Club News: Munster Round-Up

GARRYOWEN TOAST SUCCESS WITH VICTORY DINNER: Garryowen toasted their quadruple-winning season with a victory dinner at Greenhills Hotel this week.

400 people, including the victorious senior and junior teams, attended the dinner with Neville Melbourne crowned as the club’s Young Player of the Year and Jamie Carroll winning the Junior Player of the Year award.

There was no individual winner of the Garryowen Senior Player of the Year award as it was decided that the entire first team squad should share the honour.

OLD CRESCENT LIFT BILL MARDELL TROPHY: The curtain came down on the season for Old Crescent last Friday with the first holding of the Bill Mardell Memorial Trophy match at Rosbrien between the Under-15 teams of Old Crescent and Newcastle West.

It was an excellent display of open attacking rugby by both sides and fully in keeping with the spirit which Bill himself held for the game. At the final whistle the home side took the spoils and they were presented with the trophy by Mrs. Lisa Mardell, Bill’s wife, on behalf of the Mardell family. Crescent’s end of season party for the youth teams also took place on Friday night and an enjoyable nights entertainment was had by all who attended.

Meanwhile, there there are still places available for the Old Crescent Summer Camp which will take place during the last week in June and the month of July at Rosbrien. Details of the camp can be obtained by contacting Mark Ring at tel: 0872796954, or Gerry Reynolds at tel: 0872905490.

YOUGHAL SUPPORT FOR EMER CASEY FUNDRAISER: Youghal RFC are getting behind a fundraising Run and Walk, in aid of the Emer Casey Foundation, which will take place in Youghal on Sunday, May 27 (2pm).

All details on this very worthwhile case can be found by visit www.emercaseyfoundation.com  Entry forms are available from the website or by contacting Youghal RFC Honorary Secretary Declan O’Flaherty at tel: 0851741470.

Please lend your support by running or walking on the day.

NENAGH CONFIRMED AS IRFU TAG RUGBY VENUE: The Irish Rugby Football Union is pleased to confirm that its new and exciting Tag Rugby Programme will be hosted at Nenagh Ormond RFC this summer.

The new IRFU Tag Rugby Programme is aimed at injecting further activity into the rugby clubs of Ireland during the traditionally quiet summer months and will allow them to participate and benefit from the increasing popularity of Tag Rugby.

Commenting on the announcement, Kevin Potts, the IRFU’s Domestic Game Manager said: “Tag Rugby is an important part of the recreational game during the summer months, in the new segment of Leisure Rugby that has developed over the last five years. TAG has introduced huge numbers to rugby, many of which may never have had any connection to the game.

“The new IRFU Tag Rugby Programme will have a similar format to other TAG leagues run in recent years with graded structures allowing each team to register at the level of competition/participation they feel suits them.

“The added incentive to each of the venue clubs is to make it as popular and successful as possible, allowing them to benefit financially, by bringing more people through their gates during the summer and hopefully increasing membership of the club.”

All teams looking to register for IRFU Tag Rugby at Nenagh this summer should visit the IRFU Tag website at www.irfutag.ie  For further information, please email the IRFU Leisure Rugby Department at tag@irfu.ie  or telephone Nenagh coach Noel O’Meara at tel: 0879783541.

OPEN DAY AT UCC RFC ACADEMY: An Open Day was held at the UCC Rugby Academy on Sunday in the Dance Studio (top floor) of the UCC Mardyke Sports Arena.

The Open Day included a talk on the Academy, Sports Scholarships and Sports Studies and gave players an opportunity to meet Academy coaches and staff. A tour of the facilities, followed by questions and answers, completed the presentation.

UCC RFC are currently inviting applications for the UCC Rugby Academy from students who expect to secure a UCC, CIT or Colaiste Stiofain Naofa place through the CAO for 2007/2008 as well as from current students.

Current 5th year students can apply for the 2008/2009 season at this point if they so wish. Check out the club’s website www.uccrugby.ie  where you can apply online under ‘Academy’. Note that the deadline for applications is Friday, June 1.

UCC director of rugby Gary Byrne has already visited a number of rugby schools in Cork and Limerick. If you wish to contact Gary, please telephone him at 021 4904766, or email: g.byrne@ucc.ie