The race for the Grand Final has been hotting up over recent weeks and not just on matchdays.
Some seven teams currently remain in contention for the Play-Offs, meaning 14 of our Kick your way to the Grand Final competition winners still had their hearts set on the ultimate prize prior to last week’s fixtures.
Back in December, January and February, we ran an exclusive online competition here at magnersleague.com offering you the chance to kick for glory at the 2011 Grand Final.
Thousands of you answered a simple question correctly and were automatically entered into a draw which saw us give away over 200 fantastic prizes.
As well as handing out signed shirts, Magners League merchandise and match tickets, we offered six winners from each of the 12 clubs a once-in-a-lifetime experience that included a behind the scenes tour and a kicking master class with a Magners League star.
Our lucky winners were treated to an inside view of their favourite team’s training or playing facilities, with Magners League Ambassadors such as British & Irish Lions Test heroes David Wallace and Ross Ford providing a unique insight into what takes place behind closed doors.
They then took part in a goal kicking master class in which star performers like Dan Parks and Ian Humphreys passed on advice and showed them exactly how it’s done.
And to top it all, the session finished with a competitive element as our kickers went head-to-head by kicking for the posts from three different positions along the 22.
What happens next?
The top two kickers from each club now have the chance to kick on the big stage as they step out at a Magners League match either this weekend or next.
Each pair will feel the pressure of kicking in front of a live crowd at half-time or before kick-off in Round 21 or 22, with Connacht, Edinburgh and the Dragons having hosted their competitions during last week’s action.
But our prize doesn’t end there, either. The winning kickers from the two teams who reach the Grand Final will repeat the process at the League’s showpiece event on Saturday, May 28 when they really will be hunting for Grand Final glory.
The big names: the kicking coaches and star tour guides
Aironi: Julien Laharraghue and Marco Bortolami
Benetton Treviso: Kristopher Burton and Willem de Waal
Blues: Dan Parks and Paul Tito
Connacht: Miah Nikora and Johnny O'Connor
Dragons: Jason Tovey and Luke Charteris
Edinburgh: David Blair and Ross Ford
Glasgow: Ruaridh Jackson and Johnnie Beattie
Leinster: Ian Madigan and Kevin McLaughlin
Munster: Paul Warwick and David Wallace
Ospreys: Dan Biggar and James Hook
Scarlets: Rhys Priestland and Jon Davies
Ulster: Ian Humphreys and Chris Henry
What they said
Dan Parks – Blues kicker
“It was a great exercise and the standard of the kickers was very high. I think if we can make it to the Grand Final then whoever represents us will do a great job.
“We've got to get there first, but we'll be doing our best and I know that the two 'Kick Your Way' finalists from the two clubs will enjoy a fantastic day out.
“It will be a slightly different experience for them kicking in front of a big crowd. But all they have to do is concentrate on the skill and block out everything else.”
Ruth Murray – Glasgow competitor
“It was an experience that money can’t buy. It was a good fun day out behind the scenes at the Warriors and they were great hosts.
“I absolutely loved it. Ruaridh (Jackson) and Johnnie (Beattie) were fantastic. They answered all the questions we asked and more. The rest of the team and the staff that we met were all happy to speak to us and all in all it was a really good day.
“I’m absolutely terrified about kicking at Firhill on Friday! I don’t like doing things in front of a crowd so the prospect of kicking in front of the Firhill crowd is terrifying, really! But the advice that Ruaridh gave us was great. Because I got through to the next stage, I’ve taken that advice on board and have been going out practicing.”
Stuart Gilroy – Ulster competitor
“I enjoyed it thoroughly. To be kicking with a brilliant kicker like Ian Humphreys and to be kicking at Ravenhill, where I watch the games most week, was great.
“I definitely picked up a lot of techniques. Ian went through things like how to actually strike the ball, step-by-step techniques and following through on your kick. He told us to basically get everything out of our minds and just to make sure you concentrate on your technique. He said it was like a golf swing and the aim was for it to be the same every time. That was his main emphasis.
“I’m looking forward to kicking at the game against Connacht. I’m probably going to have a few shockers but we’ll see how it goes. I’ll have a lot of friends there and they’ll be giving me a lot of stick, but it’ll be a good experience.”
Dan Biggar – Ospreys kicker
“I really enjoyed meeting the winners and they picked up a few tips very quickly. They improved quite a lot over the hour we had getting ready for the competition.
“I’m pretty sure that whoever represents the Ospreys if we make it to the Grand Final again will do a great job for us.”
Iwan Thomas – Blues competitor
“It was a great experience coming down to the Cardiff City Stadium to experience the atmosphere here. I must admit it was a bit nerve wracking and I guess it’s only going to be even more so when we kick against each other at the Treviso game. I just hope the Blues can go all the way to the Grand Final, and if they do and I’m there, I won’t let them down.”
Our competitors in full
Aironi: Michele di Blasio, John Fenwic, Francesco Marcigliano, Claudio Aldovranti, Giuseppe Gnappi, Matteo Casalgrandi
Benetton Treviso: Enrico Marin, Daniele Baldi, Marco Rimini, Adelina Agnoletto, Giorgio Meneguzzi, Francesco Adorisio
Blues: Iwan Thomas, Gareth Quirk, Matthew Hall, Katie Shepherd, Kevin Poole, Keith Ruggles
Connacht: Joseph Devaney, Philip Gilsenan, Niall Horan, James Gallagher, Bryan Egan, Andrew Fogarty
Dragons: David Hazelden, Rhys Rhodes, Nick Cox, David James, Richard Dombrowski, Alan Clayton, Lee Hallett
Edinburgh: Chris Fulton, Colin Howie, Stuart Morrison, William Evans, Craig Gallier, Alastair Leadbetter
Glasgow: Gwen Jones-Edwards, Ruth Murray, Jamie Urquhart, Chris Nicolson, Gillian Shenstone, Ian Brooks
Leinster: Mark Delany, Robbie Ensor, Eoin Melly, Conor McGoveran, Peter Byrne, Denise Fitzpatrick
Munster: Maurice Healy, Donal Horgan, Paul Power, Chloe Pearse, Peter O’Leary, Daniel Murphy
Ospreys: Matthew Yates, Jonathan Phillips, Jason Downing, Kim Lawrence, Jim Hussell, Tracey Harris
Scarlets: Andrew Jones, Clive Morgan, Penry Thomas, Tom Parry-Jones, Gareth Smith, Merv Appleton
Ulster: Roger Buttery, Glen Graham, Philip McKnight, Ben McLaughlin, Stuart Gilroy, Robert Muir
The winners
Aironi: Giuseppe Gnappi, Michele di Blasio
Benetton Treviso: Enrico Marin, Daniele Baldi
Blues: Iwan Thomas, Matthew Hall
Connacht: James Gallagher, Andrew Fogarty
Dragons: David Hazelden, Lee Hallett
Edinburgh: Stuart Morrison, Chris Fulton
Glasgow: Ruth Murray, Jamie Urquhart
Leinster: Mark Delany, Eoin Melly
Munster: Maurice Healy, Donal Horgan
Ospreys: Jason Downing, Kim Lawrence
Scarlets: Andrew Jones, Gareth Smith
Ulster: Philip McKnight, Stuart Gilroy
The matches that really count: here’s when our winners take centre stage
Thursday April 21: Blues vs Treviso
Friday April 22: Glasgow vs Scarlets, Ulster v Connacht
Saturday April 23: Aironi v Leinster, Ospreys v Munster
Friday May 6: Leinster vs Glasgow, Munster vs Connacht, Scarlets vs Blues
And the ones that have already taken place:
Friday April 15: Edinburgh vs Aironi, Dragons vs Ospreys, Connacht vs Blues
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Connacht have been dealt a timely boost with the addition of former Ireland U20 scrum-half Paul O’Donohoe from Leinster.
 O’Donohoe is the latest member of Ireland’s famous 2007 U20 grand slam winning team to join the province, and will join up with Andrew Browne, TJ Anderson, Eoghan Grace and Niall O’Connor in the green of Connacht next season. The 5’10’’, 89kg scrum-half has made 16 appearances to date for Leinster including two run outs in the Heineken cup against Glasgow and the Scarlets. He also started for Leinster in Connacht’s New Year’s Day defeat in the RDS this season. The former Belvedere College man has captained Leinster ‘A’ this season and has played 19 times for ‘A’s including eight times in the British and Irish Cup.
Speaking on the new deal, the Dubliner said:
"I am delighted to be signing for Connacht next season. I have worked under Eric and Dan in my Ireland U20 days so I have first hand experience of how passionate they are about the club and also how ambitious they are so I am very excited by this challenge.
I will obviously miss the lads and the back room staff at Leinster as I have been here since my academy days, however Connacht is a new chapter in my rugby career that I am very excited about"
Head Coach Eric Elwood:
“We’re delighted Paul is joining us, I’ve known Paul since he starred for the Ireland U20’s in ’07 and I believe he’s a top class player and very capable of the standard required in the Magners League and European competitions. He’s a young dynamic scrumhalf and will fit very nicely into our setup here.”
All pics (C) www.inpho.ie |
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Connacht started the brighter of the two sides and took an early lead on three minutes through the boot of Ian Keatley. Cardiff struck back four minutes later through the boot of Dan Parks. Connacht applied more pressure on Cardiff from the restart and went back in front when Keatley kicked a penalty from a metre inside the Cardiff half. As the half wore on Cardiff started to get a foothold and their centre pairing of Jamie Roberts and Casey Lualala looked particularly dangerous. However it was Conike next. The referee initially blew for a Connacht knock-on but after consultation with his touch judge he turned around the decision and gave a penalty to the home side which Keatley duely slotted. Two minutes later Cardiff piled the pressure and after checking with the TMO, referee Andrew McMenemy awarded Casey Lualala a try. The former All Black stretching and touching the ball down beside the post. Parks added an easy conversion to give the Welsh side a one point lead. However it was Connacht who ended the half on top with a Keatley penalty.
Connacht made one change at half-time with John Muldoon replaceing Andrew Browne. But it was the visitors who came out of the blocks faster and took back the lead on 42 minutes through a Parks penalty. Cardiff kept applying pressure and on 51 minutes Ray Ofisa saw yellow for a dangerous tackle on a Cardiff player. Parks slotted the resulting penalty. On 61 minutes the Scot added his fourth penalty of the night to put seven points between the teams. Connacht were dealt another hammer blow on 69 minutes when the Scottish referee sin binned Gavin Duffy for not rolling away. Parks missed the penalty but Cardiff kept plugging and found the gap on 73 minutes with Wales International lock Bradley Davies tounching down under the posts. Parks couldn't miss the conversion and gave Cardiff a 14 point lead. Connacht, to their credit, rallied with 14 men. Substitute Tiernan O'Halloran making a couple of darting runs. But when Ian Keatley was bundled into touch on 80 minutes, the final whistle went and the visitors took the spoils back to the Welsh capital. Final score in the Sportsground was Connacht 12-26 Cardiff Blues. Next up for Connacht is a Good Friday trip to Ravenhill to face in-form Ulster.
Photos ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan |
| Last Updated ( Friday, 15 April 2011 21:42 ) |
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Trio boost Connacht ranks.
Connacht Rugby has been dealt a timely boost ahead of their last home match this weekend. Flying winger Brian Tuohy has signed a contract extension, powerful back-rower Eoin McKeon has stepped up from the Academy and earned a development contract and the club have secured the services of Harlequins scrum-half, David Moore for next season.
 Brian Tuohy joined Connacht in 2009 from English Division One side Cornish Pirates. Known for his excellent finishing and blistering pace, as well as finishing 3rd in the National Leagues try-scoring tables, Tuohy came to the attention of the Irish 7’s management and after an impressing during the qualifiers earned himself a place on Michael Bradleys Ireland ‘A’ side that beat the USA in the Churchill Cup. Brian went on to compete in the 2009 7’s World Cup in Dubai, helping Ireland to complete a famous victory over Australia, before joining Connacht. He has scored 10 tries for the Province in 20 Magners League games, 5 European Cup matches and touched down in Connacht’s historic win over Samoa this season.
Speaking about extending his contract the Limerick native said:
“I’m delighted to continue my time here at Connacht, there’s a real buzz about the squad at the moment and we’re playing some great rugby. It’s a pleasure to part of this team and I hopefully we can finish the league out with some great performances.”
 Connacht are also delighted to announce the signing of 22 year old Irish scrum-half David Moore from Harlequins. Moore, who joined Quins from the Leinster Academy at the beginning of this season, was a member of Eric Elwood’s Ireland U20 6 Nations team of 2008. The former Blackrock schoolboy represented Ireland Schools during his time in the college and went on to win an U19 cap before making the step up to the U20 team where he won a total of 8 caps. This season the 6’, 91kg scrum-half has played nine times Harlequins including one appearance against Cavalieri Prato in Connacht’s Amlin Challenge Cup pool.
“I’m thrilled to be returning back home to Ireland and I’m really looking forward to working under Eric Elwood at Connacht. They are playing a very positive brand of rugby and I look forward to being part of the set-up”
 Galway native Eoin McKeon has also to put pen to paper on a new deal with the Province. The 6’2’’ 101 kg former Coláiste Iognáid student made his debut last season away to the Scarlets and has made three senior appearances for Connacht so far this season, including Connacht’s famous win over Samoa. McKeon, who is 19, has represented Ireland at Youth and U19 level and played in this season’s U20 6 Nations win over Italy before injury ruled him out of the tournament. The dynamic ball-carrying number 8 is the latest graduate of the Connacht Academy and makes the step up to a development contract for the coming season.
Speaking about his new deal, McKeon said; “I am delighted to be making the next step in my career here at Connacht. I am extremely grateful to Academy Manager Nigel Carolan for helping me to make the step and I look forward to being part of the senior squad next season.” |
| Last Updated ( Friday, 15 April 2011 16:31 ) |
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