Daniel Forkin - 2021 Queens College Scholar

Merrion CC’s Daniel Forkin has accepted the Leinster Youth’s 2021 scholarship at Queens College Taunton, England starting this week.

Following in the footsteps of Ireland Wolves stars Fionn Hand, Mitchell Thompson and Stephen Doheny, Daniel will join the prestigious English school under the tutelage of Warwickshire cricketer Jacob Lintott, being emerged in their culture and education programmes. With the hope of joining his new teammates this week for matchday one against Warminster School, one of over twenty fixtures he hopes to complete during his time in England.

Daniel, who is excited about joining his teammates, was not only honoured to be awarded the scholarship but also enthusiastic for the opportunity to be a Leinster Youth ambassador adding:

“It is an opportunity of a lifetime to be chosen to represent our Union in this partnership with Queens College.  I want to thank my family, my teammates, my teachers at Wesley College and coaches at Merrion CC  for their support over many years to enable me to be chosen to follow Irish players’ footsteps at Queens. I will work hard every day on and off the pitch to showcase the very best of the Leinster Youth spirit”

The placement, while longstanding, has only been achieved in 2021 thanks to the tremendous efforts of Jacob Lintott and house parent Jennie Cooling to create an environment for Daniel that his parents feel able to send him to, ensuring that COVID does not steal another cricketer of this opportunity.

Daniel’s father Michael was keen to express his gratitude to all behind the placement:

“The opportunity is an incredible one, and the Forkin family cannot thank Cricket Leinster and Queens College enough for selecting Daniel, and then to work so diligently, to create a safe environment to ensure the opportunity can go ahead.”

Daniel will be providing several blogs and photo updates from his time at Taunton in the coming weeks.

Other Leinster players who have availed of this opportunity in Taunton include:

Leinster Youth Queens College Scholars

2015 – Stephen Doheny

2016 – Fionn Hand

2017 - Fionn O’Sullivan

2018 - Mitchell Thompson

2019 – Stephen Black

2021 – Daniel Forkin

Further good news came about this week with another very promising Leinster 16 year old cricketer, Eoin Birch from Balbriggan CC, who has been accepted on a similar arrangement with the famous Bedford school, who will accommodate him from late May.