Dear Member,
Two years ago, we set up our Clontarf Rugby Patron’s Development Fund, as one of the initiatives following our 2022 Strategic Review.
Thanks to the generosity of over fifty members, who agreed to become Patrons, our Rugby Development Fund, this has enabled us to make significant progress with many of our strategic goals, the effects of which, we believe, are already becoming evident.
At the time of establishing the fund, Patrons were asked to commit for a period of three years, and we undertook to ensuring that all donations received into the fund would go specifically to rugby development. We also undertook that we would report annually on our progress.
On behalf of the Management Committee, I can confirm that all the funds received from the Patrons have all been used within the Rugby Development area, along with additional funding from the Club’s own finances.
Rugby Development Officer
As you may recall, our big “commit”, following the EGM that approved the Strategic Review, was the appointment of our own full-time Rugby Development Officer, which resulted in the very successful appointment of Fionn Gilbert to the role.
We are still only one of a small number of clubs across the country, who have their own RDO and the evidence of Fionn’s inputs (and outputs), with teams at all levels, but in particular at underage level is plain to see.
Working under the guidance of the Rugby Development Committee, Fionn, in addition to his ongoing focus areas, has agreed a further set of aims for the 2025/2026 season and beyond. These include linking up with local 3rd Level colleges; the development of au underage player performance pathway and the introduction of our own YouTube channel, to facilitate analysis and learning with underage players and coaches.
Participation
At underage level, we have 670 underage boys and girls playing rugby from U6 to U18 level and are back to fielding a youth boys team at every age-grade from U13 to U18.
Girls & Women’s Rugby
The development of underage girls rugby was one of the key areas identified, in order to encourage a flow of girls through to the women’s game. To that end, we have five underage girls teams, and for the first time, we now have two adult women’s teams, playing in Leinster Divisions 2 and 5.
In addition to a number of our girls having received Leinster representative honours during the year, we are delighted that two of them, Teni Onigbode and Ava Usanov were, last week, named in the Ireland U18s Six Nations Squad.
U20s Teams & AIL
This season, for the first time in many years, we are fielding two men’s U20s teams, and last Sunday, history was made when both the U20A (playing in the JP Fanagan Premier 1) and U20B (playing in the JP Fanagan Premier 3) teams, were presented with their respective league winners trophies.
At AIL level, our 1st XV are leading the league by three points with three games remaining.
We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dylan Donnellan, Conor Kelly, Fionn Gilbert and Tadhg Bird on their selection for the Irish Club Team, who travel to Portugal this weekend
New Fitness Gym & Performance Hub
Our long-overdue new gym opened last summer and is being extensively used by our players both individually and for team sessions.
In the coming days, we will see the completion of the conversion of the old gym area into a dedicated learning space, where coaches and players can review and preview training and match performance at individual, unit and team levels.
The facility provides a specialised environment for performance analysis, educational workshops supporting psychosocial development and tactical preparation.
This purpose-designed space enables video-based learning, skills development and match strategy sessions in a single, convenient location. We would like to thank a number of our members who also contributed separately towards this area.
Invitation to participate, as a Patron
As we are now entering our third year of the Patron’s fund, we are re-canvassing the membership, in the hope that a further number of people might be in a position to become Patrons.
In the coming year/years, we wish to increase our commitment to the development of rugby at all levels and abilities within the Club and accordingly, we are now writing to ask those members who can afford it and would like to participate, to become part of our Rugby Patron’s Development Fund (“the Fund”). In addition to personal contributions, we would also welcome any contribution from businesses who might like to participate.
The idea behind the Fund is to ask participants to commit to an annual or a monthly contribution to the Club. All monies raised through this fund will be spent only on supporting rugby development within the Club and will be accounted for separately.
How much are we asking for?
Ideally, we are asking Patrons to donate €1,000 annually as a once-off yearly donation, or alternatively €85 per month by way of standing order. Our hope is that Patrons would commit to a three-year term, in order that we can plan ahead, secure in the knowledge that a portion of our Fund is secure.
What if people can’t commit to the full amount and would like to donate a lesser amount?
We will be more than happy to accept lower donations, particularly on a monthly basis, where any amount of €50 and upwards would be welcome.
Finally
As a small token of appreciation for those people who become Patrons, they will receive entry to our home AIL match day draw. For a €1,000 annual donation, or the €85 per month option, Patrons will receive two entries to the draw, with those contributing €50 per month receiving one entry.
Again, I would like to reiterate that there is absolutely no pressure on anyone to contribute to this fund. Rather, if any members would like to, then we would be extremely grateful for their participation.
If you are interested in contributing, please email me at membership@clontarfrugby.com, or alternatively call me on 087 226 4019
Yours sincerely,
Brendan Smith
Club Registrar/Vice President