Rob Kearney named ERC European Player of the Year

Posted on May 22, 2012 in Irish Rugby, Leinster

Rob Kearney (Leinster Rugby) has been named ERC European Player of the Year 2012.

The prestigious award crowns an outstanding season for the full-back who started every one of Leinster’s nine European games as the Irish club triumphed in the Heineken Cup for an unprecedented third time in four years. Kearney succeeds teammate, Sean O’Brien, as the winner of northern hemisphere rugby’s ultimate individual accolade.

The 26-year-old scored six tries during the campaign and pushed himself into contention for the honour with a series of high-quality displays in the tournament’s pool and knockout stages.

Kearney scored two tries in the quarter-final victory over the Cardiff Blues, then followed that up by creating a try for Cian Healy and landing a superb drop goal in the thrilling semi-final success against ASM Clermont Auvergne, before playing a key role in Leinster’s record-breaking 42-14 final win over Ulster Rugby at Twickenham Stadium last Saturday.

Kearney was presented with his award, a specially struck gold medal, by ERC Chief Executive, Derek McGrath, at a ceremony in ERC offices in Dublin today (Monday, 21 May 2012).

“Rob was both rock-solid in defence and inspirational in attack during what was another magnificent Heineken Cup campaign for our 2012 champions, Leinster,” said McGrath. “He scored six tries, ran powerfully, kicked superbly and the sheer all-round quality of his performances made him an excellent choice as ERC European Player of the Year 2012.”

“It really is an honour to have won this award,” said Kearney. “While I am delighted with the recognition, an individual player is powerless without the support of his teammates. So I owe this to the Leinster squad, to the management and to all the backroom staff at the club.”

The search for the best player from the 44 clubs in ERC’s two tournaments, the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup, was undertaken by a Judging Panel which comprised of:

Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports), Raphael Ibanez (2011/12 Heineken Cup Ambassador),  Stephen Jones (Rugby Correspondent, The Sunday Times), Emmanuel Massicard (Editor, Midi Olympique) and Gerry Thornley (Rugby Correspondent, The Irish Times).

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Leinster team to face ASM Clermont Auvergne

Posted on Apr 27, 2012 in ASM Clermont Auvergne, Heineken Cup, Irish Rugby, Leinster

The Leinster team to face ASM Clermont Auvergne in Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final in the Stade Chaban-Delmas (KO: 4pm local time, 3pm Irish time) has been named.

Gordon D’Arcy partners Brian O’Driscoll at centre with Luke Fitzgerald joining Isa Nacewa – who will make his 99th Leinster appearance – and Rob Kearney in the back three. Isaac Boss links up with Jonathan Sexton – who has scored 77 points to date in this year’s competition – at half back.

Twenty-four-year-old Clontarf prop Cian Healy, who makes his 94th Leinster career appearance and his 36th in Europe, starts in the front row alongside Richardt Strauss and Mike Ross.

Leo Cullen leads the team and partners All Black Brad Thorn at lock, with Shane Jennings joining fellow Ireland internationals Sean O’Brien and the returning Jamie Heaslip in the back row.

LEINSTER:

15: Rob Kearney

14: Isa Nacewa

13: Brian O’Driscoll

12: Gordon D’Arcy

11: Luke Fitzgerald

10: Jonathan Sexton

9: Isaac Boss

1: Cian Healy

2: Richardt Strauss

3: Mike Ross

4: Leo Cullen CAPTAIN

5: Brad Thorn

6: Sean O’Brien

7: Shane Jennings

8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Sean Cronin

17: Heinke van der Merwe

18: Nathan White

19: Devin Toner

20: Kevin McLaughlin

21: Eoin Reddan

22: Ian Madigan

23: Fergus McFadden

REFEREE: Wayne Barnes (RFU),  ASSISTANT REFEREES: Nigel Owens (WRU), David Pearson (RFU), 4th OFFICIAL: JP Doyle (RFU), 5th OFFICIAL: Peter Huckle (RFU), TMO: Geoff Warren (RFU)

Ireland announce team

Posted on Feb 9, 2010 in Rugby News

Ireland Coach Declan Kidney has named the team to play France in the second game of the RBS 6 Nations Championship in Paris on Saturday. Keith Earls has been selected on the left wing in place of Andrew Trimble.  Donncha O’Callaghan has not recovered from the injury that ruled him out of the opening game. Leo Cullen has been named to start in the second row.

A vacancy has been left blindside flanker pending confirmation of the fitness of Stephen Ferris. Both players took part in training with the Ireland team today but a final decision will be made on Thursday. The seven replacements will also be finalised on Thursday from the possible nine players named today.
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Ireland make eight changes for Fiji game

Posted on Nov 17, 2009 in Rugby News

There are eight changes to the Ireland team that drew 20-20 with Australia to the side that will take on Fiji this weekend in the second game of the 2009 Guinness Series.

The game, which will be the first ever international to take place in the Royal Dublin Society grounds, sees five changes to the backline and three in the pack.

Keith Earls, who replaced the injured Luke Fitzgerald against Australia, retains his place on the left wing with Shane Horgan coming in on the right wing for Tommy Bowe.

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