Schools Rugby 2019-2020

[mildlyinterested]

Zaga were very competitive too.. Have to factor in that it was a friendly near the cup.. I'm sure it was taken seriously but it's not the same as the cup.. Much like the Gonzaga game I'd expect michaels to win comfortably.

Don't expect too much -it might make you smug.

Yea great.

[mildlyinterested]

Liked what I saw of Tector yesterday. Looks a good prospect at 10.

Thought Newbridge 6 was very good along with 5 and 8.

[mildlyinterested]

Leinster Schools Senior Cup Semi-Final Draw:

St Michael's College v Newbridge College;
Clongowes Wood College v Castleknock College.

[Pilotman123]

Leinster Schools Senior Cup Semi-Final Draw:

St Michael's College v Newbridge College;
Clongowes Wood College v Castleknock College.

Michael’s and Clongowes are favourties to make the final but anything can happen in cup rugby

[blockhead]

Those Moikaels prats causing trouble again.
Wearing hoodies! Shouting all sorts. Ruffians.

IRISH TIMES
‘Your father works for my father’: Schools rugby turning toxic in the stands
Supporter behaviour at Donnybrook could have more serious legal implications
Owen Doyle
The Leinster Branch of the IRFU issued a warning to rugby schools competing at Donnybrook over the behaviour of fans

I didn’t think I’d return to schools rugby so soon. But something is going very wrong, and its happening off the pitch.

I have attended many schools matches, and have seen at first hand the reasons why the Leinster Branch of the IRFU have found it necessary to issue a letter of warning to all schools in the Senior Cup quarter-finals which have just concluded. Gavin Cummiskey outlined the letter very well here last week.

Let me choose my words carefully.

Firstly, it is not all schools, nor all past pupils, and I do not wish to tarnish those who do promote the true ethos of rugby. But it is too many.

Basically, current and past pupils, through the letter to the schools, have been told that further incidents will mean that An Garda Síochána will take action. It is their duty.

A week or so ago a group of past pupils from one of the foremost fee-paying schools in Dublin approached Donnybrook prior to a match dressed to intimidate, heads covered with hoodies. They were likely to cause trouble, fuelled perhaps by alcohol.

The schools do distance themselves from the actions of past pupils and cannot be responsible for them. But do these young men just leave school and then suddenly turn to thuggery, or is there an underlying lack of discipline in some schools these days?

These are schools which it is an absolute privilege to attend, and they produce very high levels of students who go onto third level, and subsequently make great contributions in their chosen fields. They seem to have forgotten how fortunate they are in society.

They also seem to be completely unaware that, in a split second, the sort of trouble that their behaviour can provoke is capable of turning into an investigation, a criminal charge and a conviction. This would see young mens’ dreams, and all for which they have so far striven, disappear before their very eyes. Parents, who have spent a fortune on providing the best education, must be horrified.

The past pupils tend to congregate at each end of the terrace facing the stand at Donnybrook. It is an intimidating place, the language is foul and the verbal abuse of match officials and of opposing players is appalling. The throwing-in hooker, who is but a couple of metres away, gets a particularly torrid time.

I also heard some comments that could only be described as on the cusp of racial abuse.

The use of flares is both frightening and dangerous.

The actions of some coaching staff can be completely unacceptable, upright in the stands they roar complaints, spreading their arms wide in disbelief and derision at the decisions of match officials. This encourages further abuse from the pupils; it is not a good example.

It is important to state that the match officials are volunteers. They are not paid, giving their time freely. What if they did not?

These schools, and they don’t have to be named here, seem unaware of some of the shouting coming from their supporters. Here are two examples I heard: “Your father works for my father” and “we pay fees”.

Shameful.

There is a gap now to the semi-finals and final. It gives an opportunity for everyone to put their house in order; and to demand and ensure that the opposition and the match officials are respected by current and former pupils.

Otherwise, accountability is on the way, and it won’t be to the school. It may well be to the courts.

– Owen Doyle is a former Test referee and former director of referees with the IRFU

"Your father works for my father" Brilliant.

I actually thought this was a bit of a skit article, ROC or some other comedian. But no, Owen Doyle.

[Pilotman123]

The working class would try and do anything to make the privileged look bad...jealousy is all, they just don’t understand the rivalry between other schools they’re rivals on the pitch but really good mates off the pitch, past pupils from other schools would also be mates with current players from other teams...although I do not condone this behavior it’s just what it is...no one takes it personally it’s just a bit of craic, the past pupils character during a cup game isn’t a reflection of what they’re like as a person (and trust me I know this), there’s really good sportsmanship from past pupils after the final whistle

[blockhead]

YourgoinhomeinaBlackrockClinicambulance!

[Pilotman123]

The best times I had of my life was being at schools cup rugby games and playing in them...nothing else is like it, for me it’s the best competition in the world, some people just don’t understand and probably wouldn’t ever unless they went to one of the schools, my school winning the senior cup was the best moment of my life and always will be no matter what happens

[Slowcentre]

That's one of the saddest things I've ever read.

Sent from my SM-A105FN using Tapatalk

[Pilotman123]

That's one of the saddest things I've ever read.

Sent from my SM-A105FN using Tapatalk

Quite sad that you’ve never won a Senior Cup and probably went to a non fee paying school, how dare you say that to me, the jealousy is actually unbelievable..get a grip mate, you just don’t get it playing with friends that you’ve been playing with since you were a small kid and coming down to one match at the end of the day is a big deal, it’s something most of these lads dreamed of since they were a small child, it’s not sad at all saying that because it’s a hard competition and most people only get one opportunity of it, it’s something people tell their Grandkids, my Grandfather always talked about his time playing in the Senior Cup...it is a massive achievement for anyone to win it

[mildlyinterested]

Anyway... Draw is probably the best possible way for a competitive final and semi final.. Michaels are far from assured of winning this yet.. Altho are understandably heavy favourites.

[Pilotman123]

Anyway... Draw is probably the best possible way for a competitive final and semi final.. Michaels are far from assured of winning this yet.. Altho are understandably heavy favourites.

Apparently the draw was “rigged” as they didn’t role the balls in the bowl..they clearly want a Michael’s and Clongowes final

[backrower8]

David Wilkinson’s arrival in the second half changed the game. His passing game was really excellent. The best I have seen at this level, although Gerard’s were exhausted having to repeatedly tackle which probably created more room for him, but he was masterful.

[mildlyinterested]

High praise. He was certainly good when he came on.

Assume he will start the rest of the way.

Thought Clongowes 1, 7 and 13 were very good. But star player was their 9 who was excellent.

[mildlyinterested]

Clongowes were impressive in 2nd half.. If they make the final they'll certainly give michaels a challenge. Assuming michaels get past bridge.

[Oldschoolsocks]

That's one of the saddest things I've ever read.

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He’s obviously some kind of ROCK character, I just can’t decide if he’s an English student in Trinners, a bored freelance journo or one of the Russian troll bots sent to figure out the mood of the Irish populace?

[Slowcentre]

That's one of the saddest things I've ever read.

Sent from my SM-A105FN using Tapatalk

Quite sad that you’ve never won a Senior Cup and probably went to a non fee paying school, how dare you say that to me, the jealousy is actually unbelievable..get a grip mate, you just don’t get it playing with friends that you’ve been playing with since you were a small kid and coming down to one match at the end of the day is a big deal, it’s something most of these lads dreamed of since they were a small child, it’s not sad at all saying that because it’s a hard competition and most people only get one opportunity of it, it’s something people tell their Grandkids, my Grandfather always talked about his time playing in the Senior Cup...it is a massive achievement for anyone to win it

It's not a big deal at all. Plenty of people play sport with friends from a young age and then play in and win or lose an underage or schools cup competition. It's a notable achievement but no more than that.

If it's as important to you as you imply here then the rest of your life must have been extremely unfulfilling.

Sent from my SM-A105FN using Tapatalk

[Pilotman123]

That's one of the saddest things I've ever read.

Sent from my SM-A105FN using Tapatalk

Quite sad that you’ve never won a Senior Cup and probably went to a non fee paying school, how dare you say that to me, the jealousy is actually unbelievable..get a grip mate, you just don’t get it playing with friends that you’ve been playing with since you were a small kid and coming down to one match at the end of the day is a big deal, it’s something most of these lads dreamed of since they were a small child, it’s not sad at all saying that because it’s a hard competition and most people only get one opportunity of it, it’s something people tell their Grandkids, my Grandfather always talked about his time playing in the Senior Cup...it is a massive achievement for anyone to win it

It's not a big deal at all. Plenty of people play sport with friends from a young age and then play in and win or lose an underage or schools cup competition. It's a notable achievement but no more than that.

If it's as important to you as you imply here then the rest of your life must have been extremely unfulfilling.

Sent from my SM-A105FN using Tapatalk

Nah man you just don’t get it, how many of those are on Tv?
Even Ollie Campbell said he’s played on Lions tours but nothing will ever surpass him winning back to back Senior Cups with Belvo

[Dwarf]

Clongowes were impressive in 2nd half.. If they make the final they'll certainly give michaels a challenge. Assuming michaels get past bridge.

Clongowes have to beat Knock which by no means is a done deal in fact I'd say Knock are slighlty more complete team.

Both schools vying for their ninth title.

It will be rivetting watching.

The question is - will the real sleeping giants awake and cast off the pretenders from the past 30 years.

[mildlyinterested]

The schools rugby elitism sure is tiring.

Anyway knock have done very well to get to the semis but let's not pretend them defeating Clongowes wouldn't be a big upset.