Skibbereen & Old Crescent Represent Munster

Munster youth teams from Skibbereen and Old Crescent rugby clubs recently paid a visit to the capital to take part in the Terenure 13s European Youth Rugby Festival which saw the Limerick side claim the Bowl event.

The tournament, now in its third year, has become a showcase for some of the finest rugby talent at the 13s age group, and not just from this country.

This year numbers were kept tight to 16 teams to facilitate a competitive and exciting battle of the best at this level, with all four Irish Provinces of Ireland being represented and teams travelling also from England, Scotland, France, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands.

The tournament is an excellent example of good planning and solid execution featuring a well-managed timetable across four full sized pitches, ample pitch stewards and attention to every aspect of safety were prerequisites of the 2 day tournament – even the weather was on our side!

A number of new international sides joined the fray this year which included Portugal, Bracknell Bulls and Kitura from Belgium in addition to the 2012 winners Canet Ste. Marie (Perpignan) and Winchester, which raised the excitement level before a ball was even kicked. As for the rugby on display, that was excellent too, with very strong showings from a number of those in attendance.

Day one featured four pools of four, which were topped by the Bracknell Bulls, Cane Ste Marie, Monaghan, and one of two Terenure sides in the competition, Terenure Hurricanes, all of whom topped their tables with maximum points.

These went forward to the Cup competition on Day two, joined by the best four runners up, Clontarf (Leinster), Skibbereen (Munster), Old Crescent (Munster) and Belenenses (Portugal). Day two also saw a Plate and Bowl competition, ensuring all teams got plenty of match time.

During the weekend, the 3 Cups (Amlin, Pro12 and 6 Nations) made an appearance, Dublin’s Lord Mayor (Oisín Quinn) enjoyed some of the matches and was on hand to present the winners with trophies and medals. There was also a Puc Fada exhibition challenge, a senior game featuring a Dutch visiting team playing a Terenure representative XV. Day two also saw a very special event featuring an exhibition by the Terenure Tigers – The Special Needs Rugby team for boys and girls.

The bowl final was an all-Ireland encounter between Monaghan and Limerick side Old Crescent – with Old Crescent eventually running out as worthy winners 19-12.

The eventual Cup final between Belenenses and the Terenure Hurricanes was a bruising affair, which went against the bookies odds, with Belenenses racing to a 17-0 lead by half time with some spectacular fast tries along the way … it appears champagne rugby is alive and well in TCRFC. Terenure Hurricanes fought back bravely scoring 2 converted tries but in the end ran out of time and lost 17-14. So the cup heads off to Portugal after a one-year rest at home.

Ayr from Scotland and Terenure’s second side the Terenure Cheetahs contested the plate final. This one did not go the host’s way, with Scottish side taking the spoils 27-0, a highly entertaining game played with Great Spirit from both sides.

Speaking of spirit, a very special award went to Bracknell RFC from England who took the Fair Play award, a special award for teams exhibiting the real nature of this tournament – camaraderie, fair play, cultural exchange and respect.

The organisers hosted an international challenge game between an Irish XV and an International XV (featuring the best of the players in the tournament – as chosen by their coaches). The International side outplaying their host country and running away convincing winners in the end.

In all the organisers of the Terenure 13s can be congratulated for another superb tournament, which left nothing to chance and which epitomized the awareness amongst players of the wonderful values that such a rugby tournament can bring.