Day for <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
Rugby Players<br />
Last August, the Irish Heart<br />
Foundation was selected as one of<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby’s charity partners<br />
and since then have been engaging<br />
with <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby and with Dr. Emma<br />
Burrows in Rugby Players Ireland, to<br />
roll out a CPR training programme for<br />
Senior and Academy players.<br />
The first such session was held this<br />
week in the <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby high<br />
performance centre in UCD.<br />
The players were introduced to a<br />
number of case studies by the Irish Heart<br />
Foundation as well as undergoing some<br />
hands-on CPR training and practical<br />
demonstrations themselves.<br />
It is estimated that every hour someone<br />
in Ireland suffers from a stroke, while<br />
hundreds more are diagnosed with heart<br />
disease every day.<br />
The lives of these people are often cut<br />
tragically short or permanently changed.<br />
Almost 9,000 people die each year,<br />
making heart disease and stroke one of<br />
the nation’s biggest killers.<br />
The Irish Heart Foundation works to<br />
prevent this, while also supporting and<br />
caring for people living with heart<br />
conditions and the effects of stroke and<br />
saving lives through CPR training.<br />
Further information on the work of the<br />
Irish Heart Foundation can be found at<br />
www.irishheart.ie and anyone interested<br />
in CPR training and such programmes<br />
is encouraged to contact the Irish Heart<br />
Foundation for more information.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 85
86 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Seán<br />
O’Brien<br />
As Seán O’Brien<br />
picked himself<br />
up from under<br />
a sea of red<br />
shirts, his<br />
teammates were<br />
quickly in to<br />
congratulate<br />
him.<br />
THE ACADEMY<br />
INTERVIEW<br />
BY PAUL CAHILL<br />
The young number eight had just<br />
touched down the sixth try for<br />
the <strong>Leinster</strong> ‘A’ team and helped<br />
them to secure a 43-12 win over<br />
Munster ‘A’.<br />
That brought an end to the interprovincial<br />
series where <strong>Leinster</strong> ‘A’ won all three<br />
games with O’Brien as captain.<br />
September was a busy month for the<br />
Wicklow man.<br />
He led the <strong>Leinster</strong> ‘A’ side to a 37-22<br />
win over Connacht ‘A’ at the start of<br />
the month. One week later, O’Brien<br />
captained the <strong>Leinster</strong> ‘A’ side to a 28-12<br />
win over Ulster ‘A’ in Templeville Road.<br />
He then capped off a fine interpro series<br />
with the final try of the game against<br />
Munster ‘A’.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 87
PROUD TO BE OFFICIAL<br />
BUSINESS ADVISORS<br />
TO LEINSTER RUGBY<br />
For further information contact:<br />
Michael Costello, Managing Partner,<br />
on 01 470 0130 or email mcostello@bdo.ie<br />
Click here to visit bdo.ie<br />
BDO is authorised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland to carry on investment business. BDO, a partnership established under Irish Law, is a<br />
member of BDO International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, and forms part of the international BDO network of independent members firms.
“It was a great few weeks,” says O’Brien.<br />
“For me personally, it was good just<br />
getting a run of games for <strong>Leinster</strong>. There<br />
were a lot of younger lads and it was a<br />
good opportunity for them to see how the<br />
week works.<br />
“The ‘A’ team very much mimic the Senior<br />
team schedule in terms of, walkthroughs<br />
and plays and stuff like that. So I think it<br />
was good for everyone.”<br />
This experience was a little bit different<br />
from previous seasons.<br />
As a year one and as a year two<br />
Academy player, O’Brien didn’t start<br />
every ‘A’ team interpro game and had to<br />
make an impact off the bench.<br />
This year, he started every game and<br />
took on the responsibility of being team<br />
captain.<br />
Something he has experience of from his<br />
school days with Blackrock College, but<br />
not in the blue of <strong>Leinster</strong>.<br />
“It was a good experience for me to<br />
work on that side of the game. I definitely<br />
learned more each week. In terms of<br />
dealing with the referees, speaking to the<br />
group during the week, what needs to be<br />
said and what doesn’t need to be said.<br />
“Obviously when you’re playing with<br />
the <strong>Leinster</strong> ‘A’ team, you’re surrounded<br />
by lots of good players. So a lot of them<br />
already know what they’re doing. It’s just<br />
about aligning everyone.<br />
“The team has lads coming from the<br />
Academy and lads coming straight out<br />
of school, so trying to bring all of that<br />
together in the Centre of Excellence and<br />
in a pretty short space of time was the<br />
biggest challenge.”<br />
With the momentum of those three<br />
games, O’Brien then lined out for UCD<br />
RFC in their Energia All-Ireland League<br />
round one fixture against Clontarf last<br />
weekend. Despite powering over for a try<br />
midway through the first half, UCD lost<br />
24-19 to the defending champions.<br />
A very busy start to the 2022/23 season,<br />
but the back row insists that getting lots of<br />
games under his belt is key.<br />
“It’s great to be training here and coming<br />
in and learning, but, you’ve got to put<br />
that into practice on the pitch. That’s what<br />
really counts.”<br />
A five-point loss for UCD was hard to<br />
take, but two tries in as many weeks<br />
showed an element of his game that he<br />
has been working hard on; getting over<br />
the line.<br />
“I’ve been playing a bit more at number<br />
eight this year. It definitely means that I<br />
get my hands on the ball a bit more.<br />
“Those two tries I scored in the last two<br />
weeks were both off the base of the<br />
scrum, which is probably something you<br />
don’t get to do when you’re playing six<br />
or seven.<br />
“Number eight is the position I’ve been<br />
focused on the most this year. That’s<br />
where I feel I can have the biggest<br />
influence anyway. So they are the type of<br />
conversations I have had with coaches.”<br />
It’s clear that that competition is high for a<br />
starting back row position within <strong>Leinster</strong><br />
Rugby.<br />
O’Brien knows that getting minutes on the<br />
pitch in any capacity is his best chance of<br />
being noticed.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 89
“I’ve been playing for UCD and I’ve<br />
been playing for the <strong>Leinster</strong> ‘A’ team for<br />
the last while, and I’m pretty confident<br />
in my own game off the back of those<br />
performances.<br />
“So that’s the main thing. While you’re<br />
an Academy player and you’re here<br />
learning, you’re still a rugby player. You<br />
still need to be playing games.<br />
“Playing games is where you get your<br />
confidence from. It’s where you get better<br />
as well.”<br />
While playing games is where you hone<br />
your craft, he knows that the work you<br />
put in Monday to Friday is where the real<br />
work is done.<br />
And as a young player looking to soak<br />
up as much knowledge as he can, he<br />
hasn’t been short on coaches who can<br />
inspire a back row.<br />
Last year, two-time Champions Cup<br />
winner and international back-rower,<br />
Denis Leamy was the Contact Skills<br />
Coach. He has been replaced by former<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong>, Ireland and British and Irish Lion,<br />
and his namesake, Seán O’Brien.<br />
A player the younger O’Brien looked<br />
up to as a fan and is looking forward to<br />
working with this season. Even if it gets a<br />
little bit confusing at training.<br />
“It’s strange. Even with our Instagram<br />
handles, he’s @SeanOBrien678, and I’m<br />
@SeanOBrien456. I’ve probably been<br />
tagged in a lot of the wrong photos, so I<br />
might change it.”<br />
But, as an aspiring professional back row<br />
rugby player, could you ask for better<br />
mentors?<br />
“When they say something, you know<br />
it’s something they would have done<br />
themselves, which probably does carry a<br />
bit more weight. They are both great for<br />
young back rows.<br />
“They’re very good for doing analysis<br />
clips because they’ve got a very good<br />
idea of what it’s like being there. It’s<br />
definitely good to have world class backrowers<br />
coaching us.”<br />
90 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
Playing<br />
games is<br />
where you<br />
get your<br />
confidence<br />
from. It’s<br />
where you<br />
get better<br />
as well.<br />
There are plenty of ‘pinch me’ moments<br />
for O’Brien.<br />
He is now working beside with the<br />
players he watched growing up and says<br />
that it has been a special experience.<br />
“Like so many of the lads who come into<br />
the Academy, I grew up wanting to play<br />
for the Senior team.<br />
“It’s obviously really cool being in the<br />
building now and training with all the<br />
players I used to look up to. I have loads<br />
of early memories of going to watch the<br />
team play.<br />
“I used to be a season ticket holder with<br />
my dad. We would go to all of the games<br />
together.<br />
“On a Saturday, I’d play my game in the<br />
morning for Blackrock or Willow Park<br />
or Greystones, and then you’d go to the<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> game in the evening.<br />
“It would be a bit of a ritual at the<br />
weekend. I used to really enjoy it.”<br />
With a trip to the RDS in the calendar<br />
each week, it was clear which sport<br />
O’Brien would go on to play, even if he<br />
wasn’t sure at the beginning.<br />
“I started in Greystones at six years of<br />
age. My dad dragged me down against<br />
my will, but once I got into it, I loved it.<br />
I played for Greystones from U-6s to<br />
U-14s until the rugby got really serious in<br />
Blackrock.<br />
“I really enjoyed my time with<br />
Greystones. I still have loads of friends<br />
now from my time playing there.”<br />
With three sisters, Kate, Ciara and Ali, all<br />
very sporty during their school days, it<br />
was an easy house to stay active in.<br />
But, with O’Brien growing at quite a<br />
fast rate, it was an easy decision to<br />
concentrate on the oval ball.<br />
“My dad was big into cycling. He used to<br />
get me out on the bike until I was about<br />
14 or 15. I was just a little skinny lad, so I<br />
gave it a crack.<br />
“I ended up getting a bit too heavy for<br />
the bike after a while. I had to abandon<br />
it. Not too many bikes can support my<br />
frame anymore.”<br />
Now that he isn’t damaging his dad’s<br />
bikes, the Wicklow born player is fully<br />
focused on reaching his rugby targets.<br />
“The goal is always to be involved with<br />
the Senior team. I’ve got three caps and<br />
I’d love to just keep adding to that every<br />
year.<br />
“Playing in the <strong>Leinster</strong> ‘A’ games and<br />
winning those is very important as well.<br />
The games this year were very successful,<br />
but in my first year and even second year<br />
in the Academy probably weren’t as<br />
successful in the ‘A’ games.<br />
“With UCD, we really have our eyes on<br />
a top four finish, so that’ll be a big goal<br />
of mine this year as well. And, also to win<br />
the colours game against Trinity because<br />
we didn’t win it last year.”<br />
The progression of Seán O’Brien as a<br />
rugby player has been clear to see over<br />
the past few years.<br />
A determined young man, he knows what<br />
the next step on his rugby journey is and<br />
what he needs to do to get there.<br />
“Hopefully, I can just translate my<br />
performances into a few more caps for<br />
the Senior team. Because, that’s what<br />
everyone is really pushing for. It’s such<br />
a competitive squad, but it’s good that<br />
everyone’s pushing for that because it<br />
makes everyone else better as well.”
<strong>Leinster</strong><br />
Rugby<br />
Academy<br />
Year<br />
Three:<br />
92 | www.leinsterrugby.ie<br />
Marcus Hanan (3) #1295<br />
DOB 3 July 2000<br />
FROM Clane, Co Kildare<br />
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”)<br />
WEIGHT 112kg (17st 9 lbs)<br />
POSITION Loosehead prop<br />
SCHOOL Salesian College, Celbridge<br />
CLUB Clane RFC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (2 caps)<br />
John McKee (3) #1307<br />
DOB 15 February 2000<br />
FROM Belfast<br />
HEIGHT 1.85m ( 6’ 0”)<br />
WEIGHT 108kg (17st 0lbs)<br />
POSITION Hooker<br />
SCHOOL Campbell College<br />
CLUB Terenure College RFC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (10 caps)<br />
Seán O’Brien (3) #1297<br />
DOB 31 July 2000<br />
FROM Pittsburgh, PA, USA<br />
HEIGHT 1.91m ( 6 ’ 3”)<br />
WEIGHT 106kg ( 16st 10lbs)<br />
POSITION Back Row<br />
SCHOOL Blackrock College<br />
CLUB UCD RFC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (3 caps)<br />
Max O’Reilly (9) #1291<br />
DOB 26 February 2000<br />
FROM Long Island, USA<br />
HEIGHT 1.86m (6’ 1”)<br />
WEIGHT 90kg (14st 2lbs)<br />
POSITION Full-back<br />
SCHOOL St Gerard’s School<br />
CLUB DUFC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (3 caps)<br />
Andrew Smith (2) #1292<br />
DOB 21 July 2000<br />
FROM Dublin<br />
HEIGHT 1.8 m (5’ 11”)<br />
WEIGHT 93kg (14st 9lbs)<br />
POSITION Back Three<br />
SCHOOL St Michael’s College<br />
CLUB Clontarf FC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (3 caps)<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong><br />
Rugby<br />
Academy<br />
Year<br />
Two:<br />
Alex Soroka (5) #1296<br />
DOB 19 February 2001<br />
FROM Cork<br />
HEIGHT 1.95m (6’ 5”)<br />
WEIGHT 107kg (16st 12lbs)<br />
POSITION Back Row<br />
SCHOOL Belvedere College<br />
CLUB Clontarf FC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (8 caps)<br />
Jack Boyle<br />
DOB 10 March 2002<br />
FROM Dublin<br />
HEIGHT 1.86m (6’ 1”)<br />
WEIGHT 108kg (17st 0lbs)<br />
POSITION Loosehead prop<br />
SCHOOL St Michael’s College<br />
CLUB UCD RFC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (9 caps)<br />
Lee Barron (2) #1308<br />
DOB 15 February 2001<br />
FROM Dublin<br />
HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 3”)<br />
WEIGHT 107kg (16st 12 lbs)<br />
POSITION Hooker<br />
SCHOOL St Michael’s College<br />
CLUB DUFC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (2 caps)<br />
Chris Cosgrave (2) #1305<br />
DOB 24 July 2001<br />
FROM Dublin<br />
HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”)<br />
WEIGHT 86kg (13st 7lbs)<br />
POSITION Back Three<br />
SCHOOL St Michael’s College<br />
CLUB UCD RFC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (3 caps)<br />
Temi Lasisi (1) #1304<br />
DOB 9 May 2001<br />
FROM Enniscorthy, Co Wexford<br />
HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0 “)<br />
WEIGHT 116.5kg (18st 5lbs)<br />
POSITION Tighthead prop<br />
SCHOOL CBS Enniscorthy<br />
CLUB Lansdowne FC/Enniscorthy RFC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (3 caps)<br />
(3) = <strong>Leinster</strong> Rugby Senior caps
Ben Murphy (1) #1309<br />
DOB 23 April 2001<br />
FROM Bray<br />
HEIGHT 1.76m (5’ 8”)<br />
WEIGHT 80kg (12st 8lbs)<br />
POSITION Scrum-half<br />
SCHOOL Presentation College, Bray<br />
CLUB Clontarf FC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (3 caps)<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong><br />
Rugby<br />
Academy<br />
Year<br />
One:<br />
Rob Russell (5) #1302<br />
DOB 13 January 1999<br />
FROM Dublin<br />
HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”)<br />
WEIGHT 91kg (14st 5lbs)<br />
POSITION Back Three<br />
SCHOOL St Michael’s College<br />
CLUB DUFC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (5 caps)<br />
Ben Brownlee<br />
DOB 28 September 2002<br />
FROM Dublin<br />
HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”)<br />
WEIGHT 100kg (15st 11lbs)<br />
POSITION Centre<br />
SCHOOL Blackrock College<br />
CLUB UCD RFC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (3 caps)<br />
James Culhane<br />
Stats correct as of September 16, 2022<br />
DOB 22 October 2002<br />
FROM Enniskerry, Co Wicklow<br />
HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”)<br />
WEIGHT 110kg (17st 5lbs)<br />
POSITION Back Row<br />
SCHOOL Blackrock College<br />
CLUB UCD RFC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (5 caps)<br />
Aitzol Arenzana-King<br />
DOB 15 June 2002<br />
FROM Gormanston, Co Meath<br />
HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”)<br />
WEIGHT 97.5kg (15st 5lbs)<br />
POSITION Back Three<br />
SCHOOL Gormanston College/CUS<br />
CLUB Clontarf FC/Balbriggan RFC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (8 caps)<br />
Diarmuid Mangan<br />
DOB 6 March 2003<br />
FROM Kildare<br />
HEIGHT 1.93 m (6’ 4”)<br />
WEIGHT 106kg (16st 10lbs)<br />
POSITION Back Row<br />
SCHOOL Newbridge College<br />
CLUB UCD RFC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (6 caps)<br />
Rory McGuire<br />
DOB 26 August 2002<br />
FROM Dublin<br />
HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”)<br />
WEIGHT 118kg (18st 8lbs)<br />
POSITION Tightead prop<br />
SCHOOL Blackrock College<br />
CLUB UCD RFC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (5 caps)<br />
Sam Prendergast<br />
DOB 12 February 2003<br />
FROM Kildare<br />
HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”)<br />
WEIGHT 91kg (14st 5lbs)<br />
POSITION Out-half<br />
SCHOOL Newbridge College<br />
CLUB Lansdowne FC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (4 caps)<br />
Charlie Tector<br />
DOB 28 March 2002<br />
FROM Wexford<br />
HEIGHT 1.89 m (6’ 2”)<br />
WEIGHT 94kg (14st 11lbs)<br />
POSITION Out-half<br />
SCHOOL Kilkenny College<br />
CLUB Lansdowne FC<br />
HONOURS Ireland U-20 (5 caps)<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 93
fixtures and<br />
results 2021/22<br />
Date<br />
17/09<br />
23/09<br />
30/09<br />
KO/<br />
Result<br />
Opposiotion Venue 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 1 2<br />
W<br />
29-33 URC ZEBRE Stadio Sergio<br />
Lanfranchi<br />
O’REILLY RUSSELL OSBORNE NGATAI<br />
KEARNEY<br />
1T<br />
R. BYRNE<br />
C4<br />
W<br />
42-10 URC BENETTON RDS Arena O’BRIEN LARMOUR RINGROSE HENSHAW KEARNEY FRAWLEY<br />
3C<br />
W<br />
13-20 URC ULSTER Kingspan<br />
Stadium<br />
08/10 17:05 URC CELL C<br />
SHARKS<br />
RDS Arena<br />
14/10 19:35 URC CONNACHT Sportsground<br />
O’BRIEN LARMOUR RINGROSE HENSHAW KEARNEY<br />
R. BYRNE<br />
2C 2P<br />
MCGRATH<br />
1T<br />
MCGRATH<br />
1T<br />
MCGRATH<br />
E BYRNE<br />
PORTER<br />
PORTER<br />
KELLEHER<br />
SHEEHAN<br />
4T<br />
SHEEHAN<br />
1T<br />
22/10 17:15 URC MUNSTER<br />
28/10 19:35 URC SCARLETS<br />
Aviva<br />
Stadium<br />
Parc y<br />
Scarlets<br />
26/11 15:15 URC GLASGOW RDS Arena<br />
03/12 19:35 URC ULSTER RDS Arena<br />
09/10/11<br />
Dec<br />
16/17/18<br />
Dec<br />
TBC HCC RACING 92 TBC<br />
TBC HCC GLOUCESTER<br />
RUGBY<br />
26/12 19:35 URC MUNSTER<br />
RDS Arena<br />
Thomond<br />
Park<br />
01/01 19:35 URC CONNACHT RDS Arena<br />
07/01 19:35 URC OSPREYS<br />
13/14/15<br />
Jan<br />
20/21/22<br />
Jan<br />
TBC<br />
HCC GLOUCESTER<br />
RUGBY<br />
TBC HCC RACING 92<br />
28/01 17:00 URC CARDIFF<br />
RUGBY<br />
18/02 19:35 URC DRAGONS<br />
RFC<br />
04/03 17:05 URC EDINBURGH<br />
24/03 19:35 URC DHL<br />
STORMERS<br />
15/04 14:00 URC EMIRATES<br />
LIONS<br />
22/04 16:05 URC VODACOM<br />
BULLS<br />
Swansea.<br />
com Stadium<br />
Kingsholm<br />
Aviva<br />
Stadium<br />
RDS Arena<br />
RDS Arena<br />
DAM Health<br />
Stadium<br />
RDS Arena<br />
Emirates<br />
Airline Park<br />
Loftus<br />
Versfeld<br />
94 | www.leinsterrugby.ie
3 4 5 6 7 8 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23<br />
ALAALATOA<br />
MOLONY<br />
JENKINS<br />
1T<br />
RUDDOCK<br />
T2<br />
ALAALATOA MOLONY JENKINS BAIRD<br />
ALAALATOA MOLONY JENKINS<br />
BAIRD<br />
1T<br />
PENNY DEEGAN MCKEE MILNE ABDALADZE DEENY SOROKA MCCARTHY FRAWLEY CONNORS<br />
VAN DER FLIER<br />
1T<br />
DORIS KELLEHER E. BYRNE HEALY MCCARTHY CONNORS FOLEY<br />
R. BYRNE<br />
3C<br />
NGATAI<br />
VAN DER FLIER CONAN MCKEE E. BYRNE ABDALADZE RYAN CONNORS MCCARTHY SEXTON NGATAI<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 95
matchday<br />
Squads<br />
officials<br />
Jimmy O’BRIEN<br />
Jordan LARMOUR<br />
Robbie HENSHAW<br />
Charlie NGATAI<br />
Rob RUSSELL<br />
Jonathan SEXTON [C]<br />
Luke Mc GRATH<br />
15<br />
14<br />
13<br />
12<br />
11<br />
10<br />
9<br />
FULL BACK<br />
RIGHT WING<br />
OUTSIDE CENTRE<br />
INSIDE CENTRE<br />
LEFT WING<br />
FLY HALF<br />
SCRUM HALF<br />
Aphelele FASSI<br />
Werner KOK<br />
Rohan JANSE VAN RENSBERG<br />
Ben TAPUAI<br />
Thaakir ABRAHAMS<br />
Boeta CHAMBERLAIN<br />
Grant WILLIAMS<br />
REFEREE:<br />
CRAIG EVANS<br />
(WRU, 35TH COMPETITION GAME)<br />
ASSISTANT REFEREE:<br />
PETER MARTIN (IRFU)<br />
ASSISTANT REFEREE:<br />
KEANE DAVISON (IRFU)<br />
TMO:<br />
JON MASON (WRU)<br />
Andrew PORTER<br />
Dan SHEEHAN<br />
Michael ALA’ALATOA<br />
Ross MOLONY<br />
Jason JENKINS<br />
Ryan BAIRD<br />
Will CONNORS<br />
Jack CONAN<br />
1<br />
2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
6<br />
7<br />
8<br />
LOOSE HEAD PROP<br />
HOOKER<br />
TIGHT HEAD PROP<br />
SECOND ROW<br />
SECOND ROW<br />
BLINDSIDE FLANKER<br />
OPENSIDE FLANKER<br />
NUMBER 8<br />
Ntuthuko MCHUNU<br />
Kerron VAN VUUREN<br />
Thomas DU TOIT [C]<br />
Justin BASSON<br />
Hyron ANDREWS<br />
James VENTER<br />
Dylan RICHARDSON<br />
Sikhumbuzo NOTSHE<br />
John McKEE<br />
Cian HEALY<br />
Vakhtang ABDALADZE<br />
James RYAN<br />
Rhys RUDDOCK<br />
Cormac FOLEY<br />
Ross BYRNE<br />
Garry RINGROSE<br />
16<br />
17<br />
18<br />
19<br />
20<br />
21<br />
22<br />
23<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
REPLACEMENT<br />
Dan JOOSTE<br />
Dian BLEULER<br />
Carlu SADIE<br />
Reniel HUGO<br />
Phepsi BUTHELEZI<br />
Cameron WRIGHT<br />
Nevaldo FLEURS<br />
Marnus POTGIETER
*Restrictions apply.<br />
*
Parting Shot<br />
23 September 2022<br />
Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile<br />
Cian Healy of <strong>Leinster</strong> after making his 250th<br />
<strong>Leinster</strong> appearance in the United Rugby<br />
Championship match between <strong>Leinster</strong> and Benetton<br />
at the RDS Arena in Dublin.<br />
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 99