Ards RFC
| Full name | Ards Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | IRFU Ulster | |
| Founded | 1928 | |
| Ground(s) | Hamilton Park, Newtownards | |
| President | Wesley Campbell | |
| Director of Rugby | Stephen Nutt | |
| Coach(es) | John West | |
| Captain(s) | Paul Cox | |
| ||
Ards RFC (Ards Rugby Football Club) is a rugby club based in Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland, playing in the Ulster Qualifying League. It is affiliated to the Ulster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union. The club currently fields three adult teams. Three youth teams also play at under-18, under-16 and under-14 levels. There is also a very successful mini rugby section in the club. The club works in close collaboration with local schools such as Regent House Grammar School, Movilla High School and Strangford College, to name but a few, who have provided much of the playing talent at the club to date.
Foundation[]
On 11 April 1928, Ards Rugby Football Club was formed at meeting in Newtownards Academy pavilion.[citation needed] 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 the 1961-62 season Ards won the Towns Cup for the first time captained by Bobby Haslett. In 1977-1978 season Ards achieved senior status when they gained promotion to the Ulster Senior League by defeating Ballymena 2nd XV 12-6 in an Ulster League Section 2 playoff at Shane Park, Instonians. After a downturn in fortunes in the 1990s Ards were relegated from senior rugby in season 2000-2001 to Qualifying League Section 1. However, in the 2002-2003 season Ards won the AIB All Ireland Qualifying Round Robin playoff and were promoted for a second time to the All-Ireland League. In 2015 Ards were relegated from the All-Ireland League and now play in Qualifying League Section 2.
Honours[]
Boston Floodlit Cup, Bangor: 1 1976-77
- Ulster Senior Cup: 2
- 1984-85, 1986-87
- Ulster Senior League: 1
- 1983-84
- Ulster Towns Cup: 2
- 1961-62, 2002-03
- Ulster Junior Cup: 1
- 1976-77
Notable former players[]
Internationals[]
British and Irish Lions
Ireland
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- Scott Robertson Dave Dillon
Source:[1]
References[]
- ^ "The Ards Internationals". www.ardsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
External links[]
- Rugby union clubs in Northern Ireland
- Irish rugby union teams
- Rugby clubs established in 1928
- Newtownards
- Rugby union clubs in County Down