URC
Dave Kearney to leave Leinster Rugby at the end of the season
Dave Kearney has announced he will leave Leinster Rugby at the end of the season.
Louth native Kearney, who won 185 caps for Leinster and 19 caps for Ireland, across a 14 year career, has scored 55 tries for Leinster, and a further five for Ireland.
The 33-year-old made his Leinster Rugby debut in May 2009 against Dragons in Rodney Parade. His most recent appearance came last weekend in the BKT United Rugby Championship Quarter-Final against Cell C Sharks in Aviva Stadium.
During his time with Leinster, Kearney was part of the squad that won three Heineken Champions Cup, six League titles and a Challenge Cup. He also won the 2014 Six Nations title with Ireland, playing in every minute of the campaign.
Kearney issued the following statement to leinsterrugby.ie as below:
It’s been nearly 14 years to the day since I first had the privilege of wearing the Leinster Rugby jersey for the first time.
As I reflect on my career, the overriding feeling I get is that of gratitude.
Walking through the doors of Leinster Rugby to join the Academy in 2008, I never could have dreamt I’d still be here almost 15 years on. To have had such a long career playing for the team I grew up supporting, as well as representing my country has been a dream come true.
It’s been an incredible journey, filled with some of the most special moments of my life, ones that I’ll cherish deeply. There have been plenty of challenges along the way, ups and downs, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
I’m grateful for all the people that made this possible, in particular, my parents. To mum and dad, nobody has felt the highs and lows of professional sport more than you. Thank you so much for your unwavering support and dedication to me through my time here. You’ve both always been there for me and sacrificed so much in order for me to do what I’ve done.
To my siblings Richard and Sara thank you also for your love and support. You’ve followed me all over the world in blue and in green, and having you guys there to celebrate and share these great days with me has made them even more special.
To Rob, you’ve minded me every step of the way, from my first day in Leinster right until this point. I have no doubt that I wouldn’t have reached today without you by my side. Being able to share the pitch with you for both Leinster and Ireland have been the most memorable moments of my life.
To Becca, thank you for all your sacrifices and support. I can’t wait for our next chapter together.
To my Leinster family, thank you. To all the staff and coaches I’ve worked with, in particular, Michael Cheika who gave me my first cap, Joe Schmidt, Matt O’Connor, Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster. Thank you for always believing in me.
To all the players I have had the honour of sharing the pitch with, thanks to each of you. You have all helped me along the way in some shape or form and made me a better player. I’ve built some amazing relationships along the way, ones that I’ll have for the rest of my life.
Thanks to all in Dundalk RFC for your support, the place where I first picked up a rugby ball. To all the people and coaches I’ve worked with in Clongowes Wood College and Lansdowne FC, you also played a huge part in helping me grow and develop both as a player and person.
To all the strength and conditioning staff, the doctors and physios, thank you. You have all helped me through some tough periods of my career. You have all worked incredibly hard to keep me on the pitch, and I’ll always be very grateful for that.
Lastly to all the Leinster fans, thank you for your constant support and encouragement throughout my time here. We as players are truly blessed to have you have you as our supporters. I’ll miss the feeling of running out to a packed RDS or Aviva the most.
In the meantime, there is still plenty more to be done.
I’m going to enjoy every moment I have during my last few weeks as Leinster a player and I’m going to do all I can to help this team finish the season on a high.
Images & Content from Leinster Rugby
Springbok forwards Deon Fourie and Marvin Orie make their return to the DHL Stormers team for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final against Munster at DHL Stadium on Saturday.
Both players missed the semifinal due to injury, but will take their places in the DHL Stormers starting line-up for the showpiece match, which kicks off at 18h30 on Saturday.
Tickets for this match sold out in a matter of hours last week, so there will be a capacity crowd and heavy traffic congestion in the area. Please plan to get to DHL Stadium at least three hours before kick-off.
Spectators are urged to park remotely and catch a free MyCiTi bus from the UCT, Century City, CTICC or Civic Centre and Thibault Square bus stations
Gates at DHL Stadium open at 15h30 ahead of kick-off at 18h30. The beer garden in the stadium will be open both before and after the game with a DJ playing live and plenty of activations for fans inside the stadium, so get there early to make sure you don’t miss any of the action. CLICK HERE for all you need to know ahead of the game.
The backline that started in the semifinal win against Connacht is unchanged, with Clayton Blommetjies on the bench in place of the injured Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Fourie and Orie come in, which means that hooker Joseph Dweba and lock Ruben van Heerden are the only starting forwards that did not feature in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final at DHL Stadium last season.
DHL Stormers Head Coach John Dobson said that it is a major boost to have the likes of Fourie and Orie back for the Grand Final.
“Both Deon and Marvin have been outstanding for us this season and they will add a lot both in terms of their ability and leadership on Saturday.
“We have a lot of respect for Munster, the truth is that we have never beaten them, so while we are thrilled to be playing at home we know it will be a big challenge against a good team.
“This will be the biggest crowd for any DHL Stormers match and it should be an amazing occasion for the team, our passionate supporters and the city of Cape Town.
“We are so grateful for the support that we enjoy and what this team means to so many people. We will do our best to soak up the atmosphere, enjoy every moment and play the kind of rugby that got us here,” he said.
DHL Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Willie Engelbrecht, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.
Content & Images from – Stormers Rugby
Munster Rugby can confirm the full list of players who will depart the province at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
It was confirmed earlier this season that Malakai Fekitoa (Benetton) and Ben Healy (Edinburgh) will join new clubs ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Additionally, we can confirm that Liam O’Connor, Eoin O’Connor, Paddy Kelly, Oli Morris and Academy player Conor Phillips have completed their time at the province.
Eoin O’Connor will move abroad for a new playing opportunity.
Liam O’Connor has been advised to retire on medical grounds following successful surgery for a recent neck injury.
Paddy Kelly has retired from professional rugby on medical grounds due to a concussion sustained earlier in the season.
Paddy has received specialist medical care since the concussion, and despite all efforts, the decision to retire was made in the best interests of his long-term health.
Prop Liam O’Connor made 34 Munster appearances since his debut against Stade Francais in the Champions Cup in January 2016.
A product of the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy and former CBC student, O’Connor won the British & Irish Cup with Munster A in 2017.
He made 11 appearances in the first 12 games of the 2017/18 campaign but sustained a long-term knee injury against Ospreys in December 2017.
The Cork Constitution clubman helped Munster to a memorable victory over South Africa A at Páirc Uí Chaoimh earlier this season.
Eoin O’Connor came up through the Academy and was one of 12 players to make their senior Munster debuts in the Champions Cup win over Wasps in December 2021.
The former Waterpark RFC man moved up to the senior squad ahead of the 2022/23 season and made four senior appearances for Munster.
He has featured extensively for Young Munster in the AIL over the past number of years.
A former St Munchin’s College student, lock Paddy Kelly departs after one year as part of the senior squad having come through the Academy.
Centre Oli Morris departs after joining Munster in October when Worcester Warriors went into administration.
Winger Phillips departs after three years in the Academy that included two senior appearances. A former Crescent College student, he is also an Ireland 7s international and plays his club rugby with Young Munster.
Chris Farrell, James French and Dan Goggin all departed for new playing opportunities earlier this season.
A big thanks to all of our departing players for their contributions to Munster Rugby and we wish them all the best for the future.
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby will face the Barbarians at Thomond Park in a historic double-header for the province with the women’s and men’s squads facing respective invitational sides on Saturday, September 30.
The current Interprovincial Champions will get the action underway at 2pm while the men’s side will kick-off at 4.30pm.
A festival of rugby awaits in what will be a great family occasion for the Limerick venue, having last hosted the Barbarians in November 2017. It was on the same day that history was created as the first-ever Barbarian’s women’s fixture took place, with Munster providing the opposition.
While this will be the first time the men’s sides face each other, the world’s most famous invitation side previously played Tonga and Ireland on their visits to Thomond Park.
The occasion will see players secure valuable game-time ahead of the respective club seasons commencing with an exciting showcase of attacking, adventurous rugby in store for supporters.
Tickets
Enjoy a fun-filled day of rugby at Thomond Park with double the action and double the value with our Family ticket packs starting from €40 for 2 Adults and 2 Children.
2023/24 MRSC members and 10-Year Ticket Holders will receive a 10% discount on all ticket categories for a limited time with further details emailed to priority groups.
Tickets are available to buy online here, or from the ticket offices at Musgrave Park and Thomond Park.
Season Tickets & MRSC Memberships for next season are available here.
Did you know?
October 17, 2009: Thomond Park previously hosted a provincial double-header with the women’s squad playing Ulster in the Interpros and the men’s squad playing Benetton Treviso in the Heineken Cup.
November 10, 2017: Thomond Park hosted a historic double-header of Barbarians matches with the Baa-baas men’s and women’s sides facing Tonga and Munster respectively.
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
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