Sir, – I wish to dispute the assertion (Letters, March 30th) that rugby in Leinster schools is elitist.
There are 145 schools affiliated to Leinster rugby, just 24 of which are fee-paying.
This season, 39 schools played in the Senior Development Cup which was won by Coláiste Choill Mhaintáin from Wicklow. The Junior Development Cup had 43 entries with Scoil Choglais also from Wicklow emerging as winners.
In the past four years, the McMullen Cup has been won by three different schools in Wexford, none of which are fee-paying.
In addition, several players from non-fee paying schools have been selected to play for the Leinster schools’ representative team in recent years.
Many of the so called “developing schools” have made huge strides and this progress suggests that they will join the ranks of the better known schools in the senior and junior cups in the years to come. – Yours, etc, LARRY HALPIN Templeogue, Dublin 6W.