Ireland squad for NZ tour

Posted on May 21, 2012 in Ireland

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney has named a 29 man squad that includes three uncapped players for the three test tour of New Zealand in June.

Declan Fitzpatrick and Mike Sherry are included up front while Simon Zebo is named in the backs as is Darren Cave, who won two caps on the North American tour in 2009.

There are a number of spaces left vacant with a further prop, second row, back row and scrum half to be added before the squad departs for New Zealand.

Brian O’Driscoll returns to the Ireland squad for the first time since the Rugby World Cup and has been confirmed as Captain for the tour.

(more…)

Dublin to become European capital of rugby 2013

Posted on May 14, 2012 in Amlin Challenge Cup, Heineken Cup

Dublin is in line for a major economic boost next year when the Irish capital becomes the epicentre of European club rugby with the staging of both the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup finals in May 2013.

Tournament organisers, ERC, announced today (14 May, 2012) that the RDS will be the venue for the Amlin Challenge Cup final on Friday, 17 May, 2013 with the Heineken Cup showpiece going ahead the following day at the Aviva Stadium.

Research following the Cardiff 2011 finals showed that the economic impact to the Welsh capital from the 83,000 fans who attended the games amounted to €30 million (euro).

Speaking at the event today Leo Varadkar, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport said: “I am delighted to be here today and I’m really looking forward to Dublin being transformed into the European Capital of Rugby next year.  Only last week we officially launched the Gathering Ireland 2013, which encourages everyone with an Irish connection to return home next year.  I believe next year’s Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup Final will provide a real festival feel during The Gathering, and will be a great addition to our events calendar for The Gathering for next year.”

The research also demonstrated that over 84% of fans who attended the finals were from outside Wales with 61% staying at least one night in the host city, while those who attended both finals stayed even longer.

With both 2013 finals being played in close proximity, up to 70,000 supporters will have the opportunity to visit the city and savour what has become an unmissable weekend festival of European club rugby.

(more…)

Ireland’s Gert Smal back at work

Posted on May 11, 2012 in Ireland

By MARTYN WINTERS. Ireland forwards coach, Gert Smal has been passed fully fit by his medical team following  his departure from the Irish coaching team in the middle of the 6 nations because of sight problems brought on by a pre-existing eye condition.

His illness caused him to leave the coaching team to be replaced by Munster assistant coach Anthony Foley, but now the former Western Transvaal flanker is back at work and has been attending games since early April.

South African, Smal commented: "I’m looking forward to getting back to working with the players again and it was great to meet up with them last week at our squad get together for the first time since I had to take time off.

"It was a worrying time for my family when I was getting these symptoms affecting my eyesight, but it was clear that I was not going to be able to fully function and deliver the guidance the players needed. We needed to get to the bottom of what was going on and was advised to take some rest, so it is at times like these that you reluctantly have to listen to the advice.

“Anthony Foley did a superb job when he stepped in at such short notice as did Paul (O’Connell) and also Rory (Best) and Donnacha Ryan to give that little bit of leadership along with the other forwards. I’m feeling really good and fit at the moment and really excited about stepping back onto the training field, which is where you want to be as a coach, and looking forward to the tour to New Zealand.

"It is one of the toughest places on earth to tour, so we have to be well prepared, but the opportunity to play the World Champions three times in a row does not come along very often and is something that I think everybody is excited about."

(more…)

Ireland Under-20 Squad Named For Junior World Championship

Posted on May 8, 2012 in Ireland U20

The Ireland under-20 Squad, sponsored by PwC, for the Junior World Championship in South Africa has been named. The 28 man squad named today by Head Coach Mike Ruddock is drawn in Pool B alongside England, Italy and the hosts South Africa.

The core of the squad featured in the recent under-20 Six Nations Championship which saw Ireland lose out to England in a Grand Slam decider in March.

Seven of the squad featured in the 2011 Junior World Championship. Flankers Shane Buckley and Aaron Conneely, second row Iain Henderson and prop Tadhg Furlong will add experience up front.

In the back line, Ruddock can call upon the experience of Paddy Jackson, who recently starred in Ulster’s Heineken Cup Semi Final win, JJ Hanrahan and scrum-half Kieran Marmion who all featured in 2011.

Ireland under-20 Head Coach Mike Ruddock said, “We are coming into the IRB Junior World Championship on the back of a relatively successful Six Nations having won four out of five of our matches. This gives us some confidence going into the tournament.   However, we are in an extremely physical group. We have hosts South Africa up first, followed by the 6 Nations champions England and then the ever improving Italians.   It will require a massive effort from our part to overcome such physical size and power but we intend to give it our best shot.”

*Details of a media opportunity with Head Coach Mike Ruddock and selected players in advance of their departure to the tournament will be announced shortly.

Ireland U-20 Squad (IRB Junior World Championship, South Africa 2012)

Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne /Leinster)

Shane Buckley (Garryowen/Munster)*

Jake Cawley (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Jordon Coghlan (UCD/Leinster)

Sam Coghlan Murray (UCD/Leinster)

Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Aaron Conneely (Corinthians/Connacht)*

Barry Daly (UCD/Leinster)

Chris Farrell (Dungannon/Ulster)

Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)*

Conor Gilsenan (UCD/Mullingar /Leinster)

J.J. Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)*

Iain Henderson (Queens University /Ulster)*

Foster Horan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster)*

Shane Layden (Buccaneers /Connacht)

Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)*

Cathal Marsh (Trinity College /Leinster)

Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster)

Des Merry (Clontarf/Leinster)

Peter Nelson (Dungannon/Ulster)

Alan O’Connor (UCD/Leinster)

Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

James Rael (Garryowen/Munster)

Peter Reilly (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Niall Scannell (Dolphin RFC/Munster)

Mikey Sherlock (Clontarf/Leinster)

Josh Van Der Flier (UCD/Leinster)

*Featured in 2011 Junior World Championship

IRFB Junior World Championship Fixtures:

Pool B (all times are local)

4th June, England v Italy, K.O. 16:45 (University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town)

4th June, South Africa v Ireland, K.O. 18:45 (Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch)

8th June, South Africa v Italy, K.O. 18:45 (University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town)

8th June, England v Ireland, K.O. 18:45 (Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch)

12th June, Ireland v Italy, K.O.14:45 (Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch)

12th June, South Africa v England, K.O. 18:45 (Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch)

D’Arcy signs new international contract

Posted on Apr 30, 2012 in Ireland, Irish Rugby, Leinster

The Irish Rugby Football Union and Leinster Rugby is pleased to announce that Gordon D’Arcy has signed a new international contract that will see him remain in Ireland to play with Leinster for a further two seasons until 2014.

D’Arcy has had a glittering career for both province and country, winning his first piece of silverware with Leinster in 2001 as part of the side that won the Celtic League. He made his debut for Leinster in 1998 and has gone on to make over 200 appearances for his home province. 

He made his debut for Ireland as a 19 year old in the Rugby World Cup in 1999, playing on the wing against Romania.  He moved successfully to the centre for Ireland and Leinster in 2004, winning a triple crown with Ireland and it was a move which saw his representative career for Ireland accelerate to the point where he has become the second most capped centre in Irish history, behind his long-time playing partner Brian O’Driscoll.

He represented Ireland in a further two Rugby World Cups, in 2007 and the recent tournament in New Zealand and was an integral part of the Ireland team that won the RBS Six Nations Championship and Grand Slam in 2009.  That same year he won his first Heineken Cup with Leinster and was part of the side that again won the trophy in 2011.

He has also represented the British & Irish Lions on two tours, to New Zealand in 2005 and to South Africa in 2009.

Commenting on the announcement, IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne said: “Gordon is a wonderful servant for both Ireland and Leinster and this is proof of his undoubted talent that was identified at a very early age. I am delighted that he has committed himself to playing in Ireland and is another indicator of the successful policy of keeping as many of our top players here so that they can continue to contribute to the success of both Ireland and the provincial teams.

Leinster Coach Joe Schmidt added: "Gordon is a born and bred Leinster man and since his debut in 1998 he has been a highly consistent performer for Leinster. His competitiveness and ability have had added huge value both on and off the field.  We’re delighted that Gordon will be extending his long association with his home province and I am confident that he will continue to make a positive impression both on and off the field."

Career Details

Gordon D’Arcy
Born: 10th February 1980

Ireland Career

Debut: V Romania 15/10/1999
Caps: 68
Points: 35 (7 Tries)

Leinster Career

Debut: V Llanelli 19/09/1998
Caps: 203
Points: 299 (53 tries, 2 conversions, 4 drop goals, 6 penalties)

British & Irish Lions

Debut: V Argentina 23/05/2005
Appearances: 10