Congrats to our Men’s First XV on their superb bonus point away victory last Saturday in the Mardyke Cork against UCC Rugby Football Club.

Although it is very early days, we currently stand top of 1B on 9 points and huge credit is due to captain Roy Whelan and the players and Management Team.

Again, the Team showed great resilience and composure to come through a tough encounter against a very good side and tries by Thomas Quinn, Harry Waters, James Burke and Jack Deegan got us through.

The Man of the Match Award this week goes to full back Tim Corkery for a fantastic display and 4 out of 4 conversions.

Many thanks to Alan Kelly of Frewen & Aylward, Dunlaoghaire for becoming Man of the Match Sponsors. It’s great to have you on board.

It was also great to see Sam O’Sullivan, UCC’s captain from last year fully recovered and to enjoy the close bonds between these 2 great Clubs epitomized by former UCC player and Rock Captain Hubi Kos in attendance.

 

Congratulations to Beibhinn Parsons, Emily Lane, Aoibheann Reilly and Kate Jordan for beating Japan as members of our National Side. A special day for the Club and Kate Jordan as she became the Club’s 51st International Womens’ Player. Fantastic achievement. 

We look forward to seeing the Women's AIL kickoff this Saturday at home against Wicklow. Best of luck to Head Coach Niall Neville and the entire management team and players. 

 

Our Women’s 2nd XV had a great win against Naas and congratulations to Jill O’Toole and Destiny Moses on being awarded Joint Players of the Match. 

 

Commiserations to ‘The Castle 3rds‘ on defeat away to Greystones in the Metro League but plenty of good individual performances and a huge well done to Patrick Keane on his Man of the Match award.

 

Our U20s also had a great win against Old Belvedere in the JP Fanagan Premier 1 and congratulations to Jamie Shanley on being Man of the Match. 

There are lots of opportunities to watch some great rugby being played this weekend, and we look forward to seeing big numbers out supporting all our teams. The players need our support. 

Huge credit to the members of our Executive for obtaining the green light allowing the Club ongoing access during the year to the College’s 4G pitch. This is a fantastic development, and we thank the Blackrock College Board of Management, without which this would not have been possible. Other ongoing developments and initiatives being undertaken by our hard-working Executive include organising a Player Career Development and Career Mentoring Evening together with progressing to continue to improve the Clubhouse and Playing facilities.

We also thank our Sponsors without whom none of this would be possible.

I'd like to highlight the October Charity, TRY! is the award-winning Irish documentary that follows four players - Richie, Maeve, Tommy and Paul - as they prepare for the Mixed Ability Rugby World Cup. Mixed Ability rugby is full-contact,15-a-side rugby played by people with and without physical and learning disabilities, together, as equals and it sits within the IRFU's player pathway for adult rugby. Over 1,700 rugby fans and supporters attended screenings of TRY! over the opening weekend - and the response has been extraordinary.

Watch the trailer: Try Film

TRY! is not just about the game of rugby, it's about why we play. It's a film about inclusion, belonging and what happens when the focus shifts from what people can't do to what they can. Disability is shown not through sympathy, but through athletes, captains, leaders and friends who happen to play the game we all love. It's a brilliant night out for players, coaches, supporters and families alike. It is rated 12A and runs as a standard feature. The film won Best Irish Feature Documentary at the Galway Film Fleadh and the Audience Award at the IFI Documentary Festival. The Irish Times called it "a charming Irish doc where everyone's a winner." Some of the coverage: Irish Times Review by Donald Clarke - "Everyone's a Winner in this Charming Irish Doc" IFTN interview with director Oisín MistéilIrish Examiner Column on TRY! and Mixed Ability rugbySport for Business Article.

Book your tickets here: https://www.tryfilm.ie/cinema-listings-1 . One thing worth knowing: as an independent Irish film, TRY! is unlikely to have a long cinema run. If your club is thinking about going, this week is the key window. If you'd like help to organise a large group viewing at your local cinema, just get in touch at tryfilmcontact@gmail.com and they will be happy to help.

More information can be found online at Tryfilm.ie

Yours in Rugby,

Paul Brophy
President 2026/27
Blackrock College RFC