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10th February 2025
08:54am GMT
After a poor Autumn Nations Series, Ireland are nearing their 2023 form this Six Nations, following a fairly comfortable 32-18 win over Scotland yesterday.
While the likes of James Lowe and Jamison Gibson-Park came through the NIQ system, the majority of the squad have played in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup.
With their private funding and ability to keep youngsters close by at all times, it is the breeding ground for Leinster's academy, the bedrock for the province's depth and success.
When looking at the roll of honour for the tournament, one school towers above the rest; Blackrock College. With 71 wins, they have 59 more trophies than the next best, Belvedere College.
Some of Ireland's greats came through the school, including Brian O'Driscoll, while members of the current squad, such as Garry Ringrose, Caelan Doris, Joe McCarthy, and Hugo Keenan, are all past pupils.
On Six Nations punditry duty for the BBC yesterday, Martin Johnson spoke highly of the South Dublin school, after watching them play 'a couple of years ago'.
England's World Cup winning captain said: "The Irish provinces have been strong, Munster first and then Leinster came through.
"You watch their schoolboy rugby, I saw Blackrock a couple of years ago -it's like watching Ireland play. They didn't make a mistake in 25 minutes on a freezing cold day, U16s rugby, unbelievable.
"So it's all coming up, quality players coming through and they go into a fantastic environment when they get there (Ireland) and they have to perform, otherwise they know they won't be there."
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