Syracuse University, Leinster Rugby Launch Partnership
Syracuse University, Leinster Rugby Launch Partnership
Syracuse University and Leinster Rugby have entered into a partnership.
The partnership is a combined rugby and study agreement.
Through it Leinster is sending a coach to Syracuse for the next three years. Leinster Rugby will aos run a week-long rugby camp as well as a weekend coaching clinic in August.
What's notable about this agreement is that it is with the University, not the rugby club. So the school is behind the plan and sees how the rugby camps and increased rugby support can enhance the university's recruiting.
“This truly unique collaboration will enhance the student-athlete experience and raise the profile of rugby on campus, in Central New York and throughout the country,” Syracuse men's Head Coach, Bob Wilson, told Syracuse University News. “It will attract potential students to the University from around the world and expose our athletes to Leinster’s great sporting and professional culture.”
“The University is committed to becoming a leader in collegiate club sports offerings, and our partnership with an exceptional organization like Leinster Rugby helps us further that goal," added Kent Syverud, Chancellor of Syracuse University.
This plan of course has a component in which Syracuse hopes to attract Irish students to study abroad. Meanwhile, Syracuse University's students, including those in the Sports Management track, will have internship opportunities within Leinster Rugby's operations in Dublin.
Leinster Rugby will also be running a two-day coaching clinic at Syracuse University, led by Seán O’Brien and Leinster’s development staff, on Saturday and Sunday, 5-6 August 2023. The camp is open to all coaches of male and female age-grade, college and adult rugby athletes. Other clinic staff include Colin O’Hare, Ken Moore and John Bagnall, who collectively have over 48 years coaching experience, working across the province of Leinster.
To register for the players camp go here: https://commerce.
To register for the coaches camp go here: https://commerce.
Leinster Rugby also has a program called School of Excellent, which it has operated for more than 20 years. It runs rugby camps and clinics and Syracuse University will be its first School of Excellent site in the USA.
Ireland is made up of four provinces: Ulster, Munster, Connacht, and Leinster. Much of Ireland's success in rugby can be tracked to the use of these provinces as the second tier (under national teams) on a pyramid of performance. The four provincial sides compete in the United Rugby Championship (formerly the Pro 14 and before that a bunch of other names). Leinster is the most successful of these programs, winning the URC (or its predecessors) eight times, including four times in a row from 2018 to 2021, and the European Champions Cup (or its predecessor) four times.
This year Leinster was 2nd in the European Champions Cup for the second straight year, won the URC Irish Shield, and made the semifinals of the URC overall. The Rugby is one of four provincial rugby programs in Ireland
