Schools SCT Rugby 22/23

[berliner]

Gonzaga beat Blackrock 35-31 to win their first Senior Cup.

[Props Have Feelings Too]

Can't believe I was cheering for the Jesuits there. Wonderful game of rugby. Gonzaga 35 - Blackrock 31

[riocard911]

Mad scenes in the RDS!!! Dunno will this work, but here's a vid via WhatsApp, I hope:

VID-20230317-WA0001.mp4

[riocard911]

Mad scenes in the RDS!!! Dunno will this work, but here's a vid via WhatsApp, I hope:

VID-20230317-WA0001.mp4

Apologies. It won't. Ignore.

[Ruckedtobits]

Having just watched that final, I was enormously impressed by the standard and skills of every player from both teams. Switching over to watch the Ulster Schools Final between Campbell & RBAI is like looking at a game from the 90's with forwards lumbering forward with the ball and limited continuity or wide play.

Congrats to the Coaches throughout Leinster Schools who have lifted the quality of schoolboy rugby superbly. Certainly, there is long way to go from Schools to the Professional Game but lots of players in Leinster have been well equipped with an understanding of the significance of passing, presentation, tackling and counter-rucking to enable them to progress further on this path.

It's worth emphasising that these comments apply to a wide scope of Schools including Gonzaga, Blackrock, St Michaels, Newbridge, Clongowes, Terenure, St Mary's, Pres Bray & Castle knock to mention but a few. Leinster Schools coaches take a bow, you deserve it.

[Ruckedtobits]

Having just watched that final, I was enormously impressed by the standard and skills of every player from both teams. Switching over to watch the Ulster Schools Final between Campbell & RBAI is like looking at a game from the 90's with forwards lumbering forward with the ball and limited continuity or wide play.

Congrats to the Coaches throughout Leinster Schools who have lifted the quality of schoolboy rugby superbly. Certainly, there is long way to go from Schools to the Professional Game but lots of players in Leinster have been well equipped with an understanding of the significance of passing, presentation, tackling and counter-rucking to enable them to progress further on this path.

It's worth emphasising that these comments apply to a wide scope of Schools including Gonzaga, Blackrock, St Michaels, Newbridge, Clongowes, Terenure, St Mary's, Pres Bray & Castle knock to mention but a few. Leinster Schools coaches take a bow, you deserve it.

To be fair to Campbell & BRAI, they are playing with a wet ball and wind and have both improved their skills & pace of the game as they have become used to conditions & the occasion. Good game now with Inst ahead but Campbell fighting back. Ten mins to go.

[Ruckedtobits]

Having just watched that final, I was enormously impressed by the standard and skills of every player from both teams. Switching over to watch the Ulster Schools Final between Campbell & RBAI is like looking at a game from the 90's with forwards lumbering forward with the ball and limited continuity or wide play.

Congrats to the Coaches throughout Leinster Schools who have lifted the quality of schoolboy rugby superbly. Certainly, there is long way to go from Schools to the Professional Game but lots of players in Leinster have been well equipped with an understanding of the significance of passing, presentation, tackling and counter-rucking to enable them to progress further on this path.

It's worth emphasising that these comments apply to a wide scope of Schools including Gonzaga, Blackrock, St Michaels, Newbridge, Clongowes, Terenure, St Mary's, Pres Bray & Castle knock to mention but a few. Leinster Schools coaches take a bow, you deserve it.

To be fair to Campbell & BRAI, they are playing with a wet ball and wind and have both improved their skills & pace of the game as they have become used to conditions & the occasion. Good game now with Inst ahead but Campbell fighting back. Ten mins to go.

Jacob Boyd, try-scoring captain and THP for RBAI in 74th minutes. Could be a reasonable future professional player. Certainly timed his run from 15m to get the winning try with the score locked at 17 - 17.

[Logorrhea]

Some game between Zaga and Rock. Impressive skills on show.

[Schumi]

Fantastic final in the RDS today. Two excellent teams in a great contest and the right result.

[Barry]

A great game alright, very impressed with the gonzaga 10.

Sent from my VOG-L09 using Tapatalk

[Observingprop123]

Thought the game was decided by the backs which I think is rare. Very suprised seeing that Zaga team come out on top. Zaga's 8 and Hugo McLaughlin have serious potential. As does Coffey and abit of rocks pack.

[cormac]

Just watched a replay of the match. Superb game of rugby, a credit to everyone involved on both teams.

[backrower8]

Having just watched that final, I was enormously impressed by the standard and skills of every player from both teams. Switching over to watch the Ulster Schools Final between Campbell & RBAI is like looking at a game from the 90's with forwards lumbering forward with the ball and limited continuity or wide play.

Congrats to the Coaches throughout Leinster Schools who have lifted the quality of schoolboy rugby superbly. Certainly, there is long way to go from Schools to the Professional Game but lots of players in Leinster have been well equipped with an understanding of the significance of passing, presentation, tackling and counter-rucking to enable them to progress further on this path.

It's worth emphasising that these comments apply to a wide scope of Schools including Gonzaga, Blackrock, St Michaels, Newbridge, Clongowes, Terenure, St Mary's, Pres Bray & Castle knock to mention but a few. Leinster Schools coaches take a bow, you deserve it.

Very well said. The standard is very high across the majority of schools that compted in this year's competition.

Gonzaga having won the league for the last three years helped them build the mental strength and match craft to keep battling and keep playing innovative rugby through the hands, into the wind in the second half when the larger Rock team took the lead. Even when it seemed that they had fluffed their last chance with two very close chances on and over the line with a couple of minutes to spare - they kept playing and found a way, even having to accept an extraordinary decision by the referee to stop play, just as the hooker was put through about 10m from the line, for an injured (head) Gonzaga player whom he hadn't noticed or stopped play for in the previous 30-60 seconds. Incredible perseverance and a just reward.

They have played in each of the last three contested finals, losing to Michael's in 2019 and Rock last year.

Former Zaga-man Declan Fassbender (also rcently installed head coach of Lansdowne) will rightly get most of the off-field credit. He has been coaching the SCT since about 2019-20 and JCT for a few years before that.

However, the foundations were put in over the last 20 years by Gonzaga teacher Bobby Byrne. A product of Terenure he played tight-head and was former Captain of UCD, Terenure & Rock RFC. He has been Director of Rugby at UCD for many years and ws Leinster forwards coach under Declan Kidney's rein. He transformed standards and belief at the school, Fassbender has built on that and shattered the glass ceiling yesterday.

[berliner]

Blackrock v Gonzaga now available online courtesy of Leinster Rugby TV:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ_CID1n43g

[ormond lad]

Shame none of these competitions can be found on leinster site like fixtures, even past winners...

most of the 2nds/3rds/4ths leagues at knock out stage
2nds semi blackrock beat newbridge
4ths semis marys v kilkenny,

ty/5th year final marys v gerards

senior sch cup plate final kilkenny v terenure

[Theleafysuburb]

Bernard Jackman down at u13s cup final this afternoon, that man’s love for STMC is astounding. Strong michaels team which deserve credit for victory I must say.

[Lock9541]

Bernard Jackman down at u13s cup final this afternoon, that man’s love for STMC is astounding. Strong michaels team which deserve credit for victory I must say.

His son is in STMC. I’m pretty sure he’s in first year

[mildlyinterested]

Bernard Jackman down at u13s cup final this afternoon, that man’s love for STMC is astounding. Strong michaels team which deserve credit for victory I must say.

undefeated all season?

[RockPaperSissors]

Shame none of these competitions can be found on leinster site like fixtures, even past winners...

most of the 2nds/3rds/4ths leagues at knock out stage
2nds semi blackrock beat newbridge
4ths semis marys v kilkenny,

ty/5th year final marys v gerards

senior sch cup plate final kilkenny v terenure

I agree, Leinster Rugby should be fully inclusive, especially at schools level. All school competitions including leagues and cups should have both fixtures and historical lists of finalists at least. However remember the "Schools Committee" are separate from Leinster Rugby and are a law onto themselves, maybe it is time they merged or at least came under their control.

[ormond lad]

Shame none of these competitions can be found on leinster site like fixtures, even past winners...

most of the 2nds/3rds/4ths leagues at knock out stage
2nds semi blackrock beat newbridge
4ths semis marys v kilkenny,

ty/5th year final marys v gerards

senior sch cup plate final kilkenny v terenure

I agree, Leinster Rugby should be fully inclusive, especially at schools level. All school competitions including leagues and cups should have both fixtures and historical lists of finalists at least. However remember the "Schools Committee" are separate from Leinster Rugby and are a law onto themselves, maybe it is time they merged or at least came under their control.

It should be for more than schools competitions as well so womens, mens and youths boys and girls competition winners etc.

The schools committee arent separate from leinster rugby. the schools committee are a sub committee and should be subject to anything branch declare as a result but that wont happen.