| Founded | 1875 | |||
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| Location | Dublin, Ireland | |||
| Ground(s) |
RDS Arena (Capacity: 18,500) Aviva Stadium (Capacity: 51,700) |
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| Coach(es) | Josef Schmidt | |||
| Captain(s) | Leo Cullen | |||
| League(s) | Celtic League | |||
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| Official website | ||||
| www.leinsterrugby.ie | ||||
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 (formerly known as the Magners League) and also competes in the Heineken Cup. The team is also considered a representative team because it represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Leinster Branch, which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU and is responsible for rugby union throughout the provence of Leinster. The province plays in blue and white and the crest is in the form of a harp. Leinster's traditional home ground was Donnybrook Stadium, in Dublin 4 although the majority of home games are now played at the RDS Arena. More important games are played in the Aviva stadium.[1]
Leinster turned professional along with the teams representing the other Irish provinces in 1995 and has competed in the Celtic League since it was founded in 2001, having previously competed in the annual interprovincial championship.[2] Leinster A competes in the British and Irish Cup. Leinster has twice been Celtic League champions and twice been Heineken Cup winners.
On 21 May 2011 Leinster won its second Heineken Cup with a thrilling 33-22 victory over Northampton Saints.[3] Leinster is currently ranked 1st place in the ERC European Rankings. [4]
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The Leinster Branch was formed in 1879 in a meeting at 63 Grafton Street.[5] In amateur days, the four provinces played against each other in the Interprovincial Championship and also played touring sides. 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. Before the days of professional rugby union, there was further emphasis on Irish club rugby as opposed to the provincial game. During these times the provincial sides were purely representative sides and games were far less frequent than now. When rugby union was declared 'open' in 1995, these four teams became the four professional teams run by the Irish Rugby Football Union.
Leinster went professional 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. Leinster's first season in the newly formed Celtic League ended in success as the Lions were crowned the inaugural champions, beating rivals Munster Rugby in the 2001–02 final.[6] In 2002–03, they became only the third team in the history of the Heineken Cup to win all their games in pool play. They also went one step further in the playoffs than the previous season by reaching the semis (for the first time since 1995–96), but lost at home against French side Perpignan. This was accompanied by an unsuccessful season in the Celtic League which was followed up again with a disappointing season. 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.[7] The Leinster mascot is "Leo the Lion".
Leinster did begin to creep back up the table during the 2004–05 season, finishing 3rd, just 3 points behind the eventual winners. Leinster also won all of their pool games in that year's Heineken Cup, and were again considered among the favourites for the title. However, they went out at the quarter final stage to Leicester Tigers.[8] The next two seasons of the Celtic League were to end in heartbreak for Leinster fans as the both the 2005–06 and 2006–07 titles were lost on the final day of the season. These seasons also saw progress in the Heineken Cup. In 2005–06, Leinster progressed to the semi-final but were eliminated by Irish rivals Munster at Lansdowne Road. Leinster reached the quarter-final the following year where they were beaten by London Wasps.
A rise in crowd numbers for Leinster lead to a move across Dublin 4 from Donnybrook Stadium to the redeveloped RDS Arena. In 2007–08, despite failing to qualify out of their pool for the Heineken Cup, Leinster ended the season as Celtic League champions sealing the title in front of their home fans as they scored a six-try 41–8 victory over the Newport Gwent Dragons at the RDS. The following season, Leinster topped their Heineken Cup pool despite being largely written off after a poor away loss to French side Castres. Victory over Harlequins followed at the Stoop despite the Bloodgate Scandal. Leinster overcame Munster 25–6 in the semi-final having been billed as underdogs. The game, played in Dublin's Croke Park, broke the world record attendance for a "club" rugby union game with a crowd of over 82,200.[9] The 2009 Heineken Cup Final was held in Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. Leinster won the Final 19–16, beating Leicester Tigers, to claim their first European crown.[10]
Leinster were eliminated at the semi-final stage the following year by Stade Toulousain. Leinster lost the 2010 Celtic League Final to the Ospreys.
Leinster regained their title as champions of Europe in the 2011 Heineken Cup Final. Despite trailing 22 - 6 at half time, Leinster scored three tries and 27 unanswered points in the second half to win their second European crown. The final score was 33 - 22 in which Jonathan Sexton scored 28 points[11].
The result also made Leinster the top ranked side in European rugby for their first time.
On route to the trophy at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Leinster won by beating the top three ranked teams of the season from the English Premiership, including the defending champions (Leicester Tigers, Saracens & Northampton Saints) and the top two French Top 14 sides, including the defending champions and also the defending European champions (Stade Toulousain, Racing Metro & Clermont Auvergne).
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| Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points For | Points Against | Points Difference | Tries For | Tries Against | Try Bonus | Losing Bonus | Points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leinster | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 323 | 199 | +124 | 27 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 44 | ||||
| 2 | Ospreys | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 253 | 187 | +66 | 19 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 38 | ||||
| 3 | Glasgow Warriors | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 237 | 198 | +39 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 34 | ||||
| 4 | Munster | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 248 | 203 | +45 | 20 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 33 | ||||
| 5 | Cardiff Blues | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 250 | 229 | +21 | 24 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 30 | ||||
| 6 | Scarlets | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 212 | 191 | +21 | 17 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 30 | ||||
| 7 | Benetton Treviso | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 258 | 241 | +17 | 22 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 28 | ||||
| 8 | Ulster | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 226 | 233 | -7 | 23 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 26 | ||||
| 9 | Edinburgh | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 270 | 281 | -11 | 25 | 28 | 1 | 3 | 22 | ||||
| 10 | Connacht | 12 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 160 | 227 | -67 | 14 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 17 | ||||
| 11 | Newport Gwent Dragons | 11 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 164 | 239 | -75 | 10 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 13 | ||||
| 12 | Aironi | 12 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 163 | 336 | -173 | 13 | 33 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ||||
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If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
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| Green background (rows 1 to 4) are play-off places. Qualification for Heineken Cup is based on each country's allocation, i.e. three highest-ranked Irish teams, three highest-ranked Welsh teams, both Italian teams and both Scottish teams.
Updated 1 January 2012. Source: RaboDirect PRO12 Notes: |
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Though Leinster Rugby now compete in navy, the team wore green during the early years. The harp has long been associated with the province of Leinster and so Leinster Rugby have sported the harp since their first interprovincial game against Ulster. Though the provincial colours have changed since then, the current provincial crest remains a modernised version of this harp. Legend has it that the harp was adopted Leinster Symbol in the 17th century when Eoghan Ruadh O’Neill flew a green flag with a golden harp from his ship, the St Francis having anchored it at Dunkirk. O'Neill later returned to Ireland to help the Irish Confederation whose headquarters were in Kilkenny, Leinster. The current crest was introduced in 2005 as Leinster Rugby held no copyright on the previous crest. The new, stylised crest, is made specific to Leinster Rugby as it incorporates the harp with a rugby ball.[12] The Leinster Rugby crest is on all official club merchandise including replica jerseys.
The province's current kit is all navy while the second kit has a light blue jersey and socks with white shorts. The third strip is made up of a white shirt and navy shorts and socks.
Leinster's current home ground is the RDS Arena.[13] Games were first played at the RDS during the 2005–06 season, initially just for Heineken Cup games. By the following season, however, all games had been moved to the RDS. The RDS has undergone large scale redevelopment since Leinster moved in. The arena now has a mostly seated capacity of 18,500. As the RDS remains a showjumping venue, the North and South stands are removable. A roof has been constructed to cover the grandstand opposite the pre-existing Anglesea stand.[14] The RDS will be Leinster's home until 2027, as a 20 year lease was signed in 2007.[15]
For more important games where the RDS does not have sufficient capacity, Leinster plays home games at the Aviva Stadium. These are often key home games in the Heineken Cup or Celtic League games against domestic rivals. In 2010 they first played a home league game against Munster, the first time the stadium sold out,[16] and then against ASM Clermont Auvergne.[17][18][19] Leinster defeated Leicester Tigers in the Aviva in the 2010–11 Heineken Cup quarter-finals. They then went on to beat Toulouse in the semi-finals in the Aviva on 30 April 2011.[20]
Leinster's traditional home over the years has been Donnybrook Stadium in Donnybrook, Dublin 4. Donnybrook consists of a single covered stand and three sides of open terracing. A move across Dublin 4 to the RDS Arena for Leinster was needed to accommodate growing crowds.[21] For this reason, Leinster have signed a long term lease with the Royal Dublin Society to play home games at the RDS Arena. Donnybrook has since, however, been improved as a venue with the reconstruction of the grandstand in 2008[22] and remains an important venue for rugby union in Dublin.[5] Due to limited space, it is unlikely that Donnybrook will undergo further redevelopment. Leinster A play their British and Irish Cup games in the stadium and the senior team have continued to hold certain pre-season friendlies in the stadium.[23][24]
Before the advent of professionalism in the Irish game, provincial rugby games were generally poorly attended. During most of the 1990s, Leinster matches regularly attracted crowds of about 500 to 2000.[25] The decision to structure the game professionally via the provincial network through centralised player contracts and the subsequent on-field success achieved by Leinster and the other provinces resulted in a significant increase in support within a decade.[25] Leinster had 3700 season ticket holders in 2006, double the amount of the previous season.[25] Leinster were the best supported team in the Celtic League for both the 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons and are currently the fifth best supported team in Europe after Stade Toulousain, Stade Français, Leicester Tigers and Irish rivals Munster Rugby. Leinster's supporters were named as 'Player of the Month' for April 2009 following their support in the Heineken Cup Quarter Final against Harlequins at The Stoop.[26] Leinster's average crowd numbers have risen considerably in recent years from 3926 during the first season of the Celtic League, to the current Celtic League average of 16923.[27] Leinster currently have roughly 12500 season ticket holders.[28]
Leinster hold the record for the biggest Celtic League attendance. On 2 October 2010, Leinster played Munster in the 5th round of the Celtic League at the Aviva Stadium, this set a new crowd attendance record for a Celtic League game at 50645. Leinster won the match 13–9.[29]
The last match at the old Landsdowne Road stadium was against Ulster on 31 December 2006 before it was demolished to make way for the new Aviva Stadium, earning the match the moniker of "The Last Stand". Leinster won the match 20–12, with an attendance of 48000 – a record at the time.[30] A previous attendance record in the Celtic League was also set at Lansdowne Road, for a game between Leinster and Munster which drew a crowd of 30000.[31] Leinster's Heineken Cup clash against Munster at Croke Park set a world record attendance for a "club" rugby union game with a crowd of 82208.[32] The Official Leinster Supporters Club was formally established as a club in 2007.[33]
| Position | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Head & Defence Coach | Josef Schmidt | New Zealand |
| Forwards Coach | Jono Gibbes | New Zealand |
| Scrum Coach | Greg Feek[34] | New Zealand |
| Skills & Kicking Coach | Richie Murphy | Ireland |
| Chief Executive | Mick Dawson | Ireland |
| Team Manager | Guy Easterby | Ireland |
| Team Doctor | Prof. John Ryan | Ireland |
| Team Doctor | Prof. Arthur Tanner | Ireland |
| Team Doctor | Dr. Jim McShane | Ireland |
| Physiotherapist | James Allen | Ireland |
| Physiotherapist | Garrreth Farrell | Ireland |
| Strength & Conditioning Coach | Jason Cowman | Ireland |
| Strength & Speed Coach | Daniel Tobin | Ireland |
| Rehabilitation Coach | Stephen Smith | Ireland |
| Chief Scout | Guy Easterby | Ireland |
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-IRB nationality.
Bold indicates internationally capped player.
See also Category:Leinster Rugby players
The following Leinster players, in addition to representing Ireland, have also represented the British and Irish Lions.[47]
The following Leinster players, in addition to representing their national team, have also represented the British and Irish Lions.
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(Correct as of 10 April 2011)
2011 - Sean O'Brien
The following Leinster players were selected in the ERC European Dream Team, an all-time dream team of Heineken Cup players.
Rocky Elsom had the fewest Heineken Cup appearances in the team and was the only member born outside of Europe. both players were part of the 2008-09 Heineken Cup wining team.
(correct as of 1 May 2011)
Bold indicates highest overall League record. (correct as of 24 May 2011).
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