SEASON 2019 - 2020 - 2020 2019 OLD WESLEY OLD WESLEY RFC 2019 - 2020 02527-Arachas-Old Wesley Ad 2016.qxp_Layout 1 22/08/2016 23:04 Page 1 Put your Insurance in Safe Hands Contact: David Jermyn Email: [email protected] l Web: www.arachas.ie Dublin Cork South East Arachas Arachas Arachas The Courtyard, 9 Eastgate Avenue, Marine Point, Carmanhall Road, Eastgate Business Park, Belview, Sandyford Business Estate, Little Island, Waterford, Dublin 18. Cork. Tel: 01 213 5000 Tel: 021 427 0505 Tel: 051 877 700 Arachas Corporate Brokers Limited, trading as Arachas is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. PRESIDENT PRESIDENT RUGBY IRISH UNION FOOTBALL MESSAGE FROM: FROM: MESSAGE Nicky Comyn On my own behalf and on behalf of the IRFU, I extend my best wishes to Old Wesley RFC for the 2019-20 season and hope it is a successful one. The start of this season heralds the staging I greatly welcome the IRFU’s signing of a of the Rugby World Cup in Japan and I know five year partnership with Energia, which you join with me in wishing every success sees the electricity and gas supply company to coach, Joe Schmidt, and his management become the official energy partner to Irish team, together with the Ireland playing rugby and also title sponsor of both the squad. men’s and women’s All Ireland League competitions. This Rugby World Cup year creates a very busy season, taking account of Ireland’s This year is the 30th anniversary of the women 15s team; the under 20s; men’s AIL and the support being demonstrated and women’s sectors; the fortunes of our by Energia is timely. It will, hopefully, give provincial clubs in the Guinness Pro14 a lift to all clubs in the AIL, both men and and Heineken Champions Cup and also women. the myriad club, women’s, third level and schools competitions through the grass I appreciate the struggles of some clubs roots landscapes. at all levels and hope this season 2019- 20 will be a special one. I wish your club, While, by its nature, the professional game its members, volunteers, players and takes precedence on the International supporters every success and enjoyment stage, the welfare of the domestic amateur for the rugby year. game is of paramount importance to me and to the IRFU. Nicky Comyn President Having been chairman of the AIL and Third Irish Rugby Football Union Level, I am acutely aware of the position of clubs and I take this opportunity to acknowledge the committed and critical role being played by our huge number of volunteers, who make it all happen. A Club for Life 1 A Club for Life 2 MESSAGE FROM: FROM: MESSAGE PRESIDENT LEINSTER RUGBY Robert Deacon As President of Leinster Rugby and a proud member of Old Wesley RFC, I am deeply honoured to write this message for the club yearbook. If I could start by extending my congratulations achievements well documented elsewhere to Adrian Hawe on his appointment as in this publication. This is down to a lot of President. Adrian has been a wonderful dedicated hard work and organisation carried servant to the club, both on and off the pitch out by many in the club. Congratulations to all for many years. I would like to wish him, involved, the Rugby Committee, the Coaches, along with John Lowry, the newly appointed Managers and Kit men, it is your time and club Chairman, every success for the season efforts that help to reap the rewards. ahead. The commitment shown by you has also Last season proved to be one of the most helped to attract and increase playing successful ever in the club’s long history. All numbers at all levels in the club and long may of the adult teams played in finals of Leinster this continue, and I wish you all every success club competitions and seven trophies were for this season. lifted. The senior team, under the captaincy of Paul Harte and head coach Morgan Lennon, The mini and youths section plays a vital role came up just short of winning promotion to in the growth and the development of the club Division 1A of the All-Ireland League, losing in and remains vibrant due to a huge input by all a playoff final to a strong UCC side. They were, involved year on year. Each season sees more however, successful in the Leinster League players making it on our senior teams that Division 2 beating Greystones in the final, have come through the club underage system. earlier in the season. To all players in the club, you are what the I am sure promotion to Division 1A will again club is about. My congratulations to you on be very much the focus of the first team the success of last season. I would like to squad under new captain Iain McGann, and wish you well in the various league and cup I would like to wish Iain, along with Morgan campaigns over the coming months. With the and his coaching team and management every coaching structures that are in place, and if success for this season’s campaign. The club you keep up the hard work on the training enjoyed unprecedented success at junior and ground, more trophies and medals will come under 20 level, with, I am sure, the various your way. A Club for Life 3 We’re future BE FUTURE READY thinkers at Zurich. We’re always WITH PENSIONS working on what can be done today POWERED BY to make a better tomorrow. ZURICH. So why not join us? With a pension powered by Zurich, you’re future ready. SPEAK TO YOUR FINANCIAL BROKER OR VISIT ZURICH.IE Zurich Life Assurance plc is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. 4292_A5 Future Ready Ad_Customer_Facing PA 4276 0919.indd 1 09/09/2019 15:40 A Club for Life 4 Leinster Presentation photo by Rob to Old Wesley players Robert Deacon presents the Leinster League Division 2 Trophy to Captain Paul Harte Enjoy playing the game for as long as you can, regard that the club is held in throughout the but when you do retire, for whatever reason, I province. I would like to thank everyone for would appeal to you to stay involved with the your support and best wishes over the last club, be it socially or by volunteering in some number of seasons. form. You will continue to enjoy the fun, spirit and camaraderie that you had when playing. This being a World Cup year, the season ahead will be challenging for Leo Cullen Finally, when your playing days are over, why and his squad as Leinster strive to retain not consider representing your club by taking the Guinness PRO14 league and regain the up the whistle. The Leinster Branch need Heineken Champions Cup and chase that fifth more referees to facilitate the forever growing star on the blue jersey. I know you will join me number of matches throughout the Province. in wishing them well for both competitions. The Referees Association would be delighted I hope to see many Old Wesley members to hear from you and provide training and supporting the team be it in Energia Park, the mentoring to those interested. RDS Arena, the Aviva Stadium and beyond. I would like to wish the club Executive Indeed, various Leinster representative teams Committee well for the season ahead. Running will feature in Energia Park during the course a rugby club nowadays is akin to running a of the season, so why not attend on occasions business and I know the hard work that goes and take the opportunity to support your club. into keeping Old Wesley financially viable The view from the balcony is second to none! and functioning efficiently. There are many members who play a role behind the scenes I will take great pride in entertaining guests of outside of rugby in helping to keep the club Leinster Rugby in my club during my year of operating smoothly. office and availing of the excellent hospitality from Michael Weafer and his staff, coupled From fund-raising, to utilising and running the with the warm welcome that is always offered excellent new clubhouse, to the production of by you, the members, to visitors to our club. this superb programme, plus so much more, I hope to get to the occasional club game this just does not happen without the efforts whenever possible to meet up with my fellow of those members who volunteer. To you all, members, and I would like to wish all in Old keep up the good work. Wesley an enjoyable and rewarding season. It is a humbling privilege for me to represent “FROM THE GROUND UP” Old Wesley as the President of Leinster Rugby. I follow in a line of six previous members to Yours in rugby, hold this honour. I will aim to represent my club to the very best of my ability and uphold Robert Deacon the high esteem and President Leinster Rugby A Club for Life 5 Our clients include the majority of the Fortune 100 companies. We also advise 7 of the top 10 global technology brands and more than half of the world’s 50 largest banks. The law firm of choice for internationally focused companies and financial institutions doing business in and from Ireland. Proud to support Old Wesley Rugby Football Club. For further information, please contact Michael Hastings at [email protected] or any of your usual contacts at Matheson. www.matheson.com A Club for Life 6 TITLE SPONSOR SPONSOR TITLE ALL IRELAND LEAGUES IRELAND ALL MESSAGE FROM: FROM: MESSAGE Gary Ryan We at Energia are extremely proud to have If we can help them to become sustainable, further strengthened our commitment to the clubs can re-invest in grassroots, Irish rugby by becoming the Official Energy ultimately developing the next generation Partner to the Irish Rugby Football Union of players, coaches and volunteers.