Leinster Rugby - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

professional rugby union

Rugby union

Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster

Leinster

Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...

, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12

Celtic League (rugby union)

The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....

(formerly known as the Magners League) and also competes in the Heineken Cup

Heineken Cup

The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...

. 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

Irish Rugby Football Union

The Irish Rugby Football Union is the body managing rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ground at Aviva Stadium, where Irish rugby union international matches are played...

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

Dublin 4

Dublin 4 is a postal district of Dublin, Ireland including the suburbs of Sandymount, Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Ringsend and Irishtown on the South side of Dublin....

although the majority of home games are now played at the RDS Arena

RDS Arena

RDS Arena is a multi-purpose sports stadium, owned by the Royal Dublin Society and located in the Dublin suburb of Ballsbridge, Ireland.The arena was originally developed to host equestrian events, including the annual Dublin Horse Show, which was first held there in 1868. The site was acquired in...

. More important games are played in the Aviva stadium

Aviva Stadium

The Aviva Stadium is a sports stadium located in Dublin, Ireland, with a capacity for 50,000 spectators. The stadium is built on the site of the old Lansdowne Road venue, which was demolished in 2007, and replaces that stadium as home to its chief tenants: the Irish rugby union team and the...

.

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. Leinster A competes in the British and Irish Cup

British and Irish Cup

The British and Irish Cup is a semi-professional northern hemisphere rugby union competition. It took place for the first time in the 2009/10 season...

. Leinster has twice been Celtic League champions and twice been Heineken Cup winners.

On 21 May 2011 Leinster won its second

2011 Heineken Cup Final

The 2011 Heineken Cup Final was the final match of the 2010–11 Heineken Cup, the 16th season of Europe's top club rugby union competition. The match was played on 21 May 2011 at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The match was contested by Northampton Saints of England and Leinster of Ireland,...

Heineken Cup with a thrilling 33-22 victory over Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....

.
Leinster is currently ranked 1st place in the ERC European Rankings.

Amateur Days

The Leinster Branch was formed in 1879 in a meeting at 63 Grafton Street. 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

Ulster Rugby

Ulster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Ulster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Belfast, representing the Irish province of Ulster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...

and Munster

Munster Rugby

Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...

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

AIB League

The Ulster Bank All-Ireland League is the national league system for the 48 senior rugby union clubs in Ireland, covering both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is not, however, the highest level of rugby union in Ireland, as teams representing the four provinces of Ireland play...

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

Irish Rugby Football Union

Leinster Lions

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

Canterbury of New Zealand

Canterbury of New Zealand is a New Zealand-based sports apparel company that focuses on rugby football. The company is named after the Canterbury area in New Zealand where the company started to make knitwear. Other than producing rugby kits, the brand is also known for their rugby protective wear...

. Leinster's first season in the newly formed Celtic League

Celtic League (rugby union)

The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....

ended in success as the Lions were crowned the inaugural champions, beating rivals Munster Rugby

Munster Rugby

in the 2001–02 final. In 2002–03, they became only the third team in the history of the Heineken Cup

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

USA Perpignan

Union Sportive des Arlequins Perpignanais or Unió eSportiva Arlequins de Perpinyà , generally abbreviated as USAP in both languages, is a French rugby union club that plays in the city of Perpignan in Pyrénées-Orientales. The club currently competes in the Top 14, the top level of the French...

. 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. The Leinster mascot is "Leo the Lion".

Title Misses

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

Leicester Tigers

Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...

. 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

Munster Rugby

at Lansdowne Road

Lansdowne Road

Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...

. Leinster reached the quarter-final the following year where they were beaten by London Wasps

London Wasps

London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...

European & Celtic Success

A rise in crowd numbers for Leinster lead to a move across Dublin 4

Dublin 4

Dublin 4 is a postal district of Dublin, Ireland including the suburbs of Sandymount, Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Ringsend and Irishtown on the South side of Dublin....

from Donnybrook Stadium to the redeveloped RDS Arena

RDS Arena

. In 2007–08, despite failing to qualify out of their pool for the Heineken Cup, Leinster ended the season as Celtic League

Celtic League (rugby union)

The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....

champions sealing the title in front of their home fans as they scored a six-try 41–8 victory over the Newport Gwent Dragons

Newport Gwent Dragons

Newport Gwent Dragons are one of the four professional Rugby Union regional teams in Wales. They are jointly owned by Newport RFC and the Welsh Rugby Union and play all their home games at Rodney Parade, Newport. They play in the RaboDirect Pro12, the Anglo-Welsh Cup and the Heineken Cup...

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

Bloodgate

Bloodgate is the nickname for a rugby union scandal involving the English team Harlequins in their Heineken Cup match against the Irish side Leinster on 12 April 2009...

. Leinster overcame Munster 25–6 in the semi-final having been billed as underdogs. The game, played in Dublin's Croke Park

Croke Park

Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...

, broke the world record attendance for a "club" rugby game with a crowd of over 82,200. The 2009 Heineken Cup Final

2009 Heineken Cup Final

The 2009 Heineken Cup Final was the final match of the 2008–09 Heineken Cup, the 14th season of Europe's top club rugby union competition. The match was played on 23 May 2009 at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh; this was the second time that the Heineken Cup final had been held at Murrayfield after...

was held in Murrayfield Stadium

Murrayfield Stadium

Murrayfield Stadium is a sports stadium located in the west end of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Its all-seater capacity was recently reduced from 67,800 to 67,130 to incorporate the largest permanent "big screen" in the country though it still remains the largest stadium in Scotland and one...

in Edinburgh

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...

. Leinster won the Final 19–16, beating Leicester Tigers

Leicester Tigers

, to claim their first European crown.

Leinster were eliminated at the semi-final stage the following year by Stade Toulousain

Stade Toulousain

Stade Toulousain, also referred to as Toulouse, is a French rugby union club from Toulouse in Midi-Pyrénées. Toulouse is one of the finest rugby clubs in Europe, having won the Heineken Cup four times – in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010. They were also runners-up in 2004 and 2008 against London Wasps...

. Leinster lost the 2010 Celtic League Final to the Ospreys.

Leinster regained their title as champions of Europe after a remarkable final

2011 Heineken Cup Final

in the 2010-11 Heineken Cup. Trailing 22 - 6 at half time, and the maximum points deficit turned over in the history of the final being only 9 points, a Johnny Sexton inspired Leinster scored three tries and 27 unanswered points in the second half to land their second European crown. The final score was 33 - 22 in which Jonathan Sexton

Jonathan Sexton

Jonathan Sexton , is a rugby union player for Leinster Rugby in the Celtic League and Heineken Cup. Sexton is a nephew of former Garryowen, Munster and Ireland rugby player Willie Sexton.Sexton is registered to St...

scored 28 points, and is widely regarded as the greatest comeback in Heineken Cup history.

The result also made Leinster the top ranked side in European rugby for the first time, knocking Munster

Munster Rugby

off the top of the table.

On route to the trophy at the Millennium Stadium

Millennium Stadium

The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...

in Cardiff

Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...

, Leinster won by beating the top three ranked teams of the season from the English Premiership, including the defending champions (Leicester Tigers

Leicester Tigers

, Saracens & Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints

) and the top two French Top 14 sides, including the defending champions and also the defending European champions (Stade Toulousain

Stade Toulousain

, Racing Metro & Clermont Auvergne).

This was arguably the toughest collection of fixtures to have been overcome by any Heineken Cup winning side.

Colours and Crest

Though Leinster Rugby now compete in navy, the team wore green during the early years. The harp

Harp

The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...

has long been associated with the province of Leinster and so Leinster Rugby have sported the harp since their first interprovincial game against Ulster

Ulster Rugby

. 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

Kilkenny

Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...

, Leinster

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. 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.

RDS Arena

Leinster's current home ground is the RDS Arena

RDS Arena

. Games were first played at the RDS during the 2005–06 season

2006-07 Leinster Rugby season

The 2006-07 Leinster Rugby season was Leinster's sixth competing in the Celtic League alongside which they competed in the 2006–07 Heineken Cup. The season ended without silverware as the team finished third in the Celtic League and were eliminated at the quarter final stage of the Heineken Cup...

, initially just for Heineken Cup

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. The RDS will be Leinster's home until 2027, as a 20 year lease was signed in 2007.

Aviva Stadium

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

Heineken Cup

or Celtic League

Celtic League (rugby union)

The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....

games against domestic rivals. In 2010 they first played a home league game against Munster

Munster Rugby

, the first time the stadium sold out, and then against ASM Clermont Auvergne

ASM Clermont Auvergne

Association Sportive Montferrandaise Clermont Auvergne are a French rugby union club from Clermont-Ferrand in Auvergne that currently competes in Top 14, the top level of the French league system, ASMCA are the were the 2010 France Top 14 Champions. It is the rugby section of the multi-sport club...

. Leinster defeated Leicester Tigers

Leicester Tigers

in the Aviva in the 2010–11 Heineken Cup

2010–11 Heineken Cup

The 2010–11 Heineken Cup was the 16th season of the Heineken Cup, the annual rugby union European club competition for clubs from the top six nations in European rugby...

quarter-finals. They then went on to beat Toulouse

Stade Toulousain

in the semi-finals in the Aviva on 30 April 2011.

Donnybrook Stadium

Leinster's traditional home over the years has been Donnybrook Stadium in Donnybrook

Donnybrook, Dublin

Donnybrook is a district of Dublin, Ireland. It is situated on the southside of the city, in the Dublin 4 postal district, and is home to the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ. It was once part of the Pembroke Township...

, Dublin 4

Dublin 4

Dublin 4 is a postal district of Dublin, Ireland including the suburbs of Sandymount, Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Ringsend and Irishtown on the South side of Dublin....

. Donnybrook consists of a single covered stand and three sides of open terracing. A move across Dublin 4

Dublin 4

Dublin 4 is a postal district of Dublin, Ireland including the suburbs of Sandymount, Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Ringsend and Irishtown on the South side of Dublin....

to the RDS Arena

RDS Arena

for Leinster was needed to accommodate growing crowds. For this reason, Leinster have signed a long term lease with the Royal Dublin Society

Royal Dublin Society

The Royal Dublin Society was founded on 25 June 1731 to "to promote and develop agriculture, arts, industry, and science in Ireland". The RDS is synonymous with its main premises in Ballsbridge in Dublin, Ireland...

to play home games at the RDS Arena

RDS Arena

. Donnybrook has since, however, been improved as a venue with the reconstruction of the grandstand in 2008 and remains an important venue for rugby union

Rugby union

in Dublin. Due to limited space, it is unlikely that Donnybrook will undergo further redevelopment. Leinster A play their British and Irish Cup

British and Irish Cup

The British and Irish Cup is a semi-professional northern hemisphere rugby union competition. It took place for the first time in the 2009/10 season...

games in the stadium and the senior team have continued to hold certain pre-season friendlies in the stadium.

Supporters

Leinster were the best supported team in the Celtic League

Celtic League (rugby union)

The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....

for both the 2006–07

2006-07 Leinster Rugby season

and 2007–08

2007-08 Leinster Rugby season

The 2008-09 Leinster Rugby season was Leinster's seventh competing in the Celtic League alongside which they competed in the 2007–08 Heineken Cup. Though Leinster were eliminated early from the Heineken Cup, the season ended in celebration as 'the Lions' were crowned champions of the 2007–08 Celtic...

seasons and are currently the fifth best supported team in Europe after Stade Toulousain

Stade Toulousain

, Stade Français, Leicester Tigers

Leicester Tigers

and Irish rivals Munster Rugby

Munster Rugby

. Leinster's supporters were named as 'Player of the Month' for April 2009 following their support in the Heineken Cup

Heineken Cup

Quarter Final against Harlequins

Harlequin F.C.

The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...

at The Stoop

The Stoop

Twickenham Stoop is a sports stadium located in the western suburbs of London, England. The stadium is home to Harlequins rugby union team, who play in the Aviva Premiership, and tenants London Broncos, who play in the Super League...

. Leinster's average crowd numbers have risen considerably in recent years from 3,926 during the first season of the Celtic League, to the current Celtic League average of 16,923. Leinster currently have roughly 12,500 season ticket holders.

Leinster hold the record for the biggest Celtic League attendance. On 2 October 2010, Leinster played Munster

Munster Rugby

in the 5th round of the Celtic League at the Aviva Stadium

Aviva Stadium

, this set a new crowd attendance record for a Celtic League game at 50,645. Leinster

Leinster

won the match 13–9.

The last match at the old Landsdowne Road stadium was against Ulster

Ulster Rugby

on 31 December 2006 before it was demolished to make way for the new Aviva Stadium

Aviva Stadium

, earning the match the moniker of "The Last Stand". Leinster won the match 20–12, with an attendance of 48,000 – a record at the time. A previous attendance record in the Celtic League was also set at Lansdowne Road, for a game between Leinster and Munster

Munster Rugby

which drew a crowd of 30,000. Leinster's Heineken Cup

Heineken Cup

clash against Munster at Croke Park

Croke Park

Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...

set a world record attendance for a "club" rugby union game with a crowd of 82,208. The Official Leinster Supporters Club was formally established as a club in 2007.

Current squad

Position	Name	Nationality
Head & Defence Coach	Josef Schmidt Josef Schmidt (rugby union) Josef Schmidt is a New Zealand rugby union coach. Schmidt coached the New Zealand Schools Rugby Team before coaching Bay of Plenty Rugby Union from 2003–2004. While at the Steamers he won the Ranfurly Shield defeating Auckland on August 15, 2004 The Steamers had one successful defence of the title...
Forwards Coach	Jono Gibbes Jono Gibbes Jonathan Brian Gibbes is the forwards coach of Leinster Rugby in Ireland and former New Zealand rugby union player who captained Waikato, the Chiefs and the New Zealand Māori rugby union team, and appeared in various All Blacks teams.Gibbes traditionally plays at the position of Blindside Flanker,...
Scrum Coach	Greg Feek Greg Feek Gregory Edward Feek is a New Zealand rugby union player who has played 10 tests for the All Blacks between 1999 and 2001 as a prop, in addition to 63 appearances with the Crusaders. He was born in New Plymouth. He had played provincial rugby for Taranaki between 1996 and 1998 and Canterbury...
Skills & Kicking Coach	Richie Murphy
Chief Executive	Mick Dawson
Team Manager	Guy Easterby Guy Easterby Guy Easterby is a former rugby union player for Ireland. He is currently team manager of Leinster alongside head coach Josef Schmidt.His father is English and his mother Irish...
Team Doctor	Prof. John Ryan
Team Doctor	Prof. Arthur Tanner
Team Doctor	Dr. Jim McShane
Physiotherapist	James Allen
Physiotherapist	Garrreth Farrell
Strength & Conditioning Coach	Jason Cowman
Strength & Speed Coach	Daniel Tobin
Rehabilitation Coach	Stephen Smith
Chief Scout	Guy Easterby Guy Easterby Guy Easterby is a former rugby union player for Ireland. He is currently team manager of Leinster alongside head coach Josef Schmidt.His father is English and his mother Irish...

Current Playing Squad 2011/2012

Bold indicates internationally capped player.

In for 2011–12

Matt Berquist

Matt Berquist is a rugby union player who plays at fly-half for Leinster Rugby in the Rabo Direct Pro12 and the Heineken Cup.-Provincial Rugby:...

from Crusaders Sean Cronin

Seán Cronin

Seán Cronin was a journalist and former Irish Army officer and twice Irish Republican Army chief of staff.Cronin was born in Dublin in 1920 but spent his childhood years in Ballinskelligs, in the County Kerry Gaeltacht....

from Connacht

Connacht Rugby

Connacht Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Connacht that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 comprising teams from the Celtic nations plus Italy. Normally, it also competes in the second-tier pan-European club competition, the European Challenge Cup...

Jamie Hagan

Jamie Hagan is an Irish rugby player for Leinster in the RaboDirect Pro12 having signed from Connacht in November 2011. Jamie's playing position is Prop. Jamie is from Balbriggan in Dublin. Jamie signed for Connacht in 2009 from the Leinster Rugby Academy. Jamie has represented Ireland at a Youth,...

from Connacht

Connacht Rugby

Steven Sykes

Steven Sykes, born 5 August 1984 in Middelburg, South Africa, is a rugby union player for Leinster with whom he signed a three year deal to play in the RaboDirect Pro12 and the Heineken Cup starting in the 2011/12 season. He plays as a lock. He is 6'6" tall and weighs 114 kg...

from Sharks Fionn Carr

Fionn Carr

Fionn Carr is an Irish rugby union player. Carr currently plays for Leinster, who play in the RaboDirect Pro12 competition, involving teams from Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Italy. Carr has represented Ireland at Schools, Under 19's, under 21's and at A level. He plays as a winger or...

from Connacht

Connacht Rugby

Damian Browne

Damian Browne is an Irish professional rugby union player. He currently plays for Leinster after signing from CA Brive of the French Top 14. He previously played for Northampton Saints and Connacht. He will join Leinster for the 2011/12 season. He is originally from Galway. Browne has been capped...

from Brive

CA Brive

Club Athlétique Brive Corrèze Limousin is a French rugby union team founded in 1910 and based in Brive-la-Gaillarde in the département of Corrèze of the Limousin région . They wear black and white and play in the Stade Amédée-Domenech .- History :The club was created on 15 March 1910 established on...

Nathan White

Nathan White is a journalist. He is a regular contributor to The Hockey News, and his articles have also appeared in The Globe and Mail, National Post, The Sporting News, New Brunswick Reader, the Vancouver Province, the Halifax Chronicle-Herald, the Moncton Times & Transcript, the Edmonton Sun,...

from Chiefs

Out for 2011/12

Stan Wright

Stan Wright born 29 September 1978 is a Cook Island international rugby union player and his current club is Stade Francais in France....

to Stade Francais Nathan Hines

Nathan Hines

Nathan Hines is an Australian-born Scottish rugby player. He currently plays for ASM Clermont Auvergne...

to Clermont Auvergne Paul O'Donohoe

Paul O'Donohoe

Paul O'Donohoe is a professional rugby union player. O'Donohoe plays at scrum half for Connacht Rugby after signing from Leinster Rugby in the Summer of 2011...

to Connacht

Connacht Rugby

Shaun Berne

Shaun Berne born 8 January 1979 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia is a rugby union player for Leinster Rugby in the Magners League.Berne joined Leinster Rugby from Bath where he enjoyed two successful spells . In total he made 119 appearances for Bath in all competitions , including 27 European...

Niall Morris to Leicester Tigers

Leicester Tigers

Stephen Keogh

Stephen Keogh is an Irish rugby union player.- Early life :Keogh was born in Limerick, Ireland, and grew up in Dromkeen, County Limerick. He attended St. Munchin's College before playing in the second-row for Ireland U21s in the World Cup in Johannesburg in June 2002...

to Shannon

Shannon RFC

Shannon Rugby Football Club is an amateur rugby union team from Ireland, they hail from Limerick near the banks of the Shannon river. The club is a member of the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch and as one of the top amateur sides in Ireland has seen many of its players progress to...

Michael Keating to Doncaster Knights

Doncaster R.F.C.

Doncaster Rugby Football Club are a rugby union club representing the town of Doncaster. The first XV are known as the Doncaster Knights, and play in the RFU Championship...

Stewart Maguire to Connacht

Connacht Rugby

Jason Harris-Wright to Bristol Rugby

Bristol Rugby

Bristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...

Paul Ryan

Paul Ryan may refer to:* Paul Ryan , member of the U.S. House of Representatives* Paul Ryan , music agent for The Agency, former Cradle of Filth guitarist* Paul Ryan , comics artist...

Cillian Willis to Sale Sharks E.O'Donoghue

Ed O'Donoghue

Ed O'Donoghue is an Irish rugby union player for Leinster Rugby in the Magners League competition.-Position:O'Donoghue's position of choice is as a lock and he can also operate as a flanker.-Rugby career:...

British and Irish Lions from Ireland

The following Leinster players, in addition to representing Ireland

Ireland national rugby union team

The Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...

, have also represented the British and Irish Lions

British and Irish Lions

The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...

Tom Crean
Thomas Joseph Crean
Major Dr. Thomas Joseph Crean, VC, DSO was an Irish rugby union player, British Army soldier and doctor. During the Second Boer War, while serving with the Imperial Light Horse, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. His VC medal is displayed at the Army Medical Services Museum...

: 1896
1896 British Lions tour to South Africa
1896 British Isles tour to South Africa was a rugby union tour undertaken by the British Isles, one of the first British and Irish Lions tours. The team toured South Africa for the second time in 1896. Between July 11 and September 5, they played 21 games, including four tests against South Africa...
Karl Mullen
Karl Mullen
Dr Karl Daniel Mullen was an Irish Rugby Union player and Consultant Gynaecologist who captained the Irish rugby team and captained the British Lions on their 1950 tour to Australia and New Zealand....

: 1950
1950 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia
The British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia in 1950 was the first post-war tour made by the Lions; there had not been one since 1938....
Robin Roe
Robin Roe
Reverend Robin Roe CBE MC was an Irish clergyman known for his work as an army chaplain, and a rugby union player.- Early life and education :...

: 1955
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1955 the British Lions rugby union team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. The Lions drew the test series against , each team winning two of the four matches. They won the first test by a single point and the third by three points and lost the second and fourth matches by wider margins...
Tony O'Reilly
Tony O'Reilly
Sir Anthony Joseph Francis O'Reilly is an Irish businessman and former international rugby union player. He is known for his involvement the Independent News & Media Group, which he led from 1973 to 2009, and as former CEO and Chairman of the H.J. Heinz Company. He was the leading shareholder of...

: 1955
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1955 the British Lions rugby union team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. The Lions drew the test series against , each team winning two of the four matches. They won the first test by a single point and the third by three points and lost the second and fourth matches by wider margins...

, 1959
1959 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand
In 1959 the British Lions rugby union team toured Australia and New Zealand. The Lions won the two test matches against but lost the international series against the All Blacks by three matches to one. They also played two matches in Canada, on the return leg of the journey.Although New Zealand...
Ronnie Dawson
Ronnie Dawson (rugby player)
Alfred Ronald "Ronnie" Dawson played hooker for Ireland and was captain of the British Lions rugby union team on their 1959 tour to Australia, New Zealand and Canada.Ronnie was educated in St...

: 1959
1959 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand
In 1959 the British Lions rugby union team toured Australia and New Zealand. The Lions won the two test matches against but lost the international series against the All Blacks by three matches to one. They also played two matches in Canada, on the return leg of the journey.Although New Zealand...

, 1968
1968 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1968 the British Lions toured South Africa. The tour was not success in terms of international results, the Lions losing the test series against South Africa by three matches to nil, with the other match drawn. The Lions won 15 of their 16 non-international matches, losing only to Transvaal...
Mike Hipwell
Mike Hipwell
Michael Louis Hipwell is a former Ireland international rugby union player. He toured New Zealand in 1971 with the British and Irish Lions and at the time played club rugby for Terenure College RFC.-Notes:...

: 1971
1971 British Lions tour to New Zealand
In 1971 the British Lions toured New Zealand, also playing two matches in Australia. Despite losing the first match to Queensland the tour was a great success, the Lions winning the test series against the All Blacks. They are still the only Lions side to have won a test series in New Zealand...
Sean Lynch
Sean Lynch (rugby player)
John Francis 'Sean' Lynch is a former Ireland international rugby union player.Lynch was capped fifteen times as a prop for Ireland between 1971 and 1975]]) and toured New Zealand in 1971 with the British and Irish Lions playing in all four tests against the All Blacks. He played club rugby for...

: 1971
1971 British Lions tour to New Zealand
In 1971 the British Lions toured New Zealand, also playing two matches in Australia. Despite losing the first match to Queensland the tour was a great success, the Lions winning the test series against the All Blacks. They are still the only Lions side to have won a test series in New Zealand...
Fergus Slattery
Fergus Slattery
John Fergus Slattery is a former rugby union player who represented Ireland. He played schools rugby for Blackrock College and then moved on to play senior rugby for UCD, before earning a call up to the Ireland team in 1970. During his career Slattery earned 61 caps, 18 as captain, and scored 3...

: 1971
1971 British Lions tour to New Zealand
In 1971 the British Lions toured New Zealand, also playing two matches in Australia. Despite losing the first match to Queensland the tour was a great success, the Lions winning the test series against the All Blacks. They are still the only Lions side to have won a test series in New Zealand...

, 1974
1974 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1974 the British Lions toured South Africa, with matches in South West Africa and Rhodesia . The tour was a great success, the Lions winning 21 of their 22 matches and drawing the other. After winning the first three test matches, the Lions drew the final test to preserve their unbeaten record...
Tom Grace
Tom Grace
Thomas Oliver Grace was a University College Dublin RFC and St. Mary's College RFC winger in the 1960 and 1970s as well as playing for his province Leinster. He appeared for the Ireland during his career...

:1974
1974 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1974 the British Lions toured South Africa, with matches in South West Africa and Rhodesia . The tour was a great success, the Lions winning 21 of their 22 matches and drawing the other. After winning the first three test matches, the Lions drew the final test to preserve their unbeaten record...

John Moloney

John Moloney (rugby player)

John Joseph Moloney is a former Ireland international rugby union player. He toured South Africa in 1974 with the British and Irish Lions and at the time played club rugby for St. Mary's College R.F.C..-References:...

: 1974

1974 British Lions tour to South Africa

In 1974 the British Lions toured South Africa, with matches in South West Africa and Rhodesia . The tour was a great success, the Lions winning 21 of their 22 matches and drawing the other. After winning the first three test matches, the Lions drew the final test to preserve their unbeaten record...

Willie Duggan

William Patrick Duggan is a former Ireland international rugby union player. He won 41 Irish Caps, the first in 1975 and finished his international career in 1984 as captain...

: 1977

1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand

In 1977 the British Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand. The Lions played 26 matches, including four internationals against the All Blacks. They lost the series against the All Blacks by three matches to one. The team played as the British Isles in their internationals against the All Blacks...

Philip Orr

Philip Andrew "Phil" Orr , is a former Irish international and British and Irish Lions Rugby Union loosehead prop. Educated at The High School, Dublin and Trinity College Dublin, Orr played for Old Wesley for over 20 years and was, for many years, his country's most-capped prop with a then world...

: 1977

1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand

, 1980

1980 British Lions tour to South Africa

In 1980 the British Lions rugby union team toured South Africa . The tour was not a success in terms of international results, the Lions losing the first three tests before salvaging some pride with a win in the fourth...

Rodney O'Donnell

Rodney Christopher O'Donnell is a former Ireland international rugby union player. He toured South Africa in 1980 with the British Lions and at the time played club rugby for St. Mary's College RFC. His rugby career was ended by a neck injury.- Notes :...

: 1980

1980 British Lions tour to South Africa

John Robbie

John Cameron Robbie is a former international rugby union player. He went to The High School in Dublin, Ireland. He toured South Africa in 1980 with the British and Irish Lions and at the time played club rugby for Greystones RFC. He was later picked twice for the South African rugby team but...

: 1980

1980 British Lions tour to South Africa

Tony Ward

Tony Ward (rugby player)

Anthony Joseph Patrick Ward , commonly referred to as Tony Ward, was an Irish rugby union and soccer player during the 1970s and 1980s. He played rugby as a fly-half for, among others, Munster, Leinster, , the British and Irish Lions and the Barbarians...

: 1980

1980 British Lions tour to South Africa

Ollie Campbell

Seamus Oliver Campbell was an Irish rugby union player from 1976 to 1984. He was educated at Belvedere College, a famous Irish rugby school, where he was on the teams that won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup twice in a row in 1971 and 1972...

: 1980

1980 British Lions tour to South Africa

, 1983

1983 British Lions tour to New Zealand

In 1983 the British and Irish Lions toured New Zealand for the first time since 1977. The Lions went down to a 4-0 whitewash for only the second time in history - the previous was also inflicted by the All Blacks on the 1966 Lions. Overall the Lions played eighteen matches, winning twelve and...

Hugo MacNeill

Hugo MacNeill (rugby player)

Hugh Patrick "Hugo" MacNeill is a former Ireland international rugby union player. In 1983 he toured New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions and a the time played club rugby for Oxford University RFC....

: 1983

1983 British Lions tour to New Zealand

Paul Dean

Paul Dean (rugby player)

Paul Michael Dean is a former Irish international rugby union player. He toured Australia in 1989 with the British and Irish Lions and at the time played club rugby for St. Mary's College RFC.-Notes:...

: 1989

1989 British Lions tour to Australia

In 1989 the British Lions toured Australia for the first time since 1971. Despite losing the first test, the Lions won the remaining two to take the series 2-1...

Brendan Mullin

Brendan John Mullin is a former Ireland international rugby union footballer. He played as a centre.-Profile:Mullin was educated at one of the leading Irish schools rugby nurseries Blackrock College, Dublin...

: 1989

1989 British Lions tour to Australia

In 1989 the British Lions toured Australia for the first time since 1971. Despite losing the first test, the Lions won the remaining two to take the series 2-1...

Vince Cunningham

Vincent John Gerald Cunningham is a former Ireland international rugby union player. He played as a centre.He had 16 caps for Ireland, from 1988 to 1994, scoring 3 tries and 1 conversion, 14 points in aggregate. The Irish centre played two matches at the 1991 Rugby World Cup finals...

: 1993

1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand

In 1993 the British Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand. This tour followed the Lions' 1989 tour to Australia and preceded their 1997 tour to South Africa. It was the last Lions tour in the sport's amateur era....

Eric Miller

Eric Miller (rugby player)

Eric Roger Patrick Miller is a former Irish rugby union and Gaelic football player. As a rugby player Miller played for, among others Old Wesley, Leicester Tigers,[Ulster],Leinster, the Barbarians, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions...

: 1997

1997 British Lions tour to South Africa

The 1997 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa was a series of matches played by the British and Irish Lions rugby union team in South Africa.This tour followed the Lions' 1993 tour to New Zealand and preceded their 2001 tour to Australia....

Malcolm O'Kelly

Malcolm O'Kelly is a retired Irish rugby union player who played as a lock for Ireland and Leinster....

: 2001

2001 British Lions tour to Australia

The 2001 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia was a series of matches played by the British Lions rugby union team in Australia.This tour followed the Lions' 1997 tour to South Africa and preceded the 2005 tour to New Zealand....

, 2005

2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand

In 2005 the British and Irish Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand for the first time since 1993, playing 7 tour matches against first and second division clubs from the National Provincial Championship series, 1 tour match against the national New Zealand all Māori club, and 3 official test...

Brian O'Driscoll

Brian O'Driscoll is an Irish professional rugby union player. He is the current captain of the Ireland Rugby team and captained Leinster Rugby until the start of 2008 season. He also captained the British and Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand...

: 2001

2001 British Lions tour to Australia

, 2005

2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand

, 2009

2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa

The 2009 British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa was an international rugby union tour which took place in South Africa from May to July 2009....

Shane Byrne: 2005

2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand

Gordon D'Arcy

Gordon William D'Arcy is an Irish rugby player, more specifically an inside centre. He is registered to Lansdowne RFC and plays for provincial and RaboDirect Pro12 side Leinster.-Career:...

: 2005

2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand

, 2009

2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa

The 2009 British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa was an international rugby union tour which took place in South Africa from May to July 2009....

Denis Hickie

Denis Anthony Hickie born 13 February 1976 in Dublin, Ireland is a retired professional rugby union footballer employed by the Irish Rugby Football Union. He played his club rugby for Leinster. His primary position was on the wing. He is also known as Disco Denis as a result of his quick feet...

: 2005

2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand

Shane Horgan

Shane Patrick Horgan born 18 July 1978 in Bellewstown, County Meath is a rugby union player who plays wing or centre for Leinster and Ireland. He is tall. While he was young he played for Boyne RFC. He also played Gaelic football at Minor level with Meath.Horgan joined Lansdowne on leaving...

: 2005

2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand

Rob Kearney

Robert Kearney , also referred to as Rob Kearney, is an Irish rugby union footballer who currently plays for UCD, Leinster and Ireland. As a youth he also played rugby union for Clongowes Wood College and Gaelic football for Louth in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship...

: 2009

2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa

The 2009 British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa was an international rugby union tour which took place in South Africa from May to July 2009....

Luke Fitzgerald

Luke Matthew Fitzgerald is a Rugby Union footballer. He currently plays at winger or centre for Leinster. Having previously studied at Blackrock College he won two Leinster Schools Senior Cups, in 2004 and 2006. He won his first cap for Ireland in November 2006...

: 2009

2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa

The 2009 British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa was an international rugby union tour which took place in South Africa from May to July 2009....

Jamie Heaslip

James Peter Richard "Jamie" Heaslip is a Leinster & Irish rugby union player.- Early life :Heaslip was born in Tiberias, Israel, while his father, retired Brigadier General Richard Heaslip, was there on duty with UNIFIL. He attended Newbridge College before starring at the 2004 U-21 World Cup in...

: 2009

2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa

The 2009 British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa was an international rugby union tour which took place in South Africa from May to July 2009....

British and Irish Lions from Other Nations

The following Leinster players, in addition to representing their national team, have also represented the British and Irish Lions

British and Irish Lions

The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...

.
Nathan Hines

Nathan Hines

Nathan Hines is an Australian-born Scottish rugby player. He currently plays for ASM Clermont Auvergne...

: 2009

2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa

The 2009 British and Irish Lions Tour to South Africa was an international rugby union tour which took place in South Africa from May to July 2009....

Notable former overseas players

Felipe Contepomi

Felipe Contepomi is an Argentine rugby union footballer. A fly-half and centre, he currently plays for Stade Francais of the French Top 14; he made his debut for the club in November 2009 after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in a 2008–09 Heineken Cup match with his previous club, Magners...

Mariano Galarza

Mariano Galarza is an Argentine rugby union player. He plays lock for the Irish club Leinster Rugby. His former club was Universitarios de La Plata, in Argentina....

Juan Gomez

Juan Gómez

Juan Gómez may refer to:*Juan José Gómez, Salvadoran footballer*Juan Gómez González, Spanish footballer who played for Real Madrid during the 1970s and 1980s*Juan Gómez de Mora, Spanish architect who helped construct the town of Simancas...

Rocky Elsom

Rocky Elsom is a former captain of the Australia national rugby union team. Raised in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Elsom is one of Australia's most decorated Rugby players. Elsom has played over 50 times for Australia and has over 80 Super rugby caps with the Waratahs 2003–08 and the...

Chris Whitaker

Chris Whitaker is a retired Australian rugby union footballer. He is a much acclaimed scrum-half for Leinster in Ireland. He previously played for the New South Wales Waratahs, a state team representing New South Wales in the Super 14....

Owen Finegan

Owen Finegan is an Australian international rugby union player who plays as a flanker or lock. He is nicknamed "Melon" because of his large head....

Nathan Spooner

David Holwell

David Holwell is a rugby union fly half who played for Wellington and Northland in the Air New Zealand Cup, ITM Cup and NPC, and for the Hurricanes and Blues in Super Rugby...

Cameron Jowitt

Cameron Michael Jowitt is a Samoan/New Zealand Rugby Union fooballer who played Rugby in Ireland for Leinster Rugby. He was educated at Kings College, Auckland where he captained their 1st XV Rugby and 1st XI Cricket teams...

Bryce Williams

Bryce Williams is a rugby union player who plays for Northland in the ITM Cup competition.-Playing Career:...

Stan Wright

Stan Wright born 29 September 1978 is a Cook Island international rugby union player and his current club is Stade Francais in France....

CJ van der Linde

CJ van der Linde is a South African rugby union footballer. His usual position is prop. He played for Leinster Rugby in the international Magners League from 2008–10, and currently plays for the Stormers....

Ollie le Roux

Andre-Henri "Ollie" le Roux is a South African rugby union footballer who currently plays for Leinster.-Rugby career:...

Harry Vermaas

Cornelis Hermanus "Harry" Vermaas is a South African rugby union footballer who currently plays for the Boland Cavaliers in the domestic Currie Cup competition. He is a versatile front rower who is capable of playing either at prop or at hooker and has also represented Leinster, the Blue Bulls and...

Will GreenAdam BynresArtemiev VasilyNathan Hines

Nathan Hines

Nathan Hines is an Australian-born Scottish rugby player. He currently plays for ASM Clermont Auvergne...

ERC Elite Awards

Team Award (50 Heineken Cup matches): Leinster Rugby (106)

Player Awards

50 Caps: Shane Horgan
Shane Horgan
Shane Patrick Horgan born 18 July 1978 in Bellewstown, County Meath is a rugby union player who plays wing or centre for Leinster and Ireland. He is tall. While he was young he played for Boyne RFC. He also played Gaelic football at Minor level with Meath.Horgan joined Lansdowne on leaving...

(87), Gordon D'Arcy
Gordon D'Arcy
Gordon William D'Arcy is an Irish rugby player, more specifically an inside centre. He is registered to Lansdowne RFC and plays for provincial and RaboDirect Pro12 side Leinster.-Career:...

(77), Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll is an Irish professional rugby union player. He is the current captain of the Ireland Rugby team and captained Leinster Rugby until the start of 2008 season. He also captained the British and Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand...

(75), Malcolm O'Kelly
Malcolm O'Kelly
Malcolm O'Kelly is a retired Irish rugby union player who played as a lock for Ireland and Leinster....

(74) , Leo Cullen
Leo Cullen
Leo Cullen may refer to:*Leo Cullen *Leo Cullen...

(72), Girvan Dempsey
Girvan Dempsey
Girvan Dempsey is a retired rugby union footballer who played at full back for Leinster and Ireland.- Rugby career :...

(68), Shane Byrne (61), Reggie Corrigan
Reggie Corrigan
Reggie Corrigan is a former Irish rugby union footballer, playing at loose-head prop-forward. He attended school in Presentation College, Bray....

(61), Trevor Brennan
Trevor Brennan
Trevor Brennan is a former rugby union player for Barnhall, Bective Rangers, St Marys College RFC, Leinster Rugby, Stade Toulousain and Ireland; being capped 13 times. He played either in the second row or as a flanker.Trevor captained St Mary's College RFC to their only AIB League title in 2000...

(57), Victor Costello
Victor Costello
Victor Costello is a retired Irish rugby player and Olympic shot-putter. Playing senior rugby throughout the 1990s until his retirement in 2005, his rugby career with Leinster and Ireland straddled the amateur and professional eras...

(57), Denis Hickie
Denis Hickie
Denis Anthony Hickie born 13 February 1976 in Dublin, Ireland is a retired professional rugby union footballer employed by the Irish Rugby Football Union. He played his club rugby for Leinster. His primary position was on the wing. He is also known as Disco Denis as a result of his quick feet...

(54), Eric Miller
Eric Miller
Eric Miller may refer to:* Eric Miller , American DJ* Eric Miller , Irish rugby player* Eric Miller , English businessman, Chairman of Peachey Properties...

(52), Shane Jennings
Shane Jennings
Shane Jennings born 8 July 1981 in Dublin, Ireland is a rugby union player for Leinster Rugby in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.He is also registered to St...

(52); Nathan Hines
Nathan Hines
Nathan Hines is an Australian-born Scottish rugby player. He currently plays for ASM Clermont Auvergne...

(61)
25 Tries: Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll is an Irish professional rugby union player. He is the current captain of the Ireland Rugby team and captained Leinster Rugby until the start of 2008 season. He also captained the British and Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand...

(30), Shane Horgan
Shane Horgan
Shane Patrick Horgan born 18 July 1978 in Bellewstown, County Meath is a rugby union player who plays wing or centre for Leinster and Ireland. He is tall. While he was young he played for Boyne RFC. He also played Gaelic football at Minor level with Meath.Horgan joined Lansdowne on leaving...

(27)

(Correct as of 10 April 2011)

ERC European Dream Team

The following Leinster players were selected in the ERC European Dream Team, an all-time dream team of Heineken Cup

Heineken Cup

players.
Rocky Elsom

Rocky Elsom

(Flanker), 2008–2009 Brian O'Driscoll

Brian O'Driscoll

(Centre), 1999–present

Rocky Elsom

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

2008-09 Heineken Cup

The 2008–09 Heineken Cup was the fourteenth edition of the Heineken Cup, the annual rugby union European club competition for clubs from the top six nations in European rugby. It started in October 2008 and ended on 23 May 2009 at Murrayfield in Edinburgh...

wining team.

Celtic League Team of the Year

2006–07: Felipe Contepomi
Felipe Contepomi
Felipe Contepomi is an Argentine rugby union footballer. A fly-half and centre, he currently plays for Stade Francais of the French Top 14; he made his debut for the club in November 2009 after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in a 2008–09 Heineken Cup match with his previous club, Magners...

, Gordon D'Arcy
Gordon D'Arcy
Gordon William D'Arcy is an Irish rugby player, more specifically an inside centre. He is registered to Lansdowne RFC and plays for provincial and RaboDirect Pro12 side Leinster.-Career:...

, Denis Hickie
Denis Hickie
Denis Anthony Hickie born 13 February 1976 in Dublin, Ireland is a retired professional rugby union footballer employed by the Irish Rugby Football Union. He played his club rugby for Leinster. His primary position was on the wing. He is also known as Disco Denis as a result of his quick feet...

, Jamie Heaslip
Jamie Heaslip
James Peter Richard "Jamie" Heaslip is a Leinster & Irish rugby union player.- Early life :Heaslip was born in Tiberias, Israel, while his father, retired Brigadier General Richard Heaslip, was there on duty with UNIFIL. He attended Newbridge College before starring at the 2004 U-21 World Cup in...
2007–08: Felipe Contepomi
Felipe Contepomi
Felipe Contepomi is an Argentine rugby union footballer. A fly-half and centre, he currently plays for Stade Francais of the French Top 14; he made his debut for the club in November 2009 after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in a 2008–09 Heineken Cup match with his previous club, Magners...

, Leo Cullen
Leo Cullen
Leo Cullen may refer to:*Leo Cullen *Leo Cullen...

, Jamie Heaslip
Jamie Heaslip
James Peter Richard "Jamie" Heaslip is a Leinster & Irish rugby union player.- Early life :Heaslip was born in Tiberias, Israel, while his father, retired Brigadier General Richard Heaslip, was there on duty with UNIFIL. He attended Newbridge College before starring at the 2004 U-21 World Cup in...

, Bernard Jackman
Bernard Jackman
Bernard Jackman is an Irish former rugby union player who played for Leinster. At international level, he has also played for Ireland.-Early career:...

, Ollie Le Roux
Ollie le Roux
Andre-Henri "Ollie" le Roux is a South African rugby union footballer who currently plays for Leinster.-Rugby career:...

, Malcolm O'Kelly
Malcolm O'Kelly
Malcolm O'Kelly is a retired Irish rugby union player who played as a lock for Ireland and Leinster....

, Stan Wright
Stan Wright
Stan Wright born 29 September 1978 is a Cook Island international rugby union player and his current club is Stade Francais in France....
2008–09: Rocky Elsom
Rocky Elsom
Rocky Elsom is a former captain of the Australia national rugby union team. Raised in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Elsom is one of Australia's most decorated Rugby players. Elsom has played over 50 times for Australia and has over 80 Super rugby caps with the Waratahs 2003–08 and the...

, Jamie Heaslip
Jamie Heaslip
James Peter Richard "Jamie" Heaslip is a Leinster & Irish rugby union player.- Early life :Heaslip was born in Tiberias, Israel, while his father, retired Brigadier General Richard Heaslip, was there on duty with UNIFIL. He attended Newbridge College before starring at the 2004 U-21 World Cup in...

, Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll is an Irish professional rugby union player. He is the current captain of the Ireland Rugby team and captained Leinster Rugby until the start of 2008 season. He also captained the British and Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand...
2009–10: Leo Cullen
Leo Cullen
Leo Cullen may refer to:*Leo Cullen *Leo Cullen...

, Jamie Heaslip
Jamie Heaslip
James Peter Richard "Jamie" Heaslip is a Leinster & Irish rugby union player.- Early life :Heaslip was born in Tiberias, Israel, while his father, retired Brigadier General Richard Heaslip, was there on duty with UNIFIL. He attended Newbridge College before starring at the 2004 U-21 World Cup in...

, Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll is an Irish professional rugby union player. He is the current captain of the Ireland Rugby team and captained Leinster Rugby until the start of 2008 season. He also captained the British and Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand...
2010–11: Jamie Heaslip
Jamie Heaslip
James Peter Richard "Jamie" Heaslip is a Leinster & Irish rugby union player.- Early life :Heaslip was born in Tiberias, Israel, while his father, retired Brigadier General Richard Heaslip, was there on duty with UNIFIL. He attended Newbridge College before starring at the 2004 U-21 World Cup in...

, Isa Nacewa
Isa Nacewa
Isakeli Nacewa is a New Zealand-born rugby union footballer of Fijian descent. He is a utility back and represents Leinster Rugby in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup competitions. He previously represented the Blues in the Super Rugby competition and Auckland in the Air New Zealand Cup...

, Sean O'Brien
Sean O'Brien
Sean O'Brien may refer to:*Seán O'Brien , Gaelic footballer with Nemo Rangers*Sean O'Brien , Irish rugby union player*Sean O'Brien , based in Australia, competes on the Windsurfing World Tour...

, Mike Ross
Mike Ross
Michael Avery “Mike” Ross is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Democratic Party. Ross is currently the dean of the Arkansas congressional delegation, or its most senior member...

, Richardt Strauss
Richardt Strauss
Richardt Strauss is a South African rugby union player for Leinster Rugby. Strauss' choice of position is Hooker.-Career:...

Heineken Cup

Most Appearances: (86) Shane Horgan
Shane Horgan
Shane Patrick Horgan born 18 July 1978 in Bellewstown, County Meath is a rugby union player who plays wing or centre for Leinster and Ireland. He is tall. While he was young he played for Boyne RFC. He also played Gaelic football at Minor level with Meath.Horgan joined Lansdowne on leaving...
Most Points: (338) Felipe Contepomi
Felipe Contepomi
Felipe Contepomi is an Argentine rugby union footballer. A fly-half and centre, he currently plays for Stade Francais of the French Top 14; he made his debut for the club in November 2009 after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in a 2008–09 Heineken Cup match with his previous club, Magners...
Most Tries: (30) Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll
Brian O'Driscoll is an Irish professional rugby union player. He is the current captain of the Ireland Rugby team and captained Leinster Rugby until the start of 2008 season. He also captained the British and Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand...
Most Cons & Pens: (269) Felipe Contepomi
Felipe Contepomi
Felipe Contepomi is an Argentine rugby union footballer. A fly-half and centre, he currently plays for Stade Francais of the French Top 14; he made his debut for the club in November 2009 after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in a 2008–09 Heineken Cup match with his previous club, Magners...

.

(correct as of 1 May 2011)

Celtic League

Most Appearances:(98) Shane Horgan
Shane Horgan
Shane Patrick Horgan born 18 July 1978 in Bellewstown, County Meath is a rugby union player who plays wing or centre for Leinster and Ireland. He is tall. While he was young he played for Boyne RFC. He also played Gaelic football at Minor level with Meath.Horgan joined Lansdowne on leaving...
Most Points: (877) Felipe Contepomi
Felipe Contepomi
Felipe Contepomi is an Argentine rugby union footballer. A fly-half and centre, he currently plays for Stade Francais of the French Top 14; he made his debut for the club in November 2009 after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in a 2008–09 Heineken Cup match with his previous club, Magners...
Most Tries:(38) Shane Horgan
Shane Horgan
Shane Patrick Horgan born 18 July 1978 in Bellewstown, County Meath is a rugby union player who plays wing or centre for Leinster and Ireland. He is tall. While he was young he played for Boyne RFC. He also played Gaelic football at Minor level with Meath.Horgan joined Lansdowne on leaving...
Most Cons & Pens: (302) Felipe Contepomi
Felipe Contepomi
Felipe Contepomi is an Argentine rugby union footballer. A fly-half and centre, he currently plays for Stade Francais of the French Top 14; he made his debut for the club in November 2009 after recovering from a torn ACL suffered in a 2008–09 Heineken Cup match with his previous club, Magners...

Bold indicates highest overall League record. (correct as of 24 May 2011).

Honours

Heineken Cup
Heineken Cup
The Heineken Cup is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup involving leading club, regional and provincial teams from the six International Rugby Board countries in Europe whose national teams compete in the Six Nations Championship: England, France, Ireland,...
- Winners: 2008–09
  2008-09 Heineken Cup
  The 2008–09 Heineken Cup was the fourteenth edition of the Heineken Cup, the annual rugby union European club competition for clubs from the top six nations in European rugby. It started in October 2008 and ended on 23 May 2009 at Murrayfield in Edinburgh...
  
  , 2010–11

Celtic League / Magners League
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
- Winners: 2001–02
  2001–02 Celtic League
  The 2001–02 Celtic League was the first season of the Celtic League. The first season would see fifteen teams compete: the four Irish provinces , two Scottish teams and all nine Welsh Premier Division teams .Played alongside...
  
  , 2007–08
- Runners-Up: 2005–06, 2009–10, 2010–11

Irish Inter-Provincial Championships
- Winners: 22

External links

Official site
Leinster Supporters Site and Forum
Leinster Rugby feature on The Irish Times
Unofficial Leinster Calendar & Results

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