Schools rugby 2020/21

[brotheroffrank]

'Rock to go out in the 1st round of the SCT twice in a row....! ??

[mildlyinterested]

'Rock to go out in the 1st round of the SCT twice in a row....! ??

Nah Rock are stronger than Michaels this year.

[brotheroffrank]

'Rock to go out in the 1st round of the SCT twice in a row....! ??

Nah Rock are stronger than Michaels this year.

and they were stronger than Gonzaga in January 2020...until the final whistle.....

[mildlyinterested]

'Rock to go out in the 1st round of the SCT twice in a row....! ??

Nah Rock are stronger than Michaels this year.

and they were stronger than Gonzaga in January 2020...until the final whistle.....

surprises happen of course, generally not that often though..

granted Michael Rock is a close matchup, the winner will likely win the cup.. shame they meet in the first round.

[mildlyinterested]

Irish underage internationals this year:

Tom Stewart (St Michael’s College/LH Prop)
Ben Howard (St Michael’s College/TH Prop)
Mikey O’Reilly (St Michael’s College/Lock)
Dan Carroll (St. Michael’s College/Backrow)
Fintan Gunne (St Micheals College/Scrumhalf)
Wilhelm de Klerk (St. Michael’s College/Centre)
Sam Berman (St Michael’s College/Centre)

Jonathan Flynn (CC Roscrea/TH Prop) - Connacht
Richard Whelan (CC Roscrea/Backrow)
Max Flynn (CC Roscrea/Backrow) - Connacht
Joseph Coffey (CC Roscrea/Backrow) - Munster
Greg Fitzgerald (CC Roscrea/Centre)
James Conroy (CC Roscrea/Centre)
Ihechi Oji (CC Roscrea/Wing) - Munster

Paddy McCarthy (Blackrock College/TH Prop)
Gus McCarthy (Blackrock College/Hooker)
Michael Colreavy (Blackrock College/Lock)
Liam Molony (Blackrock College/Backrow)
Inigo Cruise O’Brien (Blackrock College/Backrow)
Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College/Scrumhalf)
Luke Kritzinger (Blackrock College/Centre)
Hugh Cooney (Blackrock College/Centre)
Ruben Moloney (Blackrock College/Fullback)

Jack Murphy (Presentation College Bray/Outhalf)
Flyn Pyper (Presentation College Bray/Hooker)
Finn Treacy (Presentation College Bray/Centre)

Sean Naughton (Kilkenny College/Outhalf)
Stephen Smyth (Kilkenny College/Backrow)

George Morris (Gonzaga College/LH Prop)
Stephen McMahon (Gonzaga College/Wing)
Hugo McLaughlin (Gonzaga College/Centre)
David Colbert (Gonzaga College/Fullback)
Jody Brown (Gonzaga College/Centre)

Harry West (Kings Hospital/Outhalf)

Tadhg Brophy (Newbridge College/Scrumhalf)

Andrew Sparrow (St Mary’s College/TH Prop)

Blayze Molloy (Clongowes/Backrow)

Jed Tormey (Belvedere College/Centre)

[Lock9541]

Crazy to think Roscrea was meant to close down a few years ago now look at all the players they’re producing

[brotheroffrank]

Senior League Final
Kilkenny 17 Gonzaga 18
The Jesuit boys rallied after being behind on the scoreboard for much of the game, then checkmated their opponents.....

[ormond lad]

Irish underage internationals this year:

Tom Stewart (St Michael’s College/LH Prop)
Ben Howard (St Michael’s College/TH Prop)
Mikey O’Reilly (St Michael’s College/Lock)
Dan Carroll (St. Michael’s College/Backrow)
Fintan Gunne (St Micheals College/Scrumhalf)
Wilhelm de Klerk (St. Michael’s College/Centre)
Sam Berman (St Michael’s College/Centre)

Jonathan Flynn (CC Roscrea/TH Prop) - Connacht
Richard Whelan (CC Roscrea/Backrow)
Max Flynn (CC Roscrea/Backrow) - Connacht
Joseph Coffey (CC Roscrea/Backrow) - Munster
Greg Fitzgerald (CC Roscrea/Centre)
James Conroy (CC Roscrea/Centre)
Ihechi Oji (CC Roscrea/Wing) - Munster

Paddy McCarthy (Blackrock College/TH Prop)
Gus McCarthy (Blackrock College/Hooker)
Michael Colreavy (Blackrock College/Lock)
Liam Molony (Blackrock College/Backrow)
Inigo Cruise O’Brien (Blackrock College/Backrow)
Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College/Scrumhalf)
Luke Kritzinger (Blackrock College/Centre)
Hugh Cooney (Blackrock College/Centre)
Ruben Moloney (Blackrock College/Fullback)

Jack Murphy (Presentation College Bray/Outhalf)
Flyn Pyper (Presentation College Bray/Hooker)
Finn Treacy (Presentation College Bray/Centre)

Sean Naughton (Kilkenny College/Outhalf)
Stephen Smyth (Kilkenny College/Backrow)

George Morris (Gonzaga College/LH Prop)
Stephen McMahon (Gonzaga College/Outhalf)
Hugo McLaughlin (Gonzaga College/Centre)
David Colbert (Gonzaga College/Fullback)
Jody Brown (Gonzaga College/Centre)

Harry West (Kings Hospital/Outhalf)

Tadhg Brophy (Newbridge College/Scrumhalf)

Andrew Sparrow (St Mary’s College/TH Prop)

Blayze Molloy (Clongowes/Backrow)

Jed Tormey (Belvedere College/Centre)

Harry West is Connacht. From Ballina. Blayze Molloy is also from Ballina.

Roscrea had high scoring win over Castletroy today - 36-33. Were very mixed in League but will be lot better if they can have few less injuries as they were always missing quite a few through the league and dont exactly have the numbers of other schools.

Pity more friendly results not updated/listed on Leinster site...

[Oldschoolsocks]

is Jack Murphy any relation to Richie "apple head" Murphy

[mildlyinterested]

is Jack Murphy any relation to Richie "apple head" Murphy

Son.

[mildlyinterested]

https://www.leinsterrugby.ie/gonzaga-cl ... or-league/

Gonzaga College 18 Kilkenny College 17
Scorers – Gonzaga College: J Browne two tries; H McLaughlin pen; S McMahon pen, con. Kilkenny College: A Moore try; S Naughton four pens.

Gonzaga – Davy Colbert; Hugo Neville, Hugo McLaughlin (Rory Finlay 47), Jody Browne, Stephen McMahon; Hugh Goddard, Michael Sullivan (Oisin Murray 40); Adam McVerry, Tim Cotter, George Morris; Thomas Murphy, Luke O’Callaghan; Noah Maguire, Gavin O’Donnell (Tomas Noone 60), Paul Wilson.

Kilkenny – Andrew Moore; Dean Symes, Adam Cope, Harry Rogers, Steffan Hillebrand; Sean Naughton, Charlie Kennedy; Adam Watchorn, Ashton Botha, Adam Shirley; Mark Stanley, Jake O’Sullivan (Sam Dudley 44); Robert Lalor (Paddy Bramley 44), Zach Furlong, Stephen Smyth.

[propertymad]

Henry McErlean, Zach Baird and Jules Fenelon from Michaels would also likely have made the national underage squads, if it hadn't been for injuries.

Michaels v. Gonzaga on Sunday will unveil an interesting form line IMO

If Zaga are as good as people expect this year, then this should be a close game.

If Michaels can protect their ball against Rock breakdown work, then they'll have enough in the backs to win in the first round. Crazy that they're meeting in first round.

Wonder is there any appetite for a seeded group stage a la champions league?

4 groups of 5
2 seeded teams in each group (drawn from Belvo, Michaels, Rock, Clongowes, Terenure, Marys, Newbridge, Zaga/Roscrea).
3 teams of non-seeded teams in each group (drawn from Zaga/Roscrea, Pres Bray, Kilkenny, Castleknock, Temple Carraig, Wesley, Gerards, Fintans, High School, CUS, Kings Hos, Andrews, CUS, CBC Monkstown, Skerries, St Pats Navan, Dundalk Grammar, Gorey CBS, Enniscorthy CBS, Wexford CBS, Conleths, Naas, Newpark, Columbas etc ...... the 15 teams selected get from their performances in a pre-christmas league of some description)

this would potentially throw up a group like:

Rock
Michaels
Gerards
Gorey
Skerries

Rock/Michaels would probably win all the other games with their seconds, but at least teams would get game time (4 games each) and exposure to the top level. Top 2 non-seeded teams get seeded the following year at the expense of the 2 worst performing tier 1 teams

first and second placed teams from each group go into last 8 of the SCT ..... on an open draw basis
3rd place teams go into semi finals of the Vinnie Murray
4th & 5th placed teams go into last 8 of the McMullen cup

Perhaps this would raise the levels of the 'weaker' schools, while still allowing for a meaningful SCT?

[ormond lad]

Henry McErlean, Zach Baird and Jules Fenelon from Michaels would also likely have made the national underage squads, if it hadn't been for injuries.

Michaels v. Gonzaga on Sunday will unveil an interesting form line IMO

If Zaga are as good as people expect this year, then this should be a close game.

If Michaels can protect their ball against Rock breakdown work, then they'll have enough in the backs to win in the first round. Crazy that they're meeting in first round.

Wonder is there any appetite for a seeded group stage a la champions league?

4 groups of 5
2 seeded teams in each group (drawn from Belvo, Michaels, Rock, Clongowes, Terenure, Marys, Newbridge, Zaga/Roscrea).
3 teams of non-seeded teams in each group (drawn from Zaga/Roscrea, Pres Bray, Kilkenny, Castleknock, Temple Carraig, Wesley, Gerards, Fintans, High School, CUS, Kings Hos, Andrews, CUS, CBC Monkstown, Skerries, St Pats Navan, Dundalk Grammar, Gorey CBS, Enniscorthy CBS, Wexford CBS, Conleths, Naas, Newpark, Columbas etc ...... the 15 teams selected get from their performances in a pre-christmas league of some description)

this would potentially throw up a group like:

Rock
Michaels
Gerards
Gorey
Skerries

Rock/Michaels would probably win all the other games with their seconds, but at least teams would get game time (4 games each) and exposure to the top level. Top 2 non-seeded teams get seeded the following year at the expense of the 2 worst performing tier 1 teams

first and second placed teams from each group go into last 8 of the SCT ..... on an open draw basis
3rd place teams go into semi finals of the Vinnie Murray
4th & 5th placed teams go into last 8 of the McMullen cup

Perhaps this would raise the levels of the 'weaker' schools, while still allowing for a meaningful SCT?

Not sure if there is much demand but it certainly would be better than the current set up. Rock etc and those not in league will only play max of 4 competitive games a year and that needs to change.
Im not sure combining vinnie murray and the cup straight away is necessarily a good thing but have pre christmas leagues to determine qualifiers for the cup and then start cup earlier and dont have qualifiers from vinnie murray go into cup which gives you few more weeks to play a group format should be looked at.

[ormond lad]

Henry McErlean, Zach Baird and Jules Fenelon from Michaels would also likely have made the national underage squads, if it hadn't been for injuries.

Michaels v. Gonzaga on Sunday will unveil an interesting form line IMO

If Zaga are as good as people expect this year, then this should be a close game.

If Michaels can protect their ball against Rock breakdown work, then they'll have enough in the backs to win in the first round. Crazy that they're meeting in first round.

Wonder is there any appetite for a seeded group stage a la champions league?

4 groups of 5
2 seeded teams in each group (drawn from Belvo, Michaels, Rock, Clongowes, Terenure, Marys, Newbridge, Zaga/Roscrea).
3 teams of non-seeded teams in each group (drawn from Zaga/Roscrea, Pres Bray, Kilkenny, Castleknock, Temple Carraig, Wesley, Gerards, Fintans, High School, CUS, Kings Hos, Andrews, CUS, CBC Monkstown, Skerries, St Pats Navan, Dundalk Grammar, Gorey CBS, Enniscorthy CBS, Wexford CBS, Conleths, Naas, Newpark, Columbas etc ...... the 15 teams selected get from their performances in a pre-christmas league of some description)

this would potentially throw up a group like:

Rock
Michaels
Gerards
Gorey
Skerries

Rock/Michaels would probably win all the other games with their seconds, but at least teams would get game time (4 games each) and exposure to the top level. Top 2 non-seeded teams get seeded the following year at the expense of the 2 worst performing tier 1 teams

first and second placed teams from each group go into last 8 of the SCT ..... on an open draw basis
3rd place teams go into semi finals of the Vinnie Murray
4th & 5th placed teams go into last 8 of the McMullen cup

Perhaps this would raise the levels of the 'weaker' schools, while still allowing for a meaningful SCT?

Not sure if there is much demand but it certainly would be better than the current set up. Rock etc and those not in league will only play max of 4 competitive games a year and that needs to change.
Im not sure combining vinnie murray and the cup straight away is necessarily a good thing but have pre christmas leagues to determine qualifiers for the cup and then start cup earlier and dont have qualifiers from vinnie murray go into cup which gives you few more weeks to play a group format should be looked at.

[Purist98]

Henry McErlean, Zach Baird and Jules Fenelon from Michaels would also likely have made the national underage squads, if it hadn't been for injuries.

Michaels v. Gonzaga on Sunday will unveil an interesting form line IMO

If Zaga are as good as people expect this year, then this should be a close game.

If Michaels can protect their ball against Rock breakdown work, then they'll have enough in the backs to win in the first round. Crazy that they're meeting in first round.

Wonder is there any appetite for a seeded group stage a la champions league?

4 groups of 5
2 seeded teams in each group (drawn from Belvo, Michaels, Rock, Clongowes, Terenure, Marys, Newbridge, Zaga/Roscrea).
3 teams of non-seeded teams in each group (drawn from Zaga/Roscrea, Pres Bray, Kilkenny, Castleknock, Temple Carraig, Wesley, Gerards, Fintans, High School, CUS, Kings Hos, Andrews, CUS, CBC Monkstown, Skerries, St Pats Navan, Dundalk Grammar, Gorey CBS, Enniscorthy CBS, Wexford CBS, Conleths, Naas, Newpark, Columbas etc ...... the 15 teams selected get from their performances in a pre-christmas league of some description)

this would potentially throw up a group like:

Rock
Michaels
Gerards
Gorey
Skerries

Rock/Michaels would probably win all the other games with their seconds, but at least teams would get game time (4 games each) and exposure to the top level. Top 2 non-seeded teams get seeded the following year at the expense of the 2 worst performing tier 1 teams

first and second placed teams from each group go into last 8 of the SCT ..... on an open draw basis
3rd place teams go into semi finals of the Vinnie Murray
4th & 5th placed teams go into last 8 of the McMullen cup

Perhaps this would raise the levels of the 'weaker' schools, while still allowing for a meaningful SCT?

Just re first line, Baird is back fit afaik, McErlean still on crutches so I'd imagine he's unlikely to be back for Rock, not sure on Fenelon

[Ruckedtobits]

Henry McErlean, Zach Baird and Jules Fenelon from Michaels would also likely have made the national underage squads, if it hadn't been for injuries.

Michaels v. Gonzaga on Sunday will unveil an interesting form line IMO

If Zaga are as good as people expect this year, then this should be a close game.

If Michaels can protect their ball against Rock breakdown work, then they'll have enough in the backs to win in the first round. Crazy that they're meeting in first round.

Wonder is there any appetite for a seeded group stage a la champions league?

4 groups of 5
2 seeded teams in each group (drawn from Belvo, Michaels, Rock, Clongowes, Terenure, Marys, Newbridge, Zaga/Roscrea).
3 teams of non-seeded teams in each group (drawn from Zaga/Roscrea, Pres Bray, Kilkenny, Castleknock, Temple Carraig, Wesley, Gerards, Fintans, High School, CUS, Kings Hos, Andrews, CUS, CBC Monkstown, Skerries, St Pats Navan, Dundalk Grammar, Gorey CBS, Enniscorthy CBS, Wexford CBS, Conleths, Naas, Newpark, Columbas etc ...... the 15 teams selected get from their performances in a pre-christmas league of some description)

this would potentially throw up a group like:

Rock
Michaels
Gerards
Gorey
Skerries

Rock/Michaels would probably win all the other games with their seconds, but at least teams would get game time (4 games each) and exposure to the top level. Top 2 non-seeded teams get seeded the following year at the expense of the 2 worst performing tier 1 teams

first and second placed teams from each group go into last 8 of the SCT ..... on an open draw basis
3rd place teams go into semi finals of the Vinnie Murray
4th & 5th placed teams go into last 8 of the McMullen cup

Perhaps this would raise the levels of the 'weaker' schools, while still allowing for a meaningful SCT?

Not sure if there is much demand but it certainly would be better than the current set up. Rock etc and those not in league will only play max of 4 competitive games a year and that needs to change.
Im not sure combining vinnie murray and the cup straight away is necessarily a good thing but have pre christmas leagues to determine qualifiers for the cup and then start cup earlier and dont have qualifiers from vinnie murray go into cup which gives you few more weeks to play a group format should be looked at.

It's probably 30 yrs since John O'Shea and Tony Ward (I think), both with Indo Newspapers, first started their campaign to have the Schools Senior Cup format amended. The silent resistance was formidable and probably still remains. Knock-out rugby is character building was one of the underlying defences of the rugby hierarchy. I would be surprised if much has changed.

[brotheroffrank]

Henry McErlean, Zach Baird and Jules Fenelon from Michaels would also likely have made the national underage squads, if it hadn't been for injuries.

Michaels v. Gonzaga on Sunday will unveil an interesting form line IMO

If Zaga are as good as people expect this year, then this should be a close game.

If Michaels can protect their ball against Rock breakdown work, then they'll have enough in the backs to win in the first round. Crazy that they're meeting in first round.

Wonder is there any appetite for a seeded group stage a la champions league?

4 groups of 5
2 seeded teams in each group (drawn from Belvo, Michaels, Rock, Clongowes, Terenure, Marys, Newbridge, Zaga/Roscrea).
3 teams of non-seeded teams in each group (drawn from Zaga/Roscrea, Pres Bray, Kilkenny, Castleknock, Temple Carraig, Wesley, Gerards, Fintans, High School, CUS, Kings Hos, Andrews, CUS, CBC Monkstown, Skerries, St Pats Navan, Dundalk Grammar, Gorey CBS, Enniscorthy CBS, Wexford CBS, Conleths, Naas, Newpark, Columbas etc ...... the 15 teams selected get from their performances in a pre-christmas league of some description)

this would potentially throw up a group like:

Rock
Michaels
Gerards
Gorey
Skerries

Rock/Michaels would probably win all the other games with their seconds, but at least teams would get game time (4 games each) and exposure to the top level. Top 2 non-seeded teams get seeded the following year at the expense of the 2 worst performing tier 1 teams

first and second placed teams from each group go into last 8 of the SCT ..... on an open draw basis
3rd place teams go into semi finals of the Vinnie Murray
4th & 5th placed teams go into last 8 of the McMullen cup

Perhaps this would raise the levels of the 'weaker' schools, while still allowing for a meaningful SCT?

Not sure if there is much demand but it certainly would be better than the current set up. Rock etc and those not in league will only play max of 4 competitive games a year and that needs to change.
Im not sure combining vinnie murray and the cup straight away is necessarily a good thing but have pre christmas leagues to determine qualifiers for the cup and then start cup earlier and dont have qualifiers from vinnie murray go into cup which gives you few more weeks to play a group format should be looked at.

It's probably 30 yrs since John O'Shea and Tony Ward (I think), both with Indo Newspapers, first started their campaign to have the Schools Senior Cup format amended. The silent resistance was formidable and probably still remains. Knock-out rugby is character building was one of the underlying defences of the rugby hierarchy. I would be surprised if much has changed.

Is it coincidence that after Will Connors and Johnny Sexton drew a Michael's v Blackrock 1st round match that this thread started suggesting a seeding/"Champions League" format? The open draw and days when Newbridge, Clongowes, Roscrea, Marys, Nure, Zaga, etc, etc, grace the Schools Semi-Final and Final are part of what keeps vitality in the competition.....it is the essence of amateur sport, (literally and metaphorically) schoolboy errors make the games what they are; also bear in mind, while some think otherwise, the Schools Cup might not only about winning the Final, there is always a factor of the day, wearing the jersey/Colours (often with a charity fundraising link) and craic in the stands for the supporters, as well as inspiration to the 1st, 2nd & 3rd years for when their turn may come.....for some, including alumni, parents and teachers, it is more often than not about being part of a Community rather than purely focusing on being Champions....

[ormond lad]

Not sure if there is much demand but it certainly would be better than the current set up. Rock etc and those not in league will only play max of 4 competitive games a year and that needs to change.
Im not sure combining vinnie murray and the cup straight away is necessarily a good thing but have pre christmas leagues to determine qualifiers for the cup and then start cup earlier and dont have qualifiers from vinnie murray go into cup which gives you few more weeks to play a group format should be looked at.

It's probably 30 yrs since John O'Shea and Tony Ward (I think), both with Indo Newspapers, first started their campaign to have the Schools Senior Cup format amended. The silent resistance was formidable and probably still remains. Knock-out rugby is character building was one of the underlying defences of the rugby hierarchy. I would be surprised if much has changed.

Is it coincidence that after Will Connors and Johnny Sexton drew a Michael's v Blackrock 1st round match that this thread started suggesting a seeding/"Champions League" format? The open draw and days when Newbridge, Clongowes, Roscrea, Marys, Nure, Zaga, etc, etc, grace the Schools Semi-Final and Final are part of what keeps vitality in the competition.....it is the essence of amateur sport, (literally and metaphorically) schoolboy errors make the games what they are; also bear in mind, while some think otherwise, the Schools Cup might not only about winning the Final, there is always a factor of the day, wearing the jersey/Colours (often with a charity fundraising link) and craic in the stands for the supporters, as well as inspiration to the 1st, 2nd & 3rd years for when their turn may come.....for some, including alumni, parents and teachers, it is more often than not about being part of a Community rather than purely focusing on being Champions....

Ive been calling for a change for years and its nothing to do with Michaels and Rock in first round together as have many others. Clongowes have been loads of finals. them making finals isnt vitality. theyre up with rock etc as up in latter stages all the time.
Now gonzaga are different as theyve been in a final once.
Schools cup is about a community and is only a stepping stone into a lifetime of playing and being involved in the sport and the current system doesnt do enough to keep that stepping stone going as for all too many its the final step in the playing careers of its participants.

[mildlyinterested]

SCT friendly results:

Blackrock 28 CBC Cork 8
St. Michaels 36 Pres Bray 22

[mildlyinterested]

Possible Michaels starting side?

1. Tom Stewart
2. Zach Baird
3. Sean Egan
4. David Woods
5. Michael O'Reilly
6. Dan Barron
7. Dan Carroll
8. Matthew Victory
9. Fintan Gunne
10. Charlie McNamee
11. Jules Fenelon
12. Will De Klerk
13. Sam Berman
14. James Nicholson
15. Luke Hassett