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22 Oct 2025

Powerful reception for Ireland rugby coach John Fogarty on his return to Rockwell College

Powerful reception for Ireland rugby coach John Fogarty on his return to Rockwell College

John Fogarty with a group of Rockwell College students

It was a very special day in Rockwell College last Thursday as rugby coach John Fogarty returned to his alma mater in the Tipperary heartlands. Accustomed to city life now, the former Heineken Cup winner with Leinster, brought along the Six Nations, Grand Slam and Triple Crown trophies for the day and was thrilled with the reception:

"My mum has moved from Cashel down to Kerry so I don't get to come back to Tipperary as much as I want and I haven't been back to Rockwell in twenty years so it is an amazing thing to come back. 

"I loved my time in Rockwell," said the Ireland Scrum Coach who previously played with Leinster, Munster and Connacht. After he finished playing moved into coaching. He was appointed by Leinster as scrum coach in June 2015 after serving as an Elite Player Development coach with the IRFU for four years, John has also coached at Ireland Under-20 level and with Leinster ‘A’. John was appointed to the role of National Academy Forwards Coach in July 2019.

After a busy day in Rockwell meeting students and familiar faces, the Tipperary native retraced his steps to where his rugby career took off:

"I went to Rockwell and it went from there. There were loads of sports here. Rugby was something that I clung to straight away. You get a letter to the school for Irish schools and that was the start of it.

 "I played Munster schools and Irish schools. I was lucky enough to play for three Irish provinces and loved my time playing," he said. Since his playing days ended in 2010, Irish International Fogarty has ground out a career in coaching which has gone from strength to strength, firstly with Leinster and now with the national squad:


 "The national team is where my energy is now. We have managed to put ourselves in a really good position with the squad to go and do something meaningful in the world cup this year. Last summer we went and beat New Zealand over there then we beat South Africa so there was an expectation brewing in the minds of the players and the people watching the game. 


"Coming into this year there was a certain amount of pressure but there is a lot of belief in the group. Andy Farrell does an amazing job of telling the players of what the journey has been. We are going out to the world cup now looking to win it. We are back now on the 19th of June to prepare and we will go to work developing the technical things as well as whatever we have to do tactically."

Looking ahead to next weekend's United Rugby Championship final, where Munster will take on the Stormers, John said he was hugely impressed with the work Denis Leamy has put in with Munster since settling into a coaching role:

"Denis coaches the defence for Munster and he has done an amazing job. He was behind me in school. You knew about Denis coming as he was playing hurling with Boherlahan and rugby with Cashel. He was talked about. I know his brother Kevin is working with the senior lads in Rockwell now. Back in my school days I got to train three or four days a week and learn the game and Denis did that very well too. 

"He has gone on to have an amazing career as a player and coach."

John Fogarty, like all other rugby fans in the province, is looking forward to the URC final this weekend: 

"There were celebrations from the Stormers lads when they figured out they didn't have to travel to Leinster but they seemed happy to get Munster and that is exactly what Munster wanted. To see that type of stuff and have an edge going over there is what they want. They have gritted it out over the last few weeks. That was a big win in Glasgow and against Leinster. 


"We talk about belief in the Irish side, well there is a huge amount of belief within that Munster side now and it is underpinned by great performances away from home so over they go to South Africa and who would write them off!"

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