Ards RFC

Ards RFC
Full name Ards Rugby Football Club
Union IRFU
Ulster
Founded 1928
Ground(s) Hamilton Park, Newtownards
Chairman Ian Wallace
President Mike Spence
Coach(es) Mervyn Tweed
Captain(s) David Graham

Ards RFC (Ards Rugby Football Club) is a rugby club based in Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland, playing in Division 2B of the All-Ireland League. It is affiliated to the Ulster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union. The club currently fields four adult teams and an under-19 team. Three youth teams also play at under-17, under-15 and under-13 levels. There is also a very successful Mini rugby section of the club. The first team will play in Ulster Bank All Ireland Division 2B, formerly AIB All-Ireland League Division 3 in the 2012-13 season, in addition to the Ulster Senior League and the Ulster Senior Cup.

Foundation

On 11 April 1928, Ards Rugby Football Club was formed at meeting in Newtownards Academy pavilion. The first game was played on 13 October 1928. Ards RFC played most of their early years in the Ulster junior leagues

Senior status

In 1977-1978 season Ards achieved Senior status when they were elected to the Ulster Senior League. After a downturn in fortunes in the 1990s they spent a second period in the Junior leagues. However, in 2002-2003 season Ards 1st XV won through the AIB All Ireland Qualifying round robin and were promoted for a second time, to AIB All Ireland League Division 3. They continue to play in AIL senior rugby finishing in ninth place in 2006-07.[1]

Honours

Notable past players

Sources

  1. ↑ "RTE Rugby Tables - AIB League Division 3 2006-07". RTÉ News. Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  2. ↑ "W H J Millar section at Ards RFC website". Retrieved 2007-07-18.
  3. ↑ "Nigel Carr section at Ards RFC website". Retrieved 2007-07-18.
  4. ↑ "Philip Matthews section at Ards RFC website". Retrieved 2007-07-18.
  5. ↑ "Kenny Hooks section at Ards RFC website". Retrieved 2007-07-18.

Cameron Fowlie

External links