Old Belvedere
Encyclopedia
Old Belvedere is a senior rugby
club in Dublin, Ireland
, based at Anglesea Road. Old Belvedere R.F.C. was founded in 1930. Originally an exclusive club for past pupils of Belvedere College
the club became 'open' to all players on 22 April 1976.
, as captain and hooker, led Ireland to unprecedented heights, when not only the Triple Crown
and Championship were won, but also for the first time in Irish rugby history, the Grand Slam
was won. Also in the Ireland pack was Des O’Brien who accumulated 20 Ireland caps in his career. In March 1949, again under Mullen’s captaincy the Triple Crown
was retained.
In 1955, Tony O'Reilly
, less than 12 months after playing in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup
Final against Blackrock College
, and then a member of Old Belvedere R.F.C., won his first international cap. A remarkable career had commenced which was to cover 16 seasons in international terms and embrace two Lions tours and 29 caps.
Following his outstanding 1979 performances for Ireland in Australia, Ollie Campbell
at outhalf orchestrated Ireland’s Triple Crown
win in 1982. Campbell also featured on Lions' selections, on tours of South Africa
and New Zealand
, and was Old Belvedere’s captain in the club’s jubilee year.
in seven successive seasons - a feat that remains unequalled - and was narrowly beaten in the final the following season.
in the 2nd row, (who in his career as a player with Blackrock College
, London Irish
, and Old Belvedere, accumulated 35 Ireland Caps). The Club enjoyed Division 1 status for three years thereafter, and now seeks to emulate that achievement by again securing Promotion from Division 2 to Division 1. In 2000, the Club’s youthful First Team Squad won the Leinster Championship, and in the season 2001/2002, club members Andy Dunne and Simon Keogh contributed to Leinster’s victory in the inaugural Celtic League
, and Henry Bourke was a member of the Connacht
Squad.
In the 2006/07 season Old Belvedere led by Scott "The Scott" Hutton took the Leinster Senior Cup and in a year of years went on to win Division 2 and promotion to division one. The following season captained by David Shanley they finished 8th in division one, to date their highest ever placing.
Currently Old Belvedere is captained by Richie Leyden and has secured promotion back to division 1A of the AIL for the season 2010/11.
Old Belvedere won the final of the 2011 All-Ireland League defeating Cork Constitution
20-17 on 1 May 2011. This made them the first Leinster side to win the title since 2000.
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 in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, based at Anglesea Road. Old Belvedere R.F.C. was founded in 1930. Originally an exclusive club for past pupils of Belvedere College
Belvedere College
Belvedere College SJ is a private secondary school for boys located on Great Denmark Street, Dublin, Ireland. It is also known as St. Francis Xavier's College....
the club became 'open' to all players on 22 April 1976.
Great players
In March 1948, Karl MullenKarl Mullen
Dr Karl Daniel Mullen was an Irish Rugby Union player and Consultant Gynaecologist who captained the Irish rugby team and captained the British Lions on their 1950 tour to Australia and New Zealand....
, as captain and hooker, led Ireland to unprecedented heights, when not only the Triple Crown
Triple Crown (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, the Triple Crown is an honour contested annually by the four national teams of the British Isles who compete within the larger Six Nations Championship: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. If any one team manages to win all their games against the other three they win the...
and Championship were won, but also for the first time in Irish rugby history, the Grand Slam
Grand Slam (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, a Grand Slam occurs when one team in the Six Nations Championship manages to beat all the others during one year's competition...
was won. Also in the Ireland pack was Des O’Brien who accumulated 20 Ireland caps in his career. In March 1949, again under Mullen’s captaincy the Triple Crown
Triple Crown (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, the Triple Crown is an honour contested annually by the four national teams of the British Isles who compete within the larger Six Nations Championship: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. If any one team manages to win all their games against the other three they win the...
was retained.
In 1955, Tony O'Reilly
Tony O'Reilly
Sir Anthony Joseph Francis O'Reilly is an Irish businessman and former international rugby union player. He is known for his involvement the Independent News & Media Group, which he led from 1973 to 2009, and as former CEO and Chairman of the H.J. Heinz Company. He was the leading shareholder of...
, less than 12 months after playing in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup
Leinster Schools Senior Cup
The Leinster Schools Senior Challenge Cup is the premier rugby union competition for secondary schools affiliated to the Leinster Branch of the IRFU. First held in 1887, the Cup celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2007....
Final against Blackrock College
Blackrock College
Blackrock College is a Catholic voluntary secondary school for boys aged 14–18, located in Williamstown, Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland. The College was founded by French missionaries in 1860, to act as a school and civil service training centre. Set in of grounds, it has an illustrious...
, and then a member of Old Belvedere R.F.C., won his first international cap. A remarkable career had commenced which was to cover 16 seasons in international terms and embrace two Lions tours and 29 caps.
Following his outstanding 1979 performances for Ireland in Australia, Ollie Campbell
Ollie Campbell
Seamus Oliver Campbell was an Irish rugby union player from 1976 to 1984. He was educated at Belvedere College, a famous Irish rugby school, where he was on the teams that won the Leinster Schools Senior Cup twice in a row in 1971 and 1972...
at outhalf orchestrated Ireland’s Triple Crown
Triple Crown (Rugby Union)
In rugby union, the Triple Crown is an honour contested annually by the four national teams of the British Isles who compete within the larger Six Nations Championship: England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. If any one team manages to win all their games against the other three they win the...
win in 1982. Campbell also featured on Lions' selections, on tours of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and was Old Belvedere’s captain in the club’s jubilee year.
Seven in a row
In the period 1940 to 1946 Old Belvedere R.F.C., won the Leinster Senior CupLeinster Club Senior Cup
The Leinster Senior Cup is a major rugby competition in Ireland.The Leinster Senior Cup has been competed for by the strongest clubs in the province of Leinster since 1882...
in seven successive seasons - a feat that remains unequalled - and was narrowly beaten in the final the following season.
More recently
In the season 1992/93 the First XV, captained by Mervyn Feely, coached by Donal Spring, and with former All Black scrum half Bruce Deans making a significant contribution, won the Leinster League. That win ensured the club a place in the All Ireland League Division 2 for the season 1993/1994. In season 1994/1995, the club progressed further, and ended top of A.I.L. Division 2, thus earning promotion to Division 1 of the All Ireland League. That team was again coached by Donal Spring, but now had Gareth Dinneen as captain, and featured Neil FrancisNeil Francis (rugby union)
Neil Francis is a retired Irish rugby union lock forward and number eight. He played for Blackrock College, London Irish, Old Belvedere, Leinster and won 36 caps between 1987 and 1996 for Ireland.-References:...
in the 2nd row, (who in his career as a player with Blackrock College
Blackrock College RFC
Blackrock College Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club located in Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 by former pupils of Blackrock College...
, London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
, and Old Belvedere, accumulated 35 Ireland Caps). The Club enjoyed Division 1 status for three years thereafter, and now seeks to emulate that achievement by again securing Promotion from Division 2 to Division 1. In 2000, the Club’s youthful First Team Squad won the Leinster Championship, and in the season 2001/2002, club members Andy Dunne and Simon Keogh contributed to Leinster’s victory in the inaugural Celtic League
Celtic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
, and Henry Bourke was a member of the Connacht
Connacht Rugby
Connacht Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Connacht that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 comprising teams from the Celtic nations plus Italy. Normally, it also competes in the second-tier pan-European club competition, the European Challenge Cup...
Squad.
In the 2006/07 season Old Belvedere led by Scott "The Scott" Hutton took the Leinster Senior Cup and in a year of years went on to win Division 2 and promotion to division one. The following season captained by David Shanley they finished 8th in division one, to date their highest ever placing.
Currently Old Belvedere is captained by Richie Leyden and has secured promotion back to division 1A of the AIL for the season 2010/11.
Old Belvedere won the final of the 2011 All-Ireland League defeating Cork Constitution
Cork Constitution
Cork Constitution is a club, based in Cork. It was founded by staff of the Cork Constitution. Since the paper did not publish on Sundays, the staff were looking for activities to pursue on Saturday afternoons. In the summer, cricket was played, while in the winter, rugby was the designated...
20-17 on 1 May 2011. This made them the first Leinster side to win the title since 2000.
2009/10 Squad
- Full-backs: Eddie Devitt, Kieran Hurrell
- Wings: Simon KeoghSimon KeoghSimon Keogh is a rugby union player who played on the wing for Leinster Rugby. He has won the Heineken Cup with Leinster. He has been on the Ireland A's squad as well as the Colorado 2009 Churchill Cup squad. He used to play for Harlequins where he won the Challenge Cup where he scored the winning...
, Marcus McAlister, Dave Mongan - Centres: Kevin Barden, Conal Keane, John Kennedy, Fergus McFaddenFergus McFaddenFergus McFadden from Kilkenny is an Irish professional rugby union player. He is currently contracted to Leinster and the Irish rugby union. He plays club rugby for his university club UCD RFC.-Early career:...
- Out-halves: Andy Dunne (captain)
- Scrum-halves: Eddie Hamilton, Chris KeaneChris KeaneChris Keane is an Irish rugby union player. He currently plays with Leinster and is registred to Old Belvedere RFC. Keane began his provincial career with Connacht where he received 90 caps , the first coming against Cardiff Blues in a 6–3 victory...
, Brian O'Neill - Front-rows: Nermin Lovic, Stewart Maguire, Vinnie Soden, Dan Wyeth
- Hookers: Mark Cooney, Tom Sexton
- Second-rows: Erik Jackman, Dean Moore, Paul Spivey, Alan Trenier
- Wing-forwards: Jason Risden, Jonathan Slattery, D Synnott
- Number 8s: Leo Auva'a, Richie Leyden