RUGBY’S RETURN

Keith Mason and Stephen Weldon modelling the new kit.

The DFB Rugby Club is looking forward to getting back on the pitch, Keith Mason tells Adam Hyland

As with most other clubs within the Dublin Fire Brigade, the DFB Rugby team has had to put a lot of activities on hold during the pandemic, but hopes are high that members will once again be able to take to the field in the coming months to represent the organisation.

“We have to wait for things to return to a bit more normality and see how members are fixed in terms of family arrangements before we can finalise any fixtures, but we’re definitely working hard to get a few games organised this side of Christmas, so there should soon be some solid dates that we can work towards to get playing again,” FF/P Keith Mason tells me.

Apart from some home fixtures against other organisations being in the pipeline, Keith says that the team is also looking further afield, should restrictions on travel lift.

GAMES

“We have our eyes set on the World Firefighter Games in Lisbon in April next year,” he says, “and the World Police and Fire Games in Rotterdam in July, as two possible trips. These will of course be dependent on a few things, but we are looking to see if there is interest there, and whether we can get the numbers to go.

“We would be competing in the Rugby 7s tournament, which is a bit of a different kettle of fish, but we can try to adapt. We’d be hoping to get a team, and then some more support and reserves to make up a group of around 12 people.

“That’s the long-term plan so far, but we hope to get some other fixtures organised for the end of this year, and then some more for early next year to coincide with the Six Nations, when there is a break in club fixtures and more players will be available.

“We know people are keen to get going again and to have a match, but we also know we are all in the same boat in terms of circumstances, and everybody has to look at getting time off, etc, and it can be a big challenge to organise those fixtures and make sure we have enough bodies to fulfil them. But we are hoping…”

Presenting SO Dan Fynes, DFBSSC Secretary with a t-shirt s thanks for the ongoing support.

NEW MEMBERS

Keith says that the club is always on the lookout for new members, and is keen to emphasise that you don’t have to be a superstar to get involved.

“What we want to stress is that any rugby players of any ability whatsoever are encouraged to get in touch with me at A Watch Tallaght, by email or by phone,” he tells me. “There are players out there who might not feel like they can join up because they have only recently joined DFB, or they might think they aren’t at the right level, but to be honest, the ability levels aren’t as high as some might think! There is a very mixed level of ability in the team, so it is open to anybody.

“There are members who have played at various levels, but the style of rugby we play isn’t complicated – we let the good players play to their standard and we follow their lead. It’s an all-inclusive team, so if you are involved in a club, or used to be, and feel like you would like to keep playing, consider joining us.

“I also know there are a few classes of recruits in recent years we haven’t been able to reach out to properly yet, and sometimes you do hear through the grapevine that a certain person at a certain station is a good player, or at least is a player, and we want them to come along if they are interested.”

The DFB Rugby sweater.

NEW KIT

With a restart on the horizon, the club also recently acquired some new kit from JF Sports, with small membership fees, and sponsorship from that sportswear company, the DFBSSC and Dubco enabling them to purchase new tracksuit bottoms, t-shirts and sweaters for each member.

“DFBSSC have been brilliant support to us since we rebuilt the club a few years ago,” Keith tells me, “and they and Dubco were very good to give us sponsorship again. Stephen Weldon from B Watch Swords also did a lot of work in the background in sourcing the new kit for us and getting it delivered and sent to individual players, so I must thank him for that.

“It’s great to get some new kit because previously we were showing up to games as a rag-tag bunch, not even wearing the same t-shirts, so to have something we can all wear, even for after matches, just makes us look better, more like a team, especially when we are representing DFB.”

The new kit is also now available to purchase on the club’s online shop, with all sales proceeds going back into the club to pay for the expenses involved in organising and putting on games, registration, travel, receptions and food.

“Hopefully things will look a little clearer soon,” Keith concludes, “so myself and the committee, and all the players are keen and eager to go and get back out there on the pitch.”

The online shop is at www.jfsports.ie/product-category/clubshop/dublin-fire-brigade-rugby/