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Donegal Community Rugby Project 2007 Review

DCRP Launch October 2007

DCRP Launch - Representatives from the Ulster Branch and Donegal Clubs.L to R Donal Hannigan, Ballyshannon; Marty Moylan, Letterkenny; David Workman,Ulster Branch President; Victor Kearney, Donegal Town; Brian Young (Ulster & Ireland);John Merritt, Inishowen; Graeme Cattermole, DCRP Chairman.

Ivor Mc Cracken from Kelly’s Toyota presents IRFU/DCRP staff Jonathan Llewhellin, Declan Bushell and Shane O Neill with the keysto the sponsored Toyota Corolla Verso’s

‘Developing a Rugby Community’The development of rugby in Donegal received a majorboost during 2007 with the establishment of the DonegalCommunity Rugby Project. The project will run for an initial3yrs funded by the IRFU and four rugby clubs in Donegal.

The VisionTo create and develop a ‘rugby community’ in CountyDonegal that promotes and delivers a life long learningexperience through sport.

Project AimThe aim of the Project is to develop a rugby structure thatprovides a pathway for playing, coaching and administratingthe game from primary, secondary and 3rd level educationthrough to the local club.This will provide opportunities for people in County Donegalto be positively involved in the growth of rugby within theircommunity.

Kelly’s Toyota show their support for the Development of Rugby in Donegal

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k’s Boys – Carndonagh (below)

oys represented the New Zealand All Blacks in the miniblitz that was held in Stranorlar. At the Blitz they preformedcks traditional Haka to perfection bringing great applause

yone. Great thanks must go to Noel Doherty and John Mcteaching them the Haka and helping improve their rugby skills.

Scoil Mhuire, Glenties (above)

With the great help of teacher John Mc Cann, Rugby in this small schoolin the heart of Glenties is at an all high standard. 23 Boys and Girls from5th & 6th Class took part in the school development sessions.Scoil Mhuire dressed in the Fiji traditional dress performed excellentlynot only on the field, but also off it by performing the Fijian war dancebefore the games commenced.

rogrammes – The primary school programmes involves a 4 week block of TAG rugby delivered by the Youth Development Officer andy the class teacher. Other primary school programmes involve ‘Buntus Rugby’ which is a course offered to school teachers to help them

ugby within curriculum and extra-curricular time. The third programme is aimed towards small rural schools that may not have sufficientfor a 4 week programme. So a number of schools are invited to a TAG rugby day held at the local secondary school.

unch 18th October – 15 Primary schools took part in the World Cup Festival to mark the launch of the community project. The blitz wasby the project staff and assisted by other IRFU Ulster Branch YDO’s. The blitz also had a surprise visit from Ulster Professional players IsaacCarlo Del Fava. All the participating school are photographed below.

cis NS (below)cis N.S. is a school on the up in terms of Rugby Developmenthe great work being done by teacher Emer Carr and principalCallaghan.ool represented Canada at the World Cup blitz and wered with the Fair Play award for good sportsmanship duringmes. A good number of these players are now showing theirkills with the Donegal Town RFC Minis structure

Commons N.S. Killybegs (above)With great work from principal Joe Cannon, Rugby in the Commons N.S.is going well. At the blitz the school represented the U.S.A.The Killybegs school has continuously supported the development of rugbyin Donegal since it started in 2003.

, INTERESTED IN PLAYING MINI RUGBY?s and Dads, why not contact your local club and get the family involved in the FUN!l Town RFC (U8, U10, U12) – Contact Chris Cotton 0879196711

enny RFC (U8, U10, U12) – Contact Michael Mc Garvey 0879093111annon RFC & Inishowen RFC are currently developing club structures for Mini Rugby – Watch this space!

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NS, Portnoo Gaelscoil Adhamnahain, Letterkenny St Peter’s NS, Mountcharles

s NS, Lurgybrack Neill Mor NS, Killybegs Craigtown NS, Carndonagh

mary Schools World Cup Blitz

U would like to thank all the schools and teachers for making this a special day for Rugby in Donegal. Thank you to the Finn Valley Sportsfor the use of facility and the Ulster Branch development officers and staff who assisted on the day. Finally, a huge thank you to Isaac andr making the players day.

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ndary Programmes – In order to create continuitygression within the project the 1st yr pupils in 18 secondaryare taking part in a 4 week block of contact rugby. During theterm over 1000 1st yr girls and boys have taken part in thisme delivered by the Youth Development Officers andby the teachers.

er major programme offered to the secondary school is set-tra-curricular rugby session aimed at U14, U16 and U18 boyss. The pupils who attend these sessions then get a chance tont their school at county and provincial based blitzes.

Carndonagh CS U16’S

CS U16/U18 Boys

CS MilfordMilford have taken part in all the Blitz’s so far this year. Theyme great individual players for both the girls and boys teams.aches, John Lynch and Jo Cowan have had great success in

ng players who have played for both Letterkenny RFC andegal county squads.xt year they will have some lovely new pitches that can only

improve their rugby.

CS U16/U18 Girls

Abbey VocationalRugby in the Abbey Vocational School is growing from strength tostrength thanks to the help of teacher James Gilmartin.The school now boasts Girls and Boys teams at Under 16 and Under

18 level. Many of these players have continued to develop by joining thelocal club in Donegal Town

Abbey Vocational U16 Boys

Carndonagh Community School U16’s (right)This year Carndonagh have made great strides at U16 and U18 level bybeing the first school in Donegal to enter the Ulster wide Pollock cup. Theyentered the preliminary stage in Omagh, where they successfully wonthrough to the finals in Ballynahinch. Great credit must go to their coachesNiall McGee and Mark Spencer. Several of their players are now playing inLetterkenny RFC and the County Development squads.

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olumba’s Comprehensive would be one of the schools at thefront in terms of quality Rugby being played in Donegal. This isanks to teachers Tony and Angela O Callaghan.season Angela started extra – Curricular Rugby for theties Girls every Thursday evening. This has taken off greatly20+ girls training on a regular basis.

y O Callaghan’s work with the Underage Boys again this yearsuperb. With 20 Under 16 and Under 18 Boys taking part in

a – curricular every Tuesday, Tony has now added Under 14s to his training, with up to 28 boys learning the skills of Rugby.egal Town RFC have benefitted immensely from thislopment over the last 4 years with over 70 players joining theh Donegal club

econdary School Rugby

St Columba’s U16/U18 Boys

to Girls U16/U18

Loreto, LetterkennyThis is the first year that the all Girls school have been involved in IRFUdevelopment programmes. Already the returns are proving very positivefor the growth of girl’s rugby in the County.Over 150 1st Yr girls took part in the DCRP 4 week block during November.The U14 extra-curricular programme in January will further develop theplayers who wish to give the game a try!The U16 and U18 girls have been leading the way showing goodcommitment to training under the watchful eye of teacher Clodagh McCool. Many of the girls have decided to further their rugby development byjoining the recently launched U18 Girls team at Letterkenny RFC.

olumba’s College Stranorlarolumba’s has had a long tradition in rugby. Aidan O’Shea has

n putting together competitive teams for a number of years now.y had great success in the U16 and U18 Blitzes in Donegal thison and have produced several players, both boys and girls for

erkenny and Donegal Town rugby clubs.

olumba’s College U16/U18

Finn Valley College U16’s

Finn Valley CollegeDanny Mc Dermott has been developing rugby at the school for threeseasons now with some good results. The school regularly attendcounty blitzes at U16 and U18 level and are continuing improve on ayearly basis.

ould you like to give youth rugby a TRY!ontact your local club and get involved in the gametterkenny RFC – Allen Mc Crea (Boys U14, U16, U18) – 0863325955/Teresa Dunne (Girls U18) - 0879590231

onegal Town – Matthew Wilson (Boys U14, U16, U18) – 0872046066/Declan Bushell (Girls U18) - 0871328585

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na College U16’s Boys Deele College U16/U18 Boys

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k you to all the schools, teachers and players who took part in the blitzes during the autumn term. Thank you to Letterkenny RFC,gal Town RFC and Aura Leisure Centre for the use of facilities.

condary School U16/U18 Blitzestal of 10 Schools have taken part in two 10-a-side rugby blitzes held at Letterkenny RFC and Aura Leisure Centre, Letterkenny. For the boysdonagh CS, Finn Valley College, St Columba's College, St Columba's Glenties, Cranna College, Rosses, Dungloe and Loreto, Milford werepeting for the honours. For the girls Loreto, Letterkenny; Loreto, Milford; Deele College and St Columba's were involved in the participationes.

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lub/Community Development.hat’s been going on in your area?

e of the main aims of the Community project is to give children living in Donegal the chance to begin a lifetime involvement in the game ofby. Over the last 4 years links have been formed and strengthened with school like Loreto, Milford; St Columba’s, Deele College, Abbeycational, Glenties Comprehensive, St Catherine’s and Colaiste Colmcille, feeding players to the local clubs in Letterkenny and Donegal

n.ce the project , started these links have been instrumental in forming two new girls U18 squads at Letterkenny RFC and Donegal TownC. Many of these players have fed into the clubs through the County Development Squad Structure, which in turn has been strengthenedthe increase in participation of club rugby.etterkenny, coaches Teresa Dunne and local Loreto teacher Clodagh Mc Cool have been developing over 25 girls for U18 rugby. Thead are currently unbeaten after three games without even conceding a point. Many of these girls are in the current County and Ulstervincial development squads. This is credited to the high level of coaching the girls receive at their school, club and County sessions.

Donegal Town RFC squad was set up in late November and is currently being coached by one of the project staff, Declan Bushell. Thes are soon to play their first fixture in the Ulster development league.

Letterkenny Girls U18’s

Would you like to be a community rugby volunteer?Why not send an email to info@donegalcommunityrugby.com and one of our staff

will contact you. Maybe one of the following would interest you,Primary School Rugby, Secondary School Rugby, Club Rugby

achers TAG Rugby Socialovember over 25 teachers took part in a new TAG rugby initiative run bymunity project staff. The event was a great success with many new

chers playing the non contact sport for the first time. Teachers frometo, Letterkenny, St Columba’s, St Eunan’s, Deele College andrndonagh all took part. After their exploits on the pitch the Teachers werearded with some well earned food and refreshments at club Voodoo,ore returning home to prepare next weeks lessons!!!

you’re a teacher in Donegal and would like to get involved then sendemail to the address below and we will reply with details of the nextial event.

IRFU Mini CourseIn October an IRFU Mini Rugby Course was held at the FinnValley Sports Centre. The course was partly funded by theDonegal Sports Partnership. The participants came fromLetterkenny, Donegal Town and Inishowen Rugby Clubs. This ispart of the new drive to get more volunteers into the game inDonegal. There will be several courses available within thecommunity throughout the year so keep checking the DCRPwebsite as there may be a course that interests you

IRFU Mini Rugby Course Participants

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ounty Rugby Round-upounty rugby in Donegal is now in its fourth season. This year saw a change in the structure at provincial level with the amalgamation of theCounty squads to form 4 Regional Squads. However due to the success of the County structure in Donegal the Ulster Branch decided

hat the status quo was the best way forward for rugby development in the western County.

he squads have already played a number of fixtures this season at different age groups when they lined up against Foyle and Derryollege, Omagh Academy, Enniskillen RFC and Omagh RFC. The first fixture against the Grammar schools proved to be a good learningxperience for the Donegal players and also highlighted the gap between school and club rugby. This is a gap that the County squads aimo close during the lifetime of the DCRP.n the club fixtures the team fared much better with a fine display by the U18 boys against Omagh RFC. However the team that have beeneading the way is the Girls U18 team who are now in their second season of competing. The girls are currently unbeaten and have yet tooncede a point.

he next fixtures for the County are on the 23rd of February and these games will serve as a warm-up for the Tour of South Wales over theaster bank holiday.

onegal County U18 Girls Donegal County U18 Boys

onegal County U16’s Boys

IRFU Player Development Pathway

Do you want to play rugby for your School, Club, County, Province, and Country?

Visit www.donegalcommunityrugby.com and findout how!