Debuts for Lawlor and Moloney
Former Newbridge College alum, Todd Lawlor, made his senior debut for Leinster against Zebre over the weekend at the redeveloped Laya Arena, Dublin. Photo: INPHO/Grace Halton.
Leinster Rugby unveiled their new permanent home on Saturday afternoon, with three Kildare players in the starting XV for the very first game at the Laya Arena. Italian side, Zebre provided the opposition, with Leinster scoring a flurry of tries to run out comfortable winners.
Todd Lawlor became the latest Kildare man to make his senior Leinster debut, starting the game at full back. He was joined in the back three by Sallins man, Ciaran Mangan, who made his debut last season, and Naas’ Andrew Osborne, with Mangan starting on the left wing and Osborne starting on the opposite side.
This was a first opportunity for fans to set foot inside the redeveloped RDS, where the last game was played in May 2024.
Since then, Leinster have been based at the Aviva Stadium and for premier games, Croke Park. This was initially a major boost to the province, but the law of diminishing returns resulted in smaller and smaller crowds attending the two Dublin grounds.
Now back in their spiritual home of the RDS, the re-named Laya Arena has the chance to become a fortress for Leinster.
Leo Cullen, in his final season in charge of the province, saw his team score eight tries – all converted – in a barnstorming start to the new season.
Todd Lawlor; Ciarán Mangan, Hugh Cooney, Charlie Tector (1 con), Andrew Osborne; Caspar Gabriel (7 cons), Fintan Gunne (2 tries); Alex Usanov, Gus McCarthy (1 try), Niall Smyth (1 try); Conor O'Tighearnaigh, Brian Deeny; Max Deegan, Scott Penny, Josh Ericson (1 try).
Alex Mullan for N Smyth 34 mins; Stephen Smyth for McCarthy, Peter Dooley for Usanov, Ryan Baird for Deeny, Oliver Coffey for Gunne, Cormac Foley (1 try) for Gabriel all ht; Alex Soroka for Ericson, Josh Neill (1 try) for Penny both 45 mins; Jack Deegan for Cooney, Hugo McLaughlin for Gunne, Dylan McNeice for O’Tighearnaigh, Charlie Molony for Lawlor all 52 mins; Andrew Sparrow for Mullan, Alan Spicer (1 try) for Deegan both 56 mins; C Gabriel for Tector, A Osborne for Mangan both 64 mins; J Ericson for Neill 71 mins.
All four provinces will have at least one Kildare player on their books in the 2026/27 season, with Ulster acquiring the services of Athy man, Martin Moloney.
The big flanker began his professional career at Leinster, having joined the academy for the 2019-20 season. Moloney started in all five matches for Ireland in the Grand Slam-winning 2019 U20 Six Nations and spent three years in the Leinster senior squad before leaving in 2024.
The Athy man has spent the past two seasons in the English Premiership where he played with former Champions Cup winners, Exeter Chiefs.
On Saturday, Moloney made his debut for Ulster, starting at openside, as the northern province finished comfortable winners over Welsh side, Ospreys.
