Leinster Rugby vs Leicester Tigers

VSLEINSTER 

€6 | ISSUE 13 | LEINSTER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 

VS 

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FRI 7 APRIL 

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The Line up 

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E-mail: 

information@leinsterrugby.ie 

www.leinsterrugby.ie 

10 

42 

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT 

President: Debbie Carty 

Chief Executive: Shane Nolan 

Honorary Secretary: Stuart Bayley 

Honorary Treasurer: Michael McGrail 

RUGBY MANAGEMENT 

Head Coach: Leo Cullen 

Senior Coach: Stuart Lancaster 

Head of Rugby Operations: 

Guy Easterby 

Assistant Coach: Robin McBryde 

Backs Coach: Andrew Goodman 

Kicking Coach: Emmet Farrell 

Contact Skills Coach: Seán O’Brien 

14 

PROGRAMME CREDITS 

Editorial Team: Marcus Ó Buachalla 

& Daniel Kelly 

Advertising: Gary Nolan 

Design: Julian Tredinnick, 

Ignition Sports Media 

Photography: Sportsfile 

Chief Steward: Sword Security 

Ambulance: St. John’s Ambulance 

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Event Control & Safety Services: 

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www.leinsterrugby.ie | 3

EPCR 

WELCOME 

MESSAGE 

Dominic McKay 

EPCR Chairman 

A warm 

welcome 

to this 

quarter-final 

fixture in 

the Heineken 

Champions 

Cup as 

competition 

for a coveted 

place in the 

2023 Dublin 

Final really 

begins to 

hot up. 

The knockout stage generates its 

very own brand of compelling, 

high-stakes rugby, and it’s win or 

bust now for the remaining elite 

clubs who remain in contention 

for the 28th Heineken Champions 

Cup Final, which will be staged at 

the Aviva Stadium on Saturday 

20 May. 

Following the historic introduction of 

the leading South African clubs into this 

season’s Heineken Champions Cup, it 

came as no major surprise that the Cell 

C Sharks, DHL Stormers and Vodacom 

Bulls all qualified in impressive style for 

the business end of the tournament at the 

first attempt. 

To emphasise the enduring quality of the 

tournament, the clubs that reached this 

season’s knockout stage had as many as 

27 EPCR titles between them. 

In addition, as you are no doubt aware, 

the clubs with the highest rankings from 

the pool stage earn home advantage 

for the Round of 16 and quarter-final 

matches. 

We are delighted to be joined on the 

journey to Dublin by our long-standing 

title partner, Heineken, by our official 

partners, DHL, IHG and Tissot, by our 

official supporters, Gilbert and Kappa, 

and also by our official airline partner in 

South Africa, Qatar Airways. 

Our loyal broadcast partners, BT Sport, 

beIN SPORTS and France Télévisions, 

continue to provide unrivalled coverage 

of the Heineken Champions Cup in the 

UK, Ireland and France respectively, 

while SuperSport in South Africa, ITV and 

RTÉ in the UK and Ireland, S4C in Wales 

and FloRugby in the USA and Canada 

are making valuable contributions to the 

growth of tournament. 

On behalf of everyone at EPCR, enjoy 

the match and best wishes to you, the 

fans, as well as to your club’s players 

and staff for what promises to be another 

tension-packed occasion in the Heineken 

Champions Cup knockout stage. 

Yours in rugby, 

Dominic McKay 

EPCR Chairman

Every great match 

starts with 0.0

HEINEKEN 

WELCOME MESSAGE 

Sharon 

Walsh 

Managing Director, 

HEINEKEN Ireland. 

You are all very welcome to this 

Heineken Champions Cup 2022- 

23 Quarter Final clash between 

Leinster Rugby and Leicester 

Tigers at the home of Irish Rugby, 

the Aviva Stadium. We witnessed 

some top-class games across the 

round of 16 fixtures last weekend. 

What a fantastic occasion the 

game between Leinster and Ulster 

was here in this stadium. Both 

sides deserve great credit for 

overcoming the very challenging 

conditions to put on a fine display 

of rugby. It was a privilege to be 

part of a sell-out home crowd, 

proof as ever, of just how much 

the Heineken Champions Cup 

means to Irish rugby fans. 

I have no doubt that Leinster will relish 

the prospect of another home fixture as 

they edge ever closer to that elusive 5th 

star. However, Leicester Tigers, having 

overcome a spirited Edinburgh Rugby, 

will undoubtedly present stern opposition 

as they too look to advance to the final 

four of the Heineken Champions Cup 

2022-23. My sincere congratulations to 

the other six teams who have also made 

it through to the Quarter Finals. I have no 

doubt we can expect great excitement in 

all games. 

Fingers crossed, we are all back here 

again later this month to see Leinster take 

their place in the Heineken Champions 

Cup 2022-23 Semi-Final and move 

another step closer to the Final, in Dublin 

on the 20th May. 

Enjoy the upcoming game today 

with a cold, refreshing Heineken® or 

Heineken® 0.0% and as always, please 

do so responsibly. 

Finally, I wish you and your loved one’s a 

very Happy Easter. 

Sharon Walsh 

Managing Director, HEINEKEN Ireland. 


Debbie Carty welcome 

PRESIDENT, LEINSTER RUGBY 2022/23 

On behalf of Leinster Rugby, I would 

like to welcome you all to the Aviva 

Stadium, for tonight’s quarter-final 

match against Leicester Tigers in 

the Heineken Champions Cup. 

In particular, I wish to extend 

a warm welcome to Dublin 

to our English visitors; to 

their CEO Andrea Pinchen, to 

the squad, their Head Coach 

Richard Wigglesworth and their 

management team and hope you 

are enjoying your visit here to 

Ireland. 

Leinster have won their last five games in 

the Heineken Champions Cup and we’re 

now down to the knockout stages of the 

quarter-finals, I would like to congratulate 

the Leinster squad, Leo and coaching 

team on getting us here to the quarterfinals, 

I would also like to congratulate all 

the Leinster players who played in the 

Guinness Six Nations recently, coached 

by Andy Farrell, winning our country a 

Grand Slam and a Triple Crown. It shows 

how much strength and depth there is in 

the Leinster squad that we have so many 

players from Leinster in the Irish Squad. 

On that point I would like to congratulate 

John McKee on his European debut last 

weekend against Ulster. 

Leinster will be confident going into this 

match today after such a great season 

and what a great match last week they 

had, the atmosphere in and around 

the stadium was phenomenal and one 

couldn’t help to be emotional at it. For the 

first time since 2019 the Aviva Stadium 

was fully sold out for a club game, and it 

truly was coloured in blue and yellow as 

we took on and beat our rivals Ulster. 

We never underestimate our competitors 

in any competition especially, as Leicester 

have been so strong this season also. 

Leinster will be very determined and 

confident going into this evening’s match. 

We expect tonight to be a challenging 

and physical match as we strive to take 

back the Champions Cup that was denied 

to us last year. 

I have no doubt that Leo and his squad 

are up for the challenge and we look 

forward to the game ahead. I know you 

will join me in wishing Leo and the Squad 

every success tonight. 

On the domestic front, all of the leagues 

are finishing up now as we head into cup 

season, and we have a busy cup season 

ahead with the Bank of Ireland Provincial 

Towns Cup and the Metro Cup semi-finals 

happening this week. I look forward to 

attending some of these matches as the 

domestic game finish off their season 

with a hopeful Cup win. Good luck to 

Tullamore and MU Barnhall as they’ve 

both made it through to the Junior Cup 

and will face off against each other. 

We also have the Women’s Paul Flood 

and Paul Cusack Cups coming up and I 

would advise everyone to find out if your 

local Club has a quarter or semi-final 

cup match on this weekend to get down 

to their local club to watch rugby at its 

grassroots rugby at its best. 

I was invited to Enniscorthy last Saturday 

as the Referees made a presentation of 

a plaque on behalf of the late Bryan 

Murphy; a huge Enniscorthy fan, a fair 

referee and a trojan supporter of the 

Women’s rugby game, we lost him far 

too soon and I was honoured to be in 

Enniscorthy last Saturday as the plaque 

was presented and the referee’s room 

was renamed the Bryan Murphy Room. 

I know we don’t have any mini’s playing 

at half-time today but I would like to thank 

all the Mini’s teams that have played 

in the RDS, Energia Park and the Aviva 

Stadium this season. I have watched them 

every week at half-time and am always 

in in awe of the talent coming through 

Leinster even in the mini’s section, they 

truly epitomise Leinster’s motto ‘From 

the Ground Up’ and I look forward to 

watching these players come through the 

pathway and hopefully play for Leinster 

in the future. 

To our title sponsor Bank of Ireland, great 

patrons of both our professional and 

domestic games, who along with all our 

premium partners and suppliers, who do 

so much to support Leinster Rugby, I offer 

my sincere thanks. 

Finally, to you the fans, our Season Ticket 

Holders, members of the Official Leinster 

Supporters Club and Friends of Leinster, 

I thank you for the contribution you make 

on match days. I am sure this evening 

will be no different as you get the roar 

going and the flags waving to cheer on 

“the Boys in Blue” to another victory. Let 

us hope for an energetic, exciting and 

injury-free match tonight. 

Debbie Carty 

Leinster Rugby President 2022/23 

8 | www.leinsterrugby.ie

I would 

also like to 

congratulate 

all the 

Leinster 

players who 

played in 

the Guinness 

Six Nations 

recently, 

coached by 

Andy Farrell, 

winning our 

country a 

Grand Slam 

and a 

Triple 

Crown. 


Leo Cullen 

head Coach Welcome 

Good evening and a very warm welcome 

to everyone for this evening’s Heineken 

Champions Cup quarter-final. The 

games are coming thick and fast now 

and, as always at this time of year, the 

stakes are incredibly high. 

Leicester Tigers are a team that 

will always have a special place in 

my heart. 

I was lucky enough to spend two 

amazing seasons at the East Midlands 

club, where I learned so much from some 

great people. After a few seasons where 

Tigers found themselves at the wrong end 

of the Premiership table, they came back 

strong last season to win English rugby’s 

10 | www.leinsterrugby.ie 

showpiece event against Saracens. And 

in Richard Wigglesworth, they have 

a really astute young coach who has 

already experienced plenty of highs in 

this competition. 

Many thanks to everyone who turned up 

here last week (especially the OLSC who 

greeted us with a Sea of Blue), for our 

sell-out round of 16 tie against Ulster. 

Even though the conditions were a 

challenge for both sides, it was a brilliant 

celebration of all that is good about the 

interprovincial game in Ireland, with two 

fiercely committed teams battling it out in 

front of their passionate supporters in a 

packed-out stadium. 

Congratulations to John McKee who 

made his Champions Cup debut last 

week when he came off the bench 

against Ulster. John has had a great rise 

this season off the back of lots of hard 

work and dedication. 

Next week, we’ll be heading off to South 

Africa for our final two rounds of the BKT 

United Rugby Championship regular 

season with games against the Lions and 

the Bulls to look forward to. 

These trips are always a brilliant 

experience for whoever gets to 

travel. And thanks to all the hard 

work that has gone in during the 

first 16 rounds of the URC, we 

are already guaranteed a home 

quarter-final here at the Aviva 

on the weekend of 5-7 May. 

It’s going to be extremely competitive to 

get into the top eight (and qualify for the 

Champions Cup) so we hope to see you 

all back here, whoever we play. 

Many thanks to all the team’s sponsors, 

in particular Bank of Ireland. You are 

such an important part of the team and 

your support is crucial for us to be able to 

continue investing in the future of Leinster 

Rugby. 

Tonight sees two teams who care 

deeply about this competition going at 

it. We’ve had many great battles over 

the years and I think we’re in for a 

titanic struggle. We’ve had to work 

hard to secure home advantage 

and we’re going to need all the 

support we can get! 

Finally Happy Easter to 

everyone. 

We hope you get to enjoy 

the long weekend with family, 

friends and loved ones. We 

are so grateful for the support 

you give the team and the 

fact that you prioritise coming 

to Leinster games over all the 

other things you could be doing. 

We’re going to try and make you 

proud this evening. 

Enjoy the game. 

Leo

Many 

thanks to 

everyone 

who turned 

up here 

last week 

(especially 

the OLSC who 

greeted us 

with a Sea 

of Blue), for 

our sell-out 

round of 16 

tie against 

Ulster. 


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laura 

lynch 

BANK OF IRELAND 

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 

A very warm 

welcome to the 

aviva stadium 

from Bank of 

Ireland as we look 

forward to this 

evening’s fixture. 

Bank of Ireland are proud partners to Leinster 

Rugby. Like us, they are rooted in local communities 

across the 12 counties of Leinster. 

We are delighted to support Leo Cullen and his coaching 

team in building Leinster Rugby through clubs and schools, 

developing home grown talent and always ensuring that 

Leinster #NeverStopCompeting. 

Much of that amazing talent will be on display on the pitch this 

evening. 

We wish Leinster Rugby every success, and hope that you 

enjoy the game. 

Laura Lynch. 

BANK OF IRELAND 

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER 


james 

lowe 

the big interview 

BY DANIEL KELLY 

The phones are 

constantly ringing 

in Leinster’s ticket 

office on Monday 

morning, as a 

familiar face walks 

in the door. 

“How are tickets 

going?” is the 

simple question. 



They will 

have a similar 

game plan to 

last year, and 

it works. They 

have won their 

last six games 

and we know 

the challenge 

that’s coming. 

It’s less than 48-hours after James 

Lowe played in front of an Aviva 

Stadium sell-out, and he’s eager 

for another big crowd on Friday 

night. 

“Knockout rugby is a beautiful thing, but it 

can hurt so much as well!” 

It’s a simple mantra for Lowe, as clubs 

enter the final stages of the season. To 

the victor, the spoils. To the losers, the 

heartbreak. 

When asked about last week’s game, the 

30-year-old was eager to pay tribute to 

those in attendance. 

“Thanks to everyone who turned out in 

abysmal conditions. The atmosphere, 

especially in the first half, was 

phenomenal. 

“It’s pretty special to play at home, with 

over 50,000 people there screaming and 

chanting was awesome. 

“It’s something that we will need if we go 

deeper in these competitions. Hopefully, 

we will have more opportunities to fill it 

out, if we are lucky enough. 

“When you run out, and there are 

thousands waving those blue flags - it 

gets you up. In times of need, when 

backs are against the wall - people are 

screaming for you! It’s very special. 

“We are in a position to keep playing 

at home if we keep advancing. It’s 

awesome!” 

The 30-15 win set up this evening’s match 

with Leicester, with a six-day turnaround. 

Despite the win, Lowe and his teammates 

know there is plenty to work on ahead of 

facing the English champions. 

“It was obviously a good result last 

weekend. Conditions dictated the way 

we had to play. The first half was very 

intense. Scoreboard pressure came into it 

pretty quickly. 

“In the second half, we could have scored 

some more points, but it’s something we 

will try and do better this weekend.” 

Though not by design, Lowe felt 

Saturday’s wet conditions may have 

helped Leinster prepare for this evening’s 

clash. 

“The fact we had to play a different style 

of rugby, and then come on top was very 

pleasing. 

“It wasn’t pretty and wasn’t one for 

the fans. We had to change our game 

plan because of the conditions. We 


showed we can play some good pressure 

rugby.” 

For the second year in a row, the teams 

meet in the quarter-finals of the Heineken 

Champions Cup. Last season, Leinster 

came away from Mattoli Woods Welford 

Road with a 23-14 win, in a proverbial 

game of two halves. 

Lowe knows the team is in for a tough test 

this evening, against a team they know 

well. 

“We were up 20-0 at the break last 

season. Fair play to Leicester - they 

came back at us. 

“We made it tough on ourselves and 

weren’t clinical enough. Leicester put a lot 

of pressure on us with their kicking game. 

We’ll have to rectify that on Friday. 

“They will have a similar game plan to 

last year, and it works. They have won 

their last six games and we know the 

challenge that’s coming.” 

With both teams having played on this 

weekend last year, Lowe admits it’s easier 

to play a team they are familiar with, 

instead of preparing for them through 

video analysis. 

“Sometimes there are teams that you find 

you play a lot. You get a sense of what 

they’re about. 

“They have new coaching staff but will 

play in a similar way. They are big 

on pressure rugby and keep the 

ball away from the middle of 

the field. 

“Leicester have some excellent kickers of 

the ball. Freddie Steward has a big boot. 

Handré Pollard pulls the strings at ten, 

and the addition of Anthony Watson is 

something they didn’t have last year. He’s 

a big addition, and it’s a challenge I look 

forward to.” 

Watson is a two-time Lions tourist, 

who has impressed at both club and 

international level. How does Lowe 


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prepare for a battle with a player of 

Watson’s stature? 

“We have a game plan, and it’s about 

sticking to it! 

“Individually, if you get your own things 

right and collectively too, it’s normally a 

good result. 

“The basics of my role this weekend will 

be high ball and kick execution. There will 

be a lot of kicking this weekend, and that 

won’t be dictated by the weather. 

“We will have to play against a team 

that wants to dominate territory. 

“If I get my own bits right - kick, 

pass, carry well, defend well - 

hopefully the team can go on 

from there.” 

Since Lowe arrived at Leinster, he 

has seen the team win one Heineken 

Champions Cup, from the sidelines in 

Bilbao. 

He was on the pitch for the losses in 

Newcastle (2019) and Marseille (2022) 

but would love nothing more than to be 

on the pitch celebrating a fifth star in 

Aviva Stadium next month. 

“The aim of the season is to win 

trophies. We’re in a very good position 

at the moment, that if we keep winning 

matches, we’re going to play a final in 

our own backyard. 

European 

games do feel 

like they mean 

a little more. 

Every time 

you put the 

Leinster crest 

on your chest, 

it’s a special 

opportunity. 


“The cliche of the next game being the 

most important one is so so true. If we do 

get to the final hurdle, hopefully the stars 

align for us to win at home. That’s what 

we’re hopefully gonna do!” 

Lowe was last season’s top try scorer in 

the competition, and he says there is a big 

It’s flown by! I’m going 

through my residency at 

the moment. There’s a lot of 

paperwork to be done. We’ve 

loved every minute of it. 

difference in intensity to games he plays 

in the BKT United Rugby Championship. 

“These games have more weight to them. 

You come up against teams where most of 

the international players are fit. 

“It’s where you need to measure yourself 

when it comes to club footy. We’ve been 

there or thereabouts, in my time here. 

“The opportunities have come [to win] a 

few times, but we have come up short. 

It’s knockout footy now, and we need to 

make sure that if the opportunity comes 

again, we don’t let it slip. 

“We have a pretty good team, and we 

owe it to a few people. That’s for sure. 

“Last week’s game with Ulster felt like a 

test match. We’d been hanging out with 

a lot of those boys for three months, and 

then it was time to go to war with them. 

“European games do feel like they mean 

a little more. Every time you put the 

Leinster crest on your chest, it’s a special 

opportunity.” 

After a tremendous Guinness Six Nations, 

that saw Lowe score three tries and 

play every minute of the Grand Slam 

campaign, he is clearly enjoying life on 

the field. 

The return to Leinster after being away 

with Ireland since early February was 

relatively seamless. 

“It hasn’t been too difficult. It’s something 

that we are pretty used to. 


“The lucky thing is that we play with so 

many of the boys at Leinster. There’s not 

too much of a change when we go into 

Ireland camp. 

“There are different coaches, but 

we’re fortunate to play with a lot 

of the same people for club and 

country. 

“I like sleeping in my own bed 

though, so it’s always good to 

be with Leinster!” 

This season is Lowe’s sixth with 

Leinster, after he joined the club in 

2017. Could he have imagined the 

success that has come in that period 

since? 

“It’s flown by! I’m going through my 

residency at the moment. There’s a lot 

of paperwork to be done. We’ve loved 

every minute of it. 

“I’m very fortunate to have come to 

a club and be welcomed so warmly. 

Our immediate future is in Ireland. I see 

residency as a no-brainer!” 

Leinster’s gain, both on and off the field. 


30 15 

Action 

replay 

FRIDAY, 1 APRIL 2023 

AVIVA STADIUM 

ATTENDANCE: 51,700 

REFEREE: LUKE PEARCE (RFU) 

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP 

SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR 

THE FULL MATCH REPORT 

SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR 

THE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS 

LEINSTER RUGBY 

Keenan, Larmour, J O’Brien, Henshaw, Lowe, 

R Byrne, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, 

Furlong, Molony, Ryan (capt), Baird, van der 

Flier, Conan. 

REPLACEMENTS: McKee, Healy, Ala’alatoa, 

Jenkins, Penny, McGrath, H Byrne, Frawley 

TRIES: Baird, Gibson-Park, Porter 

CONVERSIONS: R Byrne (3) 

PENALTIES: R Byrne (3) 

ULSTER RUGBY 

Lowry, Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, 

Stockdale, Burns, Doak; Sutherland, Herring, 

O’Toole, O’Connor (capt), Treadwell, 

McCann, Timoney, Vermeulen. 

REPLACEMENTS: Stewart, O’Sullivan, 

Toomaga-Allen, Sheridan, Rea, Cooney, 

Moore, Moxham. 

At times we were a little 

sloppy. There’s a lot to improve 

on. Leicester will provide a 

different challenge. We played 

them last year. They’re a big lump 

of a side. It’ll be a different 

challenge. 

Jack Conan 

TRIES: Hume, Herring 

CONVERSIONS: Doak 

PENALTIES: Cooney 


After Ryan Baird scored a try, 

Ulster hit back and even when 

Jamison scored, they hit back again 

- so they battled away Ulster, 

as we knew they would and it’s a 

strange feeling, a 10-week lead-up 

to a game and now you’ve a six-day 

turnaround. There’s some positives 

in the game and overall we’ve come 

through ok. 

Leo Cullen 


Four teams remain 

in Bank of Ireland 

Paul Flood Cup 

The Bank of 

Ireland Paul 

Flood Cup is 

the primary 

knockout 

competition 

for the 

Women’s clubs 

involved in 

Division One 

and Two of 

the Leinster 

League. 

Three quarter-finals have taken 

place in the past week, with 

the semi-finals taking place this 

weekend. 

Mullingar, Tullamore and Tullow came 

through impressively, while Portlaoise was 

forced to concede a walkover to PortDara 

Falcons due to an extensive injury list. 

Mullingar 40 

CYM 10 

Ciara Wynne was the hat-trick 

hero as Mullingar marched into the 

semi-finals. 

It wasn’t as straight-foward as the final 

scoreline might suggest. Sure, they moved 

into a 14-0 lead through tries by out-half 

Aine Hayden and flanker Eadaoin Liddy 

and conversions from Ciara Foxe. 

However, CYM were able to respond in 

impressive fashion to hit back not once, 

but twice, as centre Caoimhe Brady broke 

through for tries to leave it 14-10 at the 

interval. 

Thereafter, the physicality of Liddy and 

the control of Hayden led to good things 

happening for the Westmeath club. 

Wynne was involved in everything, the 

centre striking for two tries back-toback 

in what amounted to the decisive 

moments. 

CYM were just unable to keep pace and 

the holes that opened up due to tiring 

bodies were exposed by Kara Mulcahy 

and Wynne with Foxe converting five 

from six tries overall. 

Scorers: Mullingar - C Wynne 3 tries; A 

Hayden, E Liddy, K Mulcahy try each; C 

Foxe 5 cons. CYM - C Brady 2 tries. 

Balbriggan 8 

Tullamore 44 

The home side were in the mood 

to show what they could do, 

marching ahead 8-5 early on as 

a reward for pressure after Clare 

Leonard had given Tullamore the 

lead. 

Balbriggan had a fine general in out-half 

Rachel Mulligan, who struck a penalty 

and created their only try of the game. 

As the Offaly club pushed up in defence, 

Mulligan slid a clever kick in behind 

where Sorcha Murphy pounced. 

Left-wing Leonard turned fine approach 

play into a second try and a third 

followed from full-back Caroline Aherne 

for 15-8 at the break. 

Balbriggan were in it for an hour as 


centre Laura Browne, prop Caoimhie 

Coleman and the scrum provided 

encouragement. 

The Dubliners were not without their 

chances before scrum-half Aoibhe Kelly 

sniped to the line from a ruck. 

Last year’s runners-up Tullamore kept their 

feet on the accelerator as Sinead Rigney 

notched two tries in a minute, number 

eight Hannah Foxe cruised over and 

Aherne picked up her second. 

Scorers: Tullamore - C Leonard, S Rigney, 

C Aherne 2 tries each; H Foxe, A Kelly try 

each; L Sampson 2 cons. Balbriggan - S 

Murphy try; R Mulligan pen. 

Tullow 13 

MU Barnhall 10 

The quarter-finals came to a 

dramatic conclusion at Blackgates 

last Friday night. 

It all came down to a penalty in the last 

play of the game from the right foot of 

Catherine Dempsey for the holders to 

seal a semi-final date for the defending 

champions with PortDara Falcons. 

This was something of a surprise given 

how Barnhall had been crowned Leinster 

League Division 1 champion on March 

5th with Tullow back in fifth place. 

Really, defences were mean, both of them 

setting a tone early on to keep chances at 

a minimum, Tullow moving in front from a 

try by inside centre Roisin O’Toole. 

Then, MU Barnhall began to take 

a stranglehold, punching in two 

unconverted tries by lock replacement 

Ruth Campbell and centre Ciara Faulkner. 

It was Tullow’s turn to come from behind 

and they did just that when outside centre 

Chloe Farrell squared the game to set 

up a frantic endgame in which out-half 

Dempsey came through in style. 

Scorers: Tullow – R O’Toole, C Farrell try 

each; C Dempsey pen. MU Barnhall – R 

Campbell, C Faulkner try each. 

The Paul Flood Cup semi-finals are set for Sunday week (16 April) when Tullow host PortDara at Blackgates 

and Tullamore travel to Mullingar, with a repeat of last year’s final still a possibility 

If you are 

interested in 

taking up rugby 

or you would like 

to follow our 

updates, check out 

our social media 

channels: 

Leinster Women 

LeinsterWomens 

@LeinsterWomen 

womenspro@leinsterrugby.ie 


Our People, Our Home 

TWELVE COUNTIES. ONE SHIRT. 

Aaron Craig 

From a lad wearing Leinster blue to the RDS, to 

designing this season’s shirt. Aaron Craig’s journey has 

been amazing. The adidas Designer talks us through 

his design and what it means to create the shirt for his 

boyhood club. 

How did you begin working with adidas? 

When I was at the National College of Art and Design Dublin, I learned 

of adidas’ intern program. A lifelong fan of the brand, I knew it was an 

amazing opportunity. Luckily, I got to join adidas as an intern in 2016 

and I’ve been in Herzogenaurach (adidas HQ) ever since. I’m now a 

licensed apparel designer for some of the biggest teams in the world. 

What drew you to this project? 

Leinster asked if there were any Irish designers at adidas HQ they 

could collaborate with. For a lad who comes from Leinster that grew 

up supporting the team, this was a massive bucket list moment. My 

grandfather even worked the entrance gates the RDS and Donnybrook 

for years. 

What was your inspiration for the design? 

The inspiration came quite naturally. Each county of Leinster was to be 

represented equally with their heraldic crests – instantly recognisable 

symbols. I wanted to recount my own Leinster memories too. That 

meant introducing the darker blue sleeves and the collegiate gold 

detailing. To me, it’s a design that could be worn by players from any 

generation, from O’Driscoll to Sexton. 

How do you keep designs fresh year on year? 

We work closely with clubs to find authentic and fresh stories. At 

adidas, we also want to be at the forefront of performance technologies 

and sustainability. So every year we work to combine the two. 

Which design excited you the most? 

On a professional level, I designed the Spanish national team kits for 

the World Cup this season. The biggest sporting event there is. But, 

on a personal level, being part of the first adidas Celtic jersey in 2020 

and now seeing the framed Leinster kits in my parents’ home in Dublin 

might just be level with the World Cup. 

How does it feel to see your designs worn by thousands of fans? 

Seeing your jersey enjoyed by fans is definitely one of the most 

rewarding aspects of our jobs. Seeing people of all ages around Dublin 

on game day. Outside the pubs and cafés around the RDS. It’s a real 

pinch yourself moment for sure.

COMPARISON 

Played 

193 

(101 home, 92 away) 

Wins 

134 


Losses 

54 


Draws 

5 


Average points 

27 

Biggest win 

89 - 7 

Heaviest defeat 

10 - 51 

head-to-head 

record: 

Played 12, Leinster won 7, 

LEICESTER won 5, Draws 0. 

LAST 3 MEETINGS: 

07/05/2022 

14 LEICESTER TIGERS VS 

LEINSTER RUGBY 23 

09/04/2011 

17 LEINSTER RUGBY VS 

LEICESTER TIGERS 10 

23/05/2009 

16 LEICESTER TIGERS VS 

LEINSTER rugby 19 

Season so far: 

TOTAL TRIES 

31 12 

METRES GAINED 

2177 1389 

PASSES 

830 433 

TACKLES MADE 

439 773 

PENALTIES CONCEDED 

49 46 

TURNOVERS WON 

49 46 

Played 

168 


Wins 

105 


Losses 

59 


Draws 

4 


Average points 

26 

Biggest win 

90 - 19 

Heaviest defeat 

0 - 43

leo 

the lion’s 

kids 

corner 

ANAGRAMS 

Can you un-jumble 

the names of these 

players? 

CAR 

MAJESTY 

spot the difference! 

Can you find all six? 

CONTENT 

SPY 

zoomed in! 

WHo is this leinster player 

having an extreme close-up? 

how did you do? 

ANAGRAMS 

James Tracy & Scott Penny 

ZOOMED IN! 

Tadhg Furlong 

a... 

...maze... 

...ing 

can you make 

your way 

through the 

maze to the 

ball? 


Lorem ipsum 

Kimpton St Honoré Paris

McGrath and Murphy - Two 

Giants of Leinster Rugby 

Hang Up Their Boots 

Jack McGrath 

LEINSTER: 145 CAPS 

ULSTER: 25 CAPS 

IRELAND: 56 CAPS 

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS: 3 CAPS 

St Mary’s College man McGrath 

announced his retirement last 

month but had been struggling 

with a hip injury for a few seasons 

before his announcement. 

McGrath came through St Mary’s 

College school as well as representing 

the club in the All-Ireland League. He 

made his Leinster Rugby debut in the 

2009/10 Magners League against 

Glasgow Warriors and while that may 

have been his only appearance of that 

season, the Academy graduate wasn’t 

long in building a serious career for 

himself at loosehead prop. 

During his time at Leinster Rugby he was 

a key part of two Heineken Champions 

Cup wins, a Challenge Cup win in 2013 

and four PRO12/14 titles. 

His performances in blue were soon 

rewarded with an Irish debut and he 

started his Ireland career with a Man-ofthe-Match 

performance against Samoa 

in 2013. With Ireland he won Six Nations 

titles in 2014, 2015 and 2018, as well as 

playing in the Rugby World Cup in 2015. 

McGrath was further rewarded for his 

excellence at club and country, with 

selection for the 2017 British & Irish Lions 

tour to New Zealand where he played in 

all three tests. 

He was a key part of the Leinster Rugby 

squad that won a historic double in 2018, 

playing in 20 games across that season 

including nine Champions Cup games 

and the finals of both competitions in 

Bilbao and Dublin. 

McGrath moved to Ulster at the end of 

the 2019/20 season with another PRO14 

medal in his back pocket but he was 

not a part of the match-day squad with 

injury forcing him to miss the final against 

Glasgow Warriors in Celtic Park. 

While a hip injury would curtail his 

playing time with Ulster, he still made a 

further 25 appearances for the Belfast 

club before announcing his retirement in 

February 2023. 

McGrath left an incredible legacy for 

all the clubs and teams that he played 

for, but his impact off the pitch is harder 

to define but no less impactful when in 

2016, he opened up and was part of 

the Rugby Players Ireland ‘Tackle Your 

Feelings’ campaign. The campaign called 

on people to be more open with their 

feelings and to tackle the stigma around 

mental health issues. 

McGrath spoke very openly and honestly 

about his own mental health when 

discussing the tragic death of his brother 

in 2010 to suicide. 

His selfless efforts as part of this 

campaign to help young men talk more 

openly about their own struggles are a 

credit to him and his family. 


Over the last few months two 

stalwarts of Leinster and Irish 

rugby, Jack McGrath and Jordi 

Murphy, have announced their 

retirements from the game. 

Jordi Murphy 

LEINSTER: 107 CAPS 

ULSTER: 63 CAPS (TO DATE) 

IRELAND: 30 CAPS 

Murphy announced his retirement 

this week and plans to hang up his 

boots at the end of the season. 

One of the highlights for Murphy was 

being a central figure in Leinster Rugby’s 

historic and first ever domestic and 

European double in 2018, and indeed 

being the man to lift the Champions Cup 

trophy in Bilbao alongside captain Isa 

Nacewa. 

Speaking about that honour, club captain 

Nacewa said, "Jordi is a great guy and 

he plays with his heart on his sleeve and 

just gives it his all. It was pretty fitting for 

him to have an outstanding campaign 

and it's just good that he lifts the trophy. 

He was in the centre of it all; in the mix of 

things; throughout the whole campaign. 

"It was a good way to sign off his 

European honours with Leinster but 

maybe we'll see him back one day." 

That day won’t now come after five 

seasons up the M1 in Belfast with Ulster 

Rugby and his decision to retire at the end 

of the season but Murphy can look back 

with pride on a superb career. 

He won a Junior Cup in 2006 with 

Blackrock College and then captained 

them to Senior Cup success in March 

2009 and quickly followed that success 

with further accolades in his fledgling 

Leinster career, as well as lining out for 

Lansdowne FC in the All-Ireland League. 

He made his Senior debut in the 2011/12 

season against Glasgow Warriors, his 

European debut a year later and with 17 

games played across both competitions, 

he was named the Leinster Rugby Young 

Player of the Year for 2012/13. 

Both players came to prominence 

and came through the Leinster Rugby 

Academy into the Senior team, before 

both left the club in recent seasons to join 

Ulster Rugby, where they finished their 

careers. 

He also captained the Leinster ‘A’ side to 

the British & Irish Cup in May 2013. The 

following season he made his Ireland 

debut against England in the Six Nations 

and was named in the PRO12 Team of the 

Season at the end of the year. 

He would go on to win 30 caps for 

Ireland, contributing on some of the 

biggest days including a try in the first 

ever win over the All Blacks in Chicago 

in 2016. He was a key member of the Six 

Nations winning teams of 2014, 2015 

and 2018 and was also part of Ireland’s 

2015 and 2019 World Cup squads. 

His final act in blue was being part of the 

double-winning team that beat Scarlets 

in the PRO14 Final in the Aviva Stadium 

in 2018. 

Let’s take a look back and celebrate 

some of the stats and highlights from 

stellar careers in blue, in green and of 

course in Jack’s case, in red. 


© 2022 adidas AG

From The Archives: 

Leicester Tigers 14 

Leinster Rugby 23 

2022 Heineken Champions Cup Quarter-Final 


Rugby 

advanced to 

the semifinals 

of 

the Heineken 

Champions Cup 

after a 23- 

14 win over 

Leicester 

Tigers at 

Mattioli 

Woods 

Welford Road. 

Leicester Tigers: Steward, Asthon, 

Moroni, Porter, Potter, Ford, Youngs; 

Genge, Montoya, Cole, Chessum, Green, 

Liebenberg, Reffell, Wiese 

Replacements: Dolly, Whitcombe, 

Heyes, Wells, Martin, Wigglesworth, 

Burns, Nadolo 

Tries: Ashton, Dolly 

Conversions: Ford (2) 

Leinster Rugby: Keenan, J O’Brien, 

Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe, Sexton, 

Gibson-Park; Porter, Kelleher, Furlong, 

Molony, Ryan, Doris, van der Flier, Conan 

Replacements: Sheehan, Healy, 

Ala’alatoa, J McCarthy, Ruddock, 

McGrath, R Byrne, T O’Brien 

Tries: van der Flier, Henshaw 

Conversions: Sexton (2) 

Penalties: Sexton (2), R Byrne 

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France) 

A 20-point first half lead was 

enough breathing room for 

Leinster to see out the victory, 

coming through tries from 

Josh van der Flier and Robbie 

Henshaw. 

The Tigers were keen to make an early 

impact but it was the visitors who started 

liveliest and that would eventually show in 

the 20-0 half-time scoreline. 

Leinster were into their stride from Jamison 

Gibson-Park’s measured high ball and 

strong carries from Caelan Doris and Jack 

Conan which drew a penalty for Johnny 

Sexton to strike from 30 metres in the 

fourth minute. 

A misjudged clearance from Gibson-Park 

handed Leicester a lineout on the 22, 

requiring James Lowe to take control of a 

garryowen. 

The first scrum produced a Leicester 

penalty when Andrew Porter’s elbow hit 

the floor, prompting a fierce driving attack 

which was made redundant by Sexton 

and James Ryan forcing a knock-on. 

The next scrum was a chance for Leinster 

to make amends, the pack turning Tigers 

inside out for a penalty. 

Then, Lowe triggered a counter from the 

claim of a high ball and Hugo Keenan 

got away up the left, Rónan Kelleher’s 

fine line undone by Tommy Reffell’s 

excellent floor work. 

It wasn’t long before Gibson-Park was 

hurtling through a hole and Sexton’s skip 

pass put Lowe on the ball only for Freddie 

Steward to stand his ground. 

Leinster were playing on a penalty 

advantage, deciding to go to the corner 

where Conan’s take was moved forward 

for van der Flier to find the line. 

Another penalty and lineout followed. The 

punch in the carries started and finished 


with Henshaw, the centre eventually 

arrowing between George Ford and 

Jasper Wiese for Sexton’s extras to take 

the lead up to 17 in the 22nd minute. 

The vigilance of Gibson-Park in snuffing 

out a trick lineout was quickly countered 

by back-to-back tackles by Reffell on 

Lowe and Henshaw. 

A breakdown at a Leinster lineout 

allowed the Tigers to apply pressure until 

Ryan flew high to steal hooker Julian 

Montoya’s throw. 

Leinster stayed patient in defence and 

adopted the same approach in attack, 

led by Sexton. 

A bout of kick-ball ended with Garry 

Ringrose nabbing full-back Steward in the 

backfield for Gibson-Park to clamp down 

for a penalty which Sexton nailed for 

20-0 in the 38th minute. 

Stellar work by Keenan, involving a catch 

and carry, allowed Leinster to play in the 

right area until the home side broke away, 

Chris Ashton’s kick ahead gobbled up by 

Keenan to end the half. 

A barrelling Leicester maul was followed 

by a second crooked throw-in by 

Montoya and a short Lowe clearance. 

The Englishmen stayed on the attack, 

generating front-foot ball from a maul. 

George Ford’s pass put Ashton outside 

Keenan in the left corner. 

A long ball forward by Ben Youngs and 

Doris’ failure to hold the ball gave up 

field position. 

Ford kicked to the corner from a scrum 

penalty. Nemani Nadolo was held up 

over the line by Jimmy O’Brien and van 

der Flier. 

The pressure was growing. Ryan rose 

to snatch a five-metre lineout against 

the throw. Jimmy O’Brien claimed a 

skyscraper from Ford. Sexton secured 

the ball on the floor and the Blues were 

quickly up to close down Nadolo. 

Leinster were finding it difficult to escape 

their half. Henshaw’s intervention and 

Conan’s ball control from a block down 

almost cracking the cover against the run 

of play. 

However, there was the consolation of 

a 5-metre scrum, the carry from Conan 

earning a penalty for Ross Byrne, just on 

for Sexton, to make it a three-score game 

in the 66th minute. 

The Leicester scrum continued to have an 

impact before Leinster turned the tables in 

a crucial engagement close to their line. 

The scoring stalemate suited the visitors 

as the minutes moved by, Leicester finally 

delivering on their promise at the maul 

when Nic Dolly grounded for Ford to 

convert one minute from time. 


leinster 

squad 2022/23 

season 

Vakhtang Abdaladze #1263 

Prop 

DOB 6 Feb 1996 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 

WEIGHT 121kg (19st 1 lb) 

3 

CAPS 

Michael Ala’alatoa #1301 

12 

CAPS 

Prop 

DOB 28 August 1991 

HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 

WEIGHT 126kg (19st 11lbs) 

Ryan Baird #1278 

Second Row 

DOB 26 July 1999 

HEIGHT 1.98m (6’ 6”) 


11 

CAPS 

Ed Byrne #1222 

Prop 

DOB 9 September 1993 

HEIGHT 1.80m (5’ 11”) 

WEIGHT 115kg (18st) 

6 

CAP 

Harry Byrne #1280 

Out-half 

DOB 22 April 1999 

HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


2 

CAPS 

Ross Byrne #1236 

Out-half 


HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


19 

CAPS 

Thomas Clarkson #1285 

Prop 

DOB 22 February 2000 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Jack Conan #1223 

38 

CAPS 

7 

CAPS 

No 8 


HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”) 

WEIGHT 110kg (17st 4 lbs) 


Will Connors #1264 

9 

CAPS 

Max Deegan #1256 

2 

CAPS 

Brian Deeny #1306 

Caelan Doris #1268 

28 

CAPS 

Back Row 


HEIGHT 1.96 (6’ 5”) 


No 8 

DOB 1 October 1996 

HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”) 


Second Row 

DOB 2 March 2000 

HEIGHT 1.99m (6’ 6”) 


Back Row 


HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”) 


Cormac Foley #1299 

Scrum-half 


HEIGHT 1.81m (5’ 11 ”) 

WEIGHT 90kg (14 st 2 lbs) 

Ciarán Frawley #1265 

Out-half 

DOB 4 December 1997 

HEIGHT 1.92m (6’ 3”) 


Tadhg Furlong #1220 

Prop 

DOB 14 November 1992 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


65 

CAPS 

13 

CAPS 

Jamison Gibson-Park #1247 

Scrum-half 


HEIGHT 1.76m (5’ 9”) 


25 

CAPS 

Cian Healy #1142 

123 

CAPS 

2 

CAPS 

Robbie Henshaw #1251 

63 

CAPS 

9 

CAPS 

Jason Jenkins #1310 

1 

CAP 

Dave Kearney #1158 

19 

CAPS 

Prop 


HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Centre / Full Back 

DOB 12 June 1993 

HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


Lock 

DOB 2 December 1995 

HEIGHT 2.03 m (6’ 8”) 


Wing / Full Back 


HEIGHT 1.81m (5’ 11”) 


Hugo Keenan #1253 

30 

CAPS 

Rónan Kelleher #1277 

21 

CAPS 

Jordan Larmour #1258 

30 

CAPS 

James Lowe #1262 

20 

CAPS 

Full Back 


HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Hooker 

DOB 24 January 1998 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”) 


Wing 


HEIGHT 1.78m (5’ 10”) 


Wing / Full Back 


HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”) 



Joe McCarthy #1303 

1 

CAP 

Nick McCarthy #1241 

Tadgh McElroy #1312 

Luke McGrath #1206 

19 

CAPS 

Second Row 


HEIGHT 1.98m (6’ 6”) 


Scrum Half 


HEIGHT 1.8m (5’ 11”) 


Hooker 

DOB 16 June1997 

HEIGHT 1.78m (5’ 10’) 

WEIGHT 103kg (16st, 2lbs) 

Scrum Half 


HEIGHT 1.75m (5’ 9”) 


Michael Milne #1279 

Martin Moloney #1300 

Ross Molony #1233 

Charlie Ngatai #1311 

1 

CAP 

Prop 


HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”) 


Back Row 


HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”) 


Lock 

DOB 11 May 1994 

HEIGHT 2.00m (6’ 6”) 


Centre / Full Back 


HEIGHT 1.87 m (6’ 2”) 


Jimmy O’Brien #1272 

5 

CAPS 

Tommy O’Brien #1283 

Jamie Osborne #1294 

Scott Penny #1271 

Back Three 


HEIGHT 1.84m (6’ 0”) 


Wing 

DOB 28 May 1998 

HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”) 


Centre 


HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”) 

WEIGHT 97.5kg (15st 5lbs) 

Flanker 


HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Andrew Porter #1246 

53 

CAPS 

Garry Ringrose #1237 

50 

CAPS 

Rhys Ruddock #1167 

27 

CAPS 

Charlie Ryan 

Prop 


HEIGHT 1.84m (6’ 1”) 


Centre 


HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”) 


Back Row 


HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


Lock 


HEIGHT 2.01m (6’ 7”) 



James Ryan #1259 

53 

CAPS 

Johnny Sexton #1127 

113 

CAPS 

14 

CAPS 

Dan Sheehan #1286 

17 

CAPS 

James Tracy #1211 

6 

CAPS 

Lock 


HEIGHT 2.00m (6’ 7”) 


Out-half 


HEIGHT 1.88m (6’ 2”) 


Hooker 


HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 


Hooker 


HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 1”) 


Liam Turner #1287 

Centre 


HEIGHT 1.73m (5’ 8”) 


Josh van der Flier #1228 

50 

CAPS 

Flanker 


HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”) 


for full squad profiles 

please scan this qr code 

Coaching 

Staff 2022/23 

Stuart 

Lancaster 

Senior Coach 

season 

Leo Cullen 

Head 

Coach 

Emmet 

Farrell 

Kicking Coach and 

Lead Performance Analyst 

Robin 

McBryde 

Assistant Coach 

SEÁN 

O’BRIEN 

CONTACT SKILLS Coach 

ANDREW 

GOODMAN 

ASSISTANT COACH 

Guy 

Easterby 

Head of Rugby Operations 


We always strive to be 

A beat ahead 

layahealthcare.ie

The Team Behind The Team: 

Jim 

Bastick 

Jim Bastick 

served in the 

elite Irish 

Army Ranger 

Wing but he 

now brings all 

his military 

training and 

skills to his 

role as senior 

kit man with 

Leinster Rugby. 

He spoke to 

Marcus Ó 

Buachalla in 

the recent 

edition of 

Across The 

Laighin, that 

is available 

exclusively to 

season ticket 

holders. 

In this excerpt, Marcus sits down 

to chat with the affable Laois man 

to hear about his own journey 

to this point and what his latest 

role in a high-performance 

environment involves. 

“My role is pretty much the day to day of 

training and everything that is involved 

with the pitch sessions and preparing 

that pitch for those sessions. Tackle pads, 

cones, bollards, balls, bibs, poles, the 

water, the Powerade. 

“Whatever is needed. 

“My day would start with checking in with 

Leo, Stuart, Goody (Andrew Goodman), 

Robin, Seánie and see what they need 

and then making sure to have it ready for 

them and the players when they get on 

the pitch. 

“Now I am lucky that Jack O’Brien and 

Molly Boyne give a dig out here and 

there but that’s it in a nutshell day to day. 

“The match days are different and you 

have home weeks and away weeks and 

the impact of travel on that planning 

piece, but the role itself is the same. 

Whatever is needed to make that match 

day go well, for everyone, to try to have 

it there in the dressing room.” 

Any unusual or funny requests over the 

years? 

“Plenty but I’ll not be telling you!” 

Eventually he gives a small insight but 

also the benefit of these unusual requests 

for future dressing rooms. 

“There was one player and he asked 

me for nail clippers. Not a scissors, nail 

clippers. 

“I didn’t have one, but I have one now 

and if anyone ever needs one again, I’ll 

have it. 

“And it’s like that for a lot of the little bits 

and pieces that you will have. You might 

only need it once a season, but as long 

as you have it or can get it quickly when 

asked.” 

As Bastick goes on to describe his 

background it’s not long before you see 

quite clearly what Leinster Rugby saw 

in him. 

“My background is in the military and I 

joined the army when I was 19 but I just 

didn’t think that a professional rugby club 

could get value out of the military or out 

of my military training. 



“I suppose when you step away from it, 

the background in logistics, travelling, 

good lessons in punctuality, buying into 

a mission or a purpose. All those little 

things add up and I think are a very good 

grounding for a role like this.” 

The opportunity at Leinster Rugby wasn’t 

his first role in a sporting environment. 

“I had worked with the Defence Forces 

rugby team for a good few years with 

Mervyn Farrell and Rory McCann but that 

was in a different capacity. 

“I had studied Sports Therapy so I had 

that string to my bow and was helping 

out the team in that regard on match day 

with their requirements and massages and 

whatever was needed. So being in and 

around team environments was nothing 

new.” 

In total he spent 22 years in the Defence 

Forces, 20 years of which was in the 

Army Ranger Wing. 

As well as numerous tours of duty 

abroad, he also has a BA in management 

and leadership from Carlow Institute 

of Technology and a qualification as a 

Sports Therapist. 

Not content to help out the Defence 

Forces rugby team, he also helped 

out the Laois hurlers at Minor and 

U-21 levels and Emo senior Gaelic 

footballers for three seasons. 

He was a busy man in the army, but it’s 

all he ever knew even as a young lad 

growing up and he loved it. 

“I grew up in the Curragh with my mam, 

Mary and dad, Jim Senior, and did all 

my education in the Curragh as well. 

“I did think about going off to college 

after the Leaving Cert and doing 

engineering but I heard that the military 

were recruiting in 12 months’ time so I 

got a job for that year with Microsoft in 

Kildare and in the meantime I trained 

and got fit and just waited for the time 

to apply. 

“My dad served in the 1st Armoured 

Cavalry Squadron. He left Coolrain 

at the foothills of the Slieve Bloom 

mountains in the early 1970’s and 

joined the military in the Curragh. 

“We grew up in the Curragh and it was 

brilliant. I loved it. It was a community in 

itself. If you were in your mate’s house 

I suppose 

when you step 

away from it, 

the background 

in logistics, 

travelling, 

good lessons 

in punctuality, 

buying into a 

mission or a 

purpose. All 

those little 

things add up 

and I think are 

a very good 

grounding for a 

role like this. 


at lunch, you got your lunch, if he was 

in yours for dinner, he got his dinner. 

The key was in everyone’s door. 

“I joined the army in 1997 and growing 

up, we lived in Connolly Barracks in the 

Curragh and I remember standing in the 

square on parade in recruit training and 

witnessing my parents move out of the 

family home and back to Laois, where 

we are still living now. 

“It’s a funny way to think of it but I never 

left the Curragh until I joined Leinster. 

It was my life every day for however 

many years. My home and then my 

place of work. 

“But no, we’re all back in Laois now, 

living in Emo, a lovely village, another 

great community there. My parents are 

literally a stone’s throw from my house. 

“So it’s a little slice of heaven and we’re 

very happy there.” 

You can read more features like this in 

Across the Laighin, which is available to 

all season ticket holders. 


compiled by stuart farmer 

media services limited 

Leinster Player 

SQUAD CAP NO DEBUT 

Statistics 

2022/23 SEASON FOR LEINSTER LEINSTER CAREER 

ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR 

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

SINCE LAST TRY 

CAPS 

VAKHTANG ABDALADZE 1263 2 DEC 17 0+9 - - 0+9 - - - - - 0+26 2 10 0+25 2 10 0+1 - - 11 GEO 3 

MICHAEL ALA'ALATOA 1301 25 SEP 21 16+2 2 10 12+1 1 5 4+1 1 5 28+15 5 25 23+7 3 15 5+8 2 10 3 WS 12 

AITZOL ARENZANA-KING 1316 28 JAN 23 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - - 

RYAN BAIRD 1278 27 APR 19 9+2 3 15 6+1 2 10 3+1 1 5 28+21 10 50 23+15 9 45 5+6 1 5 1 IR 11 

LEE BARRON 1308 23 APR 22 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - 0+5 - - 0+5 - - - - - - - 

JACK BOYLE 1317 18 FEB 23 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - - 

BEN BROWNLEE 1313 28 OCT 22 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - 1+1 - - 1+1 - - - - - - - 

ED BYRNE 1222 9 FEB 14 4+5 1 5 4+3 - - 0+2 1 5 31+63 13 65 31+48 11 55 0+15 2 10 3 IR 6 

HARRY BYRNE 1280 28 SEP 19 5+6 2 55 5+2 2 45 0+4 - 10 26+21 8 238 26+16 8 223 0+5 - 15 4 IR 2 

ROSS BYRNE 1236 4 SEP 15 12+4 - 114 7+4 - 67 5 - 47 97+47 9 940 78+25 4 663 19+22 5 277 27 IR 19 

TOM CLARKSON 1285 29 AUG 20 2+4 1 5 2+4 1 5 - - - 8+16 1 5 8+16 1 5 - - - 5 - 

JACK CONAN 1223 20 FEB 14 7+4 - - 4+2 - - 3+2 - - 98+30 25 125 67+18 16 80 31+12 9 45 21 IR 38 

WILL CONNORS 1264 9 FEB 18 1+7 - - 1+7 - - - - - 19+14 2 10 18+14 2 10 1 - - 20 IR 9 

HUGH COONEY - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

CHRIS COSGRAVE 1305 26 MAR 22 2+1 1 5 2+1 1 5 - - - 3+2 1 5 3+2 1 5 - - - 3 - 

JAMES CULHANE 1315 28 JAN 23 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - - 

MAX DEEGAN 1256 3 DEC 16 9+1 3 15 9 3 15 0+1 - - 52+42 27 135 49+29 25 125 3+13 2 10 1 IR 2 

BRIAN DEENY 1306 23 APR 22 4+5 2 10 4+4 2 10 0+1 - - 6+5 2 10 6+4 2 10 0+1 - - 4 - 

CAELAN DORIS 1268 28 APR 18 8+1 2 10 4+1 - - 4 2 10 55+9 10 50 37+7 6 30 18+2 4 20 2 IR 28 

CORMAC FOLEY 1299 24 APR 21 2+4 1 5 2+4 1 5 - - - 4+7 2 10 4+7 2 10 - - - 4 - 

CIARAN FRAWLEY 1265 17 FEB 18 4+3 - 9 4+2 - 9 0+1 - - 35+28 7 188 32+19 5 172 3+9 2 16 9 - 

TADHG FURLONG 1220 1 NOV 13 2+1 - - 1+1 - - 1 - - 87+43 10 50 48+35 3 15 39+8 7 35 9 IR 65 

JAMISON GIBSON-PARK 1247 2 SEP 16 6+1 1 5 2 - - 4+1 1 5 66+57 23 115 51+30 15 75 15+27 8 40 1 IR 25 

FINTAN GUNNE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

MARCUS HANAN 1295 19 FEB 21 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - 0+4 - - 0+4 - - - - - - - 

CIAN HEALY 1142 5 MAY 07 4+7 - - 4+2 - - 0+5 - - 164+96 30 150 97+58 16 80 65+37 13 65 12 IR 123 

ROBBIE HENSHAW 1251 8 OCT 16 5+1 1 5 4+1 1 5 1 - - 71+3 17 85 33+2 8 40 38+1 9 45 4 IR 63 

JASON JENKINS 1310 17 SEP 22 10+3 2 10 9+2 2 10 1+1 - - 10+3 2 10 9+2 2 10 1+1 - - 10 SA 1 

DAVE KEARNEY 1158 16 MAY 09 9 3 15 9 3 15 - - - 159+23 55 275 133+16 48 240 25+6 7 35 2 IR 19 

HUGO KEENAN 1253 5 NOV 16 8 4 20 3 1 5 5 3 15 49+3 13 65 31+3 6 30 18 7 35 2 IR 30 

RONAN KELLEHER 1277 22 FEB 19 6+3 4 20 4+1 1 5 2+2 3 15 35+10 17 85 20+6 12 60 15+4 5 25 2 IR 21 

JORDAN LARMOUR 1258 2 SEP 17 12+1 5 25 9 3 15 3+1 2 10 76+11 32 160 49+7 23 115 27+4 9 45 4 IR 30 


SQUAD CAP NO DEBUT 


ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR 

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

SINCE LAST TRY 

CAPS 

TEMI LASISI 1304 12 MAR 22 - - - - - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - - 

JAMES LOWE 1262 2 DEC 17 5 3 15 2 1 5 3 2 10 68+2 50 250 41+1 29 145 27+1 21 105 3 IR 20 

GUS MCCARTHY - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

JOE MCCARTHY 1303 29 JAN 22 3+3 - - 2+2 - - 1+1 - - 11+6 1 5 10+2 1 5 1+4 - - 8 IR 1 

NICK MCCARTHY 1241 19 DEC 15 1+12 - - 1+11 - - 0+1 - - 10+49 5 25 10+42 5 25 0+7 - - 19 - 

TADGH MCELROY 1312 28 OCT 22 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - - - 

LUKE MCGRATH 1206 5 MAY 12 12+4 7 35 11+1 6 30 1+3 1 5 126+65 48 240 90+50 39 195 36+15 9 45 4 IR 19 

JOHN MCKEE 1307 23 APR 22 5+8 2 10 5+7 2 10 0+1 - - 7+9 2 10 7+8 2 10 0+1 - - 8 - 

MICHAEL MILNE 1279 28 SEP 19 5+6 4 20 5+4 4 20 0+2 - - 6+22 6 30 6+20 6 30 0+2 - - 1 - 

MARTIN MOLONEY 1300 24 APR 21 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - 2+8 - - 2+8 - - - - - - - 

ROSS MOLONY 1233 20 FEB 15 15+5 - - 12+3 - - 3+2 - - 97+62 5 25 84+45 4 20 13+17 1 5 36 - 

BEN MURPHY 1309 21 MAY 22 - - - - - - - - - 0+1 - - 0+1 - - - - - - - 

CHARLIE NGATAI 1311 17 SEP 22 9+2 - - 7+2 - - 2 - - 9+2 - - 7+2 - - 2 - - - NZ 1 

JAMIE OSBORNE 1294 30 JAN 21 10+2 1 5 8+1 - - 2+1 1 5 23+8 2 10 21+7 1 5 2+1 1 5 4 - 

JIMMY O'BRIEN 1272 23 NOV 18 14 3 15 9 1 5 5 2 10 57+10 19 99 43+9 11 59 14+1 8 40 3 IR 5 

SEAN O'BRIEN 1297 12 MAR 21 - - - - - - - - - 0+3 - - 0+3 - - - - - - - 

TOMMY O'BRIEN 1283 20 DEC 19 - - - - - - - - - 10+11 6 30 10+9 6 30 0+2 - - 2 - 

MAX O'REILLY 1291 2 JAN 21 2 1 5 2 1 5 - - - 10+1 2 10 10+1 2 10 - - - 1 - 

SCOTT PENNY 1271 23 NOV 18 10+3 5 25 10+1 5 25 0+2 - - 44+10 28 140 44+8 28 140 0+2 - - 2 - 

ANDREW PORTER 1246 2 SEP 16 9+4 4 20 4+4 2 10 5 2 10 50+54 18 90 33+35 12 60 17+19 6 30 1 IR 53 

GARRY RINGROSE 1237 12 SEP 15 10+1 6 30 6+1 4 20 4 2 10 110+3 36 188 66+2 23 123 44+1 13 65 1 IR 50 

RHYS RUDDOCK 1167 6 DEC 09 10 3 15 10 3 15 - - - 166+54 15 75 128+35 13 65 37+17 2 10 3 IR 27 

ROB RUSSELL 1302 3 OCT 21 7+4 9 45 7+4 9 45 - - - 10+6 9 45 10+6 9 45 - - - 1 - 

CHARLIE RYAN - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

JAMES RYAN 1259 2 SEP 17 9+3 1 5 4+3 - - 5 1 5 61+9 4 20 31+4 1 5 30+5 3 15 6 IR 53 

JOHNNY SEXTON 1127 27 JAN 06 3+2 1 32 3+1 1 30 0+1 - 2 159+30 27 1646 92+22 14 887 65+8 12 728 4 I R 113 

DAN SHEEHAN 1286 23 OCT 20 10+3 9 45 7+1 8 40 3+2 1 5 19+23 25 125 15+14 21 105 4+9 4 20 4 IR 17 

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

ALEX SOROKA 1296 28 FEB 21 0+2 - - 0+2 - - - - - 2+5 - - 2+5 - - - - - - - 

CHARLIE TECTOR 1314 28 OCT 22 0+5 1 9 0+5 1 9 - - - 0+5 1 9 0+5 1 9 - - - 2 - 

JAMES TRACY 1211 4 NOV 12 - - - - - - - - - 64+77 18 90 57+48 17 85 7+29 1 5 5 IR 6 

LIAM TURNER 1287 23 OCT 20 8+2 2 10 8+1 2 10 0+1 - - 12+4 2 10 12+3 2 10 0+1 - - 4 - 

JOSH VAN DER FLIER 1228 11 OCT 14 10+1 7 35 5+1 2 10 5 5 25 100+25 25 125 57+19 10 50 43+6 15 75 2 IR 50 

KICKING 


SUCCESS 

ALL GAMES URC EPCR ALL GAMES PRO14/URC EPCR OVERALL 

RATE C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG C PG DG ATT Career % 

HARRY BYRNE 62.86% 21 1 - 16 1 - 5 - - 84 10 - 78 9 - 6 1 - 127 74.02% 

ROSS BYRNE 84.13% 45 8 - 26 5 - 19 3 - 299 98 1 221 66 1 78 32 - 503 78.93% 

CIARAN FRAWLEY 100.00% 3 1 - 3 1 - - - - 57 13 - 54 13 - 3 - - 84 83.33% 

JIMMY O'BRIEN - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - 2 - - - - - 4 50.00% 

GARRY RINGROSE - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - 4 - - - - - 6 66.67% 

JOHNNY SEXTON 68.42% 12 1 - 11 1 - 1 - - 277 308 11 140 172 7 130 132 4 733 79.81% 

CHARLIE TECTOR 66.67% 2 - - 2 - - - - - 2 - - 2 - - - - - 3 66.67% 


TITLE PARTNER 

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Bank of Ireland 

Match Day Mascots 

MAX 

QUINLAN 

Age: 12 

School: Kill O The Grange National School, 

Deansgrange, Co. Dublin. 

Class: 5th Class 

Hobbies and interests: Rugby, piano 

and computer games 

MAX 

LAWLOR 

Age: 10 

School: Gaelscoil Inis Córthaidh 

Class: 3rd Class 

Hobbies and interests: Lego, sport and music 

Favourite player: Johnny Sexton 

Favourite player: Johnny Sexton 

but loves all the players.

Squads 

matchday 

15 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 

Hugo KEENAN 

Jimmy O’BRIEN 

Garry RINGROSE 

Robbie HENSHAW 

James LOWE 

Ross BYRNE 

Jamison GIBSON-PARK 

FULL BACK 

RIGHT WING 

OUTSIDE CENTRE 

INSIDE CENTRE 

LEFT WING 

FLY HALF 

SCRUM HALF 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

Andrew PORTER 

Dan SHEEHAN 

Tadhg FURLONG 

Ross MOLONY 

James RYAN [C] 

Ryan BAIRD 

Caelan DORIS 

Jack CONAN 

LOOSE HEAD PROP 

HOOKER 

TIGHT HEAD PROP 

SECOND ROW 

SECOND ROW 

BLINDSIDE FLANKER 

OPENSIDE FLANKER 

NUMBER 8 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

John McKEE 

Cian HEALY 

Michael ALA’ALATOA 

Jason JENKINS 

Scott PENNY 

Luke McGRATH 

Harry BYRNE 

Ciarán FRAWLEY 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT

officials 

REFEREE: NIKA AMASHUKELI (GEORGIA) 

ASSISTANT REFEREE 1: PIERRE BROUSSET (FRANCE) 

ASSISTANT REFEREE 2: TUAL TRAININI (FRANCE) 

TMO: ERIC GAUZINS (FRANCE) 

FULL BACK 

Mike BROWN 15 

RIGHT WING 

OUTSIDE CENTRE 

INSIDE CENTRE 

LEFT WING 

FLY HALF 

SCRUM HALF 

Anthony WATSON 

Harry POTTER 

Dan KELLY 

Freddie STEWARD 

Handré POLLARD 

Jack VAN POORTVLIET 

14 

13 

12 

11 

10 

9 


HOOKER 


SECOND ROW 

SECOND ROW 

BLINDSIDE FLANKER 

OPENSIDE FLANKER 

NUMBER 8 

James CRONIN 

Julián MONTOYA [C] 

Joe HEYES 

George MARTIN 

Cameron HENDERSON 

Hanro LIEBENBERG 

Tommy REFFELL 

Jasper WIESE 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

REPLACEMENT 

Charlie CLARE 

Tom WEST 

Dan COLE 

Eli SNYMAN 

Olly CRACKNELL 

Sam WOLSTENHOLME 

Charlie ATKINSON 

Jimmy GOPPERTH 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23

Leinster Rugby 

Season Ticket 

Renewals Open 


have launched 

their Season 

Tickets for 

2023/24 and 

as always, the 

first step 

is a renewal 

process 

for those 

with a seat 

currently. 

Leinster Rugby have 12,248 

Season Ticket Holders this season, 

and the club has confirmed that 

there would again be no increase 

in the price of the season tickets 

for the coming season. 

The club also confirmed that the Guinness 

Fan Zone has again been confirmed for 

next season at the RDS Arena following 

a hugely popular debut season in 

2022/23. 

Once again, a number of local bands 

and DJs have been secured to provide 

pre and post-match entertainment for all 

supporters at games at the RDS Arena 

and a number of additional match-day 

activations are also being looked at for 

the 2023/24 season. 

Leinster Rugby CEO, Shane Nolan, said, 

“The current season is still very much 

alive and going strong but the planning 

for next year and indeed beyond that, 

can’t wait. 

“We have had a brilliant reaction from 

our supporters this season and it’s been 

heartening to get through a full season 

with no interruptions and to see that 

confidence in our Season Ticket numbers 

and in our match day attendances. 

“We are though mindful that we are 

all making our way out of the impact 

of Covid-19 and an on-going cost of 

living crisis and for that reason, we have 

decided that prices for 2023/24 will stay 

as they are. 

“Leinster Rugby supporters stood by us 

during the Covid-19 pandemic and we 

feel that it’s important that we recognise 

that fact.” 

Nolan also confirmed that Season Ticket 

Holders would not be impacted over the 

course of the 2023/24 season by any 

redevelopment works at the RDS Arena 

but that an update from the RDS would be 

the next step in the process. 

“Both Leinster Rugby and the RDS Arena 

are hugely excited by the work already 

underway. 

“As a club we are supporting the work 

of the RDS, on what is an exciting multipurpose 

Arena regeneration project, to 

ensure that this important opportunity 

advances. We are excited about our 

long-term future in the RDS, especially 

having recently signed a 25-year 

agreement. 

“When the time is right, the RDS will 

give the next update and I know our 

supporters are looking forward hugely 

to that.” 

As well as confirming the pricing strategy, 

Leinster Rugby also confirmed that 

Season Tickets would include entry to all 

Leinster Rugby Women’s games, as well 

as any Leinster Rugby ‘A’ games played 

during the regular season, excluding 

play-offs and finals. 

The key dates for current Season Ticket 

Holders and for members of the public 

looking to purchase season tickets were 

also confirmed by the club. 

Supporters with a seat currently will have 

until 14 April 2023 to renew, after which 

time the tickets will be made available to 

the waiting list and finally, from 26 April 

2023, the remaining tickets will be made 

available to the general public. 

“I think we have seen so many positives 

on the pitch this season from Leo Cullen 

and his squad of players and from Tania 

Rosser and her squad and you see the 

talent that is coming through the player 

pathway from our clubs and our schools,” 

continued Nolan. 

“Supporters are seeing the best of talent 

on a weekly basis in Energia Park, in the 

RDS and in the Aviva and I know there is 

a real and genuine excitement for what’s 

to come next season and beyond.” 

The renewal window for Leinster Rugby 

Season Tickets opens this morning, while 

remaining tickets will be available to the 

public from 26 April 2023. 


offical leinster 

supporters club 

Welcome to what we hope will 

be a very good Friday at the final 

whistle around 10pm tonight, 

as we welcome the visitors from 

Leicester for the first match of the 

Heineken Champions Cup quarterfinals 

weekend. 

We met Leicester Tigers last year in the 

quarter-final in Mattioli Woods Welford 

Road, where we overcame our hosts 

23-14 to secure a place in the semi-final. 

It certainly won’t be an easy night here 

in the Aviva. Leicester Tigers is a form 

side, currently third in the Gallagher 

Premiership, and no doubt will want to 

upset the local side today with a win to 

continue their European adventure, and 

perhaps seek out a bit of revenge for our 

victory last year on their home turf. This 

is the sixth time that the two sides with 

six European titles between them will be 

going head-to-head in the knockout stage 

of the tournament when we meet tonight. 

Ní hé lá na báistí lá na bpáistí (the day 

of rain is not the day of children). Living 

in Ireland we all know that trying to plan 

and do anything when it’s wet can be an 

unpleasant ordeal hence our obsession 

with the weather. There is nothing like 

relentless Irish rain to dampen people’s 

spirits and increase their irritability. 

Gladly that was not the case here last 

Saturday, a sell-out crowd enthusiastically 

made the trip to the Aviva to shout loud, 

very loud for the lads, rain was certainly 

not going to dampen our spirits. It was 

a tough game against our interprovincial 

rivals in very challenging conditions, 

sometimes it looked more like a summer’s 

day slip’n slide minus the sun than a 

rugby match. 

Leinster dug deep and took the challenge 

on and secured a spot in the next stage 

of the competition. The Sea of Blue 

was incredible, we created an intense 

cauldron of noise and colour and we 

will need that today more than ever. 

It’s a reduced capacity Aviva, six-day 

turnarounds are no fun, it puts that extra 

bit of pressure on everyone involved, 

players, coaches, staff, and supporters, 

but as we have always said Leinster do 

enjoy doing things the hard way. 

If you made the trip to Welford Road last 

season you will remember the atmosphere 

on the ground. Leicester Tigers are an 

old traditional rugby club situated in the 

midlands of the UK and the home crowd 

are very noisy. Welford Road is a tough 

place to go and win, the atmosphere is 

electric but we took it over last year with 

the huge travelling support. 

During the week, Leo spoke about the 

amazing support and how important 

it is for the team, who get a real boost 

from this. Last week was a hard game 

and we expect no difference. Tonight we 

will need to get behind the team straight 

away, so please be loud, very loud let 

the team hear you. We know what a win 

will bring, one step closer to that muchcoveted 

prize, the elusive fifth star, a 

place in history, and all roads lead home 

this year hopefully paved in blue. 

It was an early and wet start for some 

last week as an army of volunteers took 

to the Aviva early in the morning to flag 

the stadium, and wasn’t it worth it, it was 

amazing. We had two supporter bases 

last week, the Sandymount Hotel and 

next-door neighbours Lansdowne FC. It 

was a great build-up to the game despite 

the weather, we were supplied with 

plenty of covered space, a face painter, 

and plenty of food and drink options, 

and Leo the Lion even joined in the fun. 

Thanks very much to both venues for their 

amazing hospitality and a huge thanks to 

all our volunteers who turned up to help 

with early flagging, the SOB, and the 

giant pitch flag. As we always say none 

of this is possible without all the help that 

we get on a regular basis. 

As always we are very thankful for the 

support we as a committee get from 

Leinster Rugby, Bank of Ireland, and all 

the corporate sponsors, and as always 

we encourage you to show your support 

through our social media channels. 

Be loud, be true, be blue! 

The OLSC Committee 

olsc@leisterrugby.ie 


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CHARITY PARTNER 

2022/23 

At Jigsaw, we understand and support young 

people’s mental health. 

Both online and in person, we give advice and support to 

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Bank of Ireland 

Leinster Rugby Summer 

Camps launch for 2023! 

The 2023 Bank 

of Ireland 


Summer Camps 

have officially 

launched, with 

29 camps to 

choose from 

around the 12 

counties. 

The summer camps are open to 

girls and boys aged six to 12 and 

all of the camps are run by fully 

accredited IRFU coaches. Each 

camp runs from Monday to Friday 

and from 9.30am to 1pm. 

The summer camps, which will take place 

in 28 different locations all across the 

province in July and August, offer children 

the chance to learn to play the Leinster 

way while having plenty of fun! 

Leinster Rugby have also announced that 

with the change in the rugby schedule 

this summer due to the Rugby World Cup, 

Leinster Rugby players will once again be 

available and will make appearances at 

this year’s summer camps. 

There are also a number of new venues 

added reflecting the growth in popularity 

of the camps, including; Rathfarnham/ 

Stillorgan, Birr, Carlingford Knights, 

Carlow and Roscrea rugby clubs. 

Ray McCabe, Leinster Rugby Summer 

Camp Co-ordinator, said, “We’re thrilled 

to have Bank of Ireland on board again 

as the title sponsor of our Leinster Rugby 

summer camps. 

“And it’s brilliant as well to have the 

Leinster Rugby players back visiting 

our camps. The players playing for Leo 

Cullen and for Tania Rosser, they are the 

stars of the show and it’s a real bonus to 

have them back visiting our camps and 

inspiring all the boys and girls. 

“We know from the feedback we receive 

that the kids really enjoy meeting the 

players and we look forward to having 

them back this summer.” 

As well as learning to play the Leinster 

way, making new friends and having lots 

of fun, each child will also receive a pack 

including a rugby training t-shirt, a Rhino 

rugby ball and a boot bag. 

They will also get one free ticket to a 

selected Leinster Rugby game. 

The cost of attending the camp will be 

€90 per child. 

For more information, and to book 

your place before it’s too late, visit 

LeinsterRugby.ie 


PROUD TO BE OFFICIAL 

BUSINESS ADVISORS 

TO LEINSTER RUGBY 

To discover how BDO can help 

your business, visit bdo.ie 

or email: info@bdo.ie 

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BDO International network and for each of the BDO Member Firms.

GETTING 

We check social media 

for the latest views 

and thoughts across 

SOCIAL 

the 12 counties 


WHERE 

ARE THEY 

NOW? 

KELVIN BY DES BERRY 

LEAHY 

THEN - Kelvin 

played for 

Leinster between 

1989 and 1995. 

NOW - The Head 

of 5th year at St 

Michael’s College 

and his wife 

Deirdre live 

in Glenageary. 

They have 

three children 

Jennifer (30), 

Kelvin (28) and 

Bobby (24). 


Munster 

by birth. 

Leinster by 

the grace 

of God. 

Kelvin Leahy was born in Cork 

and was educated at Crescent 

College Comprehensive in Limerick 

where he was captain of the 

1983 Munster Schools Senior Cup 

triumph. 

In fact, the 57-year-old made his way to 

Kilkee, in West Clare, recently to attend 

the 40-year commemoration of that 

glorious day. 

“It was such a joy. Everyone is still fit and 

well,” he said. 

A Munster man through and through. So 

you would think. 

In 1984, Kelvin came to the capital city 

to join his brother at Wanderers and the 

attraction was as good as immediate. 

In September of the same year, the first 

experience of senior rugby for Wanderers 

came alongside Ireland internationals 

Robbie McGrath, Mick Fitzpatrick, Ian 

Burns and Jerry Holland against English 

club Waterloo in Lansdowne Road. 

“Really, straight off, I felt Dublin was the 

place for me and Leinster would be my 

preferred choice rather than travelling up 

and down long-term.” 

In 1984, Kelvin was invited to join the 

Leinster U19s and U20s in the same year 

by coaches Eddie Wigglesworth and 

Johnny Molony, also captaining the U20 

Combined Provinces, now known as the 

Ireland U20s, for two years in 1984 and 

1985. 

“I loved it from the get-go at Leinster. But, 

I went through a couple of years of injury 

issues with my shoulder and knee, which 

meant I missed out.” 

The entry into provincial rugby was 

delayed until 1989 which wasn’t unusual 

in the amateur era, especially for a 

forward. 

“After the injuries, I wasn’t sure whether 

I would be able to continue playing 

because they were both joint problems. 

They were giving me a lot of recurring 

problems. Then, they started to settle 

down. 

“Leinster were not the force they are now 

at the time and I suspect they sent out 

selectors to have a look for new players. 

I think the coach Roly Meates rang me 

and asked me to come to training. And 

that was it.” 

By the time he made the step up, Kelvin 

had already been playing with Ireland 

internationals Ronan Kearney, Paddy 

Kenny and Phil Matthews at Wanderers. 


“It was a brilliant environment for 

learning,” he says. 

“My first game for Leinster was in late 

1989 against Connacht. I knew it was 

a way to impress for the match against 

New Zealand later that month. 

“It worked out for me. I stayed in to play 

against the All Blacks. That was the first 

taste of ‘big boys’ rugby.” 

It came just one week before Willie 

Anderson’s infamous march of his Ireland 

teammates to the halfway line during the 

Haka. 

The Whetton brothers Gary and Alan, 

Zinzan Brooke and future British & Irish 

Lions coach Warren Gatland were all 

playing against Leinster. 

“In 1989, we played New Zealand when 

they were world champions and, in 1992, 

we played Australia when they were 

world champions. 

“That was my chance to play against 

the Wallaby loose forward Willie 

Ofahengaue and out-half Michael 

Lynagh. I mean you were playing against 

your heroes. 

“It is such a shame that those types of 

games are gone in the professional era. 

Now, they may come back because of 

the experience of Ireland playing the 

Maori in New Zealand last summer. 

“I also played for Ireland against the All 

Blacks in 1992, unfortunately breaking 

my fibula in the middle of an epic test 

match, losing 24-21 in Carisbrook. 

“Those were amazing experiences,” he 

adds. 

“I suppose what you noticed were the 

speed of the game, the sensation of the 

sheer weight of the hits and their body 

height.” 

It is those high-profile tour tests that 

stick in the memory rather than the 

interprovincial matches. 

“In terms of Leinster, the experience at 

the time was fantastic, playing against 

the world champions in 1989 and 1992 

as well as going up against Ulster, the 

dominant province back then during the 

80s and early 90s.” 

In 1991, Kelvin was captain of Leinster for 

most of the season, following on from a 

stint in the role for Wanderers. 

“I had captained every team all the way 

up along, bar the Irish Schools, including 

captaining Ireland for the midweek 

games in New Zealand.” 

It was in the blood. His father Mick Leahy 

was capped by Ireland in 1964 and 

captained Highfield when they last won 

the Munster Senior Cup in 1968. 

“He would have had a big influence 

over my captaincy. He passed on the 

importance of preparation. 

“A captain needs to prepare for the 

dressing room, words on the field and 

tactically. He instilled in me that you 

criticised the group, never the individual.” 

In 1995, Kelvin was called back up by 

Leinster for one match after a few years in 

the wilderness, losing out to Connacht at 

The Sportsground. 

“I needed to be as fit and strong as 

possible. I wasn’t the most talented player 

in the world. I didn’t have the best skills. 

When I wasn’t, I struggled a little bit. 

“I was delighted to play because my 

brothers Colin and Shane were playing 

for Connacht. But, at that point in my 

career, the injuries had taken a toll on my 

strength and fitness. 

“It was my one and only experience as a 

professional. I distinctly remember getting 

a cheque sometime after the match for 

500 pounds.” 

It is the characters that live as long in the 

memory as the matches when it comes to 

recalling those days in blue. 

“It was serious and it was fun. Gary 

Halpin was just so much fun. He was the 


I suppose what you 

noticed were the 

speed of the game, 

the sensation of the 

sheer weight of the 

hits and their body 

height. 

life and soul in a very positive way. Nick 

Popplewell was a great person. Peter 

Purcell from Lansdowne was another.” 

In the early 2000s, Kelvin made the lifechanging 

decision to switch careers to 

satisfy a long-time interest. 

He left fund management to pursue a 

Higher Diploma at Trinity and secured a 

job in St Michael’s College where he has 

been for 15 years and is currently Head 

of 5th Year. 

In 2012, Kelvin was head coach, assisted 

by Bernard Jackman and Shane Hunt, 

when St Michael’s won the Senior Cup 

for the second time with future Ireland 

internationals Dan Leavy, Ross Byrne, 

Ross Molony, Josh Murphy, Cian Kelleher 

and Rory O’Loughlin. 

“I became a teacher at the ripe old age 

of 42,” he shares. 

Why? “I had always thought about it. It 

is the ability to work with young people, 

to have the privilege to guide them, push 

them, encourage them, to be a role model 

for them. 

“I love it, absolutely love it. It is a great 

joy.” 


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Referees 

Corner 

BY DAN WALLACE 

A warm welcome to another issue of 

Referees Corner. We’re looking forward 

to a great encounter this evening 

between Leinster and Leicester. 

Today’s match referee is Nika 

Amashukeli from Georgia. This is 

his second time refereeing Leinster 

having refereed Leinster v Cell C 

Sharks in the URC last year. 

Nika is no stranger to Ireland. In 2013, 

the Georgian Rugby Union started 

a program aimed at improving the 

standard of Georgian referees; a new 

relationship with IRFU was started. 

This included Irish referees regularly 

officiating Georgian domestic league 

matches, Georgian referees officiating 

All-Ireland League matches and 

attending IRFU workshops. Nika was 

among the first young referees recruited 

through this program in 2013. His first 

match in Ireland was between Old 

Christians and St Mary’s in the Munster 

Junior League. 

Amashukeli made his test debut as a 

referee in the Montenegro v Estonia in 

the European Nations Cup Third Division 

match on 11 April 2015. In 2021, 

Nika had a successful debut in July 

internationals, having officiated on Wales 

v Canada match, the first ever Georgian 

to do ta Tier 1 nations game. 

As of February 2023, Nika Amashukeli 

was included in World Rugby’s list of 

candidates to be a referee at the 2023 

Rugby World Cup. We wish him well. 

He is assisted by Pierre Brousset and 

Tual Trainini of France. The TMO is Eric 

Gauzins, also of France. 


Want to get 

involved? 

Feel free to make contact with 

the Leinster Rugby Referees at 

hayley.whyte@leinsterrugby.ie 

If you are interested in becoming 

a referee get in contact with 

us through our Facebook, our 

website 

www.leinsterrugbyreferees.ie 

or through twitter 

@leinsterreferee. 

The Leinster Schools Junior 

Challenge Cup final took place 

on 27 March between Blackrock 

College and St Michael’s College 

in Energia Park. Well done to 

the Leinster Rugby Referees 

officiating team of Paul O’Connor 

(Referee), SImon Owens and 

Jonathon Hollywood (Touch 

Judges), James Fegan and Keith 

Spendlove (4th and 5th Official). 

In a well-refereed and tightly 

contested game a late try by 

Conall Power secured a 53rd 

Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools 

Junior Cup title for Blackrock in 

dramatic fashion. 

Well done to Brian MacNeice who was 

TMO for Saracens v Ospreys in the 

Heineken Champions Cup last weekend 

and Paul Haycock who was AR2 for 

Stade Francais v Lyon in the European 

Challenge Cup. Paul O’Conor and 

Colm Roche were on the line for the 

meeting of Italy U18 and Ireland 

Schools. We’ve plenty of referees in 

action over the coming weeks as the 

All-Ireland League, All-Ireland U20s 

and many cup competitions come to a 

conclusion. 

Have you just finished playing 

and find yourself wondering how 

you can stay involved in rugby 

or planning on retiring at the 

end of this season? Then perhaps 

refereeing is the next step for 

you. Increasingly, more and more 

players who have decided to 

hang up the boots are continuing 

their rugby journey by taking up 

the whistle. 

Why? Refereeing is an excellent way 

to maintain your fitness level after you 

retire. You are still getting out on the 

pitch and enjoying the game from the 

best seat in the house. Your playing 

experience will certainly also stand to 

you in terms of your ability to read the 

game and in understanding what the 

players are trying to achieve. 

All the provincial associations/societies 

have members who are former players, 

and they referee at all levels from 

age-grade right up to the All Ireland 

League. Some have even progressed 

into High Performance and officiate at 

the highest level. Andrew Brace, Frank 

Murphy and Joy Neville all enjoyed 

distinguished playing careers before 

taking up the whistle. They all referee in 

the professional game now. 

If you are thinking about giving 

refereeing a try, contact the Referee 

Development Manager in Leinster 

Rugby. 


Leinster Rugby help train 

the Irish Defence Forces 


Rugby’s 

dedicated 

Coach 

Development 

Staff provide 

a range of 

coaching 

courses for 

the Childrens, 

Youth and 

Adult game 

throughout 

the season. 

Our coaching courses are 

delivered through a blended 

learning approach using 

online methods and we deliver 

professional on-site coaching 

workshops and clinics throughout 

the province, tailored to the 

coaches needs in both our clubs 

and schools. 

Recently, our Coach Development staff 

delivered a coaching course to the Irish 

Defence Forces in the Defence Forces 

Training Centre in the Curragh camp. 

The Defence Forces have a Senior Men’s 

and Women’s rugby teams who have 

competed against the likes of An Garda 

Síochána, French Armed Forces, The 

Royal Air Force and The Royal Navy. 

Both sides have had a number of 

personnel who have represented both 

their Provinces and Ireland over the years, 

the Women’s XV are due to play the 

French Armed Forces later this year with 

a combined An Gardai Siochana and 

Defence Forces Team. 

The Men’s XV have been invited to play 

in the fourth Military Rugby World Cup in 

France in August where they have been 

drawn in a group with New Zealand, Fiji 

and Uzbekistan. The other teams that 

will compete are France, UK, Australia, 

Japan, Spain, Netherlands, South Africa 

and Georgia. 

The Defence Forces are looking to 

increase the number of personnel 

involved in rugby within the Barracks or 

Military Locations throughout the country. 

There were 17 Personnel taking part in 

the course, both men and women, from 

the four Provinces. Going forward, theses 

coaches will deliver training sessions in 

the different barracks across the country 

and to develop the Unit Rugby teams 

for the annual Defence Forces Hooker 

Regan 7-a-side competition and Inter- 

Unit 15-a-side competition in addition to 

increasing the participation of personnel 

in both the Men’s and Women’s Senior 

sides. 


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moment in time 


Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile 

9 April 2011 

It’s 12 years since Leinster 

and Leicester Tigers last 

met in Dublin on 9 April 

2011. Isa Nacewa scored 

Leinster’s only try in a 

17-10 win in the Heineken 

Cup quarter-final. 


COUNTRY ENGLAND HOME GROUND MATTIOLI WOODS WELFORD ROAD CAPACITY: 25,800 

last time out 

Leicester Tigers 16 

Edinburgh Rugby 6 

FRIDAY 31 MARCH 2023 | HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP · ROUND OF 16 | WELFORD ROAD | REFEREE: MATHIEU RAYNAL 

LEICESTER TIGERS: Freddie Steward, 

Anthony Watson, Guy Porter, Jimmy 

Gopperth, Harry Potter, Handré Pollard, 

Jack van Poortvliet; James Cronin, 

Julian Montoya (captain), Dan Cole, 

George Martin, Cameron Henderson, 

Hanro Liebenberg, Tommy Reffell, Olly 

Cracknell. 

REPLACEMENTS: Charlie Clare, Tom 

West, Joe Heyes, Eli Snyman, Jasper 

Wiese, Sam Wolstenholme, Charlie 

Atkinson, Dan Kelly. 

Leicester battle 

past Edinburgh 

EDINBURGH: Emiliano Boffelli, Darcy 

Graham, Mark Bennett, James Lang, 

Duhan van der Merwe, Blair Kinghorn, 

Henry Pyrgos; Pierre Schoeman, Stuart 

McInally, WP Nel, Sam Skinner (cocaptain), 

Grant Gilchrist (co-captain), 

Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Viliame 

Mata. 

REPLACEMENTS: David Cherry, Boan 

Venter, Luan de Bruin, Marshall Sykes, 

Luke Crosbie, Ben Vellacott, Cameron 

Hutchison, Damien Hoyland. 

REFEREE: Mathieu Raynal (France) 

Leicester Tigers qualified for the 

quarter-finals of the Heineken 

Champions Cup after defeating 

Edinburgh Rugby 16-6 at Mattioli 

Woods Welford Road, last Friday 

night. 

Handré Pollard finished with 11 points 

from the tee, after landing three penaltygoals 

and one conversion, while Jasper 

Wiese was the lone try-scorer. 

It took just five minutes for the first points 

of the night when Handré Pollard put the 

home side ahead 3-0 when Edinburgh 

were penalised within range for the 

Leicester fly-half. 

Both sides traded blows in a physical 

first quarter before Pollard had another 

chance to add three, which went wide, 

in the 19th minute meaning the lead was 

just 3-0 at half-time. 

Wigglesworth went to his bench during 

the break when he brought Jasper 

Wiese on in place of Olly Cracknell 

in the back-row and the No.8 had an 


immediate impact, which resulted in 

him receiving the Heineken Star of the 

Match award in just 40 minutes. 

The scores were level after just three 

minutes of second-half action when 

Edinburgh were gifted a chance for 

three points in front of the posts and 

Emiliano Boffellin sent his first attempt 

successfully over the crossbar. 

Edinburgh’s full-back took his side 

into the lead, 3-6, with half an hour 

remaining before Wiese, with some 

fancy footwork and a memorable 

finish in the corner, crossed in the 51st 

minute before Pollard added the extras 

with a sideline conversion to make it 

10-6. 

The Scottish side missed a chance to 

make it a one-point game in the 55th 

minute when a penalty-goal attempt 

hit the posts and Pollard, in the 60th 

and 70th minutes, secured the 10-point 

victory with his final two penalty-goals. 


Thank you 

to all the rugby volunteers 

& behind-the-scenes heroes. 

You make the 

game we love possible. 

Think of the Possibilities

Richard 

Wigglesworth 

Head Coach 

Wigglesworth became Leicester 

Tigers’ Interim Head Coach after 

Steve Borthwick left the club 

earlier this season to take charge 

of England. 

The former scrum-half was part of 

Borthwick’s coaching staff, while still 

playing. He retired earlier this season, 

once Borthwick left the clib. 

Wigglesworth had a storied playing 

career, featuring in two Rugby World 

Cups for England, along with winning 

seven Premiership titles and three 

Champions Cups as a player. 

Hanro 

Liebenberg and 

Julián Montoya 

Captains 

Liebenberg is club captain, with 

Montoya recently taking on the 

role of matchday captain. 

In 2019, Liebenberg joined Leicester, after 

spells with the Bulls in his native South 

Africa, and Stade Francais. 

Montoya is Argentina’s captain, and 

joined the club in 2021, and was part of 

the team that won the Premiership last 

season. 

leicester squad 

CHRIS ASHTON 

WING 

CHARLIE ATKINSON 

OUTSIDE HALF/FULL BACK 

MIKE BROWN 

FULL BACK 

JOE BROWNING 

WING 

ROBERT CARMICHAEL 

LOCK 

FINN CARNDUFF 

BACK ROW 

LEWIS CHESSUM 

BACK ROW/LOCK 

OLLIE CHESSUM 

LOCK 

CHARLIE CLARE 

HOOKER 

PHIL COKANASIGA 

CENTRE 

DAN COLE 


OLLY CRACKNELL 

BACK ROW 

OLLIE CRANE 


JAMES CRONIN 


JACOB CUSICK 

CENTRE/WING 

GEORGE DANIELS 

OUTSIDE HALF 

NIC DOLLY 

HOOKER 

SAM EDWARDS 

SCRUM HALF 

JIMMY GOPPERTH 

OUTSIDE HALF 

CALUM GREEN 

LOCK 

CAMERON HENDERSON 

LOCK 

JOE HEYES 


TIM HOYT 


WILL HURD 


EMEKA ILIONE 

BACK ROW 

SEAN JANSEN 

BACK ROW 

DAN KELLY 

CENTRE 

SIMON KOROIYADI 

BACK ROW 

HANRO LIEBENBERG 

NO 8 

GEORGE LOOSE 

WING 

JOSH MANZ 

BACK ROW 

TOM MANZ 

LOCK 

GEORGE MARTIN 

LOCK 

MORGAN MEREDITH 

CENTRE 

CAMERON MIELL 


JULIAN MONTOYA 

HOOKER 

KINI MURIMURIVALU 

FULL BACK/WING 

CHESTER OWEN 

BACK ROW 

HANDRÉ POLLARD 

OUTSIDE HALF 

GUY PORTER 

CENTRE 

HARRY POTTER 

CENTRE/WING 

TOMMY REFFELL 

FLANKER 

DAN RICHARDSON 


HOSEA SAUMAKI 

WING 

MATT SCOTT 

CENTRE 

HARRY SIMMONS 

SCRUM HALF 

SEB SMITH 


ELI SNYMAN 

LOCK 

FREDDIE STEWARD 

FULL BACK 

JOE TAUFETE’E 

HOOKER 

JACK VAN POORTVLIET 

SCRUM HALF 

FRANCOIS VAN WYK 


ARCHIE VANES 

HOOKER 

JED MAX WALSH 

OUTSIDE HALF 

ANTHONY WATSON 

FULL BACK 

HARRY WELLS 

BACK ROW/LOCK 

TOM WEST 


JAMES WHITCOMBE 


TOM WHITELEY 

OUTSIDE HALF/SCRUM HALF 

JASPER WIESE 

BACK ROW 

RILEY WILLIAMS 


SAM WOLSTENHOLME 

SCRUM HALF 

JOE WOODWARD 

CENTRE 

BEN YOUNGS 

SCRUM HALF 


Club in 

Focus 

BY DES BERRY 

BOYNE rfc 

Mahon Ronan 

had just been 

confirmed in 

the Ireland 

Schools squad 

for the U18 

Six Nations 

the day before 

our call went 

out to Shane 

Hickey, the 

Honorary 

Secretary. 

The achievement of Mahon is the 

achievement of Boyne Rugby Club 

where the towering second row’s 

love for the game was nurtured 

and developed by his own people. 

“We are a community club. That is really 

what we are about,” says Shane. 

“It is a great achievement for Mahon. His 

family are Boyne through and through. 

The club is very proud of him. Not only is 

he a good player, but he is also a really 

good young man off the field. 

“He represents everything rugby is about 

and our club is about. He comes out of a 

group at the club that is very close. They 

are a great bunch of guys. 

Mahon Ronan 

“If a child coming up through the youths 

has the ambition to progress, we will help 

them as much as we can. 

“But, our whole ethos is about having fun, 

generating fun around rugby and putting 

the club in the centre of our community.” 

It may be something of an 

understatement to suggest the production 

line for Boyne is working quite nicely. 

There were no less than ten Boyne boys 

on the North-East’s Shane Horgan Cup 

team in 2021/2022, namely Lochlainn 

Harris, Luke Carley, Jamie Byrne, Tadgh 

Duff, Morgan O’Reilly, Mahon Ronan, 

Lincoln Dé Year, Jude Woods, Orama 

Dauramanzi and Alex Hermitage. 

It is also worth noting that this 

representative competition is named 

after another product of the Boyne 

production line. 

By the time coach Damien McCabe had 

screened and scanned everyone for the 

Leinster U18 Clubs squad last summer, 

Ronan, de Year, Dauramanzi and Duff 

made the cut. 

Three of the four started in the 

Interprovincial Series last August and 

September, Ronan earning a cap 

at second row for the Ireland Clubs 

international against Italy in November. 

It is a high-profile reward for so many 

people, men and women, who gladly give 

their time to benefit the children of Boyne. 


“It is not just this year’s Youths. If you look 

at the Interprovincial representation from 

Boyne over the last number of years, 

Oscar King, Stefan Bors, Dylan Lynch 

and Oisin Lynch all played for Leinster 

Clubs in 2019/2020.” 

Oisin Lynch also played for Ireland clubs, 

while fellow international Karl Martin 

also played for the Leinster Youths, the 

Ireland U18 Clubs and the Ireland U18 

Schools before moving on to currently 

play professionally with Montpellier. 

“Our whole aim as a club is to increase 

participation in rugby in the Drogheda 

area,” shares Shane. 

“We don’t focus on the elite players in 

the club. We focus on everyone being 

able to create a link to the club, building 

up a culture that means the kids love 

coming down to play rugby and to feel a 

part of something that is theirs.” 

So true. Afterall, it is the club players that 

stay and play, who can hold Boyne at the 

centre of their lives for decades to come. 

“We are really pushing and promoting 

rugby among our minis and youths. We 

have over 400 kids relatively evenly 

split between minis and youths which is 

great for a Junior club, particularly in the 

North-East,” says Shane. 

“We have boys’ youth teams at U13, 

U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18. We have 

recently set up an U20s team, designed 

to provide the perfect step up from youths 

into adult rugby. 

“This has proved to be an important 

pathway for the club, with over ten 

players who played u20 rugby last year 

progressing onto the first and second 

team this year.” 

It begins with the dedication of the 

coaches across those two areas and 

the graft of a very active CCRO (Club 

Community Rugby Officer) Kieran 

O’Sullivan, who engages with schools in 

the area, not just in Drogheda town, but 

in East Meath and in South Louth. 

Realistically, this gives Kieran, and by 

extension Boyne, access to somewhere 

between 12,000-15,000 boys and girls 

around Drogheda, recognised as the 

biggest town in Ireland. 


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CCRO Kieran O’Sullivan 

Indeed, Kieran has coached upwards 

of 2,500 children this year through 

engagement with the schools, split 

equally between boys and girls. 

“The catchment area Kieran covers is 

vast, taking in 32 primary schools and 

nine secondary schools,” Shane says. 

“He visits quite a number of schools, not 

only to give rugby coaching but to do 

presentations and explanations around 

the game to generate the interest for kids 

to come down and try it out. 

“He has also set up a number of blitzes 

for the secondary and primary schools 

and girls-only blitzes, which is fantastic.” 

Boyne does not yet have a women’s 

senior or youths’ team. It is in the 

embryonic phase of a long-term plan to 

increase the participation of girls. 

“At the moment, we are starting from 

scratch. We’ve got quite a number of 

girls in the minis set-up. 

“It is worth noting we are one of the clubs 

running the ‘Give It A Try’ Programme for 

girls from mid-April to mid-June. 

“Kieran is doing all he can to attract 

girls to the club and we’ve got a fairly 

enthusiastic bunch of U10 girls, who have 

been involved in blitzes. We hope they 

will stick together.” 

The club has worked hard on developing 

positive relationships with the schools. 

For instance, St Mary’s Diocesan School, 

Drogheda Grammar and St Joseph’s CBS 

use the grounds at Shamrock Lodge to 

play matches. 

A host of primary schools avail of the 

facilities too, while St Ita’s, a coeducational 

school for children with mild 

learning needs, and Praxis Care Centre 

support people with mental health, autism 

and learning difficulties. 

This is proof positive of the club’s genuine 

care and attention to the needs of the 

community, giving these children a place 

Shane Hickey 

to learn and, due to the extensive space 

and facilities, a place to play. 

Boyne completed a 4G training area at 

the start of the season, allowing sessions 

to take place for seniors, youths and 

minis all year round. 

There are plans afoot to develop the 

grounds further, creating a venue where 

the changing facilities and the pitches will 

be top-notch. 

Certainly, these are exciting times at 

Shamrock Lodge where the generosity of 

volunteers and 

the gathering of young players is creating 

a community culture for all. 

“Regardless of the journey that our minis 

and youths go on in life, they will always 

be part of the Boyne family,” states 

Shane. 

“That is really important to us.” 

Lincoln de Year 


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r

ob 

ussell 

THE ACADEMY 

INTERVIEW 

BY PAUL CAHILL 

The biggest roar 

heard at the RDS 

this season didn’t 

come after a try 

or a kick. 


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It came after a 95 metre chase 

back against the DHL Stormers 

which resulted in a Leinster 

penalty that stopped a certain try 

for the reigning URC champions. 

South African international, Steven 

Kitschoff stole a line-out on his own five 

metre line before popping it to Hacjivah 

Dayimani who had nothing but grass in 

front of him. 

Rhys Ruddock gave absolutely everything 

in chasing him down. Liam Turner and 

Ciarán Frawley put in vital tackles in the 

Leinster 22. 

Academy winger, Rob Russell, who was 

on the opposite wing, sprinted from the 

far corner of the pitch to get over the 

tackled Stormers player and went in for 

the poach. 

With Rhys Ruddock firmly latched onto 

him, the referee awarded Leinster the 

penalty and sent the RDS crowd wild. 

Russell admits that it was a better outcome 

than he had initially hoped for. 

“When I was chasing back, I didn’t really 

think we were going to catch him. I was 

hoping that I could stop him going under 

the posts and make the conversion a bit 

harder. 

“But, Rhys Ruddock and Liam Turner did 

great to stop him and Ciarán Frawley 

made the follow up tackle before I went 

in for the poach. 

“It was probably the first time I’ve ever 

gone for a poach to be honest. Rhys 

latched onto me so we weren’t going 

anywhere. 

“I was delighted to get the penalty and 

not get hit too hard.” 

With the game into the second half and 

with Leinster trailing the Stormers by 

seven, the RDS crowd were on their feet 

in appreciation. That act most certainly 

kept Leinster in the contest. 

It’s a roar Russell won’t forget in a hurry. 

“I don’t think I’ve ever done anything like 

that before so it was a bit different. It was 

almost like scoring a try. It felt like we got 

a huge lift from the roar of the crowd.” 

It’s a roar he is getting used to. 

Rob Russell has played 11 times for 

Leinster Rugby this season and has scored 

nine tries. That’s a strike rate any player in 

World Rugby would be happy with. 


It kind of felt like 

once I scored my 

first try and had 

that off my back, the 

opportunities came 

my way more often. 

Rob Russell made five appearances for 

Leinster last season, but says that it was a 

key learning period. 

“Looking back at the first few games I 

played, I just remember how nervous I 

was. 

“Towards the end of the season, I was 

a lot more comfortable, but I was still 

finding my feet a little bit.” 

Russell finished the season strongly with a 

two week tour of South Africa as well as 

playing in our win over Munster at Aviva 

Stadium. 

“That tour to South Africa was one of the 

best experiences I ever had. Those two 

weeks were really tough playing against 

the Stormers and the Sharks. 

“It was so much fun as well. We went to 

Robben Island when we were in Cape 

Town and went fishing in Durban. 

“The fishing wasn’t the best actually. I 

didn’t catch anything and a few us were 

fairly sick on the boat. 

“I wasn’t feeling great but Jamie Osborne 

was worse than me. It was still a great 

experience and it’s funny looking back 

on it now.” 

The former St Michael’s College student 

has kicked on this season in some style. 

His first RDS start was against the Cell C 

Sharks. It was in this game in front of a 

big home crowd that Russell would score 

his first ever Leinster Rugby try. 


“That was probably the biggest game I 

had played in. There were a few injuries 

in the squad so it was my first opportunity 

to play with some of the senior lads for 

the first time like Johnny Sexton and 

Garry Ringrose. 

“It was definitely a different experience 

to what I was used to last year. The 

atmosphere was amazing that day too. 

“Cormac Foley gave me a good pass for 

my first try. I was a little bit disappointed 

not to score in my five appearances last 

year, so I was kind of relieved when I 

scored that.” 

Rob Russell quickly became a regular 

name on the team sheet. It was a run of 

games that the Academy player relished. 

“After the Sharks game, it was brilliant to 

get a lot of game time. I think I played five 

games in a row and then I got another 

good run after Christmas. 

“I played five times last year, but it’s been 

great this year being consistently involved 

in matchday squads. 

“It feels like you can build on 

performances and you also feel like you 

have a bigger role within the team. 

“It’s been great and I’m just happy to 

keep pushing now.” 

Getting picked is one thing, but to score 

the number of tries that Russell has is 

another altogether. 

Russell scored six tries in four consecutive 

games against Munster at Aviva Stadium, 

Scarlets, Glasgow Warriors and 

Connacht. 

“It kind of felt like once I scored my 

first try and had that off my back, the 

opportunities came my way more often. 

“There is a bit of luck involved but you 

also have to put yourself in the right place 

at the right time. Sometimes it’s an easy 

finish, but if you’re not there you don’t 

score. 

“Scoring tries is enjoyable so hopefully it 

keeps on happening.” 

The standout game came against 

Glasgow Warriors at the RDS in 

November where Russell finished with 

three tries. 

An incredible achievement, but Rob 

is quick to highlight the efforts of his 

teammates. 

“The first one was when Charlie Ngatai 

popped it to me in the corner. 

“I was getting ready to ruck over but 

Charlie managed to get a hand free and 

I wasn’t expecting it. I just had to touch it 

down really. 

“I got two more that day but sometimes 

I feel like you can get too much credit 

when it’s the end of a team move. It’s still 

nice to score though.” 

His fine form has continued with tries 

against the Dragons and the DHL 

Stormers. 

Scoring tries is a sure fire way to keep 

yourself in contention. But, moments like 

his incredible steal a few weeks back 

against the Stormers are the types of 

moments that will never be forgotten. 

For a young player trying to make his 

mark, he is certainly doing all of the right 

things. 

“I just want to make myself available and 

if there’s an opportunity, hopefully I can 

take it. 

It’s really exciting to be around the group 

at the moment. Every game is a huge 

game. It’s exactly where you want to be.” 




Academy 

Year 

Three: 


Marcus Hanan (4) #1295 


FROM Clane, Co Kildare 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”) 


POSITION Loosehead prop 

SCHOOL Salesian College, Celbridge 

CLUB Clane RFC 

HONOURS Ireland U-20 (2 caps) 

John McKee (16) #1307 


FROM Belfast 

HEIGHT 1.85m ( 6’ 0”) 


POSITION Hooker 

SCHOOL Campbell College 

CLUB Terenure College RFC 


Seán O’Brien (3) #1297 


FROM Pittsburgh, PA, USA 

HEIGHT 1.91m ( 6 ’ 3”) 

WEIGHT 106kg ( 16st 10lbs) 

POSITION Back Row 

SCHOOL Blackrock College 

CLUB UCD RFC 


Max O’Reilly (11) #1291 


FROM Long Island, USA 

HEIGHT 1.86m (6’ 1”) 


POSITION Full-back 

SCHOOL St Gerard’s School 

CLUB DUFC 


Andrew Smith (2) #1292 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.8 m (5’ 11”) 


POSITION Back Three 

SCHOOL St Michael’s College 

CLUB Clontarf FC 




Academy 

Year 

Two: 

Alex Soroka (7) #1296 


FROM Cork 

HEIGHT 1.95m (6’ 5”) 



SCHOOL Belvedere College 



Jack Boyle (2) #1317 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.86m (6’ 1”) 


POSITION Loosehead prop 


CLUB UCD RFC 


Lee Barron (5) #1308 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 3”) 


POSITION Hooker 


CLUB DUFC 


Chris Cosgrave (5) #1305 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.85m (6’ 0”) 




CLUB UCD RFC 


Temi Lasisi (1) #1304 

DOB 9 May 2001 

FROM Enniscorthy, Co Wexford 

HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0 “) 


POSITION Tighthead prop 

SCHOOL CBS Enniscorthy 

CLUB Lansdowne FC/Enniscorthy RFC 


(3) = Leinster Rugby Senior caps

Ben Murphy (1) #1309 


FROM Bray 

HEIGHT 1.76m (5’ 8”) 


POSITION Scrum-half 

SCHOOL Presentation College, Bray 





Academy 

Year 

One: 

Rob Russell (16) #1302 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.83m (6’ 0”) 




CLUB DUFC 


Ben Brownlee (2) #1313 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.87m (6’ 2”) 


POSITION Centre 


CLUB UCD RFC 


James Culhane (1) #1315 


FROM Enniskerry, Co Wicklow 

HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”) 




CLUB UCD RFC 


Aitzol Arenzana-King 

(1) #1316 


FROM Gormanston, Co Meath 

HEIGHT 1.91m (6’ 3”) 



SCHOOL Gormanston College/CUS 

CLUB Clontarf FC/Balbriggan RFC 


Diarmuid Mangan 


FROM Kildare 

HEIGHT 1.93 m (6’ 4”) 



SCHOOL Newbridge College 

CLUB UCD RFC 


Rory McGuire 


FROM Dublin 

HEIGHT 1.93m (6’ 4”) 


POSITION Tightead prop 


CLUB UCD RFC 


Sam Prendergast 


FROM Kildare 

HEIGHT 1.94m (6’ 4”) 


POSITION Out-half 

SCHOOL Newbridge College 

CLUB Lansdowne FC 


Charlie Tector (5) #1314 


FROM Wexford 

HEIGHT 1.89 m (6’ 2”) 


POSITION Out-half 

SCHOOL Kilkenny College 

CLUB Lansdowne FC 



fixtures and 

results 2022/23 

Date 

17/09 

23/09 

30/09 

08/10 

14/10 

22/10 

28/10 

26/11 

03/12 

10/12 

16/12 

26/12 

01/01 

07/01 

14/01 

KO/ 

Result 

Opposiotion Venue 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 1 2 

W 

29-33 URC ZEBRE Stadio Sergio 

Lanfranchi 

O’REILLY RUSSELL OSBORNE NGATAI 

KEARNEY 

1T 

R. BYRNE 

C4 

W 

42-10 URC BENETTON RDS Arena J O’BRIEN LARMOUR RINGROSE HENSHAW KEARNEY FRAWLEY 

3C 

W 

13-20 URC ULSTER Kingspan 

Stadium 

W 

54-34 

URC 

CELL C 

SHARKS 

J O’BRIEN LARMOUR RINGROSE HENSHAW KEARNEY 

RDS Arena J O’BRIEN LARMOUR 

HENSHAW 

1T 

NGATAI 

RUSSELL 

1T 

R. BYRNE 

2C 2P 

SEXTON 

1T, 7C 

W 

0-10 URC CONNACHT Sportsground J O’BRIEN TURNER RINGROSE NGATAI RUSSELL R. BYRNE 

1C 

W 

27-13 URC MUNSTER Aviva 

Stadium 

W 

5-35 URC SCARLETS Parc y 

Scarlets 

FRAWLEY J O’BRIEN RINGROSE HENSHAW OSBORNE 

COSGRAVE 

1T 

RUSSELL 

1T 

W 

40-5 URC GLASGOW RDS Arena OSBORNE RUSSELL 

3T 

TURNER NGATAI KEARNEY 

TURNER 

W 

38-29 URC ULSTER RDS Arena KEENAN O’BRIEN RINGROSE 

2T 

W 

10-42 HCC RACING 92 Stade 

Océane 

KEENAN 

J O’BRIEN 

RINGROSE 

1T 

NGATAI 

OSBORNE 

NGATAI 

KEARNEY 

1T 

W 

57-0 HCC GLOUCESTER RDS Arena KEENAN J O’BRIEN RINGROSE NGATAI LOWE 

2T 

W 

19-20 URC MUNSTER Thomond 

Park 

W 

41-12 URC CONNACHT RDS Arena J O’BRIEN LARMOUR 

(2T) 

W 

19-24 URC OSPREYS Swansea. 

com Stadium 

LOWE 

1T 

LOWE 

KEENAN J O’BRIEN RINGROSE OSBORNE LOWE 

KEENAN 

(1T) 

W 

14-49 HCC GLOUCESTER Kingsholm KEENAN 

(1T) 

TURNER 

(1T) 

NGATAI 

LARMOUR OSBORNE NGATAI 

LARMOUR 

(1T) 

RINGROSE 

OSBORNE 

(1T) 

RUSSELL 

(1T) 

J O’BRIEN 

(1T) 

J O’BRIEN 

SEXTON 

2C, 1P 

R. BYRNE 

3C 

R. BYRNE 

4C 

R BYRNE 

5C, 1P 

R BYRNE 

4C 

R BYRNE 

5C 

R BYRNE 

2P, 2C 

SEXTON 

(2C) 

H. BYRNE 

(1P, 1C) 

R. BYRNE 

(5C) 

MCGRATH 

1T 

MCGRATH 

1T 

MCGRATH 

MCGRATH 

FOLEY 

1T 

MCGRATH 

1T 

E BYRNE 

PORTER 

PORTER 

PORTER 

1T 

KELLEHER 

SHEEHAN 

4T 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

SHEEHAN 

E. BYRNE SHEEHAN 

HEALY 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

MCGRATH E. BYRNE MCKEE 

MCGRATH E. BYRNE KELLEHER 

GIBSON- PARK 

GIBSON- PARK 

MCGRATH 

1T 

N MCCARTHY 

HEALY 

PORTER 

1T 

PORTER 

PORTER 

KELLEHER 

1T 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

KELLEHER 

2T 

SHEEHAN 

1T 

GIBSON- PARK MILNE KELLEHER 

FOLEY 

HEALY 

SHEEHAN 

(1T) 

GIBSON- PARK PORTER SHEEHAN 

21/01 

W 

36-10 HCC RACING 92 Aviva 

Stadium 

KEENAN 

(2T) 

LARMOUR 

RINGROSE 

(1T) 

OSBORNE 

J O’BRIEN 

(2T) 

R. BYRNE 

(2C) 

GIBSON- PARK PORTER KELLEHER 

28/01 

18/02 

04/03 

24/03 

01/04 

W 

28-14 

W 

43-14 

URC 

CARDIFF 

RUGBY 

URC 

DRAGONS 

RFC 

RDS Arena 

COSGRAVE 

RDS Arena J O’BRIEN 

W 

27-47 URC EDINBURGH DAM Health 

Stadium 

D DHL 

URC 

22-22 STORMERS 

RDS Arena 

W 

30-15 HCC ULSTER Aviva 

Stadium 

07/05 20:00 HCC LEICESTER 

TIGERS 

15/04 14:00 URC EMIRATES 

LIONS 

22/04 16:05 URC VODACOM 

BULLS 

Aviva 

Stadium 

Emirates 

Airline Park 

Loftus 

Versfeld 

O’REILLY 

(1T) 

LARMOUR 

(1T) 

TURNER 

(1T) 

BROWNLEE 

KEARNEY 

TURNER OSBORNE KEARNEY 

FRAWLEY LARMOUR TURNER OSBORNE 

LARMOUR 

RUSSELL 

(1T) 

KEARNEY 

(1T) 

TURNER FRAWLEY KEARNEY 

KEENAN LARMOUR J O’BRIEN HENSHAW LOWE 

H. BYRNE 

(3C) 

H BYRNE 

(2T, 3C) 

H BYRNE 

(6C) 

H BYRNE 

(1C) 

R BYRNE 

(3C, 3P) 

MCGRATH 

(2T) 

MCGRATH 

(1T) 

MCGRATH 

MCGRATH 

GIBSON-PARK 

(1T) 

MILNE 

MILNE 

MILNE 

(2T) 

MILNE 

(1T) 

PORTER 

(1T) 

MCKEE 

MCKEE 

MCKEE 

MCKEE 

SHEEHAN 


3 4 5 6 7 8 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 

ALAALATOA 

MOLONY 

JENKINS 

1T 

RUDDOCK 

T2 

ALAALATOA MOLONY JENKINS BAIRD 

ALAALATOA MOLONY JENKINS 

ALAALATOA 

MOLONY 

JENKINS 

2T 

BAIRD 

1T 

PENNY DEEGAN MCKEE MILNE ABDALADZE DEENY SOROKA MCCARTHY FRAWLEY CONNORS 

VAN DER FLIER 

1T 

DORIS KELLEHER E. BYRNE HEALY MCCARTHY CONNORS FOLEY 

R. BYRNE 

3C 

NGATAI 

VAN DER FLIER CONAN MCKEE E. BYRNE ABDALADZE RYAN CONNORS MCCARTHY SEXTON NGATAI 

BAIRD CONNORS RUDDOCK 

MCKEE 

1T 

HEALY ABDALADZE RYAN MOLONEY FOLEY BYRNE 

FURLONG MOLONY RYAN DORIS VAN DER FLIER CONAN MCKEE PORTER ALAALATOA MCCARTHY MOLONEY MCCARTHY 

ALA’ALATOA JENKINS RYAN DEEGAN 

CLARKSON 

1T 

PENNY 

1T 

FRAWLEY 

1P 

DORRIS MCKEE PORTER CLARKSON MOLONY CONAN MCCARTHY R. BYRNE 

RINGROSE 

2T 

HENSHAW 

MOLONY JENKINS RUDDOCK PENNY DEEGAN MCELROY MILNE ABDALADZE DEENY MOLONEY MCCARTHY TECTOR BROWNLEE 

CLARKSON MOLONY MCCARTHY RUDDOCK PENNY DEEGAN 

MCKEE 

1T 

ALA’ALATOA RYAN JENKINS BAIRD VAN DER FLIER CONAN SHEEHAN 

ALA’ALATOA RYAN JENKINS BAIRD 

ALA’ALATOA 

MOLONY 

RYAN 

1T 

DORIS 

1T 

HEALY BAIRD J MCCARTHY RUDDOCK 

ALA’ALATOA 

DEENY 

(1T) 

RYAN 

BAIRD 

(1T) 

VAN DER FLIER 

2T 

VAN DE FLIER 

1T 

PENNY 

1T 

VAN DER FLIER 

(1T) 

DORIS 

KELLEHER 

MILNE 

1T 

PORTER 

1T 

E BYRNE 

1T 

ABDALADZE JENKINS BAIRD FOLEY 

H. BYRNE 

1C 

RUSSELL 

1T 

COSGRAVE 

FURLONG MOLONY DORIS MCCARTHY TECTOR TURNER 

HEALY MOLONY CONAN MCGRATH 

CONAN SHEEHAN E. BYRNE HEALY J MCCARTHY DEEGAN GIBSON- PARK 

H BYRNE 

2C 

SEXTON 

1C 

OSBORNE 

LARMOUR 

1T 

DEEGAN MCKEE MILNE ABDALADZE MOLONY CONAN MCGRATH H BYRNE TURNER 

DORIS MCKEE PORTER ABDALADZE SOROKA PENNY FOLEY 

ALA’ALATOA MOLONY DEENY RUDDOCK PENNY CONAN MCKEE MILNE ABDALADZE RYAN 

ALA’ALATOA 

(1T) 

MOLONY RYAN BAIRD 

ALA’ALATOA J MCCARTHY RYAN DORIS 

ALA’ALATOA 

MOLONY 

DEENY 

(1T) 

ALA’ALATOA MOLONY DEENY 

ALA’ALATOA 

(1T) 

RUDDOCK 

RUDDOCK 

(1T) 

JENKINS MOLONY RUDDOCK 

ALA’ALATOA MOLONY JENKINS RUDDOCK 

FURLONG MOLONY RYAN 

BAIRD 

(1T) 

VAN DER FLIER 

(1T) 

VAN DER 

FLIER 

(1T) 

PENNY 

DORIS 

(1T) 

KELLEHER 

(1T) 

VAN DER 

FLIER 

MCCARTHY 

MILNE HEALY DEENY CONAN MCCARTHY 

CONAN SHEEHAN MILNE HEALY MOLONY BAIRD MCGRATH 

DEEGAN 

(1T) 

MCELROY HANAN CLARKSON CULHANE CONNORS MCCARTHY 

PENNY DEEGAN BARRON BOYLE CLARKSON JENKINS CONNORS N MCCARTHY 

PENNY 

(2T) 

PENNY 

(1T) 

DEEGAN 

(1T) 

DEEGAN 

1T) 

H. BYRNE 

(1C) 

R. BYRNE 

(2C) 

H. BYRNE 

(2C) 

H BYRNE 

(1C) 

TECTOR 

(1C) 

TECTOR 

(1T, 1C) 

OSBORNE 

RUSSELL 

TURNER 

PENNY 

KING 

RUSSELL 

(1T) 

BARRON BOYLE CLARKSON DEENY CONNORS MCCARTHY N TECTOR RUSSELL 

BARRON E BYRNE ABDALADZE DEENY CONNORS MCCARTHY TECTOR RUSSELL 

VAN DER FLIER CONAN MCKEE HEALY ALA’ALATOA JENKINS PENNY MCGRATH H BYRNE FRAWLEY 


Parting Shot 

1 April 2023 

Where do I look? 

Leo the Lion with 

supporters at the Heineken 

Champions Cup Round 

of 16 match between 

Leinster and Ulster at Aviva 

Stadium in Dublin. 


Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile 


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