Congratulations and best wishes to Isabella Larkin who is on track to make her Interpro debut for Leinster U18 girls in their game against Munster in Energia Park this Saturday, kick off at 5.30 pm.

Leinster U18 Girls, 36 -v- Ulster, 5

Leinster U18 Girls comprehensively defeated Ulster, 36-5, in the first round of this season’s Interprovincial series at Energia Park following the conclusion of Leinster’s clash with Ulster in the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship at the same venue.

Leinster are looking to defend the title they won last season after completing an unbeaten campaign, culminating in a win over Connacht in the final.

Speaking to leinsterrugby.ie after announcing his initial squad in May, Head Coach Derek Maybury said: “We have watched a lot of Club, School, and Area matches this season, at U-16 and U-18 level, and the quality of rugby continues to improve season on season.

“We’re delighted with the squad of players we’ve selected for the summer programme which reflects the depth of talent coming through across Leinster.

“The recent Sevens sessions gave us a further opportunity to assess the players, so we go into the next phase now full of confidence and itching to get started.

“The coaching team is a pretty settled one and we have a strong core of girls returning from last year’s Interpro-winning squad, who will help us drive standards.”

PWC U-18 GIRLS INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES

Sunday, August 10

Munster v Connacht, Virgin Media Park, 2pm
Leinster v Ulster, Energia Park, 5.30pm

Saturday, August 16

Connacht v Ulster, Galway Corinthians RFC, 1pm
Leinster v Munster, Energia Park, 5.30pm

Saturday, August 23

Connacht v Leinster, Galway Corinthians RFC, 12.15pm
Ulster v Munster, Affidea Stadium, 1pm

Saturday, August 30

3rd/4th Place Play-Off, Wanderers FC, 1pm
Final, Wanderers FC, 2.45pm

 

 

It’s onwards and upwards for our U18 player, Shane McGuigan, who is now part of the Leinster U19 squad, comprising players from both Schools and Clubs, preparing for this season’s Interprovincials due to start next week. Last week he travelled with the squad to the UK and played at No 6 in the game -v- Leicester and today he is on the bench for the second warm up game -v- Saracens in Dublin. Another name on the teamsheet with Longford connections is Tom Reynolds, son of former Longford RFC player and Minis coach, James Reynolds. He starts at No 6.  Next week sees the start of the Interprovincial campaign with Leinster away to Ulster.

Speaking about the preparations, Head Coach, Adam Griggs stated:-

“As part of the preparation for the Interprovincial Championship, the squad will once again face English clubs Leicester and Saracens—just as they did last year.

“The key difference this time is how we’re structuring the Leicester fixture,” explains Adam. “We’re treating it more like a United Rugby Championship (URC) away game experience.”

 

“We’ll travel over the day before, run through a Captain’s Run at the ground, stay over and then play the match on August 6th before returning later that evening. It’s about replicating the routines and demands of a professional away fixture.

“It is designed to streamline the experience, so should they play for the Leinster seniors in one or two or three years, it won’t be as foreign to them”.

Best wishes from the Club to Shane, Tom and the rest of the squad.

Both Isabella and Diana were in action for Leinster on their tour to the UK where they played on separate teams against Hartpury College Gloucester. Leinster won both games, 38-20 and 12-7, with each of the girls on the scoresheet in their respective games. Congratulations to both, and also best wishes to Mia for a speedy recovery from her recent injury.

The schedule of Age Grade Interprovincials for the coming season has been published and hopefully we will see lots of representation from Longford RFC players.

Age Grade Interprovincial Matches (All) August 2025

Under 18 Clubs

17th August       Ulster vs Leinster            1300hrs                  Affidea Stadium (Ravenhill)

24th August       Leinster vs Connacht    1300hrs                  Energia Park (Donnybrook)

31st August       Munster vs Leinster       1430hrs                Vigin Media Park (Musgrave Park, Cork)

 

Under 19

17th August       Ulster vs Leinster            1700hrs                  Affidea Stadium (Ravenhill)

24th August       Leinster vs Connacht    1500hrs                  Energia Park (Donnybrook)

31st August       Munster vs Leinster       1700hrs                Virgin Media Park (Musgrave Park, Cork)

 

Girls U18

10th August       Leinster v Ulster               1200hrs                 Energia Park (Donnybrook)

16^th August         Leinster v Munster          1130hrs                 Energia Park (Donnybrook)

23 August           Connacht v Leinster      Tbc                          Galway Corinthians RFC

30^th August         3^rd /4^th play-off                 1300hrs                 Wanderers FC

                                  Final                                        1445hrs                 Wanderers FC