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sport · Tuesday 4 August 2026 · 9:30am 
Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Summer Camp
At Kilkenny RFC · Kilkenny RFC, Waterford Road, Foulkstown, Co. Kilkenny
At Kilkenny RFC · Kilkenny RFC, Waterford Road, Foulkstown, Co. Kilkenny
The Bank of Ireland Leinster Rugby Summer Camp gives children aged 6 to 12 a proper week of rugby at Kilkenny RFC, one of the province’s longest-running club venues on the Waterford Road. Run by IRFU and Leinster-accredited coaches, the five-day programme takes the game seriously without taking itself too seriously - it suits complete beginners just as much as kids who already play mini rugby on a Saturday morning. If your child has been watching Leinster on television and wants a go themselves, this is the most direct route in.
The camp runs Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 1:00pm, so it fits neatly into the school-holiday routine. Coaches from the Leinster and IRFU coaching pathway lead the sessions, covering the basics of passing, movement, contact skills and small-sided games in an age-appropriate way. Players of all experience levels are catered for, and the mix of beginners and more seasoned minis tends to work well at this age group.
Each participant receives a Leinster Rugby goodie bag - previous years have included a training t-shirt, a Rhino rugby ball and a drawstring bag. Leinster Rugby has also arranged player visits to camps across the summer, so there is a reasonable chance of a squad member dropping in during the week, though the schedule varies year to year.
Kilkenny RFC itself is a well-established club with good facilities, including pitches, dressing rooms and a clubhouse. The Foulkstown ground sits just outside Kilkenny city on the Waterford Road, with space for drop-off and collection.
Kilkenny city is easy to reach by road - it sits on the M9 motorway between Dublin and Waterford. From Dublin, allow about 90 minutes; from Waterford, it is under 30 minutes. The RFC ground is on the Waterford Road (R700) heading south out of the city, a short drive from the city centre.
By public transport, Bus Eireann and Transdev (formerly Irish Rail) both serve Kilkenny well. MacDonagh Junction station is in the city centre, and the Waterford Road is reachable by taxi or local bus from there. If you are driving, there is parking at the club ground.
Kilkenny city rewards a half-day before or after camp pickup - the medieval castle, the craft quarter along the Nore, and the covered market are all within easy walking distance of each other. There is more to see in Kilkenny and across Co. Kilkenny.
Heading to Kilkenny RFC in Kilkenny? Kilkenny has plenty more to see. Read the Kilkenny area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.