ROCK ON TO RUGBY CHALLENGE

Jack Lither-land, Harry Gilbert, Daryl Egan and David Riley are fying the Bahrain fag in Ireland

ASCRUM of Bahrain-based youngsters is trying for greatness at ‘The Rock’ – one of the leading Irish boarding schools known for its high academic standards and domination in the game of rugby, writes Mai Al Khatib.

Rockwell College is a private Roman Catholic secondary school located near Cashel, South Tipperary. The college attracts more than 500 boys and girls and boasts a proud rugby tradition grooming aspiring athletes into some of the sport’s star professionals.

The college has won the prestigious Munster Schools Senior Cup 25 times and Munster Schools Junior Cup 19 times.

Over the past 15 years, an endless line-up of talent from Bahrain has focked to Rockwell to pursue an interest in playing rugby with the hope of securing professional playing careers at provincial and international level.

The relationship with Bahrain started in 2006 when three expat families sent their eldest sons Harry McNulty, Jack Riley and Jack Sutcliffe to develop their playing

skills at the age of 12. Since then the college has received more siblings from the McNulty family – Ella, 18, Sean, 17, and Ciara, 16, along with two more Riley children, David, 18, and Ben, 17. And Jack Sutcliffe’s brother Adam, 18, along with Jack Litherland, 14, and Cian O’Donnell, 16, has joined the Rockwell ranks.

Frank Fitzgerald, the college’s director of boarding, said: “Things went very well for the frst set of boys and their parents that we started to get a lot of enquiries from other families in Bahrain.

“I believe the boys choose Rockwell because of our ability to incorporate a high level of education and a strong sporting programme – in my opinion being in boarding school allows students to maximise their potential in both due to the routine of class, study and recreation time.

“I understand that private education is fairly expensive in Bahrain and I believe it is not much more to send the boys here to Rockwell.

“But the most important reason for any parent sending their child to Rockwell is that they will be safe and happy. We pride ourselves on creating an environment where students can grow and become the best that they can be.

“Our rugby department is very strong but it is not all we do. We also have a strong debating team, drama programme and a variety of other sports including soccer, golf, basketball and a swim team. We have a nine-hole golf course and a 25-metre swimming pool.”

Sean McNulty, David Riley and Ben Riley are part of the senior team which recently reached the Munster Schools Cup Final. Harry and
Sean McNulty and Ben Riley have represented Munster at Schools and Under-19 level.

Harry also represented Ireland at Under-19 and is now part of the professional game with Munster. Sean is a member of the Irish Schools team competing in the European Championship.

Their success has attracted former St Christopher’s School student Daryl Egan, 15, and his friend Harry Gilbert, 15, who attended the British School of Bahrain, to join.

The dynamic duo plays alongside each other in the Rockwell Juniors.

Sports-mad Daryl had enjoyed successful spells playing soccer and rugby with St Christopher’s School, Arsenal Soccer School Bahrain and Bahrain Rugby Football Club, often captaining the sides.

He is also well-known for his guitar-playing and lyric-writing talent having appeared on Bahrain TV and Radio Bahrain and on stage at St Christopher’s Rock and Pop and Unplugged concerts, as well as at the annual Irish Music Festival.

At 14, Daryl’s heart was set at pursuing a rugby career. After much consultation with his parents, Annette and Eamon, who live in Saar, as well as with other families – namely the Rileys, Stapletons, McNultys, Sutcliffes and Gilberts whose children have either completed school there or are still attending – he quickly reached a decision that Rockwell College was the place for him.

Twelve months later and speaking from Ireland, Daryl said: “It’s been a great experience so far. I’m working hard both in school and on the training ground.

“I’ve come straight into Junior Certifcate examination year which means I must work hard to cover a two-year curriculum in one year but the school is giving me all the support I need to gain good results. Well into the school year and after more than 80 training sessions and 20 matches against some of the best schools in Ireland, I feel my rugby has improved immensely.”

Having played much of his time in Bahrain as fy-half, Daryl has reverted to the scrum-half position in Ireland and has quickly established himself in the frst XV.

“While it was a tough decision to leave my family and friends behind I have no regrets. I am really delighted to have the chance to play for Rockwell and hopefully continue to play the game at the highest possible level,”

Daryl added. His brother Chris, 14, will be starting at Rockwell next year when the family relocates back to Ireland.

Harry, whose family live in Janabiya, was also thrilled at his chance to try rugby and school in Ireland. Dad, Tom, is head of business development at Ernst & Young’s Global Oil and Gas Centre of Excellence in Bahrain and mother, Julie Anne, is BSB’s Head of Infants and they also have a daughter Isabel, 18, and sons Paddy, 16, and Joe, nine.

Harry said: “This is my second year at Rockwell College and rugby is my favourite sport. I played for Bahrain Rugby Club all the way through.

“The ‘Rock’ is recognised as one of the best schools in Ireland for rugby with loads of students going on to play at national and provincial levels.

“I think my dad would like me to play proper rugby to make up for his lack of talent and application and maybe it has rubbed off on me! There are quite a lot of people from Bahrain here. Also, my grandparents aren’t that far away so I get a decent meal every now and then!”

Over the past two years Rockwell College has established itself as the foremost Senior Rugby school team winning the Munster Cup back-to-back.

The Munster Schools Senior Cup is an under-age rugby union competition for schools affliated to the Munster Branch, one of the four professional provincial rugby teams from Ireland.

The last time the college won the Junior Cup, long-time Bahrain resident Karl Sutcliffe was a key player and another key member of the team Shane Stapleton continues to play frst XV Rugby here in Bahrain.

Another winning member of that team, Dennis Leamy, went on to represent Ireland in more than 50 international Test matches. Dennis and his brother Kevin are key members of the coaching staff for both the Senior and Junior Cup teams respectively.

Other notable Rockwell graduates include the likes of Patrick Butler, an Irish professional rugby union player who was the captain of Rockwell College in the Munster Senior Cup in 2008 and John Fogarty another Irish rugby union footballer who played hooker for Irish club Leinster Rugby and Ireland A.