LEINSTER HAVE CONFIRMED Caelan Doris as their new captain.
Head coach Leo Cullen has also named Garry Ringrose and James Ryan as the skipper’s deputies for the year ahead after being co-captains last term.
Cullen hailed Doris as “a natural choice to lead” after the 26-year-old captained both the province and Ireland for the first time last season.
“Our supporters will have seen not only how Caelan performed himself, but how he grew into the captaincy role when given that opportunity both with Leinster and Ireland. He is an outstanding leader and a natural choice to lead Leinster into what we hope will be an exciting season,” Cullen said.
“Caelan will be well supported by James Ryan and Garry Ringrose, who both did an excellent job for us as co-captains last season. There is also a wealth of top-level experience in the wider group that will help and support Caelan in the months ahead.”
Reflecting on the announcement, Doris added: “It’s a massive privilege for me to be leading this group. I’m fortunate to have so many quality players and staff around me whose advice and input will be crucial.
“It was special to get the opportunity to captain Leinster several times last season and I’m excited to do the same again this year.
“There’s no shortage of ambition within this group and we’re all looking forward to the new season and representing the supporters, our communities, and the 12 counties of Leinster in the Aviva Stadium, Croke Park and beyond.”
Glad they’ve done away with the two captains thing. All it did was wind up the officials. Doris is a good choice.
No better man for it, seems to be really taking to the leadership challenges. Hopefully he can work on his communication with refs, he’ll have plenty of opportunities
Great Mayo man. Class act too. Happy for him.
@Jofus Soap: Connacht would only love to bring him home
Wonder if this means POM is captain for Ireland this season aswell as it’s not too frequent they ask a guy to captain both club and country. Could be a way to get him more experience with being match day captain with a more medium term of view of taking the Ireland captaincy then in the 6N or next summer. I don’t think this is any slight either on Ringrose or Ryan. Both are still outstanding leaders, you don’t need an armband to lead. I’m excited to see Ryan’s level go up even further as he seems to play a bit better without the armband.
@Carmine Lorenzo: it’s interesting , I think they keep Doris as Ireland captain too though . We had the passing of the baton in the SA tour and I can’t see AF going back to POM when he probably won’t be at the next World Cup
@Carmine Lorenzo: I wouldn’t over think it. But it gives him a better chance now for the Lions captaincy!
@Paul Ennis: Lions Captain, now that’s over thinking lol
Glad they ditched this co-captains nonsense. It’s a bit of a gut punch for Ringrose and Ryan to be overlooked for the captaincy but Doris is the right choice. In saying that, Doris has to start delivering in the really big games. In the likes of a World Cup quarter final, Champions Cup final etc he has been fairly anonymous in the last year or two. Really needs to front up in games of that stature.
@Aidan Farrell: yep, he was pretty anonymous in the two games versus the double world champions in their own backyard…
@Andrew Hurley: those games were friendlies, I place no stock in them.
@Aidan Farrell: wait there are friendlies in rugby now ???
@Aidan Farrell: id imagine the head shot by Willis in opening mins of the game might have had something to do with that and he was still one of Leinsters best players in final
@Aidan Farrell: friendlies? There’s a massive lump of respect just lost right there
@chris mcdonnell: don’t mind him .., he has been on with this ‘friendly’ nonsense for some time. Tell that to the fans and players at Loftus or Cape Town.
Delighted with this, although he’s bringing a Mayo jinks to the province.
That’s Ryan on the bench for the season ahead so
Not surprised, probably there best player now. Any ideas who next man up would be as I can imagine Doris, Ringrose and Ryan won’t be in some of the teams for URC games. Rudduck retired, Maloney is gone. Luke McGrath still looks like he’s the 2nd 9.
@Shane: Scott Penny has captained loads of time so would imagine it would be him. Outside of that it is an interesting call! Luke McGrath sticks out but personally speaking I’m not sure he should be starting URC games if the internationals are away in camp. I’d have Foley ahead of him and want to see more of Gunne. Culhane was u20s captain so imagine we might see him get the nod in URC games too.
@Carmine Lorenzo: you’d forget Penny is still so young he’s been around a long time. I had to double check to make sure he’s only 24
@Shane: Penney and by all accounts SP could step up . I believe SP likes to ‘run the week’ in training and has a bit of Sexton about him
@Harry Barry: He displaced Beirne for the last test match. No mean achievement. You talk nonsense.
@Tom Reilly: am I talking about for Ireland you turnip?
@Tom Reilly: Did Farrell drop Beirne, arguably Ireland’s best player over past 4 years . I didn’t notice that.
@Harry Barry.
OK I will join up the dots for you seeing it seems beyond your intellect. I am merely pointing out to you that a SR who can displace a world class SR at International test level is not going to be on a provincial bench. Also no need for the puerile insults.
@JJB: Did I say Beirne was dropped.? Ryan took his place in the SR. For a coach to remove a world class SR and put him at 6 to make room for Ryan highlights how highly Farrell rates a fully fit Ryan.
@Tom Reilly: maybe the move was all about bringing Beirne to 6 for that game. There are plenty of James Ryan type players out there. T Beirne types are very scrace. Frame your sentences to be less partial.
@JJB: Your comment about Ryan is rather vague.Are you saying that he is just your average SR with plenty of them out there. If so in my opinion you are totally wrong. When fully match fit he is one of the best SRs in the world never mind Ireland. Farrell wanted him against SA for his physicality and the sight of Etzebeth and his mate beaten up and covered in blood contrasted sharply to the previous test. Beirne is a brilliant player and both have points of difference as SRs.
hmmm
@Arjuna: So Ireland pick Gibson Park as 1st choice, then Leinster follow suit. Then Ireland pick Doris as Captain, then Leinster follow suit, finally Ireland pick Osbourne as full back……bit of a trend here
@Arjuna: it’s almost as if Leo is a spoofer or something
@Arjuna: yeah and AF also forced them into keeping Prenderghast for the season too
@Owen ODonoghue: the sooner the better Cullen is gone.
@chris mcdonnell: It won’t be this season. I will promise you a €uro to a charity of your choice for every one of your comments for the season if you promise none of them will mention Leo Cullen or the Byrne Bros!!
@Arjuna: Ireland also moved Porter across and accelerated big Joe. Interested one alright