News
24-09-2010 The Rare Oul Times set for Rifle Park
Banbridge RFC will play host to the internationally acclaimed play 'The Rare Oul Times' on September 24th. The play, written by past president Ken McElroy and performed by the Nomadic Theatre Company, follows the bar room exchanges between two of Ireland’s most volatile drinkers and literary figures, Brendan Behan and Patrick Kavanagh.
08-09-2010 Morrison starts for Ulster U19's
Banbridge's Andrew Morrison starts at outhalf this Saturday for Ulster U19's against the Irish Exiles. The match at Shaws Bridge kicks off at 12.30pm.
06-09-2010 Improved performance against Students
The last time Banbridge faced Queen's, the two sides were vying for a place in the All-Ireland League Division Three Final, and a thrilling contest in the Spring sunshine yielded eight tries in total, with the students ultimately triumphant
06-09-2010 2nds suffer at hands of Ballyclare
Bann Seconds travelled to Ballyclare last week for their first game in the Conference League against the Qualifying League Two outfit. Although Bann were always expecting a very difficult game, they did not expect a 76 - 0 rout. The fielding of a side which could really have been classed as an U-20 team left Bann very short of experience against the seasoned ‘Clare XV.
06-09-2010 Boland and Jackson secure victory
The Greer's of Antrim-sponsored Thirds travelled to Ballymena for their first game of the season in Junior League Section 2. The team had a mixture of experience and youth with Jonny Singleton, Matthew Bird and Ryan Ringland, graduates from Bann's youth system, all getting their first outings as senior players.
04-09-2010 Mini Rugby starts 4th September 2010
Banbridge Junior Rugby Club would like to welcome all boys and girls, from the ages of 5 to 12 years, to mini rugby on Saturday 4th September from 9.30am to 11.30am
Try mini rugby free for one month, and sign up for the season if you like it.
30-08-2010 Derry defeat points to work ahead
It was hardly the start that new coach Daniel Soper had hoped for, seeing his Banbridge side ship 50 points in the opening Ulster League game of the season. But at least the Kiwi now knows the task ahead of him as he plans for the All-Ireland League programme later in the season.
30-08-2010 Seconds register win in opening game
The first match of the new season gave Bann Seconds a chance to show if the impressive form from last year could be maintained, and this early kick off against Derry Seconds provided the players with the opportunity to push for the positions of their counterparts on the Firsts.
27-08-2010 Season kicks off against Derry
Bann's new season kicks off for real on Saturday when the club hosts City of Derry in the first round of games in the Ulster League.
With several weeks hard training behind them under new coach Daniel Soper, including a couple of training games against Cooke and Skerries, the Bann players are ready to face the challenge of the Maiden City side.....
18-08-2010 U13 pre-season training begins
Training for the forthcoming season for Banbridge's U13 side begins on Wednesday 18th August at 7pm. All those born in 1998 are eligible for this age group.
12-08-2010 U15 training begins 12th August
Pre-season training for the Under 15s begins on Thursday 12th August starting at 7pm sharp.
25-07-2010 Morrison extra time try seals cup win
Andy Morrison's extra time try in the final of the Fiddler's Green 10s ensured Bann brought the first piece of silverware for the new season back to Rifle Park.
22-07-2010 Scarva 2010
Many thanks to all the members who worked at the car park and bar at Scarva this year - they were .....
22-07-2010 Two Bann teams for Fiddlers Green 10s
Two Banbridge teams will be competing in this years Fiddlers Green 10s taking place this Saturday at Kilbroney Park.
Banbridge's Shield side will face Newry, Dromore and Balbriggan in their group, while Banbridge's Cup side will play against Cavan, Newry and Viagra Boys.
The event starts at 1pm, and players are asked to meet at the club for midday. All support would be greatly appreciated.
16-07-2010 Jonny Murphy selected for Aviva opener
Banbridge's Jonny Murphy has been selected in the Ulster-Leinster squad that will face a Munster-Connacht side in the O2 Challenge match to open the new Aviva Stadium on 31st July.
15-07-2010 Senior and U19 Pre-season training continues
Pre-season training continues on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm for Seniors and U19s.
01-07-2010 Controlled explosion carried out on WWII device at Rifle Park
Army Technical Officers have carried out a controlled explosion on a World War II shell found on the old 1st XV pitch at Rifle Park.
The scene on Thursday evening was attended by two police squad cars and two bomb disposal units who confirmed the explosive device was 'viable' before making the scene safe.
Thursday evening touch rugby was momentarily interrupted with the sound of the small explosion, but continued on as before with most of the players oblivious to the events nearby.
07-06-2010 Banbridge ready for next step
A sense of optimism permeates the air at Rifle Park these days, and few could argue that it is misplaced with signs throughout the club pointing to a positive future.
For the second season running a Banbridge youth player collected the Calor Gas Ulster Youth Player of the Year Award, this time in the guise of Jonny Murphy who also represented Ireland U18 in the European Championships along with Banbridge team mate Charles Gallagher.
Meanwhile the 2nd XV produced their best league performance since the club became Senior, finishing fourth in the league, in the company of teams who traditionally would have been viewed as more dominant forces in Ulster rugby. The 2nds league campaign included a run of thirteen games unbeaten stretching from October to April and their season points strongly to a strength in depth in the club that has, in other seasons, been lacking.
The strongest portents for the future can be found in the 1st XV squad.
01-06-2010 Alan Ferris elected President at AGM
Alan Ferris was elected as President for the 2010-2011 season at the rugby club AGM which took place on Friday evening in the clubhouse. John Ewart was elected Senior Vice President, while the other significant change sees Gareth Kelly follow in his father's footsteps taking on the role of Honorary Treasurer from the outgoing Trevor Sneddon.
Simon McKinstry will once again captain the 1st XV in the forthcoming season.
For a full list of office bearers, see the committee page on the club section of the website.
27-05-2010 Bann welcome Soper back to Rifle Park
Banbridge Rugby Club are pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Soper as Club Coach for the 2010-11 season.
21-05-2010 Ladies Committee Annual Dinner
The Ladies Committee Annual Dinner will take place in the clubhouse on Friday 21st May.
16-05-2010 Finlay named 1st XV Player of the Year
Ashley Finlay was named 1st XV Player of the Year at Friday nights Formal held in the Belmont Hotel. Philip Morrison picked up the 2nd XV Player of the Year as well as the top try scorer award, the Tamati Shield, for his 23 tries over the course of the season. Stephen Nelson, Alastair Lewis and Paul Cairns were awarded the 3rd, 4th and 5th XV awards respectively.
Andy Morrison won the U19 Player of the Year award; Ryan Patterson collected the Best Newcomer Award, while Michael Cromie won Most Improved Player Award.
John Ewart was awarded the Club Honours Award in recognition of his dedication and hard work over the season.
The Team of the Year award went to the 2nd XV who went on a 13 game unbeaten run stretching from October to April. Team Manager Alastair Campbell and Captain Andrew Davidson collected the trophy.
10-05-2010 Season ends with 18-try spectacle
The last Saturday of the Ulster League season saw Instonians and Banbridge provide a feast of tries at Shaw's Bridge, with the home side coming out on top by a 10-8 margin.
With Instonians' front row resources severely depleted through injury and unavailability, they had already conceded the league points to the visitors before the action began. But if the scrums were uncontested from the outset, the other exchanges appeared to have lost none of the edge that is traditional between the sides.
03-05-2010 Valiant 15s finish runners up at Ravenhill
After a hard-fought game Bann's Under-15s had to settle for runners-up medals after coming off second-best to a strong Malone side.
After conceding an early try, the Rifle Park lads hit back to take a 7-5 lead into the interval, thanks to a try and conversion from out-half Macauley Little. But the injury-enforced retirement of the talismanic play-maker reduced Bann's attacking options and a second Malone try 10 minutes into the second period left the Belfast side firmly in the driving seat.