(Players involved in last year’s cup campaign noted with an asterisk*)
St Andrews
Coaches: Ian Dumbleton, Peter Dumbleton, Adam Griggs.
Captain: Greg Jones.
Squad: Ben Arrowsmith, Fionn Irwin-O'Hara, Jack Balbirnie*, Greg Jones*, Gavin Beere*, Kyle Jordan, James Black, Daniel Joyce*, Ryan Bradley, Luke Judge, Alex Brady*, Michael Kirk*, Jack Cassidy*, Jordan Larmour, David Evans, Antonie Muller, Jack Farrelly, Alastair Murphy, Gary Fearon*, Ross Nicholl, Andrew Fogarty, Andrew Porter*, Alfie Guy, Alex Waller, Jonathan Guy*, Walter Wood, Stephen Hayes, Daniel Hide*, Darragh Higgins*, Ben Ingram*.
Representative players: Leinster under-19s - Greg Jones, Andrew Porter. Leinster under-18s - Daniel Joyce.
How school performed in 2013 Cup: Lost in Vinnie Murray semi-final to Wesley.
Prospects: With Greg Jones and Andrew Porter in their side they can beat Castleknock. Then it gets really tough.
The King’s Hospital
Coaches: Matt Jarvis (head coach), Aidan Tyrrell, Will Matthews, Ciaran Donohoe.
Captain: Conor Spillane.
Squad: Daniel Ables, David Smith, Connor Murphy, OJ Onolememen, Ntinga Mipko*, Tom Doyle, Finnian Shilling, Sam Charman, Connor Kerr, Calum Petit, James O'Reilly, Edward McKeon-Silke, Connor Spillane, James Hogan, Matthew Bursey*, Rob Lawless, Ronan Sharkey, Daniel Courtney, Leo Morgan*, Will Potterton*, Rolus Olusa*, Daniel Byrne, Sam Dowds.
Representative players: Leinster under-19s - Ntinga Mipko, Conor Spillane.
How school performed in 2013 Cup: Beaten 12-5 by Newbridge in first round.
Prospects: Young side, with only five sixth years, will struggle to go further than quarter-finals.
Kilkenny College
Coaches: Jeff Carter (head coach), Gordon Rowe.
Captain: Craig Miller.
Squad: Craig Miller*, Oisin Bradley*, Roy Stanley*, Martin Mulhall*, Gavin Hastings*, Sam Pim*, Liam O'Sullivan, Jason Melbourne, Colm Varian, James Bradfield, Dylan Kelso, Ben Deverell, Ian Atkinson, Nigel Smyth, Wesley Whiteford, Stephen Beattie, Adam Stephenson, Peter Sunderland, Steven Sunderland, William Oakes, Stephen Triggs, Fred Dyer, Ross Whitford, Anu Awonusi, Geoffrey Chapman, Blake Young, Hugh Ronaldson, Jamie Bulfin.
Representative players: Leinster under-18s - Liam O'Sullivan, Martin Mulhall.
How school performed in 2013 Cup: Beat Pres Bray before going down 22-8 to eventual champions Blackrock. No disgrace in that.
Prospects: Clongowes first up looks too big an ask this year.
Newbridge College
Coaches: Aaron Dundon (Head Coach), Massey Tuhakaraina, Derek Sherlock, David Brew.
Captain: Thomas Brady.
Squad: Thomas Brady*, Robert Buckley, Ciaran Callan, Kevin Cleary, Eoin Collins, Paul Condon, Patrick Corbett, Cian Crowe, David Culliton, Robert Culliton, Patrick Corbett, Joseph D'Arcy*, Niall Delahunt*, Mark Delaney, Patrick Doran, Thomas Dore, Conor W Doyle*, Conor J Doyle, Richard Dromgoole-Maguire*, Tom Dunne*, Liam Farrell, Barry Finan, James Healy, Chris Healy*, Jake Howlett*, Thomas Higgins, William Jennings, Connor Johnson, Niall Kearns, Brian Larkin, Oisin Larkin, Jack Lawlor, Austin Mahony, Jack Maguire, Matthew Marmion, Morgan Mooney, Patrick Morrin, Cormac Nugent*, Jimmy O'Brien, Shane O'Brien, Stephen O'Brien, Matthew O'Connor*, Hugh O'Donnell*, Jack O'Neill*, Jonathan Phelan*, Stephen Rigney, Shea Ryan, Andrew Shanahan*, Matthew Stapleton, Mark Sutton*, Sean Tracey, Thomas Treacy*.
Representative players: Leinster U18 - Jimmy O'Brien, Jake Howlett, Matt O'Connor, Tom Treacy, Niall Delahunt, Richard Dromgoole-Maguire.Leinster under-19 - Jonathan Phelan, Mark Sutton, Hugh O'Donnell, Thomas Brady. Connacht under-19s - Cormac Nugent.
How school performed in 2013 Cup: Pushed St Michael's in the semi-final before losing 21-17.
Prospects: Beat Roscrea 43-10 in league final. Look a good each/way bet at 9/1. Lightweight, GAA influenced and real contenders (see Aaron Dundon interview on page 12).
Castleknock College
Coaches: Adrian Flavin (director or rugby), Colin Townsend (head coach), Dara Fallon, Darran Shiels, Ronan Fallon, John McCole.
Captain: Jack O'Sullivan
Squad: Geoff Brookes, Tadhg Hanlon*, Zaran Butt*, Jack O'Sullivan*, Darragh Scanlon*, Darragh Moran, Niall O'Riordan, Colin Lynch, Donal McConville, Dara Friars, Sean McEntaggart*, Sean Vodden, Cian Doddy*, Sean O'hEir*, Ciaran Fagan, Carl Keogh, Eoghan Murphy*, Bilal M'Uazzam, Anthony Healy*, Richie McHugh, Paddy Peters, John Cassidy, Kyle Dixon*, Jonathan Deane, Luke Mellet, James Cullen, Gavin Murray, Adam Tallon, Cathal Bermingham, Conor O'Shea*, Mark McQuillan*, Luke Reilly.
Representative players: Leinster under-18 - Darragh Scanlon. Sean O'hEir. Kyle Dixon Leinster under-19 - Eoghan Murphy.
How school performed in 2013 Cup: Lost in first round to St Michael's.
Prospects: Expected to beat St Andrew's in round one.
St Mary’s College
Coaches: Shaun Berne (head coach), Jamie Cornett, Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin.
Captain: Tom Lynch.
Squad: Daragh Cogley, Conor Corcoran*, Niall Curran, Gareth Delany, John Delany*, Hugo Diepman*, Jack Duffy*, Harry Dunne, Ruadhan Fanning. Hugh Fitzpatrick, Eoin Foley. Jordan Finnegan*, Michael Fitzgerald, David Flood, Mark Fogarty*, Patsy Fogarty*, Conn Harte-Bourke, Ben Hoey*, Mikey Hoey. Dan Hogan, Niall Hughes, Terry Kennedy*, Gavin Kenny, Michael Kinneen, Brian Mannion, Keith Mannion*, David Matthews*, Sean McCahill, Michael McCormack, James Nolan, Matthew Oppermann*, Brian O'Shea, John Ryan, David Sloan, Matthew Talbot, Thomas Tierney, Neil Walsh, Conor Watters, Conor Whelan*.
Representative players: Leinster U18 - Terry Kennedy.
How school performed in 2013 Cup: Lost to CBC 24-10.
Prospects: Decent coaching structure with Shaun Berne joined by former Leinster team-mates, Jack McGrath and Sean Cronin, allied by a kind draw that could see them into the semi-finals.
Gonzaga College
Coaches: Bobby Byrne, David Murphy, Ross Martin, Oliver O'Brien, Conor Kennedy.
Captain: Andy Marks.
Squad: Ross Barry*, Harry Brennan, Eoghan Byrne*, Killian Carolan, Conor Cosgrove, Darragh Coyle, Jayesh Daly Devereux, Alex Dillon*, Roddy Fitzpatrick*, Barry Goulding, Conor Gowing, Sean Holly, Conor Horan, Fiachra Keane, Rob Kelly, Jack Kerrigan*, Ross Layden, Jack MacNamara, Andy Marks*, Tim Mays, Ross McKeever, Marco McVey*, David Meenan, Oscar O Cleirigh*, Kevin O'Connor*, JJ O'Shea, Nick Peters, Gordon Rumley*, Fintan Ryan*, Paul Ryan, Mathew Sheehan*, Kevin White.
Representative players: Leinster under-18s - Eoghan Byrne. Leinster under-19s - Andy Marks.
How school performed in 2013 Cup: lost 44-18 to Blackrock.
Blackrock College
Coaches: Peter Smyth (Head Coach), Brian Savage, Gareth Pickering, Tony Smeeth, Daniel Moore, Seamus Toomey.
Captain: Nick Timoney.
Squad: Dane Fitzpatrick*, Jeremy Loughman*, Evan Holland*, Michael Reidy, Ross Casey, Richie Mouatt, Emmett Burns, Jack O'Keeffe, Hugo Keane*, Joe Horan, Peter Shannon, Geoff Moylan, Eric Olden, Mark O'Neill, David O'Connor*, Cian O'Dwyer*, Jack Dwan*, Dan Mullane, Jeff Burke, Buti Sashi, Robert Breen, Nick Timoney*, Conor Oliver, Caelan Doris, Roghan McMahon, Eoin Fanning, James Cullen, Hugo Burke, Tristan Brady*, Ruairi O'Farrell, Sean Joyce, Sean Kearns*, Conor Dean*, James Fennelly, Ian Kinsley*, Sam Colgan, Joey Carberry, Dillon Coghlan*, Evan O'Sullivan, Daire Brady, Zach O'Hagan*, Hugo Keenan, Bryan Mollen, Joe O'Hehir*, Ronan Kelly, James McGowan, Stephen Killgallen, Colm McEvoy, Dan Mahoney, Jack Power*, Oisin Brady, Gavin Killgallen.
Representative players: Leinster under-18 - Hugo Kean, Jack Power. Leinster under-19 - Dane Fitzpatrick, Jeremy Loughman, David O'Connor, Jack Dwan, Conor Oliver, Nick Timoney, Sean Kearns, Joey Carberry.
How school performed in 2013 Cup: Champions.
Prospects: The immense power of returning forwards Timoney, O'Connor, Fitzpatrick, Dwan and Loughman should see them capture a 68th title.
Clongowes Wood College
Coaches: Noel McNamara (head coach), Brett Igoe, Eamonn Jackman, Pat Kenny.
Captain: Fergal Cleary.
Squad: Jake Kennedy*, Nickolas Rinklin, Charlie Carroll, Patrick Moore, Cillian Burke*, John Molony, Hugo McDermott, Donal Mongey, Graham Murray, Dan O'Leary, Mick Kelly, Brendan Nulty, Tim Burke, Will Connors*, Dan O'Mahony, Fionnán Madden, Cormac Gillick, Conor Gleeson*, Billy O'Regan, Conor Neary, Jonathan Sullivan, Mark Jones, Cian O'Connell, Cian O'Donoghue*, Michael Silvester, Josh Pim*, Eric Tyrell, Darragh Kiely, Bill Carroll*, Stephen McVeigh*, Tadhg O'Carroll, Colm Mulcahy*, Dan O'Mahony, Jonny Glynn, Gavin Hegarty, James Lappin, John O'Brien, Fergal Cleary*, Peter Stapleton, Alan Hughes, Jonathan Inglis, James Lyons*, Michael McDermott, Conor Godson, Rowan Osborne, Shane O'Carroll.
Representative players: Leinster under-19s - Cillian Burke, Fergal Cleary, Cian O'Donoghue. Leinster under-18s - Will Connors, John Molony, Colm Mulcahy, James Lappin, Alan Hughes.
How school performed in 2013 Cup:
Prospects: Unheralded and three seasons since arguably their greatest ever team, Clongowes could rescale the summit.
Terenure College
Coaches: Dermot Blaney, Michael Shanahan, Robbie Sparks, Paul Haycock, Eddie Geraghty.
Captain: TBC
Squad: *Robert Lalor, Gavin Kenny, *Andrew Roche, Jack Mullarkey, Owen Wigglesworth, Karl O'Brien, John McCormack, Rory Murray, Lorcan O'Dea, Robert Sweeney, Conor Seery, *Michael Melia, Luke Boland, Matthew Caffrey, Killian Carollan, Neil Hegarty, Daniel Marshall, Cian Madden, Fionn Riordan, Paul Tonge, Jack Dignam, Ted O'Donohue, *Tim Schmidt, Ferdia O'Brien, Gary O'Reilly, Matthew Byrne, Sean Bagnall, Thomas Burke, Cian Croke, Michael Haddock, Jack Nolan, Paddy O'Hare, John J O'Sullivan, John A O'Sullivan, Conor Pender, Evan Rowan, Peter Twomey, David Williamson, Adam Trimble, Sam O'Shea, Jack Ward.
Representative players: Leinster under-19s - Tim Schmidt, Andrew Roche. Leinster under-18s - Mike Melia, Robert Lalor.
How school performed in 2013 Cup: Great chance to end 10 year famine crushed, fairly and squarely, by Roscrea in Tallaght stadium
Prospects: Miserable first round draw against St Michael's. Excellent individuals may not be enough to win three games.
St Michael’s College
Coaches: Andy Skehan (director of rugby), Brian O'Meara (head coach), Emmet MacMahon, Kieron Moloney, Andrew Burke, James Ruxton.
Captain: Charlie Cregan.
Squad: Gavin Barrett, Joe Benson, James Bollard, Jojo Browne, Robin Cosgrave, Andrew Courtney, Charlie Cregan*, Gavin Croke, Max Deegan*, Peter Dineen, Oisin Dowling, Gavin Duffy*, Robert Duffy, Dave Duggan*, Barry Fitzpatrick, Matthew Gilsenan*, Tom Glynn, Sam Griffen, Michael Heaney, James Hickey, Ronan Kelleher, Jack Kelly, Jack Kennedy, Thomas Kileen, Aidan Larkin, Adam Leavy, Cathal McGettigan, Brian McGettigan, Ian McGrath, Harry McIntyre, Tom Molony, Rory Mulvihill, James O'Connell*, Eoin O'Neill*, Paul O'Connor, Milo O'Donahoe, Oisin O'Meara*, Evan O'Nuaillain, Max O'Shea, Alex Penny*, Harry Redmond*, Anraoi Rooney, James Ryan*, Harry Sandford, Matthew Scaife, Scott Smith, Karl Victory.
Representative players: Leinster under-18 - James Bollard, Charlie Cregan, Max Deegan, Dave Duggan, Matthew Gilsenan, Eoin O'Neill, James Ryan. Leinster under-19 - Adam Leavy, Alex Penny.
How school performed in 2013 Cup: Agonisingly lost the final to Blackrock. Prospects: Potential champions, probable runners-up (unless they meet Blackrock before the final).
Wesley College
Coaches: Carl Hosford, Iain Wallace, Mark Kinlan, Patrick Collins, Stephen Harvey.
Captain: Luke Madeley.
Squad: Adam Chandler*, Padraig Cullen*, Daniel Paul, Adam Garvey*, Shane Carmody, Jedd Pratt*, Stephen Dalby*, Kyle Fitzmaurice*, Daniel Kelly*, Jonathan Hopkins*, Josh Brownlow, Andrew Nicoll, Jack Kennedy, Iain Pollock, Matthew Guest, Jack Maybury, Jack Corrigan, Eric Riumbau Soler, James O'Donovan*, Luke Madeley*, David Poff, Gavin Hughes*, Andrew Scanlon*, Arran McDonnell*, Daniel Gilmer, Tom Walsh, Adam Curry, Matthew Strong, Mark Crimmins. Representative players: Leinster under-19s - Padraig Cullen.
How school performed in 2013 Cup: Vinnie Murray Cup champions but knocked out of cup by Roscrea.
Prospects: Belvedere look too strong for them in round one.
Belvedere College
Coaches: Philip Werahiko, Simon O'Donnell, Stephen Gibbons, Andrew Goodman, James Collins.
Captain: James Doyle (TBC).
Squad: Keith Boucher, Liam Browne*, Killian Byrne, Jack Clarke, Eoin Cleere, Ciaran Clifford*, Stephen Cole, Tom De Jong, Fionn Dillon-Kelly, James Doyle, Gavin Duff, Richie Duignan, Brian Egan, Brian Farrell, Conor Feeney, Hugh Fenlon, Adam Foy*, Simon Foy, Hugh Gaine, James Griffin, Jack Higgins, Andrew Hines, Shane Hourihan, James Hurley, Jack Hutchinson*, Jesse Iredale, Conor Jennings, Niall Jennings, Mannix Jordan, Sean Keane, Tom Keane*, Rory Litchfield, Sean Long, Barry Lysaght*, Cormac Marrie, Dan McCaffrey, Cathal McCarthy, Andrew McClean, Cameron McCrum, Sean McCullagh*, James McGauran*, Oscar McGrath, Robert McGreevy, James McKeown, Senan McNulty, Ed Meade, Eoin Molloy, Jordan Mulvaney, Greg O'Kelly, Fiachra O'Meara, David O'Neill, Aidan Peate, Callum Peate, Eoghan Quinn-Nealon, Mike Sweeney, Niall Turley, Peter Wade, Mark White*, Conor Wynne-Walsh.
Representative players: Leinster under-18s - Jack Hutchinson. Leinster under-19 - James Doyle, Rory Litchfield.
How school performed in 2013 Cup: Lost in first round to Terenure.
Prospects: Renewed force, capable of ruining the best laid plans of St Michael's or Blackrock. Dark horses at 5/1.
CBC Monkstown
Coaches: Nigel Osbourne (head coach), John Campbell, Declan Keegan, John McLoughlin, Ryan Corcoran, Gerry Berry.
Captain: Jack McGrath.
Squad: Conor Byrden*, Alec Byrne, Eoin Comerford, Andrew Conroy, Robert Courtney, Cormac Cullinane*, Cian Cunningham, Conor Dowd, Alan Doyle*, Sean Doyle*, Cian Gallagher, Hugo GodsonTreacy*, Mark Hallam*, Joseph Halwax*, Dylan Hanney*, Brett Keaveney*, Victor Law*, Ben Mahon*, Jack McAteer, Eoin McCabe*, Colin McDonald*, Jack McGrath*, Matthew McGrath*, Louis Noone, Thomas O'Callaghan, Kevin Patterson*, Sean Smyth*, Shane Sweeney, Sean Tinney, James Toale*, Sean O Donnell.
Representative players: None.
How school performed in 2013 Cup: Beat St Mary's but lost 16-11 to Newbridge in quarter-final.
Prospects: Blackrock in the opening game leaves them with very little chance of advancement.
Cistercian College, Roscrea
Coaches: John Lillis (head coach), Alan Tynan, Johnny Burns, Seamus Harty, Fergal Collins, Brendan McKeogh.
Captain: Marc Kelly
Squad: Tim Carroll*, Fionn Higgins*, Alan Tynan*, Dwayne Corcoran*, Joe Murphy, Tim Foley*, Dan Lavelle*, Rob Wharton*, Alvaro Ferragut, Shane Culleton, Liam Walsh, Dan Trayers*, Rory Murphy, Matty Keane*, Marc Kelly*, Peter Ennis*, Stephen Leo, Paddy McKeon, Cian O Leary, Simon Meagher, Calum Quinn, Gavin Murphy, Sean Kilgallon, Kyle Cahir, Peter Gavin, Sam Hastings, Danny Comerford, John Kennedy, Michael Jordan, Rody Ryan, Martin Phelan, Jack Buckley, Tommy Devine, Morgan Whitely, Enda Farrell, Diarmaid McLaughlin, Jack Culligan, David Mackey, Dan Ryan.
Representative players: Leinster under-18s - Tim Carroll, Tim Foley, Dan Lavelle. Connacht under-18s - Fionn Higgins, Dan Trayers. Connacht under-19s: Dwayne Corcoran, Rory Murphy, Marc Kelly.
How schools performed in 2013 Cup: An injury time try saw them come up just short against Blackrock in semi-final.
Prospects: Tough opener against Newbridge.
St Gerard’s School
Coaches: Eric Miller (head coach), Brian Keegan, Rory O'Connor.
Captain: Jack Ryan.
Squad: Niall Byrne*, Jack Ryan*, Tom Kenna*, Mark Loughman, Barry Fitzpatrick*, Jack Dooley, Donal Smyth, Daniel King*, Aaron Cafferkey, Jake Maguire, Sean O'Reilly, Michael O'Toole, Cillein Doyle, Charlie Kenny*, Alan Symes, Mathew Looby, Ronan Delaney, Chris Orsmond, Pearse Kelly, Tommy Whittle*, Andrew Lynch, Robert Toal Lennon, Con Callan*, Adam Simmons*, Mark Gallagher, Kyle McCarthy, Mark Prendergast*, Hugh O'Connell*, Daragh Shiels.
Representative players: Leinster under-19s - Tommy Whittle, Con Callan. none.
CBS Wexford
Coach: Sean Ahearne.
Captain: Collie Joyce-Ahearne.
Squad: Steve Roche, Mikey Coleman, James Byrne, Darragh Comiskey, Joe Coleman, Gavin Byrne, David Kavanagh, Collie Joyce-Ahearne, Conor Fenlon, Eoin Roche, Mikey Roche, Josh Healy, Ruairi Devereux, Sean Stafford, Ian Moran, Liam Barry, Tomas Barry, Evan Dunbar, Calum Murphy, Chris Vickery, Steve Cullen, Jason Guerrine, Richie Cleary, Kevin Birney.
Representative Players: Leinster under-19s - Collie Joyce-Ahearne. Leinster under-18 (youths): Conor Fenlon.
How school performed in 2013: Won the Vinnie Murray Plate.
Catholic University School
Captain: Luke Trench.
Squad: Luke Trench*, Sean O'Hara*, Darragh O'Neill*, Sam Butler, Roberto Macari*, Dave Byrne, Iarlaith Doherty, Hugh O'Connor, Brendan Darcy*, Donal McCarthy, Matthew Coppinger, Charles Piquet, Enda Kelly*, Lorcan Garvey, Cormac O'Cleirgh, Cian O'Curry*, Adam McCarthy, James McCusker*, Tom Newman, Gary Power*, James O'Kane*, Mark Doyle, Stephen Tarpey*, Matthew Butler*, Louis McConkey, Mark Kelly, Hugh Murray, Max Lacken.
Representative players: none.
How school performed in 2013 cup: Lost to St Andrews in Vinnie Murray first round.
