This is The Knock On, KCLR, and Scoreline.ie's weekly rugby podcast. In this episode, Stephen Byrne is joined by Tom Crotty from Carlow Rugby Club, James Blanchfield from Kilkenny RFC, and Paddy Browne from Tullow RFC.
Carlow open their Leinster League campaign away to Seapoint this weekend in their first Division 1A game this season. They have already picked up silverware this season with the South East League title. Carlow has a women's team for the first time in over a decade again, and we hear the news from over the summer as well as youth news.
Kilkenny are away to Mullingar this weekend in Division 1B of the league, James Blanchfield is quietly confident. He talks about the club's new players this year, the departing ones, and new coaches. Kilkenny's focus will be all on the pitch action after investments into their facilities over the last number of years. James also talks about women's and youth rugby.
Tullow get their Division 1A season up and running at home this weekend against Ashbourne. Paddy thinks they're a bit undercooked coming into this one as they didn't play in the South East League, and their training numbers are down due to the GAA season still in progress. Sean O'Brien is also a huge doubt this season playing with Tullow as he struggles with a hip injury. The Tullow women begin life as a senior team in the AIL when they take on Wicklow on the 28th of September.