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Ireland’s Leading Rugby Magazine
INTERVIEWS
Chris Henry
Ivan Dineen
Jimmy Gopperth
March 2014 - Vol 11 issue 2
DEFENCE
EXPLAINED
Everything you
need to know
about defensive
systems
ISSN 1740-1879
02
9 771740 187009
YOUNG GUNS CLUB FOCUS HEINEKEN CUP WOMENS RUGBY NEWS RUGBY LEAGUE
www.EmeraldRugby.com
15 ACTIONS
STEP
LOOK & FEEL
REVITALISED
VITA LIFT 5
DAILY MOISTURISER
WRINKLES LOOK SMOOTHER
SKIN IS HYDRATED
LOOKS FRESHER
FEELS COMFORTABLE
FEELS FIRMER
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@lorealmenexpert
CONTENTS
www.emeraldrugby.com
MARCH 2014
28 Young Gun
10 CHRIS HENRY
This month’s award goes to young
Garryowen RFC prop Tobi Ademakin
40 League Lines
22 Know your defence
We speak with Ireland and Ulster flanker
who is loving life at No7
14 JIMMY GOPPERTH
Bernard Jackman takes us through
defensive systems, their strength’s and
potential weakness
26 Import vs Home
Grown
Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons
discusses the fine balance of blending
foreign imports with home grown players
30 Heineken Cup
We preview the QUARTER
FINALS of this season’s
Heineken Cup
38 Ulster lads are all
heart
Leinster’s Kiwi outhalf speaks about his
rivalry with Ian Madigan and how it’s
making them both better players
18 IVAN DINEEN
The MUNSTER man is ready to take centre
stage for his province
Ulster players Niall Annett and Neil
McComb took time out recently to visit
the children in RVH Clark Clinic
42 An Evolving
Coaching Landscape
With the introduction of new technology
and an ever growing team of
backroom staff, Sean Holley looks at how
the role of a professional head coach has
changed considerably over the last 10
years
Catch up with what’s happening in the
world of Irish Rugby League
41 Womens Review
We bring you up to speed with the
Womens game in Ireland
46 Club & School notes
Updates from the club and school game
around the four provinces
50 Club Focus
This month we focus on Nenagh Ormond
RFC
64 The Rucker
Latest ranting and raving from Ireland’s
biggest rugby supporter...
2 General News
The latest news from around the game
34 RaboDirect Pro12
News
Get up to speed with news from the Pro
12 league
52 Provincial News
The latest news from around the game
Competitions are open to all readers (over 18’s where stated) except
employees and their families from Extreme Publications, Emerald
Rugby printers, and companies associated with the competition. Only
one entry per household is permitted. No purchase necessary. All prizes
must be accepted as offered, there will be no cash alternative or exchange. In the unlikely event of a match being cancelled or a prize being
unavailable Emerald Rugby reserves the right to offer an alternative
prize of equal or greater value. No responsibility can be accepted for
entries that are lost or delayed in the post. No correspondence will be
entered into and no entry will be returned. The editors decision is final.
MARCH 2014 EMERALD RUGBY 1
EDITORIAL: GENERAL NEWS
CORRESPONDENCE
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CONTRIBUTORS
Alan Solomons
Frank Quinn
Aidan McCullen
Kate Rowan
John Dickson
Conor Kelly
Trevor Johnston
Adam Redmond
Dermot Keyes
Bernard Jackman
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS
Jim Stitt
Matt Geraghty
Pauline McFeran
Ken Redpath
Conor Keown
Cliff Barr
Cliona Quaide
Andrew Hogan
PHOTOGRAPHY
Sportsfile (www.sportsfile.com)
Dickson Digital
Jim Stitt
DISTRIBUTION
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2 EMERALD RUGBY MARCH 2014
Editors Note
No sooner will the RBS SIx Nations have ended and we will be
straight into the Quarter Finals of the Heineken Cup which
get underway at the beginning of April. It is testament to the
strength of Irish rugby that we have three teams contesting
the Quarter Finals of Europe’s largest club rugby tournament.
Munster and Ulster have worked hard to ensure they have
a home QF meanwhile Leinster must do it the hard way by
travelling to reigning champions Toulon who will be thwart the eastern province’ progress. This month we welcome a new contributor Kate Rowan who’s
first job is to preview the Quarter Finals on P30.
On P22 Bernard Jackman gives us the inside track on defensive systems. In this excellent article he explains the mechanics of the three main systems as well as exploring
their individual strengths and weakness. Read this piece and you will be spotting
defensive structures and picking holes in them like a pro!
On P10 we catch up with Ulster and Ireland flanker Chris Henry who has stepped up to
fill the boots of Sean O’Brien who missed the Six Nations through injury. In this interview Chris explains how he has some unique assets he can bring to the role, and based
on the Irish backrow performance in the opening stages of the 2014 Six Nations, those
attributes are being very well received.
Jimmy Gopperth arrived in Leinster at the beginning of the season as a direct replacement to Jonathan Sexton. The Kiwi has been in sensational form and in this interveiw
he addresses the suggestion that he is blocking the progress of Ian Madigan at the
province. Check it out on P14.
This is a difficult time of the year to be a coach. Players are negotiating new contracts
and you are trying to put in place some succession planning. Unlike France, in Ireland
we have safeguards against the market being swamped with overseas players however have you ever considered the actual job of balancing home grown players with
overseas success. On P26 Alan Solomons gives his thoughts on achieving that tricky
balance which if done right can bring enduring success to a club.
Last month I had the pleasure of tagging along as Ulster players Niall Annett and Neil
McComb paid a Valentines visit to Clark Clinic in the Royal Victoria Hospital for sick
children. The last time I was in the ward it was while we prepared for my youngest
daughter to have open heart surgery. This time the visit was much more pleasant and
the lads certainly did not disappoint. They brought with them lots of love and joy to
the patients and staff on the busy ward. You can checkout some of the photos on P38.
We continue our Club Focus feature and this month on P50 we look at Munster club
Nenagh Ormond RFC. Former Leinster, Munster and Ireland player Trevor Hogan head’s
up the coaching team where the community based club are enjoying considerable
success at senior, women and youth levels.
Remember if you would like to see your club, school or team featured in Emerald
Rugby, or if you would like to nominate an exceptional young player as our featured
Young Gun simply get in touch via email, facebook or twitter using the contact details
below
Yours in Rugby,
Manus
Email: Editor@emeraldrugby.com
Twitter: @Emeraldrugby
Facebook: facebook.com/Emeraldrugby
GENERAL NEWS
‘Check in’ to your local pub
with the GUINNESS Plus App
for a chance to take part in a
rugby masterclass with Irish
international Sean O’Brien
The Guinness Plus App
is available to download
for iPhone and Android
Smartphones from the
iTunes App Store and
Google Play Store now.
Over 18s Only. Terms and
conditions apply.
Sean scores against Samoa
GUINNESS®, A Proud Partner
of Irish Rugby has teamed up
with Sean O’Brien to announce
the final rugby experience for
fans on the Guinness Plus
mobile App.
Six rugby fans who ‘check in’
to the pub using the Guinness
Plus App before 11.00pm on
8th March for the Ireland v
France game, will be in with
a chance to pick three friends
each and join Sean O’Brien
in his home town of Tullow
for a one of a kind rugby
masterclass.
O’Brien will be putting the
winners through their paces and
giving them a taste of what it
takes to be an Irish international
rugby player.
Emerald Rugby caught up with
O’Brien to find out his views on
the upcoming match in Stade de
France.
O’Brien commented,
“Taking on France in Paris will
be a very exciting end to the
2014 Championship. They have
had a great start and we have
also clocked up impressive
wins, and I have a feeling
that it might just be the
Championship decider. Playing
Les Bleus in the Stade de
France is always tough – they
have a strong pack, they’re a
very physical side, and a great
defensive line, so between that
and the Championship history
between our sides, it should be
a cracker!”
run up to the last Lions Tour,
and some of the usual rugby
training and team building
along with some personal
touches from my farm.
Sean then gave us an insight
into what the winners of the
Rugby Masterclass can expect.
“I’m really looking forward
to the Guinness Rugby
Masterclass and hosting the
winners in my home town of
Tullow. I’m creating a special
programme for them to include
some of the Bootcamp style of
training I experienced in the
Guinness will also have tickets
to be won to the final RBS Six
Nations match against France.
Check out the Guinness Plus
App for more information.
More extraordinary rewards
including unrivalled access to
other GUINNESS® events and
festivals throughout 2014 will
be announced in the coming
weeks.
Most of all it’s going to be a bit
of craic – I’ve picked a number
of activities to keep the laughs
coming and give us plenty to
talk about when we pop into
my local for a pint afterwards!”
Sean in action in the 2013 Guinness Series against the All Blacks
MARCH 2014 EMERALD RUGBY 3
REGULAR: GENERAL NEWS
Kearney brothers
sign up for NDC
GENERAL NEWS
Professional Irish rugby icons Rob and Dave Kearney will
line out as ambassadors to the National Dairy Council
in this, the 50th anniversary year of The NDC, it was
announced last month. The Kearneys are the latest Irish
rugby stars to be capped for the NDC and follow in the
footsteps of the highly successful television campaign
with the legendary Paul O’Connell.
“The Kearney brothers are terrific role models who
resonate with adults and children alike,” said NDC Chief
Executive Zoë Kavanagh. “They bring together an
established and a rising star of Irish sports – and are
collectively an embodiment of balanced diet and active
lifestyle.”
Rob & Dave Kearney
AON take up sponsorship of
Ireland Women
Ahead of the defence of their RBS 6 Nations and Grand Slam titles the Irish Rugby Football
Union has announced a new three year jersey partnership between its Women’s Senior
XV team and Aon, the world’s leading advisor on risk management and human resource
consulting.
The sponsorship, which is the first of its kind for the women’s senior team, will see the Aon
logo displayed on the jersey for the first time as Ireland take on Scotland in the first game of
their 6 Nations defence tomorrow at 19:30hrs in Ashbourne RFC.
Speaking at the launch of the sponsorship, IRFU President Pat Fitzgerald said: “We are
delighted to welcome Aon to the Irish rugby family and especially pleased that it is our
Women’s team that they have decided to put their support behind. Women’s rugby has
grown strongly and the success of our women in the RBS 6 Nations has been fantastic for
the sport. Now, with a strong partner like Aon we are confident the growth of our women’s
game will go from strength to strength.”
Richard Endersen, Chief Executive Officer , Aon Ireland, said: “Aon has enjoyed a strong
working relationship with the Irish Rugby Football Union for many years. That is why we
are delighted and honoured to have been selected as the first-ever sponsors of the Ireland
Women’s Rugby Team.
Captain Fiona Coghlan and her team have shown tremendous character and commitment
over the last few years, culminating with their major success in 2013. We are confident that
2014 will be another successful season, and everyone at Aon Ireland is proud to support
them as they begin their title defence.”
Women’s Captain Fiona Coghlan, said: “It is fantastic that Aon have given their backing to the
women’s game as it is a real recognition of the hard work that everyone involved in the game
has put in over the year, which ultimately resulted in our 6 Nations win last year. As we head
into the defence of our 6Nations championship we are very proud to have such a strong
partner on our Irish jersey.”
Rob and Dave Kearney are both strong
supporters of Irish farming and food
production, having grown up on a farm
on the Cooley Peninsula in Co. Louth.
Their parents, David and Siobhan, are
the fourth generation to continue to
farm in this beautifully scenic location,
surrounded by views of the Sea out to
the mountains.
A new television advertisement to
promote Irish dairy will be filmed on
the Kearney family farm after the Six
Nations Championship and will be
launched on the national airwaves to
mark National Dairy Week in May.
Zoë Kavanagh said this year’s campaign
rests within the “Irish Dairy: Sustainable
& Nutritious by Nature” strategy which
is rooted in provenance, quality and the
excellence of our dairy produce.
The new advertising will set out to
promote dairy as part of a healthy
Leading
clothing
brand
balanced
dietsports
and active
lifestyle
for all
Canterbury
of New
has
of the
family. It will
showZealand
the goodness
of our
dairy
based on quality
been
announced
as the pasturenew
based
farming.
It will
kitdairy
supplier
to the
Irishhighlight
Rugby
that Football
good nutrition
Union.starts with a
balanced diet - including dairy - and
that Irish
goodfans
eating
start
when
willhabits
see the
Ireland
you’re
young.
team line up in the new
Canterbury kit for the first
“We’re proud of our farming roots and
time at the Aviva Stadium
on
recognise the amount
of hard work
th
November
8
when
they
take
that goes behind producing the type
on South
Thehave
newcome
multiof good
qualityAfrica.
food we
to
million
euro –deal
expect
in Ireland
Irishannounced
food deserves
recently
unites
all the
support
it canthe
gettwo
and brands
we are
six yearstountil
2020, including
bothfor
delighted
be working
with the
NDCtwo
in the
months
said Rob
World
Cupahead,”
tournaments.
Kearney. Since its establishment in 1904
“There
is a growing
in sports
Canterbury
hasinterest
expanded
to
nutrition,
in professional
amateur
become
the world’sand
largest
sport and the concept that how
rugby apparel brand and is the
you fuel your body can affect your
official kit of six rugby nations
performance in training and in matches
including
Russia,
– whether
you England,
are playing
a local school
Spain,
Japan,
USA
and
match – or as a professional now
sports
Ireland.
Bringingthe
over
a century
person
- it embodies
principals
we
ofinexperience
to the
apply
our every day
life table,
on and off
Canterbury
willKearney.
team up with
the field,”
said Dave
the IRFU for the second time
4 EMERALD RUGBY MARCH 2014
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ordering online or instore, after which normal prices apply, for the Horizon Essential bundle the normal monthly rate is €73 (pleaserefer
to www.upc.ie/bundles). Offer ends 31 March 2014. Prices quoted are inclusive of a Self-serve Discount for customers registered for
My UPC. The price for customers who do not register for My UPC will be an extra €3.50 per month. Savings compare UPC’s Horizon
Essential Bundle vs Sky’s standard price for Entertainment TV pack with HD, Sky Broadband Unlimited and Talk Freetime over 12 months.
UPC’s 120Mb Broadband is compared to Sky’s up to 24Mb Broadband. UPC’s Horizon TV service is compared with Sky’s TV service which
does not include HD as standard. The Freetime World call pack provides free off peak local and national fixed landline calls and 400 off
peak minutes per month to fixed landline numbers in 21 international destinations. Information correct as of 21/02/14. The Croods © 2011
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. The Croods available to purchase on UPC’s On Demand service. Sky prices
taken from www.sky.com/ireland on 21/01/14.
REGULAR: GENERAL NEWS
GENERAL NEWS
PWC Ireland
backing U20s
IRUPA to support Special Olympics
IRUPA has long-standing
successful relationship with
Special Olympics Ireland. IRUPA
were delighted to place players
in a supporting role with the
charity including Dominic Ryan,
Sean O’Brien, Fionn Carr, Paul O’
Connell and many more each of
whom enjoy providing hands-on
support to the organisation.
IRUPA CEO Omar Hassanein
commented: “The partnership
allows our players to partake
in rewarding and meaningful
engagement in the community
which hopefully also aids in
promoting the fantastic work
that an organisation like Special
Olympics does.”
On the 3rd of December 2013,
Special Olympics Ireland
announced that The 2014
Special Olympics Ireland Games
will take place in Limerick. The
announcement was made at
a gala event in the University
Concert Hall, Limerick and
comes after the successful
staging of the same event in the
city in 2010.
The Games will take place over
four days from Thursday, June
12th to Sunday June 15th. This
will be one of the largest and
most prestigious sporting events
to take place in Ireland next
year, which will involve 1,500
Special Olympics athletes from
throughout
Ireland
travelling to
Limerick to
take part.
Special
Olympics
Ireland was
one of three
charities
(the others
beingChildline
and
Breakthrough
Cancer
Research)
which recently
participated
in the Electric
Ireland
Powering
Kindness
campaign.
The aim of the campaign was
to encourage members of the
public to log good deeds and
pledge them in aid of charity.
Leinster’s Sean O’Brien, Leo
Cullen and Dominic Ryan
assisted withthe campaign.
Sean’s good deed was delivering
post at the rugby academy in
UCD, while Leo and Dominic
oversaw rugby training sessions
with students at Blackrock and
Gonzaga respectively.
Special Olympics Ireland
ultimately came second in the
competition and was awarded
6 EMERALD RUGBY MARCH 2014
PwC proud supporters of the
Ireland Under 20 Rugby Team were
on hand recently to give the U20’s
the once over ahead of their Six
Nations Campaign. Commenting
in advance of the 2014 RBS U20 Six
Nations Championship, Damian
Byrne, Partner, PwC, said: “Having
the right talent working together
is critical to success in sport and
in business. We are committed
to supporting the development
of Irish Rugby through our
sponsorship of the Under 20 team
and wish them every success
in their upcoming 2014 RBS Six
Nations Championship.”
Pictured above are Sean O’Brien
(Galwegians RFC), Dan Leavy (UCD
RFC & Irish U20 Captain), David
Busby (Queens University RFC),
Jack O’Donoghue (UL Bohemians
RFC), Peter Dooley (Lansdowne FC)
and Damian Byrne, Partner, PwC.
Sean O’Brien of Leinster and Ireland
catches up with Sile Walsh from
Naas Special Olympics club at
Belfield Dublin
TOP: Leinster and Ireland giant
Leo Cullen oversees a special
training session on behalf of Special
Olympics Ireland for the Blackrock
College Junior Cup team
€40,000, an impressive
sum of money which
will go a long way in
supporting the costs
associated with the
staging of the 2014
Limerick Games next
June.
If you would like
to see your club,
school or team news
featured in Emerald
Rugby Magazine.
Drop us an email
with your story to
Editor@emeraldrugby.com
www.pwc.ie
Supporting
Irish Rugby
PwC are proud
supporters of
the Ireland
Under 20 Team.
Pictured (l-r) are PwC U20 Players: David Busby, Jack O’Donoghue,
Dan Leavy (Captain), Sean O’Brien and Peter Dooley.
We work with clients to bring value to their businesses,
capitalise on global trends, develop tomorrow’s workforce
and help serve a changing customer base. If you would
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© 2014 PricewaterhouseCoopers. All rights reserved. “PricewaterhouseCoopers” and “PwC” refer to the Irish firm,
PricewaterhouseCoopers, One Spencer Dock, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1. 04980
REGULAR: GENERAL NEWS
GENERAL NEWS
Pictured below are Johnny Turnball Headway Northern Ireland, William
Hayhurst, Dr Deirdre Peak & Dr David Irwin
Members of the Ireland womens team pop along to sample
the famous Kinsale craic
Kinsale 7s Gathering
Momentum
Entries are rolling in for the Heineken Kinsale 7s, taking place during
the May Bank Holiday Weekend, 3rd-4th May in the beautiful seaside
town of Kinsale, Co. Cork.
Teams from Ireland, UK and further afield are registering in the Mens
Elite, Open and Social Categories. Also teams from Norway, Germany,
Luxembourg, the UK and Ireland are setting up the Womens
competition to be fantastic as the womens game is growing all the
time.
The Heineken Kinsale 7s is a hugely popular event with teams
competing for the very attractive prize fund of €30,000 in Elite, Open,
Social and Women’s Categories. It is also a very social weekend with
supporters and friends travelling to Kinsale for an action packed funfilled weekend.
So, why not save the date and make Kinsale your destination for the
May Bank Holiday Weekend 3rd-4th May?
Kinsale is known as the gourmet capital of Ireland with a wide
range of restaurants, cafes and bars that welcome visitors over the
weekend. Now is the time to register your team on
www.kinsale7s.com and book accommodation early.
According to Philip Stokes, Tournament Director “We are delighted
again to have Heineken as title sponsors. Their enduring support
ensures the continued success of the event and we are looking
forward to another great 7s weekend in May.”
For the sixth year, Kukri is the official event wear for the Heineken
Kinsale 7s. Kukri are currently taking orders for team kit, as there is a
prize for the best turned out team each year. Other partners include
Pride Passion Party, Hayes Caravan Services and Kinsale Town Council.
For all information see www.kinsale7s.com and follow us on facebook
and twitter to catch up on all the previews, and team promotions
8 EMERALD RUGBY MARCH 2014
Local Student
launches campaign
to ‘Sideline
Concussion’
Local medic student and former
RBAI hockey player William
Hayhurst made a return from
Manchester University to
Belfast to launch his Sideline
Concussion campaign.
Spreading awareness of
concussion suffered by young
athletes whilst participating in
sports, the Sideline Concussion
campaign has received
overwhelming support from
local medical figures including
Dr Deirdre Peake, leading Belfastbased paediatric neurologist,
former Ireland and British Lion
rugby star Dr David Irwin, brain
injury charity Headway Northern
Ireland and Paradox Omega
Sport. Speaking about the campaign,
Dr Deirdre Peake, Consultant
Paediatric Neurologist
comments, “William’s campaign
is a great idea and something
which I as a doctor feel is of
paramount importance in
educating our young athlete’s
to recognise the warning signs
of concussion and to have
the confidence and ability to
articulate the symptoms to those
in charge.”
Dr David Irwin former British
Lion, Ulster rugby doctor and
sports medicine specialist has
also backed Sideline, “The
welfare of any young athlete is
paramount if parents are to be
confident about their children
participating in contact sports
and Sideline’s clear messages
making young people aware
of the signs and symptoms of
concussion and encouraging
such as good technique to avoid
injury is to be commended”
The campaign was also
supported by student athletes
and staff from Belfast’s St. Mary’s
and St. Genevieve’s Schools,
Victoria College, RBAI, Cliftonville
Football Club, Cliftonville Ladies,
Linfield Football Club, Northern
Ireland Women’s League, and the
Belfast Giants. To download a
poster to share with your school
or team visit Sidelineconcussion.
com.
Schools, sports teams
and athletes can join the
campaign by visiting www.
sidelineconcussion.com or tweet
@SideLineConcuss
EPIC FROM THE
FIRST TOUCH
DOWNLOAD THE NEW
APP.
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