Athboy RFC

Athboy

Full name	Athboy Rugby Football Club
Union	IRFU Leinster
Founded	1978
Ground(s)	Townspark, Athboy
Team kit
Official website
www.facebook.com/athboyrugby/

Athboy RFC is an Irish rugby team based in Athboy, County Meath, playing in Division 3 of the Leinster League. The club colours are red, purple and black.

History

Athboy Rugby Football Club was founded in 1978. The initial season of 1978–79 constituted a series of friendlies but in the summer of 1979 the club was officially affiliated to the Leinster Branch of the IRFU.^{[ citation needed ]}

Since its establishment, the club has played at both Junior 3 and 4 level. In the 1995–96 season, when the club failed to field a team for the first time since 1978, senior rugby activity was suspended. In the 1999–2000 season, sufficient numbers of players and interest resulted in a re-launch at J3 level and the addition of a women's team, later in that season.^{[ citation needed ]}

In its history, Athboy has won 5 trophies. These have included 4 in the Magee Cup (North-East J3 League in 1987, 1988, 1990 and 2010) and one win in the Michael Dunne Cup (Provincial J4 in 1982). Playing as a Junior 4 side, the club had to wait 3 seasons before winning their first trophy. It took a replay to see off Kilkenny in the Dunne Cup Final, but the 10–6 victory was a "great boost" for the fledgling club.^{[ citation needed ]}

With growing success in area and provincial rugby, the club sought and was granted by the Leinster Branch a "move up" to Junior 3 in 1982. A second XV was started and the club then had up to 40 players and several officials.^{[ citation needed ]} The decision subsequently was taken to locate to a new home and this was achieved when land was acquired on the edge of Athboy town. The 2 teams began playing there in 1986 and over £2000 was spent installing floodlights for training.^{[ citation needed ]}

The club's first XV currently play in Division 2b of the Leinster League.^{[ when? ]}

In the summer of 1999, a meeting was held with the aim of fielding again at senior level. This was achieved with a mixture of players who had played both at senior and underage level for the club plus several who had moved into the area and a few new recruits.^{[ citation needed ]} As with the first team, the new team spent its first year playing friendlies and in the 2000–01 season played in the Provincial Thirds League, the Anderson Cup and the Dunne Cup. The Women's team was also started in 1999–00 season playing a number of friendlies and played in the National Conference in 2000–01.^{[ citation needed ]} In the 2001–2002 season, the women's XV shared the All Ireland League Division 3 title with Trinity College and the following year lost out in an all-Meath final against Navan.^{[ citation needed ]}

Several Athboy players have gone on to represent Leinster at several levels, including underage, Women's U19, Women's Leinster B and the Senior Leinster Women's Team. This included former player Richie Feeney (who later played with UL Bohs), who made his Ireland U19 debut against England in 2004.^{[ citation needed ]}

Women's team

The Women's team was also started in 1999–00 season playing a number of friendlies and played in the National Conference in 2000–01. In the 2001–02 season the women's XV shared the All Ireland League Division 3 title with Trinity College coached by Raymond Finegan. The following year they lost out in an all Meath All Ireland final against Navan

The membership of the club reflects a broad level of interest in rugby throughout the area with players from Athboy, Trim and other parts of South Meath.

Roll of honour

• Michael Dunne Cup: 1982.
• Magee Cup: 1987, 1988, 1990, 2010, 2011.
• Women's All Ireland League Division 3: 2002.
• Leinster U18's Division 1: 2004^{[ citation needed ]}

External links

• Facebook page