AIB Cup: Second Round Previews

There are plenty of local and inter-divisional rivalries being rekindled in this weekend’s AIB Cup second round, so make sure you get out and support your local club. Read on for full match previews.

2007/08 AIB CUP: SECOND ROUND

MATCH 9 – BALLYMENA v BUCCANEERS, Eaton Park, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 13)
Referee: Leo Colgan (Munster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Ulster v Connacht) – an AIB League Division One team at home to Division Two opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: 1998/99: Division One: Ballymena 16 Buccaneers 34; 1999/00: Division One: Buccaneers 25 Ballymena 41; 2000/01: Division One: Buccaneers 27 Ballymena 26; 2001/02: Division One: Ballymena 23 Buccaneers 9; 2002/03: Division One: Buccaneers 28 Ballymena 28; 2003/04: Division One: Buccaneers 23 Ballymena 17; 2004/05: Division One: Ballymena 55 Buccaneers 5; 2005/06: Division One: Buccaneers 26 Ballymena 13; 2006/07: Division One: Ballymena 16 Buccaneers 18.

Ballymena:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have had two seasons in Division Two and fifteen seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is joint 5th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 13th in AIB League Division One last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Lost 28-16 away to Buccaneers in the preliminary round; 2006/07: Lost 16-14 at home to UCD in the first round.

Current Season: Ballymena currently lie in seventh place in the Ulster Senior League. They have won three and lost three of their six games to date, with two losses to AIB League Division Three clubs Rainey Old Boys (35-17) and City of Derry (31-24) plus a 38-11 home loss to Dungannon.

Comment: They have had their ups and downs so far this season as they are normally at or near the top of the Ulster Senior League table at this point in time. Second row Bob Young continues as captain while South African Jacques Benade again heads up the coaching team.

Donovan Raw, new in from South Africa via France, seems to be a useful acquisition. They have lost their last three games with Buccaneers – 26-13 in October 2005, 28-16 in November 2005 and 18-16 in October 2006. Will “The Fields Of Athenry” ring out at Eaton Park again this afternoon?

Buccaneers:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1991/92 season. They have spent four seasons in Division Three, two seasons in the junior ranks, two seasons in Division Two and nine seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 13th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 16th in AIB League Division One last season and were relegated.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Won 28-16 at home to Ballymena in the preliminary round; Won 50-13 away to De La Salle Palmerston in the first round; Won 23-6 away to Galwegians in the quarter-finals; Lost 20-13 away to Cork Constitution in the semi-finals; 2006/07: Lost 16-13 away to Garryowen in the first round; 2007/08: Won 36-7 away to Waterpark in the first round.

Current Season: Buccaneers have just won the 2007/08 Connacht Senior League. Away to Galwegians they won 29-8,  away to Corinthians they drew 17-17 and at home to Connemara they won 33-3. They scored 13 tries during the Connacht Senior League which was only three less than they scored in all 15 of their AIB League Division One games last season.

They recently won their Connacht Senior Cup semi-final 25-11 away to Corinthians but, two weekends ago, they lost the final 22-7 to Galwegians at the Sportsground.

Comment: They scored five tries at Waterpark last Saturday with full-back Sean Carey crossing for four of them. Austin Reid is the club President this season – his father Christy was president (of Athlone RFC) in 1985 and it is the first time in the club’s history that a father and son have been president.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Buccaneers to win.

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MATCH 10 – OLD BELVEDERE v WANDERERS, Anglesea Road, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 13)
Referee: Declan Browne (Leinster)

Status: Non-interprovinicial game (Leinster v Leinster) – an AIB League Division One team at home to Division Two opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: 1994/95: Division Two: Wanderers 24 Old Belvedere 21; 1998/99: Division Two: Wanderers 23 Old Belvedere 15; 1998/99: Division Two: Semi-Final – Old Belvedere 23 Wanderers 29; 2000/01: Division Two: Old Belvedere 23 Wanderers 18; 2001/02: Division Two: Wanderers 6 Old Belvedere 43.

Old Belvedere:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1993/94 season. They have had three seasons in Division One and eleven seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 16th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 1st in AIB League Division Two last season and were promoted but they lost the play-off final 37-21 (aet) to Greystones at Templeville Road.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Old Belvedere finished as runners-up in Pool Five of the Leinster Senior League Cup. They won 39-6 away to County Carlow, lost 32-22 at home to Lansdowne and won 21-15 away to Navan. They ended up as sixth seed of the 20 clubs competing and went through to the quarter-finals where they lost 26-21 away to Clontarf.

Comment: They are back in Division One after an absence of nine long seasons. Mike O’Donovan has departed to Aberdeen leaving prop Warren O’Kelly, a former Clontarf captain, in charge of the coaching. O’Kelly has been capped by both Munster and Connacht during his playing career.

They have captured a few promising players including USA Eagles second row Ben Wiedemer. Saturday afternoon will see the Anglesea Road club making their debut in the AIB Cup. They are on a hat-trick of victories over Wanderers in AIB-sponsored competitions.

Wanderers:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have spent two seasons in Division One, ten seasons in Division Two and five seasons in Division Three. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 26th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 1st in AIB League Division Three last season and were promoted, but they lost the play-off final 18-12 to Bruff at Templeville Road.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify; 2007/08: Won 17-14 at home to Connemara in the first round.

Current Season: Wanderers finished third in Pool Four of the Leinster Senior League Cup. At home they won 11-0 against Barnhall but lost both away games – 50-19 at Clontarf and 20-3 at junior club Seapoint.

Comment: They have arrived back in AIB League Division Two after five long seasons in the third division. They last played against Old Belvedere in the league in September 2001 – they lost 43-6 back then at home to their near neighbours. Former Leinster and Ireland prop Emmett Byrne is looking after the Wanderers pack this season.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Old Belvedere to win.

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MATCH 11 – LANSDOWNE v GARRYOWEN, RDS, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 13)
Referee: David Wilkinson (Ulster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Leinster v Munster) – an AIB League Division One team at home to Division One opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: 1990/91: Division One: Lansdowne 13 Garryowen 12; 1991/92: Division One: Garryowen 18 Lansdowne 12; 1993/94: Division One: Lansdowne 19 Garryowen 26; 1994/95: Division One: Garryowen 24 Lansdowne 27; 1995/96: Division One: Lansdowne 15 Garryowen 20; 1996/97: Division One: Garryowen 19 Lansdowne 15; 1997/98: Division One: Lansdowne 30 Garryowen 27; 1998/99: Division One: Garryowen 15 Lansdowne 17; 1999/00: Division One: Lansdowne 6 Garryowen 10; 2000/01: Division One: Garryowen 20 Lansdowne 11; 2001/02: Division One: Lansdowne 10 Garryowen 13; 2002/03: Division One: Garryowen 13 Lansdowne 26; 2003/04: Division One: Lansdowne 13 Garryowen 21; 2004/05: Division One: Garryowen 12 Lansdowne 8; 2005/06: Division One: Lansdowne 10 Garryowen 14; 2006/07: Division One: Garryowen 16 Lansdowne 15.

Lansdowne:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have had one season in Division Two and sixteen seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is joint 5th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 9th in AIB League Division One last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Lost 39-25 (aet) away to Cork Constitution in the preliminary round.

Current Season: Lansdowne won all three games in Pool Five of the Leinster Senior League Cup – 48-0 away to Navan, 32-22 away to Old Belvedere and 26-3 at home to County Carlow. They won the pool, conceded only one try in the process and were ranked 4th of the 20 competing clubs.

They lost their semi-final 32-23 at home to Blackrock College but were handed the game in the committee room after the Stradbrook club were proven to have played an un-registered player. They lost 26-6 away to Clontarf in the semi-finals last Saturday.

Comment: Had planned for New Zealander Mike Brewer to arrive in as head coach but that fell through. Former Leinster flanker and club captain Stephen Rooney now assumes the role.

Lansdowne play the first game at their new home, the RDS, this weekend and will be conscious of the fact than they have won just one of their last eight encounters with Garryowen.

Garryowen:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have spent all seventeen seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 9th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 4th in AIB League Division One last season and won the play-off final 16-15 against Cork Constitution at Musgrave Park.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Won 33-7 away to Dolphin in the first round; Won 15-14 away to Clontarf in the quarter-finals; Lost 23-14 at home to St. Mary’s College in the semi-finals; 2006/07: Won 16-13 at home to Buccaneers in the first round; Won 16-13 (aet) at home to St. Mary’s College in the quarter-finals; Won 32-13 at home to Clonakilty in the semi-finals; Won 20-7 in the final against Belfast Harlequins at Dubarry Park.

Current Season: Garryowen did not compete in the Limerick Charity Cup this season as they were invited (and sponsored by AIB) to take part in an international club tournament in the South of France last month. They won two of their four games against the other champion clubs.

They travelled to Midleton last Saturday and won 13-7 in the second round of the Munster Senior Cup and have been drawn away to Shannon in the quarter-finals.

Comment: The defending AIB Cup champions should be firing on all cylinders on Saturday. Former Scotland scrum half Greig Oliver has already made a big impact as head coach at Dooradoyle. Will former Lansdowne players Pat Whelan and Philip Danaher travel up for the lunch and game this weekend? Have been successful on their last four AIB League visits to Dublin to play Lansdowne.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Garryowen to win.

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MATCH 12 – BLACKROCK COLLEGE v INSTONIANS, Stradbrook, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 13)
Referee: Dermot Moloney (Munster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Leinster v Ulster) – an AIB League Division One team at home to Division Three opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: 1992/93: Division Two: Blackrock College 20 Instonians 12; 1994/95: Division One: Instonians 17 Blackrock College 56; 1995/96: Division One: Blackrock College 34 Instonians 25; 1996/97: Division One: Instonians 19 Blackrock College 22.

Blackrock College:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1991/92 season. They have had three seasons in Division Two and thirteen seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is joint 5th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 7th in AIB League Division One last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: Blackrock played in Pool Two of the Leinster Senior League Cup – they won 43-10 away to Old Wesley and 18-10 at home to De La Salle Palmetston, but lost 33-30 at home to Greystones. They finished runners-up to DLSP in the pool and were seeded 5th for the quarter-finals.

They won their quarter-final 32-23 away to Lansdowne but were subsequently withdrawn from the competition as they had fielded an unregistered player (former Irish international player Shane Byrne). Travelled to Paris for the recent France v Ireland World Cup weekend to play Racing Club.

Comment: Coaching duo Barry Gibney and Emmet Farrell, both former Leinster players, are in charge again and will ensure ‘Rock continue on from last season with an enterprising style of rugby. Former Leinster forward Des Dillon has been handed the captaincy.

Blackrock have bolstered their pack and could be the surprise packet this season. ‘Rock are making their debut in AIB Cup competition. Have defeated Instonians on the Ulster side’s two previous visits to Stradbrook – 20-12 in January 1993 and 34-25 in April 1996.

Instonians:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have spent five seasons in Division One, three seasons in Division Two and nine seasons in Division Three. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 28th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 4th in AIB League Division Three last season and lost 47-29 away to Wanderers in the play-off semi-finals.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify; 2007/08: Won 34-24 at home to Young Munster in the first round.

Current Season: Instonians currently lie in tenth place in the Ulster Senior League, having won two and lost four of their six games to date. They claimed victories over Malone and Ards. Regarding clubs that ‘Inst will face this season in AIB League Division Three, they have beaten Ards (39-28) but lost to Rainey 32-24 and Queen’s 27-21.

Comment: Former Ireland international Niall Malone, player-coach at the Shaw’s Bridge club, scored 19 points in their four-try win over Young Munster last Saturday. Have played Blackrock College four times previously in the AIB League, most recently in March 1997, and lost on every occasion.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Blackrock College to win.

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MATCH 13 – DUNGANNON v UL BOHEMIANS, Stevenson Park, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 13)
Referee: Alan Rogan (Leinster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Ulster v Munster) – an AIB League Division One team at home to Division One opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: 2002/03: Division One: Dungannon 26 UL Bohemians 20; 2005/06: Division One: Dungannon 18 UL Bohemians 42; 2006/07: Division One: UL Bohemians 21 Dungannon 22.

Dungannon:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1991/92 season. They have had three seasons in Division Two and thirteen seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 8th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 6th in AIB League Division One last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Lost 30-20 away to Clontarf in the first round; 2006/07: Lost 40-3 away to Galwegians in the first round.

Current Season: Dungannon currently lie in first place in the Ulster Senior League, having won five of their six games to date. They have secured bonus point victories over Instonians (46-13), Queen’s (38-13), Ards (78-8) and Ballymena (38-11), but they were shocked 20-5 at home to Ballynahinch two weeks ago.

Comment: Ballymena Academy PE teacher John Andrews has arrived in as head coach from Rainey Old Boys after Jeremy Davidson departed to Castres in France. Dungannon are in red hot form at the moment and their recent blip against ‘Hinch will do them no harm.

UL Bohemians won on their most recent visit to County Tyrone and in the process, scored a record 42 AIB League points at the venue.

UL Bohemians:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1993/94 season. They have spent two seasons in Division Four, five seasons in Division Three, four seasons in Division Two and three seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 24th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 4th in AIB League Division One last season and lost 21-18 away to Cork Constitution in the play-off semi-finals.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify.

Current Season: In the Limerick Charity Cup, UL Bohemians won 41-19 at home to Nenagh Ormond in the first round and then won 18-8 away to Shannon in the semi-finals. However, they lost the final 16-15 to Bruff at Dooradoyle.

They won 24-12 away to Bruff in the Munster Senior Cup second round and have been drawn at home to Cork Constitution in the quarter-finals.

Comment: After seven seasons during which he put UL Bohemians firmly on the Irish rugby map, director of coaching Mike Tewkesbury has returned home to England. Ian Costello, his successor, has been the backs coach at the club in recent seasons and is still the top all-time AIB League points scorer at the club.

Ben Martin has returned to Australia and he will be a loss. The last two seasons have been very successful for the student club – expect this success to continue. Bohs are making their debut in the AIB Cup this weekend.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Dungannon to win.

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MATCH 14 – GALWEGIANS v BALLYNAHINCH, Crowley Park, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 13)
Referee: George Clancy (Munster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Connacht v Ulster) – an AIB League Division One team at home to Division Two opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: They two clubs have never met in the AIB League.

Galwegians:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1992/93 season. They have had three seasons in Division Three, four seasons in Division Two and eight seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 14th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 11th in AIB League Division One last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Won 13-9 at home to Cashel in the first round; Lost 23-6 at home to Buccaneers in the quarter-finals; 2006/07: Won 40-3 at home to Dungannon in the first round; Lost 22-19 away to Belfast Harlequins in the quarter-finals.

Current Season: Galwegians played three matches in the Connacht Senior League – they lost 29-8 at home to Buccaneers, won 36-3 away to Connemara and won 25-7 away to Corinthians. They finished as runners-up to Buccaneers in the Connacht Senior League.

They got a walkover from Connemara in the Connacht Senior Cup semi-final and went on to beat Buccaneers 22-7 in the final at the Sportsground.

Comment: They have trimmed their squad over the summer and released nine players. Welshman Paul Young is undertaking his second season as head coach while newcomer Louis Tonkin, a second row from the UK, has been appointed captain. Former Connacht player Mick Casserly has assumed the presidency and is very much enjoying a hands-on role.

Ballynahinch:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1996/97 season. They have spent one season in Division Four, three seasons in Division Three and seven seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 31st.

2006/07 Finish: They were 2nd in AIB League Division Three last season and lost 29-3 at home to Bruff in the play-off semi-finals.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify; 2007/08: Won 62-7 at home to Nenagh Ormond in the first round.

Current Season: ‘Hinch currently lie in third place in the Ulster Senior League, having won five of their seven games to date. They have remained unbeaten at home with victories over Ards (22-0), Rainey Old Boys (31-10) and Banbridge (40-22), but have lost two of their three games on the road – 19-0 at Ballymena and 34-12 at Belfast Harlequins. They went to Stevenson Park last Saturday week and beat Dungannon 20-5.

Comment: The club supplies the Ulster Branch of the IRFU with a President and an Honorary Treasurer this season.  Are in good form at the moment and put 62 points (including nine tries) over a hapless Nenagh Ormond in County Down last weekend. Mark Scott scored 22 points (a try, seven conversions and a penalty).

All told, the three players recruited from Dungannon over the summer – Scott, Stuart Lamb and David Graham – accounted for 42 of ‘Hinch points against Nenagh.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Ballynahinch to win.

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MATCH 15 – DUBLIN UNIVERSITY v CLONAKILTY, College Park, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 13)
Referee: Richard Kerr (Ulster)

Status: Interprovinicial game (Leinster v Munster) – an AIB League Division Two team at home to Division Two opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: 2001/02: Division Three: Dublin University 15 Clonakilty 6; 2005/06: Division Two: Dublin University 18 Clonakilty 10.

Dublin University:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1993/94 season. They have had four seasons in Division Four, five seasons in Division Three, two seasons in Division Two and three seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 34th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 6th in AIB League Division Two last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Did not qualify; 2007/08: Won 23-17 away to Sunday’s Well in the first round.

Current Season: Dublin University finished second in Pool One of the Leinster Senior League Cup. They lost 34-17 away to Suttonians, won 22-15 at home to Naas and won 23-16 away to Terenure College. At the end of the pool phase, they were graded tenth of the 20 clubs competing.

Comment: No short training trip to the USA this September but a two-match tour to England where the ‘Trin’ beat Cambridge University 38-22 and lost 34-0 to Oxford University.

Tony Smeeth, director of the DUFC Academy, is participating in his tenth AIB League season coaching the Trinity side.  There are a lot of new faces at College Park this autumn but that is par for the course these days in student clubs.

Clonakilty:

AIB League History: First competed in the 2001/02 season. They have spent five seasons in Division Three and one season in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 37th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 3rd in AIB League Division Two last season and lost 18-14 away to Old Belvedere in the play-off semi-finals.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Won 8-0 at home to Greystones in the first round; Won 31-22 away to Terenure College in the quarter-finals; Lost 32-13 away to Garryowen in the semi-finals; 2007/08: Won 28-10 away to City of Derry in the first round.

Current Season: Clonakilty lost 47-0 away to Cork Constitution in the first round of the Cork Charity Cup on September 4. They entertained Shannon last weekend in round two of the Munster Senior Cup but lost 53-10.

Comment: Retirements/transfers have prevented ‘Clon’ from hitting the ground running this season. Scored four tries away to City of Derry last Saturday with the Dillon brothers, Derek and Paul, helping themselves to one apiece, while out-half Gary Cribb contributed 12 points. They are on a hat-trick of defeats to Trinity at the College Park venue.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: Dublin University to win.

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MATCH 16 – UCD v GREYSTONES, Belfield Bowl, 2.30pm (Saturday, October 13)
Referee: David Keane (Leinster)

Status: Non-interprovinicial game (Leinster v Leinster) – an AIB League Division One team at home to Division One opposition.
Previous AIB League Fixtures: 1994/95: Division Two: Greystones 26 UCD 26; 1999/00: Division Two: Greystones 6 UCD 10; 2000/01: Division Two: UCD 17 Greystones 9.

UCD:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1993/94 season. They have had five seasons in Division Three, three seasons in Division Two and six seasons in Division One. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 18th.

2006/07 Finish: They were 12th in AIB League Division One last season.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Did not qualify; 2006/07: Won 16-14 away to Ballymena in the first round; Lost 34-24 at home to Shannon in the quarter-finals.

Current Season: UCD finished runners-up in Pool Three of the Leinster Senior League Cup. At home they won 21-5 against Bective Rangers, lost 46-19 to St. Mary’s College and finally, won 41-5 away to Skerries. They qualified for the quarter-finals as the eighth seeds, but lost 27-17 away to St. Mary’s College.

Comment: Two former UCD club captains, Bobby Byrne and Gary Coakley, are coaching the senior side at Belfield this season. The duo, both teachers, are actually renewing acquaintances as they coached the student club during the first three AIB League seasons in the mid-1990s.

‘College’ have lost a clatter of senior players and, of those who are left, five have Leinster/Leinster ‘A’ commitments. UCD are on a hat-trick of victories over Greystones this weekend.

Greystones:

AIB League History: First competed in the 1990/91 season. They have spent two seasons in Division One, three seasons in Division Three and twelve seasons in Division Two. Their all-time AIB League ranking is 21st.

2006/07 Finish: They were 2nd in AIB League Division Two last season, were promoted and won 37-21 (aet) against Old Belvedere in the play-off final at Templeville Road.

AIB Cup Record: 2005/06: Lost 39-14 away to St. Mary’s College in the first round; 2006/07: Lost 8-0 away to Clonakilty in the first round.

Current Season: In Pool Two of the Leinster Senior League Cup, Greystones lost 47-17 away to De La Salle Palmerston, won 39-12 at home to Old Wesley and won 32-30 away to  Blackrock College. They finished their pool campaign in third place on points difference behind DLSP and Blackrock. They were graded 9th of the 20 competing clubs and just missed out on a quarter-final slot.

Comment: Back in Division One after an absence of thirteen seasons, the County Wicklow club made a slow start to this season but have since gone up through the gears. Successful Leinster Under-20 coach Colin McEntee heads up an impressive coaching set-up that produced some fine rugby late on last season. Greystones have yet to beat UCD in All-Ireland club competition.

IrishRugby.ie Verdict: UCD to win.

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For Match Previews 1-8 – Click Here

**AIB League and Cup statistics courtesy of Des Daly**