Rob Kearney to visit Navan RFC

Ireland and Leinster rugby player Rob Kearney is to visit Navan Rugby Club tomorrow (Tuesday) night for a Q & A session with Navan RFC players of all ages. The 26 year-old Louth man made his debut for Leinster at the age of 19, in September 2005, months after helping UCD to a McCorry Cup victory over Dublin University. Ospreys were the opposition and the young full-back scored a try. He enjoyed the feeling so much that he repeated the process in his next two outings. By the end of September it was obvious to all involved in the Irish game that Leinster had unearthed a genuine star. Kearney's electric displays, and Girvan Dempsey's duties with the Ireland national team, saw him become a steadfast squad member in no time and he played a total of 42 times in his first two seasons. In 2007/08 as the Louth native - and elder brother to Leinster team-mate Dave - aided the Blues to Magners League success. The full-back was called into Eddie O'Sullivan's Ireland squad in 2007, eventually making his debut that summer against Argentina. He featured in every game of the 2008 Six Nations and quickly settled to the task at hand. The following season was Kearney's most spectacular in international terms as he was a permanent feature in the Ireland team that won the Grand Slam. His performances against South Africa for the British & Irish Lions were, quite simply, world class. Kearney also finished the 2008/09 season as a Heineken Cup winner and contributed eight tries in 17 outings. A knee injury sustained on international duty against the All Blacks in November 2010 cut his season short but he returned in time to make the plane to his first World Cup in September 2011. Having displayed signs at the RWC that he was back to his best, Kearney set about reclaiming the Leinster 15 jersey. Kearney saved some of his finest performances in 2011/12 for the Blues' campaign to retain the Heineken Cup. He scored a crucial try away to Glasgow Warriors and ran in a double at the Aviva as Leinster disposed of Cardiff Blues. Then, in the Heineken Cup semi-final, he snapped over another stunning drop goal against Clermont Auvergne. His stunning up-an-under catch in the opening minutes of the 2012 Heineken Cup Final set the tone for Leinster's 42-14 win. A remarkable season for Kearney was capped when he was awarded the ERC Player of the Year for 2011/12.