Ards RFC (Ards Rugby Football Club) is a
rugby
Rugby may refer to:
Sport
* Rugby football in many forms:
** Rugby league: 13 players per side
*** Masters Rugby League
*** Mod league
*** Rugby league nines
*** Rugby league sevens
*** Touch (sport)
*** Wheelchair rugby league
** Rugby union: 1 ...
club based in
Newtownards,
County Down,
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...
, playing in the Ulster Rugby Championship Division 2. It is affiliated to the
Ulster Branch of the
Irish Rugby Football Union. The club currently fields three adult teams and a women's team, North Down Women, who are a combination of players from Ards, Bangor and Donaghadee. Three youth teams also play at under-18, under-16 and under-14 levels. There is also a rapidly developing girls' junior section and a very successful mini rugby section in the club. The club works in close collaboration with local schools such as Regent House Grammar School, Movilla High School and Strangford College who provide much of the playing talent at the club.
Foundation
On 11 April 1928, Ards Rugby Football Club was formed at a meeting in Newtownards Academy pavilion. The first competitive game was played on 13 October 1928. Ards RFC played most of their early years in the Ulster Junior Leagues.
Senior Status
In the 1961-62 season Ards won the Towns Cup for the first time captained by Bobby Haslett. In 1977-1978 season Ards achieved senior status when they gained promotion to the
Ulster Senior League by defeating Ballymena 2nd XV 12-6 in an Ulster League Section 2 playoff at Shane Park, Instonians. After a downturn in fortunes in the 1990s Ards were relegated from senior rugby in season 2000-2001 to Qualifying League Section 1. However, in the 2002-2003 season Ards won the AIB All Ireland Qualifying Round Robin playoff and were promoted for a second time to the
All-Ireland League. In 2015 Ards were relegated from the All-Ireland League and now play in the Ulster Rugby Championship Division 2.
Honours
Boston Floodlit Cup, Bangor: 1
1976-77
*
Ulster Senior Cup
The Ulster Senior Cup is a knock-out competition for senior rugby union teams in the province of Ulster. It is administered by Ulster Rugby.
The most successful club is Queen's University with 23 wins. The current holders are City of Armagh RF ...
: 2
** 1984-85, 1986–87
*
Ulster Senior League: 1
** 1983-84
*
Ulster Towns Cup
The Ulster Towns Cup is a rugby union competition organized by the Ulster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union.
It is confined to teams outside of Belfast. Since the resumption of play after World War II, where a town is represented by a seni ...
: 2
** 1961-62, 2002–03
*
Ulster Junior Cup
The Ulster Junior Cup is a rugby union competition for clubs in the Irish province of Ulster that are not considered strong enough to play in the Ulster Senior Cup. It also includes the second teams of the senior clubs. The perpetual trophy that ...
: 1
** 1976-77
Notable Former Players
Internationals
;
British and Irish Lions
The British & Irish Lions is a rugby union team selected from players eligible for the national teams of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The Lions are a test side and most often select players who have already played for their national ...
;
;
*
Scott Robertson Dave Dillon
https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/ards/a/history-8456.html?page=5
External Links
Ards RFC website
{{Ulster Rugby Links
Rugby union clubs in Northern Ireland
Irish rugby union teams
Rugby clubs established in 1928
Newtownards
Rugby union clubs in County Down