Beyond the Ultimate

The Templeville Road Campus gleams white with the new Padel Citadel an impressive welcoming symbol of ambassadorial glory. The Kickz Coffee Cabin gives a welcome added flavour. The pitches display their green magnificence, after the planning and expertise of Marty Blacker, the careful husbandry of Peter O’Kelly and the largesse of JB’s Well; as the new season pops up. Enthroned within, there is a warm glow, not only after the phenomenon that was our 2026 summer but also following the glorious season that was 2025-26. The afterglow remained long and deep all summer long, as members and supporters could not resist the call, to stroll the perimeter, ponder contentedly and savour the memories. Some long-chiselled memories of jousts in the mists of time; and heroes at rest, are vying with the sharp images of the past season and its glories that have engendered profound bonds. Although the campus is dizzy with activity and progress, there is there, somehow an underlying, interwoven tranquillity. There is also a genuine appreciation from the entire club for the astounding work and progress in all aspects of club machinations and developments. Work done last season by the players at all grades, their coaching/management groups, the various club subcommittees and the admirable then President Gareth Logan and his executive committee shine out brightly.

Club Honours 2025–2026

1st XV	Energia AIL Division 1A – Winner; Leinster Senior Cup Sec A – 2nd Place;
J1 XV	Metro League Premier 1 – Relegation playoff winners; Metro Cup – Round 1;
U20 Premier XV	JP Fanagan League Premier 1 Division 2 – 3rd Place; McCorry Cup – Round 2;
U20 Fresher XV	JP Fanagan Premier 3 - 7th Place; Harry Gale Cup - Round 1;
Women XV	Leinster Women’s League Division 6 – 3rd Place; Women’s Div 5/6 Cup – Round 2; Women’s Div 5/6 Plate – Semi Final;
J2 XV	Metro League Division 3 – 6th Place; Albert O’Connell Cup – Round 1;
J3 XV	Metro League Division 6 – 3rd Place; Winters Cup – Semi Final;
J4 XV	Metro League Division 7 – Runners Up; Winters Cup – Round 1;
J5 XV	Metro League Division 11 – 5th Place; Guilfoyle-James Cup – Round 1;

Club Officers & Committee 2026–27

For the season ahead the club leaders with President Stephen, are as follows:-

Looking at the names above indicate clearly how fortunate the club is to have such a high-quality group looking after the interests of the club. And as a new season sparks into life with an, eclectic bunch of ambitious young players attracted to join with others from the successful St Mary’s College Leinster Senior Schools cup team, there is a flush of talent and optimism. That is so at all levels within the club, and therefore there is a recrudescence of enthusiasm throughout. The structures are now together in all respects for the challenge 2026-27 presents on and off the field. One thing that needs major improvements, the rendition of the club anthem.!!!!!!.

A New President — Stephen Shirley

Stephen Shirley, our new Club President will lead. Stephen is one of a much-admired St Marys’ family. His first memories of the club are of the early 1990s. He was a young rugby-mad schoolboy at St Mary’s College, when his mum and dad Yvonne and John used bring Stephen and his elder brothers Simon and Alan (Simon is a club member, advisor and sponsor and Alan, outstanding Rugby Chairman/DoR, former senior player and coach). They developed an addiction to their future club. Once again, the club is most fortunate to have one, highly talented and dedicated as its president, who has already made a notable contribution.

Stephen attended St Mary’s College from 1988 to 1998. He was happy there, where he was a brilliant, popular student and highly active sportsman, captaining the JLT team and later the 3rd Senior XV, coached by John Wynne to win the Forster Cup in Donnybrook (Now the Energia Stadium) in 1997. Having left school he attended University College Dublin, receiving a B.Comm in 2001 and attaining a master’s degree at UCD, Smurfit School. He was articled at KPMG and qualified as Chartered Accountant in 2006. Subsequently, he was awarded the highly prestigious Fellowship of Chartered Accountants Ireland.

He has a highly successful business life and works tirelessly for his club and for rugby. He has a brilliant mind and is also super fun to be with. He dedicates his life to his wife Grainne, whom he married in 2010, and his young family, Anna and Cuan. His family are also great supporters of St Marys and Stephen’s involvement. Stephen is particularly proud to coach both Anna and Cuan in mini rugby.

He joined the club in 1998, along with last year’s outstanding president, Gareth Logan, also his best mate Barry Cahill and this year’s junior vice president (JVP), David Lyons. Stephen played two years of 20’s then into junior rugby. He played on the J4s and J5s. In 2001 he won J5 player of year. He always remembers it as it was on the same night that Alan won J1 player of the year. Stephen was the epitome of a good junior player, had strong team commitment, was a good, brave tackler, and played with surging tenacity.

Having given up playing he found he was smitten by his club and got involved in rugby coaching and management He coached U20s seconds, along with his old friend Colm O’Sullivan, for two seasons. In 2008, Stephen began coaching the J2s with Colm. His brother Alan was Player Coach; Derek Gately was manager and Mick O’Connor (Mick the Medium) bagman. This turned out to be one of the most successful junior teams in the club’s history, captained by three outstanding leaders Robert Ryan, Graeme McInerney and Mikey Houlihan and composed, a group of superb players like Alan Shirley, former international, Kieran Lewis, Eoin (Mucker) McCormack, Barry Cahill, Joey Connolly, Louis Burke, Eoin Keane, Alan Conboy, Jason Verdon and others. In all, they won eight Leinster trophies, including three J2 leagues and Albert O’Connell Cup doubles. His busy family life caused a pause in his coaching in 2014

Since then, Stephen has been involved in rugby council and club administrative work. He has shown exceptional vision and leadership, making significant contributions to the development of the club, on and off the field, spearheading the 2021 Elite Rugby Strategy with Alan. This culminated in the return to Division 1A and ultimately winning the All-Ireland League Division 1A last season. Stephen is focused on the long-term future sustainability of the club. Stephen played a prominent role in the important Padel Project. He is also leading groups focused on improving the dressing room facilities and the development of 3G pitches and training surfaces.

Senior Rugby

Read D’Brien’s report from Aviva Final Day →

There is naturally a burst of almost febrile interest in this season, when as champions, the target is on the backs of all our teams but especially in the AIL one. There is clearly a desire once again, to excel and be the first club in the modern AIL format, to retain the trophy. Firstly, we note those who are no longer involved and those who have joined the group, playing, coaching and administrating unto the squad.

We are fortunate that last season’s superb and successful Club Captain, Conor Dean is again captain. Conor had a fine season and led calmly and brilliantly when there were stress moments or matches. He was quite magnificent in the final at the Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), leading his men to an emphatic win. He was indubitably the best outhalf in the league, the last few seasons. Expect him to so be again this season. From last season’s preview (The 1.25 Year).

Conor is generally acknowledged to be, by a distance, the most accomplished and effective outhalf in AIL. He is the outstanding 10. It is not too much of a surprise, as his father Paul was a celebrated Irish international outhalf and British and Irish Lion. Conor is also a remarkably fine young man in all respects. He is universally popular. He is great fun with a superb sense of humour and great zest for life and living; he is affable and gregarious. He is a complete gentleman. However, He loves nothing more than a bit of youthful adventure. His thoughtful kindness is a feature of his life.

Although in school in Blackrock College, being the son of Paul and Lorraine (another exceptional Marys’ woman) he, and his sister Holly, were well au fait with the activities of St Mary’s College RFC from a young age, spending time up there during his father’s time in committee after his special presidency. Needless to say, Paul and Lorraine are still to be found in the club at many functions and all the Conor’s matches. Conor has much in common with his renowned rugby dad. He has the most appreciative and searching pass and a break that is piercing. Conor’s Deano Dink is unique and deadly. Another shared skill he has with his dad, is his golf. Conor is a virtuoso golfer, playing off +2 he is an unbeatable amateur and he has the course record 66, in his club Blainroe, since May 2022. If you were to guess who had held the previous record as being his dad Paul, you would be right; a remarkable fact. Anyone fancy their chances? Maybe a father and son competition!!

At school at Blackrock College, Conor was an excellent student in all respects, with a fine academic and social record. He was a natural at rugby with all the skills, great acceleration and pace. He started at outhalf on the JCT, when only U14, in 2012, and the following year he was the outhalf on the JCT Cup winning team. The following year, 2014 he was outhalf on the winning SCT team, although still only in fourth year. Nick Timoney, David O’Connor, Caelan Doris, Hugo Keenan and Conor Oliver were all part of that team; and St Marys was very lucky that all but Hugo, later played major roles at the club. They are all still close pals.

2015 & 2016 Conor started 10 in the SCT but unfortunately his team lost in the second round both years. Conor played for Leinster U18 and Irish U18’s for two years while at school.

Having left Blackrock in 2016 he joined Marys.

He played for Leinster and Ireland for two years out of school (2016/17 & 2017/18) in the underage competitions. He played the U20 in JWC in Georgia and again in France the following season in underage 6 Nations and the JWC in France

Having been in the Leinster Sub Academy for two years he went to the Connacht Academy 2018/19 - got his first cap in the last week of URC against Munster (started 10 in Thomond). He got a development contract in Connacht in 2020/21 and played against Munster in the Aviva in the interprovincials during Covid

Missing Dublin and wishing to develop his career, he returned home and played with his club where he has been since. He was a star when the club won AIL 1B, 2023-24 and was a major factor in the second-place finish in AIL 1A last season. He has a very close relationship with all the players including the captain for past tumultuous three seasons Ronan Watters, who will be an important support to Skipper Deano. He has enormous goodwill and support from the entire membership, including the Parents Brigade, and of course Lorraine and Deano Snr.

He has around him an experienced squad and several big leaders in support, such as the iconic Ronan Watters former three-time in a row Club Captain, Club International and exceptional backrower and all-round rugby player. Mighty Mick McCormack professional standard, peerless club tight-head prop, is a natural front leader. Dan Goggin, former Munster centre, who has been exceptional as player and leader and has amazing versatility, being a top 12 and top 8. He has made a highly significant contribution to the squad since he joined Marys. Current 12, senior player, and brilliant place kicker, Mick O’Gara is not only a leader on the field but a highly popular Starman off the field and a successful St Mary’s College Coach. Any team with Myles Carey is very fortunate, he had a stunning last season and no doubt be invaluable again the coming season.

Head Coach, Mark McHugh, remains in place from leading his men to the Elysian Fields, and it is hoped he shall remain so for many seasons ahead. His strong, calm leadership is vital to the success. He is much admired for his cerebral decisions, his adventure and his vision. He has shown ability to improvise to great success, and to analyse needs as they arise. His inclusive approach to coaching has drawn the highest quality coaching team around him, all of which is reaping an invaluable harvest. His experience as an international player and AIL winner with his club adds to his cachet.

Jamie Cornett who is a most impressive coach, is a totally committed Marys’ man, and like the great Steven Hennessy (who is DoR at St Mary’s College, who are current winners of the Leinster Senior Schools’ Cup-- Congrats Steve), a valuable link to schools’ rugby. Beside his overall coaching input and close relationship with Mark, Jamie is to the players an avuncular figure whom they respect and cherish. He is reliable, dedicated and talented.

Former British and Irish Lion, Jack McGrath has been a super successful addition to the coaching group. His experience and technical knowledge are a marvellous bonus, and his electric, enlivening enthusiasm lifts teams and adds to the overall thrust.

Greg Jones, as player coach, has been one of the most transformative additions to Mark’s men. Last two seasons he has brought an epiphanic improvement to lineout and maul management, in addition to being an outstanding player. His contribution last season was astral. It is a major loss not to have his full-time playing application but retaining him in his coaching capacity is highly significant. He adds a lot more than all that too for he is a most affable, caring young man, an impressive gentleman.

Tom (Tommer) O’Reilly, a talented and most durable player over the past 15 years, having been in the squad for the 2012 AIL success. He has also been a Club international player. It is impossible not to like and admire the big warm-hearted prop who can play both sides and add leadership to performance. Over the past couple of seasons Tommer has added coach to his soubriquets. He is valuable part of Mark’s coaching cache. An admirable man. Lauren and Tommer welcomed their first child Indie, to the world. Congratulations will flow from all at the club, terrific news.

Eanna Clynes in a way the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, is a most impressive young man and coach, who has all the requisites to be the best. he is acknowledged as such at college level and club level. He will be imbedded and will specialise in the J1 team and the fast-developing young tyros. He has with him, two experienced former players and coach/ managers, Darren Walker and Paul Brennan. They both understand the extra difficulties dealing with this often enthusiastic and level impatient group. Two dedicated clubmen. It is generally accepted that a happy, successful J1 group is an indicator of a successful and happy club.

A vital aspect of the system’s workings is fitness/strength and conditioning, and former Club Captain, Marcus (Modser) O’Driscoll a renowned instructor in that area, who understands the players need, and like all of his profession, works his programmes with ruthlessness. Very much, a popular young Bro !

There is little need to herald Davy (Dougal) Lyons for he is a physiotherapeutic Guru, known and respected widely through all codes. Few in the club have not felt the pain of the fiercesome fingers of Dougal in their Longissimus dorsi or quadriceps maximus and the brilliant results. His straightforward kindness and frankness are disarming.

Then, behind the scenes, but no less valuable for that, the management group moves with graphitic ease, in organisation and logistics. This group is the interface, the cement in the edifice. Like a highly esteemed Quartermaster General, Paul Pender, Senior Manager, ensures everything is there as required, trips and transport organised and on time, equipment, available and players happy. This is a heavy-duty calling, and so it is shared amongst his commendable lieutenants, Conor O’Neill, Harry Ebbs and Robbie O’Neill.

Ian Bloomer continues in his important role as Referee Liaison Officer, charming and calming as ever. He also endures that the senior squad have top quality rugby balls.

Jack Ebbs Fourth Official

The power behind all strands of rugby at the club is Rugby Council (RC) and the head of all of this is the Chairman and Director of Rugby (DoR). That man is Alan Shirley and it has been he, since 2015, which speaks reams, he has overseen the rebuilding of our rugby realm since those days of AIL 1B, to AIL 1A Champions 2025-26. His calm determination, exceptional decisions and shrewd recruitment have made the difference, his wise delegation and care of all levels of rugby have been the keys to our success at all levels. He seeks opinions and listens well, a crucial requirement for top leadership. He has earned widespread respect and admiration. His relationship with the coaches, group leaders and executive leadership and players ensures harmonic progress. The impressive make up of RC has been further enhanced by the addition of last year’s club president, Gareth (Logie) Logan.

Additions & Subtractions

So contentedly, integrated was the squad that the players who left or retired did so due to necessity. Fortunately, a high number of quality young players joining has replenished in full and above all those departed. The club wishes those who have had to leave or step back from playing, the best for their futures and thank them for their important contributions to the club.

Below is the list of players who are joining the senior squad.

Data were supplied by DoR Alan Shirley.

Joining the senior squad

• Stephen McLaughlin - hooker from YM.
• Michael Icely - back row from Australia playing in the Shute Shield
• Braemar Murray - 2nd Row playing in the MLR last year.
• Richie Fahey - back from England
• Mark Hernan - highly rated Back Row (Son of former Club Captain-1991- Ray)
• Johnny Fairely - Back Row
• Noah Kavanagh - scrum half from Navan
• Luke McGill - scrum half from UCD (ex Marys school)

Graduating from the 20s

• Cillian Jacobs - hooker
• David Leane - 2nd Row/Back Row
• Andy Stronge - scrum half (injured most of last season with ACL)
• Zack Hopkins - Centre/Wing
• Jack Halpin - Full back (Son of former senior fullback/wing Garth)
• Ethan Kenny - out half
• Gavin Foley - Centre/full back
• James Molloy (Prop)

From the school (all representative players)

• Dave Kenny - prop
• Max Egan - 2nd Row
• Sean Thornton - Back Row
• Alex Crawley - scrum half (didn’t play rep rugby as injured)
• Paul Neary - out half
• Conor Cantwell - centre
• Chris Maguire - Wing
• Josh Kelly - full back

Returning from a season out injured. Conor Hayes (Fullback)

The full list of players and profiles is available on the club website.

Mark McHugh, and Alan Shirley, have built a squad with competition for every position, so flexibility, allowing team refresh, with all players having close familiarity of moves and player interactions. It is a team of athletic innovation, skill and pace. The interpersonal confidence under pressure is signal. Patience at pace is a brilliant feature, increasing the odds of scoring when in position. We have real speed out wide and craft inside, adding to the threat. The warm camaraderie in this group and non-arrogant confidence allows all involved to have reason for optimism of a repeat of the brilliant season 2025-26 with the same final success. Needless to say, there will be a higher degree of difficulty as all other nine clubs in AIL 1A have significantly strengthened their squads and; clearly each one will particularly target the holders. Last season we had at least parity in scrums and mainly above that. We had the best progressive and defensive lineouts, and the forward; and defensive mauls generally held parity or above. Add in an outstanding close line defence and reliable place kicking and we must believe. We do have a difficult start with Lansdowne away and Clontarf at home, for a start, followed by a trek to Cork and return to the great rivalry of Nure. However, there is good reason for optimism. We are fortunate too To have the revered referee, Dudley Phillips to ensure we are up to date on all current laws and changes that might arise. Johnny Allison is a young referee who is helping with the J1s and his input is very welcome.

We do need the same quality of support achieved at the Aviva last April. All players aver that supporter interaction is a major part of the team response and success rate. So let it be!

U20s Setup

Last season the club ran two teams, and the same situation will pertain this year

Director of U20 Rugby Vinnie Murray (11th season). He has been dedicated and progressive and has been successful in improving the numbers and quality; and has along with the DoR and Head Coach enticed top players from a wide variety of schools and clubs, including from Templeogue, The High School, Old Wesley, Newbridge, Clondalkin, St Marys. The entire St Marys College successful SCT school-leavers, bar two have joined. The club status has also attracted the highest quality coaches. Vinnie has accepted with alacrity, several other club roles. He is ever ready to help or advise when called upon. Vinnie is a commendable young man.

Sean Healy – Head Coach (5th season), a former highly regarded club player and current St Mary’s College coach, Sean has shown himself to be big asset and increased to the highest level, the quality of the play; and developed a stream of players for senior rugby. There is strong optimism for success this season.

Martyn Van Eeden – Backs Coach has shown himself to be a top class and inspirational coach. Martyn gave significant help with the senior squad last season

Jack Nelson-Murray – Forwards Coach. Jack is a senior player and has been the senior hooker for some years now. He won an AIL medal last year. No doubt he will be appreciated greatly by the young players and be a big success. He is warm-hearted knowledgeable and patient.

Dan Laniani – S&C Coach this is an area of great importance to this age group and one on which the players put great importance and emphasis. He is well regarded and dedicated.

Freshers’ coaches: Jamie Coolican & Gavin Mulvihill, two senior players to whom the young lads just out of school will strongly relate.

Management Team, Stephen Conboy, Keith Alexandra, Tom Sheenan, Adam McInerney, Shane McHugh and Gary Croke. All are dedicated Marys men.

Squad Structure, Vinnie says he is looking forward to running two teams this season and is aiming for 15–20 players a week playing in, and integrating into junior rugby. He aims to ensure that there is an even-handed approach to developing the two strands.

Female Rugby

Director Sarah Brennan-Fallon.

Women’s Rugby started at St Marys in the season 2002-03 and has been developing ever since (see A Little Bit About St. Mary's).

In recent years, former player and scion of the redoubtable Marys man Sammy Brennan, Sarah Brennan, has been the most determined and successful driver of the female game at Templeville Road. She is a prominent and dedicated member and a highly personable and kind person. Below she gives and idea of her thoughts on the situation.

“As we enter the 2026-2027 season female rugby in St Mary’s College RFC has never been in a stronger position to continue it’s growth and development. A focus on growth of female rugby, from the ground up in the club of the last few years is really coming to fruition. The development of the “all girls” minis section over the last few years has been a significant driving force with a huge input from all of the coaches and parents, but in particular Rhya Weafer who last year established a new team of “all girls” at U8’s and had a smashing group playing and training each Sunday morning. Teams continue to grow at U10’s, and U12’s with help and support from many including JP O’Dwyer, Amy O’Shaugnessy, Enda McKenna, Amy White and Tim Henderson. The “all girls” mini section continues to grow and develop and are always looking for more players and volunteers. Aligned with the growth in the minis, we continue to grow the Youth section – still in combination with De La Salle Palmerston – we field at U14, U16 and U18.5. There are three exceptionally strong teams this year with excellent numbers across all levels as well as a very strong coaching Group, including two female Irish international players (Jess Keating and Clare Gorman), also Richard Andreucetti and Barra Norman; the youth section is led by Sarah Brennan Fallon and Luke Sloper of DLSP. Last year, both the U18.5 team and the U16 teams made League finals, with the U16’s securing the spoils. This year’s goals are clear from the players through to the coaches -continued growth, enjoyment and development of the groups on and off the pitch. It’s an exciting year ahead!

The Senior women’s team has seen continued investment from the clubs involved (St Mary’s College RFC, DLSP and Guinness RFC), by securing two exceptionally strong coaches for the season ahead, Peadar O’Murchu (head coach) & Niall O’Connachtain (assistant coach) still supported by Sarah Brennan Fallon and Andrew Bishop (DLSP). Peadar and Niall come with exceptional coaching prowess and have already added brilliantly to the team’s development. Originally from Athy RFC, Peadar bring a wealth of experience from a long playing career in the Leinster leagues with Athy and his current club Railway Union. He has previous coaching experience with Athy, UCD and Railway Union as well as being a qualified ARLB referee. Niall also played with Railway Union, and as a teacher in Willow Park School where he has organised and coached student teams for many years. Our women’s team play as ‘Three Saints’ and are in Leinster League Division 5 for this season ahead. It looks like it is going to be a fantastic season for all; on and off the pitch!

Our newest opportunity for female rugby is being rolled out with the “Sideline to Trylines” This is a new initiative from the IRFU to get more women playing our beautiful game. “It also introduces a new nationwide Social Touch Rugby programme designed to provide women with an enjoyable, welcoming and inclusive introduction to rugby through a fun, non-contact format. It Launches on the 5th. October from 7 to 8pm, Sidelines to Trylines aims to create opportunities for women within rugby communities to become active participants in the game, regardless of their sporting background, fitness level or previous rugby experience. For further information on any of the above please contact Sarah Brennan Fallon.

— Sarah Brennan-Fallon

Junior Rugby

Director of Junior Rugby: Michael O’Flaherty.

Michael (Mick Flats) has been a strong resilient dedicated junior player in the 90s and has carried on as a rugby coach and administrator, ever since. He is a former Club President and was a pioneer in the development of Youth Rugby in St Marys. He is now dedicated to junior rugby, the heart of the club game.

He has put together an impressive array of volunteer coaches and managers for season 2026/27.

Youth Rugby

Director of Rugby: Robbie O’Neill.

Robbie is a dedicated Marys man who not only directs this vital area of Club rugby but is also an assistant manager to pal, Paul Pender at Senior Rugby and involved with the Marys Stars too. His main areas of action are: -

Pitch allocation for matches and training, making sure all Players are registered on Sportlomo. He is the club representative on the Leinster Youth Metro Committee, with monthly meetings, also, ensuring all coaches have the correct IRFU qualifications, so we are compliant with standards, and that all youth transfers sign off. Robbie is the Club Youth Representative, for any Leinster Metro disciplinary issues and is the point of contact for new youth players joining the club.

Robbie works with our admirable Child Welfare Officer, Pearl Healy, to make sure that all managers and coaches have “Garda Vetting and safeguarding” up to date. What a busy club man is Robbie and what a commendable role he plays for his club.

Above data were all supplied by Robbie O’Neill.

It has been a personal conviction that this segment of rugby at St Marys is the surest way to guarantee great future success and sustainability, as we are geographically uniquely placed to reap a constant and wide inflow of players from the particularly high number of non-rugby playing schools.

For me, Youth Rugby is the Font for the Future; It will bloom and zoom, when we deploy a diplomatic Schools’ Liaison Officer to cover those schools. There will be many top players emerging from this endeavour. It must be mentioned that there has been already exciting successes. Note the results from last season. Over the recent history there have been several who have contributed effectively to this; amongst them, Michael O’Flaherty, Paul Pender and Robbie O’Neill stand out.

Mini Rugby

Director: Connor Kinnear.

Connor is the current director of rugby, helped greatly by Andy Neary who has the unenviable job of organising and allocating pitches every week. None of the programme could be possible without the hard work and patience of our dedicated and admired Child Welfare Officer, Pearl Healy.

Connor is the epitome of brilliant organisation, energy, patience and diplomacy and is able to achieve a huge amount and yet never offend or cause confusion. The club has been extremely fortunate to have his generous and immensely effective input.

This section includes boys and girls and goes as low in age as Under 5s. affectionately known as Little Rugby, and up to U12s. It takes place every Sunday morning, during the season, when over 500 little warriors arrive with parents/guardians, to partake in instructive and enjoyable mornings, where they learn their future skills and love for their game and their club. There, 90 or so coaches patiently impart their knowledge of skills and sportsmanship to their little players, ensuring that each one is equally treated and all have fun. Many of these coaches are former Marys players and parents. It is satisfying to be able to report that senior of our Senior players including the current Club Captain Conor and previous Captain, Ronan are committed to coaching this group. Many of these children will develop an indelible love of rugby, wherever they may later play or just follow. The work of all clubs who run mini rugby systems, although they hope to retain many of those partaking and their parents and coaches, deep at heart they do this for the love of rugby and their charges.

Deep in the heart of all those at St Mary’s College RFC, especially our Officers and committees there is a special attachment to the Marys Stars which is a group of special needs players who enjoy their rugby especially well and face all adversity with valour and commitment. Again, Robbie O’Neill has played a significant role in organisation of this group, his son is the current Captain. Terenure RFC likewise, has a similar group, Terenure Tigers, and there is a close liaison between both clubs, playing each other frequently with shared gate takings, on big occasions. Very happily it can be reported that there is equal ability in the two groups too, so results are usually draws.

Connor says “Our aim at St Mary’s minis is to make Sunday morning at Templeville Road the highlight of their week”!

Looking at the names and roles played by all those mentioned above, it is clear to see how much we owe our volunteers and why our club is thriving.

D. O’Brien
September 2026