Leinster Rugby
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Leinster Rugby
Full name	Irish Rugby Football Union Leinster Branch
Nickname(s)	Leinster Lions
Founded	1875
Location	Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland
Ground(s)	Donnybrook Rugby Ground RDS (stadium) Lansdowne Road
Capacity	11,200 18,500 50,000
Coach	Michael Cheika
League	Magners League Heineken Cup
2007-08	1st
Home colours		Away colours
Official website
www.leinsterrugby.ie

The Irish Rugby Football Union Leinster Branch (also known as Leinster Rugby) is one of four branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish province of Leinster. The branch is also responsible for the Leinster team (previously known for a period as the Leinster Lions; see below), which plays in national and international competitions. The amateur Leinster sides previously played in a plain navy jersey with white shorts and navy socks. The Leinster Harp survives from the amateur era.

Leinster's traditional home ground is in Donnybrook, in Dublin City's south side that has been recently redeveloped to a capacity of 12,500. In 2004/2005 they began playing some home games at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) showgrounds. The RDS was redeveloped between 2006 and 2007 to a capacity of 18,500 with permanent floodlights and upgraded seats and facilities and currently (2008) hosts all of Leinster's home games.

History

The Leinster Branch was formed in 1875. In amateur days the four provinces played against each other in the Interprovincial Championship and also played touring sides (usually midweek). When rugby union was declared 'open' in 1995, these four teams became the four professional teams run by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU).

Leinster reached the Heineken Cup semi-final in 1995/96, 2002/03 and 2005/06. They were the inaugural Celtic League Champions in 2002 beating rivals Munster in the final in Lansdowne Road. They won the revised league format in 2008.

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

In 2002/03, they became only the third team in the history of the Heineken Cup to win all their games in pool play and the first team to do it twice in the 2004/05 season. They also went one step further in the playoffs than the previous season by reaching the semis, but lost at home against French side Perpignan.

The 2004/05 Leinster team also won all of their games in pool play, and were again considered among the favourites for the title. However they went out at the quarter final stage to Leicester Tigers.

In 2005/2006 Leinster qualified for the quarter finals as a best runner up by demolishing Bath at "the Rec". In the quarter-final they gave one of the province's greatest ever performances, beating number 1 seeds and reigning champions Toulouse in France by a scoreline of 41-35. On April 23rd they continued to the semi finals of the Heineken Cup against fellow Irish provincial team Munster, where they were beaten 30-6. Leinster finished second in the Celtic League that year losing out on the final day (Although winning and earning a bonus point Vs Edinburgh) as Ulster managed to beat The Ospreys in Swansea and win the Celtic League title.

In 2006/2007, Leinster again qualified for the quarter finals stage of the Heineken Cup winning their pool yet losing 2 pool games along the way. This meant that Leinster would have to face London Wasps away in the quarter finals and which Leinster went on to lose 35-13. Leinster were again pipped to the Magners League title on the last day by The Ospreys. Leinster's loss to the Cardiff Blues sealed their fate and handed them another second spot (like the previous year).

2007/2008 Season

2007/2008 Magners League Fixtures/Results

2007/2008 Heineken Cup Fixtures/Results

2006/2007 Season

2006/2007 Magners League Fixtures/Results

2006/2007 Heineken Cup Fixtures/Results

Brian O'Driscoll

Notable Former Players

• Shane Byrne
• Ollie Campbell
• Victor Costello
• Neil Francis
• Tom Grace
• Denis Hickie
• Tony Ward
• Eric Miller
• Reggie Corrigan
• Guy Easterby
• Jim O'Callaghan
• Kevin O'Flanagan
• Ollie Le Roux

Match attendance

Leinster hold the record for the biggest Celtic League attendance. The match was against Ulster and was the last match held at Lansdowne Road before renovation began on the ground, earning the match the moniker of "The Last Stand". Leinster won the match 20-12, with an attendance of 48,000. The previous attendance record in the Celtic League was also set at Lansdowne Road, for a game between Leinster and Munster. Also, for the 2007-2008 season, Leinster were awarded the "Best Supported Team in the Magners League" Award. With an average attendance of over 14500 and 7000 season ticket holders Leinster are the fourth best supported team in Europe.

Honours

• Celtic League / Magners League
  • Winners: 2001-02, 2007-08
• Irish Inter-Provincial Championships
  • Winners: 22

Leinster Squad

Nat. Position Player HK Bernard Jackman HK Brian Blaney HK John Fogarty PR CJ van der Linde PR Stan Wright PR Ronan McCormack PR Cian Healy PR Stephen Knoop LK Trevor Hogan LK Malcolm O'Kelly LK Leo Cullen LK Devin Toner FL Rocky Elsom FL Shane Jennings FL Cameron Jowitt FL Kevin McLaughlin FL Sean O'Brien

Nat. Position Player N8 Stephen Keogh N8 Colm Quinn SH Chris Whitaker SH Chris Keane SH Simon Keogh FH Felipe Contepomi FH Jonathan Sexton CE Gordon D'Arcy CE Brian O'Driscoll WG Luke Fitzgerald WG Shane Horgan WG Gary Brown FB Rob Kearney FB Ross McCarron FB Girvan Dempsey FB Isa Nacewa

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See also

• Celtic League
• Heineken Cup
• European Rugby Shield

External links

• Official site
• Leinster Supporters Site and Forum