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The 42
4 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
'It was good because you got to know everyone, but it wasn't really touring'
RONAN KELLEHER SAYS his forthcoming trip to Australia with the British & Irish Lions will have a fresh feel to it. Despite only making his Ireland senior debut in February of the previous year, Kelleher joined the Lions for a pre-season training camp that took place in Jersey ahead of their Tour of South Africa in 2021. This was to provide cover for hookers Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie (who had club commitments to contend with) and while the Dubliner wasn't on the touring squad at that time, he was officially added to the Lions set-up on 14 July of that year. Yet that Tour (on which Kelleher didn't see any game time) was played in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and a number of restrictions were imposed as a result – including the absence of spectators for their three Test matches against the Springboks. Advertisement Although he still made the most of his time in the squad, Kelleher is looking forward to sampling the full Lions experience in Australia. 'There was no fans, so it was a very different tour. That kind of had its pros and cons. A pro was probably that you got to know everyone pretty well, because you kind of had to. You were obviously in each other's space 24/7. I was out there for, whatever it was, four weeks plus the Jersey training camp,' Kelleher said at a Leinster media briefing on Monday. 'In that regard it was good because you got to know everyone, but it wasn't really touring. I think it's going to be an unbelievable experience. People who have talked to us, who have been on previous Lions tours, have said it has been brilliant. Some of the highlights of their lives. Please God, all going well, it will be a good tour.' After playing some part in the past three deciders, Kelleher found himself in the unfamiliar position of being idle when Bordeaux Begles and Northampton Saints faced off in the latest European Champions Cup final last Saturday. Despite the disappointment of that last-four defeat at the hands of Northampton, there was one man Kelleher was pleased for on the weekend just gone. Bordeaux's attack specialist Noel McNamara was head coach of the Ireland U20s when Kelleher featured for them in 2018 and the former St Michael's College student was effusive in his praise of the Clare native. 'A legend. He has obviously done a great job, he's a great fella. I'm happy for him. As disappointed as I am it wasn't us, you're glad when it is one of your own gets a chance. I'm absolutely delighted for Noel and he has obviously done a fantastic job, even going off to the Sharks before that. He obviously did a great job with them as well. He's brilliant.' Whereas McNamara and Bordeaux will be hoping to follow up their Champions Cup triumph by getting their hands on the Top 14 trophy in France, Kelleher and Leinster are aiming to achieve their own success in the United Rugby Championship in the coming weeks. The first obstacle the eastern province have to overcome in their bid for URC glory is a quarter-final tie against Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 3pm). Kelleher was in the starting line-up when Leinster lost to the Welsh region in a regular season game at Parc y Scarlets on 26 April and even though the Blues weren't at full strength on that occasion, Kelleher is expecting a similar challenge from the Llanelli-based outfit in their latest duel. 'Obviously off the back of it they got into the play-offs and I thought they were really good on the day. I thought we obviously were poor in parts as well, but we obviously know how much of a threat that they can cause. Having played in it, you obviously get it first hand,' Kelleher added. 'We took a lot of learnings from that game. What we did wrong, what we need to get right the next day. I think that is going to be a massive challenge this weekend, but it had also been a massive focus for us last week. Because obviously we had the down week not playing in that game [Champions Cup final] and this week now going ahead.'
The 42
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The 42
'When both of our names were called out, they barged in the front door'
THERE WAS double joy in Hugo Keenan's household last Thursday week as the British & Irish Lions squad for the forthcoming Tour of Australia was revealed at The O2 Arena in London. Along with his school friend Brian Horgan, Keenan currently lives in Clonskeagh with his provincial and international teammate Ronan Kelleher. After finishing a collective training session at Leinster's nearby headquarters in UCD, the pair returned home to watch the unveiling of the Lions selection for this summer's trip to the southern hemisphere together. Due to the forwards being announced before the backs in the English capital, Kelleher — who was drafted into the Lions squad as additional cover for their Tour of South Africa four years ago — didn't have to wait as long as Keenan to learn whether he was included or not. Yet when it came to naming the backs for the journey to Australia, head coach Andy Farrell ultimately gave the 28-year-old full-back the nod for his maiden venture with the Lions. 'Myself and Ronan sat down at the couch at 2pm. We figured we would be going through it together, whether it was good or bad for one or both of us. We have been through thick and thin, so it was cool to share that moment with him. For him to get his name called out, and then me to wait a little bit longer to get mine, was really special,' Keenan remarked at a Leinster media briefing on Monday. Advertisement 'I've been living with him for two-and-a-half years, and he would be one of my best mates in here, so that was a great moment. Will Connors is my neighbour, unfortunately! You don't get any peace and quiet, but he lives next door. 'Ross Byrne, Ciaran Frawley and Max Deegan had gone over to his house to watch the announcement. When both of our names were called out, they barged in the front door. It was cool that they did that. They were sort of hiding in there, in anticipation and in hope that we'd get the nod.' While the prospect of playing Test matches in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney is exciting, Keenan could potentially find himself in familiar territory for his first game with the British & Irish Lions. Before jumping on a plane to Australia, the Lions are set to face Argentina in a warm-up game at the Aviva Stadium on 20 June. Unsurprisingly, this is a game Keenan is eager to be selected for — though it isn't something he is thinking too deeply about just yet. 'I think that's cool. There was huge excitement when that fixture got announced. That family, friends, all at home, Irish supporters, Leinster supporters, all the provinces' supporters can get to see Irish lads in action, in a Lions jersey in the capital, is brilliant. 'I don't think we're going to be looking too far ahead to that stage. I can't say I am. I've hopefully another four games to be playing in the Aviva between now and then. The excitement of that is at the front of my mind. Hopefully, there will be as big of a crowd out for those games as there is for that Lions match.' The four games in the Aviva that Keenan refers to are Leinster's final regular round United Rugby Championship fixture against Glasgow Warriors tomorrow and three possible knockout encounters in the same competition. The eastern province will need to get through quarter-final and semi-final games if they are to play a URC decider at the Lansdowne Road venue on 14 June, but Leinster's guaranteed first-place finish in the league table ensures they will remain in Dublin until the end of the 2024/25 season. Last Saturday saw them securing top spot in the URC standings courtesy of a 76-5 demolition of Zebre in the Aviva, with 13 of those who featured in the previous weekend's surprise European Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton Saints seeing action against the Italians. Keenan wasn't involved for the Zebre game and the former Ireland 7s star — who was speaking to the media in advance of the IRFU's decision to cease their Men's Sevens programme — is looking forward to making a return to competitive fare tomorrow evening. 'I didn't get the opportunity to play last week. The lads who did obviously put in a great performance. We were keen to show what we had in us,' Keenan added. 'Hopefully, I'll get the opportunity this week, along with a few other lads, to come back in and bottle up that hurt and disappointment that we have in us in the right way and channel it for that Glasgow game. 'Because the best way to get over the hurt and disappointment is to get back on the train and to get back on the pitch. Get excited about the rugby and what's to come.'
The Irish Sun
08-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Ireland star ‘had double vision' after being ‘eye gouged' while playing for Lions but ‘glad rival wasn't given red card'
LUKE FITZGERALD revealed he was left with "double vision" from an eye gouge suffered while playing for the Lions. But the former 2 Luke Fitzgerald was left with double vision from an eye gouge while playing for the Lions Credit: AP:Associated Press 2 But he is glad Schalk Burger was not red carded for it Credit: Action Images - Reuters Fitzgerald was one of 15 players included by Lions head coach Ian McGeechan for the 2009 Tour of South Africa . The Springboks won the series outright 2-1, having won the first two Tests in Durban and Pretoria before the Lions emerged victorious in the third in Johannesburg. Fitzgerald was reflecting on that tour ahead of Australia . And he said: "(South Africa) was an amazing place to go on tour - I really felt for the crew who went down there during COVID. Read More on Lions "As we all know, they're a very passionate bunch, the South African supporters. But then, when you bring the Lions red sea contingent into it, it was a brilliant couple of weeks. "I think we got that last tour just before camera phones, having a little bit of the professional side of things, but also some of the amateur era stuff which was pushed from Ian McGeechan and the management. "We all got on like a house on fire , had a great time out there, it was a brilliant test series. "It was pretty closely fought, we had some missed opportunities in the first test, but everyone remembers that second test in Pretoria - what a battle that was. Most read in Rugby Union "It was a great one to be involved with, although unfortunately we came out on the wrong side of it. "It was an amazing tour, with amazing people. Shocking moment enormous brawl breaks out in rubgy league after 'horrendous hit' "You always have that little bit of a connection with other Lions just because of what you've gone through and I think it's great to hear the other lads' stories as well." The second Test proved to be a controversial one. Within the first minute, Schalk Burger - who did not play in the opening Test - appeared to make contact with the eyes of Fitzgerald. He was only shown a yellow card and thus sent to the sin bin for the following ten minutes. The 2004 World Rugby Player of the Year was suspended for eight weeks for the transgression after the fact. But Fitzgerald revealed he was glad the Springbok was not shown red on the day. WRESTLING MATCH He explained: 'The eye gouge - it was kind of unusual. "Us wingers generally try to stay out rucks as much as possible, but I found myself somehow in a ruck next to Schalk Burger and it wasn't a pleasant experience. 'It was mad - he gouged me, on his 50th Test cap as well! "I found myself wrestling with him; which is never a good idea, but he decides to gouge me on top of it after making mincemeat out of me. 'It was a bad start to the test, I had double-vision for pretty much the rest of the game really. "He only got a yellow card for it, which was the big talking point of that tour, even though the linesman told the referee at the time 'he's gouged him'. 'He asked me and I said 'he did gouge me, I don't know what to say and don't want to be a rat, but he did do that'. 'It was unfortunate and they were very lucky to get away with that one. "The pressure of the crowd and the atmosphere at Loftus Versfeld, all of those things were probably contributing factors to it. 'In some ways, it was good that it didn't ruin his big day, which would have been a disaster for a guy who's an all-time great, to have cost them a test match on his 50th cap. "From a Lions perspective, it wasn't so great. It was still an unbelievable Test match, we still had plenty of opportunities to win the game, close out the game." JOINT PAIN The former Leinster man was not the only one to count his bruises in what was a gruelling contest. The 37-year-old said: 'At half-time, I'll never forget the scenes in our dressing room - Adam Jones, his shoulder was out, so he was trying to get that put back in. "He's a big boy in fairness, so it's hard to get that shoulder back in. 'You could hear people in agony at the side of the changing room and the rest of us were just picking ourselves together. "There were guys who had been knocked out and stuff, so it was a brutal test match. 'They were an unbelievable team and we almost brought it to a third test, unfortunately not, but it was a brilliant occasion.' Luke Fitzgerald was speaking to Sydney and Melbourne Tests.
Irish Examiner
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Cullen pleased with Frawley despite difficulties off tee
URC: Leinster 41 Ulster 17 Despite a difficult night off the kicking tee on his return to the side at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen insisted he is happy with the form of the versatile Ciaran Frawley. Having watched on over the previous fortnight as Sam Prendergast and Ross Byrne shared out-half duties against Harlequins and Glasgow Warriors in the knockout rounds of the European Champions Cup, Frawley found himself back in the number 10 jersey for a United Rugby Championship clash with interprovincial rivals Ulster. While it didn't have a huge impact on the final outcome of the game, Frawley (who has also regularly lined out for Leinster at inside centre and full-back) was successful from just one of his four conversion attempts over the course of the action. This might be concerning as he aims to be involved in the business end of the URC and the Champions Cup in the coming weeks, but Cullen said the Skerries man is very much in the reckoning for selection. 'It's good. It has been a bit stop-start for him. At the early part of the season, he was starting games and the team was going well. Break for November and at the end of November the scenario has changed with Sam and Sam hasn't really given it up,' Cullen remarked after Saturday's game. 'It has been a bit more frustrating because Ross hasn't been in [Ireland camp], whereas Ciaran has so he hasn't been with us. He's good, he got 60 minutes at number 10 today and 20 at full back when Sam comes on. It's really positive that he's back in the mix, up and running again.' Having already lost Stuart McCloskey just before kick-off, Ulster's resources were further stretched by the injury withdrawals of Stewart Moore, Michael Lowry and Callum Reid in the first half of the action at Irish Rugby HQ on Saturday. Just before Lowry was taken off in the 21st minute, Leinster responded to an early Jack Murphy penalty for Ulster with a superb individual try from player of the match Tommy O'Brien. Frawley subsequently supplied the bonuses for the first and only time in the contest to a Thomas Clarkson try, before Ulster came storming back into contention when towering lock Cormac Izuchukwu sprinted over the Leinster whitewash off an elaborate John Cooney pass. Yet Ulster suffered a double blow in the closing moments of the opening period when a yellow card for David McCann followed the awarding of a penalty try to Leinster. This offered the hosts a 19-10 interval cushion and within two minutes of the restart, the eastern province wrapped up a bonus point courtesy of a fourth try from Garry Ringrose. The replacements bench Cullen selected for this game almost entirely consisted of current international stars and one of those players had a devastating impact upon his introduction. Now fully recovered from the anterior cruciate ligament injury he sustained on Ireland's Tour of South Africa last summer, Dan Sheehan was released by Tommy O'Brien and Prendergast for tries in the 58th and 69th minutes. Ulster eventually fired back with a converted finish by Matthew Dalton, before Sheehan completed his hat-trick less than three minutes from the end of time to leave him with an astonishing haul of 12 tries from just nine games for club and province in 2025. Whereas Leinster are now nine points clear at the URC summit, Ulster find themselves occupying 10th spot in the table. A home game against the Sharks on Saturday precedes away encounters with Munster and Edinburgh, and head coach Richie Murphy admitted this weekend's clash against the South African outfit is a must-win for his side. 'It definitely is. To get into the top-eight it's very hard to know what you need, but 47/48 points would probably do it. We're on 37 points at the moment, so ten or 11 points we would be pretty happy with,' Murphy said. 'Whether that be three wins or two wins and picking up a couple of bonus points. It's going to be very tight because a lot of the teams have to play against each other as well.' Scorers for Leinster: Tries: D Sheehan (3), T O'Brien, T Clarkson, G Ringrose, Penalty Try Cons: C Frawley, S Prendergast. Scorers for Ulster: Tries: C Izuchukwu, M Dalton Cons: J Murphy 2 Pens: J Murphy LEINSTER: J Osborne; T O'Brien (L Turner 62), G Ringrose, R Henshaw (S Prendergast 62), J O'Brien; C Frawley, L McGrath (F Gunne 59); J Boyle (A Porter 47), G McCarthy (D Sheehan 47), T Clarkson (T Furlong 47); J McCarthy (RG Snyman 53 (M Deegan 71)), D Mangan; A Soroka, S Penny, J Culhane. ULSTER: M Lowry (J Cooney 21); Z Ward, J Postlethwaite, S Moore (W De Klerk 16), J Stockdale; J Murphy, N Doak; A Warwick (C Reid 39 (T O'Toole 62)), R Herring (T Stewart 40), T O'Toole (S Wilson 57); A O'Connor (K Treadwell 47), C Izuchukwu (M Dalton 48); J McNabney (M Rea 61), N Timoney, D McCann. Referee: G Gnecchi (FIR).
