2012 Leinster Schools' Senior Cup first round
Blackrock College v Terenure College
Gonzaga College v St Gerard's College
St Mary's College v Castleknock College
Belvedere College v Clongowes Wood
CBC Monkstown v CUS
Qualifier 1 v Kilkenny College
St Michael's College v Cistercian College, Roscrea
Presentation Bray v Qualifier two.

Some interesting matches there, the stand out has to be Belvedere v Clongowes. Clongowes should have enough to get through

Shin_kicker (Dublin) - Posts: 50 - 08/12/2011 13:20:55    1081735

08/12/2011 13:20:55
Shin_kicker
County: Dublin
Posts: 32

1081735 2012 Leinster Schools' Senior Cup first round
Blackrock College v Terenure College
Gonzaga College v St Gerard's College
St Mary's College v Castleknock College
Belvedere College v Clongowes Wood
CBC Monkstown v CUS
Qualifier 1 v Kilkenny College
St Michael's College v Cistercian College, Roscrea
Presentation Bray v Qualifier two.

Some interesting matches there, the stand out has to be Belvedere v Clongowes. Clongowes should have enough to get through

two of Rock, Nure, Belvo and Clongowes out in the first round, top heavy draw again. Format has to change to a group stage first to allow schools more games

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 08/12/2011 17:24:52    1081914

Who's the players to look out for?

walkinglunchbox (Longford) - Posts: 334 - 08/12/2011 17:31:11    1081918

08/12/2011 17:31:11
walkinglunchbox
County: Longford
Posts: 28

1081918 Who's the players to look out for?

Harrison Brewer with terenure, the Byrne siblings with Clongowes, are very good players. Have a look at the leinster u18/19 squads for the players who played interpros and you will see some names always popping up in match reports

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 08/12/2011 17:40:04    1081931

Rock and Clongowes to go through, disagree about changing the format, would take away some of the magic of a cup competition

Shin_kicker (Dublin) - Posts: 50 - 08/12/2011 18:17:28    1081968

08/12/2011 18:17:28
Shin_kicker
County: Dublin
Posts: 34

1081968 Rock and Clongowes to go through, disagree about changing the format, would take away some of the magic of a cup competition

half the kids(around 200 or so) who compete in the schools cup(16 teams in the draw x 25 students) will only play in 1 game in their main competition of this season.
Too much pressure is being put on the kids in knockout competition, games being shown on tv, being treated like pros with video analysists, warm weather training.
The kids in the schools who lose in the first round will have played 10-12 friendlies and then are out of their main competition after 70 minutes, the kids are under huge pressure in the current format and changes would improve the all ready high enough playing standards

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 08/12/2011 19:35:31    1082016

Michaels going on form should def make at least the final as they are on the weaker side of the draw.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 08/12/2011 20:26:55    1082048

None of those pressures will change with extra matches, may even grow with more games, don't want young lads to play so many big matches for their bodies sake and theyneed time to study too!!!

Shin_kicker (Dublin) - Posts: 50 - 08/12/2011 20:45:47    1082054

Shin_kicker
County: Dublin
Posts: 34

1081735 2012 Leinster Schools' Senior Cup first round
Blackrock College v Terenure College
Gonzaga College v St Gerard's College
St Mary's College v Castleknock College
Belvedere College v Clongowes Wood
CBC Monkstown v CUS
Qualifier 1 v Kilkenny College
St Michael's College v Cistercian College, Roscrea
Presentation Bray v Qualifier two.

Some interesting matches there, the stand out has to be Belvedere v Clongowes. Clongowes should have enough to get through

AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!. Not this overrated, ridiculously overhyped favourite son of our newspaper propriotors . It's not even Christmas and you are discussing it . Ninety five per cent of the population couldn't give a monkeys about it. It's an elitist competition played in the main by fee paying schools. And some of you are wondering why rugby has the name of being a "posh" sport !! Don't get me wrong. I played rugby and think it is a tremendous sport both to play and to watch. Anybody who disagrees with me just take a look at Leinster v Toulouse or Leinster v Northampton this year. But for Gods sake park this Leinster Senior Schools b******t .

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6180 - 08/12/2011 20:53:09    1082057

And how many of those Leinster same players played and learnt their rugby playing in this tournament???

But some excellent, well thought out and factual points made, well done

Shin_kicker (Dublin) - Posts: 50 - 08/12/2011 21:13:54    1082077

Shin_kicker
County: Dublin
Posts: 36

1082077 And how many of those Leinster same players played and learnt their rugby playing in this tournament???

But some excellent, well thought out and factual points made, well done

Many thanks for the compliment. I'm blushing as we type.
To answer your question, pretty much all of them which really does validate the perception that rugbt unfortunately is a sport fostered by the elite for the elite. That is a pity. Doesn't get away from the fact that this elitist competitiuon is afforded a ridiculously disproprotionate amount of coverage by our newspapers.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6180 - 08/12/2011 21:31:59    1082089

Yes players who excel playing rugby in Leinster school competitions get chosen to play for Leinster, it's a bizarre system alright but seems to be working

I remember seeing Cian Healy play in ?05, phenomenal even back then

Shin_kicker (Dublin) - Posts: 50 - 08/12/2011 22:02:39    1082124

08/12/2011 20:45:47
Shin_kicker
County: Dublin
Posts: 37

1082054 None of those pressures will change with extra matches, may even grow with more games, don't want young lads to play so many big matches for their bodies sake and theyneed time to study too!!!

There is plenty of time for them to study etc.
All the top schools play at least 12-14 friendlies between september and the start of the cup in feb in preperation for the senior cup so you cant say that extra games will hamper their study as some of those friendlies would change into competitive games. Pressure would be off as kids playing would know that 1 mistake in their first game doesnt knock their team out of the competition like the current format allows

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 09/12/2011 17:38:09    1082440

I know what you mean but the pressure is there anyway even if it's 1 or 3 games, the format now gives the smaller teams a chance of progressing. Can see the merits in both formats but I like cup competitions that are actually cup competitions,it has worked well so far

Shin_kicker (Dublin) - Posts: 50 - 12/12/2011 11:17:04    1083112

12/12/2011 11:17:04
Shin_kicker
County: Dublin
Posts: 39

1083112 I know what you mean but the pressure is there anyway even if it's 1 or 3 games, the format now gives the smaller teams a chance of progressing. Can see the merits in both formats but I like cup competitions that are actually cup competitions,it has worked well so far

Yes there still would be pressure but with the format the way it is, it allows smaller schools the chance to shock maybe 1 of the big schools but how likely are they to fo it to 2 or 3 of the top teams in a knock out format.
If the format changed schools would be more likely to play a more open, risk taking style of rugby as 1 loss doesnt mean your role in the competition is ended.
The format has worked well to an extent but could be so much better.
The schools senior cup is also a major money spinner for the leinster branch and more games would bring in more money for everyone from the participating schools, the leinster branch, etc

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 12/12/2011 11:46:44    1083134

A schools competition should in no way be structured around how much money certain groups can make out of it. A group format competition will always favour the bigger schools and takes the 'cup' element out of it and the big upsets which makes the competition what it is. I don't think we will agree on this point but either way it is a fantastic competition

Shin_kicker (Dublin) - Posts: 50 - 12/12/2011 16:05:41    1083413

12/12/2011 16:05:41
Shin_kicker
County: Dublin
Posts: 40

1083413 A schools competition should in no way be structured around how much money certain groups can make out of it. A group format competition will always favour the bigger schools and takes the 'cup' element out of it and the big upsets which makes the competition what it is. I don't think we will agree on this point but either way it is a fantastic competition

I know it shouldnt but thats why games are broadcast on setanta and the likes of tony ward in the indo, gavin cummiskey in the times write big articles in the lead up to the tournament. Stories going round that tony ward was getting serious money to coach st gerards of bray at senior level
But 99 times out of 100 the big school will win and the smaller school will get only 1 more game maybe 2.
In a group format, the best teams overall will nearly always do the best but everyone gets more games, which is the most important thing for 17/18 year olds.
the weaker teams who may once every few years spring a surprise on a big school in a cup format, in my system are guaranteed at least 3 games, and

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 12/12/2011 16:17:23    1083425

I can see your point, I guess it boils down to which do you think is better - being guaranteed 3 games or having the chance to win in a one off game. I like the one off nature of the cup competition as it stands now. I think the bigger schools would favour the group system as they would be more likely to progress

Shin_kicker (Dublin) - Posts: 50 - 12/12/2011 17:53:06    1083489

Junior and Senior League finals are on tomorrow. CBC Monkstown play Roscrea in Templeville Road at 2 and Kilkenny play Castleknock in the senior final in donnybrook at 7

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 12/12/2011 21:22:20    1083647

The Irish Times - Friday, December 16, 2011'Rock v Terenure is first up
by GAVIN CUMMISKEY

THE LEINSTER schools senior cup for 2011 begins with 66 times champions Blackrock College facing Terenure College at Donnybrook on Sunday, January 29th.

There are three opening round fixtures the following Tuesday as St Michael's travel down to Maynooth NUI to meet last year's runners-up Cistercian from Roscrea, while Gonzaga face St Gerard's School in Stradbrook, with St Mary's taking on Castleknock in Donnybrook.

Two days later Clongowes Woods opening defence of their title is against fellow Jesuit college Belvedere at Donnybrook.

This year's final will take place on Sunday, March 18th and not the traditional St Patrick's Day slot to avoid a direct clash with Ireland's Six Nations game with England at Twickenham.

The opening round fixtures kick-off at 2.30pm, with the quarter and semi-finals at 3pm and the final at 3.30pm.

The Junior Cup final is at Donnybrook on March 25th.

VINNIE MURRAY CUP (all 2.30pm):
January 11th: Round one:
Gorey CS v Newpark Comprehensive, Greystones RFC;
St Andrew's College v Skerries CC, Coolmine RFC;
Newbridge College v Wilson's Hospital, North Kildare RFC;
De La Salle v Sandford Park School, Ballycorus;
The High School v St Conleth's College, Sydney Parade.
January 18th:
Bottom half quarter-final: The High School/St Conleth's College v The King's Hospital, Lakelands.
Top half quarter-final: Templeogue College v Wesley College, Kilternan.

FR GODFREY CUP (All 2.30pm):
January 17th : Round one:
Kilkenny College v St Gerard's School, Naas RFC.
January 24th: Quarter-finals -
Kilkenny College/St Gerard's School v St Patrick's Classical School, Ashbourne RFC;
St Finian's College v CUS, Maynooth NUI;
Skerries CCC v High School, Suttonians RFC;
Templeogue College v St Andrew's College, Guinness RFC.

JUNIOR CUP (in order of who plays who next, all 2.30pm):
February 7th:
Clongowes Wood College v CBC Monkstown, Donnybrook.
February 9th:
Belvedere College v Blackrock College, Donnybrook;
Pres Bray v Wesley College, Kilternan.
February 12th:
Castleknock College v St Michael's College, Donnybrook.

February 7th: Newbridge College v Cistercian, Roscrea, Co Carlow RFC.
February 9th: St Mary's College v Qualifier, Stradbrook.
February 7th: The King's Hospital v Gonzaga College, Lakelands.
February 9th: Terenure College v Qualifier, Sydney Parade.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/1216/1224309145326.html

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 16/12/2011 11:04:58    1085099