Reunion Recap: 1984 Ireland U18 Schools
The passage of time had not diminished the bond created over a matter of weeks in the Spring of 1984.
Players from the all-conquering 1984 Irish Schools U18 Group team got together at Lansdowne FC on Friday 8th November 2019.
Attending a past pupils lunch for Rockwell College, having been invited by John Riordan, 11 players came together for some back slapping, laughs and reminiscing. Many of the players had not seen each other for 35 years but this did not diminish the bond created all those years ago.
The team opened their 3-match campaign in 1984 with a trial match against Leinster U19’s which they won. The first international fixture was against a strong Scotland side at Braidholm, Glasgow on the 7th April 1984 with the visitors prevailing 13-26. Seemingly no-one in the Irish team could kick a penalty or a conversion so the score could have been wider.
Two weeks later the team had a fantastic win against England at Ravenhill, Belfast. The 15-7 win was made even more significant given the atrocious conditions, driving rain and wind. The fact that the Irish Schools had only beaten the English schools once before in U18 Rugby history just made the win even more satisfying.
Dan Larkin (St Munchin’s) managed to kick 5 out of 5 penalties in the conditions despite having taken a heavy knock to the head in the first 10 minutes of the game, coming back on having been taped up. In the modern game he probably would not have been allowed to return to the pitch. The England team was led by Will Carling.
Team Captain Bernie Rhodes (Ballymena Academy) said: “This was a fantastic evening. It was though the passage of time had done nothing to change the special bond rugby creates. It was just a shame that we did not have more time. The Guinness was flowing freely. We hope we can do it again.
A couple of the team out in Australia would have loved to have come – Pat Coleman, CBC Cork and Bobby Montford, PBC Bray. Jonny Caskey – Coleraine Inst, who could not attend still managed to meet up with me in Ballymena. Memories were certainly made.
In attendance:
Back Row: Richard Cullen-RBAI, Kelvin Leahy-Crescent Comprehensive, Gary Halpin-Rockwell, John Riordan-Rockwell, Father Noel Redmond-Selector, Ian Daly-Terenure, Mark Wise-CBC-Monkstown, David Madigan-Gonzaga
Front Row: Dan Larkin-St Munchins, Michael Costello-Terenure, Bernard Rhodes-Ballymena Academy, Bryan McFarland-BRA
Ireland Schools Internationals:
Scotland 13 Ireland 26 (Braidholm, Glasgow), 7 April 1984
D. Larkin (St. Munchin’s), M. Costello (Terenure), B. Glennon (De La Salle Churchtown), A.P. Archer (Dungannon RS), J. Riordan (Rockwell), R. Cullen (RBAI), R. Montford (PBC Bray), B. Rhodes (Ballymena Acad), Capt, P. Madden (CBC Cork), G. Halpin (Rockwell), L. Dineen (Crescent Comprehensive), P. Coleman (CBC Cork), D. Madigan (Gonzaga), B. McFarland (BRA), K Leahy (Crescent Comprehensive).
Ireland 15 England 7 (Ravenhill, Belfast), 14 April 1984
D. Larkin (St. Munchin’s), M. Costello (Terenure), B. Glennon (De La Salle Churchtown), A.P. Archer (Dungannon RS), J. Riordan (Rockwell), R. Cullen (RBAI), R. Montford (PBC Bray), B. Rhodes (Ballymena Acad), Capt, P. Madden (CBC Cork), G. Halpin (Rockwell), L. Dineen (Crescent Comprehensive), P. Coleman (CBC Cork), D. Madigan (Gonzaga), B. McFarland (BRA), K Leahy (Crescent Comprehensive).