Old Wesley
Encyclopedia
Old Wesley Rugby Football Club was founded in 1891 from the past pupils of Wesley College
, Dublin. Since then it has become one of Leinster's most famous clubs. The club won the Leinster Senior Cup
in 1909 and 1985 as well as winning the AIL Division 2 title in 1989. They celebrated their Centenary year in 1991 with a match against a star studded Barbarians
team featuring Internationals such as Eric Rush
, Pierre Berbizier
and Tony Underwood
. They won the eleven-try match in dramatic fashion with a last minute drop-goal to win 37-36
Through the early 1990s they were one of the most successful teams in Leinster, reaching three cup finals and consistently playing in the 1st Division of the AIL League. However since relegation from Division 1 in 1997 their fortunes have slipped.
Old Wesley were crowned AIL Division 3 Champions 2008/2009 following a 30 - 12 victory over Corinthians. They gained promotion to and now play in AIL Division 2.
who formerly played with County Carlow Football Club
as well as having played minor hurling for Wexford. The club runs 5 men's teams from the 1st XV to the J4s, the club also has a full underage structure from u21s down to u6s, these teams train and play on a Sunday.
In addition the club runs a full mini & youth rugby section with teams from U-8 level to U-17 level.
on the banks of the Dodder River, Old Wesley share their ground with Bective Rangers
FC and the Leinster Branch of the IRFU.
Until 2007 Old Wesley played their junior matches at the Kilgobbin ground near Sandyford which they shared with Lansdowne FC. However, a new ground at Ballycorus was officially opened on the 25th of November 2007..
, Eric Miller
, Henry Hurley
, Chris Pim, Dan van Zyl
, EA Carrey, George Hamlet, Simon Goldsmith and Eric Campbell. Current first team out half David Smith is one of the top scorers in AIL history with over 1,000 points.
Wesley College, Dublin
This article is about Wesley College in Dublin, Ireland. See Wesley College for articles on other institutions named "Wesley College"....
, Dublin. Since then it has become one of Leinster's most famous clubs. The club won the Leinster Senior Cup
Leinster Club Senior Cup
The Leinster Senior Cup is a major rugby competition in Ireland.The Leinster Senior Cup has been competed for by the strongest clubs in the province of Leinster since 1882...
in 1909 and 1985 as well as winning the AIL Division 2 title in 1989. They celebrated their Centenary year in 1991 with a match against a star studded Barbarians
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
team featuring Internationals such as Eric Rush
Eric Rush
Eric James Rush is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and a Rugby Sevens legend, arguably one of the greatest Sevens players to grace the game...
, Pierre Berbizier
Pierre Berbizier
Pierre Berbizier is a French former rugby union footballer, and currently head coach of Top 14 side Racing Métro. His usual position was at scrum-half. He played 56 times for France.-Biography:Berbizier was born in Saint-Gaudens...
and Tony Underwood
Tony Underwood
Tony Underwood is a former English rugby union footballer who played as a wing three-quarter back. He is of Chinese-English parentage....
. They won the eleven-try match in dramatic fashion with a last minute drop-goal to win 37-36
Through the early 1990s they were one of the most successful teams in Leinster, reaching three cup finals and consistently playing in the 1st Division of the AIL League. However since relegation from Division 1 in 1997 their fortunes have slipped.
Old Wesley were crowned AIL Division 3 Champions 2008/2009 following a 30 - 12 victory over Corinthians. They gained promotion to and now play in AIL Division 2.
Club staff
Currently the head coach at the club is Morgan Lennon. The current Club president is Ivan White whilst the Club Captain is Greg Jacob, a former pupil of Kilkenny CollegeKilkenny College
Kilkenny College or KCK is a co-educational secondary school located in Kilkenny, in the South-East of Ireland. It is a private school which caters for both boarders and day students. It is the largest co-educational boarding school in Ireland...
who formerly played with County Carlow Football Club
County Carlow Football Club
County Carlow Football Club is a rugby club in Carlow, County Carlow, Ireland. The club was founded in October 1873, and is one of the oldest rugby clubs in Ireland...
as well as having played minor hurling for Wexford. The club runs 5 men's teams from the 1st XV to the J4s, the club also has a full underage structure from u21s down to u6s, these teams train and play on a Sunday.
Underage Teams
Old Wesley has both teams competing at U-23 level and U-21 level, which has proved successful in developing youth players to progress in the club. The U-20 Team reached the final of the Purcell Cup Final in 2008 and 2009.In addition the club runs a full mini & youth rugby section with teams from U-8 level to U-17 level.
Location
Based in Donnybrook, Dublin 4Donnybrook, Dublin
Donnybrook is a district of Dublin, Ireland. It is situated on the southside of the city, in the Dublin 4 postal district, and is home to the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ. It was once part of the Pembroke Township...
on the banks of the Dodder River, Old Wesley share their ground with Bective Rangers
Bective Rangers
Bective Rangers is a rugby union club in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1881.The Club is affiliated to the Leinster Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union and play in Division 2 of the All Ireland League....
FC and the Leinster Branch of the IRFU.
Until 2007 Old Wesley played their junior matches at the Kilgobbin ground near Sandyford which they shared with Lansdowne FC. However, a new ground at Ballycorus was officially opened on the 25th of November 2007..
Notable players
Notable players have included Internationals Philip OrrPhilip Orr
Philip Andrew "Phil" Orr , is a former Irish international and British and Irish Lions Rugby Union loosehead prop. Educated at The High School, Dublin and Trinity College Dublin, Orr played for Old Wesley for over 20 years and was, for many years, his country's most-capped prop with a then world...
, Eric Miller
Eric Miller (rugby player)
Eric Roger Patrick Miller is a former Irish rugby union and Gaelic football player. As a rugby player Miller played for, among others Old Wesley, Leicester Tigers,[Ulster],Leinster, the Barbarians, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions...
, Henry Hurley
Henry Hurley
Henry Hurley is a retired Irish rugby union loose-head prop-forward. Born in Doncaster, He played for Old Wesley RFC, Moseley RFC, Leinster and Ireland. He won 2 caps between 1995 and 1996. -References:...
, Chris Pim, Dan van Zyl
Dan van Zyl
Daniel Jacobus van Zyl is a South African sportsman who represented his country at rugby union and played first-class cricket....
, EA Carrey, George Hamlet, Simon Goldsmith and Eric Campbell. Current first team out half David Smith is one of the top scorers in AIL history with over 1,000 points.