On Wednesday the 11th of December, Leinster Schools will welcome the Australian Schools to Donnybrook with what is going to be an historic game (KO: 7pm)…

It is four years since the Australians last visited Ireland and 12 years since they last played the Leinster Schools, winning on that occasion 30-22.

The Australian Schools tour the UK and Ireland every four years and have been doing so since 1977 when they defeated Leinster Schools 34-6. They have played Leinster on four other occasions since then and remain undefeated. It has not been all one way traffic, however, as the Leinster Schools toured Australia in 1995, winning all their games, defeating Queensland Schools in the “test” match.

The Australians arrive in Dublin on Monday 9th having played by that stage games in England, Scotland and Wales and will be hosted by the families of the pupils of St. Mary’s College in Rathmines so that they can gain an educational understanding of the countries they visit as well as being the rugby trip of a lifetime.

As the tradition of Schools rugby plays such a large part in the rugby make up of both countries it is a great honour for the Leinster Schools to host the Australians.

Tickets can be purchased ONLINE HERE. Prices are €;10 for an adult, €;5 for a schoolchild and a family ticket (2×2) for €;25.

Whatever school brings the most students to the game on the night is going to receive a signed Leinster Rugby jersey to be displayed in their school. Schools who want to take part in this competition must pre-book their tickets as groups of students can gain special discounts by contacting Elma Beirne, Domestic Marketing at elma.beirne@leinsterrugby.ie.

There is two group discount offers:

• 10 students for €;50 plus two adults go free.
• Groups of 100 plus can book at €;3/person

This must be booked in advance and group offers will not be able to be purchased on the night.

Players that are on the current training squad are from the following schools:

Belvedere College SJ: Rory Litchfield
Blackrock College: Dane Fitzpatrick, Jack Dawn, Conor Oliver, Nick Timoney, Sean Kerins, Jack Power, Joey Carbury
CBS New Ross: Robert Vallejo
CBS Wexford: Colm Joyce Ahearne
Cistercian College Roscrea: Tim Carroll, Tim Foley
Clongowes Wood College SJ: John Molony, Will Connors, Cian O’Donoghue, Fergal Cleary, Cillian Burke, Colm Mulcahy
Good Council College New Ross: Robert Vallejo
Gonzaga College SJ: Eoghan Byrne, Andy Marks

Newbridge College: Jonathan Phelan, Jimmy O’Brien
St. Andrews College: Andrew Porter, Greg Jones, Daniel Joyce
St. Gerard’s: Con Callan
St. Finian’s College: Conor O’Brien
St. Michael’s College: Harry Redmond, James Ryan, Charlie Cregan, Max Deegan, David Duggan, Adam Leavy, Matthew Gilsenan
Templeogue College: Eric O’Sullivan
Terenure College: Andrew Roche, Robert Lawlor, Tim Schmidt
The King’s Hospital: Ntinga Mpiko
 

*Please note that this is the current training squad and some of these players may not make it into the match day squad of 25 players in total.

Leinster Rugby would like to thank the Schools for all their co-operation with the promotion of this match.