Fraternal ties a big factor in Kilkenny's rise to prominence

GENERATION GAME: Gavin Cummiskeycharts the unique part played by three sets of identical twins in Kilkenny College's recent Leinster Schools Cup campaign.

KILKENNY COLLEGE have elbowed room for themselves at the top table of Leinster schools rugby. Since the turn of the century they have reached three semi-finals, losing to the eventual champions on each occasion.

In 2000 they overcame St Mary's before losing to John Smyth's Clongowes.

This momentum was sustained into the following campaign, where they were eventually outmatched by Donal Dunlop's Terenure.

That was the initial marker but confirmation of their long-term intentions to make the ultimate breakthrough was shown in 2007 with victory over the perennial favourites Blackrock College in a replayed quarter-final.

It was the greatest rugby result in the school's proud 342-year history. Stephen Yates was the starting outside centre on a team whose place in Kilkenny rugby folklore is secure despite a comprehensive defeat to Conor Cleary's St Michael's in the last four. Geoff Dunne was another to feature off the bench against Blackrock that day (Monday, February 26th, 2007), while he also saw game time against St Michael's - who went on to end a 32-year wait for their first Leinster schools title.

Although Gonzaga College ended Kilkenny's challenge in this year's first round, a unique moment occurred when Geoff's twin brother, Garret, was introduced as a replacement.

It brought the number of identical twins on the Kilkenny XV up to three: the Dunne brothers, Stephen and Andrew Yates (Andrew being a flanker) and the fifth-year Stanley twins, Ian and Howard, in the front row.

"I never occurred to us until we were submitting squad lists to the newspapers before the cup commenced," says James Morrow, head of rugby at Kilkenny College. "As teachers we treat them all as individuals so it only really dawned on us then. I can't tell them apart but the senior coach, Jeff Carter, can, which is the important thing."

Kilkenny is partially a boarding school and the twins hail from different areas. The Dunnes are natives of Gorey, Co Wexford; the Yateses are from Kilmeague, county Kildare (just outside Naas), while the Stanleys' patch is Brittas in Thurles, Co Tipperary.

The breakthrough of the senior team in 2007 has created belief they can one day be top of the Leinster schools pile. After shocking Blackrock, they will not be priced as 80 to 1 outsiders again in a hurry.

"It requires a bit of luck for a team to make the ultimate breakthrough," Morrow continued. "My abiding memory of the day was the dignified and generous attitude of Blackrock in defeat. Although clearly devastated, they gave us the feeling they were genuinely pleased for us."

Stephen Yates picks up the thread: "We really tried to emulate that this year but unfortunately that didn't happen. We never talked about losing to Blackrock. We knew, having always stayed within a couple of points of them in friendlies, that we were capable of beating them.

"We regularly talk about family ties coming through on different Kilkenny teams but I didn't realise the uniqueness of this side until someone pointed it out afterwards."

The Yates brothers are not from a rich rugby tradition. The Dunnes' father, Victor, however, played scrumhalf and captained Gorey RFC for a number of seasons. Strangely enough the halfback father produced a flanker and lock.

"We knew we had a good team (last season)," added Geoff Dunne. "It was a big, strong group of fellas so we were never going to be pushovers. Also, we believed in ourselves. We knew we were just as good as the big schools.

"Against Gonzaga this year it was the third time we played them and they had done their homework and cracked our lineouts. Without setpiece ball you cannot expect to be successful."

The work of coach Carter and his backroom team ensures a burgeoning rugby nursery continues to develop on the Castlecomer Road. "Yeah, the Juniors won the plate this year," added Dunne. "There are a few strong teams coming up."

The foundation for a long-term tradition appears safely in place. A brotherhood of sorts.