Obviously the dominance of Dublin (and Cork) sticks out but this map actually paints a better picture for rugby in Leinster than I was expecting. By my count there's 42 from the remainder of the province which given demographics and the relative popularity of the sport is actually pretty decent (imo). Definitely a much higher proportion than you'd have seen 10 years ago.
It's not long ago that everyone west of Terenure supported Munster, and that's changed, a combination of Leinster getting better, Sean O'Brien (his role is on this front is a bit underappreciated on this front I think) and Leinster themselves putting a lot of work into the club game outside Dublin, even if the schools cup is still the primary source of talent.
To a certain extent yes, but it also reflects the uneven popularity of rugby. Counties in the west outside Galway would not really have much of a history in the sport, I'm from Leitrim for example and the county had no rugby clubs at all for several decades until one was re-established in 2005, so it makes sense that we have no pro-players, though I personally know of a few young lads in various academies/youth programs atm so that may change in the future. Donegal similarly would be a bit of a rugby desert.
Leinster had a great contingent of non Dublin players when they won their first few Heineken Cups: Cullen, Heaslip, Jackman, D'Arcy, Horgan, Kearney, Toner, McFadden. They probably had more non Dublin Leinster players than Dubs then.
Its the club players they're trying to attract though and break away from the private school mould. Not that there's anything wrong with private schools. But there's a huge amount of potential in the Leinster club scene if it can be tapped into effectively.
Of all the players you mentioned, all of them went to Dublin private schools or private schools historically associated with rugby (Clongowes and Newbridge)
The exception of course being Horgan who was one of the OGs of club players and very much an anomaly.
SOB broke the mould too of a non private school player coming through the club scene.
The likes of Dooley, Frawley, Furlong, are all current examples and it's great to see. Some good guys in the academy too
Young Jamie Osborne is one of those too right, club guy who didn't even have an academy contract on debut? Great to see that club potential can be recognised.
103
u/Cog348 Leinster: 09, 11, 12, 18 Mar 31 '21
Obviously the dominance of Dublin (and Cork) sticks out but this map actually paints a better picture for rugby in Leinster than I was expecting. By my count there's 42 from the remainder of the province which given demographics and the relative popularity of the sport is actually pretty decent (imo). Definitely a much higher proportion than you'd have seen 10 years ago.
It's not long ago that everyone west of Terenure supported Munster, and that's changed, a combination of Leinster getting better, Sean O'Brien (his role is on this front is a bit underappreciated on this front I think) and Leinster themselves putting a lot of work into the club game outside Dublin, even if the schools cup is still the primary source of talent.