Rainey Old Boys Rugby Club
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| Rainey Old Boys | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Rainey Old Boys Rugby Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Old Boys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1928 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Ulster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground(s) | Hatrick Park, Magherafelt, Northern Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coach | Rhys Botha  |
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| League | AIB Division Three | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007-08 | 14th AIB League Three | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Official website | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| www.raineyoldboysrfc.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rainey Old Boys Rugby Club is situated in the market town of Magherafelt, County Londonderry. They are one of the eleven current Senior Rugby Union clubs in Ulster, Ireland. Rainey Old Boys currently compete in All Ireland Division 3.
At present they field 4 senior teams, Under 20s (The Rhinos), Under 18s, Under 16s, Under 14s and a Ladies team (The Cheetahs).
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[edit] History
Magherafelt R.F.C. was founded in 1928. Some success was gained up until the Second World War. A few games were played during the war years and from 1947, the club became known as Rainey Old Boys R.F.C. After initial success, a barren period followed and it was not until the mid-60s that the club began to go places.
In 1983 they won the Town’s Cup for the first time. On that team were twelve times capped Harry Steele and brother-in-law, Alan McLean, an Ulster regular who toured Australia with Ireland in 1979.
The President from 1984-1990 was Dr. A.A. McConnell, who was a member of Ireland’s Grand Slam side in 1948.
Rainey proved to be a good cup side but were relegated to Section 2 in 1986. They won Section 2 the following year but slipped back down again in 1994 despite reaching the Town’s Cup final for the sixth time in twenty years. With former Ulster lock Charlie Simpson as player/coach, they won the Town’s Cup in 2001 and were promoted as champions the following season.
Former Ballymena RFC No. 8, John Andrews, took over as player/coach when Charlie moved on to Dungannon RFC, and led the side to the Qualifying League 1 title in 2005. In the play-offs they beat Monivea 21-8 at home before losing 14-13 at Naas and 18-17 at Nenagh Ormond.
Having added some strength in depth to the squad, they started last season by beating Ballymena 2XV in the Past Players’ Cup Final. After twelve straight wins in the league, they came unstuck at Armagh on New Year’s Eve but regrouped to beat second placed Limavady 53-3 and retain the title. In the inaugural All-Ireland Junior Cup the luck of the draw helped them to beat Cork side Kanturk 47-9 and South Dublin outfit, Seapoint 31-12 at home. A big crowd travelled south to see them beat Youghal 27-5 at Lansdowne Road in the final on April 8. Then on successive Saturdays, they beat Westport 36-0 away, Youghal 34-0 and Monkstown 32-16 at home to win the round robin play-offs and clinch their place in the All-Ireland League.
At the end of the 2006/07 season John Andrews left to join Dungannon RFC as their new Head Coach.[1] In his 5 years at the club he guided them to 2 Ulster Qualifying titles, the Past Players Cup, the All Ireland Junior Cup, runners-up in the Towns Cup and qualification into the All Ireland League.
The 2006-07 season featured Rainey's first appearance in the AIB League. Rainey finished in a mid-table seventh place in Division Three.[2] In addition Rainey finished in sixth place in their first year in the Ulster Senior League.[3] On 17 July 2007 it was announced that Willie Anderson had been appointed as club coach.[4]
[edit] Current Status
After the departure of Willie Anderson at the end of 2007-08 season, Rainey swiftly moved to secure the captured of Rhys Botha from Ballymena. He will act as Player/Coach for 2008-09 season.
The Second XV finished 7th in their second season in the 2XV League.
The Third XV finished 3rd in Section Three of the Junior League, narrowly mising out on promotion.
The Fourth XV won the North East Division of the Minor League, losing only one match in 22 games. They also won the Butler Sheild at Ravenhill.
[edit] Honours
In 2004-05 Rainey won the Ulster Qualifying League Division One. This achievement was repeated the following season and in addition the inaugural All Ireland Junior Cup was won.[5] Qualification for All Ireland Division 3 was gained through winning the Round Robin Cup against the championship winning teams from; Leinster, Munster and Connaught at the end of the 2005-06 season.[6]
The two main Junior Provincial Trophies have been won by Rainey.
The Ulster Towns Cup has been won under the name of Magherafelt on two occasions, in 1983 and 2001, from their eight Final appearances.
The Ulster Junior Cup has been won twice, 1976 and 1979, from their three Final appearances.
In the year 2007, Rainey Rhinos U-16's won the Ulster Fleming Shield and beat Eniskillen in the final to achieve this victory.
[edit] Committee Members 07/08
President:Billy McGinnis
Chairman:Arnold McLean
Secretary:Paul Flanigan
Treasurer: Paddy Pyper
Match Secretary:Patsy Purvis
P.R Secretary:Clifford Barr
Director Of Rugby & Youth Convenor:Liam Eastwood
[edit] Management 07/08
1XV Coach :Rhys Botha
2XV Coach :Phillip Lee
3XV Selectors :Gerry McCann and Eamon Campbell
4XV Player/Selector: Declan McCann
[edit] Team Captains 08/09
1XV :Andrew Kerr
2XV :Ciaran Donaghy
3XV :
4XV :Declan McCann
[edit] Team Captains 07/08
1XV :Neil O'Kane
2XV :Colin Patterson
3XV :Seamus McQuillan
4XV :Declan McCann
[edit] Internationals
Dr A.A McConnell - 
Ireland
Nathan Amos - 
Israel
Harry Steele - Ireland
Stephen McKinstry - Ireland Under 19s
Stephen Beattie - 
United States Under 19s
Michael Glancy - Ireland Under 21s
Connor Lavery - Ireland Under 19s
[edit] 1 XV Squad Players
Nathan Amos - Stephen McKinstry - Michael Glancy - Connor Lavery - Grey Cullen - 
Neil O'Kane - Damien Campbell - Peter Boyle - David Dawson - Evan Stewart - Colm Heaney - Charlie Baleirer - 
Richard McCrea - Steven McGinnis - Richard Paul - Rodney Paul - Michael Wilson - Michael Sargent - Jerome McMurray - Nils Sanderson - Andrew Kerr - Paul Hawkins - 
David Pugh - Neil Suitor - Paul Suitor - Alex McLaughlin - Gavin Martin - Tiernan Walsh - James McBride - Jody McMurray - Kenny Irvine - Robbie Bremner - Matthew Murray - Kyle Campton - Richard Michael - Paul McGuckin - Andrew Campbell - Mark Glendinning -
[edit] Sources
- ^ Dugannon RFC website announcement of John Andrew's appointment. Retrieved on 2007-08-09.
- ^ RTE Rugby Tables - AIB League Division 3 2006-07. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
- ^ Ulster Rugby Senior League Table 2006-07. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
- ^ BBC article about Willie Anderson's appointment as club coach. Retrieved on 2007-07-19.
- ^ BBC Report of AIB Junior Cup Final 2006. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
- ^ Irish Rugby Website - Focus on Rainey. Retrieved on 2007-05-05.
[edit] External links
- Rainey Old Boys RFC Website
- Ulster Rugby Website
- Irish Rugby Football Union Website
- Lombard PLC Website - Club Sponsors
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