Double Header vs Queens & Suttonians Match Programme

OLD BELVEDERE RFC

DOUBLE HEADER

VS MEN’S 1ST XV | 2:30PM AIL DIV 1B | ROUND 12

VS WOMEN’S 1ST XV | 5:00PM AIL DIV 1 | ROUND 12

25 JAN 2025

MATCH PROGRAMME Proudly sponsored by

TABLE OF CONTENTS 01 President's Message 02 About today 03 Energia Message 04 Old Belvedere Men’s Team Sheet (H) 05 Queens Men’s Team Sheet (A) 06 Old Belvedere Women’s Team Sheet (H) 07 Suttonians RFC Women’s Team Sheet (A) 08 AIL Fixtures & League Table (Men) 09 AIL Fixtures & League Table (Women) 10 Old Belvedere RFC in Ireland 7s Squads 11 Seamus Toomey Appointed IRFU Performance Pathway Scrum Coach

12 Gallery 13 Sponsors

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Dear Members, It is a great honour for me to represent Old Belvedere RFC this season as its President.

On behalf of everyone in the club, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all members and guests along with their families and friends to Ollie Campbell Park throughout the season. I would particularly like to welcome all visiting teams and match officials and I hope that you find OCP a welcoming environment.

I hope this year that we continue to build on the fantastic work that has been carried out by so many people over the last few years in making Old Belvedere such a warm and welcoming place to visit. This effort has been spearheaded by Philip Byrne and his colleagues. Many thanks also to all those who have contributed to this effort and I hope to see this continue to develop.

Under the guidance of our Director of Rugby, Quenton O’Neale, we are very proud to be fielding so many teams again this season – boys and girls minis, boys and girls youths, men’s under 20’s, senior men’s and women’s, junior men’s and women’s and a resurgent Veteran’s XV. I wish all of our teams success and unlimited enjoyment over the months ahead.

A special word of congratulations to the Men’s Shed which has grown in stature since its inception in 2019. The Shed members are valuable contributors to the club in so many ways and they complete the spectrum of participants in the club.

There are two other groups who merit a particular mention. Sincere thanks to all the volunteers in the club who contribute so much in so many different ways – the club would be lost without you. And finally, sincere thanks to all our sponsors for their kindness and support. Managing a club is becoming increasingly challenging and could not be done without the generous support we receive from all our sponsors.

I know that every season has its ups and downs. My personal wish for this season is there will be more ups than downs! Above all, irrespective of what happens, I hope I can retain my belief that the reason we are all here, and a part of this club, is to have fun!

Paul Dowling, Club President

02. ABOUT TODAY Welcome to another exciting double-header in Ollie Campbell Park.

I am delighted to welcome the Queen’s University Belfast Senior Men’s XV along with their President, Ian McEvoy, and his fellow officers for round 12 of the AIL. Ian has been President of QUB for a long time and is very much the senior figure among the League’s officers! Queen’s is a very historic club with a staggering 88 Senior Men’s Internationals and 22 players who have played for the British and Irish Lions. We are facing a buoyant Queen’s team today on the back of their very convincing 52 – 26 victory over Highfield last weekend.

I’m looking forward to two good contests today – injury-free and played in the proper spirit.

The second match today features our Women’s Senior XV versus Suttonians.

Our Women’s team currently lie in fourth spot in the league having narrowly lost out to Galwegians in Crowley Park last weekend. The challenge of losing players to the

representative teams is an ongoing one and I wish Lesley Ring and her team all the best in today’s game.

Following the two matches, the Club’s Annual Dinner will take place in the Ballroom and I am looking forward to a great night.

Finally, I’m looking forward to two good contests today – please God injury-free and played in proper spirit. Thanks in advance to all the match day officials who will hopefully have a hassle-free day and also enjoy the occasion.

03. ENERGIA WELCOME MESSAGE On behalf of everyone at Energia Group, we are delighted to kick off the Energia All Ireland League (AIL) for the 2024/25 season. We look forward to seeing lots of familiar faces out on the pitch, as well as welcoming some new ones, in what we’re sure will be another thrilling year of club rugby.

The increase in attendance at last season's Energia AIL games was testament to the League's exceptional quality, and we hope to see even more enthusiastic fans this year. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the clubs, players, and volunteers for their commitment and hard work, which played a vital role in the success of the 2023/24 season.

Our commitment to Irish Rugby, as Official Energy Partner to the IRFU and title sponsor of the Energia AlL, focuses on supporting rugby at all levels, from grassroots to professional.

We’re delighted to have 60 teams partaking in this year’s Energia AIL and wish everyone the best of luck in the upcoming season.

Gary Ryan Managing Director Energia Customer Solutions

ENERGIA AIL | OLD BELVEDERE VS BLACKROCK COLLEGE

OLD BELVEDERE TEAM SHEET (M) 1. ADAM HOWARD

2. CALUM DOWLING (C)

4. FIONN MCWEY

6. KALE THATCHER

3. RYAN MCMAHON

5. EDDIE REES

8. PADDY DOWLING

7. ANTHONY RYAN

9. PETER O'BEIRNE

10. JOHNNY KIELY

12. JUSTIN LEONARD

13. JAYDEN BECKETT (VC)

11. ANDRE RYAN

15. JOE WHITE

14. JACK KEATING

ADDITIONAL INFO

COACHES & MANAGEMENT QUENTON O'NEALE – DOR & HEAD COACH EOIN SMYTH – ASSISTANT BRYAN MOLLEN – ASSISTANT DAN HOGAN – STRENGTH & CONDITIONING DARAGH GERAGHTY – MANAGER JAMES ALLEN – PHYSIO DECLAN CASSIDY – ANALYST GAVIN DOWLING - DOCTOR

REPLACEMENTS 16. LUKE MCLAUGHLIN 17. LIAM GRANVILLE 18. TOM MULCAIR 19. JOSHUA ERICSON 20. TED WALSH 21. DAVID WILKINSON

QUEENS TEAM SHEET (M) 1. JACOB BOYD

2. ZAC SOLOMONS

4. JOE HOPES

5. CHARLIE IRVINE

6. WILL CUSACK

8. TOM BRIGG

7. JOSH STEVENS

10. EAMON RODGERS

9. BEN MCFARLANE

12. CALLUM FLORENCE

11. RYAN STREET

3. BYAN O'CONNOR

13. WILHELM DE KLERK

15. RORY TELFER

14. LUKAS KENNY

ADDITIONAL INFO

REPLACEMENTS 16. J STEWART | 17. M MCQUISTON | 18. F LONGSTAFF | 19. O HUGHES 20. J MCCAULEY | 21. C MCGAUGHEY

OLD BELVEDERE TEAM SHEET (W) 1. HANNAH WILSON

2. LISA CALLAN

3. KATIE LAYDE

4. ORLAITH MCAULIFFE

6. JULIET BYRNE

5. LAURA CARROLL

8. KARA MULCAHY

7. LESLEY RING (C)

9. JADE GAFFNEY

10. ÁINE DONNELLY

12. EMMA KELLY

13. ELISE O’BYRNEWHITE

11. VANESSA HULLON

15. EMMA TILLY

14. MEGAN EDWARDS

ADDITIONAL INFO

COACHES & MANAGEMENT CATHY MURPHY - DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S RUGBY TANIA ROSSER - HEAD COACH DARREN CURRAN - SKILLS COACH DEIRBHILE NIC A BHÁIRD - FORWARDS COACH CELESTE RAACK - PHYSIO AILISH SLACK - MANAGER AUDREY MESSINA - MANAGER SHAUNA FITZGERALD - MANAGER

REPLACEMENTS 16. VICTORIA O’MAHONY 17 .CHLOE ERICSON 18. AMY BOND 20. KATE BALLANCE 21. JEMMA FARRELL 22. GEORGIA FOLEY

SUTTONIANS RFC TEAM SHEET (W) 1. CIARA SPENCER

2. ORLA MCDONALD

4. CAOIMHE GUINAN

5. ⁠NICOLA BOLGER

6. LENA KIBLER

8. ⁠JULIA O'CONNOR

7. ⁠CARRIE O'KEEFFE

⁠10. LAURA CLARIDGE

⁠9. ESMEE LIGTVOET

12. ⁠LAUREN FARRELL MCCABE

11. ⁠CAOIMHE HOY

3. AOIFE BRENNAN

13. MEABH O'BRIEN (C)

15. ⁠CLARA SEXTON

14. MAIREAD MCERLEAN

ADDITIONAL INFO

REPLACEMENTS 16. ROISIN O'DRISCOLL | 17. MARY HEALY | 18. MEABH COLLINS 19. INAYA MAYDUN

08. UPCOMING AIL FIXTURES (MEN) 2024

2025

U.C.C

NAAS

SEPT. 21 | 2.30 PM | OLLIE CAMPBELL PARK

JAN. 11 | 2.30 PM | OLLIE CAMPBELL PARK

SEPT. 28 | 2.30 PM | COLLEGE PARK

JAN. 18 | 2.30 PM | THOMOND PARK

BLACKROCK COLLEGE

QUEENS

OCT. 19 | 2.30 PM | NEW ORMOND PARK

FEB. 8 | 2.30 PM | WOODLEIGH PARK

OLD WESLEY

2024 /25 FIXTURES FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE PACK IS THE WOLF, AND THE STRENGTH OF THE WOLF IS THE PACK.

FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE PACK IS THE WOLF, AND THE STRENGTH OF THE WOLF IS THE PACK.

OCT. 26 | 2.30 PM | ENERGIA PARK

FEB. 15 | 2.30 PM | OLLIE CAMPBELL PARK

HIGHFIELD

NENAGH ORMOND

NOV. 16 | 2.30 PM | DUB LANE

SHANNON

DUBLIN UNIVERSITY

HOME

DEC. 14 | 2.30 PM | FORENAUGHTS HOME

AWAY

AWAY

LEAGUE TABLE

ENERGIA AIL | OLD BELVEDERE VS BLACKROCK COLLEGE

U.C.C

DOUBLE

APR. 5 | 2.30 PM | MARDYKE DOUBLE

09. UPCOMING AIL FIXTURES (WOMEN) 2024

2025

SEPT. 28 | 5.00 PM | WILLOW LODGE

JAN. 11 | 5.00 PM | THE BLACK GATES JAN. 18 | 5.00 PM | CROWLEY PARK

SUTTONIANS

OCT. 26 | 5.00 PM | TANNER PARK

FEB. 8 | 5.00 PM | OLLIE CAMPBELL PARK FEB. 15 | 5.00 PM | ASHTOWN LANE

2024 /25 FIXTURES FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE PACK IS THE WOLF, AND THE STRENGTH OF THE WOLF IS THE PACK.

NOV. 23 | 5.00 PM | JJ MCDOWELL MEMORIAL

GALWEGIANS

BLACKROCK COLLEGE RAILWAY UNION

DEC. 14 | 5.00 PM | OLLIE CAMPBELL PARK

HOME

LEAGUE TABLE

ENERGIA AIL | OLD BELVEDERE VS BLACKROCK COLLEGE

AWAY

DOUBLE

OLD BELVEDERE IN IRELAND 7S SQUADS We are thrilled to share the exciting news that five of our senior women’s players and three of our senior men’s players have been selected for the Ireland 7s squad for the ongoing HSBC World Sevens Series in Perth this weekend, January 24th–26th.

Congratulations to: Katie Corrigan, Clare Gorman, Robyn O’Connor, Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton, Katie Whelan Bryan Mollen, Hugo Lennox, James Dillon.

We are incredibly proud of their achievements. It has been great seeing them represent both Ireland and Belvo on the global stage in the games which started on Friday.

11. SEAMUS TOOMEY APPOINTED IRFU PERFORMANCE PATHWAY SCRUM COACH

We are delighted to congratulate Seamus Toomey on his appointment as the IRFU’s Performance Pathway Scrum Coach. A cornerstone of our coaching team during his time at Old Belvedere, Seamus brings an exceptional depth of knowledge and expertise to this prestigious role.

Seamus will be instrumental in developing Ireland’s next generation of front-row talent, working alongside John Fogarty, another former Belvo coach and the current National Scrum Coach. Seeing two former Belvo coaches in such pivotal roles within the IRFU highlights the strength of our club’s legacy.

Seamus is also part of Neil Doak’s coaching team for the Ireland U20s squad as they prepare for the upcoming 2025 U20 Six Nations Championship.

On that note, we’re proud to announce that two of our senior men’s players, Sam Wisniewski and Andre Ryan, have been selected for the Ireland Men’s U20s squad for the 2025 Six Nations Championship! This is a tremendous achievement for both players and a proud moment for the club.

Thursday, 30 January: Ireland v England, 7.45pm Saturday, 8 February: Scotland v Ireland 7.45pm Friday, 21 February: Wales v Ireland, 7.45pm Friday, 7 March: Ireland v France, 8pm Friday, 14 March: Italy v Ireland, 7.45pm

13. SPONSORS

OLD BELVEDERE RFC

FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE PACK IS THE WOLF, AND THE STRENGTH OF THE WOLF IS THE PACK.

Contact Old Belvedere RFC 1Ailesbury Grove, Ballsbridge, Dublin, D04 HF60

@oldbelvedererfc @oldbelvowomen