News article – Style E 3631

AIB League Division One Finalists.
Cork Constitution
Captain: Jerry Murray
Head Coach: Brian Walsh (Irl )

-Have played 168 League games (W – 111, D – 4, L – 53 ) for a success rate of 67% over 14 seasons since October 6th, 1990.
-In their first outing this season (Oct. 25th v Dungannon) became the first club to register 100 all-time League wins.
-Were the first club to record 3000 points in the League and the second club to register 300 tries.
-Registered their biggest margin of League victory (17 pts) over Shannon in the first League match back in November 1990 at Temple Hill.
-Have scored four tries (two bonus points) on two League occasions against Shannon.
-Are the club that have scored the most points (3603) in the all-time All-Ireland League.
-Are the club that have scored the most tries (384) in the all-time All-Ireland League.
-Are the club that have recorded the most wins (111) in the all-time All-Ireland League.
–Ultan O’Callaghan became Con’s latest player to feature in 100 League games when he lined out against Garryowen on November 29th, 2003.
-Seven of this season’s ten wins in the League series were by less than five points and five games were rescued in injury time.
-Current coach, Brian Walsh scored two tries during Con’s 1990/91 League-winning campaign and also played in the 2000/01 AIB League final.
-The average age of the 20 squad members on duty for Con on 28/02/04 was 24 years 11 months.

Shannon.
Captain: Tom Hayes
Head coach: Geoff Moylan (Irl)
-Have played 166 League games (W -110, D – 5, L – 51 ) for a success rate of 68% over 14 seasons since October 6th 1990.
-Last November became the second club to win 100 games in the All-Ireland League.
-Were the 5th club to have accumulated more than 3000 points and the fourth club to run in 300 tries in the all-time League.
-Registered their biggest margin of League victory (13 pts) over Cork Con in the December 1996 League game at Thomond Park.
-Have never scored as many as four tries in one match against Cork Con in the League.
-Are the club that have the most positive points differential (+ 1146) in the all-time All-Ireland League.
-Are the club that have scored the third most tries (370) in the all-time All-Ireland League.
-Are the club that have recorded the second most wins (110) in the all-time All-Ireland League.
–Tom Cregan was the top points scorer in all three divisions during the League series this season.
-Have already this season won the Munster Senior League and the Munster Senior Cup and if they win today will equal their record of three Senior pots in one season, set in 2001/02.
-Beat both Connacht clubs at Thomond Park this season.
-The average age of the 20 squad members on duty for Shannon on 13/03/04 was 25 years 0 month.

AIB League Division Two Finalists.
Dublin University
Captain : Martin Garvey
Head Coach: Tony Smeeth (Eng)
Asst. Coach : Hugh McGuire.
-Have played 135 League games (W -82, D – 6, L – 48) for a success rate of 63% over 11 seasons since September 25th 1993.
-Will next season follow Co. Carlow and UL-Bohemian as the third club to have played at some time in all four League divisions.
-Beat all four Limerick clubs in the second division this season.
-Have conceded the least points (184) and, with Old. Belvedere the least tries (14), during the League phase in all three divisions this season.
-Had this season to play two of their League Phase home games and their semi-final at the Wanderers ground on Merrion Road due to the condition of the College Park pitch.
-Unusually for a student club, Trinity have kicked far more penalty goals (39) than they have scored tries (26) in their 16 League outings so far this season.
-Coach, Tony Smeeth from Dorset in England has been Director of the DUFC Rugby Academy and coach to the first team for the past six seasons. Prior to that, he coached the USA Eagles U-19 side for eight years and brought them to the 1998 U-19 World Cup. He also coached Blackrock College RFC in the All-Ireland League.
-Trinity hold the League record for an unbeaten run of games. In the 16 games prior to the end of Jan. 2001, Dublin Univ. went unbeaten. Shannon had managed 15 games with no defeat prior to this.
-Celebrated their 15 th anniversary as the oldest continuously active rugby club in the world by earning promotion to the AIB League Division One for next season.
-The average age of the senior squad playing in Trinity this season was 20 years 8 months.
-On April 17th, 2004, Trinity became the tenth League club to score 3000 pts. in the all-time League.

UL-Bohemians.
Captain : Aidan O’Gorman
Head Coach: Mike Tewkesbury (Eng)

-Have played 137 League games (W -77, D – 5, L – 55) for a success rate of 58% over 11 seasons since September 18th 1993.
-Have at some stage played in all four divisions of the League.
-Were formed from the amalgamation of Bohemian RFC (founded in 1922) and the University of Limerick and first competed in the AIB League (Div. Two) in the 1999/00 season.
-Approximately 50% of the senior squad at the club are students at UL.
-Were the only club in the top two divisions to remain unbeaten at home this season.
-UL-Bohemians suffered four defeats this season and collected a bonus point on each occasion.
-UL-Bohs, like Buccaneers in Division One, elect two Presidents each season, one from the University and one from the traditional club.
-UL-Bohs share Thomond Park with Shannon and both clubs have made this season’s finals. UL-Bohs are in fact the senior tenants at the world-famous ground.
-UL-Bohs have lost only two of their last 29 home games in the League.
-On the other hand, UL-Bohs have won only once in the last six seasons of travelling up the N7 to play League rugby in Leinster.

AIB League Division Three Finalists.
Greystones. Captain : Eoin O’Brien
Head Coach: Greg Lynch (Irl)
Asst : MJ Smith (SA).

-have played 174 League fixtures (W – 80, D – 8, L -86) for a success rate of 48% over 14 seasons since October 6th 1990.
-Have notched up more points (524) and more tries (70) than any other League club so far this season.
-Have collected the most bonus points (11) including nine try bonus points, in the League since last October.
-Coach Greg Lynch has previously coached Dublin University, Bective Rangers and Wanderers during his League career.
-Have won both of their games away in Connacht and their three homes to Leinster clubs during 2003/04.
-Wing, Stewart O’Connell is the top try scorer in the entire League this season with 15 touchdowns.
-Today play their 175th League game, more matches than any of the other 47 clubs.

Ards.
Captain : Michael Creighton
Head coach: Mervyn Tweed (Irl)
Asst. : Alan Hutchinson
-Have played 100 League games (W -43, D – 2, L – 55) for a success rate of 44% over 9 seasons since September 18th 1993.
-Have won both their games away in Connacht and away in Leinster this season.
-Were awarded four points when Ballina couldn’t travel last November and as a result missed out on a possible bonus point.
-Spent two seasons (2001/02, 2002/03) playing in Junior ranks.
-Celebrated their 75th anniversary during 2002/03 by qualifying for re-entry into the AIB League at the end of that season.
-Two-thirds of their squad are products of the local academy Regent House, a school which produced Philip Matthews and Nigel Carr of 1985 Ireland Triple Crown fame.
-Like Lansdowne and Wanderers, they play their home games at Lansdowne Road..but this particular venue is in the town of Newtownards.