Trinity Rugby Returns Home to College Park
Posted on: 23 October 2014
The return of rugby to College Park on Saturday 4th October attracted a large crowd to campus and the ceremonial significance of the day was matched by a hard earned victory by the Trinity 1st XV in their All Ireland League match against Belfast’s Malone RFC.
The work to upgrade the rugby pitch started in June 2013 during which Dublin University Football Club (DUFC) relocated to Monkstown RFC for training and matches. The new surface in College Park provides a state-of-the-art natural grass turf pitch and the installation of floodlights in January 2015 will complete the development project.
“Trinity has the oldest rugby club in the world in continuous existence. Rugby is so much part of the fabric of Trinity life. We are truly delighted to welcome the teams back to home ground to the upgraded pitch,” stated the Provost on the occasion of the opening of the new pitch. “Rugby is taken seriously here. We have seven teams, covering different ages and abilities, and they are among the most competitive and high-achieving teams in the College.”
Head of Sport, Michelle Tanner, commented on the importance of quality playing facilities as part of the strategic development of sport at Trinity saying, “We are serious about sport at Trinity. Our new ‘Strategy for Sport’ will put in place the infrastructure and resources to develop sporting performance, and investment in top class facilities is an essential part of the plan to achieve these goals.”
"The aspiration of Dublin University Football Club is to be a 'club for life' that attracts both new students, past players and Alumni to engage and stay involved in this great club,” said Dublin University Football Club Chairman, John Boyd. “We are currently rolling out several aspects of the new strategic plan for the club and the opening of the new pitch is the starting point for this.”
The official opening of the pitch was attended by Irish Rugby Football Union President, Louis Magee and Irish Internationals, Fiona Coughlan and Niamh Briggs along with club officers, alumni and friends of Trinity Rugby. The perimeter of the pitch was packed with supporters and Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast handed the match ball to DUFC Club Captain and 4th Year BESS student, Patrick Lavelle, to declare the pitch officially open.
Trinity out half and Medicine student Jack McDermott put in a man-of-the-match performance scoring 21 points in the 26-17 victory over Malone. Despite being without the services of Captain Patrick Lavelle due to concussion, the students secured their first league points of the new season, at the fourth attempt, with Brian Du Toit and McDermott both crossing the Malone line in the second half. The next home fixture in College Park for the 1st XV is against Shannon on Saturday 8th November. Further information on all results and fixtures is available on www.dufc.com.