FOCUS ON: NEWTOWNARDS

History of Ards Rugby Football Club

On 11 April 1928, Ards Rugby Football Club (RFC) was formed at a meeting in Newtownards Academy pavilion. The first competitive game was played on 13 October 1928. In the early years, Ards RFC played most of their games in the Ulster Junior Leagues but attained Senior League and All-Ireland League status on 2 occasions. The club currently fields three adult teams and a women’s team, North Down Women, who are a combination of players from the Ards, Bangor and Donaghadee clubs. 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.

In 1977/1978 Senior League status was achieved by defeating Ballymena 2nd XV 12-6 in an Ulster League Section 2 playoff at Shane Park, Instonians.

After experiencing their most successful period in the mid 1980s, when the Ulster Senior League and Ulster Senior Cup titles were won once and twice respectively, the club were finally admitted to the All-Ireland League in season 1993/94. However, after a downturn in fortunes in the late 1990s Ards were relegated from senior rugby to Qualifying League Section 1 in season 2000/01, a situation which was reversed in 2002/03 when the 1st XV won the AIB All Ireland Qualifying Round Robin playoff and were promoted for a second time to the Ulster Senior and All-Ireland Leagues. Unfortunately, in season 2014/2015 Ards again forfeited their senior status and now play in the Ulster Rugby Championship Division 2.

In August 1983 Ards embarked on their first, and thus far, only major overseas tour to Canada.

Some sections of the club:

Ards U-12 boys

Ards U-12 girls at the Aviva Stadium Dublin in May 2022

Canadian Tour Party

Notable Former Players

British and Irish Lions: Blair (Paddy) Mayne, Phillip Matthews, Nigel Carr Ireland: Blair (Paddy) Mayne, Phillip Matthews, Nigel Carr, Ken Hooks Barbarians: Phillip Matthews, Nigel Carr, Rab Irwin Ulster: Barry Calvert, Phillip Matthews, Nigel Carr, Iain Moles, Wesley Campbell, Garth Calow New Zealand: Scott Robertson

League and Cup Wins

Ulster Senior League Champions 1983/84 • Ulster Senior Cup Winners 1984/85, 1986/87 • Boston Cup Winners 1976/77 • Past Players’ Cup Winners 1971/72, 1974/75, 1984/85, 2002/03 • Ulster Towns’ Cup Winners 1961/62, 2002/03 • Ulster Junior Cup Winners 1976/77 • Qualifying League 1 Champions 2002/03 • All-Ireland League Qualifying Round Robin Championship 2002/03 • Oval Trophy Winners 1969/70 • Forster Cup Winners 1968/69, 1969/70, 1980/81 • McCambley Cup Winners 1987/88, 1988/89, 1990/91, 1994/95, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2009/10, 2013/14, 2019/20 (shared with Ballymena) • Butler Shield Winners 2017/18 • Ulster U-20 Prudential Cup Winners 1984/85, 1989/90 • Ulster U-20 League Joint Winners 2008/09 • Ulster U-18 Edgar Bowman Cup Winners 2007/08 • Ulster U-18 Holland Plate Winners 2014/15 • Coleraine Coca-Cola U-18 Cup Winners 2002/03 • Ulster U-16 RB Fleming Cup Winners 2000/01

Jill Shaw’s Ards Girls

North Down Women (Ards, Bangor and Donaghadee)

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Outdoor Dining

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