My 6 Nations Team of the Championship

15 George Furbank

14 Calvin Nash

13 Tomas Menenchello

12 Bundee Aki

11 James Lowe

10 Jack Crowley

9 Jamison Gibson Park

8 Ben Earl

7 Tommy Reffell

6 Peter O Mahony

5 Tadgh Beirne

4 Joe Mc Carthy

3 Tadgh Furlong

2 Dan Sheehan

1 Andrew Porter

Here is my team of the 6 nations that saw Ireland win back to back Championships and win a 6th title since the 6 Nations came to be in 2000. Like all team selections it is subjective and will be easily disagreed with. Here is hoping Italy in particular can build on two wins and a draw from this campaign.

Wales need to continue the tough rebuild job from the bottom up as this campaign has shown the cracks from last season haven’t been dealt with and it is imperative that the WRU do what they can to try and get the Welsh game back on an even keel.

Ireland of course won a 6th crown of the 6 Nations era and a 15th outright Championship. These are special moments and yes while the World Cup issues will linger until 2027 at least, winning another title is something to be celebrated and not taking for granted as many ex-players and supporters will tell you, these wins were owe so seldom for large periods through the 80s and 90s so soak it up and enjoy it. What is seldom really is special….

Tarbert All Ireland Champions

Tarbert Comprehensive School 2024 All Ireland C Post Primary School Champions

Tarbert Comprehensive School reached the promised land on Saturday afternoon winning a titanic battle with St Malachy’s winning after extra time 3-19 (28) to St Malachy’s 4-13 (25). They won the day having worked tirelessly over the 80 minutes to gain the upper hand and come out on top.

The final was played in Carlow in Netwatch Dr Cullen Park, both sides brought huge support from the respective schools, be they teachers, school staff members and family members aswell as the wider communities from both areas.

Given the work of many sport organisations in recent years to improve coverage of local sports, this saw Saturday’s game streamed live on Youtube thanks to Stream Sport. Having it on Youtube meant a large amount of people could easily follow the action as it happened if you could not travel to Carlow.

The talk over the past few months about what this group had achieved was fantastic to hear and full credit goes to the group of players, management and everyone else associated with the school in recent months.

Having gone 11 points up in the 2nd half of Saturday’s final one felt The Comp had done the necessary to put the cherry on the cake but in fairness to St Malachy’s they like Tarbert didn’t give in easily and found a way back from 11 down and to go one up toward the finish only for Comp team captain Shaun Wren to kick a crucial late “45” to bring the game to extra time and from there The Comp found that extra gear over the extra 20 minutes.

They won by 3 with John Coolahan finding the net with his second goal of the afternoon to help seal the deal. The way the different communities within the school have come together has been so impressive. That is the beauty of sport it really brings everyone together for a cause that all can get involved in.

From the top down from Richard Prendiville school principal and Leila Moloney deputy principal to the staff in the office everyone has a part to play in helping this happen over the last while.

The pride shown by everyone towards the team and the pride in the school has been so lovely to watch. They of course got the traditional welcome home on Saturday evening of bonfires. Today they had the whole school community and wider community have the opportunity to show their appreciation for what was a magnificent achievement after winning Kerry, Munster and to then top it off by winning an All-Ireland.

 It is a moment in time that must be appreciated and as has been the case over the past 48 hours celebrated by all. Huge congratulations again to players, management and school staff.

Here is the Panel in Full :

Tarbert Comprehensive School

Management Team: Cormac Leane, Kieran Culhane, Martin Trench & Martin Stack

1 Stephen Kearney (St. Senans/Foynes)

2 Shane O Gorman Stack (Tarbert)

3 Callum Buckley (Athea)

4 Michael Coolahan (Tarbert)

5 James Kissane (Moyvane)

6 David Mulvihill (Tarbert)

7 Fionn Mulvihill (Moyvane)

8 Brendan O Leary (Tarbert)

9 Patrick O Connor (Moyvane)

10 Evan Curry (Athea)

11 Shaun Wren (c) (Tarbert)

12 Caolam Moriarty (Tarbert)

13 John Coolahan (Tarbert)

14 Jamie Moloney (Moyvane)

15 Paudie Finucane (Tarbert)

16 Aaron White (Tarbert)

17 Tadhg O Connell (Tarbert)

18 Darragh Mullane (Gerald Griffins)

19 Matthew Quinn (Moyvane)

20 Cathal Byrne (Ballylongford)

21 Fionn Byrne (Ballylongford)

22 Kealan Lonergan (Shannon Gaels)

23 Aidan Healy (Glin)

24 Liam Hanrahan (Ballylongford)

25 Gavin O Connor (Tarbert)

26 Jack Finnerty McCoy (Castlemahon/Gerald Griffins)

27 James Broderick (Athea)

28 Caoimhin Barron (Clounmacon)

29 Cathal Halton (Tarbert)

30 Billy Hogan (Glin)

Additional Players (Names only)- Donal Finucane, Seamus Dillane, Conor Fealey, Cillian Mulvihill, Harry O Connor

, Charlie McDonagh, Sean Moore, Conor Woulfe

Ireland v Wales 2024 6 Nations

Ireland will take on Wales on Saturday in round 3 of the 6 Nations looking to maintain the winning start that has seen them on top of the table on 10 points. They will play Wales at 2.15pm in Dublin. Ireland may be without Hugo Keenan who has been a near ever present during Andy Farrell’s time in charge.

If he isn’t fit to play on Saturday, the smart money will see Ciaran Frawley in the 15 jersey with Jack Crowley continuing his time in Ireland’s 10 shirt. It will be interesting to see how the 23 will look when it is announced on Thursday at 2pm. Ireland will want to push on from week 2 where they defeated Italy 36-0.

Wales for their part will be looking for a first win of the campaign and will come to Dublin with nothing to lose and plenty to gain and are again of course under the care of Warren Gatland but unlike his previous tenure this period will be about building a squad and squad depth capable of competing over the next few years.

Welsh rugby is under the cosh at the moment and the WRU will want to see there national side put in strong showings to round off this year’s tournament. They will know a win is unlikely on Saturday but not impossible.

That will make them a sticky proposition on Saturday but the way Ireland have started this year you have to think they will guard against that complacency and look to put in another statement type performance from the off.

Ireland will have to make a few changes but it looks as if they will selected from a settled wider squad and that will help with disruption. Tom Ahern and Oli Jager will look to push on this week for inclusion in the 23 after solid performances this past weekend for Munster against the Scarlets.

Ireland will revert back to a 5/3 split on the bench one thinks and that will leave scope for the bench selections. Will Conor Murray come in for Craig Casey with Jamison Gibson Park likely to come back in to partner Jack Crowley. Some interesting calls but calls that Farrell isn’t afraid to make.

Wales with look to youth again on Saturday and while that may not reap immediate reward it is defiantly the long game for Ieuan Evans and the much maligned WRU board. They will know they are in the territory of kicking on if they can summon a strong performance to see can they knock Ireland off kilter and see where that will leave them at the end of the 80 minutes on Saturday.

I will select the 23 I think we will see on Saturday :

15 Ciaran Frawley

14 Calvin Nash

13 Robbie Henshaw

12 Bundee Aki

11 James Lowe

10 Jack Crowley

9 Jamison Gibson Park

8 Caelan Doris

7 Josh Van Der Flier

6 Peter O Mahony

5 Tadgh Beirne

4 Joe Mc Carthy  

3 Tadgh Furlong

2 Dan Sheehan

1 Cian Healy

16 Ronan Kelleher

17 Andrew Porter

18 Finlay Bealham

19 Ryan Baird

20 Tom Ahern

21 Conor Murray

22 Garry Ringrose

23 Jordan Larmour

Aviva Atmosphere Issues

I was at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday to see Ireland defeat Italy 36-0. The talk of the atmosphere needs to be brought up again. I know as I have seen in recent years the talk of the poor atmosphere generated at Irish rugby internationals as even with the performances of recent times of the Republic of Ireland the atmosphere generated is still very good.

I saw first-hand the issues again that a number of ex Irish internationals speak of and it needs to be urgently addressed. Of course it won’t be but something needs to be done. The constant in and out is a pain to get “refreshments” needs to be stopped and this is not just because this author is a non-drinker but I spent a share of my time moving to allow people who of course are full of apologises to come in and out.

It is clear in the emails to remind you to have your phone fully charged for access to match tickets etc in the days leading to the game that you are advised to “please remain seated until a break in play” now I understand that people will get caught short and you are also allowed to do as you please as you paid for the ticket.

This is the crux of the problem, rugby supporters are allowed alcohol unlike football fans for example who are not allowed alcohol in there seat but this needs to seriously considered by the IRFU or at least tell people drink to your hearts content on the concourse outside but once you are in, you are in and barring a toilet break no constant in and out…

It causes friction as I saw on Sunday and have seen previously, people get annoyed and then things can get heated. It won’t take much to come to some sort of compromise which will really need to be looked at.

I know it is a sport event with many people paying good money to attend and they should be allowed do as they see fit but people need to use some sort of cop on and I know too that a certain section are trying to impress clients they may have invited to the game but there are still genuine fans that would like to watch the actual game at not spend periods having to duck and weave to see the pitch or in most cases the screen.

The atmosphere was poor on Sunday and that is down to the above and also large sections of so called “fans” could not really care what is actually happening on the field of play. It isn’t just an alcohol related problem. I know these things won’t be looked into but the IRFU would do well to look into certain aspects of the overall match day experience inside the ground as the experience outside is enjoyable….

South Africa – Fresh Coaching Ticket

South Africa will have some fresh faces in their coaches box for the summer test series with two new coaches coming into the set up to support to now full time head coach Johan ”Rassie” Erasmus with Jerry Flannery and Tony Brown joining up to replace Felix Jones who is now the England defence coach and Jacques Nieneber who is now with Leinster alongside Leo Cullen for the next two years at least.

Flannery and Tony Brown have signed on until the end of the 2027 RWC which will be in Australia in 3 a half years’ time. Jerry Flannery has recently been with Harlequins and Tony Brown has spent time with Japan at the recent World Cup in France.

Both men will look to add something new to South Africa although what you can add to a double World Cup winning squad is questionable but I suppose a third straight RWC title is the aim along with a few Rugby Championships between now and 2027 wouldn’t go a miss…

Duane Vermuelan will take up a role within SA Rugby and work with Erasmus and his now completed coaching ticket to set the course and stall out for the next few years.

The director of Rugby role will be made redundant but you can be sure SA Rugby won’t forget it if the right person becomes available and they see fit to re-introduce the role. Erasmus will report direct to the SA chief executive from now on.

From an Irish perspective it will be interesting to see how Mr Flannery can work his mind to stop Ireland in two games in July in SA. Munster as an organisation will see a large number of coaches that held varying roles over the past 10 to 12 years with the club in new positions in the International game.

Flannery with SA, Jones with England, Jason Holland is with Scott Robertson in NZ and as has been suggested Stephen Larkham could yet feature in an Australian coaches box with Joe Schmidt. So as the 6 Nations head to round 2 a number of other sides are getting themselves geared for action later in 2024….

2024 Six Nations

Ireland began their 2024 Six Nations by beating France in Marseille last Friday evening winning 38-17. It was a strong performance that of course was not perfect but I feel you’ll never really get that perfect performance even in victory. Ireland went into last Friday not knowing what was ahead after defeat to New Zealand last October at the RWC in a tight tussle 29-28.

With the dawn of a new campaign means it is time to put to bed any ill feelings of previous games. Of course as we all know It was the first time since November 2009 barring injury that Ireland were without Jonathan Sexton with Munster’s Jack Crowley given his chance to start a 6 nations game for the first time !! Over the course of the 80 minutes he showed he can handle the pressure and that bodes well for the rest of this Championship.

Ireland started well and led 17-10 at the break and one feels that lead could have been more and that will mean that Andy Farrell will look for more from his charges this week leading to a home game against Italy on Sunday at 3pm.

Italy lost 27-24 in Rome last weekend to England and they will know they had a real opportunity to get that elusive win over England but Gonzalo Quesada and his coaches will have been heartened by the finish of the game with Italy finishing with a flourish with Monty Ioane crossing for a well-earned try late on that Tommaso Allen converted.

Italy come to Dublin buoyed by that strong finish but Ireland have their own agenda and will look to push on after the victory in France. As is always the case what type of team Andy Farrell selects will be interesting to watch. A few changes will be expected but wholesale change is not the order of the day.

Trying to build new combinations might just see Craig Casey come in to partner Munster team mate Jack Crowley or Ciaran Frawley may get his chance to come in steer the ship from the beginning having seen game time from the bench late on last weekend. My money would be on Craig Casey coming in with Jamison Gibson Park or Conor Murray on the bench along with Frawley.

Continuity is very important so I would expect minimal changes with rotation in the front row, Cian Healy in with Andrew Porter dropping to the bench or Jeremy Loughman coming onto the bench in support of Healy. Ireland do need to develop the next generation of young props and that is ironic as I name Cian Healy and the ripe old age of 36 in place of Andrew Porter but that is simply the job of others to push ahead of Healy at Leinster and by others in the other three provinces.

Ireland may look to a different centre partnership for the game but we shall see as the talk is that Garry Ringrose will again miss out through injury but it is a chance to find another outside centre to try and challenge Ringrose in the short to medium term….

I will now select my 23 to face Italy in the first of three home fixtures in this Championship…

15 Ciaran Frawley

14 Calvin Nash

13 Robbie Henshaw

12 Bundee Aki

11 James Lowe

10 Jack Crowley

9 Craig Casey

8 Caelan Doris

7 Nick Timoney

6 Peter O Mahony

5 James Ryan

4 Joe Mc Carthy

3 Finlay Bealham

2 Dan Sheehan

1 Cian Healy

16 Ronan Kelleher

17 Jeremy Loughman

18 Tom O Toole

19 Tadgh Beirne

20 Ryan Baird

21 Jamison Gibson Park

22 Stuart Mc Closkey

23 Jordan Larmour

Letter From My Past

Hi All ,

I am putting this letter together for some of my close friends as I haven’t been very honest with people. I am a very good actor and have covered up my true feelings about different issues over the last few years.

I have been struggling with my emotions on a number of levels in the last number of years that have resulted in three Suicide attempts since I left school in 2009. I know that suicide isn’t the answer but at each point I decided that suicide was the answer to my troubles I always found a way to talk myself out of it each time.

I won’t go into a number of the major issues that have troubled me, A lack of motivation and laziness have been big problems for me. I have also got to realise I am not the only person on this planet with problems and I have touch wood still got my health.

I have also realised that I can only really trust a small number of people. Everybody that contacted me in 2014 and told me to get in touch if I needed help , I really do appreciate the offers of support but I now know you have your own lives to get on with and don’t need me to add to your problems.

I give an impression that all’s well with me and nothing ever troubles me, but let’s face it if that was true I wouldn’t be human. Other people might tell me go away and get help and please stop writing about every problem you have.

I hope to leave home in the next few months and that might help me sort through all the problems I have. In the last few years I have learned to cope and hide my true feelings. I know I wrote a letter a few months ago telling everyone that all was well. I spend my day trying to make others laugh and can evade most questions with short answers.

In particular, I owe certain people so much for all the help and support you have given me in recent times. From the bottom of my heart , Thank You….. I wrote this a few years ago and just want to share it with people.

Cian Mc Gibney

My Ireland XV to face France

My Team to face France in this weekend’s Six Nations Opener

15 Hugo Keenan

14 Jacob Stockdale

13 Garry Ringrose

12 Robbie Henshaw

11 James Lowe

10 Jack Crowley

 9 Jamison Gibson Park

8 Caelan Doris

7 Josh Van Der Flier

6 Peter O Mahony

5 James Ryan

4 Joe Mc Carthy

3 Tadgh Furlong

2 Dan Sheehan

1 Andrew Porter

16 Ronan Kelleher

17 Cian Healy

18 Tom O Toole

19 Tadgh Beirne

20 Ryan Baird

21 Conor Murray

22 Ciaran Frawley

23 Bundee Aki

Here is the team I would select for Friday night in Marseille in round one of this year’s 6 Nations. This campaign is set fair with 3 home games against Italy, Wales and the final round against Scotland…. It is time to defend the 6 Nations title won in stunning fashion on home soil against England.

Carbery leaves Munster for pastures new

Joey Carbery will leave Munster at the end of the season after 6 years in red. He has worn the red jersey 56 times scoring 477 points to date and most likely will add another few appearances before he departs for a new opportunity in June. He will leave Munster after injury disrupted tenure.

He signed with much talk and fanfare back in 2018 with the 18/19 season being by far and away his best in red. His performance away to Gloucester in the Champions Cup will be long remembered as he scored a try and help put Andrew Conway for one of his three tries that evening.

As I mention he signed with the hope he could really challenge Jonathan Sexton for the Ireland 10 jersey at that stage. He was selected multiple times by Leinster at full back with Sexton continuing at 10.

The move to Munster was seen as a real chance to allow him to flourish at out half and not having to shift from out half to full back. He has won 37 caps with Ireland winning his first cap in 2016. He came off the bench in Chicago when Ireland defeated New Zealand for the first time in their history and was also in the squad in the summer of 2022 when Ireland won a test series in New Zealand 2-1.

He was injured prior to the 2019 World Cup and although he went to that World Cup he never fully recovered from the injury and since that time he has had an unfortunate time with injury. He has had arm, wrist and ankle injuries.

But when he was fit he showed real quality. It will go down as a career in green as defiantly promised much but for injury to nearly always rob him of the chance to put in a consistent run of games after that 18/19 season.

We do not know the destination of his next move and I am sure much speculation will dictate the next few days along with tributes etc. Like RG Snyman, he will still have a part to play for the second half of the season. With two Champions Cup games and then in February with the resumption of the URC he will have a pivotal role with Jack Crowley more than likely away on 6 Nations duty.

To Joey, firstly thank you for everything in green, blue and red since bursting onto the scene in 2016. All the best to you with what might be next for you……

6 Nations Training Squad

Forwards – Cian Healy, Andrew Porter, Denis Buckley – LH

Ronan Kelleher, Dan Sheehan, Dave Heffernan – Hooker

Tadgh Furlong, Tom O Toole, Finlay Bealham – TH

Tadgh Beirne, James Ryan, Darragh Murray, Joe Mc Carthy – SR

Tom Ahern, Josh Van Der Flier, Jack Conan, John Hodnett, Caelan Doris, Cian Prendergast, Nick Timoney- BR/No.8

Backs- Caelan Blade, Craig Casey, Jamison Gibson Park- SH

Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, JJ Hanrahan- FH

Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Robbie Henshaw, Antoine Frisch, Stuart Mc Closkey- Centres

Robert Balcounne, Shane Daly, Jacob Stockdale, Jimmy O Brien, Hugo Keenan, Will Addison- Back Three/FB.

Here is a training squad I would select for the 2024 6 Nations. There is room of course to interchange players off the back of the final two rounds of the Champions Cup. The URC takes a break until the middle of February which gives certain players two games to push for inclusion in Andy Farrell’s plans.