Dublin City

In April in the DCC South Central region Terenure College hosted the Umbrella 7s to raise money for charity.

The following week Terenure College hosted a mini girls blitz, including teams from Naas, Portlaoise, Wicklow, Tullow, and more.

On Thursday, April 27, The High School ran a huge primary school tag blitz. Over 200 children from Zion Primary School, Kilternan NS, St. Joseph’s, Rathgar NS took part, with Transition Year students acting as referees.

On the last weekend in April Terenure College hosted the European Youth Rugby Festival. The U13 tournament saw teams from France, Spain, England, Leinster, and the rest of Ireland compete over a fun-filled weekend!

Coming up in May

This month in the DCC South Central region the U18 DCC Schools Finals will be held in Donnybrook on Tuesday, May 9.

Thursday, May 11, will see Champions Day held in Ballyfermot with disability groups from all over the city coming to the sports centre for different activities.

And on Wednesday, May 17, the final round of U15 Metro Cup will take place.

To find out more or to get involved in any of the above initiatives, contact Dublin City CRO Aoife Thompson at aoife.thompson@leinsterrugby.ie or 085-1302745.

Fingal

Fingal CC team head to Donnybrook

In April, a Fingal County Council side headed to Donnybrook stadium for a pre-Metro Cup day on the April 26 to test out their skills that they had been learning for the previous six weeks with Fingal CRO Stephen Costelloe.

This programme aims to take U15 players who are not affiliated to a rugby club, or who have never played rugby before, and puts them together to represent Leinster and their respective county councils. All roads lead now back to Donnybrook for the big finals day on May 17 – all are welcome to come and support!

Balbriggan TY students give coaching a try!

Balbriggan Community College Transition Year students took part in a Leinster Rugby initiative whereby the Leinster staff teach and guide the students on what is needed to coach over a six-week period. This programme aims to give the students the necessary coaching tools, as well as an insight into the life of a coach. It also aims to encourage kids to take up coaching or get involved in their local club.

Fingal and North East team up for Sevens Blitz

The Fingal and North East areas teamed up to get players from non-traditional rugby schools involved in sevens rugby. There were three local blitzes held in Dundalk RFC, Navan RFC and Malhide RFC which served as a screening days for the council representative sides. Once council sides (Meath, Louth, Fingal) were selectedthey took to Donnybrook to test their skills against three rugby schools. With some excellent rugby on show the council sides really putting the school sides to the test. It was a Fantastic programme and one we aim to continue.

For more information or to get involved with any of the above initiatives, contact Final CRO Stephen Costelloe at stephen.costelloe@leinsterrugby.ie or 087-9844168.

South-East

On April 13, the Ireland and England Under 18 teams delivered a training session for some of the special needs groups from Leinster in The King’s Hospital.

On the last weekend in April Gorey RFC hosted a tag blitz with over 200 children from five different schools taking part.

That same weekend also saw Portarlington RFC host a tag blitz with another 180 children from six schools involved.

Coming up in May

Starting this month, Laois County Council will be running a programme which will see Leinster Rugby CCROs go to estates around the county and deliver tag rugby sessions for the local children over the next three weeks, with a tag blitz to be held at the end.

Also this month, Operation Transformation County Laois will be holding a walking tag rugby programme.

Wexford Wanderers RFC will host the County Wexford Blitz Day, with over 400 children invited to take part.

At the end of the month an end of season Special Needs blitz will be held in DLSP, with over 180 players expected to attend.

For more information or to get involved with any of the above initiatives, contact South East CRO Stephen Gore at stephen.gore@leinsterrugby.ie or 086-087943.