Match Day Programme_21Mar

ENERGIA ALL IRELAND LEAGUE – DIVISION 1B

VS NAAS RFC Saturday 21 March 2026 Forenaughts, Naas, Co Kildare Kick-Off: 14:30 Match Referee: Daniel Carson

AIL CAPS

50

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE On behalf of Naas Rugby Club, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all and in particular our visitors from Dublin University FC and their President Greg Duffy to Forenaughts, for today’s Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B fixture.

This is a vital game for both sides for very different reasons. Our visitors are the form side in the league, having won their last four games to catapult them into second in the table, just one point behind Old Wesley. With just three games remaining, a victory today will give them a great chance of taking the one automatic promotion spot.

However, they face a side full of confidence after our tremendous away victory over Highfield last time out. The Cork venue is traditionally one of the hardest places to travel to, but a tremendous performance by our players which was full of heart, grit and desire saw us leave with a 24-21 win. With other results going in our favour, we moved up two places to seventh in the table. Another win this afternoon will go a long way in seeing us retain our Division 1B status.

It's been a great few weeks for our 2nd XV. First of all, they won promotion to Metro League Premier 1 with a hard-fought victory over Greystones. The following week, they put in a tremendous performance in the Bank of Ireland Provincial Towns Cup to take the spoils against Boyne. The Louth men, who have since topped Leinster League Division 1A, were favourites for the game. The lads have been playing some super rugby this season and will look to continue their great form next weekend with a home tie in the quarter finals of the Towns Cup against Dundalk. Please support them next Sunday.

Naas RFC and the game of rugby itself is founded on the values of integrity and respect.

Can I ask you to take a minute to read through the Naas RFC Code of Conduct in the programme. Please adhere to these guiding principles and especially show respect for our match officials. Without them we would have no game.

After today’s fixture we are away to Old Wesley next Saturday, March 28th before we finish the regular season here on April 4th against Instonians. All support will be greatly appreciated for these crucial games.

Finally, many congratulations to our club captain, Will O’Brien who will earn his 150th AIL cap for Naas as he takes to the field today. Pictured on the cover of today’s programme, Will made his AIL debut in 2014 and has been a standout player and supporter of Naas RFC ever since. Myself and the executive, family, friends and supporters wish you well today, as you celebrate your magnificent rugby career milestone.

Enjoy today’s match, yours in rugby.

Ross Murphy President Naas RFC 2025/26

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE PACK 2

1

3

Callum Coyne

Brad Clements Perth, Scotland

Blessington, Wicklow

Naas AIL Caps: 6

Naas AIL Caps: 14

Naas AIL Caps: 72

Old Harlow, Essex

Stephen Lackey

5

4

James O’Loughlin

Oisin Halpin

Naas, Kildare

Colbinstown, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 48

Naas AIL Caps: 15

6

8

Darragh Murphy

Ballyhackett, Carlow

Naas AIL Caps: 30

7

Will O’Brien (Capt)

Paulie Tolofua Auckland, NZ

Naas AIL Caps: 110

Sallins, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 149

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE ATTACK 9

10

Tadhg Brophy

Kilcullen, Kildare

Paddy Taylor

Naas AIL Caps: 29

Kilcullen, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 32

12

13

Dylan O’Keeffe

Athgarvan, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 8

Charlie Sheridan Naas, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 66

11

15

Donal Conroy

David O’Sullivan Kilcullen, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 19

14

Jack Sheridan Naas, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 50

Athgarvan, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 87

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE IMPACT 16 17 Tadhg Dooley

Ballymore Eustace, Kildare

18

Naas AIL Caps: 22 Patrick Brophy

Ardclough, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: Debut Eoin Walsh

19

Rathangan, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 98

20 Muiris Cleary Naas, Kildare

21

Naas AIL Caps: 45 Cormac King Naas, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 34 Tom Bohan

Ballitore, Kildare

Naas AIL Caps: 12

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY MATCHDAY SQUAD

1

2

Eoin McDERMOTT

4 6

10 12

11

5

Michael WALSH

Kevin JACKSON

8

Matthew LYNCH

15

9

Arthur O’RAHILLY

Artur SMYKOVSKIY

David WALSH (Capt.)

Mark WALSH

Hugh GODDARD

3

Jack O’NEILL

7

Conall HENCHY

Oscar CAWLEY

13 Davy COLBERT

Hugo LYNCH

14

Alex

FINLAY

REPLACEMENTS 16. Jack Pollard 19. Thomas Davidson

17. Karl Brennan 20. Conor Tracey

18. Hunter Deane-Johns 21. Zach Quirke

Home Instonians Naas Dublin University Naas Queens Naas City of Armagh Garryowen Naas UCC Naas Naas Blackrock College Naas Highfield Naas Old Wesley Naas

Score 32 – 13 15 – 33 21 – 18 19 – 14 36 – 31 32 – 20 47 – 33 19 – 24 24 – 34 41 – 28 14 – 28 24 – 17 30 – 26 46 – 28 21 – 24 0–0 0–0 0–0

Away Naas Old Wesley Naas Highfield Naas Blackrock College Naas Naas UCC Naas Garryowen City of Armagh Naas Queens Naas Dublin University Naas Instonians

Division 1B Table

Fixtures & Results

Date 27 Sep 04 Oct 11 Oct 25 Oct 01 Nov 15 Nov 29 Nov 06 Dec 13 Dec 10 Jan 24 Jan 31 Jan 07 Feb 28 Feb 07 Mar 21 Mar 28 Mar 04 Apr

MATCH REPORTS

Reports compiled by Mark Herbert

Spirit of Rugby

NAAS RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MEMBERS, PLAYERS, COACHES & SUPPORTERS A person shall NOT ABUSE, THREATEN OR INTIMIDATE a player, referee, touch judge, match official or steward whether on or off the field of play and on club grounds.

A person (inclusive of players) shall NOT USE RACIAL, CRUDE OR ABUSIVE LANGUAGE OR GESTURES TOWARDS a player, referee, touch judge, match official, steward or spectator.

CLUB OFFICIALS AND STEWARDS Shall be entitled to request any person to leave the club grounds for behaviour that they deem to be inappropriate or in breach of the code of conduct.

THE CLUB RESERVES THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO REFUSE ADMISSION TO THE GROUNDS.

Respect our Game

Spirit of Rugby

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Spirit of Rugby

Respect our Game

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Respect our Game

Respect our Game

Spirit of Rugby

OUR GENEROUS CLUB SPONSORS Many thanks to all our club sponsors for their continued support. Please, in turn, support them where possible.

MAIN CLUB SPONSOR

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