Ards RFC
Encyclopedia
Ards RFC is a rugby
club based in Newtownards
, County Down
, Northern Ireland
. It is affiliated to the Ulster Branch
of the Irish Rugby Football Union
. The club currently fields five adult teams and an under-20 team. Three youth teams also play at under-18, under-16 and under-14 levels. The first team will play in AIB All-Ireland League Division 3
in the 2008-09 season, in addition to the Ulster Senior League
and the Ulster Senior Cup
.
. 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.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club based in Newtownards
Newtownards
Newtownards is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies at the most northern tip of Strangford Lough, 10 miles east of Belfast, on the Ards Peninsula. Newtownards is the largest town in the Borough of Ards. According to the 2001 Census, it has a population of 27,821 people in...
, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. It is affiliated to the Ulster Branch
Ulster Rugby
Ulster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Ulster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Belfast, representing the Irish province of Ulster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
of the Irish Rugby Football Union
Irish Rugby Football Union
The Irish Rugby Football Union is the body managing rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ground at Aviva Stadium, where Irish rugby union international matches are played...
. The club currently fields five adult teams and an under-20 team. Three youth teams also play at under-18, under-16 and under-14 levels. The first team will play in AIB All-Ireland League Division 3
AIB Division Three
The AIB Division Three is a rugby union league in Ireland.-Past winners:-Current Teams:*Ards*Banbridge*Barnhall*Connemara*Corinthians*County Carlow*Midleton*Naas*Nenagh Ormond*Old Wesley*Portadown*Queen's University*Rainey Old Boys...
in the 2008-09 season, in addition to the Ulster Senior League
Ulster Senior League
The Ulster Senior League is a rugby union competition for senior clubs in the Irish province of Ulster. It has traditionally being ranked second in importance to the Ulster Senior Cup. It has declined in importance due to the formation of the All-Ireland League and growth in importance of the...
and the Ulster Senior Cup
Ulster Senior Cup
The Ulster Senior Cup is a knock-out competition for senior rugby union teams in the province of Ulster.It is administered by Ulster Rugby.The most successful club is Queen's University with 22 wins...
.
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 leaguesSenior status
In 1977-1978 season Ards achieved Senior status when they were elected to the Ulster Senior LeagueUlster Senior League
The Ulster Senior League is a rugby union competition for senior clubs in the Irish province of Ulster. It has traditionally being ranked second in importance to the Ulster Senior Cup. It has declined in importance due to the formation of the All-Ireland League and growth in importance of the...
. 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.
Honours
- Ulster Senior CupUlster Senior CupThe Ulster Senior Cup is a knock-out competition for senior rugby union teams in the province of Ulster.It is administered by Ulster Rugby.The most successful club is Queen's University with 22 wins...
(2 wins)- 1984-85, 1986-87.
- Ulster Senior LeagueUlster Senior LeagueThe Ulster Senior League is a rugby union competition for senior clubs in the Irish province of Ulster. It has traditionally being ranked second in importance to the Ulster Senior Cup. It has declined in importance due to the formation of the All-Ireland League and growth in importance of the...
(1 win)- 1983-84.
- Ulster Junior CupUlster Junior CupThe Ulster Junior Cup is a rugby union competition for clubs in the Irish province of Ulster that are not considered strong enough to play in the Ulster Senior Cup. It also includes the second teams of the senior clubs...
(1 win)- 1976-77.
- Ulster Towns CupUlster Towns CupThe Ulster Towns Cup is a rugby union competition organized by the Ulster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union.It is confined to teams outside of Belfast...
(2 wins)- 1961-62, 2002-03.
- Ulster U18 CE Bowman Cup (1 win)
- 2007-08
Notable past players
- Paddy MaynePaddy MayneLieutenant Colonel Robert Blair "Paddy" Mayne DSO & Three Bars was a Northern Irish soldier, solicitor, Ireland rugby union international, amateur boxer, polar explorer and a founding member of the Special Air Service .-Early life and sporting achievements:Robert Blair "Paddy" Mayne was born in...
, IrelandIreland national rugby union teamThe Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
and British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish LionsThe British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales... - W.H.J. Millar, IrelandIreland national rugby union teamThe Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
- Nigel CarrNigel CarrNigel Carr was an Ireland rugby union international whose promising career was cut short due to injuries sustained in an IRA bomb explosion.-Early life:Nigel John Carr was born in Belfast on 27 July 1959...
, IrelandIreland national rugby union teamThe Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
and British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish LionsThe British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales... - Philip MatthewsPhilip MatthewsPhillip Michael Matthews is the current President of the National College of Ireland, in Dublin, since February 2009...
, IrelandIreland national rugby union teamThe Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union... - Kenny Hooks, IrelandIreland national rugby union teamThe Ireland national rugby union team represents the island of Ireland in rugby union. The team competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and every four years in the Rugby World Cup, where they reached the quarter-final stage in all but two competitions The Ireland national rugby union...
- Brian McLaughlin, Ireland Skills Coach