Naas vs Old Wesley 04Oct Match Day Programme

ENERGIA ALL IRELAND LEAGUE – DIVISION 1B

VS NAAS RFC Saturday 04 October 2025 Forenaughts, Naas Kick-Off: 14:30 Match Referee: Jonathan Erskine

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

This is my first home fixture as President of Naas RFC and I would like to thank everyone who have helped me settle into the role. I would also like to wish all the teams representing Naas at every level the very best of luck throughout the season.

I certainly could not ask for a better fixture to start the home campaign than a game against Old Wesley. Our two clubs are intertwined, with great friendships made over many years.

The sides today are playing for the Stephen Mooney Cup, in honour of Stephen. I have many fond personal memories of him, both on and off the field.

Last Saturday we began our League campaign with an away fixture against Instonians. The Ulster side have made rapid strides up through the AIL divisions in the last three seasons, and although we were defeated there was plenty of positives to take from the performance.

Old Wesley began with a home victory over City of Armagh and come into this fixture in fine form. Games between these two sides are invariably high scoring affairs, and there is no doubt that we will be treated to another cracking game of rugby this afternoon.

Regardless of the result, and just as importantly, old acquaintances will be renewed in the clubhouse afterwards.

I would like to thank our club sponsors for their continued support. They are listed at the back of the programme, and I would encourage you to support them where possible. A special thanks also to all our dedicated volunteers, coaches and referees who generously contribute their time to Naas RFC. However, the club always welcomes new volunteers to help out, and if you would like to get involved, please do not hesitate to contact me or any member of the Executive Committee.

For those of you visiting us for the first time you are more than welcome, and we look forward to seeing you return soon. The club is lining up many functions and events in the near future and details of these can be found on our social media platforms.

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.

Next Saturday we travel to face Trinity College, before our next home fixture back in Forenaughts against Highfield on 25 October. All support will be greatly appreciated.

Enjoy today’s match. Yours in rugby,

Ross Murphy President Naas RFC 2025/26

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE PACK 2

1

3

Stephen Lackey

Brad Clements

Adam Deay

Naas AIL Caps: 58

Naas AIL Caps: 1

Naas AIL Caps: 18

4

5

Oisin Halpin

James O’Loughlin

Naas AIL Caps: 1

Naas AIL Caps: 33

6

8

Eoin Walsh

Naas AIL Caps: 85

7

Will O’Brien (Capt)

Ryan Casey Naas AIL Caps: 120

Naas AIL Caps: 137

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE ATTACK 9

10

Tadhg Brophy Naas AIL Caps: 15

Tom Bohan Naas AIL Caps: 1

12

13

Dylan O’Keeffe Naas AIL Caps: 1

Paddy Taylor Naas AIL Caps: 18

11

14 15

Tom Monaghan

Donal Conroy

Naas AIL Caps: 1

Naas AIL Caps: 72

Charlie Sheridan Naas AIL Caps: 51

NAAS RFC SQUAD THE IMPACT 16 17 John King

18

Naas AIL Caps: 12 Thomas Adams Naas AIL Caps: 1

James Stockwood

19

Naas AIL Caps: Debut

20 Paulie Tolofua Naas AIL Caps: 98

21 Cormac King Naas AIL Caps: 19

David O’Sullivan Naas AIL Caps: 12

OLD WESLEY MATCHDAY SQUAD

1

Jamie CLARK

4 6

2

5

Shane CAWLEY

Cathal Kelly

8

10 12

9

Niall CARROLL

11

15

7

Daniel CAMPBELL

Evan KENNY

13 Tom LARKE

Ben POPPLEWELL

Luke O’CONNOR

Pat McBARRON

Eoin DEEGAN

Jarrod HOMAN

3

Kieran O’SHEA (Capt.)

Ethan BLACK

14

Jules FENELON

REPLACEMENTS 16. Rian Handley 19. Paidi Farrell

17. Kian Regan 18. Charlie Meagher 20. Charlie Hempensthall 21. Stephen Hendy

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

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 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 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

Instonians 32 – 13 Naas | Match Report Another Energia All-Ireland League Division 1B campaign began last Saturday afternoon as Naas travelled to Belfast to face Instonians. The Northern side have been one of the great success stories in recent times in Irish Rugby.

As recently as the 2021/22 season they were plying their trade outside of the AllIreland League, but since then they have claimed the Division 2C, 2B and 2A titles to find themselves in the lofty heights of Division 1B, so Naas knew that a formidable challenge awaiting them on this occasion.

A torrential downpour half an hour before kick-off made conditions difficult for the players, with Naas fielding a much changed side, with no less than eight changes from the team that faced Highfield in their last AIL game back in April. However, the side quickly gelled and within seven minutes they were in front, after a spell of early pressure won them a penalty which Tom Bohan successfully kicked.

The home side thought they had scored the opening try of the game after 14 minutes when Bradley McNamara raced clear to score, but the referee Sam Holt was adamant that there had been a forward pass in the lead up and had no hesitation in disallowing it.

But within another two minutes Instonians did register the first try, when Hugo Ellerby made a lovely break that sliced apart the Naas defence. He then passed to his supporting captain David Whitten who drew in the last defender, before passing back to Ellerby to score.

Surprisingly, Josh Eagleson missed the relatively easy conversion attempt, but Instonians now lead by five points to three.

The lead was extended after 21 minutes.

Bevan Prinsloo carved open the Naas defence and was only stopped just short of the line, before the visitors were penalised for handling in the subsequent ruck. Instonians turned down a shot at goal from in front of the posts and elected to take a scrum. Their big pack of forwards drove Naas back at the set piece, leading to the awarding of a penalty try and the home side now led 12-3.

To their credit Naas responded brilliantly and enjoyed their best spell of the game for the next ten minutes. It started after 24 minutes when Charlie Sheridan brilliantly fielded a high kick and took off on a mazy run that left the home defenders trailing in his wake. His subsequent pass was then deliberately slapped down by Bradley McNamara, and the referee had little option to brandish a yellow card.

Naas penalised this indiscretion by scoring ten points in his absence. Tom Bohan kicked the resulting penalty, and then on 28 minutes the visitors struck for their first try of the season. Another penalty was dispatched to touch and from the line-out Naas set up a driving maul.

When this was contained, they elected to move the ball out to the backs, and some fine handling in the tricky conditions eventually led to the supporting Tadgh Brophy scoring beside the posts. Tom Bohan added the conversion and Naas led by a point – 13-12.

The home side were to finish the half strongly. Firstly after 36 minutes the returning Bradley McNamara split the Naas defence apart, before passing outside to Hugo Ellerby who was bundled into touch just short of the line.

Instonians 32 – 13 Naas | Match Report Then on the stroke of half-time Instonians again turned down a shot at goal after being awarded a penalty, this time going to touch. After successfully winning the line-out they formed a powerful driving maul that Naas were powerless to stop and led

by Oli Clark touching down. Josh Eagleson added the conversion and at the interval Instonians led by 19 points to 13.

The third quarter of the game was largely uneventful, and we had to wait until the 60th minute before the scoreboard moved again. A brilliant kick by the Instonians winger Mark Keane led to them winning a 50-22, and from the line-out they again set up the driving maul. However, the Naas pack did brilliantly here and managed to hold the ball up over the line, winning themselves a goal-line dropout in the process.

The reprieve however only lasted a matter of seconds for Naas. Straight from the drop-out Instonians ran the ball straight back at Naas and saw Bradley McNamara evade a couple of poor tackles before scoring in the corner, giving his side a try scoring bonus point. Eagleson missed the conversion, but he landed a further penalty after 72 minutes to leave the home side in front by 27-13.

Naas to their credit kept plugging away and enjoyed a decent spell of territory and possession after this score, but it was the home side who were to have the final say, when in injury-time former Irish international Craig Gilroy showed great strength to power over in the corner for a try.

Eagleson missed the resulting conversion, and the referee blew the full-time whistle immediately afterwards. Instonians were off to a winning start in the campaign.

Although defeat was to be the lot for Naas here, they will be pleased that no less than seven players made their AIL debuts in this match, and they will benefit greatly for the experience. Yes, there is work to be done – the line-out and defence can be improved – but that will come, and Naas can look forward to the rest of the campaign with optimism.

Naas: Charlie Sheridan, Donal Conroy, Paddy Taylor, Dylan O’Keeffe, Tom Monaghan, Tom Bohan, Tadhg Brophy, Stephen Lackey, Brad Clements, Adam Deay, Oisin Halpin, James O’Loughlin, Eoin Walsh, Will O’Brien (capt), Darragh Murphy.

Replacements: : John King, Thomas Adams, Paulie Tolofua, Cormac King, Fionn O’Hara, David O’Sullivan.

Instonians: Bradley McNamara, Mark Keane, Bevan Prinsloo, Ian Whitten, Hugo Ellerby, Josh Eagleson, Ruairi O’Farrell, Schalk van der Merwe, Oli Clark, Liam Kaprigiannis, Marty Vorster, Ed Broom, Mark Lee, Paul Pritchard, David Whitten (capt).

Replacements: Neil Saulters, Craig Gilory, Matthew Neill, Robert Whitten, Anton Lupari, Blake McClean.

Referee: Sam Holt Match report: 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

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