Latest news with #ULBohemians
RTÉ News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Dave Kilcoyne the latest Munster veteran to confirm retirement
Dave Kilcoyne is the latest Munster veteran who has confirmed his retirement from professional rugby. The 36-year-old has announced the end of his 15-year career, the last two years of which have been haunted by injury. One of just 15 men to have reached a double-century of appearances for the province, serious shoulder and achilles injuries have limited the Limerick man to just five appearances since the Rugby World Cup in 2023, and he hasn't featured since December's win away to Ulster in Belfast. "Growing up living in Limerick, my dream was always to play for Munster and Ireland. To have done so for so long has been a dream come true," said Kilcoyne, who was 21-years-old when he was first drafted into the Munster academy in 2010. "The last two years haven't gone as planned with surgeries to my shoulder and achilles. In a way, it's easier that the decision to play on has been taken away from me. "I take great pride in knowing that I always gave everything I had and left nothing on the pitch. It's almost a fitting way for me to finish up. "I want to thank all the coaches that have influenced my career right the way up from UL Bohemians, Ardscoil Rís, Munster and Ireland." The loosehead prop has played 220 times for the province since making his debut in 2011, while he also won 56 caps for Ireland. Kilcoyne played in two Rugby World Cups for Ireland and won a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023, while he was also part of the Munster squad that won the URC earlier that year. IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys said: "It is never an easy day for a player to hang up their boots, but Dave can look back on his career with immense pride. "As both a character and a driving force on the field he will be missed, but to play more than 50 times for his country tells you all you need to know about his abilities as a high-class loosehead prop. "Dave made an enormous contribution to the red of Munster and green of Ireland and he can reflect on playing his part on a successful era for Irish rugby. "On behalf of everyone in Irish rugby I would like to wish him and his family the very best in the future." Kilcoyne is the fourth member of Munster's 200 Club who will be departing at the end of this season, with Peter O'Mahony and Stephen Archer also retiring, while Conor Murray is set to leave for a new club abroad.
BreakingNews.ie
27-04-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Kate Flannery knows it's not going to be a straight forward path
As Kate Flannery prepares for another AIL final for UL Bohemians, the dream of playing in the World Cup later this year is still on her mind. The fly-half has impressed for her club and province, as the Limerick side prepare to defend their AIL title against Railway Union in the Aviva Stadium this weekend. Advertisement With many of the squad part of last year's victory, Flannery hopes they can lean on that experience this weekend. "Last year going in, it was hard to know what to expect. I was very nervous last year. "I would still be nervous going in, it is going to be a different game to last year, but it is nice to know the day and not get too carried away with the outside noise. "While enjoying the moment while we are there, just focus on the game as much as we can. Advertisement "Since last year, our team has just created such a good bond, and we are just so used to playing with each other now." By the time the final kicks off on Sunday, Ireland's Six Nations campaign will have concluded, with focus turning to the World Cup in September. In a short space of time, Scott Bemand has turned Ireland's fortunes around, with Flannery being called up to previous squads. Despite not being part of the Six Nations squad, the 20-year-old is still aiming to be part of the World Cup and make her Ireland debut. Advertisement "Ìt would be unreal, it is something I am striving towards. Last year I was lucky enough to be a training panellist ahead of the Six Nations. "Just getting the chance to see how professional it is and playing with the girls is class. "This year, not being involved, it has just been a motivator to try to get back up there. Seeing how well they are playing, you would just love an opportunity to play in that system and play with some of the top quality players they have." Coming from a rugby family, Kate often leans on her brother Jake for advice, who plays for Ulster. Advertisement Also a fly-half, Kate has seen the ups and downs of rugby through her brother, as he continues his recovery from injury. "It is class. Even after the game, when I am reviewing bits individually that I could have worked on or opportunities I have missed, being able to send him clips and get a second pair of eyes, it is so helpful. "He has shown a lot of resistance in his career. He has had a few injuries, and he has moved provinces, so that is nice to see when things aren't going my way or I am struggling to get as much game time as I would like. "Just seeing how resilient how reiliant he has been and how he has got through stuff. "It is inspiring to know it is not going to be a straightforward path, there is going to be bumps in the road, you can see that from him as well."
RTÉ News
24-04-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Aoife Wafer ruled out of Ireland's trip to Scotland
Aoife Wafer has been ruled out of Ireland's final Guinness Six Nations game against Scotland on Saturday with a knee injury. Scott Bemand's side, third in the table, are already without back row Erin King, who has been ruled out for a number of months with a serious knee injury. Bemand has included two uncapped players, UL Bohemians and Munster players Aoife Carey and Jane Clohessy, in his squad but the headline news is that influential number 8 Wafer, who scored two tries in the 40-14 win over Wales last Sunday, is out. "Aoife Wafer was ruled out of selection this week due to a knee injury picked up during last weekend's win at Rodney Parade," said the IRFU. Corey is named to start at full-back having been called into the squad on the back of impressive performances for the Clovers in the Celtic Challenge, while second row Clohessy – the daughter of former Ireland international Peter – also earns her opportunity in green as she's named among the replacements. It is an unchanged midfield pairing as Enya Breen and Aoife Dalton continue at inside and outside centre, respectively, while Dannah O'Brien and Molly Scuffil-McCabe are retained in the half-backs. In the pack, Niamh O'Dowd returns to fitness to start in the front row alongside Neve Jones and Linda Djougang, while Ruth Campbell and Fiona Tuite are in the engine room, allowing Dorothy Wall to shift to blindside flanker in a back row alongside captain McMahon and number 8 Brittany Hogan. On the bench, Clíodhna Moloney, Sadhbh McGrath, Christy Haney, the uncapped Clohessy and Claire Boles provide the forward reinforcements, with backs Emily Lane, Eve Higgins and Stacey Flood completing Ireland's 23. Ireland have lost to France and England, and beaten Italy and Wales, while Scotland beat Wales on the opening day but lost their three games since. Ireland: Aoife Corey; Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Aoife Dalton, Enya Breen, Amee-Leigh Costigan; Dannah O'Brien, Molly Scuffil-McCabe; Niamh O'Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Fiona Tuite; Dorothy Wall, Edel McMahon (capt), Brittany Hogan. Watch a URC double-header, Scarlets v Leinster and Ulster v Sharks, on Saturday from 4.45pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
