Rugby

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See here for this year's fixture list.

See our school Flickr page for albums of rugby photos.

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IRFU guide to Concussion available here.

Staff involvement

We are very fortunate as a school to have a significant input from staff members in the running of rugby teams across all age groups.

A large number of all rugby coaches/managers in the school are either staff members or past pupils.

We find that the involvement of staff and past pupils leads to exceptional behaviour both on and off the pitch, as well as developing the player to reach his potential.

Director of Rugby – Mr Naoupu

Senior 1 & 2 Rugby – Mr Pelly

Senior 3 Rugby – Ms F McCarthy & Mr Naoupu

TY & 5th Year Rugby – Ms McKay & Mr Naoupu

Junior Rugby – Ms Denny & Mr Bourke

U15 (2nd Year) Rugby – Mr Byrne & Mr McCrossan

U14 (1st Year) Rugby – Mr Naoupu & Mr Cavallaro

Facilities

The school has four rugby pitches which are used for training and matches. All of these pitches are on the school site. Three of the pitches (Senior, Junior & U15) are adjacent to one another at the back of the school. The fourth pitch (U14) is in isolation to the east of the school, adjacent to the science block.

In September 2020, work was completed on our state of the art artificial pitch on the site of the former Senior pitch. This amazing floodlit facility will allow the College to train in any weather conditions and also avail of the floodlights during the winter months.

We have a brand new Rhino scrum machine, situated on the back pitches, to help with coaching correct scrummaging technique at all age levels.

We have an indoor sports hall to the rear of the school which is sometimes used for fitness training/indoor sessions.

We have a state of the art weights room overlooking the back rugby pitches. The weights room contains both fixed and free weights equipment.

We also have a cardiovascular room with rowing machines, bikes and x-training machines.

We currently have 14 rugby changing rooms, adjacent to the sports hall, which are used for both home and away teams, and for training. There are shower and toilet facilities available here.

Teams

We have large numbers of students playing rugby, as it is the main autumn/winter sport in the school.

Senior 1st & 2nd XV

The Senior 1st & 2nd XV teams are coached by Declan Fassbender, Martin Fenlon, Tom McKewon, Brian Barron, Tom Barry, Jack Connolly, James Kenny, managed by Paul Kieran.
We also have a medical team consisting of Dr Peter Meagher and Physio Aisling Frawley.
All teams play regular fixtures against schools in Leinster, and sometimes further afield.
The senior players also have strength and conditioning sessions during the week with Chris Coburn.
The Senior 1st XV participate in the Leinster School’s Division 1A League which runs from September to December of the school year.
We have won six Senior League titles since its inception in 1994, the most recent being in the 2021/22 season.
The Senior 1st XV participate annually in the Leinster School’s Senior Cup competition, held between January and March of the school year.
We have reached the final of this competition twice, 2018/19 and 2021/22, with a semi-final in 2016/17. We have won the Vinnie Murray Cup on two occasions.
The Senior 2nd XV participate annually in the Leinster School’s 2nd XV League which runs from January to March of the school year.
We have won one 2nd XV League Division One title since its inception in 1987.

TY XV

The TY XV are coached by George Naoupu and managed by Laura Mc Kay.
They train Tuesdays, with matches on Wednesday.
The TY players also have weights session on Friday mornings.
The TY XV participate annually in the TY/5th Year League competition which runs from January to March of the school year.

Junior 1st, 2nd & 3rd XV

The Junior 1st, 2nd & 3rd XV teams are coached by Gareth Pelly, Liam Tyrell,Tom Cullen, Frank O'Grady, JJ Walsh, Jack Barry, Jack O’Sullivan and Davy Colbert. Team is managed by Conor McCrossan.
They train on Monday, Tuesday & Thursdays, with matches on Wednesday/Saturday.
The junior players also have weights and conditioning sessions during the week.
The Junior 1st XV participate in the Leinster School’s Division 1A League which runs from September to December of the school year.
We have won three Junior League titles since its inception in 1995.
The Junior 1st XV participate annually in the Leinster School’s Junior Cup competition, held between January and March of the school year.
We have reached three finals of this competition, but we are yet to win it.
The Junior 2nd XV play regular fixtures during the year and participate in a League competition between January and March of the school year.
We have won two Junior 2nd XV Division 2 titles since its inception in 1996.
The Junior 3rd XV play regular fixtures during the year and participate in a League competition between January and March of the school year.

U15 Rugby

The U15 teams are coached by Mick Finlay, Tom O’Donnell, Cian Crowe, Harry O’Connell, Jack Browne, Hugh O’Kennedy, Michael Hennessy, Hugh Lynn. Managed by Fiona McCarthy and Cliodhna Denny.
They train on Tuesday & Thursday, with matches on Wednesday/Saturday.
The U15 teams play regular fixtures during the year, probably more than any other age group.

U14 Rugby

The U14 teams are coached by George Naoupu, Tim Cotter, Thomas Murphy, Noah Maguire, Luke O’Callaghan, Hugh Goddard, Hugo Neville, George Morris, Oscar O’Neill. The team is managed by Robert McCarthy.
All U14 players are encouraged to play rugby.
They train on Monday & Thursday, with matches on Wednesday/Saturday.
Most of their rugby until October mid-term is based on a 10-a-side format, to encourage maximum participation, and there are various blitz competitions with other local schools during that time.
We regularly field at least three, sometimes four teams at U14.
The U14 teams play regular fixtures during the year.

Rugby

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