club rugby magazine june 213

@clubrugby1 www.clubrugby.ie

j u n e 2 0 1 3

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWSWILLIE johN mCbRIdEhUgo maCNEILLjaSoN RobINSoNmIChaEL LyNagh

lions tour preVieW: tony ward & shane byrne l CLUb & GeneraL news

3

J U N E 2 0 1 3

4 GENERAL NEWS Leinster round-off a terrific season with Rabo

success against Ulster.

6 PRIDE&PASSION Club Rugby talks to Willie John McBride.

Everything that the Lions badge stands for.

10 LION AND tRuE tRy PREDAtOR

The speed of a Cheetah and the heart of a Lion - Jason Robinson.

14 thE GOLDEN bOy Michael Lynagh worth his weight in gold when it

came to the game.

18 cLub NEWS Malahide and Young Munster discuss the

benefits of National Lottery funding.

20 LIONS 2013 PREvIEW

Club Rugby Editor Alan Conway sits down with two former Lions in the shape of Shane Byrne and Tony Ward to get their feelings on the upcoming series.

22 A RARE tALENt A fullback of rare talent, with

flair and panache to boot, Hugo MacNeill’s name rolls off the tongue.

Professional rugby playerIreland, Ulster and Lions winger

Hibernia College student

Tommy Bowe

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On behalf of everyone at Club Rugby magazine, we would like to welcome you to our final publication of what has been a tremendously exciting season, with many ups and downs, I think you will agree.

This month we have a tremendous line up of top quality interviews for you to enjoy. In this issue we take a special, in depth, look at the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.

We sit down with the one and only Willie John McBride, who talks passionately about his own career, his involvement with the Lions and his thoughts on how he sees this series playing out.

There is also a terrific interview with the ‘flying Lion’ Jason Robinson. ‘Billy Whizz’ as he is known sits down with us to talk about what the Lions means to him personally as well as talking about a stellar international career, which saw him lift the 2003 Rugby World Cup with England.

Michael Lynagh also discusses the upcoming tour, from an Australian perspective, in a frank and honest interview, that will have you gripped from start to finish.

In the last of our stellar line up, Club Rugby Editor Alan Conway, sits down for a revealing interview with Ireland and Lions legend Hugo MacNeill. In a must read piece, MacNeill frankly talks about his brilliant career, his time in the famous Lions jersey, and his excitement at the 2013 tour to Australia.

Finally Tony Ward and myself sit down to discuss the 2013 tour along with our own experience of playing in that famous red jersey.

We would like to thank everyone who has supported Club Rugby throughout the season, and we hope that you have enjoyed the product that we have brought you.

I hope you enjoy the Lions tour and I will talk to you next season.

Your’s in Rugby

4 J U N E 2 0 1 3

RaboDirect Pro12 review

GENERAL neWs

On an emotive day for both sides, it was Leinster that claimed the RaboDirect Pro12 championship after a pulsating, heart stopping, 24-18 defeat over fellow Irish province, Ulster, at a sun kissed RDS at the end of last month.

Both sides had huge motivation for winning this all Ireland shoot-out. Leinster were saying goodbye to a raft of players, including Jonny Sexton, who will now join the French side Racing Metro after the upcoming Lions series, as well as Isa Nacewa who will now retire back to New Zealand. Along with that the province were also saying farewell to their outstanding coach Joe Schmidt, who now becomes the Ireland head coach.

For Ulster, this game was the culmination of a season of hard work, with the memory of the late Nevin Spence, who we lost last September, working as a source of inspiration for the Ulster side.

Despite losing Rob Kearney in the warm up, Leinster started much the better and got the first try of the game within minutes of the referee’s first whistle. Flanker Shane Jennings, who had a huge 80 minutes, powered over the Ulster try line to give the Amlin Cup champions the perfect start, in front of a passionate crowd.

Ulster’s eagerness at the breakdown in the opening 20, would cost them dear. Mark Anscombe’s men gave away a number of needless penalties, although they weren’t helped in their effort by some of the decisions by referee John Lacey.

The boot of Jonny Sexton, kept Leinster out of arms reach and, despite failing to convert a couple of chances, Joe Schmidt’s side went in at half-time 16-6 to the good.

Ruan Pienaar’s unerring boot kept Ulster hanging on to Leinster’s coat tails. With the game poised on a knife edge at 19-15, Leinster dug deep when they needed to most. After a great drive from the Leinster forwards, Jamie Heaslip barrelled his way over the whitewash to give Leinster, what looked like a match winning score.

Despite a spirited comeback from Ulster, Leinster, who were chasing their first domestic title since 2008, grimly hung on and gave their supporters, and the departing players and staff, the perfect farewell present.

Leinster celebrated, while Ulster will know that they will have better days. Things may be changing, but it promises to be an intriguing 2013/14 RaboDirect Pro 12 championship ahead of us. It is something to keep the blood pumping throughout the summer months.

RaBo Direct PRO12 Grand Final

Ireland hooker Rory Best has been drafted into the British & Irish Lions squad for their tour to Australia this month.

Many people felt that Best was unlucky to lose out on a place in the original squad, however he now takes the place of England’s Dylan Hartley, who will miss the tour through suspension.

Hartley was red carded during Northampton’s Aviva Premiership game against the Leicester Tigers, following an incident with referee Wayne Barnes.

It is alleged that Hartley called Barnes a “f****** cheat” during his sides defeat. Harley was shown a straight red card and was suspended for 11 weeks. That incident forced the hand of the Lions selectors turned to Best to fill the void left by Hartley.

Best’s inclusion brings Ireland’s representation on the tour to ten players.

“With uncertainty over the availability of Dylan Hartley to tour, and with the first of 10 matches’ only days away we had no option but to call up the additional player,” Lions tour manager Andy Irvine said after the news of Hartley’s suspension emerged. “Despite the circumstances we should congratulate Rory, who will join the squad and fly with us to Hong Kong.

“A final decision on whether Dylan Hartley will take any part in the tour will depend on the outcome of any potential appeal.”

The three-man disciplinary panel, which was chaired by Judge Jeff Blackett, found Hartley guilty of a mid-range offence. He will be free to play again on September 1st. The suspension also covers three pre-season friendlies for his club side, Northampton.

Speaking after the news of his selection was confirmed, a delighted Best said “It hasn’t fully sunk in yet, it is hard to describe because it is the ultimate for a rugby player.

“To finally be selected makes playing professional rugby worthwhile. All the

lows that you get and the knocks and bumps, it more than makes up

for them and for a few weeks ago when I thought that the chance had gone.”

Best is now fully focused on gaining a place in the Test side against the Wallabies. “I am as ambitious as everyone else. To be on the tour is unbelievable, but you have to go there and play your best rugby, put your hand up and

see where that takes you.”

The Lions meet Australia in the first of a three test series on June 22nd at the

Suncorp Stadium.

Rory Best

6 J U N E 2 0 1 3 7J U N E 2 0 1 3

Proud as a Lion. That could be one of many ways to describe Willie John McBride. His name is so neatly tied to the whole ethos of the British & Irish Lions, that in many ways he is all that the Lions stand for. Prideful, passionate and with a will to win

that very few have. There have been fewer players as fine as Willie John that have pulled on that precious red jersey.

Sir Ian McGeehan once stated, ahead of the first test of the 2009 Lions series against South Africa that he would ‘have walked over red hot coals for Willie John’ on the 1974 tour. Few players have commanded such respect on and off the pitch as the ‘Big Man’.

Yet the staircase up to rugby immortality began not on the rugby fields, but on his family farm. It wasn’t until he was 17 that he would first pick up a rugby ball. In fact, as he explains, his first exposure to sport was one that was slightly unorthodox.

“It was pole vaulting would you believe”, McBride explains. “That was one of the first sports that I took up. In fact I won an Ulster championship when I was in school.

“Rugby then came as a natural progression to me. I was always big for my age so it seemed like a good fit for me. I went from the Ulster schools system, then up to Ballymena. Before I knew it I was on the 2nd team, then on the 1st team so it all happened very quickly for me”.

That progression would soon see him move up the ranks and in 1962 he would make his first appearance in the green of Ireland against England at Twickenham. ’62 would prove to be an unforgettable year for McBride, as it not only saw him make his Ireland debut but he was also selected for the British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

At only 23 years of age, you wonder just what it felt like to be selected for such a tour, given the fact that he was only playing the game for a few years. “It was just amazing”, he muses. “Travelling to the southern hemisphere was something that was totally alien to me. We were spreading the game to different parts of the world. There were 30 players on that tour and they were the best 30 players from each of the home countries, so to be a part of that was tremendous and a huge experience at such a young age”.

THE CRUCIAL FACTORDespite coming out on the wrong side of the series ‘we played well over there and were just beaten. McBride was afforded the opportunity to right that

wrong, in 1971, when he was again selected for the Lions, this time to take on the mighty All Blacks.

It would prove to be a history making tour as McBride played a pivotal role in helping the Lions to their first tour win against New Zealand, something that hasn’t been repeated since. Contrasting the two different tours, McBride is quick to point out one crucial factor.

“The weather!”, he laughingly points out. “It was more like playing in Ireland when we faced the All Blacks, compared to the hard grounds that we faced in South Africa. At the same time a lot of players had been on the three previous tours which we had lost, so there was a lot of experience within that

particular side.

“We had a few problems in the first test that we managed to get ironed out ahead of the second game. You only have to look back to see just how big of an accomplishment it was. Winning a test series in New Zealand is something that isn’t done every day”.

McBride’s role in that victorious ’71 tour would see him appointed as the captain for the tour of 1974 to South Africa, which has gone down in history as perhaps the most famous of all Lions tours.

Faced against one of the most physical teams in world rugby, the Lions management felt that if the

Lions could front up to the Springboks physicality then they would stand a good chance of taking something from the series. Enter Willie John.

Leading from the front, Willie John took the fight to the South African forwards, in a display of aggression and sheer bloody mindedness that epitomised everything that the Lions badge stands for.

Unlike today’s modern game, where cameras can spot any infringement within a second of it happening, in 1974 there were no such avenues to prevent a player from getting in a sly dig in off the ball.

McBride used this to his advantage. Famously he invented the ’99 call’ which was code for any Lions to get their retaliation in on any South African player, before the Springboks had a chance. That mind-set would see to one of the most physical test series that has ever taken place, a series that would still send shivers down your spine, such were the ferocity of the hits that were dished out by both sides over the course of the series.

“They were a horrible bunch to play against”, McBride says, looking back. “It was a dream to be captain of the Lions, and, to this day, I have never seen a pack of forwards like we had in South Africa.


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6 J U N E 2 0 1 3 7J U N E 2 0 1 3

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“We were not going to be moved by the Springboks, that’s the mentality that wºe had. Before the second test I just knew, in my heart and soul that we were not going to be beaten. It was a magic feeling. Again, to be part of something so special was just incredible and something that lives with me every day”.

That ’74 tour would prove to be McBride’s swansong as far as playing for the Lions was concerned. However he would not go quietly into the night. He would become manager of the 1983 tour to New Zealand, yet as he explains that was a tour to forget.

“Before hand it was one of the worst Five Nations that I can remember, which had an effect on the Lions. When England play well the Lions usually play well, but that year they had a very poor championship. We had to pick players who weren’t in the best form, but you were hoping that they would come back into some decent form but that didn’t happen and as a result the Lions suffered.

Having had such close involvement with the Lions, McBride has been one of the most attentive watchers of subsequent Lions tours. Having won only one in the last four Lions series, that coming in 1997 against South Africa, he feels that the Lions are overdue a test series win, although he feels, that with some more luck, the Lions could have had more test series wins than they have managed to garner over the years.

“Well in 2005 it was a bloody disaster. New Zealand got away with that series. What happened to Brian O’Driscoll out there was a disgrace. Clive Woodward was good at getting people around him, but aside from that. There was a lot left to be desired about that particular tour.

“In 2009 against South Africa, the Lions were bullied in that first test. To me that was where the series was lost. They didn’t deal with the physical nature of the Springboks.

“The gouging of Luke Fitzgerald was also disgraceful. Things like

that should never happen on a rugby pitch. I couldn’t believe it when I saw it and I was shocked when Schalk Burger only

got a yellow. That should have been a straight red for me”.

Looking forward to this month’s tour McBride feels that the Lions, under the stewardship of Warren Gatland, have to ‘stick together’ if they are to come away from Australia with a series win.

“Everyone’s noses have to be pointed in the same direction. The Lions must be prepared.

Personally I think they have the physical edge over Australia, which could be

huge. I’m clear in my own mind about how I see the series going. I would be very, very, disappointed if the Lions didn’t win the test series. They have got to win”.

Seeing the fire in his eyes when he talks about the Lions, one gets a small glimpse into why McBride has become such a legendary figure when one mentions the British & Irish Lions.

You ask just what it means to wear that badge, something that comes to few players, to be part of an elite group representing the four home nations. Surely it is something

that is beyond comprehension?

“It is the cream”, McBride says. “To be considered a Lion is something very special. Not a lot of players are a) considered to be a Lion and b) to be selected to play in the test series. To be a Lion and more importantly, a winning Lion, is something

nearly beyond description and is something that means an awful lot

to me”.

When the 2013 Lions line up for that first test, they will have the blood, sweat

and tears of generations of Lions on their back, including Willie John McBride. Nothing

could be more inspiring. n

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jaSoN RobINSoN thE spEEd Of a ChEEtah and hEart Of a LiOn this star is CErtainLy shining.


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H e was nicknamed ‘Billy Whizz’ and that is exactly what he was. He was a haze in white and in red. It only took two minutes in that first test of the 2001 British & Irish Lions series against

Australia for Jason Robinson to stamp his name on the legacy of the Lions. He may have had the speed of a cheetah, but he had the heart of a lion.

Yet, but for a twist of fate Robinson may have never graced the Lions jersey. It was rugby league, rather than union where he crafted his game and his reputation. He was, as he puts it, ‘sports mad’ growing up in Leeds, and he would spend his youth spending time at the local rugby park, watching, learning and dreaming.

“I was a ball boy for Leeds when I was growing up”, Robinson says. “You would dream one day that you would be out there playing for Leeds, but at that stage that’s all it was, a dream. I never thought that one day I would reach the levels that I did”.

His route to the top would start from humble beginnings. Robinson started with Hunslet Boys Club and then Hunslet Parkside before starting his rugby league career in 1991 at semi-professional side Hunslet Hawks. Despite being offered a contract by Leeds, he stuck by his side, as it would have meant leaving at an inconvenient time.

It would be at Wigan where his star would first begin to really shine. At the time Wigan were ‘the’ team in Rugby League, with their free flowing style of rugby they were attracting huge admiration from not just league viewers, but crossover fans from union too.

In 1993 he made his first appearance in the Challenge Cup Final when Wigan defeated Widnes. It would be the start of a tremendously successful period for Robinson. That same year he would travel to New Zealand with the Great Britain Rugby League squad, a tour that would showcase his talent to a wider audience.

Having made the breakthrough at such a young age, Robinson reached a crossroads in his career at age 26. At the time England were making big strides in rugby union under the masterful hand of Sir Clive Woodward. Woodward had grand plans on making England the best rugby team in the world, and one of his goals was to convert some of the best rugby league players to union, step forward Jason Robinson. The decision of Woodward to chase after and successfully convert Robinson from rugby league to union proved to be a masterstroke and a decision that would pay huge dividends in the years that followed. So how did it all come about?

“Well I was out of contract basically”, he explains. “I met Clive and he spoke very passionately about where he was going to take England and he was very keen on seeing what I could contribute. It was something that appealed to me and having thought it over I decided to give it go.

“A lot of people ask me was the transition difficult. It was a bit at the start but I just got my head down and got on with things. I was the ‘new kid on the block’ in a sense, so there was a little bit of trepidation, however everyone helped me out when I came into the squad, so that made the transition somewhat easier”.

The crossover would prove to be tremendously successful. He would make his England debut less than a year after switching codes. His scary pace, allied with a tremendous ability to find the try line helped England rise from

one of the best team in Northern Hemisphere to becoming World Champions in 2003.

It is remarkable to think that it only took two years for Robinson to reach the mountain top of rugby union. He scored a try in that World Cup final against Australia and that summed up everything that made him the player that he was.

Having been fed by Jonny Wilkinson, Robinson burned the Australia defence, leaving a trail of stunned Wallabies and fire in his wake. When he turned on the turbo, nobody could live with his pace.

To be a part of a winning World Cup side must have been something, almost indescribable, his gentle laugh as you ask the question, says it all.

“It was the ultimate goal and something that was a tremendous privilege to be a part of. We had a very, very good team at that point. When you have the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Martin Johnson & Lawrence Dallaglio it is a tremendous starting point. The crowd that supported us were just fantastic; they were really like our 23rd man.

“Everything went so quick in those first couple of years, but I wouldn’t have dare dreamed that things would go the way that they did. It was unbelievable”.

While the World Cup would be the pinnacle of his union career, Robinson would also receive the ultimate nod to his talent, when Graham Henry selected him to be a part of the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.

That tour Down Under would provide so many wonderful memories, memories that are still engrained into rugby fans collective consciousness. You think of the ‘waltzing O’Driscoll’ try from the master himself.

However earlier on in that first test it was Robinson that ignited the opening gambits in the Gabba. It only took three minutes for Robinson to stamp his mark on the test series, with an electrifying burst down the left wing to skip by Chris Latham to send the travelling supporters into raptures.

Wearing that Lions jersey, a jersey that has seen mere mortals of players become legends, is something that only comes to a few players. How did it feel for Robinson, a player that came to rugby union at a somewhat late stage of his career, when he did get to pull on the famous red jersey?

“It was quite strange if I’m honest”, says Robinson. “Obviously I had heard of the likes of JPR Williams and Willie John McBride but I didn’t know how big the Lions, and everything that went along with it, was.

“For me 2001 was the series that got away. We had a fantastic side, with the likes of Keith Wood and Brian O’Driscoll from an Irish perspective, along with some great players from the other nations.

“The test in the Gabba was right up there with winning the World Cup. It was such a special game and to score a try so early on in the first test was just amazing. There is nothing like being a Lion. There is one shirt and one badge, yet you are representing four countries.

“Nothing much compares to becoming a Lion. It is one of the ultimate honours and the only thing you can do when you are selected is to do the jersey, and the history of the jersey, justice.

Which is exactly what the class of 2013 will be looking to do and Robinson feels that this particular Lions squad is capable of achieving.

“I have a good feeling about this tour”, he says. “In South Africa the Lions came very close to winning the series. It is a massive challenge for all the guys that have been selected, to adapt to different systems in a short space of time and that is one of the biggest challenges that Warren Gatland and his coaching staff face.

“Everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction and that is what great about the Lions. There are so many unique elements that go into making a Lions squad successful”.

And how does he think the series will go? “Hand on heart I think the Lions will win 2-1. The squad that has been assembled is very good and I think they have a very good chance of defeating Australia. It should be a cracking series and one that I am very much looking forward to”.

It could be more of a case of ‘Gee Whizz’ rather than ‘Billy Whizz’ for the Lions this summer, but the path they are treading was created, in part by the magically devastating feet of Jason Robinson. There couldn’t be a finer tribute or legacy. n

Jason Robinson is an HSBC ambassador. HSBC is proud Principal Partner to the 2013 British & Irish Lions on their Tour to Australia. The Legendary Journey continues. Follow The Lions’ Legendary Journey at youtube.com/LionsHSBC

<<

“I never thought that one day I would reach the levels that I did

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H e was a haze of gold. A diamond that crossed both southern and northern hemisphere rugby with a rare blend of sublime skill combined with an unwavering eye for goal that has seen his name etched in rugby

folklore as one of the most naturally gifted players to have picked up the oval ball. Michael Lynagh was indeed worth his weight in gold.

However long before he would come to dominate the rugby fields around the world, it was his prowess with a much smaller ball that would first light his sporting fires. “Cricket was the sport for me growing up”, Lynagh says. “Rugby union came fairly late to me. Along with cricket, I played soccer and rugby league. During the summer I would play cricket and in the winter I would play rugby.

“It wasn’t something that I was very interested in. I just liked running around with the boys and it gave me something to do in the winter while I was waiting for the cricket season to start back up”.

Despite not being ‘mad interested’ in the game of rugby, it was something that came naturally to the precocious Lynagh. Having got onto the Australian schools rugby team, along with the Australian schools cricket team, the time had come for Lynagh to choose which sporting path

he would chose. In the end, a year away in Dublin where he would combine rugby and studying, would help sway his mind.

“When I came to Ireland it was my first summer out of school playing rugby. I came back home in the January and joined up with Queensland at age 18 and that was that, and things just went from there. It was really the selectors fault for the sport that I picked. They kept picking me for the rugby team!”.

Selector’s decisions aside, Lynagh would prove that their opinions would be correct. Having broken into the Queensland side, it would only take him two seasons to make the step up to international level, making his Australia debut against Fiji in 1984. While he would subsequently carve out his reputation as a fly-half, it was at inside centre that Lynagh would make his initial impact in the gold jersey.

For any sports mad child growing up, pulling on your national colours is the ultimate dream. The chance to walk beside your heroes, and for Lynagh, he was the same. “For any young child that is the dream. To score the winning goal or point for your national side. I guess I always wanted to play cricket for Australia, then rugby began to take over, but to represent


Rugby World Cup 1991 Australia vs EnglandMichael Lynagh

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your country in any sport is a tremendous honour.

“The first year I played for Australia was good, because nobody knew who I was, so the pressure was off me to a certain extent. The following two years got tougher because you had ‘made it’ and the pressure on you to deliver was greater.

“People were looking at me to lead the side, take the kicks at goal and what have you. I think that got to me in some ways, not in a big way, but there was a lot pressure. I think a lot of players go through that ‘second season syndrome’ and I was one of them”.

Lynagh would recover however. His international career would see him line up with some bone fide Australian greats, names that just roll of the tongue, names like John Eales, Tim Horan and David Campese.

That final name makes you sit up. The ‘marmite’ player of Australian rugby. You relish the chance to ask someone who played with Campese, just what he was like. The wry smile that breaks out across Lynagh’s face reveals all.

“Campo was generally fine”, he smilingly admits. “He was a very good player but we managed him very well. He didn’t have to be managed but

some people within in the team felt that he did. Generally he was very good to play with and he won a lot of games for us. You always knew that he was trying his best for the team, which is all that you could ask of him. Sometimes he would put his mouth were he shouldn’t have but that was him.

RUGBY WORLD CUPHaving such players of the calibre of Campese and Lynagh meant Australia came into the 1991 Rugby World Cup as one of the favourites to lift the William Webb Ellis trophy.” For Irish rugby fans that World Cup will always be remembered as the year where the Aussies broke Irish hearts in that unforgettable quarter final at Lansdowne Road.

At the time the Rugby World Cup was still in its infancy. Only four years had passed since New Zealand won the inaugural tournament before Australia would etch their name on the trophy.

You wonder did Lynagh and the Australian team as a whole appreciate the magnitude of the achievement that they had just accomplished. “Well at the time everything was so new. You kind of thought ‘well we just won the World Cup’ and that’s great but we all had other things going on. It’s only now that




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16 J U N E 2 0 1 3


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to life for deserving communities and projects around Ireland,

including many rugby clubs. On behalf of everyone you’ve helped,

we’d like to say thank you.


IN ASSOCIATION WITH




WA RUGBY AD 186x50.indd 1 22/02/2013 12:47




WA RUGBY AD 186x50.indd 1 22/02/2013 12:47

MichAel lynAGh on ruGby pAst And present“I don’t think that if I had my time over again that I would like to be playing nowadays. If I had to choose between playing when I did and playing in today’s environment, I would know which side I would come down on.

One of the things that I found when the game went professional and I came to England, was that the guys at Saracens were on win bonuses, so as the place kicker I thought I better put in some extra practice.

I had a great time when I played. I was a part of a number of teams that were very successful, and made a lot of good friends throughout those years, friendships that I have to this day. If I had to start now and be a professional rugby player for 8-10 years, I don’t know if that would be something that I would want.

There were a number of players that I played with, some of them who were very talented. You had players like Michael O’Connor, Chris Roche, Andrew Slack, Tim Horan and John Eales, and I am sure that I am forgetting a whole host of other players!.

We had some great days, but also some very disappointing ones. I think the lowest of them came when we lost to France in the 1987 Rugby World Cup. It’s interesting, I played with Philippe Sella at Saracens and that was his best game for France. In 111 caps that was his best performance.

Looking back, some twenty years later, I think it was one of my best test games, although we lost. Over time you get over the disappointment of losing the game, but it was great to be involved in such a good game.

you look back and think ‘wow’. I tell my kids but they don’t believe me!. It was a good era for Australian rugby. We had good players and we played a nice style of rugby”.

Having been a part of the history making 1991 World Cup winning side, Lynagh would again break new ground in 1996, when he became one of the first southern hemisphere players to make the journey up north, when he joined English outfit Saracens. It would prove to be a major coup for the Premiership side and it was no surprise that they enjoyed one of their most successful periods with Lynagh in their ranks.

His move to England gave him the chance to sample life as a professional rugby player and having seen both sides of the game, amateur and professional, few people are in a better position to offer an insight into how the game has developed.

“Well I think the game has grown immeasurably. It is a different sport to what we played, even harking back to when I played in 1998. However, in terms of skills it hasn’t changed that much. Has the game improved? I’m not too sure.

“There are a lot of issues around the game. Rugby should always have been professional because these guys gave up so much of their time. It had to change and it did, very quickly. That was the worry that the game changed too quickly. The southern hemisphere was better prepared for professionalism, because they had the structures in place.

“One of the biggest issues nowadays is the scrum. In my day the scrum was a way of restarting the game. The ball went in and came out. Simple.

Today it takes about five minutes for each scrum to take place, so there has to be something done there.

“We have so many competitions nowadays. Everything is driven by television. Sometimes you hear players giving out about schedules. Well there is a simple solution. Reduce the number of the games and pay the players less I’m sure that would change their point of view”.

The main rugby focus at the moment for Lynagh is the forthcoming series between Australia and the British & Irish Lions. With so much hype around the tour, it would be churlish not to ask him how he sees the tour going.

“Well if we (Australia) can get our top players on the pitch and in particular our front five, then we will be very competitive. I think the Lions will really target that area, trying to stem the flow of the ball and prevent the ball from getting to our backs. The ’89 Lions did it and I think they will try do the same this year.

“The Lions are interesting. I was surprised how Ireland went in the Six Nations. I had them to win. I know David Pocock is out, which is a big blow, but you have the likes of Liam Gill who is 20 and is very good in the lineout. Hopefully it will be hard, fast conditions, which will make for a tremendous series.

“If I had to be pushed for a prediction, purely on an emotional basis I will have to go for Australia. I think it will be 2-1 to them but I think it will come down to the final test match”.

A golden series awaits. A bit like Michael Lynagh. Pure gold. n

18 J U N E 2 0 1 3 19J U N E 2 0 1 3

MALAhIDE RFc As with every sector in society, funding in rugby has become something of a topical issue. Since the economic downturn a number of years ago, clubs have found it increasingly difficult to raise funds for the projects that need to be carried out around their clubhouse.

It could be as simple as wanting to upgrade their training and playing facilities or fixing their drainage system. All these projects, however simple they may sound, cost a great deal of money, and therein lies the conundrum. Clubs need to carry out these repairs, but sometimes lack the funds needed to get the work done.

This is where the National Lottery comes in. The National Lottery was established to operate a world class lottery for the people of Ireland while raising funds for good causes. In its 26 year history, the National Lottery has raised over €4.2 billion for good causes and this funding has helped a number of sporting organisations, including many rugby clubs.

One such rugby club that has benefited from National Lottery funding is Malahide RFC. The Dublin based club has made giant strides, both on and off the pitch, in recent years and in 2012 received €190,378 in National Lottery funding. Their sparkling new clubhouse, which looks out onto a high class playing field, is just one example of the improvements they have made in recent years.

Club President Peter Reilly says that National Lottery funding has enabled his club to carry out renovation work that simply wouldn’t have been possible without contributions from the National Lottery.

“It has been a massive help”, Reilly says. “There were a number of projects that we wanted to carry out, and thanks to the help that we received from the National Lottery, we were able to carry out the works.

“We had a problem for a good while with the drainage at the club. Whenever it rained the drainage wouldn’t work correctly and sometimes this would lead to areas of the clubhouse becoming flooded.

“Obviously this was a problem, but when you examine the cost of fixing things yourself, you realise that you are going to need help. Money has become tight for clubs, as well as individuals. There is only so much fundraising one club can do, so using National Lottery funding seemed like the natural choice for us.

“With the drainage problems that we had. We were also looking at upgrading our training and playing facilities. Over the years there is a certain amount of wear and tear, given the amount of people that use the changing rooms and playing areas.

“Again we looked into raising the funds ourselves, but with the funding we received from the National Lottery, we were able to carry out the redevelopment of our facilities and the drainage work, so the fund has been a tremendous help to us here in Malahide.

“You have to put a plan together before you receive funding, which is great, because it gives you a roadmap of where you are going.

“Typically it is a three year plan for carrying out work to your facilities. National Lottery funding has been a tremendous help to us here and it is safe to say that without access to funding, we wouldn’t have been able to carry out the work that we needed to.

The process for clubs to apply for National Lottery funding is very detailed. The IRFU website details the process that each club needs to go through before they receive funding. The guidelines are as follows:

• Prepare Club Development Plan. Put together a long term plan for the development of your club. In it outline the facilities you want to expand or introduce and how much money would be needed to achieve this.

• Contact your provincial branch and obtain copies of successful applications for funding from other clubs in previous years for a guide to what will be needed.

• Break up the project into three years and apply for funding year by year instead of all in one. However, each application must be a stand-alone project.

• Apply for planning permission for the project. A receipt to prove you have applied will be needed with the form. Six months after the funding is announced planning permission must be confirmed.

• Get the bank to sign the form to confirm that you will be capable of raising 30% of the total finance needed. The split is 70/30 unless it’s a disadvantaged area in which case it would be 80/20.

• Fill out forms which can be obtained directly from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport or on line from their web site. Use old applications as guidelines which can be obtained from the Provincial domestic Manager on request.

So far the process has been a tremendous success for Malahide RFC. The upgrading of the facilities will allow the club to continue their steady rise up the ranks and continue to develop their off the field side of the club.

“I don’t know how we would have been able to do what we have done without the help that we received from the National Lottery. It is a tremendous source of funding and one we are grateful to be availing of.” n





cLub neWs18 J U N E 2 0 1 3

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

yOuNG MuNStER National Lottery funding plays a huge role in improving the facilities at rugby clubs across Ireland. This helps to attract more people into the club, which in turn can boost the amount of money clubs generate.

A case in point is Young Munster, who has availed of National Lottery funding over the past number of years, most recently €200,000 in 2012. National Lottery funding aided the development of a 3G astro surface pitch, which is not only used by Young Munster themselves, but by a number of local schools from the surrounding area.

Gerard O’Shaughnessy, Hon. Treasurer of Young Munster, is fully supportive of National Lottery funding and feels that without it, Young Munster wouldn’t have been able to carry out the essential works they have done.

“It’s been huge”, admits O’Shaughnessy. “We got our first grant a number of years ago, as the local area was going through a big regeneration programme. The funding enabled us to build the astro pitch, and although it doesn’t have the same dimensions as a normal sized rugby pitch, it has seen a lot of action since it was first built.

“It hasn’t only been Young Munster who has used the pitch. The Munster senior team have used it for coaching programmes. Also the local garda and army units have used it from time to time.

“One of the biggest bonuses about the pitch, is that we have seen a big rise in the numbers playing sport in the local area, which is tremendous. The children and adults of the area now have a safe, well maintained area where they can play and train, which is great for the local community.”

Not only has National Lottery funding played a role in local affairs, it has also allowed Young Munster to develop their off the field facilities. Thanks to National Lottery funding, Young Munster is now in the process of installing floodlights on their main pitch and upgrading their changing rooms.

The ‘switching on of the lights’ is something of huge importance to the Munster club. Over the last number of years, local derbies have taken place on the weekend, and while attendances at the matches have been relativity strong, O’Shaughnessy feels that with the introduction of floodlights, more people will be encouraged to come to the games.

“It all has to do with timing”, he explains. “With the installation of floodlights on to our main pitch, we will be able to play a number of games

under lights, something that we have been unable to do before.

“The net result is that if we played, for example, Shannon, the game could be played on a Friday night, instead of a Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

“That means that, hopefully, more people will come to the game because it is on a Friday night, and it might encourage them to stay around after the game and enjoy a few drinks,

while checking out our clubhouse and facilities at the same time.

“By getting more people through the gate, there is more money coming into the club, which keeps the show on the road so to speak. The more people that see what we can offer, aside from rugby, the better it is for the club.”

National Lottery funding will also go towards upgrading the changing room facilities. While this may not seem like a major development, it is one that Young Munster feel is necessary to carry out.

“The changing rooms are up to standard for the male players. However they are not for the ladies. We plan on converting our changing rooms, because it isn’t where it should be at the moment.

“I’m not sure if it has a knock-on effect, but I’m sure it must dissuade some women from joining the club. Hopefully that won’t be the case when the new changing facilities are ready for use.”

The proposal for the installation of the new floodlights has just gone for tender and the hope is that they will be in use for Young Munster’s first home game of the new league season, a campaign that begins in October.

“Hopefully the work will be completed by September. It would be great to have the first match of our new league campaign under lights. I know it may still be bright when we get the league underway, but it would be nice to have the floodlights up and running by then.

“Hopefully it will have a positive knock-on effect for the club. We have a great set-up down here at Young Munster. There was a time where we would get a few thousand people coming to our games. Obviously with the rise of the provincial game, numbers have decreased.

“However if we play some of our games on a Friday night, under lights, that may encourage people to come down to the club and see what we have to offer.

“Without a shadow of a doubt the funding that we received from the National Lottery has been a huge help.” n

20 J U N E 2 0 1 3 21J U N E 2 0 1 320 J U N E 2 0 1 3 21J U N E 2 0 1 3

keep him out of the side. At his best Sean is a freak of nature.

the other player that I would love to see start is Jamie healsip. I still think, captaincy issues aside, that Jamie had a very good Six Nations. he does

an awful lot of the messy work that’s needs to be done. I think that Jamie, on his day, is a combination of victor costello and Anthony

Foley. I agree with a lot of people who say that he is our greatest No. 8.

Ac: some may suggest that Australia are the ‘easier’ of the

southern hemisphere teams to play against, do you think that

this a more ‘winnable’ tour for the lions than most?

sb: I’d like to hear you say that to the Australians! I can see where you are coming from, they do tend to blow hot and cold more than South Africa and New Zealand. however

that is what makes them so dangerous, because on their

day they can beat any side in the world.

I can also tell you one thing, Australia will be right up for this

series. the Lions coming to town will only drive the Aussies one way, and that

is upwards. they will want to beat the Lions very badly, so our guys will have to

be right on top of their game if they are to come away with a series win. tW: Well the other two are a nightmare com-pared to Australia, Shane!. I wouldn’t say it’s a doddle, but it is relativity easy. I was there in 2001, when the Lions should have won that series, so I

think the Lions have a tremendous opportunity in front of them.

Ac: the Australians have made the decision to pull all their starting test players out of the provincial games, do you think this is the right call?tW: I think it’s a terrible decision. these guys are being denied the opportunity to represent their local side against the Lions. It’s like me playing for Munster against the All blacks. It’s huge for these guys. I know that some of the guys will play in the test series, and everything is geared towards winning a test series, but I think that it is wrong.

that to me is where I think the whole Lions experience would have been enhanced. As Gatland said the Lions have the touring principal of old. It was something that clive Woodward did away with, but it was brought back in 2009. Everyone will praise the ARu if Australia come away with a series win, but I do think that the test players should have the chance to represent their province.

Ac: both of you have represented the lions, as players, how big of an honour was it to be selected as a british & irish lion?sb: It so far beyond anything that you could possibly dream of. you would always dream that one day you would play for your country, but you would never even dare to think of becoming a Lion. It is the absolute pinnacle of a player’s career. the one great thing about it, is that when you become a Lion, you are one for the rest of your life. It is something that nobody can ever take away from you. tW: It’s the ultimate experience. For me it’s not as big an honour as playing for your country, but it is the best achievement any rugby player can accomplish, because you are representing the four countries. One thing I can recall is the pressure. I remember on the day of the test being extremely nervous. you are hugely conscious of the responsibility that has been placed in you. sb: I agree. When I was in New Zealand, I was very aware of the whole experience. the emotional highs and lows that you go through on the Lions tour are just incredible. We won all our games right up to the first test, which I think is a record, so you have that fantastic high, then with the test series going the way it did, there was a huge fall. however it is something that you will never ever forget.

Ac: Finally, how do you see the 2013 series going?sb: I think the Lions are a bit of an unknown quantity. If Gatland can blend all the different personalities together, and develop a style of play that suits the Lions, then I think they have a tremendous chance. you look at the players that he has selected and you just feel that they should be too physical for the Australians. tW: I think everything will hinge on the first test. that lays down the marker for the whole series. Mind you we won the first test in 2001 and lost the second two. I just think if Gatland delays his selection as long as possible, I genuinely believe that he has the personal in that squad to win the series. I’ll stick my neck out and say 2-1 to the Lions. n

SPEcIAL FeAture

it’s bEEn fOur yEars in thE Making, but at Last thE 2013 british & irish LiOns tOur tO austraLia is upOn us. rECEntLy CLub rugby EditOr aLaN CoNWay sat dOWn With tWO fOrMEr LiOns in thE shapE Of ShAnE ByRnE and TOny WARD tO gEt thEir fEELings On thE upCOMing sEriEs.

AlAn conWAy (Ac): now that the final touring party has been named, what do you make of the squad that Warren Gatland has selected?shAne byrne: Not for me. Initially I was surprised that Rory best was left out of the original touring party. I think that he was very unlucky to lose out, first time around.unfortunately his form dipped at the wrong time of the season. his throwing was off during the Six Nations and the latter stages of the heineken cup.however now that Dylan hartley is set to miss out on the tour, I think it’s terrific to see Rory getting his chance. hopefully he can have a great tour because best is still, on his day, a terrific player and a natural born leader.tony WArd: I feel over the last few months he has been the best out half in Europe, in the main because (Jonny) Sexton has been injured. If you are talking about bringing the two best out-half’s in Europe then, for me, that is Wilkinson and Sexton.

Ac: A lot has been made of giving the captain’s armband to sam Warburton. do you think it was the right call?sb: I wouldn’t have gone with him at all, personally. One of the main reasons being is that I don’t think that he is guaranteed a starting place in the opening test. you look at the Lions back row and there is huge strength in depth there. Sam is a natural leader, but there is going to be colossal pressure on him as captain. If it were me I would have gone for brian O’Driscoll. he remains such an inspirational figure on the pitch, and I think players naturally gravitate to him when the pressure is on. It’s a big call putting all that pressure on Warburton. tW: I’m not wearing green tinted glasses, but I agree with Shane, it’s a huge call. Personally I would have given the captaincy to Paul O’connell. I just think, given how fresh he is and he is almost nailed on to be starting the first test, it just makes more sense. It’s a huge disadvantage captaining a Lions squad, when you haven’t been a Lion already. Warburton has two former Lions beside him, both of whom have been Lions captains, so how he handles it will be interesting. It’s a risk, hopefully it is a calculated risk by Warren Gatland. For Warburton it will be a totally new experience. he has to worry, not only about himself and his game, but everyone else around him.

Ac: ireland have nine players selected to go on the tour, of the nine, who do you think will be fighting it out for a starting place in the first test?sb: I think the majority of them!tW: I hope you’re right Shane. sb: If all things are equal, obviously brian looks a shoe in, along with Sexton, the ten jersey is his to lose. Aside from that I think cian healy has a great chance, Paul O’connell too. the back row is a little bit more difficult because there is so much depth. I’d love to see Sean O’brien start at 6. I really think that Sean could become the ‘Stephen Ferris’ of this tour. In 2009, before he got injured Ferris just blew everyone away, and I think Sean can do something similar. then you have the likes of tommy bowe, who is coming into the tour fresh, he could be the surprise package. the one to lose out could be Rob Kearney. I think the 15 slot is there for halfpenney.tW: I just can’t see how you can have a team that doesn’t include Sean O’brien. Sean at his best, in my opinion, is better than Dan Lydiate or Sam Warburton. you could argue that the Wales back-line could be the Lions back row, but if O’brien is playing well I don’t know how you could

shAne byrne: 2-1 lions

tony WArd: 2-1 lions

AlAn conWAy: 2-1 lions

lions 2013 predicAtions

22 J U N E 2 0 1 3 23J U N E 2 0 1 3

He may be the chief executive of Goldman Sachs Ireland, one of the largest global investment banking and securities firms in the world, yet growing up it was the rugby and soccer fields of his native Dublin that he would dominate.

It would be Willow Park where Hugo would first be exposed to the game of rugby, and as he explains to Club Rugby magazine, his early dalliances with the oval ball game would spark a love affair with the game that remains to this day.

“I was an absolute fanatic of the Leinster Schools Cup when I played for Blackrock. I just loved the whole thing and I was lucky enough to

win a couple of medals, which are very special to me. When I went to UCD, soccer began to take over more of my time. We had a very successful side; in fact we toured the Far East one year. When I

moved to Trinity I continued to play soccer, but as the rugby became more demanding and serious, that took over”.

Not surprisingly for someone that would go onto be one of the most prominent fullbacks of his generation, his early rugby heroes were cut

from a similar cloth. “Mike Gibson is very much at the top of that list. It was not just the skill level that he possessed, but he played the game with such intelligence.

“Rugby today is all about power and skill, but perhaps the one area that it is lacking in is intelligence. There’s too much reliance on power. That’s why people like Conrad Smith from New Zealand stand out for me, because he plays with great strength and intelligence”.

These are two qualities that MacNeill also possessed. He would rise through the ranks, from Blackrock, through the Irish schools setup, before eventually making his senior international debut against France in Lansdowne Road.

His introduction to the national side would come at a time when Ireland were on the cusp of one of the most successful eras that Irish rugby has ever enjoyed. Playing alongside the likes of Fergus Slattery, Ollie Campbell and Moss Keane, MacNeill proved to be a vital cog in the Ireland machine that would secure a Triple Crown and a Five Nations championship during his time in the green jersey.

Coming into a side with such high profile names, one could fully understand if the nerves were flowing that day against France, but as MacNeill explains any sense of trepidation that he may have felt soon melted away with the blast of the

referee’s whistle.

“I remember one of the first times that I had the ball in my hand and I decided that I was going to kick

the leather out of it and get it into touch. Well, didn’t it only go out on the full so it wasn’t

an auspicious start to say the least. But

5 nations Championship- Ireland vs England

>>


hE Was a diaMOnd that sparkLEd as brightLy as anyOnE that CaME bEfOrE hiM. a fuLLbaCk Of rarE taLEnt, With fLair and panaChE tO bOOt, huGO MACnEILL’S naME rOLLs Off thE tOnguE as EasiLy as an OLLiE CaMpbELL, fErgus sLattEry Or a brian O’drisCOLL.

24 J U N E 2 0 1 3 25J U N E 2 0 1 3

The Reader

Thursday 6th June 5pm

things settled down and I was fortunate enough to get a try in that game.

“The second game was against Wales and being there in Cardiff Arms Park was something that I will never forget. I can remember hearing the singing before the game and I thought to myself ‘this is why you play rugby, for these moments’.

“I was lucky in a way because I was a part of two Irish teams. The one in 1982-83 that won the championship and the Triple Crown had the like of Slattery, Moss Keane etc. Then the 1985 team had a lot of the same players, like Trevor Ringland, Michael Kiernan and Brendan Mullin.

“It was really special to be a part of that. The great thing about Ireland is that, no matter what sport is taking place, everyone gets behind the team.

“You have to remember that we are talking about the dull days of the 1980’s, long before Ray Houghton put the ball in the English net. There was 20% unemployment in the country at the time and the fact that we had people believing that we could be the best rugby side in Europe was fantastic. We believed it and we were able to prove it”.

Not only would he prove his worth in the green of Ireland, but MacNeill would, once again, prove that there was no level too difficult for him, when he was selected to tour New Zealand in 1983 with the British & Irish Lions.

There is something mystical when you mention the Lions. The aura around, what is arguably the biggest ‘brand’ in world rugby, has grown to such stature that you feel one should only mention the Lions in hushed tones, such is the reverence for that famous red jersey.

You wonder, what did MacNeill feel when he finally pulled on the famous red jersey. His answer sends a chill down your spine.

“It was one of the best feelings in the world, without a doubt. I grew up watching the 1974 Lions tour when they beat New Zealand and that was arguably the greatest Lions squad ever. In 1977 I was working in Germany and I would go down to the local gas station and read the English newspapers to check up and see how the Lions were getting on.

“It was absolutely gripping and then to become a Lion was fantastic. It was a disappointing tour in some respects, because although we wouldn’t have beaten New Zealand at our best, we should have done better than we did.

“In the first test we were 13-12 down with a few minutes to go and we had a ruck on their 22 and the ball came to me and I took a drop at goal. Now myself and Ollie (Campbell) had stayed out practising drop goals after every session.

“It rained the night before in Canterbury and just as I was about to strike the ball my left foot went from

under me and the ball kissed the post and went wide. So little things like that went against us that year.

“It was a very special time and that is why the Lions are so important. I remember before the Lions went to South Africa in 1997. I met Rob Andrew at an Ireland v England game and we were talking about the Lions and Rob wasn’t too keen on the idea, and he wondered if the Lions had a future in the modern, professional game.

“I could understand where he was coming from but I was disappointed. That’s why the most important thing about this upcoming tour is that the Lions are competitive.

“I remember at half-time during the first test in 2009 and I thought to myself ‘are the Lions over?’ we had been beaten in Australia, whitewashed in New Zealand and looked like been taking apart by South Africa in 2009.

“If the Lions had of been well beaten by South Africa, then all the questions about the Lions would have come racing back to the surface.”

Such strong views are not just confined to the British & Irish Lions. The club game in Ireland has been going through a particularly difficult time of late. Dwindling attendances combined with hugely challenging financial time’s mean that the club game has suffered, while the provincial game has continued to grow and grow. It’s an issue that is close to MacNeill’s heart.

“The idea that clubs can pay players, to me, is not sustainable. Years ago club rugby was the main event, now the main event is the Heineken Cup. So no matter what the standard of club rugby is, the feeling is that the more important rugby is somewhere else, and that perception is very hard to change.

“We are also in an age where people have less time on their hands. The day of someone going down to the club house, having a few pints, watching the game and staying about after, I think, is over. So there are challenges that are going to have to be met”.

While there are a number of issues facing the game, MacNeill feels that Irish rugby is in a relativity healthy state, but hints at a few changes that could help Ireland reach the level people expect and almost demand from them.

“I’d like to see us use our heads a bit more. If you look at the likes of New Zealand, they are always thinking ahead of what is going to happen. They can go for 7,8, 9 phases, where we seem to break down after 3-4 phases. We have become a little bit predictable”.

From talking to Hugo MacNeill, predictable is certainly one word that you would never use to describe him. A Lion on and off the pitch. n

“it rained the night before in Canterbury and just as i was about to strike the ball my left foot went from under me and the ball kissed the post and went wide

26 J U N E 2 0 1 3 27J U N E 2 0 1 3

the Winners Are As FolloWs:

uLStER bANK leAGue AWArds

pictured are back row, from left, ulster bank division 2a player of the year Willie staunton, terenure, ulster bank division 1b player of the year stuart Morrow, ballynahinch, ulster bank division 2b player of the year henry bryce, naas, with, front row, ulster bank division 1a young player of the year Johnny holland, Cork Constitution, ulster bank divison 1a player of the year and top points scorer Craig ronaldson, Lansdowne, and ulster bank division 1a top points scorer Mike Mcgrath, Clontarf

Craig ronaldson (middle), Lansdowne, is presented with the ulster bank divison 1a player of the year award by gerry reynolds, head of businness development, ulster bank, left, and Leinster and ireland legend reggie Corrigan, right

A total of seven awards were handed out to players from each division of the Ulster Bank League (Division 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B). The ‘Ulster Bank Player of the Year’, in each division, was named along with the ‘Ulster Bank Top Try Scorer’, the ‘Ulster Bank Top Points Scorer’ and the ‘Ulster Bank Young Player of the Year’, from Division 1A.

The Ulster Bank Player of the Year award winners were selected from a shortlist of three players, compiled by a panel of judges including, Irish Daily Mail club rugby journalist, Adam Redmond, and veteran club rugby journalist, Kieran Rooney. The awards were presented, to each winner, by former Ireland and Leinster rugby legend, Reggie Corrigan.

1. Ulster Bank Player of the Year – Division 1A: Craig Ronaldson, Lansdowne RFC, Dublin

2. Ulster Bank Player of the Year – Division 1B: Stuart Morrow, Ballynahinch RFC, Down

3. Ulster Bank Player of the Year – Division 2A: Willie Staunton, Terenure RFC, Dublin

4. Ulster Bank Player of the Year – Division 2B: Henry Bryce, Naas RFC, Kildare

5. Ulster Bank Top Try Scorer – Division 1A: Mike McGrath, Clontarf RFC, Dublin

6. Ulster Bank Top Points Scorer – Division 1A: Craig Ronaldson, Lansdowne RFC, Dublin

7. Ulster Bank Young Player of the Year – Division 1A: Johnny Holland, Cork Constitution, Cork

Speaking at the awards, Carol McMahon, Head of Sponsorship at Ulster Bank, said: “As Official Community Rugby Partner to the IRFU, Ulster Bank is a proud supporter of grassroots rugby. Having seen the outstanding commitment and dedication that players and club members make, week-in week-out, introducing the Ulster Bank League Awards was a natural fit for us. The awards are about recognising the outstanding talent that lines out on rugby pitches, across the country, every weekend. I would like to congratulate

our 2013 and first ever Ulster Bank League Award winners and we look forward to seeing what next year’s league brings.”

Also speaking at the awards, Scott Walker, IRFU Director of rugby development and the club game, said: “The Ulster Bank League produces some of the most exciting rugby in Ireland. Clubs, all over the country, are filled with talented young stars who dedicate their evenings and weekends to the great game. With the development of our provincial sides, club rugby doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. I would like to congratulate Ulster Bank on this excellent initiative.”

Now in their third year as Official Community Rugby Partner to the IRFU, Ulster Bank also runs the annual Ulster Bank RugbyForce initiative – an initiative which provides rugby clubs with support to renovate their club and upgrade their facilities. Four lucky rugby clubs (one from each province) were announced this week as winners of a support package worth E5,000 each. The four winners selected were, Birr RFC in Offaly, Midleton RFC in Cork, Westport RFC in Mayo and Newry RFC in Down.

A shortlist of 16 rugby clubs, who have been selected by a panel of judges, are also in with a chance of being named as an Ulster Bank RugbyForce winner. n

sOME Of irELand’s finEst and MOst taLEntEd CLub rugby stars, frOM aCrOss thE COuntry, gathErEd in dubLin On thE 16th May 2013 fOr thE inauguraL ‘uLstEr bank LEaguE aWards’.

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RENT TO BUY SCHEME AVAILABLE

28 J U N E 2 0 1 3

Level 1 Shamrock Plaza, Dublin Road, Carlow.Phone: 059 914679 - Email: [email protected]

www.facebook.com/kiwidental

ExaminationsPlaque Control

X-RaysExtractions

FillingsSilver FillingsWhite Fillings

Cosmetic Bondings

Teeth WhiteningPorcelain VeneersCrowns, Bridges

Dentures, Post & Core

Over the past eighteen years Caroline Robins has perfected her craft as a dentist and is now putting all her expertise that she has gathered throughout her career into her Kiwi Dental operation.

As the name suggests Caroline is from New Zealand, in fact she grew up in the same town as rugby pundit Brent Pope. Having met her future husband while working in Australia she headed to Ireland to continue the profession she has a passion for.

“I think my interest in dentistry was because I had a lot of work done on my teeth when I was younger. If you ask anyone I was probably the worse child in my primary school for having work done on my teeth. I can only imagine what the dentist must have thought when he saw my name flashing up on his appointment schedule.

“I began working in the Dublin dental hospital in 1999, where I helped teach students to pull teeth amongst other things and after completing a fellowship with the royal college of surgeons moved to Carlow town in 2001 where I stayed for some time before branching out on my own in February 2012.

“It seemed like the perfect time to start a new company, in the middle of a recession”, she jokingly says.

“I made the decision because I wanted a little more control over my life , especially as I have 2 darling daughters who need my attention as well. I wanted to create a business which delivered the most professional yet personable service possible. Word of mouth and reputation are hugely important in our business and thankfully we have a very strong reputation and one that we plan on enhancing”.

While a visit to the dentist may not be everyone’s idea of the perfect

day out, Caroline feels that the personable nature of both herself and her fantastic staff gives Kiwi Dental a slight edge when it comes to people enjoying their time in the dentist’s chair.

“We at Kiwi Dental want people to feel calm and comfortable. If people come to and think ‘oh god I have to go to the dentist’ that’s no good. We want people to look forward to coming to us. That personable nature is hugely important. A lot of people come in to chat to me as well as have work done. We try to make it as stress free as possible for our clients.”

That kind of one on one attention is just one of the reasons why Kiwi Dental continues to grow. “We have plans to expand”, says Caroline. “A lot of my clients have been with me since I first started so there is a level of trust between us, which is important.

“Hopefully we will continue to go from strength to strength in the future. We appreciate it isn’t an easy time economically for so many and it is a challenge. But a challenge is good for you and we’ll be here endeavouring to help put a smile back for those who walk through our door. n

KIWI dentAl

30 J U N E 2 0 1 3 31J U N E 2 0 1 3

Tallaght Physiotherapy Clinic was founded in 1999, and we moved to our present location in 2000. All our physiotherapists are Chartered, meaning that they all have graduated with primary degrees in physiotherapy from a University. We provide expert treatment and management of spinal pain, soft tissue injuries, sports injuries and prevention.

Tallaght Physiotherapy Clinic also runs a foot clinic providing assessment and treatment of soft-tissue problems such as plantar fasciitis, metastarsalgia, hallux valgus (bunions) and Achilles tendonitis, including the provision of insoles/orthotics.

We now have two additional fully fitted Physiotherapy Clinics stategically located in Arena Leisure Centre, beside Tallaght Stadium, and Herberton Leisure Centre, Rialto, beside St James Hospital. Because our Clinics are located within these Leisure Complexes, we can now offer our clients our new PERP (Personal Exercise Rehab Plan) which is tailor made for each individual client. The PERP Plan is carried out under the guidance of out Chartered Physiotherapists, using state of the art Gym equipment, to help clients to recover faster.

50 Bancroft Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24 Tel No: 014624999 Emaill: [email protected]

Full range of physiotherapy treatments from back pain to sports massage

Tallaght Physiotherapy Clinic was founded in 1999, and moved to their present location in 2000. All their Physiotherapists are Chartered, meaning that they all have graduated with primary degrees in Physiotherapy from a University and are fully insured by all Irish Medical insurers including VHI Healthcare, AVIVA Healthcare, Laya Healthcare, GLO healthcare, Garda Medical and HSF, Hospital Saturday Fund.

They provide expert treatment and management of spinal pain, soft tissue injuries, sports injuries and injury screening/prevention.

Tallaght Physiotherapy Clinic also runs a foot clinic providing assessment and treatment of bio-mechanical problems such as shin splints, plantar fasciitis, metastarsalgia, hallux valgus (bunions) and Achilles tendonitis, including the provision of insoles/orthotics.

Roddy McConnell qualified as a Chartered Physiotherapist from Trinity College, Dublin in 1993 and has 20 years clinical experience in hospitals and private practice in Ireland, England and Australia. After qualifying he gained extensive post-graduate clinical experience in Ireland, the USA, England and Australia in both hospitals private practice. In 1994 he completed his Membership of the Society of Orthopaedic Medicine (MSOM, in Dublin.

On return to Ireland in 1999, he founded Tallaght Physiotherapy Clinic in Tallaght Village, due to a large need for Proper Private Physiotherapy

care in a busy area of Dublin. In April 1999, he was appointed Physiotherapist to the Irish Region PGA, Professional Golfers Association, covering domestic professional golf tournaments for 7 years.

Roddy is proud of the expansion that has taken place within the company over the course of the last ten years which includes solid links with both Bective RFC and Terenure RFC. “It’s tremendously satisfying. We have become one of the leading consultants in Ireland, along with being one of the leading spinal experts throughout the country”.

In late 2006 he was asked by the legendary GAA manager Michael “Babs” Keating to become Physiotherapist to the Tipperary Senior Hurling team for 2006-7. Roddy then worked alongside Mr Colm Daly MISCP, who was Physiotherapist to the Dublin Senior hurling team for a two-year period from 2008 to 2010.

Such endorsements speak volumes for the quality of work that the Tallaght Physio Clinic offers. The

company has grown over the last number of years, so much so, that they now have three additional fully fitted Physiotherapy Clinics strategically located in Arena Leisure Centre, beside Tallaght Stadium, Capel Street Medical Centre, 138 Capel St., Dublin 1, and 34 Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2.

Tallaght Physiotherapy also now offer their clients a new PEP (Personal Exercise Plan) which is tailor made for each individual client. The PEP Plan is carried out under the guidance of their Chartered Physiotherapists, using state of the art Gym equipment and online exercise tools, to help clients to recover faster. n

the tAllAGht physiotherApy clinic

FREE CONSULTATION PACKAGE Your Free Consultation and Flight package (Monday to Saturday):

• FLIGHT TICKET REIMBURSED*

• FREE one-night stay at one of our Hotels

• FREE Consultation and treatment plan

• FREE OPG X-ray (normal price €35)

• FREE Airport Transfers

• FREE Budapest Travel Pass

• FREE Sight Seeing Tour (Saturday Consultations only)

LIFETIME GUARANTEE ON IMPLANTS,5 YEAR GUARANTEE ON CROWNS.

Representing Kreativ Dental Clinic Budapest

Mary FlanaganPatient Relations Manager, Ireland

Clontarf, Dublin 3 IrelandMob. ph.: 00 353 86 0299998 Landline: 00 353 1 [email protected] www.dentalplusireland.eu

* Conditions for reimbursement of your fl ight ticketIf you decide to commence your dental treatment within 6 months of having your Consultation, your fl ight ticket will be reimbursed as follows...If your treatment plan value is more than €1800 then your fl ight ticket will be reimbursed up to a maximum value of €180.

Leading The Way with Dentistry in Europe

dentAl plus irelAndAs with the majority of services in ireland, the cost of dentistry has climbed over the last number of years. nowadays more and more people are looking to foreign lands to have their dental work taken care of. in the search for the best treatment at an affordable price, dental plus ireland provide a service that will bring a smile to your face.

Dental Plus Ireland are the leading agency based in Ireland helping you organise your dental holiday abroad. they will help and organise your trip for advanced and professional dentistry abroad at Kreativ Dental clinic which is one of the most advanced cosmetic dental clinics in budapest, hungary.

Dental Plus is managed and directed by Mary Flanagan who assists and supports the Irish patient from the time of enquiry right up to aftercare.

unlike other dental representatives, Mary’s own experience as a patient 9 years ago, has led her to represent the five star Kreativ Dental clinic, in Ireland, which is the best endorsement there is. Mary’s own personal experience with dental care ‘cannot be learned, only experienced’.

“I suffered an awful lot with my teeth when I was younger”, Mary explains. “15 years ago I had to get a number of dental implants and I found that the cost of dental care in Ireland was very expensive.

“through a number of friends I was put in contact with Kreativ Dental clinic in hungry. I travelled over, on my own, about nine years ago and what I saw was very impressive. Kreativ Dental clinic is a centre of excellence in the dental world. It is a purpose built clinic and is miles ahead of their European counterparts in terms of the treatments they offer and the cost of having procedures carried out”.

Kreativ Dental clinic are proud to have Mary as their representative in Ireland, her understanding and empathy for patients, combined with her interpersonal skills ensure that all Kreativ Dental clinic’s patients are treated with dignity and respect and above all as individuals.

Mary’s attention to detail and her organisational skills leave all Kreativ Dental clinic’s patients with a wonderful feeling of trust and of being cared for, from the very moment they make contact with Dental Plus Ireland.

Whatever treatment you may require, dental implants, dental crowns, bridges, cosmetic dentistry, restorative dental treatment, conservative treatment eg. Extractions/surgical extractions, Mary will help and guide you on your dental holiday.

Joe Nally is one such person who has undergone treatment at Kreativ Dental clinic and was bowled over by the treatment that he received.

“I travelled over to Kreativ Dental clinic in 2010 and it far exceeded my expectations. I spoke with Mary before travelling over and it was comforting to be able to talk to someone who has gone through something similar.

“the personal touch that Mary and Dental Plus Ireland give to each of their clients really makes the difference. I would whole heartily recommend Dental Plus Ireland and Kreativ Dental clinic for anyone who is looking to have dental treatment done”.

32 J U N E 2 0 1 3

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