President's Message 17.9.26

What a Great Start to the Season!

Congrats to Captain James Burke, the Senior Men's Team and Management for winning the Leinster Senior League for the first time in many decades and beating Naas 54-26 in a thrilling game!

Many thanks to all the Rock supporters for cheering them on to a famous victory! Congrats also to scrum half Thomas Quinn for another Man of the Match Award.

The Team is playing an exciting brand of attacking rugby at present which is a great tribute to the Players, Coaches, New Structures in place and the recent successful 4 day Strength and Conditioning Tour to Barcelona.

Our Men's Energia AIL campaign kicks off on Saturday Sep 26th at 2.30pm in Stradbrook versus MU Barnhall.

Already there is huge interest in the pre match lunch. For home lunches, book online now or contact Conor or Erin in the Club Office or Larry Macken, Dec Conway or Paul Brophy.

We need to get behind the lads for this crucial fixture. The players need our support.

For your rugby fix this weekend, come watch the J1s Metro League Qualifier on Saturday Sep 19th at 3.00pm in Stradbrook (lower pitch) versus Monkstown.

Good luck to Ed O’Rahelly, Jack Gardiner and players on the J1s initial fixture in the 2026/ 2027 Season. Rumour has it that some Players who have not played so far will be back to make their Season Debuts and we encourage everyone to go watch and cheer them on!

Our Women have returned from their wonderful trip to Toulouse last week where they participated in the first ever Master Européen which was hosted and organised by Blagnac Rugby. Maeve Og O'Oleary has provided a great detailed recap of their trip online, but I'd like to thank the Management Team consisting of our Women’s Head Coach Niall Neville, forwards and defence coach Dave Quinn and assistant coach Tabz Peterken.

Our playing squad included returning interprovincial players, our current Blackrock stalworths as well as some old faces from the Club like our former captain Shannon Heapes. We thank our esteemed Executive Committee Member Jen Moore, without whom this Tour would not have happened and our sponsors Pinergy, Jeep and Engage Financial Solutions. Thank you for the continued support!

Despite great performances against semi-professional sides, ultimately the title of the inaugural Master Europeen title went to Blagnac. Our girls put on displays we can be extremely proud of and it puts us in a position now to springboard into the AIL and Leinster League seasons.

The Team also had the pleasure of spending the evening in Trevor Brennan’s Bar. The proud former Leinster and Toulouse player hosted the squad for dinner and drinks!

The Women’s 1st XV starts their AIL campaign on 10th October at 1.30pm in Stradbrook vs Wicklow.

Congrats also to our Under-12 Boys for featuring at half time in the Leinster Game against Zebra last Saturday and well done to everyone involved. Some lifelong memories were made during their experience. Read more about it here.

The Executive Committee continue to drive exciting new initiatives to develop and improve the playing and clubhouse facilities which are attracting more players and supporters to Stradbrook.

It was especially great to see the Rock community gathering together to help give the Club a spring clean recently. Thank you to Core Builders Providers and Stillorgan Décor for their kind donations and most importantly to David Rhatigan, our esteemed Executive Committee Member, for making this innovative project a reality. There's a great video of the day on the Club's Instagram page you can check it out.

If you have not already done so we urge everyone to pay your subs now using the ClubZap App, which also gives you access to all club news, fixtures, and results.

I'd like to trial an addition to the Newsletter monthly. We all have areas where we like to make a difference personal to us, including outside the club. I'd like to give our members an opportunity to spotlight that cause in the newsletter once a month. That might include tying into a fundraising event or to raise awareness or both.

This month's charity is close to my wife's (and therefore my!) heart. Michael Horgan was a sport mad kid that could rival many a club member's statistical knowledge on all sports. I witnessed that at a fundraising quiz he compered soon before he died aged 8 in 2023. His last months were filled with sporting outings including being a mascot for Spurs at a Champions League match v Man U and playing with Rory McIlroy at an Irish Open Pro Am in the K-Club.

These moments have been incredibly important for Conor and Anne in a world without their only child and they created Michael's Fan Club to bring these opportunities to other kids and their parents. They are always keen for contacts to make these events extra and Joanna is leaving for a Camino on 18th September, one of their annual fundraising events. Any contribution at all makes a difference.

Please forward your submission for October's charity spotlight to admin@blackrockcollegerfc.ie including a short (150 word) paragraph as to why its special to you.

Michael & Rory Make-a-Wish

Camino 2026 Fundraising idonate

Yours in Rugby,

Paul Brophy