Return to Rugby - South Side Clubs

karlitob

Hi all,

My return to rugby - after nearly 12 years of excuse-related retirement - is imminent this summer. It should culminate in the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand where, no doubt, there will be a famous series victory to echo that of the 1971 team - so watch this space.

But I need a club (I live in South Side Dublin) and wondered if anyone had any suggestions. I'm from Limerick so don't really know the clubs up here - as in I know the main ones but not sure what they're like as a club, if that makes sense. I'm looking for a club that are competitive, with good coaching, but also some craic and a sense of comraderie in the club. Love to hear peoples experiences with their clubs - and maybe when pre-season training starts.

Thanks everyone.

matt-dublin

karlitob wrote: »

Hi all,

My return to rugby - after nearly 12 years of excuse-related retirement - is imminent this summer. It should culminate in the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand where, no doubt, there will be a famous series victory to echo that of the 1971 team - so watch this space.

But I need a club (I live in South Side Dublin) and wondered if anyone had any suggestions. I'm from Limerick so don't really know the clubs up here - as in I know the main ones but not sure what they're like as a club, if that makes sense. I'm looking for a club that are competitive, with good coaching, but also some craic and a sense of comraderie in the club. Love to hear peoples experiences with their clubs - and maybe when pre-season training starts.

Thanks everyone.

I'd say seapoint or monkstown sounds like what you're looking for, or maybe Greystones if you've a car

Buer

How about what area you're living in and people can recommend based on that?

karlitob

Buer wrote: »

How about what area you're living in and people can recommend based on that?

I'm near Stillorgan/Blackrock but work in city so happy to travel anywhere from Bird Ave (Stillorgan RFC, I think) to RDS area to Greystones to Seapoint.

Hagz

Old Wesley is a good club. Some coaches who would be involved in the Leinster side of things (sub academy coaching etc) coach up in Wesley. They train up near Stepaside, i think pre-season starts around late August.

ormond lad

Bective, other end of Donnybrook to Wesley good club. train up in Glenamuck which is close to Wesley and Lansdownes ground up in Stepaside
Plenty from up the country living in Dublin have played with Rangers over the years
Check club website for coaching, training info etc

Heroditas

Stillorgan seem to be the perfect fit. They used to have a load of Munster lads with them, are a good junior club and are very welcoming.
Always enjoyed playing against them.
A very nice club.

Buer

Heroditas wrote: »

Stillorgan seem to be the perfect fit. They used to have a load of Munster lads with them, are a good junior club and are very welcoming.
Always enjoyed playing against them.
A very nice club.

Agreed. The answer is on your doorstep, karlitob. They're a good club and have an excellent reputation for welcoming and integrating new members.

desertcircus

Heroditas wrote: »

Stillorgan seem to be the perfect fit. They used to have a load of Munster lads with them, are a good junior club and are very welcoming.
Always enjoyed playing against them.
A very nice club.

Seconded. I moved clubs to Stillorgan last season and was made to feel completely at home. Great atmosphere and a very tight-knit club.

karlitob

desertcircus wrote: »

Seconded. I moved clubs to Stillorgan last season and was made to feel completely at home. Great atmosphere and a very tight-knit club.

Thanks for all your help gents - appreciate the comments.

ColmH81

karlitob wrote: »

Hi all,

My return to rugby - after nearly 12 years of excuse-related retirement - is imminent this summer. It should culminate in the 2017 Lions tour to New Zealand where, no doubt, there will be a famous series victory to echo that of the 1971 team - so watch this space.

But I need a club (I live in South Side Dublin) and wondered if anyone had any suggestions. I'm from Limerick so don't really know the clubs up here - as in I know the main ones but not sure what they're like as a club, if that makes sense. I'm looking for a club that are competitive, with good coaching, but also some craic and a sense of comraderie in the club. Love to hear peoples experiences with their clubs - and maybe when pre-season training starts.

Thanks everyone.

I'd give Seapoint a try.. Great club, great bunch of lads and a great set up.. I spent 7 fantastic years there.. Only left cos I moved to Carlow.. I still go to the odd game and get a warm welcome from everyone..

karlitob

ColmH81 wrote: »

I'd give Seapoint a try.. Great club, great bunch of lads and a great set up.. I spent 7 fantastic years there.. Only left cos I moved to Carlow.. I still go to the odd game and get a warm welcome from everyone..

Thanks for that - I've been leaning a good bit to Seapoint actually. Seems like a great bunch. I've also been interested in Railway Union - has anybody been involved with them.

ColmH81

karlitob wrote: »

Thanks for that - I've been leaning a good bit to Seapoint actually. Seems like a great bunch. I've also been interested in Railway Union - has anybody been involved with them.

One of my mates was head coach of the first last season in RU.. Good club and good set up..

trouttrout

Sorry to hijack the thread but I'm also moving to Dublin (Drumcondra) and I'll be looking for a club in the area. There's actually a few guys from my club at home playing with Stillorgan but it might be too much of a trek considering I prob won't have a car

Losty Dublin

trouttrout wrote: »

Sorry to hijack the thread but I'm also moving to Dublin (Drumcondra) and I'll be looking for a club in the area. There's actually a few guys from my club at home playing with Stillorgan but it might be too much of a trek considering I prob won't have a car

The 11 or 44 would get you over for training and home games if you can put up with buses; it's a bit of a hike.

Closer to home you have Clontarf, Millmount House (ALSAA) Unidare RFC (DCU) and Swords RFC (ALSAA). Malahide are a bit further away but options nonetheless. Trinity play home games in Santry and RCSI close to Dublin Airport though I'm unsure about membership criteria at either club.

CatFromHue

Monkstown RFC are on the DART line which might be an option. You'd get off the DART at Sandymount so you'd only be on the DART for 10 mins or so from Connolly, Railway Union are across the road from them too.

trouttrout

CatFromHue wrote: »

Monkstown RFC are on the DART line which might be an option. You'd get off the DART at Sandymount so you'd only be on the DART for 10 mins or so from Connolly, Railway Union are across the road from them too.

flat is literally across the road from Croker so dart would be no bother

What level are they?

CatFromHue

The Senior team is Leinster League I think and as far as I know they've teams down to J4.

http://www.monkstownfc.ie/

Buer

trouttrout wrote: »

flat is literally across the road from Croker so dart would be no bother

What level are they?

I assume this means you were offered the gig. Congrats.

If you're in Drumcondra, you're in GAA heartland with Croker, St. Vincents and Na Fianna dominating the sporting interests. Where are you working?

If you've a bike, you can be at Castle Avenue in 10-15 minutes, no problem for Clontarf; big club, very good set up. There are some close knit junior clubs in the other direction up in Glasnevin/Ballymun such as AIB and Unidare. You could be there even quicker on a bike.

spiller1984

Also thinking about playing rugby again. Am 29 moderately fit and played in school. Looking for some good training/social club. Live in dun Laoghaire

Buer

Should have posted this earlier but here's link to Leinster's handbook for last season. Has every club in the province with location and contact details included.

http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/images/content/Handbook_Updated_3.pdf

jamesbondings

trouttrout wrote: »

Sorry to hijack the thread but I'm also moving to Dublin (Drumcondra) and I'll be looking for a club in the area. There's actually a few guys from my club at home playing with Stillorgan but it might be too much of a trek considering I prob won't have a car

Im living in drumcondra aswell, play my rugby in clontarf, junior rugby level in clontarf is close knit always a night out knocking about! and if your driving its like 5 mins in the car or 15 minute cycle, buses from fairview are very frequent also.

ColmH81

spiller1984 wrote: »

Also thinking about playing rugby again. Am 29 moderately fit and played in school. Looking for some good training/social club. Live in dun Laoghaire

Id recommend Seapoint.. It's just up the road from you... If you know the Graduate, it's just past there..

spiller1984

Id know it alright, would be considered a novice. 11yrs since ive played. Hows the training structured?

ColmH81

spiller1984 wrote: »

Id know it alright, would be considered a novice. 11yrs since ive played. Hows the training structured?

Nowt wrong with that.. The 1sts are AIL, J1 are decent and the 3rds are J4.. 3rds have a nice dedication and a great social element.. Cracking bunch of lads, would make you feel at home... They've finished runners up 3 out of last 4yrs. One league title in those 4yrs.. Semi finals of the cup 3 out 5yrs...

spiller1984

When would pre season start? Mad for procrastination

durkadurka

trouttrout wrote: »

flat is literally across the road from Croker so dart would be no bother

What level are they?

Consider cool mine - a few stops on the train from drumcondra.

ColmH81

spiller1984 wrote: »

When would pre season start? Mad for procrastination

I think it's mid August..

Bridge93

karlitob wrote: »

Thanks for that - I've been leaning a good bit to Seapoint actually. Seems like a great bunch. I've also been interested in Railway Union - has anybody been involved with them.

Railway Union is a very good club. It's slightly smaller than most others. They compete in division 2B of Leinster so it's a decent standard, and there are 3 teams. The firsts did very well last year. Also they offer plenty of tag competitions which are mixed and good fun.
Monkstown RFC is across the road and is a nice club too.

Bridge93

For those living in DL/Blackrock, Blackrock College RFC is nearby. Never played there but it always seemed a quality set up with good people and a great junior section.
Wanderers and Old Belvedere are in close proximity to each other in Ballsbridge and Donnybrook. Whatever's most convenient.

ColmH81

Bridge93 wrote: »

For those living in DL/Blackrock, Blackrock College RFC is nearby. Never played there but it always seemed a quality set up with good people and a great junior section.
Wanderers and Old Belvedere are in close proximity to each other in Ballsbridge and Donnybrook. Whatever's most convenient.

I thought Rock had ditched all teams expect 1sts, 2nds and u21s? Twould be good if they started their 3rds and 4ths again..

[Jackass]

A lot of suggestion for small local clubs here, which is good, but this might be a bit harsh on smaller clubs, but I find if you're at a bigger club and play J4 or whatever it's a lot better organised and bigger group to get to know.

Trout for example I'd say Clontarf around the corner would be a no brainer. On southside Old Belvedere is another great club with big playing numbers at all levels.

Small local clubs are good too, Bective and Monkstown etc., but the bigger clubs would be my preference personally.

ormond lad

ColmH81 wrote: »

I thought Rock had ditched all teams expect 1sts, 2nds and u21s? Twould be good if they started their 3rds and 4ths again..

They had dropped a few teams last season anyway. would assume they'll be fielding another side below 2nds this year,
will j2/3 leagues be combined next season like they were this season or will there be separate leagues again?
would be mad to see club, old boy of biggest rugby playing school in country, only fielding 2/3 adult sides. they should be well capable of fielding 5+ sides at adult level in addition to their 2 20s/21s sides

[Jackass] wrote: »

A lot of suggestion for small local clubs here, which is good, but this might be a bit harsh on smaller clubs, but I find if you're at a bigger club and play J4 or whatever it's a lot better organised and bigger group to get to know.

Trout for example I'd say Clontarf around the corner would be a no brainer. On southside Old Belvedere is another great club with big playing numbers at all levels.

Small local clubs are good too, Bective and Monkstown etc., but the bigger clubs would be my preference personally.

Id disagree. Smaller clubs better off.
Disagree that playing j4 in clontarf, belvo is better organised. Tarf etc have 6 sides or so at adult level but that doesn't mean better. More chance of playing to higher standard in smaller club.

trouttrout

[Jackass] wrote: »

A lot of suggestion for small local clubs here, which is good, but this might be a bit harsh on smaller clubs, but I find if you're at a bigger club and play J4 or whatever it's a lot better organised and bigger group to get to know.

Trout for example I'd say Clontarf around the corner would be a no brainer. On southside Old Belvedere is another great club with big playing numbers at all levels.

Small local clubs are good too, Bective and Monkstown etc., but the bigger clubs would be my preference personally.

ormond lad wrote: »

They had dropped a few teams last season anyway. would assume they'll be fielding another side below 2nds this year,
will j2/3 leagues be combined next season like they were this season or will there be separate leagues again?
would be mad to see club, old boy of biggest rugby playing school in country, only fielding 2/3 adult sides. they should be well capable of fielding 5+ sides at adult level in addition to their 2 20s/21s sides
Id disagree. Smaller clubs better off.
Disagree that playing j4 in clontarf, belvo is better organised. Tarf etc have 6 sides or so at adult level but that doesn't mean better. More chance of playing to higher standard in smaller club.

tbh, I reckon I'd prefer a smaller club. Was hoping to play AIL this year with my home club but my work hours aren't going to allow me to commit as much with a club up here so it's more to stay playing/social side of things.

dregin

trouttrout wrote: »

tbh, I reckon I'd prefer a smaller club. Was hoping to play AIL this year with my home club but my work hours aren't going to allow me to commit as much with a club up here so it's more to stay playing/social side of things.

Unidare are up the road in Ballymun. They've a tag league on the go at the minute and pre-season starts at the end of July. Their first team played J4 last season.

http://www.unidarerfc.com

ColmH81

ormond lad wrote: »

They had dropped a few teams last season anyway. would assume they'll be fielding another side below 2nds this year,
will j2/3 leagues be combined next season like they were this season or will there be separate leagues again?
would be mad to see club, old boy of biggest rugby playing school in country, only fielding 2/3 adult sides. they should be well capable of fielding 5+ sides at adult level in addition to their 2 20s/21s sides
Id disagree. Smaller clubs better off.
Disagree that playing j4 in clontarf, belvo is better organised. Tarf etc have 6 sides or so at adult level but that doesn't mean better. More chance of playing to higher standard in smaller club.

From what I heard they were screwed for money.. Which is terrible.. They were looking at selling pitches and everything..

Eponymous

If you're on the Northside, Unidare is definitely a great club. Really good bunch of lads and they have the social aspect nailed!

trouttrout, I'm a Stillorgan member, recently retired. What club are you coming from?

As for small club V big club: I've played for a senior club in the past and left precisely because the senior club was moving players about from team to team, dropping lads down from higher teams to be sure the lower teams beat their opposition etc. Not good for the morale of lads training for that team to be dropped will sometimes no notice until you arrived at the dressing rooms. Best move I ever made was switching.

Buer

Think I'd agree, Eponymous. There's definitely a lot of that in the bigger clubs. I've played for a couple and, on any given day, you could have two or three players from a higher team lining out for a lower team to get a game whilst regulars sit on the bench. Have seen it at a good few clubs both in playing with them and seeing it on the opposition sides.

TT, if you're good enough to be considering playing AIL level, J4 will be beneath you, to be honest. You'd be bored out of your tree playing lads in their thirties and novices running around trying to make it to their half time smoke! Ideally, a club with a J1 or J2 side should cover you for your rugby and social aspect.

ColmH81

Eponymous wrote: »

If you're on the Northside, Unidare is definitely a great club. Really good bunch of lads and they have the social aspect nailed!

trouttrout, I'm a Stillorgan member, recently retired. What club are you coming from?

As for small club V big club: I've played for a senior club in the past and left precisely because the senior club was moving players about from team to team, dropping lads down from higher teams to be sure the lower teams beat their opposition etc. Not good for the morale of lads training for that team to be dropped will sometimes no notice until you arrived at the dressing rooms. Best move I ever made was switching.

Nothing more f*cking annoying than clubs doing that.. I was lucky during my time in Seapoint, we never had players forced on us on the 3rds.. In fact we were the opposite, coaches kept trying to take our players.. Haha.. But, as everyone on the team wanted to be there, it made it quite a special team..

trouttrout

Eponymous wrote: »

If you're on the Northside, Unidare is definitely a great club. Really good bunch of lads and they have the social aspect nailed!

trouttrout, I'm a Stillorgan member, recently retired. What club are you coming from?

As for small club V big club: I've played for a senior club in the past and left precisely because the senior club was moving players about from team to team, dropping lads down from higher teams to be sure the lower teams beat their opposition etc. Not good for the morale of lads training for that team to be dropped will sometimes no notice until you arrived at the dressing rooms. Best move I ever made was switching.

Buer wrote: »

Think I'd agree, Eponymous. There's definitely a lot of that in the bigger clubs. I've played for a couple and, on any given day, you could have two or three players from a higher team lining out for a lower team to get a game whilst regulars sit on the bench. Have seen it at a good few clubs both in playing with them and seeing it on the opposition sides.

TT, if you're good enough to be considering playing AIL level, J4 will be beneath you, to be honest. You'd be bored out of your tree playing lads in their thirties and novices running around trying to make it to their half time smoke! Ideally, a club with a J1 or J2 side should cover you for your rugby and social aspect.

Cheers lads. What level are Unidare?

dregin

We were J4 D last season.

Unidare has a mix of old schoolers and new comers with top quality coaching from the Leinster CRO to the area.

I'm sure he'll happily take a call if you're interested.

PM me for details.

Losty Dublin

ColmH81 wrote: »

From what I heard they were screwed for money.. Which is terrible.. They were looking at selling pitches and everything..

Selling pitches? :eek: They have just three in Stradbrook; surely losing the bottom pitches means losing their junior teams unless they relocate them.

ColmH81

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Selling pitches? :eek: They have just three in Stradbrook; surely losing the bottom pitches means losing their junior teams unless they relocate them.

Could well have just been the usual rugby ground rumours..

Hagz

I've heard that rumour too. Club is really struggling financially.

Bridge93

The Rock 21s have been playing a few games in the school from what I've heard.

Heroditas

ormond lad wrote: »

They had dropped a few teams last season anyway. would assume they'll be fielding another side below 2nds this year,
will j2/3 leagues be combined next season like they were this season or will there be separate leagues again?

Of course thy'll be fielding additional teams next year. Otherwise their 6N ticket allocation will be cut.

Also, the Metro J leagues are being reorganised next year. Instead of loads of mini leagues in J3, J4 etc, the J leagues will stretch down as far as J10 or J11.

Losty Dublin

Bridge93 wrote: »

The Rock 21s have been playing a few games in the school from what I've heard.

They have done that for some years now, if my memory is working well. Some of the school games are also played in Stradbrook from time to time.

cartoonninja

Sorry to hijack, a group of us will be looking for a club during college we'll be based in drumcondra hopefully! Any suggestions? A few are completed
Novices so a low level would suit

Tim Robbins

karlitob wrote: »

I'm near Stillorgan/Blackrock but work in city so happy to travel anywhere from Bird Ave (Stillorgan RFC, I think) to RDS area to Greystones to Seapoint.

Sorry late to thread. Would recommend Stillorgan, Bective and basically any club which would happy to have you. Reason, some of the other clubs get a load of lads from the school (e.g. Terenure, Mary's, Belvo) they still be 100% glad to have you and will have plenty not from the school there but personally I'd prefer to go for a club that had no links with the school tie. That's just me.

Stillorgan had a decent J2 team and Bective go up higher. So depending on what level you want to play - most people J2 is an achievement should also help you in your decision.

ColmH81

Heroditas wrote: »

Of course thy'll be fielding additional teams next year. Otherwise their 6N ticket allocation will be cut.

Also, the Metro J leagues are being reorganised next year. Instead of loads of mini leagues in J3, J4 etc, the J leagues will stretch down as far as J10 or J11.

J10 or 11?? Where'd you hear that? Also, is that just metro?

salmocab

its just metro its division 1 to 11 replacing j1 to j5. 11 divisions of 8 is roughly the breakdown. Good move by the branch I think.