Welcome
It is a huge pleasure as President of University College Dublin Rugby Football Club for the coming year to express my warm personal welcome to all to the Belfield Bowl this season.
For many years now UCD has produced a brand of rugby which has been a pleasure to play, exciting to watch and more often than not winning rugby (although our “comfortable” 6-3 over Belfast Harlequins in last season’s relegation battle continues to have repercussions for the health of some of our older members).
I have no doubt that for many reasons this coming year will be hugely successful.
We are fortunate that not only have the majority of last season’s players remained but also some wonderful new players have joined. I am delighted to welcome back Brian O’Driscoll to his old Club and I am sure that he will provide inspiration to all in UCD but particularly to our younger members.
I believe strongly that sport, and particularly team sport, is hugely beneficial not only for the individuals involved but also for the community in which each team or club is located. I still feel that a strong and healthy club rugby scene in this country is essential for the good of Irish Rugby as a whole.
Following on from this concept UCDRFC has decided to revive and reinvigorate junior and social rugby in the College. Vinny Hammond has been appointed to the new position of Junior Club Co-ordinator with the aim of making UCD what it has been in the past i.e. a Club which encourages exciting and winning rugby but also a Club which caters for all levels of skill, all levels of allecadoos and all levels of social eventers.
No Club in Ireland can be successful without the huge time spent by many volunteers who work extremely hard all year and whose contribution is generally overlooked. I want to thank each and every individual involved in UCDRFC and wish the best of luck to our Captain Michael Hastings, his players, the coaching team under the guidance of Bobby Byrne and indeed the captains and players of all the other teams in college for the coming season.
I want to particularly thank our main sponsor AIB who have made a wonderful contribution to rugby in UCD for a number of years now and also to thank all our lunch sponsors and everyone who supports rugby in college.
My hope is that every team and indeed every person who comes to Belfield be they an opponent, a member of UCDRFC or simply a spectator has an enjoyable, entertaining and memorable day in our Club. You are all more than welcome.
David Bergin
President
UCDRFC