Leinster - one of the most successful and influential Irish sportingteams of all time.Established in 1879, they boast a dazzling roster of players,past and present, including Brian O' Driscoll, Johnny Sexton,Jamie Heaslip, and current captain James Ryan.But there is so much more to rugby in Leinster, and, for thefirst time, this book compiles its rich history, from its foundation,through the amateur years, to the club' s many spectacularchampionships in the twenty-first century, when thenational love for rugby kicked up a gear.Doolin ruminates on the sport' s relationships with politicsand class, and of course celebrates all the breathlessvictories enjoyed by Leinster teams at every level.And success doesn' t stop with silverware; since the nineteenthcentury Leinster Rugby has been influencing the spheresof education, business and politics throughout the provinceand the country as a whole. Nothing reflects the complexitiesof politics and identity in Ireland more than rugby.A History of Rugby in Leinster is a vibrant celebrationof sporting greatness and of Leinster' s enduringcommitment to teamwork, integrity and community.