Longford RFC Club News 06/09/2020   06/09/2020

By Tommy Butler Longford RFC PRO lrfconnects@gmail.com 

The start of the end or the end of the beginning?

This season (or last season) really felt like it was kicking into gear this weekend with the Semi-Finals of the Pro-14 taking place on Friday between Munster and Leinster and last night between Edinburgh and Ulster.  Munster did their best impression of what Saracens did to Leinster in the Champions Cup Final last year but the boys in blue as seems normal now, dug it out regardless.  Undoubtedly Munster will be rueing JJ Hanrahan fluffing his lines with two penalties, which could have brought about a very different result if converted.  Contrast this with Ian Madigan coming off the bench for Ulster with 10 minutes to go and firstly knocking over a touchline conversion to level the scores at 19-19 and then winning it with the last kick of the match from nearly 50 metres out.  It just shows the tight margins at the top of Professional rugby.  I am already looking forward to the final next Saturday evening.  However, Ulster were thought a lesson by the Leinster B team just a few weeks ago in Landsdowne Road and I can therefore only see one outcome and that is another Pro 14 title for Leinster, especially with the 6 day turnaround for Ulster.  Saying that if Ulster can cut out the mistakes that have littered their performances since the resumption of rugby, they will be a much more serious threat.  Such was the uptick in performance for Ulster when Lowry and Matthewson came on at half time it will be interesting to see if John Cooney will start at 9 on Saturday.  Ulster’s key man is undoubtedly Marcel Cotzee.  If Leinster can stop the huge South African 8, then it will go a long way to winning the match.  PS all aspiring wingers should watch Rob Lyttles try, where he stood up three covering Edinburgh players for a try under the posts with an outrageous bit of stepping (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=345055586905466

Some intrigue for the Leinster’s upcoming ¼ final in the Champions Cup v Saracens is that Saracens/England Captain and son of Irelands Head Coach, Owen Farrell, could well be unavailable for the match after been shown a straight red card for a very dangerous swinging arm tackle around the neck in Saracens match v Wasps in the English Premiership over the weekend past.

Finally, it seems that South Africa’s pivot from the Southern to Northern Hemisphere is going to be further copper fastened with strong rumours that South Africa’s big four Super Rugby Teams; the Bulls, Sharks, Lions and Stormers will be plying their trade in a newly expanded Pro16 from as early as next season.  The Kings and Cheetahs will reputedly be dropped from the competition.

Senior Men

Longford Senior Men take their first step back into competitive rugby this Saturday evening since the Covid shutdown, when they take on Monkstown in a friendly in Edenderry at 5 PM.  As per Government guidelines, no supporters are currently allowed but we will have live updates on Twitter (www.twitter.com/longfordrugby).  Monkstown are familiar foes of Longford have played many times in Division 1B over the last number of seasons.  Monkstown gained promotion to 1A last season with Longford’s push for promotion via second place and a playoff brought to a halt by Covid-19.  A training match was played on Friday night in CPL Park with two full Longford sides going all out at each other ably officiated by our own Trevor McHugh.  We are still waiting on a number of players to return from GAA commitments and hopefully will be a full strength going into our first Leinster League match v Clondalkin on October 4th.  Another warmup fixture is currently in the offing before then.  

Longford Senior Men’s Provisional Fixture List 2020-2021 Fixture List

Saturday September 13th Friendly Monkstown (in Edenderry) J1 5

Sunday September 20th/21st Friendly Tullamore (TBC) 

Sunday October 4th Leinster League Clondalkin (A) J1 3

Sunday October 11th Leinster League Mullingar (H) J1 3 J2 1.30 

Sunday October 18th Leinster League Boyne (A) J1 3 J2 1.30 

Sunday November 1st Leinster League Mullingar (A) J1 2.30 J2 1

Sunday November 8th Leinster League Clondalkin (H) J1 2.30

Sunday November 22nd Leinster League Boyne (H) J1 2.30 J2 1

Sunday December 6th Leinster League Cill Dara (A) J1 2 J2 12.30

Sunday December 13th Leinster League Tullow (H) J1 2 J2 12.30

Sunday January 17th Leinster League Wicklow (A) J1 2.30 J2 1

Sunday January 24th Leinster League Carlow (H) J1 2.30 J2 1

Sunday January 31st Leinster League Tullow (A) J1 2.30 J2 1

Sunday February 21st Leinster League Cill Dara (H) J1 3 J2 1.30

Sunday February 28th Leinster League Carlow (A) J1 3 J2 1.30

Sunday March 7th Leinster League Wicklow (H) J1 3 J2 1.30

Sunday March 20th Provincial Towns Cup 1st Round v TBC J1 3

Sunday March 27th Provincial Towns Cup 1st Round v TBC J1 3

Senior Women

Longford Senior Women received great news during the week when it was confirmed that they would be promoted to Division 3 of the Leinster League for the coming season.  Longford were one of the pacesetters throughout last season’s Division 4 and like the Senior Men their push for automatic promotion was halted by Covid-19.  Promotion iss richly deserved by a rapidly developing squad ably supplemented by players from our new girls’ underage teams.  However, a new challenge now awaits Nuala McGoey and her charges where they will undoubtedly be aiming for the upper reaches of Division 3.  Best of luck to Hannah Shea who has been appointed as Senior Women’s Captain for the coming season.  Hopefully fixtures for the upcoming season will be confirmed shortly.

Senior Training

Longford Senior Men train every Tuesday and Friday night at 7.45 with matches generally on a Sunday.  It is great to see so many of last year’s U18s in at training over the last few weeks along with so many of our regular players.  If you would like to play rugby, want to restart your rugby career or are new to the area you are very welcome.  Please give Director of Rugby Niall Moran 0879185073 or Head Coach Glenn Baskett 0876036175 a ring if you are interested.  Please note a Covid-19 questionnaire needs to be filled in before starting training.

Our Senior Women are also back training and are welcoming new and returning players.  If you would like to give rugby a go (you do not need to have played before or be very fit) you will be very welcome.  Training is on Tuesday and Friday nights at 7.30 PM. Please give Women’s Head Coach Nuala McGoey a ring on 0862482005.  Again Covid-19 questionnaires needs to be filled in before training.

Minis/Youths Training

The good news for all our Underage players is that rugby is back.  The work that has been going on behind the scenes to ensure compliance with Governments Covid-19 guidelines is immense and thanks to Gerry Carthy (Mini/Youths Chairperson), Gerry Larkin (Club Covid-19 Officer) all the coaches, parents and players on making it work.  Each group has their own compliance officer.  Everyone is loving being back to training and cannot wait to play a few matches.  In the meantime, they are working hard on their fitness and skills.  Again Covid-19 questionnaires needs to be filled in before training.  We welcome new/returning players at all levels.

Minis

U7-U10 Sunday 10.30-11.30

U11 Thursday 7-8 (check with coaches for following week) (born 2010)

U12 Sunday 10.30-11.30 (born 2009)

Boys

U13 Thursday 7.00-8.30pm (born 2008)
U14 Thursday 6.30-8.30pm (born 2007)
U15 Mon 7.00-8.30pm and Thursday 7.00-8.30pm (born 2006)
U16 Tuesday 7.30-9.00pm (born 2005)
U17 Wednesday 7.30-9.00pm (born 2004)
U18 Wednesday 7.30-9.00pm (born 2003 & up to 01/07/2002)

Girls
U12&U14 Thursday 7.30-8.30pm
U16&U18 Wednesday 7.30-9.00pm

Contact 0862526741 for more information.
Longford Rugby Club is a 'Minimum20' club. Youth teams up to U15 promote minimum 20 minutes game time for all players on match day squads. Longford Minis rugby promotes equal game time at all times during games or blitz events.

Longford RFC Mini/Youth Boot Room

As we move towards getting back out on the pitch, there are a lot of players who need bigger boots.  So instead of spending big on new ones why not use the #LongfordRFC Boot Room instead?  It is a great concept where growing members swap the boots they have outgrown for nearly new bigger ones.  They donate the ones they have outgrown back to the boot room.  It benefits everyone and is way members can support each other post Covid. 

The Boot Room Concept

How many months use do you get out of a new (and very expensive) pair of boots before your child moves up a size and a new (and equally expensive) replacement pair is required? Aimed particularly at Minis and Youths we are going to set up a “Boot Room” where you can trade your perfectly good (but outgrown) pair of boots for a larger pair.  Boots will not be for sale – the Boot Room will operate on the basis that you trade in your own pair for another pair.  In this way, the plan is that the Club will have a self-replenishing supply of boots available to anyone who has a decent (but outgrown) pair which can be traded in return.  To set up the Boot Room we are asking you, the parents, to scour your garage, utility room, footwear box, kit bag or whatever for any outgrown or unloved pairs of boots which you would be willing to donate or trade.  We would only be interested in good quality boots without rips or tears and which can be used for playing rugby (ie. no blades).  If you have any, you can bring the boots to training and give them to any of the coaches, bring them to the Minis training on Sunday, leave them at the Club for the attention of Padraig Murphy or Gerry Carthy or any or your coaches.

New 4G Pitch

We hope to be in a position to make a major announcement regarding a commencement date for our new state of the art ‘4G’ Artificial Floodlight pitch next week.  Stay tuned to the Leader, our website and social media for updates.  If you would like to make a contribution or help in the fundraising towards this brilliant project, please phone Derick Turner on 0862559624.

The pitch when finished, will be one of the only fully flood light 4G artificial pitches suitable for contact sports outside Dublin and will be available for use by the whole community. It will allow year round sport to be played in the heart of Longford Town in anything but the most extreme weather and will mark a huge investment in County Longford and surrounding counties.

Volunteers/Players for the coming season

Longford Rugby Club is a progressive club that fields Men’s/Women’s teams at Senior Level and has more than 400 Mini/Youth Players training every week both male and female from U6 right through to U18. We are looking for more players, coaches and volunteers at all levels of the club. If you would like to join Longford Rugby Club at this exciting time, please contact any club coach or volunteer.

Provisional Pro-14 and European Champions Cup Fixtures

September 12th: Leinster v Ulster Aviva Stadium Pro 14 Final KO (7.35 PM)

September 19th: European Cup Quarter Finals; Leinster v Saracens (3 PM), Clermont Auvergne v Racing 92 (6.30 PM)

September 20th: European Cup Quarter Finals; Toulouse v Ulster (1.30 PM), Exeter v Northampton (5.30 PM)

September 26th/27th: European Semi-finals.

October 17th: European Champions Cup Final

The Sin Bin

The Sin Bin Bar & Restaurant at Longford RFC is one of the best club house facilities in the country. It offers a welcoming atmosphere, great food and drink and is the perfect place for members and friends to hold functions/events with lots of free parking and is just outside Longford Town. As of July 2020, it is now under the management of Andrew Reynolds who is a very experienced operator in the food/beverage area.

If you would like to watch the Leinster v Ulster Pro-14 Final, please make sure to book a table, all current Government regulations apply.

There has been very positive feedback on the great food being served all in a Covid 19 compliant setting with lots of social distancing between tables.

For reservations and enquiries about functions/events, please ring 087 346 4914.
Food is served at lunchtime from 12-4 Wednesday to Sunday and dinner Friday to Sunday from 5 PM. Please like and follow the Sin Bins Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/thesinbinlongford/ for updates and specials.

















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