- Ards RFC
Ards RFC (Ards Rugby Football Club) is a
rugby union Club based inNewtownards ,County Down ,Northern Ireland . It is affiliated to the Ulster Branch of theIrish Rugby Football Union . The club currently fields five adult teams and an under-20 team. Three youth teams also play at under-18, under-16 and under-14 levels. The first team will play in AIB All-Ireland League Division 3 in the 2007-08 season, in addition to theUlster Senior League and theUlster Senior Cup .Foundation
On the 11 April 1928, Ards Rugby Football Club was formed at meeting in Newtownards Academy pavilion.Fact|date=July 2007 The first game was played on 13 October 1928. Ards RFC played most of their early years in the Ulster junior leagues
enior status
In 1977-1978 season Ards achieved Senior status when they were elected to the
Ulster Senior League . After a downturn in fortunes in the 1990s they spent a second period in the Junior leagues. However, in 2002-2003 season Ards 1st XV won through the AIB All Ireland Qualifying round robin and were promoted for a second time, to AIB All Ireland League Division 3. They continue to play in AIL senior rugby finishing in ninth place in 2006-07. [citeweb|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rugby_tables_aibleaguedivision3.html|title=RTE Rugby Tables - AIB League Division 3 2006-07|accessdate=2007-05-05]Honours
*
Ulster Senior Cup (2 wins)
** 1984-85, 1986-87.*
Ulster Senior League (1 win)
** 1983-84.*
Ulster Junior Cup (1 win)
** 1976-77.*
Ulster Towns Cup (2 wins)
** 1961-62, 2002-03.*
Ulster U18 CE Bowman Cup (1 win)
** 2007-08Notable past players
*
Paddy Mayne , Ireland andBritish and Irish Lions
* W.H.J. Millar, Ireland [cite web|url=http://www.ardsrugbyclub.com/Millar_History.htm|title=W H J Millar section at Ards RFC website|accessdate=2007-07-18]
* Nigel Carr, Ireland andBritish and Irish Lions [cite web|url=http://www.ardsrugbyclub.com/carr_history.htm|title=Nigel Carr section at Ards RFC website|accessdate=2007-07-18]
* Philip Matthews, Ireland [cite web|url=http://www.ardsrugbyclub.com/Matthews_history.htm|title=Philip Matthews section at Ards RFC website|accessdate=2007-07-18]
* Kenny Hooks, Ireland [cite web|url=http://www.ardsrugbyclub.com/Hooks_History.htm|title=Kenny Hooks section at Ards RFC website|accessdate=2007-07-18]
* Brian McLaughlin, Ireland Skills Coachources
External links
* [http://www.ardsrugbyclub.com/HomePage.htm Ards RFC website]
* [http://www.ulsterrugby.com/21_50.php?PHPSESSID=98b9961f1bf1c022bb4f4e9bb79260b4 Ulster Branch]
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