Local club and community rugby news from around the province...
// IRISH UNIVERSITIES RUGBY UNION - ‘FESTIVAL OF RUGBY’
The Irish Universities Rugby Union (IURU) is hosting its annual Festival of Rugby on Saturday 24th October in Terenure RFC in association with the Maxol Group and Quilter Cheviot Investment Management. For the first time, all four rugby intervarsity competitions will be played on the one day. With 22 teams and 550 players participating, the Festival is the largest 3rd level rugby event in Ireland annually.
The Dudley Cup is up for grabs for the 63rd time and involves the four Ulster Bank League Teams. UCD have dominated the competition over recent years until Queens University interrupted this last season. This year’s competition is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent times with UCD having started the season well in 1A. The club have won 2 and drawn 1 from their first 5 matches. Both UCC and Queens University have won on 2 occasions in 2A from their first 5 matches. Finally, Dublin University recently finished second at the World Universities Rugby Cup held in Oxford University and since returning to league action have won three on the bounce.
The Conroy Cup is the Under 20s level intervarsity rugby tournament inaugurated in 1988. Dublin University is seeking its third victory in row at this level having beaten UCD in the previous two finals. Both clubs have started their seasons positively. UCC have started their season with a competitive draw with Shannon and will be hoping to feature in the shake up. NUI Galway will be looking to use their Connaught under age contingent to force their way into the reckoning. Queens University and NUI Maynooth will be joining the other four sides in the quest for glory.
The social intervarsity competition is the Maughan-Scally Cup and has been competed for over the last five years. The cup has found a home out west in NUI Galway RFC for the last two seasons. The competition continues to grow and will have six universities competing for honours this time around. Beaten finalists last year, UCD will again prove strong contenders along with the improving Dublin University at this level. UCC, NUI Maynooth and University of Ulster Coleraine will all be returning to stake their claims for glory.
Finally the women’s intervarsity - The Kay Bowen Cup - is in its fourth year and continues to go from strength to strength. Six teams will be fighting it out for top spot for the first time. Similarly to the Maughan-Scally Cup, the trophy has been secured by NUI Galway RFC for the past two seasons. Ominously for the rest, NUIG have started their season well. Dublin University, winners in the inaugural year, and beaten finalist last year UCC will be hopeful of toppling them. Joining them will be the University of Limerick for the first time, Queens University and UCD.
With 25 matches throughout the day and facilities to watch the first World Cup semi-final – this should prove to be a very enjoyable day of competitive rugby.
// CITY OF DERRY SECONDARY SCHOOL YEAR 8 RUGBY PROJECT
City of Derry RFC for the first time have rolled out a project to every secondary school in the city, coaching rugby to their year 8 classes. The project commenced in September with Nathan Deeney helped by Joe Gallanagh delivering rugby coaching over a six-week period. The project will culminate in a Rugby Blitz for all those involved at Judges Road just before the Rugby World Cup Final.
The schools being coached by Nathan and Joe are St. Brigids Carnhill, St. Josephs Cregan, Lumen Christi, St. Columbs, St. Marys, St. Cecelia’s, Thornhill. With Lisneal, Oakgrove and Foyle College participating with their own coaches.
We hope that all participants enjoy their six weeks of rugby training and good luck in the Blitz!
// RUGBY AND HOMEWORK CLUB AT V36 NEWTOWNABBEY
An exciting new rugby and homework programme at the V36 / Valley Leisure Centre has started in Newtownabbey. The programme consists of an hour where children can have a supervised session for their homework followed by a 30 minute rugby session at the new V36 facility. The programme is aimed at 8 to 14-year-old, boys and girls and will have links to well established local rugby clubs.
Details of the programme are as follows:
· Programme begins: Tuesday 13th October
· Time: 3.30-5pm
· Day: Tuesday
· Duration: 6 weeks
· Price: £3 per week
If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact Dean Holmes at dean.holmes@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk or via telephone on 02890340065.
// ACADEMY RFC U12 TOUR TO FLORENCE
Academy RFC U12 team toured to Florence, Italy on Friday 2nd October, to play against Firenze Rugby 1931 and they were not disappointed by the reception and hospitality that they received from their Italian hosts.
After two flights, a coach trip and a high speed train Academy U12’s arrived at tea-time to Firenze Rugby 1931. The Academy boys were able to stretch their legs and do some light training. They then got the opportunity to meet several of their Italian opposition. The touring team were treated to a meal at the club’s Rugby Word Cup tent and the hosts ensured that Academy were able to ‘Stand Up for the Ulster Men’ watching and cheering on Ulster in the Treviso match.
On Saturday, the hosts arranged for the touring team to have a guided tour of the wonderful city of Florence – this was a superb cultural and educational experience for the boys. Later that day the boys returned to the Firenze Rugby 1931 Club to watch the U14 match and take the opportunity to play some casual and impromptu games with our hosts. World Cup Rugby was the theme of Saturday evening with the England v Australia on the big screen.
Sunday was match day and our hosts even managed to arrange heavy rain and thunderstorms just to make the boys feel more at home like in Roughfort. The boys played in three matches under some of the worst conditions imaginable – both teams still managed to play a very enterprising brand of rugby in a great spirit with the ball being moved wide at every opportunity. Rugby truly was the winner on this occasion with both teams embracing the ethos of touring.
A wonderful lunch was provided by our hosts with the boys all receiving a marvelous gift of a Firenze Rugby 1931 t-shirts. The players exchanged shirts and gifts with the opposition. Next on the agenda it was time to ‘Answer Ireland’s Call’ and watch the Ireland v Italy World Cup match.
After cheering Ireland onto victory, to complete a wonderful day of sport the boys went to watch the Serie A football match between Fiorentina v Atalanta at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. The weekend provided the boys with a fantastic cultural and sporting experience to which our hosts must be sincerely acknowledged and thanked. To build on this link, Academy RFC have been invited back to Florence in June 2016 to the Torneo Giovanile Francesco Borelli.
The team that travelled - Andrew Cairns, Arron Gourley, Benjamin Lonsdale, Finn Wallace, Jack Magowan, Jacob Martin, Lewis Ingram, Liam Davis, Matthew Knocker, Zac Solomon.
The tour was made possible by generous sponsorship from ACA Forwarding Limited, Ultra Pro Service Ltd, Mammoth and Digitallni.
Further information:
Academy Mini Rugby Section P1-P7 train on Saturday Mornings at 9:15-10:30 at the Castle Grounds Ben Madigan BT15 5GP. www.academyrfc.co.uk.
// IRISH UNIVERSITIES RUGBY UNION - ‘FESTIVAL OF RUGBY’
The Irish Universities Rugby Union (IURU) is hosting its annual Festival of Rugby on Saturday 24th October in Terenure RFC in association with the Maxol Group and Quilter Cheviot Investment Management. For the first time, all four rugby intervarsity competitions will be played on the one day. With 22 teams and 550 players participating, the Festival is the largest 3rd level rugby event in Ireland annually.
The Dudley Cup is up for grabs for the 63rd time and involves the four Ulster Bank League Teams. UCD have dominated the competition over recent years until Queens University interrupted this last season. This year’s competition is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent times with UCD having started the season well in 1A. The club have won 2 and drawn 1 from their first 5 matches. Both UCC and Queens University have won on 2 occasions in 2A from their first 5 matches. Finally, Dublin University recently finished second at the World Universities Rugby Cup held in Oxford University and since returning to league action have won three on the bounce.
The Conroy Cup is the Under 20s level intervarsity rugby tournament inaugurated in 1988. Dublin University is seeking its third victory in row at this level having beaten UCD in the previous two finals. Both clubs have started their seasons positively. UCC have started their season with a competitive draw with Shannon and will be hoping to feature in the shake up. NUI Galway will be looking to use their Connaught under age contingent to force their way into the reckoning. Queens University and NUI Maynooth will be joining the other four sides in the quest for glory.
The social intervarsity competition is the Maughan-Scally Cup and has been competed for over the last five years. The cup has found a home out west in NUI Galway RFC for the last two seasons. The competition continues to grow and will have six universities competing for honours this time around. Beaten finalists last year, UCD will again prove strong contenders along with the improving Dublin University at this level. UCC, NUI Maynooth and University of Ulster Coleraine will all be returning to stake their claims for glory.
Finally the women’s intervarsity - The Kay Bowen Cup - is in its fourth year and continues to go from strength to strength. Six teams will be fighting it out for top spot for the first time. Similarly to the Maughan-Scally Cup, the trophy has been secured by NUI Galway RFC for the past two seasons. Ominously for the rest, NUIG have started their season well. Dublin University, winners in the inaugural year, and beaten finalist last year UCC will be hopeful of toppling them. Joining them will be the University of Limerick for the first time, Queens University and UCD.
With 25 matches throughout the day and facilities to watch the first World Cup semi-final – this should prove to be a very enjoyable day of competitive rugby.
// CITY OF DERRY SECONDARY SCHOOL YEAR 8 RUGBY PROJECT
City of Derry RFC for the first time have rolled out a project to every secondary school in the city, coaching rugby to their year 8 classes. The project commenced in September with Nathan Deeney helped by Joe Gallanagh delivering rugby coaching over a six-week period. The project will culminate in a Rugby Blitz for all those involved at Judges Road just before the Rugby World Cup Final.
The schools being coached by Nathan and Joe are St. Brigids Carnhill, St. Josephs Cregan, Lumen Christi, St. Columbs, St. Marys, St. Cecelia’s, Thornhill. With Lisneal, Oakgrove and Foyle College participating with their own coaches.
We hope that all participants enjoy their six weeks of rugby training and good luck in the Blitz!
// RUGBY AND HOMEWORK CLUB AT V36 NEWTOWNABBEY
An exciting new rugby and homework programme at the V36 / Valley Leisure Centre has started in Newtownabbey. The programme consists of an hour where children can have a supervised session for their homework followed by a 30 minute rugby session at the new V36 facility. The programme is aimed at 8 to 14-year-old, boys and girls and will have links to well established local rugby clubs.
Details of the programme are as follows:
· Programme begins: Tuesday 13th October
· Time: 3.30-5pm
· Day: Tuesday
· Duration: 6 weeks
· Price: £3 per week
If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact Dean Holmes at dean.holmes@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk or via telephone on 02890340065.
// ACADEMY RFC U12 TOUR TO FLORENCE
Academy RFC U12 team toured to Florence, Italy on Friday 2nd October, to play against Firenze Rugby 1931 and they were not disappointed by the reception and hospitality that they received from their Italian hosts.
After two flights, a coach trip and a high speed train Academy U12’s arrived at tea-time to Firenze Rugby 1931. The Academy boys were able to stretch their legs and do some light training. They then got the opportunity to meet several of their Italian opposition. The touring team were treated to a meal at the club’s Rugby Word Cup tent and the hosts ensured that Academy were able to ‘Stand Up for the Ulster Men’ watching and cheering on Ulster in the Treviso match.
On Saturday, the hosts arranged for the touring team to have a guided tour of the wonderful city of Florence – this was a superb cultural and educational experience for the boys. Later that day the boys returned to the Firenze Rugby 1931 Club to watch the U14 match and take the opportunity to play some casual and impromptu games with our hosts. World Cup Rugby was the theme of Saturday evening with the England v Australia on the big screen.
Sunday was match day and our hosts even managed to arrange heavy rain and thunderstorms just to make the boys feel more at home like in Roughfort. The boys played in three matches under some of the worst conditions imaginable – both teams still managed to play a very enterprising brand of rugby in a great spirit with the ball being moved wide at every opportunity. Rugby truly was the winner on this occasion with both teams embracing the ethos of touring.
A wonderful lunch was provided by our hosts with the boys all receiving a marvelous gift of a Firenze Rugby 1931 t-shirts. The players exchanged shirts and gifts with the opposition. Next on the agenda it was time to ‘Answer Ireland’s Call’ and watch the Ireland v Italy World Cup match.
After cheering Ireland onto victory, to complete a wonderful day of sport the boys went to watch the Serie A football match between Fiorentina v Atalanta at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. The weekend provided the boys with a fantastic cultural and sporting experience to which our hosts must be sincerely acknowledged and thanked. To build on this link, Academy RFC have been invited back to Florence in June 2016 to the Torneo Giovanile Francesco Borelli.
The team that travelled - Andrew Cairns, Arron Gourley, Benjamin Lonsdale, Finn Wallace, Jack Magowan, Jacob Martin, Lewis Ingram, Liam Davis, Matthew Knocker, Zac Solomon.
The tour was made possible by generous sponsorship from ACA Forwarding Limited, Ultra Pro Service Ltd, Mammoth and Digitallni.
Further information:
Academy Mini Rugby Section P1-P7 train on Saturday Mornings at 9:15-10:30 at the Castle Grounds Ben Madigan BT15 5GP. www.academyrfc.co.uk.