Rainey Old Boys Rugby Club

Rugby team
teamname = Rainey Old Boys
fullname = Rainey Old Boys Rugby Football Club
nickname = Old Boys
founded = 1928
ground = Hatrick Park, Magherafelt, Northern Ireland
location = Ulster
country
| countryflagvar = rugby
website = [http://raineyoldboysrfc.com]
league = AIB Division Three
coach = Rhys Botha flagicon|South Africa
season = 2004-05
position = 1st Ulster Qualifying One
season = 2005-06
position = 1st Ulster Qualifying One
season = 2006-07
position = 7th AIB League Three
season = 2007-08
position = 14th AIB League Three
url = www.raineyoldboysrfc.com
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pattern_b1=_blackhoops
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socks1=|FF0000
pattern_la2=| pattern_b2=| pattern_ra2=| leftarm2=EE82EE| body2=EE82EE| rightarm2=EE82EE| shorts2=000000| socks2=000000

Rainey Old Boys Rugby Club is situated in the market town of Magherafelt, County Londonderry. They are one of the eleven current Senior Rugby Union clubs in Ulster, Ireland. Rainey Old Boys currently compete in All Ireland Division 3.

At present they field 4 senior teams, Under 20s (The Rhinos), Under 18s, Under 16s, Under 14s and a Ladies team (The Cheetahs).

History

Magherafelt R.F.C. was founded in 1928. Some success was gained up until the Second World War. A few games were played during the war years and from 1947, the club became known as Rainey Old Boys R.F.C. After initial success, a barren period followed and it was not until the mid-60s that the club began to go places.

In 1983 they won the Town’s Cup for the first time. On that team were twelve times capped Harry Steele and brother-in-law, Alan McLean, an Ulster regular who toured Australia with Ireland in 1979.

The President from 1984-1990 was Dr. A.A. McConnell, who was a member of Ireland’s Grand Slam side in 1948.

Rainey proved to be a good cup side but were relegated to Section 2 in 1986. They won Section 2 the following year but slipped back down again in 1994 despite reaching the Town’s Cup final for the sixth time in twenty years. With former Ulster lock Charlie Simpson as player/coach, they won the Town’s Cup in 2001 and were promoted as champions the following season. Former Ballymena RFC No. 8, John Andrews, took over as player/coach when Charlie moved on to Dungannon RFC, and led the side to the Qualifying League 1 title in 2005. In the play-offs they beat Monivea 21-8 at home before losing 14-13 at Naas and 18-17 at Nenagh Ormond.

Having added some strength in depth to the squad, they started last season by beating Ballymena 2XV in the Past Players’ Cup Final. After twelve straight wins in the league, they came unstuck at Armagh on New Year’s Eve but regrouped to beat second placed Limavady 53-3 and retain the title. In the inaugural All-Ireland Junior Cup the luck of the draw helped them to beat Cork side Kanturk 47-9 and South Dublin outfit, Seapoint 31-12 at home. A big crowd travelled south to see them beat Youghal 27-5 at Lansdowne Road in the final. Then on successive Saturdays, they beat Westport 36-0 away, Youghal 34-0 and Monkstown 32-16 at home to win the round robin play-offs and clinch their place in the All-Ireland League.

At the end of the 2006/07 season John Andrews left to join Dungannon RFC as their new Head Coach. [citeweb|url=http://www.dungannonrugby.co.uk/news.asp?ID=445|title=Dugannon RFC website announcement of John Andrew's appointment|accessdate=2007-08-09] In his 5 years at the club he guided them to 2 Ulster Qualifying titles, the Past Players Cup, the All Ireland Junior Cup, runners-up in the Towns Cup and qualification into the All Ireland League.

The 2006-07 season featured Rainey's first appearance in the AIB League. Rainey finished in a mid-table seventh place in Division Three. [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] In addition Rainey finished in sixth place in their first year in the Ulster Senior League. [citeweb|url=http://www.ulsterrugby.com/21_266.php|title=Ulster Rugby Senior League Table 2006-07|accessdate=2007-05-05] On 17 July 2007 it was announced that Willie Anderson had been appointed as club coach. [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ulster/6902194.stm|title=BBC article about Willie Anderson's appointment as club coach|accessdate=2007-07-19]

Current Status

After the departure of Willie Anderson at the end of 2007-08 season, Rainey swiftly moved to secure the captured of Rhys Botha from Ballymena. He will act as Player/Coach for 2008-09 season.

The Second XV finished 7th in their second season in the 2XV League.

The Third XV finished 3rd in Section Three of the Junior League, narrowly mising out on promotion.

The Fourth XV won the North East Division of the Minor League, losing only one match in 22 games. They also won the Butler Shield at Ravenhill.

The Rainey Rhinos U-16's won the Ulster Fleming Shield by beating Enniskillen in the final at Ravenhill.

Honours

In 2004-05 Rainey won the Ulster Qualifying League Division One. This achievement was repeated the following season and in addition the inaugural All Ireland Junior Cup was won. [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/irish/4892412.stm|title=BBC Report of AIB Junior Cup Final 2006|accessdate=2007-05-05] Qualification for All Ireland Division 3 was gained through winning the Round Robin Cup against the championship winning teams from; Leinster, Munster and Connaught at the end of the 2005-06 season. [citeweb|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/6855_6341.php|title= Irish Rugby Website - Focus on Rainey|accessdate=2007-05-05]

The two main Junior Provincial Trophies have been won by Rainey.

The Ulster Towns Cup has been won under the name of Magherafelt on two occasions, in 1983 and 2001, from their eight Final appearances.

The Ulster Junior Cup has been won twice, 1976 and 1979, from their three Final appearances.

Management 08/09

Director of Rugby : Oliver McShane flagicon|Ireland|rugby

1XV Team Manager : Damien Campbell flagicon|Ireland|rugby

1XV Coach : Rhys Botha flagicon|South Africa|rugby

1XV Assistant Coach : Charlie Simpson flagicon|England|rugby

1XV Assistant Coach : Dylan Davies flagicon|Wales|rugby

2XV Coach : Phillip Lee flagicon|Ireland|rugby

3XV Selectors : Gerry McCann flagicon|Ireland|rugby and Eamon Campbell flagicon|Ireland|rugby

4XV Player/Selector: Declan McCann flagicon|Ireland|rugby

Team Captains 08/09

1XV :Andrew Kerr flagicon|Ireland|rugby

2XV :Ciaran Donaghy flagicon|Ireland|rugby

3XV :Oisin McOscar flagicon|Ireland|rugby

4XV :Declan McCann flagicon|Ireland|rugby

Signings 2008-09

IN:

Stewart Lester flagicon|Ireland|rugby Armagh RFC

Rhys Botha flagicon|South Africa Ballymena RFC

Paul Smyth flagicon|Ireland|rugby Ballymena RFC

Simon Hawe flagicon|Ireland|rugby Hillhead Jordanhill RFC

Lee Smith flagicon|Ireland|rugby Limavady RFC

Willem Jacobs flagicon|South Africa Cape Town RFC

Stephen Rea flagicon|Ireland|rugby Dungannon RFC Karl Brennan flagicon|Ireland|rugby Queens RFC

OUT:

Neil O'Kane flagicon|Ireland|rugby Dungannon RFC

Colm Heaney flagicon|Ireland|rugby Dungannon RFC

Kenny Irvine flagicon|Ireland|rugby Ophir RFC

Micheal Sargent flagicon|Ireland|rugby Instonians

Internationals

Dr A.A McConnell - flagicon|Ireland|rugby Ireland

Nathan Amos - flagicon|Israel Israel

Harry Steele - flagicon|Ireland|rugby Ireland

Stephen McKinstry - flagicon|Ireland|rugby Ireland Under 19s

Stephen Beattie - flagicon|USA United States Under 19s

Michael Glancy - flagicon|Ireland|rugby Ireland Under 21s

Connor Lavery - flagicon|Ireland|rugby Ireland Under 19s

Nathan McMullan - flagicon|Ireland|rugby Ireland Under 18s

Current Senior Squad

Sources

External links

* [http://www.raineyoldboysrfc.com Rainey Old Boys RFC Website]
* [http://www.ulsterrugby.ie Ulster Rugby Website]
* [http://www.irfu.ie Irish Rugby Football Union Website]
* [http://www.lombard.co.uk Lombard PLC Website - Club Sponsors]