Club Notes | September Youth Rugby Round-Up

1st October 2024 By The Editor

A view of the West Munster Emerging Schools Blitz in Tralee RFC

As the summer draws to a close and the nights begin to creep in, youth rugby returns to clubs across the province.

Here is a quick look back at what’s been going on in clubs around Munster this past month.

Dunmanway/Bantry Rebellettes returned to training at the end of August. With record numbers in attendance at U14/U16 and U18 level it was a fantastic start to the season for the West Cork side.

A view of Dunmanway/Bantry Bay Rebellettes training

Elsewhere in the Rebel County Kinsale Community School held their first ever girls training session in early September. The session was lead by current Munster Girls U18 squad member and pupil Erin Ridgway. The girls will now continue to train every Monday after school for the remainder of the year.

A view of Kinsale Community School’s first girls training session

This month also saw the yearly CCRO induction day take place.

CCRO or Club & Community Rugby Officers will be working with clubs and schools across the province over the next eight months, introducing rugby into the school through PE classes and helping to link the schools with their local clubs.

The role of a CCRO is very important as they are one of the first links between the schools and the clubs.

Check out the video below to see what they got up to for the day and to hear from Rugby Participation & Operations Manager Damon Urlich.

Video | CCRO Induction Day 2024

Emerging Schools blitzes officially got underway once again this month.

The first of the season was held in Tralee RFC for school students in the U14 age-group.

There were 85 players in attendance on the day from Abbeyfeale, St. Brendans, Killarney Community College and St. Patricks Castleisland.

Later on in the month Shannon RFC hosted a blitz of their own for 1st year students.

They had over 100 players taking part from Newport College, St Patricks Comprehensive, Thomond Community College, Rice College, St. Ailbes, CBS Nenagh, Villiers and Limerick Educate Together.

Another blitz took place in Kinsale RFC where they had 200 pupils in attendance.

See below for a view of the blitzes that took place across the province.

A view of the West Munster Emerging Schools Blitz in Tralee RFC

A view of the West Munster Emerging Schools Blitz in Tralee RFC

A view of the North Munster Emerging Schools Blitz in Shannon RFC

A view of the North Munster Emerging Schools Blitz in Shannon RFC

A view of Kinsale RFC’s schools blitz

A view of Kinsale RFC’s schools blitz

To wrap up the month Limerick Sports Partnership held their Sportsability Day in the University of Limerick.

Ray Gadsden our Participation Coordinator and Olan Daly our East Munster Rugby Participation Lead were there on the day to teach those attending about rugby and most importantly setting up some fun games to get everyone involved.

The Sportsability Day was held to encourage anyone of any ability to take up sport. There were a number of both adults and kids in attendance and the games that were being held were tailored to encourage inclusivity amongst those taking part.

Check out some of the best pictures from the day below.