Promising Players who Disappeared

MG wrote: »

What ever happened to that fella Ross O'Carroll Kelly?

Can be found here under a half dozen different usernames

Ceartgoleor wrote: »

I think the all time side was picked on their performances while in the school, so Gibney was always going to be selected. Some great players (2 Lions) were selected in the International XV despite not making the School XV, which says it all about the greatness of the school's rugby team through the years

The two sides:

Blackrock College (SCT XV)
Hugo MacNeill, Niall Brophy, Brian O'Driscoll, Brendan Mullin, Luke Fitzgerald, Mick Kelly, Ciaran Scally, Justin Lennon, Harry Harbison, Finbarr Griffin, Victor Costello, Neil Francis, Don Roe Kissane, Barry Gibney, Brian McLoughlin

Blackrock College (International XV)
Hugo MacNeill, Jack Arigho, Brian O'Driscoll, Larry McMahon, Niall Brophy, Paul Murray, John Quirke, Paul Flavin, Shane Byrne, Job Langbroek, Leo Cullen, Neil Francis, Fergus Slattery, Noel Turley, Victor Costello

That's the best Blacrock College international team of all time!!!! That is BULL****!! If ever you want a stereotypical example of upper class snobbery, good-old-boy solidarity and cliqueishness rather than merit influencing decisions look no further than Noel Turley and Johnny Quirke making that side. They won a total of four caps BETWEEN THEM!

Each made their international debut in 1962 in Twickenham. They were two of NINE new caps that day, one that has passed into infamy in the history of the Irish national team. They were slaughtered 16-0, four tries to nothing. That was a big score by the standards of the time when test matches tended to have results like 9-6 or 12-3.


The game is remembered because some of those greenhorns went on to great things. Four of them became Lions (Willie John McBride, Ray McLoughlin, Mick Hipwell and Ray Hunter.) with the first two of those among the game's legends.

As against that, three of that Twickenham side never played for Ireland again: Jimmy Dick at hooker, Gerry L'Estrange on the wing and Turley at flanker.

Dick was only there because the regular hooker Ronnie Dawson was injured. I am reliably informed that L'Estrange would regularly make the team, cruelly compiled though never published by the sports writers of a leading national newspaper, of the worst players ever to play for Ireland. In fairness, he had broken his hand early on that day and as no substitutes were allowed in those days he had to play on.

Quirke won two more caps against Scotland: one that season and one in 1968. I was quite surprised to see his final appearance featured in a DVD of "Ireland's greatest rugby victories of the TV age". It was a non descript Five Nations match in Dublin with little at stake but much was made of Quirke's break to set up the winning try. Why was this featured while other great matches, such as Ireland winning a test series in australia in 1979, were ignored?

Perhaps George Hook letting it slip that Quirke was now a High Court Judge had something to do with it. As has his inclusion on this side, perhaps?

Turley, is or was a teacher at Blackrock College. Perhaps that has more clout in his being named on the team ahead of a true legend like Willie Duggan, who played on the best Lions pack ever to tour New Zealand in 1977. Although they lost the test series, the Lions forwards tore the All Blacks to shreds, and Duggan was one of only two to make all four tests.

But then he's only a greasy-handed electrician from Kilkenny.

Maybe I'm doing Turley wrong. I've only ever heard of him because of the notoriety of the 1962 Twickenham match. Maybe he was better than Duggan. And maybe Quirke was the best scrum half Blackrock ever produced. But I have my doubts.

What the hell. It's only an old-school tie circle jerk anyway. What am I getting so het up for?

anonymous_joe wrote: »

Hate Rock much?

Anyone whose played internationally was a good player. Might not be great, but certainly good. THis is a school we're talking about. My old school has produced no Ireland internationals. Doubt we'd be offended by recognising one if we'd had one.

And Noel Turley's a nice guy.

You went to Michaels ye? Did K Gleeson not go there for a few years in primary school before going to OZ? Anyway I'm sure there's a few internationals who went to the old Michaels until Junior Cert and onto Rock you can claim, just like all those cups too;)

themont85 wrote: »

Just browsing over the Rock teams there, really underlines just how important they have been and schools rugby has been in Irish rugby. What would have happened if hurling had become the sport of choice there like apparently it was for a period in the younger years of the College, Irish rugby owes a debt to the place.

have to say i would agree with this they have developed the schools game in leinster to the extent that most schools play catch up with them obviously the belvos, michaels and nure have great rugby traditions and more often then not produce fairly good teams:) but Rock have always lead the pack, every school wants to beat rock having played against them in school it was always the biggest game of the season when you went to rock to try and beat them on their patch


on another point the terenure team that won the 2003 SCT had some great individuals did any of these go on to further their rugby career or wat happened them

RugbyFanatic wrote: »

Might want to check that one.

Blackrock, Belvedere, Terenure, St. Marys, Castleknock have the great rugby traditions, Micheals not so much.

my apoligies but for as long as i was in school Micheals where always there or there abouts maybe not for 100 years like Nure but in the last 20 years they have been competitive ....i would agree i left out St Marys and Castleknock not on purpose just making a point

Snickers Man wrote: »

Ah yes. Rob Saunders. The man that cost us the 1991 World Cup Semifinal against Australia by kicking the ball straight back to the Aussies after we had taken the lead with about two minutes to go.

He played for London Irish for a while after that but retired young.

Yes!! One of the worst kicks in an Irish Jersey, gave them a lineout on our 22, Lynagh wrap around, rest is history....

Snickers Man wrote: »

Not disputing that. But this was supposed to be the best International team made up of ex Rock players.




I'm sure he is. But was he a better international flanker than Mick Doyle or Willie Duggan? Both of whom played for Blackrock. And Ireland. And the Lions.


I know Duggan was normally a Number Eight, but he won a few caps on the flank. There was an argument at the time that he should have played more as a tight blind side flanker and somebody else take on the more playmaking role of Number Eight.

Regardless, he was a complete legend and how he could be left off the team in place of a one-cap wonder just smacks of cliqueishness to me.

As for the scrum half. Looking through my records I can only detect Alain Rolland as another Blackrock College scrum half who was capped by Ireland and he only won three caps as well, same as Quirke. So maybe that selection is more justified.

Maybe if they included a list of the best referees....:)

I really 100% do not have any major opinions on the Rock all time best XV.

Sangre wrote: »

Michaels is only about 60 years old, a drop in the ocean compared to most of the big rugby schools. I think rock have more SCT victories than Michaels have years in the competition.

Indeed. But don't forget we didn't even play Leaving Cert classes until the 70s. I think. Been a while since I darkened the doors of the place.

me :pac:

Ceartgoleor wrote: »

Mick Doyle went to Newbridge, he may have played for Blackrock the club, but thats not relevant to the school selections. Willie Duggan did play for Blackrock College RFC, but didn't attend the school either so neither are eligible for the above sides.

They should rename you Mars man because this guy just kicked you in the nuts.

[Jackass] wrote: »

Roscrea College (really a Munster school but relocated to Kildare iirc)

Cistercian College Roscrea has its address in Tipperary,but the rugby pitches are located in Offaly and as a recent graduate i take real offence to that.If your gonna insult us please get your facts right.We have also been in this competition for over 100 years so have just as much right to be in it as any other!