Mullingar on Sunday, Preseason Training, Full Senior Men’s Season Planner, Representative Honours…

By Tommy Butler Longford RFC PRO tommylbutler@gmail.com 

Senior Men

Preseason Training and first match v Mullingar

Longford Senior Men have been back training hard for the last two weeks, putting in the hard yards under the watchful eye of Strength and Conditioning Coach Alan Campbell.  The S&C work is really important as it shows more and more as a season progresses.

Things moved up a gear this week with Longford’s first match of the season taking place next Sunday August 25^th in CPL Park, Longford at 3 PM versus near neighbours Mullingar in the Midland League.  Head Coach Glenn Baskett will be using the Midland League Competition to fine tune preparations for the Leinster League, which kicks off on Sunday September 22^nd away to Tullow.  Longford have won the Midland League for the last two years and will be looking to continue that run while at the same time trying new players, combinations and structures.

Senior Men Captains

This years Senior Captains are two ever present members of the Senior Men’s Squad.  Benny McManus is Late XV Captain.  This will be Benny’s second appointment as Late XV Captain.  He is a popular choice among players and supporters as he has been consistently one of Longford’s best player over many years and will undoubtedly lead from the front. 

Philly Dardis has been an important Senior Men’s Squad Player for a number of years and is also a great club man.  He is another popular appointment who will hopefully help the Early XV build last years promise into a run of sustained results. 

Senior Men’s Coaches

Glenn Baskett continues as Senior Men’s Head Coach and Niall Moran as Director of Rugby after last season’s second place finish in Leinster League 1B and reaching the Provincial Towns Cup Semi-Final.  Furthermore, Steve Coy is back in the fold as Assistant Coach along with Alan Campbell who is focusing on S&C and the Early XV.  However, there have also been a number of appointments to strengthen the overall coaching team.  Kolo Kiripati joins Longford from North Kildare, where he was Head Coach last year as Forwards/Assistant Coach.  Kolo played for Buccaneers for many years in the AIL and brings a wealth of experience.  Also joining the Coaching Team is Ciaran Sloyn as Assistant Coach.  Ciaran will be especially working on the Early XV alongside Alan Campbell.  

Karen Lennon continues her role as Team Manager alongside our great Physio team of Ronie and Dean Masterson.  John Bradley will be recording all the matches, which will all have full professional video analysis. 

Leinster League

The Leinster League will have a new more condensed schedule this year with the League concluding in February before the start of the Provincial Towns Cup.  The great level of support we received home and away last season was commented on positively across the Province and we are requesting even bigger support this year, especially for home games.

We have produced a Full Senior Men’s Senior Planner for the season which can be downloaded from www.longfordrugby.com or at the following link; https://bit.ly/2KAwsrr 

We have only 10 home matches over the course of 19/20 season, so please make an extra effort to attend.  Why not grab some great food/drink in the Sin Bin at the same time?  

Upcoming Fixtures

Sunday August 25^th Midland League Longford v Mullingar (Home) KO 15:00

Sunday September 1st Midland League Longford v Edenderry (Home) KO 15:00

Sunday September 8^th Midland League Tullamore v Longford (Away) KO 15:00

Sunday September 22^nd Leinster League Tullow v Longford (Away) KO 15:00

Longford Women (Warriors)

Longford Women are back in Pre-Season training.  Now is the perfect time to give rugby a go!  All fitness levels, shapes and sizes are welcome.  The Warriors really are an upward curve and got progressively stronger as last season went on.  They are now ready to make an assault on the Division 4 Title and want you to be part.  Training is on Tuesdays and Fridays and 7.30.  Personal Fitness Trainer, Ryan Francis is running Pre-Season training.  Drop in to training for a chat or alternatively give Head Coach Nuala McGoey a ring on 0862482005.

First up is a Blitz in Tullamore on September 7^th, with the Leinster League scheduled to kick off on Sunday September 29^th.

Longford Mini/Youths

We hope you had a great Summer and are raring to get back out on the rugby pitch.  Last year was a fantastic season with some quality training, Blitz’s, matches, Cup Runs and trips to the RDS and the Aviva Stadium.  Let’s see if we can top it this year!

This season has already got off to a great start with a sold out Leinster Rugby Camp last month.

Training.

We are finalising coaching details for the upcoming season at the moment.  Some groups have already started training!  We will update training times and coaches once details are confirmed:

Remember new players are welcome at all levels with no prior experience required.  It could be you lining out for Ireland in a coming World Cup!

Minis U7-U12 

Training resumes on Sunday August 25^th at 10.30 am in CPL Park.

U14

U14s continue their pre-season fitness training for the next three Thursday from 7-8.  Normal training resumes on September 12^th from 7-8.30 every Thursday.

U16

U16s are back for training on Wednesday August 28th at 7.30 PM.

U17

U17s resume training this Wednesday August 21^st at 7.30 PM.

U18

The U18s are back training on Thursday nights at 7.30 PM.

Representative Honours

Lots of Longford players have been involved in representative rugby squads over the Summer:

Midlands Squad

Four of our players are with the U16’s Midlands Shane Horgan squad – Eoin Murtagh, Dean Rogan, Gavin Courage and Ronan Smyth. Indeed, Eoin Murtagh has captained the side. Both he and Gavin Courage were on the scoresheet when the Midlands played a game recently against East Connacht.

Seamus McKeon (U18) along with Sam Burgess and Kevin McDonagh (both U17) are with the Shane Horgan U18 squad. The U17 players are part of a Midlands/North Midlands combined U17 squad who are due to play in a round robin festival in Donnybrook on 14th August against Dublin Schools.  Well done to Sam and Kevin who both played for the combined Midlands/North Midlands Team versus Dublin schools.

Leinster

Shane Mallon (U18) is on the Leinster U18 School’s squad. They have been training throughout the summer and Shane started against the Italian national U18 team in Donnybrook last week. He also travelled with the squad to the UK where they defeated Northampton Saints on Friday in a pre-season friendly, 50-17, bagging a try in the process. On their return, the squad will be based in UL for the inter-provincial championship where they play against Ulster on 17th August, IQ Rugby on 21st August and Munster on 25th August.

Congratulations lads we look forward to seeing you donning the Black and White this Season!

Club News

Sponsors

CPL continue for another season as the club’s title sponsor, we would like to that Ann Heraty and all at CPL for this continued support.  Also thankyou to all the other Club Sponsors.

World Cup Competition

The Senior Men's Squad of Longford RFC are running an exciting competition with €500 up for grabs for the winner. The competition is based on Ireland's second match of this year’s Rugby World Cup against the host nation Japan on Saturday September 28^th. The players will be selling scratch cards, one for every second of the game. The lucky person who has the card with the right time matching when the first try is scored will win €500, it is as simple as that! Cards are also available from any of the Senior Playing Squad right up to the match v Japan, if they do not sell out first.

All proceeds go towards funding the Senior Men’s Squad for the coming season. They have done us proud over the last few years, winning the Midland League twice, finishing second/third in Leinster League 1B and reaching the Towns Cup Semi-Final last year. They are aiming to push on this year and your support will help them move forward. The cost of the tickets are a very reasonable €2 each or 3 for €5.

Longford RFC Pitch and Putt Classic

Our first annual Pitch & Putt Classic took place in the Acres Ballinalee on Saturday July 27^th.  A total of 43 teams took part in what was a great tournament.  The winners were:

• Acres Pitch&Putt Club
• Michael Stephenson’s Team

Colm Glynn won the match tickets to Ireland v Wales on September 8^th following a raffle in the Tally Ho in which all players were entered.

Thanks to all our generous sponsors of the event;

McDonalds (Longford), Herterichs Butchers Longford, Donnelly Coaches, Tally Ho Bar, John McCoppin, Spirit Clothing, Farrell & Coy, Patrick Groake, Michael Carrigy,

Auto Smart, Irish Netting Systems, Fresh Today, Camlin Filling Station, Davis Meats, • St. Mel’s Brewery & Supervalu (Longford).

Michael Stephenson receiving first prize from Club Director of Finance Gavin Belton

Great Food/Events at Longford RFC

The Sin Bin at Longford RFC serves great quality and value food on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday from 12-3 and 12-7 on Saturday and Sunday.  Booking for events such as birthdays, christening, confirmations, communions, weddings and funerals are also available.  For bookings and information phone Kris on 0872872357.

4G All Weather Pitch Rental

Our state of the art floodlight Mel Diffley 4G pitch is available for rental.  It contains shock absorption so that players can play contact sports/fall over without hurting themselves.  It is also perfect for 5 a side soccer.  If you would like to book it phone Damian on 0862757103.