Leinster Rugby

The Leinster Branch was inaugurated at a meeting on 31 October 1879. The meeting was held at Lawrence's premises at 63 Grafton Street and was largely attended. Although this was the formal founding of Leinster as we know it today, with the amalgamation of the Irish Football Union and the Northern Union, the Leinster provincial team had been active since 1879 – when the first interprovincial derby was played against Ulster. The Leinster and Ulster teams also made up the representative Irish team that competed against England in Ireland's first-ever international in 1875. Upon the founding of the union, Munster were also added to the fray in 1879, when their first provincial team was selected and first Munster players represented Ireland.[3][4]

F. Kennedy (Wanderers) was elected first Hon. Secretary of the Branch and C.B. Croker (Lansdowne) first Hon. Treasurer.

The function of the Branch was to organise the game of rugby football in the province. Every year five representatives would be selected to join the IRFU Committee. They would be known as the "Leinster Five" and would pick the Leinster representative teams.

The first Interprovincial matches between Leinster, Ulster and Munster were held in 1875. At this time the matches were played with 20 players a side. Leinster lost to Ulster by a converted try and beat Munster by one goal to nil. Since then there has been a match between these teams annually, with Connacht joining the fold in 1885.

Leinster Schools Interprovincial matches have been taking place since 1888. Leinster Schools beat the Ulster Schools in Belfast on Saturday 7 April by a dropped goal to a try. Their first match against Munster Schools took place on 18 March 1899, when Leinster won by two tries to one.

The early 1920s led to the creation of the Provincial Towns Cup and the Metropolitan Cup, which are still hard-fought competitions in the Leinster Rugby calendar. Much has changed in rugby over the years, but the original idea of Leinster Club Rugby acting as a feeder for the Leinster Interprovincial side, though now professional, still stands true.

All Interprovincial matches were abandoned during the years of the Great War (1914–1918) and the War period (1939–1945), though unofficial matches were played.[5]

The first major touring side to play Leinster was a team drawn from the New Zealand Army – the Kiwis, in 1946. Although it was not an official touring side organised by the New Zealand Rugby Union, the quality of the match, which was drawn 10 points each, is still remembered to this day.[5]

The first official overseas touring side that came to play Leinster was an Australian touring side in 1957.[5] Since then, Leinster has played against every major touring side from Fiji to France.[5]

Before the days of professional rugby union, there was further emphasis on Irish club rugby as opposed to the provincial game. During these times the provincial sides were purely representative sides and games were far less frequent than now. Between 1946 and 2002 the sides would meet annually to contest the Irish Interprovincial Championship and on rare occasions would be tested against touring international sides. When rugby union was declared 'open' in 1995, these four teams became the four professional teams run by the Irish Rugby Football Union and therefore much of the history of the side has been made in the modern era.

Leo the Leinster Lion, team mascot

Leinster became a professional outfit in the mid-1990s. The "Leinster Lions" name came into existence during the 2001–02 season as the result of a joint marketing initiative between Leinster Rugby and its kit sponsors, the Canterbury Clothing Company. Before the start of the 2004–05 season, the 'Lions' was dropped from the name. It is still used for marketing and branding, in particular, the Cubs Club for Junior members of Leinster Rugby.[6] The Leinster mascot is "Leo the Lion". It was also during this time that the song “Molly Malone” became a match fixture to be sung by the fans.[7]

Leinster's first season in the newly formed Celtic League ended in success as the Lions were crowned the inaugural champions, beating rivals Munster Rugby in the 2001–02 final.[8] In 2002–03, they became only the third team in the history of the European Cup to win all their games in pool play. They also went one step further in the playoffs than the previous season by reaching the semi-finals (for the first time since 1995–96), but lost at home against French side Perpignan, which was accompanied by an unsuccessful season in the Celtic League. The 2003–04 season also ended in disappointment as Leinster slumped to their worst ever league performance and failed to qualify from their European Cup group.

Leinster improved during the 2004–05 season, finishing 3rd, just three points behind the eventual winners, the Ospreys.[9] Leinster also won all of their pool games in that year's European Cup, and were again among the favourites for the title, however they went out at the quarter final stage to Leicester Tigers.[10]

The next two seasons of the Celtic League were to end in near misses for Leinster, as they lost out on the 2005–06 and 2006–07 league titles on the final day of the season. These seasons also saw progress in the European Cup. In 2005–06, Leinster progressed to the semi-final but were eliminated by Irish rivals Munster at Lansdowne Road and they reached the quarter-final the following year where they were beaten by eventual winners London Wasps.

Increasing attendances at Leinster games led to a move across Dublin 4 from Donnybrook Stadium to the redeveloped RDS Arena.

In 2007–08, Leinster failed to qualify from their European Cup pool, but did end the season as Celtic League champions, sealing the title with a 41–8 victory over the Newport Gwent Dragons in front of their home fans at the RDS.[11]

In the 2008–09 season, Leinster topped their European Cup pool despite away losses to French side Castres and English side Wasps.[12] Victory over Harlequins in the quarter-finals followed, despite the Bloodgate Scandal. Leinster overcame Munster 25–6 in a semi-final in Dublin's Croke Park that broke the world record attendance for a club rugby union game with a crowd of over 82,200.[13] Leinster won the 2009 European Cup Final in Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, beating Leicester Tigers 19–16 to claim their first European crown.[14]

The RDS Arena before the 2010 Celtic League Final

In 2009–10 Leinster was eliminated from the European Cup at the semi-final stage by eventual winners Toulouse. Also despite having topped the Pro12 league during the regular season, Leinster lost the first-ever Play-off Final 17–12 on their home ground to the Ospreys.[15]

In the 2010–11 European Cup, Leinster defeated the top English teams (Leicester Tigers, Saracens & Northampton Saints), as well as top French sides, Toulouse (who were the defending European champions), Racing Metro & Clermont Auvergne, (the French Champions).[16] to go on to regain their title as champions of Europe in the 2011 European Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Trailing at half time, Leinster scored 27 unanswered points in the second half to beat Northampton 33–22 and claim their second European crown with the biggest comeback in European Cup final history.[17][18] Leinster were also chasing a Pro12 & European Cup double, but lost 19–9 to Irish rivals Munster in the Pro12 Final.[19]

In 2011–12 Leinster became only the second side ever to retain the title of European Champions. Leinster emerged unbeaten in group play to top their group[20] and went on to defeat the Cardiff Blues 34–3 in the quarterfinals,[21] followed by a 19–15 semifinal victory over ASM Clermont Auvergne.[22] and defeated Ulster in the first all-Irish final 42–14, recording the most points scored and the most tries scored in a European Cup final as well as becoming the first unbeaten side to win the European Cup.[23] Once again, Leinster targeted the double, and faced a repeat of the 2010 Pro12 final against the Ospreys. Leinster's domestic title challenge fell at the final hurdle, conceding a final minute try to slump to a one-point defeat, and unable to complete the double despite topping the table in the regular season.[24]

The 2012–13 campaign proved to be another successful season for Leinster Rugby. The club finished in second place during the regular season of the Pro12 and defeated Glasgow Warriors by a score of 17–15 in their semi-final play-off match on 11 May 2013.[25] On 17 May, Leinster were crowned champions of the European Challenge Cup after defeating Stade Français 34–13 in the final at their home ground, the RDS Arena.[26] Leinster successfully completed the double on 25 May, defeating Ulster 24–18 in the Pro12 final to claim their third league championship.[27][28]

Leinster continued their success in the 2013–14 season by becoming the first team ever to defend the Pro12 title, topping the league in the regular season and defeating Glasgow Warriors 34–12 in their fifth consecutive Pro12 play-off final and also secured their seventh major title in as many years.[29]

Following a remarkable run of seven major trophies in seven years, Leinster's title run came to an end following the 2013–14 season. The 2014–15 season saw a dip in form, with Leinster finishing in fifth place in the league and failing to make the play-offs. Fortunes in the newly formed Champions Cup were better, with the team reaching the semi-final where they were defeated in extra-time by eventual winners, Toulon. At the end of the season, head coach Matt O'Connor left the club by mutual consent with former club captain, Leo Cullen, being named as his replacement. Cullen then brought in ex-England coach Stuart Lancaster as senior coach at the start of the 2016–17 season, which saw a huge improvement from Leinster as well a big group of young players coming through. Despite playing brilliant rugby all season, Leinster failed to win any silverware, falling short in the Champions Cup semi-final to old rivals Clermont and shocked by the Scarlets in the Pro12 Semi-Final at the RDS. However, there was huge optimism amongst the players and supporters as they believed this was only the start of a new generation and perhaps another era of success.

Starting with the 2017-18 season, Leinster won four straight Pro14 championships.[30] In Europe, they won the 2017-18 Heineken Cup, defeating Racing 92 by a score of 15–12 in the final in Bilbao.[31] They were runners-up in the 2018-19 final, losing 20–10 to Saracens F.C.[32] Leinster were knocked out of the Heineken cup competition in the quarter-finals in 2019-20, and again at the semi-finals stage in 2020-21.

The format of the 2021-22 competition was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Leinster won their first round matchup with Bath. However, the day prior to Leinster's second match, an away fixture to Montpellier, the EPCR announced that the match would not go ahead, and instead awarded a 28–0 win to Montpellier.[33] This was despite Leinster having a full squad certified to be COVID-free, named, and ready to travel. The following day, the EPCR announced that all other matches involving French and UK teams from the same second round would be postponed to a future date.[34] Following the EPCR’s decision to award Montpellier a 28–0 bonus-point win for their cancelled round two clash, Leinster beat Montpellier by 89–7, with the 82 point margin eclipsing their previous biggest win in Europe set against Bourgoin back in 2004.[35]

Pool A

2022–23 European Rugby Champions Cup Pool A
Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
Leinster	4	4	0	0	184	34	+150	28	5	4	0	20
Exeter Chiefs	4	3	0	1	139	68	+71	20	8	4	0	16
Sharks	4	3	0	1	119	89	+30	15	11	3	0	15
Saracens	4	3	0	1	120	94	+26	15	11	2	1	15
Edinburgh	4	3	0	1	111	85	+26	12	11	2	1	15
Harlequins	4	2	0	2	113	108	+5	16	13	3	1	12
Bulls	4	2	0	2	102	139	–37	15	19	2	0	10
Gloucester	4	2	0	2	62	140	–78	9	20	1	0	9
Lyon	4	1	0	3	115	125	–10	16	17	3	1	8
Racing 92	4	1	0	3	60	121	–61	7	18	0	1	5
Bordeaux Bègles	4	0	0	4	53	99	–46	5	13	0	2	2
Castres	4	0	0	4	56	132	–76	6	18	0	0	0
Green background (rows 1 to 8) indicates qualification places for the Champions Cup round of 16. Blue background (rows 9 to 10) indicates qualification places for the Challenge Cup round of 16. Starting table — source: European Professional Club Rugby

The RDS Arena

Leinster's current home ground is the RDS Arena.[41] Games were first played at the RDS during the 2006–07 season, initially just for European Cup games. By the following season, however, all games had been moved to the RDS. The RDS has undergone large scale redevelopment since Leinster moved in. The arena now has a mostly seated capacity of 18,500. As the RDS remains a showjumping venue, the North and South stands are removable. A roof has been constructed to cover the grandstand opposite the pre-existing Anglesea stand.[42] The RDS will be Leinster's home until 2027, as a 20-year lease was signed in 2007.[43]

In July 2014, it was announced by the RDS and Leinster rugby that a design competition was being held to develop the arena into a 25,000 capacity world-class stadium, with work expected to commence on the redevelopment in April 2016.[44] The selling of naming rights to the arena will be a key component in funding the project, with an initial budget of €20,000,000 being proposed.[45]

Inside the RDS Arena prior to a Leinster Game

The Aviva Stadium prior to Leinster game

For bigger games where the RDS does not have sufficient capacity, Leinster play their games at the Aviva Stadium, which has an all-seater capacity of 51,700. These are often key home games in the European Cup or United Rugby Championship games against domestic rivals. In 2010 they first played a home league game against Munster, the first time the stadium sold out,[46] and then against ASM Clermont Auvergne.[47][48][49] Leinster defeated Leicester Tigers at the venue in the 2010–11 European Cup quarter-finals and went on to beat Toulouse in the semi-finals, also held at the Aviva stadium on 30 April 2011, en route to winning their second European Cup.[50] The following season Leinster hosted Munster, Bath and Cardiff at the Aviva Stadium and remained unbeaten at the ground until December 2012 when they lost 21–28 to ASM Clermont Auvergne.

Donnybrook Stadium

Leinster's traditional home over the years has been Donnybrook Stadium in Donnybrook, Dublin 4. Donnybrook consists of a single covered stand and three sides of open terracing. A move across Dublin 4 to the RDS Arena for Leinster was needed to accommodate growing crowds, as the 6,000 capacity stadium had become too small.[51] For this reason, Leinster have signed a long-term lease with the Royal Dublin Society to play home games at the RDS Arena. Donnybrook has since, been improved as a venue with the reconstruction of the grandstand in 2008[52] and remains an important venue for rugby union in Dublin.[5] Due to limited space, it is unlikely that Donnybrook will undergo further redevelopment. Leinster A play their British and Irish Cup games in the stadium and the senior team have continued to hold certain pre-season friendlies in the stadium as well as most Leinster schools cup matches being held at the venue.[53][54]

Professional era only

The following Leinster players have also represented the British & Irish Lions.[39] Bold indicates tour captain.

Year	Tour	Series Result	Players
1888	New Zealand Australia	No Test	—
1891	South Africa	3–0	—
1896	South Africa	3–1	Thomas Crean Robert Johnston
1899	Australia	3–1	—
1903	South Africa	0–1–0	—
1904	Australia New Zealand	3–0 0–1	—
1908	New Zealand Australia	0–2–1 No Test	—
1910	South Africa	1–2	—
1910	Argentina	1–0	—
1924	South Africa	0–3–1	—
1927	Argentina	4–0	—
1930	New Zealand Australia	1–3 0–1	—
1936	Argentina	1–0	—
1938	South Africa	1–2	George J. Morgan
1950	New Zealand Australia	0–3–1 2–0	Karl Mullen
1955	South Africa	2–2	Tony O'Reilly Robin Roe
1959	Australia New Zealand	2–0 1–3	Niall Brophy Ronnie Dawson Bill Mulcahy Tony O'Reilly (2)
1962	South Africa	0–3–1	Niall Brophy (2) Bill Mulcahy (2)
1966	Australia New Zealand	2–0 0–4	—
1968	South Africa	0–3–1	Ronnie Dawson (2)
1971	New Zealand	2–1–1	Mike Hipwell Sean Lynch Fergus Slattery
1974	South Africa	3–0–1	Tom Grace John Moloney Fergus Slattery (2)
1977	New Zealand	1–3	Willie Duggan Philip Orr
1980	South Africa	1–3	Ollie Campbell Rodney O'Donnell Philip Orr (2) John Robbie Tony Ward
1983	New Zealand	0–4	Ollie Campbell (2) Hugo MacNeill
1989	Australia	2–1	Paul Dean Brendan Mullin
1993	New Zealand	1–2	Vince Cunningham Nick Popplewell
1997	South Africa	2–1	Eric Miller
2001	Australia	1–2	Brian O'Driscoll Malcolm O'Kelly
2005	New Zealand	0–3	Shane Byrne Gordon D'Arcy Denis Hickie Shane Horgan Brian O'Driscoll (2) Malcolm O'Kelly (2)
2009	South Africa	1–2	Gordon D'Arcy (2) Luke Fitzgerald Jamie Heaslip Rob Kearney Brian O'Driscoll (3)
2013	Australia	2–1	Cian Healy Jamie Heaslip (2) Rob Kearney (2) Seán O'Brien Brian O'Driscoll (4) Johnny Sexton
2017	New Zealand	1–1–1	Tadhg Furlong Robbie Henshaw Jack McGrath Seán O'Brien (2) Johnny Sexton (2)
2021	South Africa	1–2	Jack Conan Tadhg Furlong (2) Robbie Henshaw (2) Ronan Kelleher Andrew Porter

The following is a list of non-Irish qualified representative Leinster players:

Nation	Player	Season(s)
Argentina	Felipe Contepomi	2003/04 – 2008/09
	Mariano Galarza	2010
	Juan Gomez	2007/08 – 2008/09
Australia	Shaun Berne	2009/10 – 2010/11
	Kane Douglas	2014/15
	Rocky Elsom	2008/09
	Scott Fardy	2017/18 – 2020/21
	Owen Finegan*	2006/07
	Joe Tomane	2018/19 – 2019/20
	Lote Tuqiri	2013
	Chris Whitaker*	2006/07 – 2008/09
New Zealand	Matt Berquist	2011/12
	David Holwell	2005, 2008
	Jimmy Gopperth	2013/14 – 2014/15
	Charlie Ngatai	2022/23 –
	Ben Te'o†	2014/15 – 2015/16
	Brad Thorn*	2012
South Africa	Jason Jenkins	2022/23 –
	Zane Kirchner	2013/14 – 2016/17
	Ollie Le Roux	2007/08 – 2008/09
	CJ van der Linde*	2008/09 – 2009/10
	Heinke van der Merwe*	2010/11 – 2012/13
Rest of the World	Vasily Artemiev	2006/07
	Adam Byrnes	2005/06
	Will Green	2005/06 – 2006/07
	Nathan Hines	2009/10 – 2010/11
	Isa Nacewa	2008/09 – 2012/13; 2015/16 – 2017/18
	Stan Wright	2006/07 – 2010/11
	Michael Ala'alatoa	2021/22 – Present
	Fosi Pala'amo	2006/07
	Vakh Abdaladze	2017/18 – Present
* indicates World Cup winners
† Ben Te'o subsequently represented England at international level

Inaugurated 2001

Inaugurated 2015

Nominated (3 nominees per year)

Inaugurated 2008 - awarded to World Rugby Under 20 Championship player of the tournament

All players listed below are Irish unless otherwise noted.

ERC European Dream Team
The following Leinster players were selected in the ERC European Dream Team, an all-time dream team of Heineken Cup players over the first 15 years of professional European rugby. (1995–2010). Both O'Driscoll and Elsom were part of the 2008–09 Heineken Cup winning team.

Season(s)	Player	Position
2008–2009	Rocky Elsom*	Flanker
1999–2014	Brian O'Driscoll	Centre

* Elsom had the fewest Heineken Cup appearances in the team and was the only member born outside of Europe

European Player of the Year

Awarded annually since 2010-11

Season	Nominated	Winner
2010–11	Seán O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Isa Nacewa[87]	Seán O'Brien
2011–12	Rob Kearney, Johnny Sexton[88]	Rob Kearney
2012–13	Jamie Heaslip (2)[89]	—
2013–14	—	—
2014–15	Jamie Heaslip (3)[90]	—
2015–16	—	—
2016–17	Garry Ringrose	—
2017–18	Scott Fardy, Tadhg Furlong, Johnny Sexton (2)[91]	—
2018–19	Seán Cronin, Tadhg Furlong (2), Garry Ringrose (2)	—
2019–20	Tadhg Furlong (3), Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose (3)	—
2020–21	—	—
2021–22	Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, James Lowe[92]	Josh van der Flier[92]
2022–23	Caelan Doris (2), Josh van der Flier (2), Garry Ringrose (4), Jamie Osborne[93]

European Cup Team of the Year
The following Leinster players were selected on the European Cup team of the year.

All players listed below are Irish unless otherwise noted. Inaugurated 2020-21.

Rugby Champions Cup player records

Statistics do not include European Rugby Challenge Cup matches. Updated as of 23 October 2023.[94][95][96]

Rugby Champions Cup Individual Season Records

The players listed above were the top try-scorers and points-scorers for the European Rugby Champions Cup in a given season.[97]

All players listed below are Irish unless otherwise noted. Inaugurated 2006-07.

United Rugby Championship Team of the Year
The following Leinster players were selected on the Pro 14 team of the year.

Season	Irish players	Foreign players
2006–07	Jamie Heaslip, Gordon D'Arcy, Denis Hickie	Felipe Contepomi
2007–08	Jamie Heaslip (2), Leo Cullen, Bernard Jackman, Malcolm O'Kelly	Felipe Contepomi (2), Ollie Le Roux, Stan Wright
2008–09	Jamie Heaslip (3), Brian O'Driscoll	Rocky Elsom
2009–10	Jamie Heaslip (4), Brian O'Driscoll (2), Leo Cullen (2)	—
2010–11	Jamie Heaslip (5), Richardt Strauss, Seán O'Brien, Mike Ross	Isa Nacewa
2011–12	Richardt Strauss (2)	Isa Nacewa (2)
2012–13	Ian Madigan	—
2013–14	Seán Cronin, Jordi Murphy, Rhys Ruddock[98]	—
2014–15	—	—
2015–16	Josh van der Flier	Isa Nacewa (3), Ben Te'o
2016–17	Jack Conan, Dan Leavy	—
2017–18	Andrew Porter, Jack Conan (2), Jordan Larmour	Scott Fardy, James Lowe
2018–19	—	Scott Fardy (2)
2019–20	Will Connors, Max Deegan	Scott Fardy (3)
2020–21[99]	Michael Bent, Dave Kearney, Scott Penny	—
2021–22[100]	Ross Byrne	—
2022–23[101]	Ross Byrne (2), Scott Penny (2), Dan Sheehan	—

United Rugby Championship Player Records

Updated 04 March 2023[102]

United Rugby Championship Golden Boot
The Golden Boot is awarded to the kicker who has successfully converted the highest percentage of place kicks during the 22-week regular Pro12 season. To be eligible, the player must have taken at least 20 kicks at goal. The prize has been awarded annually since 2012. (Percentage success rate in brackets)

United Rugby Championship Individual Awards

United Rugby Championship Team Awards

• 2010–11: Fairplay Award
• 2011–12: Fairplay Award