Within all sports, all boys that commence school in 1st year are encouraged to ‘have a go’, no more so than within the rugby system, where the fundamental skills of passing, evasion and tackling are taught by specialist rugby coaches, who instil a common passion for game, whilst teaching the virtues of fair-play, and playing for your team. We run four 1st year teams, all the players train together; equal encouragement, guidance and training is given to the ‘old pros’ and ‘newbies’. Training for 1st years takes place every Monday and Wednesday after school.

The 1st years play close to 20 fixtures over the course of the school year with matches against all Munster A schools as well as a number of Leinster schools; Newbridge College, Kilkenny College, Cistercian College Roscrea, Belvedere College, Terenure College, St Gerard’s Bray, St Michaels College. We also play top of international touring teams.
1st year is currently headed up by former Senior and Junior Cup coach Jason O’Brien, Eric Nelligan Is the team manager, S & C is under the charge of Ronan Loughrey. Colm Barrett, Pat Cross & Richie Ryan complete the coaching ticket offering a wealth of knowledge and experience.

The end of 1st year marks the move to U15, this is a step up of the training and dedication required. The school runs three McCarthy Cup teams; for this coming Academic year the three teams will be broken into an A team, a specific team for boys born in 2002 and the final team will be for boys born in 2003. All three squads train together. Training days are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Weights room S&C commences in December once the McCarthy Cup has completed, this involves the introduction of the various lifts and exercises with a focus on technique and lifting their own body weight. Training focuses on skills, passing with a particular emphasis on ‘heads up rugby’.

Post McCarthy Cup sees the promotion of the top U15s to the Junior Cup panel, the remaining players then play a number of friendly fixtures against half a dozen or so Leinster Schools followed by the North Munster Development league. Two teams are entered into the North Munster League, the team in the A league will consist of those only born in 2002 while the team in the B league will consist of boys born in 2003. Head Coach is Alan Murnane, Forwards Coach is Eoghan Rowley and S&C is Eoin O’Brien.

The start of Junior Cup brings on another leap on dedication and performance, training goes to 4 days a week, S & C becomes integral and fully integrated into the season plan. The season commences post Easter with a focus on the first few months on skills, tackle technique and improving fitness. The players are given a break over June and July and training recommences with a number of full training days in August.

The Limerick City Cup is played for every Wednesday in the months of September and October, friendly fixtures versus a dozen or so of the top Leinster Schools as well as other non-Limerick Munster schools are played on Saturdays over the course of the build up to cup. Our run in to Round 1 of the Junior Cup involves games v Blackrock, Terenure & St Michaels. Head Coach is Martin McMahon, Forwards Coaches are Tim Airey & Ger Slattery, Backs Coach is Pat Cross.

Bowen shield is the predominant competition for the U18’s, we enter two teams in this age competition, an A & B. The A team plays in fixtures against other Munster A schools, the B team plays against the top team from Munster B schools and the B teams from a small number of other Munster A schools.

All U18’s training under the umbrella of the senior schools coaching set up, this allows the senior coach to spot up and coming talent and move players between teams based on needs and player development. Bowen Shield A Manager is Ken Kelly while Bowen Shield B manager is Stephen Chambers.

Senior Cup is the premier schools rugby competition, preparation begins after Easter with a focus on S&C and skills until later August. The Limerick City cup is played on Wednesdays in September and October. A further 12 to 15 fixtures against a mixture of Leinster, Ulster, Connacht, non-limerick Munster Schools & international touring teams completes the preparation program. Head Coach is David Quinlan, Forwards coach is Lee Nicholas, Backs Coach is Garry Quilligan, Video Analysis is Ger McCoy & Assistant coaches are Ken Kelly & Stephen Chambers.