Leinster Rugby
| File:Leinster rugby badge.png | |||
| Nickname(s) | Leinster Lions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1875 | ||
| Location | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Ground(s) | a)RDS Arena b)Donnybrook Stadium (Capacity: a)18,500 b)7,000) | ||
| Coach(es) |  Michael Cheika | ||
| Captain(s) | Leo Cullen | ||
| League(s) | Magners League Heineken Cup | ||
| 2008-09 | 3rd | ||
| |||
| Official website | |||
| www | |||
Leinster Rugby (more commonly known as Leinster) is an Irish professional rugby union team based in the Irish Province of Leinster, that competes in the Magners League and Heineken Cup and plays in Dublin. The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Leinster Branch which is one of four branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish province of Leinster. The amateur Leinster sides previously played in a plain navy jersey with white shorts and navy socks. The Leinster Harp survives from the amateur era.
Leinster's traditional home ground is in Donnybrook, in Dublin City's south side that has been recently redeveloped to a capacity of 7,000. In 2004/05 they began playing some home games at the RDS Arena. The RDS was redeveloped between 2006 and 2007 to a capacity of 18,500 with permanent floodlights and upgraded seats and facilities and currently (2008) hosts all of Leinster's home games.
On 23 May 2009, Leinster won the Heineken Cup Final at Murrayfield. The final score was 19-16. After this win, Leinster are now ranked 3rd on ERC European Rankings after Munster and Leicester. [1][2].
History & Amateur Days
The Leinster Branch was formed in, 1879 in a meeting at 63 Grafton Street. [3]. In amateur days the four provinces played against each other in the Interprovincial Championship and also played touring sides (usually midweek). The first Interprovincial matches between Leinster, Ulster and Munster were held in 1875. At this time the matches were played with 20 players a side
When rugby union was declared 'open' in 1995, these four teams became the four professional teams run by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU).
Leinster have traditionally played under the Harp. The flag of Leinster has a Gold Harp on a Green Background, and Leinster originally wore green[4]. Today while Leinster play in blue they have maintained the harp.
Professionalism & Leinster Lions brand
Leinster went professional in in the mid 1990s. The "Leinster Lions" name came into existence during the 2001/02 season as the result of a joint marketing initiative between Leinster Rugby and its kit sponsors, the Canterbury Clothing Company, but before the start of the 2004/05 season it was decided to drop the 'Lions' from the name, however it is still used for marketing and branding in particular the Cubs Club for Junior members of Leinster Rugby[5]. The Leinster mascot is "Leo the Lion".
This file may be deleted after Thursday, 2 July 2009.
In 2005 Leinster Rugby re-branded and introduced a stylised harp logo. The old logo was not copywrited and the new logo incorporates the traditional harp which represents the province with a rugby ball which makes it specific to Leinster Rugby.
Heineken Cup Record
Leinster reached the Heineken Cup semi-final in 1995/96, 2002/03 and 2005/06.
In 2002/03, they became only the third team in the history of the Heineken Cup to win all their games in pool play and the first team to do it twice in the 2004/05 season. They also went one step further in the playoffs than the previous season by reaching the semis, but lost at home against French side Perpignan.
The 2004/05 Leinster team also won all of their games in pool play, and were again considered among the favourites for the title. However they went out at the quarter final stage to Leicester Tigers.
In 2005/06 Leinster qualified for the quarter finals as a best runner up by demolishing Bath at "the Rec". In the quarter-final they gave one of the province's greatest ever performances, beating number 1 seeds and reigning champions Toulouse in France by a scoreline of 41-35. On 23 April they continued to the semi finals of the Heineken Cup against fellow Irish provincial team Munster, where they were beaten 30-6.
In 2006/07, Leinster again qualified for the quarter finals stage of the Heineken Cup winning their pool yet losing 2 pool games along the way. This meant that Leinster would have to face London Wasps away in the quarter finals and which Leinster went on to lose 35-13.
In 2007/08, Leinster failed to qualify out of their pool for the Heineken Cup, finishing 3rd in their group.
Magner's League record
Leinster were the inaugural Celtic League Champions in 2002 beating rivals Munster in the final in Lansdowne Road.
Leinster finished second in the Celtic League that year losing out on the final day (Although winning and earning a bonus point Vs Edinburgh) as Ulster managed to beat The Ospreys in Swansea with a last ditch David Humphreys drop goal and win the Celtic League title.
Leinster were again pipped to the Magners League title on the last day by The Ospreys in 2006/07. Leinster's loss to the Cardiff Blues sealed their fate and handed them another second spot (like the previous year).
On 3 May 2008, Leinster were crowned Magners League champions in front of their home fans as they scored a six-try 41-8 victory over the Newport Gwent Dragons at the RDS.
Supporters and Attendances
Supporters
Magners awarded Leinster the "Best Supported Team" award in 2007 and 2008 confirming their status as one of the best supported teams in Europe [6]. Leinster named the Leinster Supporters as Player of the Month for April following the supporters presence in the Heineken Cup Quarter Final V Harlequins at the Stoop [7]
Match attendance
Leinster hold the record for the biggest Celtic League attendance. The match was against Ulster and was the last match held at Lansdowne Road before renovation began on the ground, earning the match the moniker of "The Last Stand". Leinster won the match 20-12, with an attendance of 48,000. The previous attendance record in the Celtic League was also set at Lansdowne Road, for a game between Leinster and Munster.
With an average Magners League attendance of 14,964[8] and 7000 season ticket holders, Leinster are the fourth best supported team in Europe.[9] These numbers are further underlined by the match attendance for the 2008-09 Heineken Cup semi-final in Croke Park. Including Munster supporters, the attendance reached 82,208; a world record for a club Rugby Union match[10].
Notable Players
See also Category:Leinster Rugby players
British and Irish Lions
The following Leinster players, in addition to representing Ireland, have also represented the British and Irish Lions.[11]
Overseas Players
Honours
- Heineken Cup
- Winners: 2008/09
- Celtic League / Magners League
- Irish Inter-Provincial Championships
- Winners: 22
Management & Coaching Team
| Position | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | Michael Cheika | Australian
|
| Consultant Coach | Alan Gaffney | Australian
|
| Forwards Coach | Jono Gibbes |  Kiwi
|
| Defence Coach | Kurt McQuilkin |  Irish
|
| Chief Executive | Mick Dawson | Irish
|
| Physiotherapist | James Allen | Irish
|
| Strength & Conditioning Coach | Jason Cowman | Irish
|
| Chief Scout | Guy Easterby | Irish
|
Leinster Squad 2009/2010
Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
Departures & Arrivals 2009/10 season
Out
- Felipe Contepomi, Toulon
- Rocky Elsom, Brumbies
- Felix Jones, Munster
- Juan Gomez, Leeds Carnegie
- Ruaidhri Murphy, Exeter Chiefs
- Richard Sweeney, Coventry
- Gary Brown, Retired
- Chris Whitaker, Retired
In
- Mike Ross, Harlequins
- Eoin Reddan, London Wasps
- Shaun Berne, Bath
- Nathan Hines, Perpignan Template:Country data Sco
Internationally Capped Players
Stan Wright
Isa Nacewa- Leo Cullen
- Gordon D'Arcy
- Girvan Dempsey
- Luke Fitzgerald
- Jamie Heaslip
- Trevor Hogan
- Shane Horgan
- Bernard Jackman
- Shane Jennings
- Rob Kearney
- Brian O'Driscoll
- Malcolm O'Kelly
- Eoin Reddan
- Mike Ross
CJ van der Linde
See also
- Celtic League
- Heineken Cup
- European Rugby Shield
- 2006-07 Leinster Rugby season
- 2007-08 Leinster Rugby season
- 2008-09 Leinster Rugby season
References
- ^ "Leicester 16-19 Leinster". BBC Sport. 2009-05-24. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "Champions Leinster in Tier 1". ercrugby.com. 2009-05-24. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- ^ http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/aboutus/branch.php
- ^ http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/aboutus/harp.php
- ^ http://www.davidlloydriverview.ie/leinsterrugbysub.asp?id=2
- ^ http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/2726.php
- ^ http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/3411.php
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/2726.php
- ^ http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2009/0502/munster_leinster2.html
- ^ The Ireland Rugby Miscellany (2007): Ciaran Cronin
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
First Team Players And Staffwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
External links
!style="background-color: blue;"|
Template:Fb inner start |- style="text-align:center;" |The Club | RDS Arena | Donnybrook Stadium | Players | Managers |- style="text-align:center;" |Heineken Cup | Magners League |- style="text-align:center;" | Seasons: 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 Template:Fb inner end Template:Fb end