Ninth Level Ireland

“Leinster rugby will begin training at their High-Performance Centre (HPC) on University College Dublin’s (UCD’s) Bellfield campus on Monday, after players had undergone testing earlier this week. As part of the return to play protocols set out by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), the HPC at UCD has been outfitted with the required infrastructure to facilitate a safe return to training, for restricted training sessions …” (more)

[Stephen Kisbey-Green, College Tribune, 18 June]

“NUI Galway and Connacht Rugby have announced an extension of their partnership until 2019. NUI Galway became Connacht’s Academy and University partner in 2013, and since then 19 Connacht players have graduated, or are about to graduate, from NUI Galway …” (more)

[Declan Rooney, Independent, 27 October]

“The head of Munster Rugby says he hopes the province can develop its commercial relationship with the University of Limerick in the years to come. CEO Garrett Fitzgerald made his comments at the official opening of Munster’s High Performance Centre and UL’s new 25 metre diving pool …” (more)

[David Hurley, Limerick Leader, 3 April]

“Munster Rugby and the University of Limerick have signed an agreement on the location of Munster’s new single training centre. Construction has commenced on the new facility, which will be located adjacent to the existing UL Arena …” (more)

[Kathy Masterson, Limerick Post, 11 September]

“Full planning permission has been granted for Munster’s new training base at the University of Limerick. Work on clearing the site and enabling works is due to start later this month …” (more)

[Colm Kinsella, Limerick Leader, 4 September]

“Munster’s new training base facility at the University of Limerick is now due to be open in January 2016, some six months later than originally planned …” (more)

[Colm Kinsella, Limerick Leader, 22 May]

“Limerick Institute of Technology have offered to build a training base that would be ‘unrivalled in Europe’ in terms of facilities in order to woo Munster Rugby to its Moylish campus on a full-time basis …” (more)

[Alan Owens, Limerick Leader, 21 July]

“NUI Galway has announced the establishment of a Rugby Youth Academy to cater for teenagers in Galway. The Youth Academy is an integral part of the existing University Rugby club, which was formed in 1874, and is a founder member of the IRFU …” (more)

[Galway Independent, 31 August]

“NUI Galway has announced the establishment of a rugby youth academy to cater for teenagers in Galway. The academy will be part of the existing rugby club at NUIG which was formed in 1874 and is a founder member of the IRFU. The development of the academy, coupled with the university’s sports scholarship scheme, is aimed at strengthening the college’s All Ireland League u-20 squad in the future …” (more)

[Galway Advertiser, 25 August]

“Less than a week after securing their second Heineken Cup in dramatic fashion Leinster Rugby are already looking for that extra edge over their competition. The chief executive of Leinster Rugby, Michael Dawson and the president of UCD, Dr Hugh Brady, have announced details of a new high performance partnership which will see Leinster moving their training, conditioning and administration to UCD’s Belfield campus and the development of a number of educational, research and commercial initiatives …” (more)

[UCD News, 25 May]

“It was all about the robots today at University College Dublin (UCD) as first-year engineering students demonstrated the ‘Rugby Robots’ they had created in advance of the Siemens RoboRugby Competition final which takes place this evening on campus …” (more)

[Bernice Mulligan, Silicon Republic, 18 April]

“The 52nd annual rugby match colours at Donnybrook on Saturday saw a fierce contest, in which Trinity College managed to oversee tough opposition in the form of old rivals University College Dublin to edge their way to a 31-22 victory …” (more)

[Mathew Rye, University Times, 17 April]

“The University of Limerick Women’s Rugby team wrapped up a wonderful season by recently winning the varsity title in the Carlow Institute of Technology. UL now holds every trophy available in Colleges Division 1 Women’s Rugby …” (more)

[Munster Rugby, 5 April]

“UCD made it a perfect 10 and are now the only unbeaten team in the country as they went top of the Division 2 table with a 24-17 win at bottom side Clonakilty …” (more)

[Independent, 21 February]

“Ireland and Leinster rugby star Malcolm O’Kelly has been talking to school students about his passion for maths, and the importance of a solid grasp of maths in engineering careers. He visited schools as part of Engineers Week’s second national Volunteer Day …” (more)

[Science.ie, 17 February]

“UCD made it four straight wins from four in the All-Ireland League last Saturday with an excellent bonus point victory over the Belfast Harlequins. This victory encompassed six tries past the visitors, including a wonderful hat-trick for hooker David Doyle …” (more)

[Gordon O’Callaghan, University Observer, 2 November]

“UCD RFC will mark their centenary season with a fixture under lights against the Combined Universities comprising players from UCC, Trinity (TCD), Queen’s and NUIG on the eve of the Ireland versus South Africa match on Friday at the UCD Bowl, Belfield …” (more)

[Tony Ward, Independent, 2 November]

“Irish colleges rugby has been dealt a blow by Nama following an order to developers – including their sponsor Treasury Holdings – that they cut ‘non-core’ spending on sponsorships, the Sunday Independent has learned …” (more)

[Independent, 24 October]

“Local side NUI Maynooth emerged victorious in the CUSAI Autumn Rugby Sevens tournament at NUIM Barnhall on Wednesday. University of Limerick were top of the pile in the women’s event …” (more)

[Sports News Ireland, 15 October]

“UCD 22 – 33 Lansdowne – After a slight delay to the restart of AIB leagues nationwide, UCD played their first fixture of the new year against league leaders Lansdowne. Saturday afternoon’s clash between UCD and Lansdowne was one filled with nailbiting action, but Lansdowne brought something extra to the contest and were deserving victors in the end. The final score of 33-22 demonstrated the intensity of this high-scoring game …” (more)

[Meghan McSweeney, University Observer, 19 January]