MEN’S 1ST XV | 2:30PM AIL DIV 1B | ROUND 3
WOMEN’S 1ST XV | 4:30PM AIL DIV 1 | ROUND 2
WOMEN’S 2ND XV | 6:30PM AIL 2'S LEAGUE
05 OCT 2024
MATCH PROGRAMME
Proudly sponsored by
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
I am very pleased to welcome Blackrock College RFC to Ollie Campbell Park for a local derby and a unique triple header header with our respective Men’s and Women’s Senior Teams and the Women’s AIL 2nd’s going to battle.
This has been a historic week for Irish Rugby In a very exciting finish, the Ireland women beat the World Champions, New Zealand’s Black Ferns. Old Belvedere proudly provides 9 of the 30 strong squad, and we are delighted to see both Erin King and Dannah O’Brien being so pivotal in securing the win Our Senior Coach, Alex Codling, has also had a significant role in the Ireland team's progress as their Forwards Coach I wish the team well in the remainder of their tournament
Weareincredibly
fortunatetohave thesupportofDenis MahonyToyotaand ToyotaIrelandas ourmainclub sponsors.
This afternoon’s Senior Men’s clash, in addition to being an AIL fixture, forms half of the competition for the Brendan Merry Memorial Plate The aggregate scores for the home and away fixture determine the winner and last year, a single point separated the teams, with Blackrock claiming the spoils I am sure this will be keenly contested again this season.
This evening marks the inaugural match of the new AIL 2 league Our Women’s Director of Rugby, Cathy Murphy, along with the women’s committee and management, has spearheaded the creation of this league in collaboration with Blackrock College RFC and Railway Union RFC. The AIL 2 league provides our 2nds team with more game time and opportunities for growth A heartfelt thank you to Dorothy Collins, whose invaluable support and hard work were instrumental in bringing this league to life.
Finally, rugby clubs could not function without the generous support of their sponsors. At Old Belvedere we are incredibly fortunate to have the support of Denis Mahony Toyota and Toyota Ireland as our main club sponsors I would like to thanks John Mahony and Steve Tormey respectively for their ongoing generosity – it is greatly appreciated by every single member of our club.
I am very much looking forward to three good contests today and lively clubhouse before, during and after the games
Paul Dowling
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
11. ANDRE
OLD BELVEDERE TEAM SHEET (M)
ADDITIONAL INFO
COACHES & MANAGEMENT
QUENTON O'NEALE – DOR & HEAD COACH
ALEX CODLING – SENIOR COACH
EOIN SMYTH – ASSISTANT
BRYAN MOLLEN – ASSISTANT
SEAMUS TOOMEY – SCRUM COACH
DAN HOGAN – STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
DARAGH GERAGHTY – MANAGER
JAMES ALLEN – PHYSIO
DECLAN CASSIDY – ANALYST
GAVIN DOWLING - DOCTOR
GRANVILLE
CALUM DOWLING (C) 4. FIONN MCWEY
6. PADDY DOWLING 7. TASIPALE VALAVALA 8. WILL MCDONALD
10. SAM WISNIEWSKI
12. JUSTIN LEONARD
13. JAYDEN BECKETT
14. JACK KEATING
15. GAVIN NUGENT
3. HUGH FLOOD 5. KALE THATCHER
9. PETER O'BEIRNE
RYAN
LUKE MCLAUGHLIN 17. HUGH HOGAN
EDDIE REES 19. FELIX CAMPBELL 20. JACK DUNNE
DAVID WILKINSON
BLACKROCK COLLEGE TEAM SHEET (M)
COACHES & MANAGEMENT
JAMES BLANEY - HEAD COACH
ADDITIONAL INFO
ANDREW KEALY - ASSISTANT COACH
LUKE HICKEY - ASSISTANT COACH
REPLACEMENTS
16. STEPHEN JUDGE
17. ANDREW SAVAGE
18. TOMMY BUTLER
19. DAVE FORTUNE
20 LEO MCFARLANE
21. MATTHEW MCCARTHY
SHANE CONNOLLY
2. LIAM MCMAHON
3. ALEX MULLAN
4. ROY WHELAN (C)
5. KAYLEM TYTHERLEIGH
6. JAMES BURKE
7. INIGO CRUISE O’BRIEN
8. ODHRAN RING
9. JACK RINGROSE
10. CONOR O’SHAUGHNESSY
11. BARRY GALVIN
12. DAVE MCCARTHY
13. CIARAN MANGAN
14. MATTY DWAN
15. CHRIS ROLLAND
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
18 JULIET BYRNE
1. HANNAH WILSON
2. LISA CALLAN
3. CLODAGH DUNNE (C)
4. GRACE TUTTY
5. ORLAITH MCAULIFFE
6. ÁINE RUTLEY
7. JANE NEILL
8. KARA MULCAHY
9. JADE GAFFNEY
10. ELLIE O’SULLIVAN
11. MEGAN EDWARDS
12. EMMA KELLY
13. ELISE O’BYRNEWHITE (C)
14. VANESSA HULLON
15. EMMA TILLY
16. VIC O’MAHONY
17. JULZ CONDRON
19. MARIA KENNY
20. EOWYN EDWARDS
BLACKROCK COLLEGE TEAM SHEET (W)
1.
11. LEAH
12. AVA
15. MAGGIE
ADDITIONAL INFO
ANDY ADAMS - HEAD COACH
KELVINS KARANI - ASSISTANT COACH (FORWARDS)
JUDY BOBBETT - ASSISTANT COACH (FORWARDS)
ELEANOR FURLONG - ASSISTANT COACH (BACKS)
PHILIP "GOOSE" DOYLE - DIRECTOR OF WOMEN'S RUGBY
16. MEGAN BRODIE
ANNMARIE ROONEY 18. ORLA WAFER
MYA ALCORN
AMELIA MCFARLAND
JILLIAN O'TOOLE 22. LISA MULLEN COACHES & MANAGEMENT
AOIFE MOORE
2. SARAH DELANEY
3. AVA FANNIN
4. CLIODHNA NI CHONCHOBHAIR
5. KOREN DUNNE
6. LYNN KOELMAN
7. SARAH MOODY
8. HANNAH O'CONNOR (C)
9. CASEY JACKSON
10. TESS PROOS
REILLY
RYDER
13. ANNA DOYLE
14. MAEVE LISTON
BOYLAN
06. UPCOMING AIL FIXTURES (MEN)
U.C.C
STRENGTHOFTHEWOLFISTHEPACK
LEAGUE TABLE
SEPT21|230PM|OLLIECAMPBELLPARK NAAS JAN11|230PM|OLLIECAMPBELLPARK
SEPT28|230PM|COLLEGEPARK JAN18|230PM|THOMONDPARK
OCT19|230PM|NEWORMONDPARK FEB8|230PM|WOODLEIGHPARK
NOV.16|2.30PM|DUBLANE
OCT26|230PM|ENERGIAPARK OLDWESLEY FEB15|230PM|OLLIECAMPBELLPARK HIGHFIELD NENAGHORMOND SHANNON DUBLINUNIVERSITY
DEC14|230PM|FORENAUGHTS U.C.C APR5|230PM|MARDYKE
07. UPCOMING AIL FIXTURES (WOMEN)
LEAGUE TABLE
SEPT28|500PM|WILLOWLODGE JAN11|500PM|THEBLACKGATES
OCT26|500PM|TANNERPARK
NOV23|500PM|JJMCDOWELLMEMORIAL
JAN18|500PM|CROWLEYPARK
FEB8|500PM|OLLIECAMPBELLPARK
FEB15|500PM|ASHTOWNLANE GALWEGIANS
DEC14|500PM|OLLIECAMPBELLPARK
LEINSTER PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Members, Supporters, and Friends of Old Belvedere RFC, it is my great pleasure as President of Leinster Rugby to wish you the very best of luck for season 2024/25 and to welcome you all to today's match Your presence and support are invaluable to your Club I would also like to wish your President, Paul Dowling, an enjoyable and successful year at the helm, with all the highs (and some lows) that a rugby season will inevitably bring. I have known Dow for many years, and he will be a wonderful President Leinster Rugby and the IRFU are well served by Tony O’Beirne, now Junior Vice President of
the IRFU, and I wish him well in his new role It will be a great honour for your Club to see him elected as President of the IRFU in 2026.
Dorothy Collins has been involved in Leinster Rugby for more years than she cares to remember and this season we welcome her as the new Chair of the Women’s Committee and thank her for her long commitment to the Leinster cause
To your men’s club captain, Calum Dowling, your Head Coach and Director of Rugby Quenton O’Neale, your backroom staff, and to your senior squad, go well in the AIL, you have been knocking on the door of promotion to Division 1A for a number of years now and hopefully you can reach your goal this season
Your Women’s team have been at the forefront of Women’s Rugby in Ireland for many years, and I wish yourDirector of Women’s Rugby Cathy Murphy, head coach Tania Rosser, your captain Lesley Ring every success in the WAIL this season. The Women’s game continues to grow at a rapid rate in Leinster, and it is heartening to see the structures that are now in place to support this growth.
You can be justifiably proud of your mini rugby section, which is one of the most successful in Leinster and I wish them, your youths, u20s, and juniors, a successful and enjoyable season
The Club game is the bedrock of rugby in Ireland, and it is tremendous to see the vibrancy of the game throughout the 12 counties of Leinster Energia’s sponsorship of the AIL and WAIL has been a huge success and the League continues to go from strength to strength A nod also to the Club Scene Podcast and the Anyscor app, which greatly enhance the excitement of AIL
Without referees we would not have a game and I urge you to respect and look after today’s refereeing panel and indeed referees at all levels of our game throughout the season. Sadly, the abuse of referees is becoming more prevalent across the game, and we must not let tolerance for such behaviour become the norm. Technical zones must be adhered to and respected I wish the President of the Leinster Referees Association Martin Farrelly an enjoyable and successful year I would also ask all Clubs to keep the recruitment and development of referees as a priority
For Leinster Rugby, last season brought heartache with the loss in the Investec Cup Final in extra time, however I have no doubt that the small margins involved in that defeat will galvanise the players and coaches and push them on to success this season. The drive for five is by no means an easy road to travel, and on behalf of you all I would like to wish the squad and Leo, Jacques, Robin, Emmett, Sean, Guy and all the backroom staff the very best for the season
We also welcome Tyler Bleyandaal on his return to Ireland. During his playing career Tyler played for Canterbury and the Crusaders in New Zealand and earned 62 caps for Munster. I have no doubt he will be a great addition to the coaching staff, and we wish him and his family all the best for the season ahead
We are also delighted and excited to welcome three exceptional players to the squad, with the arrival of RG Snyman, Jordie Barrett and Rabah Slimani We are looking forward to seeing the impact these players will have and we wish them every success with Leinster Rugby
This will be a season like no other for Leinster Rugby, as we embark on the rebuilding of the Anglsea Stand in the RDS The Senior team will play all their home games in the Aviva Stadium, and we look forward to the support of your members at the Aviva throughout the season
The passing of the legendary Tony O’Reilly was a sad day for all of rugby and especially for your Club I am borrowing the words of writer Grantham Rice (with a hat tip to Kingsley Aikins) which sum up his life well: “When the great scorer in the sky comes to mark against your name, he marks not that you won or lost, but how you played the game”. Tony played the game bloody well and will be sorely missed by everyone in Old Belvedere RIP Tony
The recent loss of Old Belvedere and Leinster Past President Ben Gormley was also a sad day for your Club RIB Ben
As many of you will be aware, I have a strong association with your great Club as my father in law Brendan Merry, who left us far too young, was President back in 1985. I also have very fond memories of playing against some Belvo stalwarts back in the day, including the aforementioned TOB, Ollie, Sammy, Frank McGrath, Jim Walsh, John Mahony, Dave McGrath, Paul Cunningham, Ceddy, Bimbo, Marsbar, Noelie, and so many more
I always enjoy a visit to your wonderful Clubhouse, and I look forward to doing so as Leinster President
To all in Old Belvedere RFC I hope you have an enjoyable and successful season
Yours in rugby, Declan Gardiner President Leinster Rugby
HISTORIC WINS AND UNFORGETTABLE MILESTONES FOR OLD BELVEDERE PLAYERS.
as a replacement, scored her second try of the match, leveling the scores at 27-27 in the final minute With the pressure on, it was Belvo’s own Dannah O’Brien who stepped up to convert the try, securing the 29-27 win for Ireland via the upright. This match not only stunned the reigning champions but also cemented the growing prowess of our Belvo women at the international level
The Irish squad that traveled to Vancouver includes nine of our senior players, making their impact felt on the global stage. Their next challenge comes this Saturday, October 5th, as they face another tough test against Canada Following her standout performance against New Zealand, Erin King has earned a well-deserved promotion to the 1st XV. Deirbhile Nic a Bháird has been named on the bench and is set to make her long-awaited return to the pitch The Ireland v Canada game kicks off at 11:45 PM Irish Time. You can watch the match live via Rugby Pass TV.
But the international scene isn’t the only place where our Belvo women are excelling September has been packed with incredible moments, celebrating both individual achievements and team successes
We were thrilled to see Derv Nic a Bháird back in the Ireland jersey, ready for her return after a long recovery from injury The resilience and dedication she has shown in getting back to this level are nothing short of inspiring. She also sat on the panel of the first IRFU Women In Rugby conference with Belvo women’s past player and Ireland international Nora Stapleton. Erin King and Ruth Campbell also received their first caps for Ireland in a memorable clash against the Wallaroos at Kingspan Stadium
Closer to home, our Women’s Director of Rugby, Cathy Murphy, the women’s committee and management have spearheaded the launch of a new AIL 2 league in collaboration with Blackrock College RFC and Railway Union RFC This new league aims to give our women’s 2nds team more game time and opportunities to expand their skillsets. The league kicks off this evening at 6:30 PM following the Women’s 1st XV Game A sincere thank you to Dorothy Collins for her dedication and effort in bringing the AIL 2 league to fruition.
As we kick off October, there is a palpable sense of excitement within the club Whether it’s the historic achievements on the international stage or the strides being made at home, the future is bright for Old Belvedere Women’s rugby We can’t wait to see what lies in store, as we continue to push the boundaries and support our players on every level
MEN’S SHED: 1ST XV DRESSING ROOM REFRESH
About a year ago our Shed decided that we should do something to recognise the talents of our playing members. Our players represent us all, Shed and Club, week in week out They make exceptional personal commitments in time, training and dedication on and off the field The players are what this great club is all about so the concept of giving the First team players a suitable dressing room worthy of their efforts came to fruition.
Des Crean, our Shed retired Architect, was asked to come up with some ideas for the dressing room
A small sub-committee was formed They visited the Aviva stadium, looked at various other sports facilities and came up with a basic design. Partitions demarcating individual spaces were ruled out, names above each space of the 23 man panel for that day’s match were inserted and above them. As a reminder of the shoes they walked in, the names of our internationals who had played in their position were placed. The OBRFC 1st dressing room was recreated, and it is hoped it will add some inspiration to all on the day of a match
Carrying out of the work in the dressing room was a great project to be involved in It brought out the best possible coordination between the OBRFC and the Shed team involved The Shed members under the leadership of John O’Leary and Ernest Tucker and others physically cleaned up, painted and prepared the dressing room for the arrival of a contractor and other long-term club associates to install the electrics, and the name plaques and club logos The dressing room was opened officially on the day of the Shed’s annual summer lunch on the 21st June by the OBFRC President Paul Dowling which was much appreciated by a large attendance.
It was a great pleasure for me to project manage this dressing room project and we all look forward to a great rugby season ahead
Yours
Desmond Crean
WHAT I OWE TO OLD AND YOUNG BELVEDERE
Written by Tony O'Reilly in May 2019,on the occasion of the 'Belvo 100' Foundation Dinner which was held in the RDS
I first played rugby for Belvedere when I was six The confirmation of this to me is a photograph of Michael Mullen, myself and Aiden Doyle (of Doyle's Corner fame) The photograph shows me in the middle, in tears. The reason is simple: my mother was asked to get me a black and white jersey, and for my first essay into the world of
sport, she bought me a black jersey with a white collar! The words of my coach, Fr Lehane, S.J., were, "You'll have to try harder."
That was and is the motif of Belvedere, both old and new, and I continued to be an active playing member for a further 30 years
Rugby football is a good tutor that disappoints as much as it teaches, but Old Belvedere has an unusual history in that although it is 100 years old, it did not play for 5 years in the early ’20s. The Club then prospered through the ’20s and entered it's Golden Period in the late ’30s and early ’40s with the advent of an extraordinary run in the Leinster Senior Cup, where it won seven Senior Cups in succession in 1940-46.
I first saw them play as an 8-year-old and was thrilled by the astonishing careers of the Quinn brothers -- Paddy, Jerry, Frank, Kevin -- and the non-brother, Brendan Quinn, who filled my schoolboy imagination with the wonders of what might be
Old Belvedere have won the Cup on several occasions since, but the magic and mystery of the run of 7 victories in the '40s will remain for all time
The rhythm of life at Belvedere and rugby football is dictated by the traditions of the School's Cup, Junior and Senior. I played for 3 years in the Junior Cup Team and 3 years in the Senior Cup Team; the last, a stirring final at Lansdowne Road on St Patrick's Day, 1954, against Blackrock. We had been playing Blackrock since we were small children Blackrock won, but this was an epic game with great players on both sides, including Brophy, Cleary, Grehen and Woods on the Blackrock side, and Lenehan, the Mulcahy twins (or were they triplets?), Carey and McCann for Belvedere.
I played no rugby the year I left school until November where I played for Old Belvedere's 3rd XV After two games, half the first team were furloughed for failing to turn up at all for a game against the Galwegians
To my surprise, I was promoted to play against Dolphin on the following Saturday, and thanks to Kevin Quinn's artistry, I scored a number of tries.
The following week, I played against Queen's University with an all international back line of Henderson, Pedlow and Gregg on their side. Again, Quinn paved the way for a number of tries Three weeks later, dramatically, I played in the final trial for "the Probables" against "the Possibles," alongside Jack Kyle, with whom I previously met to get his autograph!
In 1954, I played without great distinction against France, England and Scotland and then with a new out-half, Seamus Kelly I had a wonderful afternoon at Cardiff Arms Park against Wales.
The British Lions team were picked that weekend and to my amazement, I found myself selected to go to South Africa in April of that year It all seemed like a dream, and at 18 years of age, I found myself on the plane to South Africa with 30 other players, most of whom I had only seen on the field.
That tour and subsequent tours, both for Ireland, the Barbarians and Lions, remained the high points of my career, but the highest point of all was the honor of playing for Old Belvedere in early November 1954 for the 3rd XV
I have a recollection of great names that I have shared with both on and off the field Kyle and Morgan were at the top of the list. And in The Pantheon, I number Karl Mullen, James McCarthy, Jeff Butterfield, WP C Davies, Bev Risman, Peter Jackson, David Hewitt, Cecil Pedlow, Dick Jeeps, Ray McLoughlin, Mike Gibson, Noel Murphy, Andy Mulligan, and in Ollie Campbell (the man I would most like to have played outside), and Redmond Doran (perhaps the best player not capped for Ireland), and a thousand others of equal merit who played the game, not just for the glory, but for the feeling that you are unique in the world of sport by being honoured to have taken part in rugby football
12. SPONSORS
