“End of Term” Update

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This is an extract from the Leinster Rugby “End of Term “ report on the past season, the bit which is really of interest to Clubs such as ours, and players within the Club. It was delivered by Philip Lawlor who is Leinster Rugby’s Head of Rugby Development.

“The 2024/25 season marked another year of meaningful growth and strong performance for the Leinster Rugby Department. Across all strands of development— coaching, player pathways, community engagement, and governance—significant progress was made in delivering a high-quality rugby experience at every level.

Key Achievements

Player Development & Representative Rugby

Over 600 players were engaged in structured development programmes through regional summer and Season long initiatives, with focused training for U16, U17, and U18 players across both boys’ and girls’ pathways. Our representative squads delivered excellent results, with three Leinster teams—U18 Girls, U18 Clubs, and U19s—winning their respective Interprovincial Series and the schools finishing Runner Up to Ulster in the Schools series. At International level Leinster provided 54% of all players at U18 &U19 level with 38% of the U18 girls’ squad. The success of these squads at interprovincial level and our national representation underscores the effectiveness of our player pathway and the commitment of coaches, staff, and volunteers.

Coaching & Compliance

This season saw continued investment in upskilling our coaching base. Over 1,700 coaches participated in workshops, seminars, and online training modules, with 126 completing the Senior Coach Award and 18 completing the Performance Coach Award. Full safeguarding compliance was achieved across all clubs by February, and the Rugby Connect platform now records 3,831 registered coaches. A new policy has been proposed to make club age grade coach compliance mandatory by October 31 each season—this includes qualification, vetting, and safeguarding. This policy aims to ensure that all players, in the age-grade system, are supported in safe and well-regulated environments.

Participation & Inclusion

Participation at the grassroots level remained strong. A total of 7,476 mini players were registered across 62 clubs. Our summer camps welcomed 3,276 boys and girls, while the School of Excellence broke records with over 1,300 attendees. Language and international camps expanded significantly, with new female participation and growth in locations such as Italy and the United States. Inclusive rugby continued to grow, with 26 Clubs now involved having disability teams. The Walking Rugby programme and special education sessions run in collaboration with local councils, schools, and adult services. This work reinforces Leinster Rugby’s commitment to accessibility and community inclusion.

School & Community Engagement

Leinster Rugby supported over 20 formalised school blitz events, including X7s, girls’ touch rugby, and full-contact junior competitions. These were supplemented by CCRO-led initiatives in over 40 clubs and community partnership projects involving local sports partnerships and councils across the province. Participation in formalised school competitions continues to grow at both boys’ and girls’ level

Governance & Technology

The Rugby Connect platform continues to be central in managing player and coach registration. Along with team and game management the department recognises the need for continued support and enforcement. Club dashboards and facility development targets remain part of a long-term plan to raise standards and ensure operational consistency.

Focus Areas for 2025/26

Building on this season’s success, the following areas will form the basis of the department’s strategic focus for 2025/26:

  • Coach Compliance Enforcement Implement the October 31 deadline for coach compliance (qualification, vetting, safeguarding). • Expand support to club coaching coordinators and regional officers to monitor and improve adherence.
  • Female Participation Growth Increase the number of female players and coaches, supported by targeted workshops and interprovincial programmes. • Continue investment in women’s coaching infrastructure, particularly at the U14 and U16 levels.
  • Club Engagement & Development Deliver club dashboards to support facilities improvement, gender balance (40% target), and overall governance. • Expand non-contact rugby offerings to attract new demographics and retain casual participants.
  • Strategic Partnerships & Staffing Strengthen partnerships with our clubs, local authorities and third-level institutions to provide more staffing opportunities. • Support staff development and succession planning to ensure continuity in delivery and innovation.

In summary, the Leinster Rugby Department has delivered a high-performing and inclusive rugby season. The continued alignment between staff, clubs, schools, and volunteers remains the key to our success. The coming season will see a renewed focus on compliance, inclusion, and sustainability as we continue to build a robust and future ready rugby environment.”