Image courtesy of MU Barnhall RFC
It’s been a big year for MU Barnhall RFC. Their Energia All-Ireland League side celebrated a Division 2B title and an unbeaten season. The 50th Anniversary celebrations will live long in the memory too.
2019 also marked a big year for the Barnhall Buffaloes. They’re a tag rugby team of people with intellectual disabilities and this year had the chance to savour one of the time-honoured traditions of rugby – touring.
Italy was the destination. There was a game against Partenope of Naples. They were guests of honour at Artena’s Rugby Museum. Pope Francis welcomed them to the Vatican.
Touring and the role it plays in the bonds of friendship are an essential part of the rugby experience. Hopes are high that the Buffaloes can bring that experience into their next on-field adventure – the club’s fifth annual tag rugby blitz.
The 2019 blitz welcomes 20 teams to Parsonstown on Sunday September 8th, so the event is already a massive success before a tag is tagged.
Especially when you considered the origins. Barnhall Buffaloes started with just three local players – Paddy McNally, Ciaran Reilly and Bobby Mc Donald. Their coaches Anto Larkin and James Jones saw their potential and DSLP Eagles, Mullingar, Westmanstown Taggers and Terenure joined them for that very first blitz.
Those clubs who first participated in 2015 are back and joined this time by Greystones, Seapoint, Coolmine, Tullamore, Mallow, Galway Corinthians, Balbriggan, Dunbrody, Wicklow, Navan and Carlow. The event is building, bigger and better since 2015. The hearty welcome will be just the same.
To see where it all started for Barnhall’s blitz, check out the below video.
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