UCD American Football

Last updated
University College Dublin
University College Dublin logo.svg
Established2009 [1]
Based in Dublin, Ireland
Home stadiumUCD Sports Grounds, Belfield
League AFI Premier Division
ColorsNavy blue, sky blue, and white
Nickname(s)The Students [2]
League titles(2) 2022, 2024
Website ucd.ie

University College Dublin American Football Club is the official American football team of University College Dublin (UCD), based in Dublin, Ireland. The club competes in both kitted and flag football under the governance of American Football Ireland (AFI). [3] UCD has become one of the leading American football programs in the country, [4] [5] [6] [7] qualifying for four consecutive Shamrock Bowls between 2022 and 2025 and winning in 2022 and 2024. [8] [9] [10]

Contents

History

The team was established in 2009 [1] and originally played in the IAFA DV8 Development League beginning in 2009 [11] as well as the intervarsity league competing for the IAFL College Bowl beginning in 2010. [12] UCD won the second-tier IAFL-1 Bowl in 2014 [13] and IAFL College Bowl titles in 2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019. [12] After the return of AFI play after two cancelled seasons in 2020-2021, UCD qualified for four consecutive Shamrock Bowl finals from 2022 to 2025. They captured their first Shamrock Bowl title in 2022 by defeating the Dublin Rebels 52–24. [8] After finishing as Shamrock Bowl finalists in 2023 behind the Rebels, [14] [15] they followed up with a second Shamrock Bowl victory in 2024, winning 36–14 against the same opponent. [16] [6] In 2025 they again qualified for the Shamrock Bowl final, but were defeated by the Belfast Trojans, 27-0. [17]

Competitions

UCD competes in the AFI Premier Division. [18] The team fields squads for both kitted football and non-contact flag football. [3]

UCD American Football team celebrating their second Shamrock Bowl victory on 28 July 2024 UCD celebrating Shamrock Bowl victory.jpg
UCD American Football team celebrating their second Shamrock Bowl victory on 28 July 2024

Honours

References

  1. 1 2 "AFI American Football Ireland and Predecessors Teams Timeline 1942–2022". Eirball.ie. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  2. ↑ AFI Championship Weekend Preview – Gaelic Gridiron (20 July 2024)
  3. 1 2 "American Football – UCD Sport". University College Dublin. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  4. ↑ English, Jimmy (2025-02-19). "2025 AFI Season Preview". Gaelic Gridiron. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  5. ↑ Coyle, Dylan (2024-02-28). "Donegal Derry Vipers and American Football Ireland returns!". Derry Journal. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  6. 1 2 "Fermanagh American Football star leads UCD to victory". Fermanagh Herald. 2024-08-09. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  7. ↑ English, Jimmy (2024-03-06). "Ireland: UCD hold on to down the Rebels – Week One Review". American Football International. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  8. 1 2 3 English, Jimmy (2022-08-09). "Irish American Football 2022 Premier Division Final Power Rankings". Gaelic Gridiron. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  9. 1 2 English, Jimmy (2024-07-29). "Ireland: University College Dublin capture Shamrock Bowl XXXVI with overwhelming win over Dublin Rebels". American Football International. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  10. ↑ English, Jimmy (2025-07-14). "AFI Championship Preview 2025". Gaelic Gridiron. Retrieved 2025-07-19.
  11. ↑ "Irish American Football League DV8 Development League 2008–2012". Eirball.ie. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  12. 1 2 3 "American Football Ireland Intervarsity Championship 2006–Present". Eirball.ie. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  13. 1 2 "UCD wins IAFL1 Championship; Tyrone wins IAFL2 Championship". American Football Ireland. 2014-08-17. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  14. 1 2 Brennan, Shane (2023-07-17). "Ty Henry leads Dublin Rebels to Shamrock Bowl victory in 'the best game I have seen in Europe'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  15. 1 2 English, Jimmy (2024-02-16). "American Football Ireland 2024 Season Preview". Gaelic Gridiron. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  16. ↑ "UCD becomes two-time American football champions with Shamrock Bowl XXXVII victory". UCD News. 30 July 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  17. ↑ "The 2025 champions have been decided". American Football Ireland. 19 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  18. ↑ Brennan, Shane (2023-05-29). "American football round-up: Rebels stay unbeaten with one-point win over UCD". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2025-05-25.
  19. ↑ "The 2025 champions have been decided". American Football Ireland. 19 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
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