Longford RFC Club News 14/09/2020   14/09/2020

By Tommy Butler Longford RFC PRO lrfconnects@gmail.com 

Longford Senior Men play first game since lockdown.

Longford Senior Men travelled to Edenderry on Saturday afternoon to play their first match since the Covid-19 lockdown versus Monkstown.  This match was a friendly and was broke up into four quarters with a view to both teams trying as many different combinations as possible along with tweaking set pieces and moves as the match went on.  Monkstown had a full strength side out littered with ex-provincial/Ireland under age players and were further down the tracks in their preparation for life in Leinster League 1A after being promoted from Longford’s Division 1B as champions last season.   Longford had a pack moving close to full strength with a very youthful back line.  Longford came out of the traps hard and nearly had a score in the opening minutes.  However, Monkstown gradually turned up the pressure and got on top.  Longford’s set piece was good throughout the game with some nice moments in the back line.  Longford scored two tries on the day from Barry Stewart and Joe McGowan.  Overall, it was a good workout for Longford with all eyes on October 4th and their first Leinster League game away to Clondalkin.  Interestingly, their last game before lockdown was also away to Clondalkin.  Longford Senior Men continue their preparations for the Leinster League on Saturday when they Tullamore at 1PM, again no supporters are unfortunately allowed.  PS playing in the new Covid-19 regulations was a strange experience with no supporters and the players having to change outside and not being able to use the dressing rooms.  The inability to change in a dressing room and shower after a game is something that is probably not sustainable going into the Winter months.

Post Match Reaction by Longford Senior Men’s Coach Glenn Baskett

That was our first opposed hit out of the new season, against a good Monkstown side. We said at the end of last season we needed tough games in pre-season and that’s what we got today. That Monkstown team is stacked with quality players who will push any 1A team this season. For us we brought 26 boys with to Edenderry for this and every one of them got game time. 4 new boys, Simon Moorehead, Philip Prunty, Colm McDonagh and Ciaran Shannon all got their first run with Longford Seniors today. Simon and Ciaran coming up from U18’s last season. Even though we didn’t win on the scoreboard this was about getting out and playing and testing out what we’ve worked on the last 8 weeks against live opposition. We can take lots out of the day, it was Abigails learning for us coaches and the players around how we will have to structure the day with no changing sheds available. That’s OK on a dry day in September but it won’t work so well in the middle of winter, so I would hope the Government see sense and lift these conditions soon. As for the footy we did some good things out there today, started really well, held the ball, built phases, but a few things to do better. Especially our wide D, something we had worked on a bit this week so we are still getting that right. But to get that hit out is huge for us. We are away again next weekend to a good Tullamore side which is another great opportunity for us with only 3 weeks till we play Clondalkin. Playing twice away lets us get ready for the away trip to Dublin and how we prepare on the day for that, so that too is great. It’s been a long time since our season got pulled early in March, and the 8 week pre-season gave us a chance to try to get guys fit but it’s all about games and live opposition to see where we are at."

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

Saturday September 19th Friendly Tullamore J1 1

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

 

Leinster Three in a Row.

There was an inevitability to Leinster’s performance in the Pro 14 final on Saturday past, when they brushed past Ulster to claim their third title in a row, which reminded you of some of the great teams of the last twenty years, such as Brian Cody’s Kilkenny side or United in the Ferguson era.  Even with Johnny Sexton rested and Ulster getting an early score it never looked like the title was going anywhere but back to Leinster’s UCD HQ.  The later stages of the last seasons Champions cup now start this weekend with Leinster playing a Saracens side shorn of Eoin Farrell due to suspension and Ulster travelling to France to take on French aristocrats Toulouse.  Saracens were the last team to beat Leinster 16 months ago in the Champions Cup final and it promises to be a seismic clash.  It is a tall order for Ulster to turn over Toulouse but they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

European Champions Cup Fixtures

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

Ireland’s Eight Nations

Covid-19 put pay to Ireland confirmed November Internationals so instead a new competition to bridge the gap has been added where the Six Nations side will play a mini tournament along with Fiji and Georgia called the Eight Nations.  Ireland are in a group with England, Wales and Georgia and will play each team once.  The other group comprises France, Scotland, Italy and Fiji.  After the pool fixtures are played, all the teams will play one final game against the team that finishes in the same position of the other pool, with the winners of the match between the teams that top each pool declared the inaugural Eight Nations Champions.  Irelands confirmed fixtures can be found below.

Ireland Eight Nations Fixtures

Friday November 13th Wales Home 7 PM

Saturday November 21st England Away 3 PM

Sunday November 29th Georgia Home 2 PM

Saturday December 5th TBC Home 2.15 PM

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.

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.

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.

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 Andrew on 087 1631075.
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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