History
Virginia Rugby Football Club was originally founded in 1977 as a team of golfers, who had aspirations of being able to play rugby, and challenge other Golf Clubs. The following year Virginia RFC was officially entered in league competition in the Ulster Branch of the I.R.F.U. Homeless at the beginning the team had to use local G.F.C clubs pitches to play their games, clubs such as Ramor United and Munterconnaught gave our club a welcomed help in hand.
The team even played on showground kindly provided by the Agricultural Show Committee, since that day few donkeys remain in the teams! It was only in 1980 that the actual ground's were purchased beside Deepark forest.
All through the 80's the club enjoyed great success gaining 6 promotions from Minor league 6 up to Intermediate League 5. Virginia also had great success in the McCambley Cup, reaching regularly the semi-final or final stage, and winning the trophy on 1982. The late 1980's and early 1990's was a quiet period, the club decided to play their league in North Leinster but remained in Ulster for cup competition. 1993 saw the return to full time Ulster competition.
Virginia RFC gained promotion for 4 years in a row, winning their league each time and still reaching cups semi finals or finals in the mean time, teams were led by Cyril Frazer, Michael McCormack and Neville Hall.
Not much happened in the late 1990's, the Senior team reached the McCambley cup final in 1997 with Dessie Higgins as captain. The club had to wait until the season 2000-2001 for more silverware. In that year Virginia RFC won the Minor League under the captaincy of Fergal Brady.
2000 was also the birth of Virginia RFC under age section, the section was launched by Malachy McNally and since it grew from strength to strength. Results weren't long to show, when in 2004 young Breifne Reillywas selected for Ulster under 18 panel and captain the team the following year. He was followed in the Ulster Under 18 panel by prop forward Fergal Lynch during the season 2006-2007.
Five years after the creation of the Youth section the Ladies team started coached by Jason Fowley. The team entered the Under 14 league in 2006 and finished second for their first year of competitive rugby. In 2007 they played in the Under 18 League and saw their effort rewarded by 4 selections for Ulster Under 18 panel, Alannah Fowley, Cashia Wlodarski, Sarah Harte and Sanuagh Keoghan.
Nowadays the under age section is thriving, the Minis section gather over 100 children on a weekly basis under the guidance of their army of coaches. The Youth section managed by Malachy McNally is also flourishing with teams playing competitions at all level from under 14 to under 18
The highlight of the 2008 season was Fergal Lynch selection for Ireland Under 18 squad, the first ever Virginia player to represent his country. His selection brought a great sense of joy and pride among club members.
All the hard work in the youth sections is starting to pay with the various selections and the increasing number of young players now pushing for a spot in the senior teams.
|
Here are our HonorsLEAGUES & CUPS:
1980: Winner Minor League 5 ULSTER CAPS:
U 18: 2003-04:Breifne O'Reilly U18 ladies;
2007-08: Alannah Fowley, Cashia Wlodarski, Sarah Harte, Sanuagh Keoghan IRELAND CAPS:
UNDER 18; 2007-08: Fergal Lynch
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)