| Full name | Rainey Old Boys Rugby Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Old Boys | ||
| Founded | 1928 | ||
| Ground(s) | Hatrick Park, Magherafelt, Northern Ireland | ||
| Coach(es) | Chris Campbell | ||
| League(s) | AIB Division Three | ||
| 2010-11 | 6th AIB League Three | ||
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| Official website | |||
| www.raineyoldboysrfc.com | |||
Rainey Old Boys Rugby Football Club is situated in the market town of Magherafelt, County Londonderry. It is one of the eleven current senior rugby union clubs in Northern Ireland. Rainey Old Boys currently compete in All-Ireland Division 3.
At present, they field 4 senior teams and 4 youth teams (the Rhinos) under-19s, under-17s, under-15s and under-13s.
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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., in recognition of its connection with the local Rainey Endowed School. After initial success, a barren period followed and it was not until the mid-1960s that the club began to go places.
In 1983 they won the Towns 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 Towns Cup final for the sixth time in twenty years. With former Ulster lock Charlie Simpson as player/coach, they won the Towns 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. 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."Dugannon RFC website announcement of John Andrew's appointment". http://www.dungannonrugby.co.uk/news.asp?ID=445. Retrieved 2007-08-09. 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."RTE Rugby Tables - AIB League Division 3 2006-07". http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rugby_tables_aibleaguedivision3.html. Retrieved 2007-05-05. In addition Rainey finished in sixth place in their first year in the Ulster Senior League."Ulster Rugby Senior League Table 2006-07". Archived from the original on 2006-11-23. http://web.archive.org/web/20061123055320/http://www.ulsterrugby.com/21_266.php. Retrieved 2007-05-05. On 17 July 2007 it was announced that Willie Anderson had been appointed as club coach."BBC article about Willie Anderson's appointment as club coach". BBC News. 2007-07-17. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ulster/6902194.stm. Retrieved 2007-07-19. Willie Anderson left at the end of 2007-08 season and Rainey appointed Rhys Botha from Ballymena as coach for the 2008-2010 seasons"Northern Constitution article about Rhys Botha appointment". http://magherafelt.northernconstitution.co.uk/articles/sports/272/botha-looks-to-bolster-old-boys. Retrieved 2009-05-09..
Rainey Old Boys finished 10th in AIB Division Three in the 2008-09 season"RTE AIB Division 3 Table at end of 2008-09 season". http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rugby_tables_aibleaguedivision3.html. Retrieved 2009-05-09..
Rainey Old Boys finished 10th again in AIB Division Three in the 2009-10 season.
Rainey Old Boys finished 6th in AIB Division Three in the 2010-11 season.
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."BBC Report of AIB Junior Cup Final 2006". BBC News. 2006-04-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/irish/4892412.stm. Retrieved 2007-05-05. 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."Irish Rugby Website - Focus on Rainey". http://www.irishrugby.ie/6855_6341.php. Retrieved 2007-05-05.
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.
Director of Rugby : Oliver McShane (Ireland)
1XV Team Manager : Chris Campbell (Ireland)
1XV Coach : Richard Boyd (Ireland)
1XV Captain : Simon Hawe (Ireland)
IN:
OUT:
Mark O'Connor (Coventry RFC)
Dr A.A McConnell - Ireland
Harry Steele - Ireland
Stephen McKinstry - (Ireland Under 19s)
Stephen Beattie - United States Under 19s
Michael Glancy - (Ireland Under 21s)
Connor Lavery - (Ireland Under 19s)
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