- Mechanical Bulls
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Mechanical Bulls 
Full name Mechanical Bulls RFC Nickname(s) The Bulls Founded 2007 Location Munster, Ireland Ground(s) UL Pitches (Capacity: 500 (currently being upgraded to 600)) Coach(es) John "Bull" McCabe Most appearances Johnny Flynn (10) Top scorer Stephen Malone (20) Most tries Patrick Duggan (5) League(s) Kinsale Sevens 2007-08 2nd Official website www.freewebs.com/mechanicalbulls/ Mechanical Bulls (also known as Mechanical Bulls RFC) are an Irish amateur rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the annual Kinsale Sevens tournament. They finished runners up in the Friday competition, and reached the quarter finals in the Plate, to record their best ever finish in the Kinsale Sevens 2008. Mechanical Bulls are an invitation only team, similar to the Barbarians. Their main home ground is at the University of Limerick pitches.
The Mechanical Bulls were formed in 2006 at the University of Limerick, by a group of engineers. It began as a 15s rugby union team, and remains undefeated in that code. It constantly enters a team in the Kinsale Sevens competition, and together with their very distinctive cow pattern jerseys, remain probably the most popular team in the tournament. The Bulls are also well known for their incredible fan support and game day atmosphere (the deafening noise during play and complete silence during an attempt to kick a goal). Mechanical Bulls players play in a black and white jersey, white shorts and black and white socks. The Mechanical Bulls logo of a bulls head and two wrenchs in the form of a skull and crossbones, in reference to both the marauding spirit of the team and as a homage to the original team name, The Buckfast Buccaneers. The bulls head symbolises the pride, strength and unity in the team, while the wrenchs represent the teams history in being founded by engineers.
Contents
History
First Games
The first match in the history of the Bulls took place against a team of 3rd year Engineers. A close match saw the Bulls just edge it, no mean feat for a team that had only one hour of training together under their belt. The rematch a week later saw a much more efficient and confident performance by the Bulls dispatch the 3rd Year pretenders by a scoreline of 56-12. That victory provided two cases of Miller for the Bulls, which were duly dispatched with the same level of ruthlessness evident in the match. To this day, the Bulls are still unbeaten in 15s rugby.
Kinsale Sevens 2007
Kinsale Sevens 2007 saw a tough education for the Bulls (then named Buckfast Buccaneers) as they failed to win a game in the competition. This did however prove to be a pivotal moment in the history of the team, as it was then and there that the Mechanical Bulls as we know them today were formed.
Dunbrody Sevens 2007
Dunbrody Sevens was the next competition, and while the team continued its rapid improvement and managed to get their first victory, it will forever be remembered as the weekend they almost lost their vital prop Richard McEvoy to pneumonia and disappearance.
Kinsale Sevens 2008
A break of almost ten months followed, before the Bulls triumphant return to form happened. They returned to Kinsale for the 2008 Sevens competition (under the new name, crest and colours of Mechanical Bulls), finishing 2nd in the Friday evening competition, before making it to the quarter finals of the Plate on Saturday. The harsh lessons learned the previous year had truly been taken to heart...
Future
On the 8th July 2008, it was confirmed that the Mechanical Bulls would be entering the Dunbrody Sevens 2008 tournament, where they hope to continue their development and improvement by at least equalling or bettering the previous years results.
Colours and crest
Mechanical Bulls home jersey (front)
The Mechanical Bulls current kit manufacturers are OB Sport. Their playing kit consists of black and white patterned jersey, white shorts, and black socks with white trim. The crest consists of a bulls head and two wrenchs similar in position to a skull and crossbones. The similarity to the pirate symbol is twofold - Firstly, to symbolise the marauding spirit of the Mechanical Bulls, and secondly, as a type of homage to the original name of the team - The Buckfast Buccaneers. The bulls head symbolises the pride, strength and unity which exists in the team, while the wrenchs represent the teams origins of being founded by University of Limerick engineers.
Home grounds
While the Mechanical Bulls do not have an official home ground, they play all home matches at the UL Pitches, Castletroy. The Pitches have a capacity of 500, and is currently undergoing redevelopment work to increase that to 600. Munster Rugby also train on these pitches.
Current squad (Season 2007/2008)
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under IRB eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-IRB nationality.
Player Position Union Sean Leech Fullback 
IrelandStephen Malone Fullback IrelandStephen Broderick Wing IrelandPhilip Browne Wing IrelandMaurice Donoghue Wing IrelandCiaran Toomey Wing IrelandPatrick Duggan Wing IrelandBenjamin Carroll Fly-half IrelandStephen Byrne Scrum-half IrelandPadraig Brosnan Scrum-half IrelandBarry Prendeville Prop IrelandRichard McEvoy Prop IrelandDaniel Ahern Hooker Ireland (Captain)Mike Murphy Lock IrelandJohnny Flynn Flanker IrelandDavid Connolly Number 8 IrelandPlayers in (Season 2007/2008)
Players out (Season 2007/2008)
- (Ireland) Conor Leydon
Notable former players
- (Ireland) Mike "Shtun" Murphy
- (Ireland) Richard "The Rock" McEvoy
- (Ireland) Stephen "Anger Management" Byrne
- (Ireland) James O'Connor
External links
Categories:- Sports clubs established in 2007
- Rugby union clubs in County Limerick
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