Leinster confirm seven new players will join the Academy ahead of the 2022/23 season

Leinster Rugby have confirmed that seven new players will join the Academy ahead of the commencement of the 2022/23 season.

Ben Brownlee (UCD RFC), James Culhane (UCD RFC), Aitzol Arenzana-King (Clontarf FC), Diarmuid Mangan (UCD RFC), Rory McGuire (UCD RFC), Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC) and Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC) have all been inducted to the province’s Academy squad as Year One players.

Ben Brownlee
Age – 19
DOB – 28/9/2002

Currently studying Economics and History in UCD, Ben Brownlee is a centre by trade.

He was a member of the Ireland U-20 2022 Grand Slam winning team.

Ben started his rugby with Wanderers FC before attending Blackrock College. He now plays for UCD RFC.

James Culhane
Age – 19
DOB – 22/10/2002

James Culhane is a No 8 out of Enniskerry in County Wicklow and is currently playing his club rugby with UCD RFC. He was also a member of the 2022 Ireland U-20 Grand Slam winning side.

A former Blackrock College student, Culhane began his rugby with DLSP FC. He has since gone on to represent Ireland at age grade level, following in the footsteps of dad, Paul, who captained Ireland U-21s and Irish Universities.

Outside of rugby, he also represented Dublin for two years in the Kennedy Cup. He is currently studying Engineering in UCD.

Aitzol Arenzana-King
Age – 20
DOB – 15/6/2002

From Gormanston, Aitzol Arenzana-King has represented Balbriggan RFC and has come through the clubs pathway, as well as the Youth Select programme.

Aitzol attended CUS in Dublin city. He now plays for Clontarf FC.

A versatile back who has featured prominently for both Ireland and Leinster age grade sides over the last number of years, he was also a member of the 2022 Irish U-20 Grand Slam winning side.

As well as excelling on the rugby field, Arenzana-King has played inter-county football for Meath up to minor level. He is currently studying construction management in TUD.

Diarmuid Mangan
Age – 19
DOB – 6/3/2003

Diarmuid Mangan was part of the Newbridge College SCT squad who had to share the Bank of Ireland Leinster Schools Senior Cup honours with Clongowes Wood in 2020 due to Covid-19.

From Sallins, he can play in the second row or back row.

He was a member of Ireland’s U-20 Grand Slam win earlier this year. Mangan has also represented Ireland U-19 earlier this season and is currently with the Ireland’s U-20 team in Italy. Mangan is now a Commerce student in UCD

Rory McGuire
Age – 19
DOB – 26/8/2002

Rory McGuire grew up in the town of Winnetka, north of Chicago before later attending Blackrock College. Rory has featured for both Ireland and Leinster age grade sides in recent years.

McGuire was also a part of Ireland’s U-20 Grand Slam win.

A Mechanical Engineering student in UCD, McGuire is also now playing his club rugby with UCD RFC.

Sam Prendergast
Age – 19
DOB – 12/2/2003

Sam Prendergast was a Newbridge College Senior Cup winner, albeit shared with Clongowes due to the Covid-19 enforced cancellation.

Prior to playing with his school, Prendergast began his rugby journey with Cill Dara RFC.

He now plays his club rugby with Lansdowne FC, and is studying Marketing in TUD.

Prendergast has represented Ireland u-19 earlier this season and is currently with the Ireland’s U-20 team in Italy.

Charlie Tector
Age – 20
DOB – 28/3/2002

The former Kilkenny College student is an Agricultural Science student in UCD and plays his club rugby with Lansdowne FC having initially played minis with Enniscorthy RFC.

Tector was also in the victorious Irish U-20 squad that won the 2022 Six Nations. He has represented Leinster at every age from U-17 up to U-20.

He’s also a keen farmer, working on the family farm all his life.