Longford RFC Club News 14/09/2020
Longford Senior Men play first game since lockdown.
Longford Senior Men travelled to Edenderry on Saturday afternoon to play their first match since the Covid-19 lockdown versus Monkstown in a friendly.
Monkstown had a full strength side out littered with ex-provincial/Ireland under age players and were further down the tracks in their preparation for life in Leinster League 1A after being promoted from Longford’s Division 1B as champions last season.
Longford had a pack moving close to full strength with a very youthful back line. Longford came out of the traps hard and nearly had a score in the opening minutes.
However, Monkstown gradually turned up the pressure and got on top. Longford’s set piece was good throughout the game with some nice moments in the back line.
Longford scored two tries on the day from Barry Stewart and Joe McGowan. Overall, it was a good workout for Longford with all eyes on October 4th and their first Leinster League game away to Clondalkin.
Interestingly, their last game before lockdown was also away to Clondalkin. Longford Senior Men continue their preparations for the Leinster League on Saturday when they Tullamore at 1PM, again no supporters are unfortunately allowed.
P.S. playing in the new Covid-19 regulations was a strange experience with no supporters and the players having to change outside and not being able to use the dressing rooms. The inability to change in a dressing room and shower after a game is something that is probably not sustainable going into the Winter months.
Longford Senior Men’s Provisional Fixture List 2020-2021 Fixture List
Saturday September 19th – Friendly - Tullamore J1 1
Sunday October 4th - Leinster League - Clondalkin (A) J1 3
Sunday October 11th - Leinster League - Mullingar (H) J1 3 J2 1.30
Sunday October 18th - Leinster League - Boyne (A) J1 3 J2 1.30
Sunday November 1st - Leinster League - Mullingar (A) J1 2.30 J2 1
Sunday November 8th - Leinster League - Clondalkin (H) J1 2.30
Sunday November 22nd - Leinster League - Boyne (H) J1 2.30 J2 1
Sunday December 6th - Leinster League - Cill Dara (A) J1 2 J2 12.30
Sunday December 13th - Leinster League - Tullow (H) J1 2 J2 12.30
Sunday January 17th - Leinster League - Wicklow (A) J1 2.30 J2 1
Sunday January 24th - Leinster League - Carlow (H) J1 2.30 J2 1
Sunday January 31st - Leinster League - Tullow (A) J1 2.30 J2 1
Sunday February 21st - Leinster League - Cill Dara (H) J1 3 J2 1.30
Sunday February 28th - Leinster League - Carlow (A) J1 3 J2 1.30
Sunday March 7th - Leinster League - Wicklow (H) J1 3 J2 1.30
Sunday March 20th - Provincial Towns Cup 1st Round v TBC J1 3
Sunday March 27th - Provincial Towns Cup 1st Round v TBC J1 3
Leinster Three in a Row.
There was an inevitability to Leinster’s performance in the Pro 14 final on Saturday past, when they brushed past Ulster to claim their third title in a row, which reminded you of some of the great teams of the last twenty years, such as Brian Cody’s Kilkenny side or United in the Ferguson era.
Even with Johnny Sexton rested and Ulster getting an early score it never looked like the title was going anywhere but back to Leinster’s UCD HQ.
The later stages of the last seasons Champions cup now start this weekend with Leinster playing a Saracens side shorn of Eoin Farrell due to suspension and Ulster travelling to France to take on French aristocrats Toulouse.
Saracens were the last team to beat Leinster 16 months ago in the Champions Cup final and it promises to be a seismic clash. It is a tall order for Ulster to turn over Toulouse but they have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Senior Training
Longford Senior Men train every Tuesday and Friday night at 7.45 with matches generally on a Sunday.
It is great to see so many of last year’s U18s in at training over the last few weeks along with so many of our regular players.
If you would like to play rugby, want to restart your rugby career or are new to the area you are very welcome.
Please give Director of Rugby Niall Moran 0879185073 or Head Coach Glenn Baskett 0876036175 a ring if you are interested.
Please note a Covid-19 questionnaire needs to be filled in before starting training.
Our Senior Women are also back training and are welcoming new and returning players. If you would like to give rugby a go (you do not need to have played before or be very fit) you will be very welcome.
Training is on Tuesday and Friday nights at 7.30 PM. Please give Women’s Head Coach Nuala McGoey a ring on 0862482005. Again Covid-19 questionnaires needs to be filled in before training.
Minis/Youths Training
The good news for all our Underage players is that rugby is back. The work that has been going on behind the scenes to ensure compliance with Governments Covid-19 guidelines is immense and thanks to Gerry Carthy (Mini/Youths Chairperson), Gerry Larkin (Club Covid-19 Officer) all the coaches, parents and players on making it work.
Each group has their own compliance officer. Everyone is loving being back to training and cannot wait to play a few matches.
In the meantime, they are working hard on their fitness and skills. Again Covid-19 questionnaires needs to be filled in before training. We welcome new/returning players at all levels.
Minis
U7-U10 Sunday 10.30-11.30
U11 Thursday 7-8 (check with coaches for following week) (born 2010)
U12 Sunday 10.30-11.30 (born 2009)
Boys
U13 Thursday 7.00-8.30pm (born 2008)
U14 Thursday 6.30-8.30pm (born 2007)
U15 Mon 7.00-8.30pm and Thursday 7.00-8.30pm (born 2006)
U16 Tuesday 7.30-9.00pm (born 2005)
U17 Wednesday 7.30-9.00pm (born 2004)
U18 Wednesday 7.30-9.00pm (born 2003 & up to 01/07/2002)
Girls
U12&U14 Thursday 7.30-8.30pm
U16&U18 Wednesday 7.30-9.00pm
Contact 0862526741 for more information.
Longford Rugby Club is a 'Minimum20' club. Youth teams up to U15 promote minimum 20 minutes game time for all players on match day squads. Longford Minis rugby promotes equal game time at all times during games or blitz events.
Longford RFC Mini/Youth Boot Room
As we move towards getting back out on the pitch, there are a lot of players who need bigger boots. So instead of spending big on new ones why not use the #LongfordRFC Boot Room instead?
It is a great concept where growing members swap the boots they have outgrown for nearly new bigger ones.
They donate the ones they have outgrown back to the boot room. It benefits everyone and is way members can support each other post Covid.
The Boot Room Concept
How many months use do you get out of a new (and very expensive) pair of boots before your child moves up a size and a new (and equally expensive) replacement pair is required?
Aimed particularly at Minis and Youths we are going to set up a “Boot Room” where you can trade your perfectly good (but outgrown) pair of boots for a larger pair. Boots will not be for sale – the Boot Room will operate on the basis that you trade in your own pair for another pair.
In this way, the plan is that the Club will have a self-replenishing supply of boots available to anyone who has a decent (but outgrown) pair which can be traded in return.
To set up the Boot Room we are asking you, the parents, to scour your garage, utility room, footwear box, kit bag or whatever for any outgrown or unloved pairs of boots which you would be willing to donate or trade.
We would only be interested in good quality boots without rips or tears and which can be used for playing rugby (ie. no blades).
If you have any, you can bring the boots to training and give them to any of the coaches, bring them to the Minis training on Sunday, leave them at the Club for the attention of Padraig Murphy or Gerry Carthy or any or your coaches.
Volunteers/Players for the coming season
Longford Rugby Club is a progressive club that fields Men’s/Women’s teams at Senior Level and has more than 400 Mini/Youth Players training every week both male and female from U6 right through to U18.
We are looking for more players, coaches and volunteers at all levels of the club.
If you would like to join Longford Rugby Club at this exciting time, please contact any club coach or volunteer.
