Old Belvedere Women’s Rugby – 2009-2010 Season Report
What a year for the women’s team. We started the year in August 2009 determined to break into Division One. The past few seasons have been tough, making a lot of finals, but not reaching our goals. It was a very rewarding year, not just because we reached the Leinster Provincial Cup Final, the All-Ireland Cup Semi-Final, and won the A.I.L. Division 2, but also because of the friendships built during those nights when we were out in the bitter cold and rain. We have trained so hard since August, and I know some nights were very tough-going out in conditions that no one else would train in.
Prior to the season start, the team undertook a massive recruitment drive for new players and visited a number of the Tag venues around Dublin throughout the summer. These efforts, in addition to the creative posters designed by and featuring members of the team, caught the attention of many prospective players as evidenced by the large turnout at Belvo's 'Open Day' held at Anglesea Road at the end of August. As a result of their recruitment drive, Old Belvedere currently has a squad in excess of 30 players.
In the A.I.L. League Division 2, the ladies won seven out of their eight league matches (in as far-flung destinations as Carrickfergus, Derry, Cavan, Longford and Cill Dara - we managed to win all our away matches) to proceed to the league semi-final where we beat Division 2 South Champions Tralee 3-10 away before beating City of Derry 28 -3 in the A.I.L. Division 2 final in Dubarry Park, Athlone and therefore attaining promotion to A.I.L. Division 1 for the 2010-11 season. These were the comments of Ollie Campbell following the final "...it was a brilliant performance throughout, particularly in the second half and I will take that last try to my grave with me. That was real rugby by any standards." And that is from a rugby legend - so we can be very proud of ourselves.
Old Belvedere is proudly now one of only three clubs in the country to have both men’s and ladies team in top flight A.I.L. Division 1 rugby.
Old Belvedere player Nora Stapleton was selected this season for the Irish Ladies Rugby team. She earned her first cap starting on the wing against Italy, in what was a great victory for the girls in green. She has gone on to play against England and Wales in Ireland’s Six Nations campaign and started (and scored) as wing in her third international cap against Scotland. Her team and club are incredibly proud of Nora and her achievements this season and were proud to see her make the IRB Women’s World Cup. Let’s hope that Old Belvo sees some more of their players achieving International status in the coming seasons. Promotion to Division 1 is a reward to her loyalty to this club.
This season Old Belvo also announced a new kit sponsor, JJ Kavanagh’s Coaches of Urlingford, Co Kilkenny. The new jerseys sport the distinctive compass logo of JJ's and the team would like to take the opportunity to thank JJ Kavanagh’s for their sponsorship and our favourite bus driver, Frankie!
The team has a very active social side to it which includes old and new players as well as former members. An activity weekend was held in Carlingford earlier on in the season as a team bonding event which saw players scrambling around the fields of Carlingford, climbing logs, swinging on ropes, trying to find their way out of pitch black mazes and falling into puddles of mud! A few beers in the local pubs of Carlingford that evening soon helped everyone to forget their bumps and bruises! The team also hosted their annual table quiz which was a great success; huge thanks go to all the participants on what was a thoroughly enjoyable night. To top off a hectic season the Ladies traveled to Sweden this summer to participate in the Stockholm Tens tournament where they won the Plate. Touring is one of the highlights of Belvo’s seasons and previous tours have seen the team visit Cardiff, Walesand Dendermonde, Belgium.
The ladies team would like to thank all involved this year, particularly Club Hon. Sec. Colm Brennan for all his help and support, Damien Torsney (for ensuring the A.I.L. final was actually played), James Stafford, Dave McGahan, Ollie Campbell for their assistance and advice and Dec Hogan for all their support this season.
I would like to single out Alan Kennedy for huge praise and thanks. He was instrumental in bringing our team success this year due to his involvement. His patience, energy and unwavering faith in us helped put Old Belvo Ladies on the map this year. He is a fantastic coach and a true club man. The memories of some of our epic bus rides will stay with the team forever- particularly the return leg from Tralee!
I would like to thank all of the players who put in such a huge effort; it was a huge honour to be involved with such a great team. We are looking forward to the coming season, competing in Division 1, and also growing our team to have a Division 3 side as well. We have a great coaching staff, and would like to welcome Aled Hughes and Ben Wessell to the fold. A big welcome back also to Yvonne Nolan, Irish International.
Fionnuala Gleeson, Captain