Latest News
August 18th: Bective trial matches
rained out this weekend - The squad match v Bective scheduled for
last Saturday was, unsurprisingly, cancelled due to the ridiculous
weather we had. Webmaster drove down to Carlow on Saturday morning and
it really was crazy stuff. A good decision to cancel, at best we could
have damaged the sodden pitches, at worst someone could have drowned out
on the wing or at the bottom of a ruck. 1XV and 2XV have a similar squad
session/ trial match v Barnhall next Saturday Aug 23rd 3pm.
Ladies league fixtures:
The Ladies league fixtures for the upcoming season have been
announced. The Ladies team will be competing in AIL2 East this season
and are grouped with Old Belvedere, St Mary's, Malahide and Trinity
(some old friends in there for sure). Fixtures are as follows:
October 5 Home v St Mary's
October 12 Home v Trinity
November 2 Away v Malahide
November 23 Away v Old Belvedere
November 30 Away v St Mary's
December 14 Away v Trinity
January 18 Home v Malahide
March 29 Home v old Belvedere
April 19 League Playoff Semi Finals
April 25 League playoff Finals
1st thing I noticed was the long periods of inactivity especially in
January and February, but these dates will be filled with cup
competition matches - there are 2 cups this season. All AIL 2 Ladies
teams will not be subject to the full rigour of the new rule changes but
to the U19 variants - which I don't have to hand but will publish as
soon as I get them - or someone can send me or point me in the right
direction?
All confirmed fixtures for the adult and U20 teams can be found on the
Fixtures Webpage -
Click Here to access.
| The Daily Blaa: Bad news
for Naas RFC - bad news indeed for Naas this Sept 7th
because as a result of club captain Jonny Downey's beloved Tipp
coming unstuck against Waterford yesterday, Jonny is now free to
play Sept 7th v Naas in the Hosie Cup - he otherwise would have
been heading to Croker to watch Kilkenny win the 3 in a row.
Anyone mentioning Tipp's unexpected loss to Jonny in training
this week is likely to be playing 3XV all season. Of course the
Ladies have nothing to lose....
What's a Blaa? Click Here for the answer. |
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August 14th: Rugby back in Rosetown from this weekend. Summer (if that's what you'd call it this year) has drawn to an end which can only mean 2 things.
1. The Late, Late show will be back shortly and
2. Rugby matches return to Rosetown.
This Saturday August 16th, 3pm gives us a
first look at the men's teams when the 1XV and 2XV combined squads play
a trial match against Bective in Rosetown. The match will be interesting
as much as to view some of the new charges in NRFC and to see how the
players start to cope with the new law changes that have come into
force. Don't forget clubhouse and bar will be open to show the South
Africa v New Zealand tri-nations match live at 2pm.
On Thursday August 21st 7.15 pm the Newbridge RFC U20s play the Leinster U18s in a friendly. Early days I know but the 20s and their
management team have been working hard behind the scenes so some early
season support from them will be appreciated.
Riddle me this, riddle me that....
A while back, I ask the question: What's the link between the
following statements?
Turbocharged Wellington Buyer
Redoubtable Wriggly Truncheon
Battleground Burrowing Lychee
Unregulated Worthy Clobbering
Answer: Juggle around the letters in all 4 cases and you will also
spell 'Newbridge RFC Lotto Relaunch'.
NRFC Lotto Relaunch A major effort is being made by the lotto team
to relaunch the NRFC lotto with a view to less emphasis on selling
weekly tickets and more focus on increasing the number of anchor
tennants who pay monthly via standing order. Those of us who are
currently anchor tennants need not worry or do anything - your numbers
are safe and will continue to be in the draw every week. Those of you
who are not are invited to take up an anchor tenant spot either by
downloading, printing and filling out the number pick and standing order
set up form (click
here for a copy) and posting back to the lotto administrator, or by
handing in the completed form to either Fiona Nugent or Noel Heavey on
match days.
Copies of this form will also be available at the clubhouse from next
weekend. For more details,
click here
to go to the lotto page.
July 30th - What a result. Newbridge RFC Scoops Major Capital Grant worth €270,000.
Newbridge Rugby Club is rapidly becoming one of the most talked about clubs in Irish Rugby circles. The Club is experiencing unprecedented success having won promotion to Leinster League Division 1 in 2008. This September Newbridge will compete with the elite of Leinster Junior Clubs. In addition to fielding 3 senior men’s teams, a highly competitive 20’s side and a full compliment of youths and minis teams, Newbridge have also developed a Ladies team who have been integral in the revitalisation of the Club.
The club have matched success on the field with a hard working ethos off the pitch. Having found themselves in the position of having more teams than the current facility can cope with Newbridge RFC has relied on the unsustainable generosity of the Defence Forces on the Curragh and Newbridge College. So, in 2006, the club started on the long road to a major redevelopment project. The first step in this was fundraising and the club successfully raised in excess of €200,000 through a Friends of Newbridge RFC programme.
The icing on the cake for 2008 arrived on the 29 July when Newbridge scooped €270,000 in the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism Sports Capital Grants. This represents the biggest award to any rugby club in the country with the Newbridge club also topping the grant awards in County Kildare.
Club Chairman Niall Browne was understandably delighted with the latest news. “We have a vision of what our club can achieve. We have put a serious effort into redevelopment and this grant award is justice for the blood, sweat, and tears of our volunteers who never cease to amaze me with their efforts. The Sports Capital Grant is a vital piece of the jigsaw in our development plans and we are over the moon.
We are developing a momentum on and off the pitch that makes our club a very exciting place to be.”
Mr Browne singled out the efforts of the clubs development committee but also pointed out that without passion on the pitch there wouldn’t be much point in having it off the pitch. “Anyone involved in sports clubs will know the effort and passion involved. I am absolutely delighted for all our members and our community. We were previously unsuccessful with an application in 2006 but learned from that experience and kept at it. We are in a position now to further realise our ambitions. This whole process aims to give our young men and women facilities reflective of their commitment and performance.”
Club President, Peter Flanagan was celebrating the first major success in his tenure. “I would like to issue an invitation to anyone in our community. We are doing something special here and I would appeal to the people in Newbridge, Kilcullen and the Curragh to come out and have a look. We have a unique spirit in Newbridge RFC that is the most important cornerstone in any development. Bricks and Mortar can’t give you that, but it is vital we reward our membership with an effort off the pitch as well as on it.”
Info:
The Department of Arts Sport and Tourism Sports Capital Awards were announced on the 29 July 2008. Newbridge RFC received a grant of €270,000 to develop 3 playing pitches and floodlights. The grant is the highest to any club in Kildare and any rugby club in the country. Details of all grants are available on:
http://193.178.1.186/grants_funding/2008_sportgrants.html.
July 29th Wanted -
budding artists for major painting job: As you know, Sat 9th August
is Club clean up day, but we are also looking for painters before then.
This Sat 2nd Aug we need helpers to assist with the painting of the
changing rooms, toilets and that general area. Some of you may not be
asked to do a whole lot for our great little club throughout a season
but over the next 2 weekends is your chance to put in a little effort.
Colin O'Brien will be out in Rosetown this Saturday from 8am and any
help he can get would be greatly appreciated, the more people helping
the quicker we are out, hoping to be gone by lunch time. So if you can
spare some time - even an hour or 2 please try to.
A riddle to be solved...
What's the link between the following statements?
Turbocharged Wellington Buyer
Redoubtable Wriggly Truncheon
Battleground Burrowing Lychee
Unregulated Worthy Clobbering
Answer to be revealed
shortly....
NRFC Shorts n' Shades Beach Party and BBQ - next Sunday August 3rd.
Whitewater Cafe Club. 8 'til late. Tickets only €10. Bring a plain shirt
to Colin's paint-in on Saturday in Rosetown and leave with a unique
handmade beach party shirt.
U20s preseason fixtures.
Thurs 21st August Home v Leinster Youths K.O. TBC
Sat 6th Sept Away v Barnhall K.O. TBC
Sat 13th Away v Buccaneers K.O. TBC
Sat 20th U 20's Tournament Home
Sat 27th Home v Pirates K.O. TBC
Sun Oct 5th Away v Greystones K.O. TBC
U20s league fixtures TBC shortly.
Gareth's NZ Diary Updates: July 5th We beat Waka today 16 - 10. They
were a big bunch of Maori's who just like to fight. Fine by me. They had
three yellow cards and should have had more. We finished the league top
of the table, but now we split into top 8 and bottom 8 so it is a
knockout comp from now on.
July 21 - We lost at the weekend to Te Puke, who we previously beat
17-6, which means we cannot qualify out of our pool and into the semi's.
I got on for twenty minutes at hooker because the captain injured his
ankle and it looks like I may get a full match this weekend. It will be
our last of the season sadly. I have learnt a lot here and cannot wait
to get stuck back in when I get home!
July 10th: Club cleanup day Saturday August 9th: Club and pitches cleanup day Saturday August 9th from 10am. Lots to do to get ready for the upcoming season. Please confirm your attendance to JD or any of the Exec ASAP. Remember, it's our club - let's not leave it to the same small faithful to do the clean up duties.
NRFC Men's pre-season fixture. 1XV/ 2XV squad trial match v Bective in Rosetown Sat August 16th. More details re k.o time as they come to hand, but bar will also be open and South Africa v All Blacks live on the large screen from 2pm. Pitches, dressing rooms and clubhouse need to be prep'd beforehand, so even more important we get a good size crew out the weekend before for the cleanup.
Congratulations Dan Jennings - congrats to our U20 prop Dan Jennings and last year's Newbridge College SCT captain, who has made the Leinster U19's training squad for this season.
2008/09 NRFC Membership Dues: Membership and International Ticket Application Form for the upcoming season now posted. Click Here for an application form. Note: Only paid up members are entitled to apply for tickets. Fill out and return to any of the people listed in the form ALONG with the correct monies due.
This season all international ticket applications must also be accompanied by the money upfront. Why? Newbridge RFC (and all RFCs) have to pay the IRFU upfront for all tickets. As we're not a bank, we're just requesting you do the same. As per previous seasons, each home 6 Nations ticket is twinned with an Autumn home international match, so you have to buy the 2 ticket package. Once again, this is what's coming down from the IRFU, and Newbridge RFC is just passing the request onto our members. Full details of match packages, prices and membership dues in the application form. Remember - only paid up members are entitled to apply for tickets.
July 8th: Hosie and Lalor Cup Fixtures announced. Newbridge 1XV and 2XV teams' competitive seasons get underway in Rosetown Sunday August 31 when they host Portarlington in the Hosie and Lalor Cups. This is followed by Naas (A) Sept 7 and Clane (H) Sept 14. First league game is in Rosetown v Boyne Sept 28. Click here to see the full list of the 1XV and 2XV upcoming fixtures. Ladies, 3XV and U20s will be added here as details are confirmed. An underage and mini's fixtures page will also be added this season.
| Winner Alright (part II): Pic on right shows Raheens Monster Raffle winners Melissa Hegarty picking up her car at Joe Mallons Motors last weekend. Also in pictures (L to R): John Dardis Jnr.(Future NRFC Star), John Dardis (NRFC Hon Sec), Noel Heavey (NRFC Raffle Co-ordinator), Anthony Mallon (Mallon Motors),Melissa Hegarty (Winner), Shane McCorley (Ticket Seller) & Daithi Malone (Raheens GAA). |
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Photo of The Month Correction: Sincere apologies go to Ronan Greene. I appear to have ruffled Greener's feathers somewhat (thereby leading to some mild tissue damage, which deteriorated into acute sciatica and ultimately caused a torn hamstring/ groin/ calf) with the claim under this month's photo of the month on the homepage that not too many Leinstermen have laid their mits on the Heineken Cup. Greener was onto me within minutes disputing the claim and backing it up with the evidence across the way. Indeed if anyone has any pics of themselves with well known rugby cups or personalities and such like, send them into me and I'll include them in our Trophy Cabinet - of which Ollie and Greener are now the inaugral members. Trophy Cabinet link also on the left hand side. Email submissions to trophy cabinet to webmaster@newbridgerugby.com indicating date and venue and who's in the pic. |
